busspotter1
On Moderation
When do we think arriva will send their B9’s to the scrap yard then?
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Arriva Midlands
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joieman
Member
I think three have already gone, most recently Thurmaston's 4202 with accident damage. I think it's only a matter of time before Arriva will need to inject more new blood into Derby's fleet, but I wouldn't be surprised if Derby's B9TLs just wind up in service elsewhere. At some point in the near future the B7TLs in the Southeast would need replacing as well.
Trainman40083
Established Member
Has 4202 actually gone? It was at Derby a few weeks ago, parked round the back. Maybe Derby will suddenly get a full electric fleet. (I type that trying not to laugh).
Russel
Established Member
Haven't Arriva got older stuff to replace first, before thinking about getting rid of B9s?
joieman
Member
I heard it got sent to Milton Keynes for further parts donation.
Like the aforementioned B7s in Kent...
Personally wouldn't be surprised if the Midlands or elsewhere gained more B9's, before long. The 6 in the North East on the X93/X94 are shot to bits and really need replacing and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened before long. Whether it's direct or another indirect upgrade ie X21/X22/35 at Ashington instead and their MMC's joining the 4 they've already got, who knows.
There's no real place for a micro fleet of B9's up here.
They're 64 Plates, for reference, so won't be getting scrapped.
There's no real place for a micro fleet of B9's up here.
They're 64 Plates, for reference, so won't be getting scrapped.
joieman
Member
I could see them being consolidated in Milton Keynes, Luton and Kent.
Voyager 2953
Member
Those are only shot to pieces because of poor Arriva maintenance, many from that batch which were delivered to Ensign Bus, Go North East, Hams Travel and the rest are still in good condition. B9s are a hardy bus, it’s a shame really.
Russel
Established Member
It says a lot about Arriva really, if they've managed to run 64 plate B9s into the ground while London General and Metroline are still operating 59/10 plates on a daily basis around London.
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Gents - do you know the X93/X94 routes? They are some of the most punishing routes going. Those vehicles have been flogged for 10 years, often 7 days a week, on that route.
Buses leave Middlesbrough and grind through the town (urban) before they have their first climb at Ormesby Bank which is about 7-8%. Then there's a fast open bit of dual carriageway to Guisborough. After leaving there, you have the steep climb of Birk Brow, which is 8-12% for much of it. That does take you onto the moors road but then you drop into Whitby and a couple of short but steep climbs/descents. Then you head out to Robin Hoods Bay and another long gruelling climb out of there before heading across the hills and descending into Scarborough.
So big hills, dual carriageway, urban, and fast country roads - much more than the regular grind around South London.
It's interesting you mention Go North East, who had a batch of 2012 B9TLs deployed on their X9/X10 services from new but were taken off there in 2017 onto less demanding work as they could no longer cope. I assume that you'd put that down to Go North East's maintenance, given they only lasted 5 years on there, and not the nature of the routes?
As pointed out by TheGrandWazoo, the nature of the X93/4 is vastly different to anything in London. Arriva are operating multiple deckers pushing 20+ years of age around the country, but I assume they don't count in your assessment of the situation?
Robertj21a
On Moderation
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Where on earth in London do they get anything like the demanding work of the North East, there's no real comparison. Personally, while far from perfect, I think Arriva do a fair job with their B9s over much of the country.
joieman
Member
As I expected, the upstairs corner windows on the new Electroliners are the first ones that I've noticed have gotten cracked.
But it's rather disturbing that the said cracked window on the nearside of 8034 hasn't been replaced since I first spotted it when I last rode on that bus nearly two weeks ago!
But it's rather disturbing that the said cracked window on the nearside of 8034 hasn't been replaced since I first spotted it when I last rode on that bus nearly two weeks ago!
bus-enthusiast
Member
Does anyone know if 8033 (BN74 JZX) is a spare bus, or if there's a specific reason the bus rarely runs in service?
Qwerty133
Established Member
It clearly has a fault of some kind that is proving difficult to repair. Whether that's because its an intermittent fault making it impossible to find during testing or something that requires a not immediately available part.
bus-enthusiast
Member
Yeah, I had a feeling that was the issue, hopefully they can sort it out soon (if it is a repair problem)
derbybusdepot
Member
- Joined
- 17 Dec 2015
- Messages
- 214
Still a few Omnicities in service at Derby. Not sure they have enough vdls to replace them?
VDL 3726 not yet back in use, off since Feb and MOT expired.
Omnicity 3569 had a new MOT last month.
VDL 3726 not yet back in use, off since Feb and MOT expired.
Omnicity 3569 had a new MOT last month.
Voyager 2953
Member
Not quite; The route received new B5TLs in 2017 which were ordered many moons prior. They didn’t just find out they were problematic and waved their new bus wand for the new buses to appear. But with that said Go North East’s maintenance has come into disrepute a few times in recent years. The routes are demanding and probably need vehicles with a higher power output but accountants don’t like that sort of thing.
The stop start nature of London is actually worse for buses than their counterparts in the provinces.
Trainman40083
Established Member
I thought 3771 was being rebuilt, yet it shows as withdrawn after the incident on the A38; with another VDL withdrawn with chassis issues.
zkyx02
Member
No, 5 Scanias left & all the VDLs are out, unsure if more are due (could see some arrive with the ex diamond streetlites being ousted into Liverpool)
3569 had some gearbox issues but 3565 provided a gearbox & it’s running well again, decent bus in fairness.
Last I heard 3729 was to donate its running gear to 3771, someone trespassed into the garage & uploaded the video onto TikTok, someone edited 71 on bustimes to be withdrawn, plans may have changed but I still believe it should see service again.
Trainman40083
Established Member
Not right people trespassing. It gets the hobby a bad name. Health and Safety risks too. Bad enough on the railway.
joieman
Member
Perhaps the issues are related to the accident it had on its first day in service.
bus-enthusiast
Member
What accident happened with the bus on its first day?
TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
I like bashing Arriva as much as the next person, but the X93/94 is a punishing route for those vehicles, working 7 days a week. I'm not surprised that after 10 years of being flogged along the A171 that they knackered, rather than a reflection on standards of maintenance or the design. Urban work is not easy but there's really no comparison between urban work and the type of terrain that those B9s are encountering.
I could go into detail on Go North East and the X10 but safe to say that it is off topic (and had nothing to do with their maintenance standards before 2017 or accountants but more on what was preferred at the time).
It would make sense to centralise the B9s in Arriva Midlands, ousted by a cascade when they get EVs. Back on topic
joieman
Member
Actually, never mind, it was 8039 that crashed.
Robertj21a
On Moderation
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- 7,686
Hardly 'crashed' as such - surely, it just reversed off stand into a passing NX coach. Did anyody ever report signifcant damage?
Russel
Established Member
Overheard one of Tamworth's drivers today, he reckons they've been told the Electric deckers are due next month for the 110.
We shall see.
We shall see.
busspotter1
On Moderation
Would be interesting to see where the displaced buses would go.
EnviroExplorer
Member
He may have slightly misinterpreted, last I heard a demonstrator is arriving next month. This was from an internal source however looking at neighbouring Leicester’s fleet should provide some hints…
Russel
Established Member
What is the purpose of the demonstrator, to weigh up what to order or to familiarise the depot with what has been ordered for them?