Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Don't forget it wasn't that long ago that buses were lasting over 20 years. It's a waste to some perfectly good buses being taken out of service just because of their age. There are plenty of areas around the country where buses are kept going longer and its something we may have to get used to up here.

[wirralbus]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
The rules seem to be set up by the PTA's to make them look better , but could this ruling be the very thing that also sends some companies to the wall

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(30/01/2019 10:19)wirralbus Wrote:  The rules seem to be set up by the PTA's to make them look better , but could this ruling be the very thing that also sends some companies to the wall

This is the Birkenhead depot thread and I really don't think that Arriva DB is in any danger of going under although it may end up in different ownership. IIRC, the rules were established to prevent cowboy outfits running clapped-out, step-entrance buses through Merseytravel's modern bus stations.

As a matter of interest, how many small, independent companies running commercial or tendered services still exist on Merseyside?

[mr t]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(30/01/2019 11:03)Barney Wrote:  This is the Birkenhead depot thread and I really don't think that Arriva DB is in any danger of going under although it may end up in different ownership. IIRC, the rules were established to prevent cowboy outfits running clapped-out, step-entrance buses through Merseytravel's modern bus stations.

As a matter of interest, how many small, independent companies running commercial or tendered services still exist on Merseyside?

Only HTL. Hattons, Cumfybus, A2B and Halton.
Cumfybus have also had enough like Avon had with Merseytravels constant changes and pittance rewards and are not going to renew any of their contracts

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
We are almost heading back to the pre de-reg days of only a few companies, except instead of Ribble, MPTE & Crosville we have just Stagecoach & Arriva. The number of independents is continuing to reduce.

[MTL0201]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(30/01/2019 07:10)MPTE1955 Wrote:  Don't forget it wasn't that long ago that buses were lasting over 20 years. It's a waste to some perfectly good buses being taken out of service just because of their age. There are plenty of areas around the country where buses are kept going longer and its something we may have to get used to up here.

PTE era, the PTE had a policy of getting rid of vehicles that were 13 years old[some went to the training fleet], also i remember MTL getting rid of most if not all the 00 range, & the 18xx East Lancs/Willowbrook Atlanteans 93-95 to make way for ex London stock mostly Titans which were similar age & some cases older, these were around 13/15 years old.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Merseybus /MTL also had quite a few L/M/N/P reg Atlanteans that lasted until 1995. So the 13 year rule wasn't happening then.

[MTL0201]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(30/01/2019 13:06)MPTE1955 Wrote:  Merseybus /MTL also had quite a few L/M/N/P reg Atlanteans that lasted until 1995. So the 13 year rule wasn't happening then.

Yep, it was a weird state of affairs, MTL getting rid of Atlanteans that were newer than the Atlanteans they kept, 1847 didn't last long after the Merseymaid refurb when MTL brought in Titans that were older.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
They kept the Alexander's because they were better built and in better condition than the ELs, Willowbrook and MCW bodied Atlanteans, the Willowbrook rotted quickly and the MCws did as well. The ELs were just poorly built.

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(29/01/2019 22:37)1466 Wrote:  Why is it good news? It’s 17 years old and well over the 15 year rule. It’s supposed to be a public transport system not a museum

4211 remains in service because it's still required. Same as all of the other stock over 15 years old