Bendy buses

[hi2u_uk]

Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted all have articulated buses. So three out of the four main airports in the country use them.

Luton airport has them to get people from the parkway train station to the terminal

 

[railwaytrack]

CN06 GDY (619) is with the Cardiff Transport Preservation Group.

Cardiff 619 Has Joined The Collection - Cardiff Transport Preservation Group

The CTPG is pleased to confirm that Cardiff 619 has joined the collection, 619 is the last of the batch of bendybuses purchased by Cardiff in 2006 and was originally in the generic livery of green and cream so it could cover either the Baycar or Ely routes. The Bendybuses did get to Barry...

www.ctpg.co.uk

Good to see a third one has been preserved too. I am surprised that three of them have been preserved. Especially as so few other bendy buses have entered preservation.

Luton airport has them to get people from the parkway train station to the terminal

Luton Airport also has a few Mercedes Benz Citaro bendy buses too for airside work.

 

[MotCO]

Good to see a third one has been preserved too. I am surprised that three of them have been preserved. Especially as so few other bendy buses have entered preservation.

BX02YYZ, a former Red Arrow bendy bus (MAL15), is also preserved, with the Bromley Bus Preservation Group.

 

[railwaytrack]

BX02YYZ, a former Red Arrow bendy bus (MAL15), is also preserved, with the Bromley Bus Preservation Group.

Yes indeed there is. I saw it at a bus rally recently. It looks very smart repainted from the Bournemouth University livery back to the original Red Arrow livery. I am pretty sure there is also an ex Arriva London and ex Arriva Leicester articulated Citaro bus preserved by someone up north who also owns another ex First Manchester articulated Scania bus and an ex First Manchester rigid Citaro bus too.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

At the end of the day, I think it's mostly a cultural rather than a technical or street-scape difference.

The UK traditionally used double-deckers, and things like bus stations or depots were constructed with double-deckers in mind. There are probably some bus routes, that could just as well or even better be served by bendy buses (by whatever metric), but both the people in charge of buses and passengers expect double-deckers to be there like they always did.

Mainland Europe traditionally used bendy buses, and things like bus stations or depots were constructed with bendy buses in mind. There are probably some bus routes, that could just as well or even better be served by double-deckers (by whatever metric), but both the people in charge of buses and passengers expect bendy buses to be there like they always did.

 

[RJ]

Yes indeed there is. I saw it at a bus rally recently. It looks very smart repainted from the Bournemouth University livery back to the original Red Arrow livery. I am pretty sure there is also an ex Arriva London and ex Arriva Leicester articulated Citaro bus preserved by someone up north who also owns another ex First Manchester articulated Scania bus and an ex First Manchester rigid Citaro bus too.

I’ve also taken one into my preserved fleet —->

 

[krus_aragon]

At the end of the day, I think it's mostly a cultural rather than a technical or street-scape difference.

The UK traditionally used double-deckers, and things like bus stations or depots were constructed with double-deckers in mind. There are probably some bus routes, that could just as well or even better be served by bendy buses (by whatever metric), but both the people in charge of buses and passengers expect double-deckers to be there like they always did.

Mainland Europe traditionally used bendy buses, and things like bus stations or depots were constructed with bendy buses in mind. There are probably some bus routes, that could just as well or even better be served by double-deckers (by whatever metric), but both the people in charge of buses and passengers expect bendy buses to be there like they always did.

My main experience of bendy buses (other than an occasional journey on the 6 Baycar in Cardiff) is in Ontario, where York Region Transit use loads of them on their Viva rapid bus network. Because they're used on long, radial routes along highways laid out in a grid, they rarely have to do any bending until they reach a terminal. (The Viva Blue route is a straight 25 miles on a north-south axis.) As such, it's a novelty when the bendy buses actually bend!

 

[railwaytrack]

I’ve also taken one into my preserved fleet —->

That is brilliant to hear. I am glad that another has been preserved. They are great buses. So i think that means there are now three preserved Citaro bendy buses in the UK. May i ask do you plan to leave it in that livery or paint it in to its previous London livery? Also any plans to take it to any bus rallies?

 

[RJ]

That is brilliant to hear. I am glad that another has been preserved. They are great buses. So i think that means there are now three preserved Citaro bendy buses in the UK. May i ask do you plan to leave it in that livery or paint it in to its previous London livery? Also any plans to take it to any bus rallies?

