In the last few days before the big event we are seeing quite a few extra buses in Plymouth.
At least 4047 4048 YX12FOH, YX12FOJ have been out in service in Plymouth.
We are getting a few loans from elsewhere within GoAhead with BlueStar Enviros already here and some at least being seen out in service.
1269 BX09PHK has been out in service in Plymouth at least
loan arrivals include Blue Star branded Scania East Lancs and a surprise Volvo B7TL wright Gemini new to London and still dual door. The Gemini is 1270 LX06EAY for its stay the Scania are 1271 YN56FFE 1273 YN56FFR and 1274 YN56FFO ...1272 is awaited same batch YN56FFK.
Next to arrive E400 from GNE 1281 to 1285 due over next couple of days.
More permanent additions:
Almost ready is the only E400 Hybrid delivered ex EH8 now 4100 this bus may see some service but is intended to be a driver trainer. A second example Ex EH11 to be 4101 is also due and this will be followed by 8 WHV examples 8100 to 8107 due soon.
Clearly we are going to be seeing quite a few different buses in Plymouth next week with so many Plymouth buses going into Cornwall while other buses due for the fleet are still to arrive. The next few months are going to be quite interesting!
Are Plymouth keeping these old buses or are they eventually going to Cornwall? Plymouth always seems to get the raw end of the deal with the E400 City's going to Cornwall. Yes we have the electric buses but why can't we have a whole "nice fleet" for a change?
ReplyDeleteYN56 FFK has been off the road at Crawley depot for the past month, presumably awaiting parts. Must be plenty of head-scratching at GA at the moment with Metrobus having 40+ buses on loan and Cornwall needing to be covered too. New buses are due for Vectis and Brighton imminently, so maybe that will release more shortly but the timing is unfortunate to say the least!
ReplyDeleteCitybus have neglected Plymouth lately. More and more buses are being cancelled due to buses covering Cornwall's bus shortfall, meaning people are late for work, school or for appointments. The 43A doesn't run more than it actually does run, which is a pointless route when there are people living in Brake Farm that don't have a bus service at all, since the 62 ceased to operate. Lots of elderly people simply can't walk to Crownhill Road to get a bus and are left isolated. The 3 buses usually used on the 43A could be utilised on a route covering Brake Farm properly. It would also make sense for the 71 to run via Penros Road, instead of the A38 St Budeaux bypass as it would create a link between St Budeaux and Whitleigh, something that hasn't existed since the 46 route was cancelled in 2012.
ReplyDeleteWhile a good and sensible point, the reality is that is Brake Farm was profitable and warranted a service, it would have one. PCB is a business, businesses run for profit. If it would be profitable, they’d be there.
DeleteThe timings on the 71 are so tight they simply could not run via Pemros and still maintain an hourly (ish) frequency which only requires one bus to be allocated.
I agree on the 43A, but when they are short of vehicles, one corridor dropping to every 15 mins rather than every 7/8 is a compromise I’m sure other areas are grateful of. Take Whitleigh/Honicknowle/Ford/Keyham for example, which would be hourly if one bus was missing.
All of that being said, I think both PCB have opportunities for growth and for a better network - but until SC actually put pressure on through competition, they’d won’t!
A few electroliners now have rear end adverts, these include 7032 and 7018 with business adverts and 7005 and 7015 with Plymouth Citybus campaign adverts .
ReplyDeleteOf course we know one is in all over wrap for Go Ahead Women, which is 7029
In other news, 531 has been repainted into standard Transport from Cornwall livery, and was shining on the streets today. 538 is out of purple and into TfC livery but that seems to have been a while ago.
1281 seems to have arrived with a rear end adverts for Ospreys