Go North East

[citaro5284]

RE: Go North East

(29/08/2012 20:42)citylink58 Wrote:  

(29/08/2012 20:28)tom.robinson206 Wrote:  

(29/08/2012 18:39)NK07 FZG Wrote:  True, but there are usually 5 Mercedes Citaro bendi's off the road everyday from the CityLink!

Gateshead really do need more spares for the 58. Every day there are various different buses on the service. It never used to be unreliable when it was the '08-reg' rigid Citaro's.

I suppose the 'bendy-buses' probably struggle on the hills between Fewster Square and Gateshead, (e.g. Split Crow Road, Wealcroft and Coldwell Lane).

Yup, today I spotted 5228 and one of the scania bendies on the 58. The route must have the most unreliable buses in the company.

I don't think it is a case of more spares needed, it is more the case to keep the current vehicles operational. Remember more buses a depot has, the more cost there is. Also in the case of Gateshead, only certain drivers can drive them as their is an enhanced rate of pay for driving them. It is easier to have your spare vehicles as 'rigid' so they can operate on other routes. Gateshead have a PVR of around 92 with 105 vehicles to cover, so that equates to around 12% of Gateshead's fleet as spare which is normally quite adequate.