Thanks. I don’t think I’m taking it to any rallies, others in my collection are ahead in the queue for that sort of thing. But it is clocking up some miles already. It operated a free trip along London bus route 111 on Friday night and it was being used for route testing yesterday

As for a repaint, again it’s low on the list of priorities but never say never. What remained of the branding in that video has been removed, but the cheeky slogans on the glass are staying!

 

[busestrains]

The final bendy bus has now been withdrawn from service at Brighton & Hove so that is another place where bendy buses have disappeared now. Yesterday was the final day of service for these.

Goodbye Bendy Buses

Today is the final day of operation for the bendy buses at Brighton & Hove Buses.

www.buses.co.uk

Goodbye Bendy Buses​

Yesterday Mon 31st Oct 2022

Today is the final day of operation for the bendy buses at Brighton & Hove Buses.

Please find the final journeys listed below.

The last 25 bendy bus service from the Old Steine will depart at 18:53 and will terminate at the Universities.

The last 25 bendy bus service from the Universities will depart at 19:17 and will terminate at the Old Steine.

I wonder how much longer the Aberdeen and York have left in service. If those ones go than Belfast will be the only place in the UK other than airports where bendy buses are used.

 

[RJ]

I wonder how much longer the Aberdeen and York have left in service. If those ones go than Belfast will be the only place in the UK other than airports where bendy buses are used.

A growing number are being used by operators on rail replacement services.

 

[Volvodart]

I wonder how much longer the Aberdeen and York have left in service. If those ones go than Belfast will be the only place in the UK other than airports where bendy buses are used.

The Aberdeen ones have had Euro 6 emission conversions completed last month so in theory should be here for 5 years to comply with the grant terms (unless replaced by new zero emission buses).

 

[fandroid]

One very simple reason for bendy buses thriving in continental Europe (and they are almost ubiquitous there) are the fare systems. Nearly all rely on pre-purchase of tickets and no checking by the driver, nor even an Oyster-style card reader at the door. That means that all doors can be used for boarding/alighting and dwell times are minimal. So bendies are ahead of the game in terms of bus utilisation and minimum fleet size. Revenue control is by travelling inspectors (often plain clothes) and hefty fines

 

[alex397]

One very simple reason for bendy buses thriving in continental Europe (and they are almost ubiquitous there) are the fare systems. Nearly all rely on pre-purchase of tickets and no checking by the driver, nor even an Oyster-style card reader at the door. That means that all doors can be used for boarding/alighting and dwell times are minimal. So bendies are ahead of the game in terms of bus utilisation and minimum fleet size. Revenue control is by travelling inspectors (often plain clothes) and hefty fines

And, in my opinion, this is how it should be here too, at least in city regions. I remain to be convinced that the British way is better, in fact I generally think it is worse from a passenger perspective.
Despite the increased use of contactless payments and apps, way too much time is wasted at bus stops, especially when someone wants to buy a new season ticket. Generally speaking, on the continent it is a breeze and dwell times are minimal.
I will add though that customer service on buses is something we generally excel at.

 

[busestrains]

A growing number are being used by operators on rail replacement services.

Yes i have noticed that quite a few are appearing on rail replacement recently and also quite a few seem to have been preserved.

Other than the Aberdeen and York and various airport ones all of the following seem to be preserved or used on rail replacement or even school bus services:

MERCEDES BENZ CITARO O530G:
• BL57 OXJ - Some Rail Replacement Operator
• BL57 OXK - Preserved
• BX04 MXS - Preserved
• LX04 LCC - Some Rail Replacement Operator
• BJ03 ESY - Preserved
• BX02 YYZ - Preserved

SCANIA L94UA WRIGHT SOLAR FUSION:
• FE02 AKV - Preserved

SCANIA OMNICITY CN94UB:
• CN06 GDJ (602) - Connexxions Buses
• CN06 GDK (604) - Preserved
• CN06 GDO (603) - Portsmouth City Coaches
• CN06 GDY (619) - Preserved
• CN06 GFG (612) - Connexxions Buses
• CN06 GFK (614) - Sussex Coaches
• CN06 GFO (615) - Preserved
• YN05 GYA (12001) - Preserved

There are probably some other preserved ones too? Also i think in the Orkney Islands there are quite a few bendy buses used for some sort of contract?

