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It is quite refreshing to hear about Arriva ordering several batches of double deckers for routes that currently see single deck operation. According to what I have read, it has been confirmed that 26 Enviro400's are on order for St Helens depot (presumably for routes 10/10A), 16 Enviro400's on order for Bootle depot (routes 52/52A) and it is rumoured that a double decker order for Green Lane is on the cards.

Not that long ago, (barring the cross-river services and route 699) there were only THREE corridors that saw daily 100% decker operation, these being the 60, 82 and 86 corridors. Now, if we were to add to the services that have already been recently upgraded to decker operation to the orders that have or could be made, the list of Arriva double decker routes in Liverpool could read as follows:

(again, barring cross-rivers and the 699)
10/10A
15
26/27 (match days)
52/52A
56
60
61
79/79D
81/81A
82
86/86A/D
(Have I missed any?)

What are everyone's thoughts as to why this is happening? Could it be something more than the obvious fact that some routes are seeing chronic overcrowding? Previous mismanagement? More money being pumped in by the Germans?

Whatever the case, it is great to see Arriva investing so heavily in the type of buses Liverpool has so desperately needed for many years.

I think the 75 could do with some double deckers as it gets chronically packed not just at rush hour but at the quieter off peak times too. Great to see double deckers for the other routes hoping we get more in the very near future.

(09/10/2014 11:04)MX12CFE Wrote: [ -> ]I think the 75 could do with some double deckers as it gets chronically packed not just at rush hour but at the quieter off peak times too. Great to see double deckers for the other routes hoping we get more in the very near future.

I agree with the 75 needing deckers. It has been mentioned on a few occasions that Speke should be a 100% double decker garage. In the meantime, Sundays and Bank Holidays seem to see deckers spread out all of the South Liverpool routes. However, going by personal observations, the 80/80A service seems to take the majority of the spare deckers.

glad the 52/52A is getting deckers the buses are always crowded

(09/10/2014 11:14)Phil Wrote: [ -> ]I agree with the 75 needing deckers. It has been mentioned on a few occasions that Speke should be a 100% double decker garage.

I completely agree with this. Given the 76 now has a decker board, the 78 used to have deckers and the 75 and 80/80A suffer from overcrowding, a full double deck allocation for Speke would not flatter the depot at all.

Indeed, I'd add the 699 to the list given that some of the 'extra' workings during peak times still see packed out Commanders, a legacy of the appalling Citaros. The one route I don't think justifies deckers at Speke given its loads is the 500, but using three of the luggage racked B7TLs wouldn't be a problem in the future.

The number I've heard from a few places regarding deckers for this year is 70, so that would leave 28 for Green Lane to cover two of its routes.

I've always been a firm believer in "if the route has no low bridges, put a decker on it" so it's nice to see some deckers there.

I think it's excellent to see so many double deckers on order for Bootle, Green Lane and St Helens depots

507009 - I've heard the same number for the decker order myself. 28 for Green Lane could convert the 15 and another route (maybe the 14?) to a full double deck allocation

It could be a priority that Arriva are now trying to get all QBP services double decked .

(09/10/2014 16:47)wirralbus Wrote: [ -> ]It could be a priority that Arriva are now trying to get all QBP services double decked .

I agree Wirralbus. With the 86/86A receiving new stock this year and the 10/10A due to receive new stock early next year I think that's certainly a possiblity

(09/10/2014 10:52)Phil Wrote: [ -> ]It is quite refreshing to hear about Arriva ordering several batches of double deckers for routes that currently see single deck operation. According to what I have read, it has been confirmed that 26 Enviro400's are on order for St Helens depot (presumably for routes 10/10A), 16 Enviro400's on order for Bootle depot (routes 52/52A) and it is rumoured that a double decker order for Green Lane is on the cards.

Not that long ago, (barring the cross-river services and route 699) there were only THREE corridors that saw daily 100% decker operation, these being the 60, 82 and 86 corridors. Now, if we were to add to the services that have already been recently upgraded to decker operation to the orders that have or could be made, the list of Arriva double decker routes in Liverpool could read as follows:

(again, barring cross-rivers and the 699)
10/10A
15
26/27 (match days)
52/52A
56
60
61
79/79D
81/81A
82
86/86A/D
(Have I missed any?)

What are everyone's thoughts as to why this is happening? Could it be something more than the obvious fact that some routes are seeing chronic overcrowding? Previous mismanagement? More money being pumped in by the Germans?

Whatever the case, it is great to see Arriva investing so heavily in the type of buses Liverpool has so desperately needed for many years.

Friends in the know put the change of policy down to a change in the Managing Director. The current MD was I understand previously at Yorkshire were double deck orders were regular.