I had Floline W397 PRC (67) on the 126 between Leigh and The Trafford Centre today. This was an awful bus - far too sluggish for 40-MPH roads, never mind the motorway (and the steep bridge on that motorway!). The journey was full to capacity by the motorway - a squashed and uncomfortable ride was had. Regular passengers were wondering about where the usual double-decker was...!
Lighter-loaded Floline W398 PRC (68) was an improvement, speed-wise, on my return journey this evening, although heavy motorway traffic delayed us. Tempo T100 SLT (60) and an Eclipse-bodied bus were also on the 126 this evening, although I thought that the requirement was just two...?!
The extension to Horwich has changed the allocations (three on TC - Horwich journeys, two on Leigh - Horwich shorts). Perhaps SLT thought the decker wouldn't normally be needed during the day? Maybe both deckers need to work the diagrams that cover the busiest journeys.
I have seen a Solo on the Trafford Centre - Horwich journeys.
To be honest since D&G took over SLT the Scania decker has tended to wonder off onto other SLT routes from time to time, also with the recent timetable change there are more buses on 126 now so the usual one could have been elsewhere on the route.
Love to know why SLT don't source another double decker to use on 126 considering the loadings it gets, as the other decker X80SLT is usually used on 300 another route which can get heavy loadings although not as heavy as 126
3ex D+G scania omnicitys now in service on the 635.
(08/03/2013 09:23)motormayhem Wrote: [ -> ]3ex D+G scania omnicitys now in service on the 635.
Here's a photo of YN04 GMU (unsure on whether its fleet-number will stay at 29 or whether it'll be changed) on the 635 today (credit to "First PMT" on Flickr):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firstpmt/85...otostream/
Apparently the fleetnumbers aren't changing. How come the 635 now has these, weren't the Meridians bought for this route to replace the Solars previously on it.
According to a regular driver on the 635 the meridans are starting to become a bit problematic with constant over heating,banging/jerking gears etc but im not sure as ive never travelled on one as just going off ear say.
The meridians are quite nice but as we all probably know MANs aren't recently the most reliable of chassis available now. :P