The Aberdeen ones have had Euro 6 emission conversions completed last month so in theory should be here for 5 years to comply with the grant terms (unless replaced by new zero emission buses).

I wonder if the remaining York bendy buses will join the Aberdeen ones too? I think the Aberdeen ones were all originally in York and i thought i heard something about the Park & Ride getting more electric buses so it would probably make sense if the remaining York ones went to Aberdeen to join the rest?

 

[dodecahedron67]

I wonder if the remaining York bendy buses will join the Aberdeen ones too? I think the Aberdeen ones were all originally in York and i thought i heard something about the Park & Ride getting more electric buses so it would probably make sense if the remaining York ones went to Aberdeen to join the rest?

The bendy buses from York are leaving as soon as new EVs join the fleet is the plan.

I believe they are to go to Aberdeen but depending on how long the EVs take to arrive it might be a one-way trip to Preservation or the scrapper for them

 

[Jordan Adam]

The bendy buses from York are leaving as soon as new EVs join the fleet is the plan.

I believe they are to go to Aberdeen but depending on how long the EVs take to arrive it might be a one-way trip to Preservation or the scrapper for them

They're expected to be with Aberdeen "by April". However if that actually happens remains to be seen.

Yes i have noticed that quite a few are appearing on rail replacement recently and also quite a few seem to have been preserved.

Other than the Aberdeen and York and various airport ones all of the following seem to be preserved or used on rail replacement or even school bus services:

MERCEDES BENZ CITARO O530G:
• BL57 OXJ - Some Rail Replacement Operator
• BL57 OXK - Preserved
• BX04 MXS - Preserved
• LX04 LCC - Some Rail Replacement Operator
• BJ03 ESY - Preserved
• BX02 YYZ - Preserved

SCANIA L94UA WRIGHT SOLAR FUSION:
• FE02 AKV - Preserved

SCANIA OMNICITY CN94UB:
• CN06 GDJ (602) - Connexxions Buses
• CN06 GDK (604) - Preserved
• CN06 GDO (603) - Portsmouth City Coaches
• CN06 GDY (619) - Preserved
• CN06 GFG (612) - Connexxions Buses
• CN06 GFK (614) - Sussex Coaches
• CN06 GFO (615) - Preserved
• YN05 GYA (12001) - Preserved

There are probably some other preserved ones too? Also i think in the Orkney Islands there are quite a few bendy buses used for some sort of contract?


I wonder if the remaining York bendy buses will join the Aberdeen ones too? I think the Aberdeen ones were all originally in York and i thought i heard something about the Park & Ride getting more electric buses so it would probably make sense if the remaining York ones went to Aberdeen to join the rest?

JV Coaches on Orkney operate 5 bendy buses. These consist of two prefacelift O530G Citaros LX03HEJ & LX03HEU, two facelift O530G Citaros BD57WCY & BD57WCZ and Scania L94UA Wright Solar Fusion SJ51LPA

Another preserved Artic to add to your list is Mercedes-Benz O405G Alexander Cityranger K1GRT.

Grampian Regional Transport 1 K1GRT (14th August 2022)

Preserved Grampian Regional Transport Mercedes-Benz O405G Alexander Cityranger 1 K1GRT (Ex-First Aberdeen 10046) is seen here on the circuit at Grampian Transport Museum during the 2022 Bus Collection At Alford Open Day. Photo Date: 14th August 2022

flic.kr

 

[Simon75]

One very simple reason for bendy buses thriving in continental Europe (and they are almost ubiquitous there) are the fare systems. Nearly all rely on pre-purchase of tickets and no checking by the driver, nor even an Oyster-style card reader at the door. That means that all doors can be used for boarding/alighting and dwell times are minimal. So bendies are ahead of the game in terms of bus utilisation and minimum fleet size. Revenue control is by travelling inspectors (often plain clothes) and hefty fines

As mentioned elsewhere, other reasons include the design of most bus stations, as they won't allow for bendies (likewise double doors).

 

[dodecahedron67]

They're expected to be with Aberdeen "by April". However if that actually happens remains to be seen.

I would be incredibly surprised if they were in Aberdeen by April

They are very much still needed here in York

 

[busestrains]

Brighton & Hove have just announced that a farewell tour will take place on this Monday the 7th to give a final opportunity to ride the bendy buses.

