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Well the 2 that left st helens should of arrived at bootle today as they where picked up around dinner time.

I'm sure that they will be out and about very shortly, I will keep an eye out for them.

(01/02/2014 19:41)Phil Wrote: [ -> ]

(31/01/2014 15:33)mathias Wrote: [ -> ]Quality Bus? NOT!

4097 (S277 JUA) Interurban DB250/ALX400 decker is on 53A-AINTREE STATION route today.
If the 53/53A route is supposed to be a QBP corridor, then why's a 15-year old tired London DLA decker being put out on it? (4097 is 15 years' old on 23/02/14)
Is Bootle seriously short of decent buses?

Personally, I'd be happy that it was a decker.

I AM HAPPY its a decker! I'm just annoyed that its 15 years old, as it doesn't meet the criteria for a Quality Bus.
Merseytravel themselves state that QBP buses must have "state-of-the-art low emissions"
http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/qualitybusnetwork

I'm sorry, but a bus built in the late 1990s does not have low emissions nor is it state-of-the-art.

I know Bootle's been busy of late, what with Marshalls getting MOT'd and the Aber Pulsars getting Interurban repaints, but why didn't they put 4097 on a 56/58 etc? Sticking it on a QBP route is just bang-out-of-order IMO.

Getting back to the ex-Welsh Pulsars, 2661 (CX07 CVA) is freshly repainted in Interurban and is on route 52/52A today.

The QBP also says (or at least used to) that buses will have front, side and rear working destination units. For this many buses fail, not least Stagecoaches Tridents that are used on the 82/6. Arriva are guilty of putting heaps such as ELC bodied DAFs on the 82 regularly, that is much worse as they're single deckers. Merseytravel don't accept responsibility for the QBPs anyway (or didn't when I complained once, saying it was down to Arriva and Stagecoach and they had "nothing" to do with it). At least with the DAF everyone has the chance of sitting down, I'd rather one of those showed up on the 82 for example than a Myllennium which have been past their prime for many years and should be nowhere near a QBP.

(03/02/2014 15:20)mathias Wrote: [ -> ]I'm sorry, but a bus built in the late 1990s does not have low emissions nor is it state-of-the-art.

Nor are X-ANC, X-OBN and V-DVU Darts, none of which are particularly rare on the 53 even today.

Occasionally, QBP breaches do happen, but at least in this case there will be enough seats to go around. Were I a regular commuter on the 53, I'd probably rejoice if 4097 turned up, given the level of overcrowding this route often sees in peak hours.

It could be a lot worse - an X-ANC would give you hard seats, fewer of them than a Pulsar and less standing room. Elsewhere, Speke depot uses ELC Myllenniums fairly frequently on the 82 in place of deckers, those being some of the very worst buses anywhere within Arriva North West.

It's sad that Merseytravel can't force Arriva and Stagecoach to comply with the QBP rules, as it makes the QBP programme look like a gimmick and its promises are just lip-service.

Having said that, I'd say roughly 90% of buses on QBP routes meet the criteria.
Let's hope sightings such as 4097 remain rare.

I think we really need to calm down on this matter, 4097 was on 53, so what, it is low floor and you would rather have that than a dart. 4097 was obviously put on there as a case of neccessity as it started the day on 61's, it'shardly a regular occurrence anyway, if it was then maybe there would be something to moan about. With regards to darts on 53's, well I would say that it is very rare to see a dart on there these days.

Come on lads, there are really more important things to become irate about in this world than a wrong bus appearing on a route once in a while.

2660 has been repainted (nicely, too, with a black front "W") and is on the 52/52A today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmill...303129496/

I managed to photograph both 2662 and 2663 on Friday, looking less nicer with unpainted "Ws":
2662 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmill...302932106/
2663 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelmill...otostream/

2918 is currently sitting in Old Roan with a fitter looking at it!

2665 is out on the 52A (in original livery)