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Mixture of single and double decker operated routes

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LiviCrazy

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In West Lothian with First it does seem anything goes. On the 23/24/25 we get Enviro 400 MMCs, Streetlites Max (occasionally the smaller underpowered ones which are awful), Old Gemini’s, Old Eclipses. The only buses that don’t seem to end up elsewhere is the Dennis Darts which seem to stick mainly to the 27 and occasionally the 26.

Most frustrating IMO is when we get a route branded 600 on another route while the 600 has a unbranded or worse 23 branded bus.
Well, just after me saying that, First have allocated one of their tiny ancient Dennis Darts onto the peak time X23. Not a great situation.
 
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Mitchell Hurd

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Some bus routes that are not high-profile, well used or frequent routes would have anything that a bus company had available for the route - like anything from an Optare Solo or 29-seat E200 or Dart to a double-decker.
 

SCH117X

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Route 7 can sometimes see the older Plaxton Presidents used alongside the Wright Eclipse 2s.
Geminis also feature and the same mixture can be found on Route 1 workings between Harrogate and Knaresborough. The Presidents in question are almost 20 year old ex National Express vehicles albeit very smartly turned out - both routes 1 and 7 have route branded Eclipse 2s

Some bus routes that are not high-profile, well used or frequent routes would have anything that a bus company had available for the route - like anything from an Optare Solo or 29-seat E200 or Dart to a double-decker.
Sort of mixture that can turn up on Connexions X1 between Harrogate and Knaresborough on a Saturday, if you replace the Dart with an Omnciity or Solar. Monday-Friday a Solo or Enviro is pretty rare and the same Omnicity /Solar/double-decker mix can be found on the X70 to Wetherby and the X52 to Ilkley
 

dazzler

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Anything in York is like that - I believe they use a version of Northern's random unit generator to ensure the most inappropriate vehicles are allocated.


Apart from the 10 to Poppleton, which goes up Leeman Road, under the quite low bridge that carries the North end of the railway station. They don't allocate deckers to *that* one! Well, not twice anyway! ;)

(On topic, the father of a friend used to be a First York driver. One morning he arrived at the depot to be told his bus for the 10 was "over there" - 30 seconds later he came back and told the booking clerk he couldn't take that bus. The clerk asked "why not", "because that's a double decker!". The clerk said "Is that a problem?" "Well," my friend's father replied, "only if you want me to bring a single decker back to the yard tonight!" :D:D)
 

delt1c

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In West Lothian with First it does seem anything goes. On the 23/24/25 we get Enviro 400 MMCs, Streetlites Max (occasionally the smaller underpowered ones which are awful), Old Gemini’s, Old Eclipses. The only buses that don’t seem to end up elsewhere is the Dennis Darts which seem to stick mainly to the 27 and occasionally the 26.

Most frustrating IMO is when we get a route branded 600 on another route while the 600 has a unbranded or worse 23 branded bus.
Not a lot changed since SMT days, Bathgate would put out what ever was available, 27, 35, 36 all rostered for double deck could produce single decks , even coaches. Have known to leave edinburgh on a Fleetline crew operated and be transfered onto a Single deck OMO (thats what it was called in 70's) at Blackburn. 45 years + Privatisation doesnt seem to have progressed much
 

LiviCrazy

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Not a lot changed since SMT days, Bathgate would put out what ever was available, 27, 35, 36 all rostered for double deck could produce single decks , even coaches. Have known to leave edinburgh on a Fleetline crew operated and be transfered onto a Single deck OMO (thats what it was called in 70's) at Blackburn. 45 years + Privatisation doesnt seem to have progressed much
Today was the worst example in a while with the tiny Dennis Dart on the X23 (though later back on the 27).

6 or 7 years ago it was awful, the number of times we got the Plaxton Profile Coaches on 27/28 and it was standing room only. And Plaxton Presidents that overheated after going up the hill to Kirknewton.

I don’t know why they route brand services.
 

bluenoxid

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First Bradford Bradford-Pudsey-Leeds X11 is supposed to be three double deckers and three single deckers.
 

Martin2012

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At the moment the Y4 Bristol to Yate route seems to get single deckers during the week and double deckers on Sundays. Prior to April there was a period where it seemed to be fully double deck operated.

Have definatley seen a mixture of singles and doubles on Service 19 (Cribbs Causeway to Bath) in the past but recently every time I've seen the 19 it's been double deck. Does anyone know if it's meant to be fully double deck nowadays?
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Have definatley seen a mixture of singles and doubles on Service 19 (Cribbs Causeway to Bath) in the past but recently every time I've seen the 19 it's been double deck. Does anyone know if it's meant to be fully double deck nowadays?

The 19/19A/37 running pattern is supposed to be double deck using ALX400 B7TLs on a Monday to Saturday daytime. However, if they're short of deckers for whatever reason, then they will put on an Eclipse on the lightest loaded board(s). Sundays are double decked but you will often see single decks (using e200s occasionally). Evening journeys are operated by Solos in the main.
 

Qwerty133

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Almost any route operated out of Arrivas South Wigston depot in Leicester as the current allocation policy seems to be to pull random buses out of a hat (with the ones least suitable for any route having 2 balls in the hat for that route).
 

Wirewiper

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One London example is the W13 (Leytonstone - Woodford Wells). The main allocation is CT Plus ADL Enviro200 MMCs but extra journeys on schooldays (towards Woodford am, towards Leytonstone pm) are scheduled for a double-decker.

