Arriva Southern Counties

[JL1]

Is there going to be any fleet movements in the next few months?

Latest i've heard is:

Enviro 400 6472 SN58 EOB has gone to Ware from Northfleet.

Pulsars 3752/3/4/5/7/8 are due to go Hemel Hempstead from Guildford.

Enviro 200's 4019-22 are due to go Colchester from Guildford.

Sapphire StreetLites outed from Northfleet are currently entering service in Guildford.

 

[swt class 450]

I have only heard the same as what you have posted. I am not sure if anything else is due to be transferred. The recent upgrade of the 34 and 35 (Guildford to Woking to Camberley) from Max to Sapphire is certainly very nice to see.

 

[JL1]

Yes its nice to see Guildford finally getting some decent buses, the only thing to mention is VDL DB300 Wright Eclipe Gemini 2 4459 has turned up at Southend.

 

[D400.50050]

Whats being used to replace the stuff @ Guildford if half the fleet is going.?.

 

[swt class 450]

I believe that the 12 Wright Streetlite buses from Northfleet (the Arriva Sapphire ones) will be replacing the 10 buses that are leaving Guildford depot.

 

[JL1]

I've also heard Pulsars mite be entering service in Southend.

 

[D400.50050]

Will they be the 64 plate ones? Assuming that now Northfleet have/having 68 Plates.?. Or is Guildford actually have some proper investment and nick the 68 plates off Northfleet (I can dream)

 

[swt class 450]

Guildford has gotten the 64 plate ones from Northfleet depot.

 

[D400.50050]

4263 to 4272 exclusive?

 

[swt class 450]

Yes they are getting all of 4263 to 4272 and i believe 4273 as well from Northfleet depot. I believe all of them have already arrived at Guildford depot over the past few days. I have also heard rumours of them getting 4261 and 4262 from Southend depot as well but i am not 100% sure whether or not that is still happening.

 

[JL1]

If they do get 4261 and 62 then they mite as well take 4224 as well.

 

[swt class 450]

Yes that would make sense. Perhaps 4224 will come to Guildford as well if 4261 and 4262 do.

 

[JL1]

Yes that would make sense. Perhaps 4224 will come to Guildford as well if 4261 and 4262 do.

Its still unknown where the ex Guildford Pulsars will be heading to, i've heard Southend and Hemel Hempstead mentioned but nothing concrete.

 

[Mwanesh]

The Max brand has been discontinued.It is Sapphire only from now on.

 

[JL1]

That must mean all MAX routes will be converted to Sapphire.

 

[Robertj21a]

That must mean all MAX routes will be converted to Sapphire.

Why ? - can't they just revert to 'standard' buses ?

 

[JL1]

Why ? - can't they just revert to 'standard' buses ?

I'm not sure i was only guessing as the 34/35 at Guildford has just gone from MAX to Sapphire.

Also does anyone know what is happening to the ex Guildford Pulsars?

 

[JL1]

LOTS have confirmed the Pulsars are going to Hertfordshire to replace Cadets, does anyone know if Southend is due to get anything to replace its ageing Cadets?

 

[Mwanesh]

They are being converted to standard buses.Not all will be converted to Sapphire.

 

[JL1]

They are being converted to standard buses.Not all will be converted to Sapphire.

Thanks for the update.

 

[swt class 450]

I never understood the point of having both of the Max and Sapphire brands. It certainly makes more sense just to have one of them.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I never understood the point of having both of the Max and Sapphire brands. It certainly makes more sense just to have one of them.

Because Sapphire was supposed to have minimum frequencies and enhanced facilities and customer guarantees. Max was slightly better than standard but to be honest, the things that Max offered have really become the norm anyway.

 

[Surreyman]

"Decent Buses' - Streetlites??? Cheap nasty and ugly.

 

[swt class 450]

Another good thing i noticed about these new Arriva Sapphire buses on the 34 and 35 at Guildford is that they actually have proper plug sockets rather than those useless usb points. Very good to see. It seems to be rare to find proper plug sockets in buses these days with most bus operators instead using the useless usb points. Many people don't have those USB type chargers so this is very useful.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Another good thing i noticed about these new Arriva Sapphire buses on the 34 and 35 at Guildford is that they actually have proper plug sockets rather than those useless usb points. Very good to see. It seems to be rare to find proper plug sockets in buses these days with most bus operators instead using the useless usb points. Many people don't have those USB type chargers so this is very useful.

However, the issue is that people have been plugging in all sorts of appliances. So rather than just having phone chargers, people have been plugging in hair straighteners and causing all sorts of issues, hence why operators have preferred USBs. I seem to have plenty of (or too many) USB charging cables

 

[goldisgood]

Lots of people carry around USB cables for their phones... even if you have a full phone charger the likelihood is that it will have a USB cable that you can pull out. The only issue is laptops, as most don't tend to use USB however you can buy USB charging cables even for laptops online!