Two of those Solos are now with Centrebus Grantham, UZU has entered service already and UZP is being prepped at the moment.
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Transdev Blazefield
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Currently on the 4:45 from Leeds to Scarborough. The card machine on the ticket machine isn’t working so it’s cash only. The card machine at the bus station at Leeds wasn’t working so plenty of people left behind and at most stops we’ve now stopped at
Last bus of the day to Scarborough, is the cash only policy the usual way when the ticket machine isn’t working, really they should just be letting people on than wait 40 minutes in the cold at rural stops or making people pay a lot more money to get a train to Scarborough
Last bus of the day to Scarborough, is the cash only policy the usual way when the ticket machine isn’t working, really they should just be letting people on than wait 40 minutes in the cold at rural stops or making people pay a lot more money to get a train to Scarborough
YorkRailFan
Established Member
Are they accepting tickets purchased on the Transdev app? Looks like you got the short straw with getting an Eclipse 2 (1867) instead of the usual Geminis.
peterblue
Member
That's surprising and not at all good customer service.
I've known a few times for the card machine to not be working with other operators but normally the policy is to just let everyone on for free.
It's rare for a Transdev ticket machine not to be working, but that's been my experience, too.
CHA 81C
Member
Team Pennine seem to be using Solos rather than Sprinters on their 561 and 562. It makes a change to get a more comfortable ride on a Solo anyway. Is there a reason why they're short of vehicles?
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Leedsbusman
Member
Team Pennine recast its running boards in December to give extra time to recover from the roadwork delays in Halifax centre. The 561/2 is part of an eight bus cycle so gets a mix of Stratas and Solos. 68 88 166 191 192 193 196 198 have all worked 561 or 562 so far today.
CHA 81C
Member
Thanks. They are being badly delayed. It's not unusual to take more than 10 minutes just from the bus station to Halifax station.
I had been trying to attach a new timetable that was on their website last week. It looked like something from Covid, but it was never used. They seem to have replaced it now with the correct one starting 23/02/25.
I had been trying to attach a new timetable that was on their website last week. It looked like something from Covid, but it was never used. They seem to have replaced it now with the correct one starting 23/02/25.
theblackwatch
Established Member
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2006
- Messages
- 10,777
Going back to earlier discussions (around Jan 3rd-6th) regarding fares, I travelled from Starbeck to Harrogate and back a couple of days ago and the fare was £3 each way. On the way back I asked the driver how far a £2.50 'short hop' ticket would get me, and he kindly looked it up on his ticket machine - it was Leyland Road, which is 5 stops from the bus station.
So, as I thought, Transdev have used the 'fare cap' to increase some fares massively over the past two and a bit years - the fare table links provided by @SCH117X at post #4632 no longer work. The train is £3.40 (off peak) and £4.00 (peak) return between Starbeck and Harrogate so I will no longer be using the bus if that is all I am doing; it is only worth the £6.00 if I am doing other journeys that same day, and I can buy a Harrogate1 ticket for the same price as a return journey of less than 2 miles.
So, as I thought, Transdev have used the 'fare cap' to increase some fares massively over the past two and a bit years - the fare table links provided by @SCH117X at post #4632 no longer work. The train is £3.40 (off peak) and £4.00 (peak) return between Starbeck and Harrogate so I will no longer be using the bus if that is all I am doing; it is only worth the £6.00 if I am doing other journeys that same day, and I can buy a Harrogate1 ticket for the same price as a return journey of less than 2 miles.
YorkRailFan
Established Member
With Leeman Road regularly been closed over the past few weeks/coming weeks, Transdev services coming off the A19 have been diverting via Holgate. Traveling on the 30 last Saturday, many (including myself) alighted at Blossom Street and it seemed like a far more popular destination than Leeman Road.
Would it be reasonable to suggest that at least some Transdev services coming off the A19 (say just the 30, 30X and 31X) should always run via Holgate? I know this would be unpopular with people living along Leeman Road, but if the 19 continued to serve Leeman Road, it seems like people on 30, 30X and 31X would benefit more from a stop on Blossom Street than Leeman Road. First did this with the 10, and it seems like Blossom Street has proven to be a more popular destination for people using the 10 than Leeman Road. Although the people of Leeman Road weren't too happy that they'd get the 59 instead of the 10.
Would it be reasonable to suggest that at least some Transdev services coming off the A19 (say just the 30, 30X and 31X) should always run via Holgate? I know this would be unpopular with people living along Leeman Road, but if the 19 continued to serve Leeman Road, it seems like people on 30, 30X and 31X would benefit more from a stop on Blossom Street than Leeman Road. First did this with the 10, and it seems like Blossom Street has proven to be a more popular destination for people using the 10 than Leeman Road. Although the people of Leeman Road weren't too happy that they'd get the 59 instead of the 10.
