Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[richw]

Just found a photo of SN04 XYA at the Truro P&R site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56793172@N05/9393603727/

Dave

That isnt Truro P+R. Looks like Eden.

 

[swifty]

I believe they may only be on loan for Eden work.

 

[Goldfish62]

That isnt Truro P+R. Looks like Eden.

It is.

I assume that FDC will take the two remaining P&R Citaros, plus the demo one, and maybe the Solo SR. Perhaps even WGL will loan the green Citaro initially.

In the longer term I would expect replacement vehicles to be covered by the insurance claim for the ones lost in the fire.

 

[richw]

It is.

I assume that FDC will take the two remaining P&R Citaros, plus the demo one, and maybe the Solo SR. Perhaps even WGL will loan the green Citaro initially.

In the longer term I would expect replacement vehicles to be covered by the insurance claim for the ones lost in the fire.

I would expect so, I wonder whether it is a differing insurance pay out for the P+R Citaro's as they were on lease.
I've also always wondered the reason for 1 odd newer Citaro (which survived) all of the Citaro's were 08 plate, with one on a 10 plate.

 

[Goldfish62]

I would expect so, I wonder whether it is a differing insurance pay out for the P+R Citaro's as they were on lease.
I've also always wondered the reason for 1 odd newer Citaro (which survived) all of the Citaro's were 08 plate, with one on a 10 plate.

That's because the P&R has proved more popular than originally envisaged so an extra bus was needed.

 

[83G/84D]

11036 SN04XYA (04-D-62404) & 11037 (04-D-62405). Ex Aircoach, they were with First Scotland East, but not registered, and I believe one was used on a contract at Leeds Bradford Airport.

11036 (SN04 XYA) visible from outside Truro outstation today. No sign of any more but one could possibly have been inside.

 

[swifty]

11037 (SN04XXY), 11038 (SN04XXZ) are also due for Eden, they'll be repainred into the orange livery one at a time.

 

[Goldfish62]

11036 (SN04 XYA) visible from outside Truro outstation today. No sign of any more but one could possibly have been inside.

So maybe they will be on Truro P&R, at least in the short term. Might be a little tight squeeze around the narrow streets of Truro, though..

 

[83G/84D]

11037 (SN04XXY), 11038 (SN04XXZ) are also due for Eden, they'll be repainred into the orange livery one at a time.

These two according to a Yahoo Groups forum are at Chelson Meadow, Plymouth being repainted.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

So maybe they will be on Truro P&R, at least in the short term. Might be a little tight squeeze around the narrow streets of Truro, though..

Citaro bendy 11036 in use on car park shuttles at Eden today along with Volvo B7LA 10178. Standby bus was Volvo B7LA 10036 and dual door Volvo 66993 was on Service 101 Eden - St Austell - Eden.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

That isnt Truro P+R. Looks like Eden.

Not a recent photo either - taken July 29th 2012 according to the information accompanying the photo.

 

[richw]

Not a recent photo either - taken July 29th 2012 according to the information accompanying the photo.

The date is incorrect, They have only recently arrived in Cornwall and according to DVLA date of first registration in UK was:

Date of First Registration 16 07 2013 for all three of them.

Vehicle enquiry gives all three having identical information as below:

Date of Liability 01 07 2014
Date of First Registration 16 07 2013
Year of Manufacture 2004
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 6930cc
CO2 Emissions 0g/Km
Fuel Type HEAVY OIL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval M3

Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle

6 Months Rate £181.50
12 Months Rate £330.00

 

[83G/84D]

As stated earlier 66993 in a white colour scheme with First branding on the front was on service 101 Eden Project - St Austell Railway Station - Eden Project today.

 

[SWTH]

To drag this somewhere near back on topic, a few fleet notes for WGL:

33966 (Dennis Dart/ALX200) arrived from Stagecoach Gloucester on loan.
17450 (Dennis Trident/ALX400) arrived from Stagecoach East London 'on trial', potential for more to follow. I despair.

 

[LateThanNever]

The date is incorrect, They have only recently arrived in Cornwall and according to DVLA date of first registration in UK was:

Date of First Registration 16 07 2013 for all three of them.

Vehicle enquiry gives all three having identical information as below:

Date of Liability 01 07 2014
Date of First Registration 16 07 2013
Year of Manufacture 2004
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 6930cc
CO2 Emissions 0g/Km
Fuel Type HEAVY OIL
Export Marker N
Vehicle Status Licence Not Due
Vehicle Colour WHITE
Vehicle Type Approval M3

Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle

6 Months Rate £181.50
12 Months Rate £330.00

Hope that was all legitimately obtained info!
Do hope that Truro is not to have bendy buses - they aren't suitable fo the UK - particularly not Devon & Cornwall!

 

[richw]

Hope that was all legitimately obtained info!

Anybody can legitimately do a vehicle enquiry which reveals the above information. Below is the link to do so.

