Xplore Dundee

[kez19]

I seen one of the new Yutong buses parked a bit distant from the 28 Sainsburys bus on Baldovie Road this morning about 10:15-10:20am, "not in service", at a guess was the bus on a road test? (I didn't see the number of bus as I was on the 10 towards Broughty Ferry).

 

[Stan Drews]

I seen one of the new Yutong buses parked a bit distant from the 28 Sainsburys bus on Baldovie Road this morning about 10:15-10:20am, "not in service", at a guess was the bus on a road test? (I didn't see the number of bus as I was on the 10 towards Broughty Ferry).

They have been out and about on driver familiarisation duties over the last few days.

 

[kez19]

They have been out and about on driver familiarisation duties over the last few days.

I did wonder why it was parked a bit further away, I am not familar with the Yutong buses (as such, have been on a couple one with Go North East in Newcastle and most recent McGills in Glasgow single decker versions), but are these buses better to the previous batch and do they have longer time out?

 

[Stan Drews]

I did wonder why it was parked a bit further away, I am not familar with the Yutong buses (as such, have been on a couple one with Go North East in Newcastle and most recent McGills in Glasgow single decker versions), but are these buses better to the previous batch and do they have longer time out?

They are the first of their type for the McGill’s Group, but they have 422kW batteries which are better than those in the existing single deck versions, so range should be pretty good on them.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Yutongs for 22 out today. 17 looks as if it’s been converted to Double Decks using the 22’s old MMC’s.

Presumably a reshuffle of allocations for a few routes on the cards as a result once all 12 are out?

 

[Strathtay 260]

Yutongs for 22 out today. 17 looks as if it’s been converted to Double Decks using the 22’s old MMC’s.

Presumably a reshuffle of allocations for a few routes on the cards as a result once all 12 are out?

That’s great. The 17 can finally have the capacity it requires.

 

[Yorkshireguy]

Yutongs for 22 out today. 17 looks as if it’s been converted to Double Decks using the 22’s old MMC’s.

Presumably a reshuffle of allocations for a few routes on the cards as a result once all 12 are out?

Looks exactly right, as was reported to be the plan earlier on this thread.

Bit of a woeful pic from this morning -

 

[Stan Drews]

Yutongs for 22 out today. 17 looks as if it’s been converted to Double Decks using the 22’s old MMC’s.

Presumably a reshuffle of allocations for a few routes on the cards as a result once all 12 are out?

The 12 new Yutong DDs are replacing a like number of Volvo B7RLEs, so the proportion of DDs will increase even more in the Dundee fleet. The remaining SDs are most likely to be found on the service 10, which doesn’t run into the city centre.

 

[EnviroExplorer]

The 12 new Yutong DDs are replacing a like number of Volvo B7RLEs, so the proportion of DDs will increase even more in the Dundee fleet.

Any idea whether McGills are selling more of the Dundee Volvo B7RLEs then?

 

[Stan Drews]

Any idea whether McGills are selling more of the Dundee Volvo B7RLEs then?

No current plans for them to leave the McGill’s Group.

 

[kez19]

What will happen with the 7 Gemini double deckers, will they be confined mostly to school runs (and the 2/6/23?), I know they do turn up on any route plus their shelf life is coming to an end soon?

A bit of an unrelated question but are we going to see newer vehicles coming in after these Yutongs?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

What will happen with the 7 Gemini double deckers, will they be confined mostly to school runs (and the 2/6/23?), I know they do turn up on any route plus their shelf life is coming to an end soon?

A bit of an unrelated question but are we going to see newer vehicles coming in after these Yutongs?

I'd imagine the Gemini's will still ply their trade as they're Euro 6 anyway, Emissions kit will increase the value of these vehicles if they will be sold either that transferred elsewhere in the group

 

[kez19]

I'd imagine the Gemini's will still ply their trade as they're Euro 6 anyway, Emissions kit will increase the value of these vehicles if they will be sold either that transferred elsewhere in the group

I did think that it’s just a pity, probably thinking under NX that they didn’t invest in the Gemini 2 possibly 3 before handing in the keys to McGills as they could have had an additional shelf life to the Gemini 1s(understanding as mentioned they are already Euro 6).