In Torbay, the main 22 service (South Devon College - St Marychurch or Dawlish Warren) is allocated Scania N230UD/ADL Enviro400, but evening shorts between Torquay and St Marychurch are single-deck (Dennis Dart or Optare Solo).
 

Martin2012

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The 19/19A/37 running pattern is supposed to be double deck using ALX400 B7TLs on a Monday to Saturday daytime. However, if they're short of deckers for whatever reason, then they will put on an Eclipse on the lightest loaded board(s). Sundays are double decked but you will often see single decks (using e200s occasionally). Evening journeys are operated by Solos in the main.
Thanks ever so much for that helpful response. I didn't realise the evening journeys on the 19 were worked by solos. As a rule are they sufficient for this route in the evening or do you ever get instances where the vehicle overloads?

I caught a 37 home this evening and had an ALX400 B7Tl (I think) but have definatley seen single deckers on that service in the past.
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Thanks ever so much for that helpful response. I didn't realise the evening journeys on the 19 were worked by solos. As a rule are they sufficient for this route in the evening or do you ever get instances where the vehicle overloads?

I caught a 37 home this evening and had an ALX400 B7Tl (I think) but have definatley seen single deckers on that service in the past.

I'm sure that they are fine using Solos of an evening.

The 37 used to be single decker operated (as was the 19/19A) but it's supposed to be deckers.
 

Deerfold

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Certain trips on 60 are booked to be worked with DDs,with the others using branded Optare Versas. I Think a peak time board of 662 also used to be booked a decker,but not 100% if its still the case. Route 7 can sometimes see the older Plaxton Presidents used alongside the Wright Eclipse 2s also.

The 62 regularly sees double deckers (this is a recent thing) especially at weekends. The 66 also gets occasional double deckers.

The 662 gets double deckers when there are events on - especially at weekends when Bradford are playing at home or Bingley Music Festival is on.
 

bussnapperwm

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Another two routes in Dudley are the 82 which usually gets NXWM 20×× B7s and ALX400s and the (24)6 which usually gets a mix of B7, Trident, E400MMC and Streetdecks.
 

61653 HTAFC

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Though they have fewer and fewer deckers in active service (with more being put into storage at Honley) Yorkshire Tiger 231/232 (Huddersfield to Wakefield) and 233 (Huddersfield to Denby Dale) see deckers intermittently, particularly at school times on the 233. Wait half an hour though, and you'll see Solos and folk being left behind!
 

37114

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Faresaver you use a mix of Enviro 200s, Solos and ex London Volvo deckers on the X31 between Bath and Chippenham.
 

PaulMc7

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Lots of routes in Glasgow like the 3 and 6 . 1c and 1 d too.

Glasgow has an absolute barrelload of routes with a mix. There's these then the likes of the 19/41/46/60/60A and even the likes of the 57/57A/87/88 too. The 9 and 9A are mostly single but some doubles do pop up too
 

route101

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Glasgow has an absolute barrelload of routes with a mix. There's these then the likes of the 19/41/46/60/60A and even the likes of the 57/57A/87/88 too. The 9 and 9A are mostly single but some doubles do pop up too

I think with the 9 , Scotstoun depot simply does not have enough deckers to make a decker route . Some routes like the 4 are almost always deckers. 38 with the new buses has improved that route though they bunch up . Some routes go single on sundays like 31
 

Quakkerillo

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407 Sutton - Caterham in Tfl Land also is a mix. Years ago used to be only single Decker.
 

duncanp

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Another TfL route is 357 (Chingford Hatch - Whipps Cross)

On Mondays - Saturdays it is operated by double deckers as it terminates in the bus station (at the Whipps Cross end of the route)

But on Sundays it is extended into the grounds of Whipps Cross Hospital, which are unsuitable for double deckers and hence the route is opeated by single deckers.
 

Flying Snail

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Most Bus Eireann commuter routes out of Dublin see a mix of single and double decker coaches. The 126 route gets occasional double deck buses mixed in with the coaches and the short Naas-Newbridge workings for some time had an Enviro 200 single decker in regular use so it was possible to have the 4 different types on the same route at the same time.
 

moogal

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Some bus routes that are not high-profile, well used or frequent routes would have anything that a bus company had available for the route - like anything from an Optare Solo or 29-seat E200 or Dart to a double-decker.
Even with a high-profile route that can still end up being the case. Back in the 90s when I was getting the bus to school, Stagecoach Northampton had a set of route-branded low floor buses for their 15/15A/15B service, yet you could often end up with anything from a Mercedes minibus to a coach. (If it was a busy peak journey, chances are it'd be the minibus!)
 

175mph

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Even with a high-profile route that can still end up being the case. Back in the 90s when I was getting the bus to school, Stagecoach Northampton had a set of route-branded low floor buses for their 15/15A/15B service, yet you could often end up with anything from a Mercedes minibus to a coach. (If it was a busy peak journey, chances are it'd be the minibus!)
What low floor buses would they have been back then? Optares by any chance?
 

Marcus Fryer

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Route 7 in Weston-super-Mare is operated by double deckers during the day, but from 19:00 onwards they go back to the depot and single deckers (from the 5, which doesn't run in the evening) are booked to take over. The odd single decker may operate during the day as well, but this isn't a booked working.
 

I13

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Perhaps slightly cheating but the 50 in Birmingham - NXWM are double deckers while the Diamond services are single deckers.
 
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