Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[Harryn9000]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
if u mean new ones probably on the route they was bought for in first place not the 52 and 55 like they have been

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(25/10/2012 14:33)mathias Wrote:  Where are the Pulsars?

4431 (MX09 LXN) Trident2/Enviro400 decker on 52/52A yesterday, 4427 (MX09 LXJ) on it today. Side and rear LEDs STILL not working.

(25/10/2012 14:38)Harryn9000 Wrote:  if u mean new ones probably on the route they was bought for in first place not the 52 and 55 like they have been

The 311 didn't have any Pulsars on it this morning and everything that was on there this morning seemed to still be out this afternoon! It's the first time in a while that I've seen no Pulsars on the service and, sadly, I don't expect that to change soon...

The new Pulsar 2s have surprisingly spent the majority of their time, during the week, on the 53/53A, from what I've seen of them. The remainder seem to have been on the 52s/54 (annoyingly...)/55s/62s, along with the occasional one on the 61/311.

Finally, Marshall V648 DVU (7648) is only here for maintenance; thankfully, it hasn't transferred back here! (Credit to "STTDCi" in the "Arriva North West - Southport Depot" thread.)

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
The new Pulsars were surely intended for the 53/A so there is nothing surprising about them being on the route they were intended for.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(25/10/2012 18:32)CX06 EBK Wrote:  The new Pulsars were surely intended for the 53/A so there is nothing surprising about them being on the route they were intended for.

I understand about what you mean. I'm just surprised that most (or even all) of them are being allocated onto the 53s - in the past, Bootle have had a habit of not putting new Pulsars on what they were bought for (the majority of the 09-plated examples were put onto the 52s before seeing use on the 55s and the 62s had plenty of 58-plated Pulsars on it when the 59-plated examples arrived). It sounds silly, but it's one of those silly errors that happen when sending buses out (probably not intentional). Obviously, a bus is just a bus. Pulsars are just classed as Pulsars these days; the 53s are just more services that have been "Pulsarised". I'm just glad to see that they're actually putting the new buses on there! Quality-wise, most of the new ones are 100% better than the others. And it's nice to see that Stagecoach's 53s seems to have their Enviro300s back on there now - bus-wise, the 53s are becoming "quality" services (more morning journeys towards Aintree are desired, though).

[MX12CFE]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(24/10/2012 18:14)3111 Wrote:  

(23/10/2012 18:25)MPTE1955 Wrote:  7675 was on the 62 earlier, first time I have seen a dart on this service for a few weeks.

I had that shed on my 311 this morning; the rattles and vibrations were unbearable, especially when it was travelling through Town Green... I did have Pulsar 2 MX12 KXC (3113) on my 311 this afternoon, though - 110% better than 7675! As usual, Cadet DK55 FXD (2519) didn't complete its day on the 311; ex-Skelmersdale-based Pulsar 2 MX59 JJU (3028) replaced it. Also, Plaxton Pointer 2 X235 ANC (2235) was exchanged during the day after cutting-out in Queen Square Bus Station (but surviving - and its usual bid vibrations contributed to the exchange) - Marshall V649 DVU (7649) replaced that!

An extra bus is introduced on the 62(/62A?) in the afternoon on Mondays to Fridays, hence why Darts (or "irregular buses") are frequently seen on there!

I rode both 2518 and 2517 on the 311 today from maghull to ormskirk and back again both were holborn hill journeys going to ormskirk 2518 seemed sluggish and wasnt able to put power down but coming back 2517 was a little rocket we were in the outside lane on northway overtaking a transit van at one point!

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
The new pulsars are nice but I do find that noise annoying for the doors.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(25/10/2012 18:57)MX12CFE Wrote:  

(24/10/2012 18:14)3111 Wrote:  

(23/10/2012 18:25)MPTE1955 Wrote:  7675 was on the 62 earlier, first time I have seen a dart on this service for a few weeks.