 

[Stan Drews]

I did think that it’s just a pity, probably thinking under NX that they didn’t invest in the Gemini 2 possibly 3 before handing in the keys to McGills as they could have had an additional shelf life to the Gemini 1s(understanding as mentioned they are already Euro 6).

As previously said, there are no current plans to withdraw the remaining B7TLs at Xplore, as they’re all EuroVI so perfectly adequate to cover the school services and the ‘in-fill’ services 2/6/23 that are linked to them.

 

[kez19]

Do the new Yutong buses carry next stop announcements at all? As the previous ones don't (yet ironic First Glasgow their Enviro City buses has them on), did NX (Enviro City branded 28) not ask on those and if the Yutongs don't either then has McGills missed opportunity here?

I'm sure I read on another thread on here and looking on Google it seems to be it should? Question is not having a dig at McGills but I did find it odd that the previous batch of electric buses didn't have them and did wonder if the Yutongs had?

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Do the new Yutong buses carry next stop announcements at all? As the previous ones don't (yet ironic First Glasgow their Enviro City buses had them), did NX (Enviro City) not ask on those and if the Yutongs don't either then has McGills missed opportunity here?

I'm sure I read on another thread on here and looking on Google it seems to be it should? Question is not having a dig at McGills but I did find it odd that the previous batch of electric buses didn't have them and did wonder if the Yutongs had?

The one on the X23 in Glasgow does for the X23 Route anyway.

 

[kez19]

The one on the X23 in Glasgow does for the X23 Route anyway.

Thats good so these buses do then, wasn't expecting that! Irony when I was in Glasgow a few weeks their own branded 23 bus didn't have the announcements on lol but I knew roughly where I was!

I do hope then McGills for Xplore will at least install it on the previous batch of buses.

 

[Spsf3232]

Thats good so these buses do then, wasn't expecting that! Irony when I was in Glasgow a few weeks their own branded 23 bus didn't have the announcements on lol but I knew roughly where I was!

I do hope then McGills for Xplore will at least install it on the previous batch of buses.

New vehicles must have next stop announcements by law. Exciting vehicles have until October 2026 to be compliant

 

[kez19]

New vehicles must have next stop announcements by law. Exciting vehicles have until October 2026 to be compliant

I thought that, as I have seen other operators having them on elsewhere, but I did find it odd that the previous batch of electric buses don't have any onboard.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

New vehicles must have next stop announcements by law. Exciting vehicles have until October 2026 to be compliant

I thought it was slightly different than that: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...vices#timelines-for-regulation-implementation

Timelines for regulation implementation
These regulations took effect on 1 October 2023 but the date in which they apply will depend on when the operator’s vehicles were first used on local services.

We consider that a vehicle was ‘first used’ on a local service when it first met the conditions in Section 2 of the Transport Act 1985, regardless of the jurisdiction within which it was operated.

Newer vehicles
Vehicles first used on or after 1 October 2019 must comply with the regulations from 1 October 2024 onwards.

2010s vehicles
Vehicles first used between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2019 must comply with the regulations from 1 October 2025 onwards.

Older vehicles
Vehicles first used between 1 January 1973 and 30 September 2014 must comply with these regulations from 1 October 2026 onwards.

Partially compliant
Vehicles that have a partially compliant status must comply with these regulations from 1 October 2031 onwards. See the partially compliant section for more information.

Which would mean all of the McGill's West Yutongs, and the Dundee BYD E400s should have had equipment retrofitted and functional 6 months ago?

 

[kez19]

I thought it was slightly different than that: https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...vices#timelines-for-regulation-implementation


Which would mean all of the McGill's West Yutongs, and the Dundee BYD E400s should have had equipment retrofitted and functional 6 months ago?

its maybe an odd question to ask but how was that an oversight on the BYD E400s when they got delivered? Surely be at time National Express to then McGills should have spotted this? (how do bus companies operate when ordering vehicles, do they ask for all the features for the model or do they ask for a stripped down model?)

I thought the Yutongs with McGills had those onboard? The single decker I was on (maybe it was the branded 23 ones?) did have what looked like an info display onboard but not on inside?

In terms of the single deck Yutongs with onboard announcements working I have seen it with Go North East on the 53/54/Q3 routes.