£3 each way, was a return was not available?
Shaw S Hunter
Established Member
Some Harrogate fleet news not yet mentioned. The Env100EV demonstrator didn't last long: during Monday morning it was swapped out of service mid-journey on the 21 and has now been removed from the tracking list. Ironically it was replaced by brand new eCitaro 1013 making its first revenue earning journey. That just leaves 1001 to go. The 2 eCitaro demonstrators must surely be on borrowed time. The remaining Versas have also now gone though they had seen only sporadic use recently. It also helps that the 7900e's seem to be fairly reliable now although 805 remains out of use.
As for the Env400EVs it appears the main obstacle to getting them into service is the need to type-train drivers for them. The current position is that 2211-2213 are being turned out just about daily (not Sundays) but don't always complete a full day's running due to a relief driver at some point in the day not being trained. Just a hint of Northern Rail of a few years ago here!
As for the Env400EVs it appears the main obstacle to getting them into service is the need to type-train drivers for them. The current position is that 2211-2213 are being turned out just about daily (not Sundays) but don't always complete a full day's running due to a relief driver at some point in the day not being trained. Just a hint of Northern Rail of a few years ago here!
Burnley Bus Company were having problems with their X43s yesterday afternoon and into the evening's rush hour due to roadworks closing a lane on A56 near Rawtenstall due to a manhole defect, traffic was backed up at one point all the way back to Bury Junction on M66 and most drivers on X43 were coming off at Bury then heading up Walmsley Road and 483 route to Rawtenstall to try and avoid the traffic problems.
kewal_7770
New Member
During the Leeman Road night closures, York Pullman operated a service 10S via the A59 and Water End to/from the north of Leeman Rd area
Leedsbusman
Member
Surely it’s the opcharge not being operative yet that is stopping the e400s running all day rather than driver training.
Why do they need to be trained to drive them? Why wasn't this a problem with the e-Citaros then? I have driven BEV cars and they are no different from ICE cars.
The problem is clearly with the buses and not the drivers. Perhaps it is because the government who funded these buses insist on the sticker which says so, being applied to the buses, as these have started appearing just like they do on the First BEV buses in Leeds.
It must be the slowest roll-out of any new fleet of buses ever.
The problem is clearly with the buses and not the drivers. Perhaps it is because the government who funded these buses insist on the sticker which says so, being applied to the buses, as these have started appearing just like they do on the First BEV buses in Leeds.
It must be the slowest roll-out of any new fleet of buses ever.
YorkRailFan
Established Member
Another Volvo Gemini 2 (ex-Reliance) has entered service with Transdev, 2411, formerly tracked as 18 at Reliance (named "Captain Tom") with temporary "I'm Joining York & Country" stickers.
The Enviro 100EVs loan period ended. Possibly it was not meant to be used on Monday and was recalled to Starbeck urgently so that it could be despatched back to ADL.
? The tracking begs to differ . While all 7 that are active may have been in use at the start of a day they start dropping like flies quickly.
Shaw S Hunter
Established Member
The fact that all 7 regularly make it out of the depot at all is a definite improvement lately. Even without issues with the bus station chargers there have been days when only 2 or 3 have made it out leading to just about every other vehicle type having to be used to maintain the short local services. And yes that is still happening but it had become very much the norm for a while.
The difference with the eCitaros is the Mercs don't have the opportunity charging option so nothing extra for drivers to monitor. You're quite right that in terms of actual driving there should be no real change. However the actual performance is a little different and could catch out the unwary so training is a sensible precaution. You can also be sure that there are protocols in place around battery management for the long-term: I'm sure you will have come across the idea that recharging a battery is typically best done when the remaining charge falls below a set level, a large bus battery will be no different.
I would also suggest that the problem is less with the buses themselves and more the logistics involved with introducing a new fleet. In such circumstances you would expect a number of older vehicles to be retained just until the new fleet is properly bedded in. The problem here is introducing 2 different fleets into an operation that insists on the 36 fleet being run separately from the rest. So that means a "float" for both fleets but that puts pressure on physical space in the depot, especially as overnight servicing includes both conventional refuelling and recharging on the site. In terms of vehicle throughput that means two different work-streams to manage. Probably some lessons to be learned about just how much depot space is needed when transitioning to electric operation.
And the other issue is the perennial one of staff shortages. Transdev is no more immune to this than any other operator. That means releasing drivers for training is more difficult. There will be times when the choice is allow training to go ahead or keep the scheduled service going. And even the latter is not always being achieved.
I don't understand your beef about stickers. Surely it's just a bit of PR "fluff" that makes no practical difference whatsoever? How much valuable maintenance time do you suppose is lost in applying them?
