DartSLF Bus Awards 2012

[M113 YKC]

RE: DartSLF Bus Awards 2012
1) Best company of the year?
I reckon that PeoplesBus have shone this year. As the boss of that company has told me, anybody could put 10 buses on the 52/52A in competiton with Arriva North West, however he likes to be different and offer extraordinary, and useful, services. Also, their new livery has definitely positively freshened their image without being too different!
2) Best effort of the year?
Again, I reckon that PeoplesBus has made the most effort this year - with extraordinary services and a new livery.
3) Best delivery of the year?
I reckon that the arrival of 16 VDL SB200CS/Wright Pulsar 2s at Arriva North West's Bootle depot was the best delivery of this year - certainly "brightened" the 53/53A corridor.
4) Hardest goodbye of the year?
Equally, the arrival of the above seen-off a few quality Dennis Dart SLF 10.7m/Plaxton Pointer 2s - the T-PNB batch. I was very disappointed to see a few of them in the reserve/disposal fleet whilst sheds such as Dennis Dart SLF 10.7m/Marshall Capital V675 DVU (7675) are still around, although age is the system that Arriva use...
5) Smartest-looking bus/buses of the year?
Again, PeoplesBus' new livery is really nice and has freshened their image nicely!
6) Rarest sighting of the year?
The rarest sighting of the year for me was definitely Alexander Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MX09 LXM (4430) on the 345 (namely the evening Skelmersdale duty - http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael2770...3518576/)!
7) Surprise of the year?
Again, the arrival of 16 Pulsar 2s at Arriva North West's Bootle depot - definitely unexpected and a nice sight!
8) Disappointment of the year?
MERSEYTRAVEL... I've been with Impera on the 130/210/250 for a few weeks and the timings are unrealistic for the majority of the journeys - Ace Travel will definitely suffer with the unreliable times! They need their own bus to go out there and time these services properly - and realistically! Also, I trialled the Walrus card and it was poor. Support was, to be fair, close-to-terrible and they weren't interested in the negative feedback about the damn embarrassing card...
9) Shed of the year?
This has to go to either HTL Buses' Mercedes Benz Sprinter/Koch BX12 DZG, for an absolutely awful ride on the 236 due to the bus' hell-like suspension, or Marshall V675 DVU (7675) for its lack of speed and heating!