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/enquiry?execution=e1s1

The terms of use can be found:

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/home/tandc

The bendy's are registered as Mercedes, not Mercedes Benz

 

[LateThanNever]

Anybody can legitimately do a vehicle enquiry which reveals the above information. Below is the link to do so.

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/enquiry?execution=e1s1

The terms of use can be found:

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/home/tandc

The bendy's are registered as Mercedes, not Mercedes Benz

Delighted to hear that and thanks for the links! Still have grave doubts about Bendy buses in the UK and Truro certainly isn't the easiest!

 

[richw]

Delighted to hear that and thanks for the links! Still have grave doubts about Bendy buses in the UK and Truro certainly isn't the easiest!

A normal Citaro struggles to get round Truro round the corner from River Street to Victoria Square and Victoria Square to Little Castle Street. No hope for a bendy I'd have thought.

 

[LateThanNever]

A normal Citaro struggles to get round Truro round the corner from River Street to Victoria Square and Victoria Square to Little Castle Street. No hope for a bendy I'd have thought.

Quite - I hope the County Council will be prosecuting Worst for driving on the pavement!

 

[swifty]

Quite - I hope the County Council will be prosecuting Worst for driving on the pavement!

:roll: they're not for the Truro P&R. They're for use on the Eden Car Park shuttles to replace the existing Volvo bendies. I can't see what the problem is, that's the kind of work they are suited to.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

17450 (Dennis Trident/ALX400) arrived from Stagecoach East London 'on trial', potential for more to follow. I despair.

Ouch! Not the best sort of kit for work down in Cornwall surely?

 

[richw]

Ouch! Not the best sort of kit for work down in Cornwall surely?

For what reasons?
I'm not familiar with these buses (probably for a reason, based on this comment and living in Cornwall)

 

[SWTH]

For what reasons?
I'm not familiar with these buses (probably for a reason, based on this comment and living in Cornwall)

17450 is a London-spec Trident - dual doored, slow, poor downstairs seating capacity, short wheelbase but tall (14ft 5in), and according to those who have driven it, slow to get to 40 (apparently goes fine above 40) and useless on hills. Given WGL's previous experiences with Tridents, one would have thought they would avoid buying any more at all cost, especially those with Voith gearboxes (like, er, 17450....).

Which means WGL will probably order a dozen of them!

 

[starrymarkb]

A normal Citaro struggles to get round Truro round the corner from River Street to Victoria Square and Victoria Square to Little Castle Street. No hope for a bendy I'd have thought.

Will probably be easier, I understand an artic bus is much nimbler then a long rigid as the wheelbase is much shorter. Of course you do have to watch where the trailing half is going

 

[richw]

17450 is a London-spec Trident - dual doored, slow, poor downstairs seating capacity, short wheelbase but tall (14ft 5in), and according to those who have driven it, slow to get to 40 (apparently goes fine above 40) and useless on hills. Given WGL's previous experiences with Tridents, one would have thought they would avoid buying any more at all cost, especially those with Voith gearboxes (like, er, 17450....).

Which means WGL will probably order a dozen of them!

Are they similar to Cornwall Ferries two for Falmouth Park and Ride? I'm aware they are ex- London Via RH Buses in Oxford.

 

[swifty]

Are they similar to Cornwall Ferries two for Falmouth Park and Ride? I'm aware they are ex- London Via RH Buses in Oxford.

No, they're Plaxton Presidents. (AT ENTERPRISE BOATS)

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/57491546@N02/8539683089/

 

[90019]

No, they're Plaxton Presidents.

http://m.flickr.com/#/photos/57491546@N02/8539683089/

That's an ALX400, not a President.

 

[richw]

That's an ALX400, not a President.

If I understand him right this is a picture of the bus coming to western greyhound, not the Falmouth park and ride.

 

[34D]

Will probably be easier, I understand an artic bus is much nimbler then a long rigid as the wheelbase is much shorter. Of course you do have to watch where the trailing half is going

This is my understanding too

 

[Goldfish62]

Will probably be easier, I understand an artic bus is much nimbler then a long rigid as the wheelbase is much shorter. Of course you do have to watch where the trailing half is going

The wheelbase of a Citaro bendy is identical to the 12m rigid version. Having driven both varieties (not in Cornwall) there is not so much difference in maneuverability as you'd think.

 

[swifty]

That's an ALX400, not a President.

Yes, 17450 which is the ALX400 at Western Greyhound as mentioned above. Enterprise Boats have Plaxton Presidents.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Anything in the pipeline to replace the lost E400s or is it likely to be a few ex London ALX400s?

 

[richw]

Yes, 17450 which is the ALX400 at Western Greyhound as mentioned above. Enterprise Boats have Plaxton Presidents.

I wasn't referring to Enterprise boats, I was referring to Cornwall Ferries on the Falmouth Park and Ride,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29197902@N06/9080469228/ which is a Plaxton President Dennis Trident.

The Enterprise boats have a Ex Stagecoach Leyland Olympian

 

[swifty]

My mistake I thought they were now the same company. They are however under common ownership it seems.