Reading that regulation, it seems then Xplore Dundee needs to get it finger in gear to put next stop announcements on vehicles from 2010 onwards (at a guess that will be the single decker eclipse 2 too)? (well October next year at least)

 

[Stan Drews]

its maybe an odd question to ask but how was that an oversight on the BYD E400s when they got delivered? Surely be at time National Express to then McGills should have spotted this? (how do bus companies operate when ordering vehicles, do they ask for all the features for the model or do they ask for a stripped down model?)

I thought the Yutongs with McGills had those onboard? The single decker I was on (maybe it was the branded 23 ones?) did have what looked like an info display onboard but not on inside?

In terms of the single deck Yutongs with onboard announcements working I have seen it with Go North East on the 53/54/Q3 routes.

Reading that regulation, it seems then Xplore Dundee needs to get it finger in gear to put next stop announcements on vehicles from 2010 onwards (at a guess that will be the single decker eclipse 2 too)? (well October next year at least)

I don’t think many bus operators in Scotland had specified them on new vehicles, when NatEx ordered the BYD/ADL400EVs. It was only last year that the Scottish Government confirmed that they would be required on new vehicles and retrofitted to existing vehicles over a 3 year period. However, they have been applying a very light touch to compliance as there have been many difficulties within the supply chain and the timescales were largely unachievable. Most operators are well on the way to getting buses equipped and creating the necessary files using the appropriate software, but it’s quite a complex task and the people doing it tend to have their regular tasks to do too!

 

[kez19]

I don’t think many bus operators in Scotland had specified them on new vehicles, when NatEx ordered the BYD/ADL400EVs. It was only last year that the Scottish Government confirmed that they would be required on new vehicles and retrofitted to existing vehicles over a 3 year period. However, they have been applying a very light touch to compliance as there have been many difficulties within the supply chain and the timescales were largely unachievable. Most operators are well on the way to getting buses equipped and creating the necessary files using the appropriate software, but it’s quite a complex task and the people doing it tend to have their regular tasks to do too!

It was only just an observation, but I was surprised in a sense between bus companies but I just thought the updated buses out there had these onboard but seems not? I did note as I used one of the new Yutongs today but there isn’t a next stop announcement onboard (as previously mentioned), but surely it should be standard though?

I’m stating above as more to the manufacturers doing it (before delivery of vehicles than putting it on bus companies to then double back to install).

 

[Stan Drews]

New Yutong U11DD 8610, which spent last week on loan with McGill’s Buses at Inchinnan depot, joined the rest of the batch at Dundee over the weekend and was out on the 22 today.

 

[citybus2500]

I don’t think many bus operators in Scotland had specified them on new vehicles, when NatEx ordered the BYD/ADL400EVs. It was only last year that the Scottish Government confirmed that they would be required on new vehicles and retrofitted to existing vehicles over a 3 year period. However, they have been applying a very light touch to compliance as there have been many difficulties within the supply chain and the timescales were largely unachievable. Most operators are well on the way to getting buses equipped and creating the necessary files using the appropriate software, but it’s quite a complex task and the people doing it tend to have their regular tasks to do too!

Did NX order the BYDs?

All NX buses had next stop specified since 2016. And that includes the two batches of E400MMCs delivered to Dundee!

 

[Stan Drews]

Did NX order the BYDs?

All NX buses had next stop specified since 2016. And that includes the two batches of E400MMCs delivered to Dundee!

Yes, the BYDs were ordered prior to the acquisition by McGill’s. The ‘Emerald’ class E400MMCs have had next stop announcements since new.

 

[kez19]

Did NX order the BYDs?

All NX buses had next stop specified since 2016. And that includes the two batches of E400MMCs delivered to Dundee!

If I remember correctly even the hybrid enviro400 buses prior they too had next stop announcements on them and they left when NX pulled out

 

[CSB0241]

Perhaps a bit random but does anyone know if Xplore are doing their big bus bundle this year? They started teasing it on their Facebook about a month before it happened last year, though I can’t see any mention of a 2025 one anywhere now.

 

[danielhogg2005]

Will the Discover Dundee tour be running this year?

 

[Stan Drews]

Will the Discover Dundee tour be running this year?

Yes it will.