Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(14/02/2015 12:35)mathias Wrote:  It must be love....

Loads of Trident2/Enviro400 deckers on City Centre-bound routes this Valentine's Day, although I can't understand why.
Is Saturday an unusually busy day for the 52/53/55 routes, or are Bootle trialling these ageing 58-plate/09-plate deckers in preparation for the new 15-plate deckers due in the next few weeks?

If you don't like deckers it's not really a case of love at first sight, it's more like like-it-or-lump-it!

Ageing 58/09 platers, really I wouldn't call them old right now. The powers that be have decided deckers would be better, lay out the cost now but save in the long run with a service cut. As for whether people like deckers or not, they won't be complaining when they can get on the bus, rather than being left behind when a pulsar or the daily dart on the 52 is full.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
I agree that it's a stretch to call six year old deckers 'ageing'. They're only ageing in the sense that they could do with an internal refresh and a tighten up, but Pulsars suffer from the same problems.

Also, I'm not sure I buy into this 'late running' lark. Since the 10B was converted to Enviro400s, the reliability of the route has improved markedly in my experience, rather than buses turning up seemingly willy-nilly on weekdays. As for the comparison, I used the 52 and 53 on a couple of weekends in the run up to Christmas 2014 when the shoppers were out in force and even the deckers running completely full. If anything, it was the Pulsars running late more often than the Enviro400s on both routes.

In short, the Enviro400s are going to be a massive improvement for the vast majority of the 52/52A passengers as they will actually get a seat on many of the busier services. Even if they have to stand on the peak time runs, that's a lot better than watching a Pulsar sailing past because it's short of capacity.

Personally, I think the 52/53/55 corridors should be decker operated on weekends without excuse. This is where the real capacity is on weekends as the 60 and 61 are a lot quieter. For the Sunday 52/52A and 55 to be Pulsar operated, running full throughout the day, is a disgrace in my opinion when the lion's share of the existing Enviro400s sit in the depot gathering dust.

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(14/02/2015 16:12)507009 Wrote:  I agree that it's a stretch to call six year old deckers 'ageing'. They're only ageing in the sense that they could do with an internal refresh and a tighten up, but Pulsars suffer from the same problems.

Also, I'm not sure I buy into this 'late running' lark. Since the 10B was converted to Enviro400s, the reliability of the route has improved markedly in my experience, rather than buses turning up seemingly willy-nilly on weekdays. As for the comparison, I used the 52 and 53 on a couple of weekends in the run up to Christmas 2014 when the shoppers were out in force and even the deckers running completely full. If anything, it was the Pulsars running late more often than the Enviro400s on both routes.

In short, the Enviro400s are going to be a massive improvement for the vast majority of the 52/52A passengers as they will actually get a seat on many of the busier services. Even if they have to stand on the peak time runs, that's a lot better than watching a Pulsar sailing past because it's short of capacity.

Personally, I think the 52/53/55 corridors should be decker operated on weekends without excuse. This is where the real capacity is on weekends as the 60 and 61 are a lot quieter. For the Sunday 52/52A and 55 to be Pulsar operated, running full throughout the day, is a disgrace in my opinion when the lion's share of the existing Enviro400s sit in the depot gathering dust.

Strong words indeed! I agree with everything that you have written and would like to think that, given the reduced frequency of the 52/52A at the weekend and especially Sunday, the new deckers will also be used as a matter of course on the 53 and 55. Does anybody know what the PVR for the 52/52A is on a Sunday? My guess is six and that means ten will be left sitting in the depot.

[Valandil]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(14/02/2015 16:12)507009 Wrote:  Personally, I think the 52/53/55 corridors should be decker operated on weekends without excuse. This is where the real capacity is on weekends as the 60 and 61 are a lot quieter. For the Sunday 52/52A and 55 to be Pulsar operated, running full throughout the day, is a disgrace in my opinion when the lion's share of the existing Enviro400s sit in the depot gathering dust.

I have not used the 60/61 often, but whenever I have it has been a weekend and there have only been a maximum of around 10 passengers on board at any one time.
I'm sure the use of deckers on these routes must be justified on weekdays (?) but as far as I can see -- I agree -- they are completely wasted on those routes on weekends.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(14/02/2015 16:31)Barney Wrote:  Strong words indeed! I agree with everything that you have written and would like to think that, given the reduced frequency of the 52/52A at the weekend and especially Sunday, the new deckers will also be used as a matter of course on the 53 and 55. Does anybody know what the PVR for the 52/52A is on a Sunday? My guess is six and that means ten will be left sitting in the depot.

You're right Barney that the 52/52A requires six buses on a Sunday, so with ten spares they will surely see some use elsewhere on Sundays.

With the Bootle - Aigburth routes, on weekdays I would definitely claim that the 60 needs a full allocation of double deckers as peak time runs are very busy - and it isn't just schoolkids. The 61, however, only seems to have a select number of journeys which actually justify the double deckers, so there is less of a reason for a majority decker allocation here in my experience. As said though, weekends are a very different story and the current Enviro400s are being badly wasted on weekends.

[N301 CKB]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
I got some pictures of the new Enviro's waiting to go into service here.

4636 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/124667232@...534444381/

4629 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/124667232@...otostream/

[Harryn9000]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
when are the decker due to go into service seens GL and SH are up and running

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(15/02/2015 15:06)Harryn9000 Wrote:  when are the decker due to go into service seens GL and SH are up and running

My guess is that they will first enter service on Sunday the 1st of March. They have been bought for service on the 52/52A but it wouldn't surprise me if they also appear on the 53 and 55 that day. The first 52A departs Netherton at 09.01. The 53 and 55 start earlier.

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(15/02/2015 16:29)Barney Wrote:  My guess is that they will first enter service on Sunday the 1st of March. They have been bought for service on the 52/52A but it wouldn't surprise me if they also appear on the 53 and 55 that day. The first 52A departs Netherton at 09.01. The 53 and 55 start earlier.

I have read on another site that the new deckers will be out on Sunday 1st March on the 52/52A. The same source also claims that Arriva will offer a free service for the day on these routes. Can anybody confirm or refute this?

[Harryn9000]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot
it was me who posted it on facebook don't hold me to it. but that what i was told by the driver i no who does work in bootle