[Archive] Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

[R879 HRF]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Indeed, i didn't say they where for us, he just said no hybrids at all would be arriving until march.

[wirralbus]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Is this so that all the allocated hybrids can all gain 13 plates ?

[J654UHN]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
I would say so Wb. Same with the eco-citys at runcorn

[R879 HRF]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Just seen one of the hybrids in Neston.. turned down Hinderton road from the chester high road at around 1510!

*Edit* - wonder what it was actually doing there.

[SNL 824]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
That is odd. Hinderton Road is not even on the 487 route, but is an alternate route into Neston avoiding the low bridge on Liverpool Road. It used to be part of the erstwhile Crosville route F18, later 88.

This of course still doesn't answer what it was doing in Neston at all.

[R879 HRF]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Just seen another one in Neston this morning, had a few drivers on it - perhaps theyve decided to combine new 487 training with hybrid training. The bus can be used to train drivers on the part of the route that has changed, aka Brook St to Ness Gardens and back as that section has no bridges. Very interesting, nice to see one out and about too, they look the part.

Also, 2432 is out on the 464 today.

[wirralbus]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
is it just the Liverpool Road bridge in Neston that precludes double decker operation of the 487/8.

[R879 HRF]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(12/02/2013 12:56)wirralbus Wrote:  is it just the Liverpool Road bridge in Neston that precludes double decker operation of the 487/8.

Correct, that along with the one by neston station. The one on Liverpool Road is too low for any double decker, and the one at Neston Station is only suitable for low height deckers.

There are a few trips which would benefit deckers during peak hours - the 0800 from Neston Greenfields to Liverpool gets a full load of school kids going to wirral grammar, its usually a full seated load with a few standees however it isn't uncommon for it to be a completly full load, resulting in the driver not picking up any passengers.

A re-think of the route around Neston may be beneficial to enable decker use - not on a regular basis but in the event of vehicle shortages or the event of a breakdown, it just means any bus could be sent out. Just a thought! :P

[wirralbus]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
I do remember in the days of Crosville the 87 the forerunner used Bristol VRT and ECW Olympians , did the old 87 run down Liverpool Road , I know the 88 went down Hinderton Road.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot
Lots of single deckers on the normally deckered Cross-River routes today, including 2416, 2428 and 2431 on the 407/472 and 2432 on the 464. Pulsar 3124 was on the 432/433/437, joined by no fewer than six DLAs in the form of 4096, 4097, 4099, 4141, 4143 and 4158. It's fair to say that there is no ban on these operating the 432 routes - on the contrary, they're the clear second choice behind Enviros.

Myllennium 2456 was on the 410, and my, what a heap of junk this is. Tatty outside, a total and utter mess inside and a pitiful rider. Severe idle, a crashy ride, squeaks across the body and a dismal turn of speed. A real shame they've bothered repairing this in my book as it is awful. The Pulsars the 410 has received are a huge improvement over these, and very sensible investment from Arriva there.

An odd day with at least three Enviros parked up out of service inside Birkenhead, two VLWs not in use, 4001 nowhere to be seen (surprise, surprise) and 4157 also resting as a spare. Neither 4025 nor 4076 have gone into traffic yet so that isn't helping matters. It does seem that 4402 and 4410 have left the depot for good, leaving just 4408 and 4409 in service of those destined for the Sapphire treatment.