I had that shed on my 311 this morning; the rattles and vibrations were unbearable, especially when it was travelling through Town Green... I did have Pulsar 2 MX12 KXC (3113) on my 311 this afternoon, though - 110% better than 7675! As usual, Cadet DK55 FXD (2519) didn't complete its day on the 311; ex-Skelmersdale-based Pulsar 2 MX59 JJU (3028) replaced it. Also, Plaxton Pointer 2 X235 ANC (2235) was exchanged during the day after cutting-out in Queen Square Bus Station (but surviving - and its usual bid vibrations contributed to the exchange) - Marshall V649 DVU (7649) replaced that!

I rode both 2518 and 2517 on the 311 today from maghull to ormskirk and back again both were holborn hill journeys going to ormskirk 2518 seemed sluggish and wasnt able to put power down but coming back 2517 was a little rocket we were in the outside lane on northway overtaking a transit van at one point!

I've had both 2517 and 2518 recently and they were fine. 2518 may have felt powerless because the road towards Ormskirk inclines slightly, but I'm probably wrong - the quality of those Cadets seems to change more often than a clock! 2519 is the bad one of the four - really sluggish because of its terrible gearbox. It's failed a lot recently, so I hope that its problem has been addressed.

(25/10/2012 18:58)MPTE1955 Wrote:  The new pulsars are nice but I do find that noise annoying for the doors.

Sadly, I agree. Drivers are forced to choose either late-running (by applying the handbrake at every stop before opening the doors and closing the doors before taking it off) or putting-up with that annoying noise...

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Pulsar CX58 FZA (2920) was on the evening M58 345 duty today. What a slow bus - 45-MPH on the M58 and 20-MPH up every slight incline... Also, an old-liveried DAF/ALX400 was on either the 311 or the 350 this evening - seen it heading towards Maghull in Old Roan at about 17:45.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(25/10/2012 19:06)3111 Wrote:  

(25/10/2012 18:57)MX12CFE Wrote:  

(24/10/2012 18:14)3111 Wrote:  I had that shed on my 311 this morning; the rattles and vibrations were unbearable, especially when it was travelling through Town Green... I did have Pulsar 2 MX12 KXC (3113) on my 311 this afternoon, though - 110% better than 7675! As usual, Cadet DK55 FXD (2519) didn't complete its day on the 311; ex-Skelmersdale-based Pulsar 2 MX59 JJU (3028) replaced it. Also, Plaxton Pointer 2 X235 ANC (2235) was exchanged during the day after cutting-out in Queen Square Bus Station (but surviving - and its usual bid vibrations contributed to the exchange) - Marshall V649 DVU (7649) replaced that!

I rode both 2518 and 2517 on the 311 today from maghull to ormskirk and back again both were holborn hill journeys going to ormskirk 2518 seemed sluggish and wasnt able to put power down but coming back 2517 was a little rocket we were in the outside lane on northway overtaking a transit van at one point!

I've had both 2517 and 2518 recently and they were fine. 2518 may have felt powerless because the road towards Ormskirk inclines slightly, but I'm probably wrong - the quality of those Cadets seems to change more often than a clock! 2519 is the bad one of the four - really sluggish because of its terrible gearbox. It's failed a lot recently, so I hope that its problem has been addressed.

2518 was booked-off yesterday. Apparently, it was having fuel-related problems after speeds of about 45-MPH, which effected its performance - as you've suggested!

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
Enviro400 MX09 LXS (4434) was on the 350 today! It must have replaced Plaxton Pointer 2 X218 ANC (2218), which was on there today but in the depot by the evening. I managed to photograph 4434:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...hotostream

Also, Plaxton Pointer 2 X235 ANC (2235) was on the 62/62A, along with ALX200 X266 OBN (2266):
2235 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...otostream/
2266 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...otostream/

Meanwhile...
- DAF/ALX400 S266 JUA (4026) was on the 54.
- Pulsar 2 MX09 LYJ (2947) was on the 59/61, along with a 12-plated example in the evening.
- Marshall V669 DVU (7669) was on the 60.
- Pulsar 2 MX59 FFV (3017) was on the evening M58 345 duty; Pulsar CX58 FZL (2929) replaced Cadet CX07 CSO (2638) on its 345 duty, too.