The details are on their website:

Bendy Bus - one off final journey Monday 7 November

Join us for a one off final journey on the bendy bus.

www.buses.co.uk

Bendy Bus - one off final journey Monday 7 November​

Today Thu 3rd Nov 2022

On Monday 7 November Brighton & Hove Buses will say farewell to the last bendy bus as it exits Lewes Road for its final tour of the city, replicating the route 25. We know there are some bendy bus fans out there and we wanted to give our customers the opportunity to ride the route 25 on a bendy bus for one last time with a stop off in Brighton for photos.

This is free and final journey will help raise money to support a local charity and on the day. We will be asking for donations from those who travel on this final journey with us.

We have a limited number of spaces available that will be offered on a first come first serve basis. If you would like to join us on this final bendy bus journey please email [email protected] with your name and contact details.

It is free of charge but will they will be raising donations for charities and people wishing to ride on this farewell tour need to send an email to reserve a space.

 

[JD2168]

Another preserved bendy bus is C113 HDT a Leyland DAB Bendy bus new to SYT, currently undergoing restoration at South Yorkshire Transport Trust in Rotherham.

 

[sk688]

Were any of the Bath bendy buses preserved ?

 

[busesrusuk]

Have any of the Leyland-DAB artics survived?

Capital Citybus RLN233Wv3 Jun94

This bus was new to British Airways as fleet number C306. In June 1994 the bus appeared at the North Weald bus rally in the livery of Capital Citybus. They were proposing to use articulated buses on the Red Arrow routes in Central London if their tender bid was successful. A classic "what...

www.flickr.com

 

[busestrains]

First Bus have acquired at least seven of the ex Brighton & Hove bendy buses from Ensign Bus recently:

BD57 WDE
BD57 WDL
BD57 WDM
BD57 WDP
BD57 WDT
BL57 OXM
BP57 UYF

Does anyone know what First Bus are planning on doing with all of these? Are they for their Dublin Airport car park shuttles? Or for Aberdeen? Or for York to allow the rest of the 58 reg ones to go to Aberdeen? Or something else?

 

[dodecahedron67]

First Bus have acquired at least seven of the ex Brighton & Hove bendy buses from Ensign Bus recently:

BD57 WDE
BD57 WDL
BD57 WDM
BD57 WDP
BD57 WDT
BL57 OXM
BP57 UYF

Does anyone know what First Bus are planning on doing with all of these? Are they for their Dublin Airport car park shuttles? Or for Aberdeen? Or for York to allow the rest of the 58 reg ones to go to Aberdeen? Or something else?

Not sure about anything else, but I can tell you with near complete certainty they aren't for York

Appear to be at Sheffield Depot for now?

 

[busestrains]

Not sure about anything else, but I can tell you with near complete certainty they aren't for York

Appear to be at Sheffield Depot for now?

Interesting to hear they are in Sheffield depot now. I wonder if that is just a place they are briefly storing them or if they will be used on their Sheffield routes. I was certainly surprised to see First Bus purchase more bendy buses.

 

[Simon75]

Interesting to hear they are in Sheffield depot now. I wonder if that is just a place they are briefly storing them or if they will be used on their Sheffield routes. I was certainly surprised to see First Bus purchase more bendy buses.

I think bendy buses, wouldn't be suitable for their routes in Sheffield, due to hills.
Didn't they trail a bendy bus in the 80s, and it was unsuitable,

 

[busestrains]

I think bendy buses, wouldn't be suitable for their routes in Sheffield, due to hills.
Didn't they trail a bendy bus in the 80s, and it was unsuitable,

Why would hills make bendy buses unsuitable? Surely bendy buses can go up and down hills just as easily as rigid buses?

 

[RJ]

I think bendy buses, wouldn't be suitable for their routes in Sheffield, due to hills.
Didn't they trail a bendy bus in the 80s, and it was unsuitable,

I operated one from the same batch which had a 349bhp engine and could scale hills a great deal more quickly than anything else I've experienced. There were also no issues with grounding out on gradients. If there is a reason they wouldn't be suitable, it won't be hills!

 

[busesrusuk]

I think bendy buses, wouldn't be suitable for their routes in Sheffield, due to hills.
Didn't they trail a bendy bus in the 80s, and it was unsuitable,

Bendy buses operated in Sheffield for years as far as I recall; in fact, I think it was the very first UK city to introduce them if I recall correctly...