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Can't it and the other DLAs stay here and the Marshalls withdrawn instead? That would allow the 52/52A to go over to deckers and Bootle to get rid of its worst buses allocated. Benefits all round.

(07/04/2013 17:32)Phil Wrote: [ -> ]4418 was on the 52/52A last night. Seen heading down James Street for LOBS

I was on it!
It looks a bit rough on the outside, and -unfortunately- the interior is no different, cola stains on the seats (and the grab poles) spoil the look.

Even so, they look prettier than Bootle's resident '09 Trident/Enviro400 deckers with attractive-looking yellow grab poles and headrests on the Esteban Civic V3 seats.
Unfortunately, sticky marks are left on the top deck screen with 'CROSSRIVEREXPRESS' ghost graphics still visible.

The drivers like them though, they're MUCH more powerful than Bootle's usual Enviro400 deckers, and I'm pretty certain this is due to their Tax Class 34 status.
Bootle's usual '09 deckers fit into reduced emissions Tax Class 38, and -whereas this means less road tax- (£165 against £500 a year), it means they're strangled by emission controls and so they're much less powerful.

(08/04/2013 13:34)507009 Wrote: [ -> ]Can't it and the other DLAs stay here and the Marshalls withdrawn instead? That would allow the 52/52A to go over to deckers and Bootle to get rid of its worst buses allocated. Benefits all round.

I agree! With Bootle currently having 6 58-plated Enviro400s and 12 09-plated Enviro400s, I'd imagine that there will be enough to cover the 60/61 (although I haven't seen one on those services on a Sunday for a while) and the 52/52A on Sundays. There should be NO excuse to have 'deckers sitting in the depot doing nothing on Sundays - they're not step-entranced and they don't consume as much fuel as the "DLAs". If it does happen, I really hope that I'm not the only one who'll be complaining about it.

(08/04/2013 08:38)3111 Wrote: [ -> ]4029 is back at Bootle and on the 52/52A today.

Managed to photograph it (nobody was around!):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...hotostream

One of the 58 ex Cross river Enviro 400 on the 345 today

It was 4418, Worked the 17:20 Skelmersdale journey, Would of been great! Left 5 mins early form STS So I missed it!

There will be an extra bus inserted into the 60/61/62s from 21st April to improve reliability and increase running times, using the buses off the 59 which is withdrawn.

I managed to ride on Enviro400 4417 this evening on the 52A between Bootle and Liverpool. This was quite sluggish and rattly, but it was nice to be on the type of bus which should dominate the 52/52A at all times. Sadly, this wasn't the case today as the double-decker allocation was let-down by two smaller buses, Plaxton Pointer 2 2232 and Marshall 7675, being on the service (both running before 4417).

Photos:
2232 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...otostream/
4417 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...otostream/
7675 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...otostream/

Furthermore, 4418 was on the 60 this evening. Must say that it stood-out and looked presentable from the outside when I seen it, ironically, from the top deck of 4417!

Meanwhile, I had Marshall 7649 (again!) this morning on my 58 from Netherton to Liverpool. I enjoyed the ride (again!), however an alarm was going off in the cab for the majority of my journey. It must have been took off of the road during the day, however, as it was on the 56A this evening.

Seen 7675 arriving into queen square about 13.25 on a 52A

Nearly-new, Euro-specification 3110 (MX12 KWZ) SB200/Pulsar2 (in Interurban livery) on '58-NETHERTON' route today.

Seems strange that such a high-value bus should be put on a low-profit, low patronage route.
Tired (and old) Marshall and Plaxton-bodied Darts usually occupy this service.