I do agree that the roll-out is proving to be very long-winded. Probably not the worst ever but worse than has been seen for a good few years.
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The update by Paul Turner on Facebook was quite clear - once all the eCitaros have been received they will then turn to having the ADLs delivered. The Starbeck depot is not exactly spacious so they cannot have an influx of new vehicles and with the ADLs it was stated they would arrive one by one allowing in turn a B5 to go for relivering etc for Keighley. That has not happened yet as the three that have arrrived simply bring the 36 alllocation back to full strength as two B5s are accident damaged and another was burnt out by an engine fire. Incidently North Yorkshire Place in the last week or two concluded their investigation into the South Stainley accident so that B5 possibly can now be repaired. The one involved in the accident at Harewood Bridge being expected to be the first Keighley receive.
The ADL400EVs are stated by ADL to have an initial theoretical range of 385 miles but given the hills and fast running on the A61 in practice something less is likely
The ADL400EVs are stated by ADL to have an initial theoretical range of 385 miles but given the hills and fast running on the A61 in practice something less is likely
philthetube
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Jan 2016
- Messages
- 3,992
You certainly need to know where the fire extinguisher and first aid kits are located, possibly locations of Master switches as well, also a bit of time just to learn the locations of controls, and quite importantly how the seat adjustment works.
Sounds like the union man. "My members cannot drive this bus until they are shown where the steering wheel is, or how to adjust the seat"
Fat lot of use a fire extinguisher will be on a battery bus fire. And do they get the man from the hire car company at the airport to show them how to adjust the hire car seat? They usually just give you the keys and point you in the vague direction of the car park, from their cosy desk in the terminal.
Fat lot of use a fire extinguisher will be on a battery bus fire. And do they get the man from the hire car company at the airport to show them how to adjust the hire car seat? They usually just give you the keys and point you in the vague direction of the car park, from their cosy desk in the terminal.
Major roadworks in Harrogate from 24 Feb mean the all the services using the A61 Ripon Road away from the town centre are having to be diverted by the route of route 2 as far as the A59. Given the amount of traffic on that already highly congested road, serious delays are being anticipated with reduced services on the 2 and 3 and as a consequence of trying to keep to a 30 minute interval on the 36 to Ripon a reduction in the Leeds frequency.
www.transdevbus.co.uk
The road works signs are saying the Ripon Road/Jennyfield Drive closure is for upto 6 weeks commencinmg 7 pm on the 23rd (Sunday)
Worth looking out for is 'On The Buses' Book 11 from Kelsey Publishing in which pages 62-93 cover Keighley-West Yorkshire, York-West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
Sorry, we can't find this page!
www.transdevbus.co.uk
The road works signs are saying the Ripon Road/Jennyfield Drive closure is for upto 6 weeks commencinmg 7 pm on the 23rd (Sunday)
Worth looking out for is 'On The Buses' Book 11 from Kelsey Publishing in which pages 62-93 cover Keighley-West Yorkshire, York-West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
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Is part of the driver training not on how to use the new digital wing mirrors? I know in other areas some buses have been unable to be used as drivers aren't trained on the digital wing mirrors.
What is there to train about digital wing mirrors?
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Do you ever stop in your anti-Transdev rantings? I mean... what gives? Why are you so embittered?
As it is, it has been good practice for years to ensure that drivers are type trained when a markedly different vehicle type enters service. I can remember when Leyland Nationals were brought in for drivers who'd been used to Bristol REs cos they were very different. However, you'd not do it for a Solo SR when you've had Solos.
Also, it's not the same as picking up a hire car, or getting your first electric compared to a diesel car. For a start, you're dealing with a "live load" - passengers that you have a legal and moral responsibility for. I suggest that you experience a court case when you're dealing with personal injury claims - I can assure you, it is not a nice experience so making sure that you have correctly trained staff, well established processes, risk assessments is something that you really appreciate having when in that position.
Oh, and no one is anticipating using a fire extinguisher on a battery but there are other flammable things on buses, not least when thugs try and set light to them!
It is a retraining of the brain - knowing when and where to look
It's relatively straightforward but a bit weird.Interesting. The reason I ask is that all we got was "lights sometimes flicker in it, and they aren't flashing you.". Nothing else.It is a retraining of the brain - knowing when and where to look
Happens more or less everywhere. When my local route got new vehicles last year I think the drivers had a little bit of training/look round and that was going from a Volvo B7RLE to Enviro 200's. Even after they were introduced there were some drivers still getting used to the new vehicles.
Every time you rant you show how little you know about safely running a bus company.
It's perfectly possible to use a fire extinguisher to good effect on a battery fire - but it needs to be a powder extinguisher.
Of course I'm not expecting any engagement from Lucy - she just likes to rant.