Recent content by mbonwick

Not surprised they were deemed better than the Solo SRs - from memory all the Kings Lynn ones were 9.9m or longer! Comparison to a standard 9m Solo would have been fairer, but using the ex-London mini-E200s was a very sensible move at the time.

It surprised me when Bedford got the ex-London mini-E200s; why not just get Solos like the rest of the group? I'm assuming there must be some specific conditions to justify both that and an almost unheard of (in recent times) secondhand purchase. The last not-new vehicles I can recall being...

In an unsual move for Stagecoach, 8.9m E200s YX17NJO, SN16OGP, YY67USP (all latterly with Aintree Coachline), YY66PDX/PEO/PFA/PFO, YX65RHF, YY15XMJ, YY66PFU (all latterly with Warrington) have been aquired from Ensign. Fleet numbers 37280-9.

Been reported that it's not a sinkhole, but one of the investigatory boreholes from the previous incident that hasn't been filled/capped. Not sure if that's better or worse depending how you look at it!

Toilets are an option, but not fitted to the Stagecoach examples. Believe these seat 46, not exactly a great capacity for the length given that 49+toilet has been the standard for years...

10685 is a typo for 10865. Yes, major reductions - the Magicbus services have been dropped to a PVR of about 3(?) with the Uni finishing for Christmas. Using the time wisely to get as many vehicles out as possible to minimise the chaos on 5th January! For completeness, should also be listed...

Unlikely it will get paint, as one of the early Euro3 E400s it's firmly in the disposal list for when everything comes out of Manchester in 3 weeks time.

That's likely a genuine transfer, as 48172-4 have gone into service at Stroud. Whatever they're for, East Midlands seem to have a need for minibuses, as they've also taken some ex-London 8.9/9.4m E200s in the past few weeks.

The original plan was for 6; 48195-200, with 201 at Morecambe.

Other than the early prototypes, I didn't think there was such a thing as a Euro 3 E400? Though Euro 4 came into law late in 2005, with obviously the E400s starting on an 06 plate early the following year. Happy to be corrected!

That's unfair on Volvo. The majority of the delay with the BZLs has been TfGM's inability to come up with a strategy to replace and/or electrify Stockport depot, and all the resultant negotiating and hand-wringing over the ZEBRA funding. You can't expect Volvo to build a product when they don't...

You've just shown how little you understand the fanchising setup, so I'd suggest you tone it down rather than being so rude to those more familiar with the contracts side of things. There is no shortage* at Tranche 2 depots, the new vehicles are coming in solely to allow enablement for Tranche 3...

The 31 E400Citys were ordered by TfGM, to make up for the fact that Stockport won't be electrified in time and so they'd novated the big BZL Stagecoach order. They have only seen use at Tranche 2 depots, replacing existing TfGM assets, hence why they've made it into service.

It's a combination of things - the lack of large, rotating mass with most renewable forms of generation is what creates the need. (Wind tubines aren't directly coupled to the grid, so can't be used for this) The location is helpful but not the main reason - mostly its just that Cruachan has...

Yes, one of the 4 units in Cruachan pumped hydro scheme is now contracted as inertia rather than generation. So rather than providing power, the turbine is powered to 600rpm.