Operation of articulated buses in the North West

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Arriva North West - St Helens Depot

(27/12/2015 09:29)T42 PVM Wrote:  I think the Speke ones where got rid of due to reliability and the fact that 2 caught fire however you make a good point regarding getting Bendies around Estates, Not every route can handle Bendie Buses but it can work (see First Burys 135 Service) but the 10A dont need them as it would lower capacity

Problems with the Speke batch:

- Two caught fire, at least one whilst in passenger service
- Only trained drivers were allowed to drive them
- Problems regarding overheating
- Capacity wasn't required at all times
- MPG was low in comparison to the rest of the fleet
- Speke and the North West didn't have the facilities to repaint them
- Problems with Merseytravel actually allowing them to be used on services (Could only be used on limited stop 500/501/699). Merseytravel also didn't want to use their funds for bus stop modification so only a few stops were completed (Such as Guild Hall of Students).
- Several problems with unreliability and faults that were deemed too expensive or too confusing to repair in-house. Towing was also expensive.