Arriva Midlands

[Trainman40083]

The one tracking on 902 is no doubt 1001. I saw an omnicity tracking on SP DC the other week too however that seems to have started tracking on its actual machine now. 4403 is also duo tracking on 1B/C and 2/A

I did see 1001 under maintenance about a week ago, with sister 1003 parked near the entrance gate.

 

[bringiton]

I did see 1001 under maintenance about a week ago, with sister 1003 parked near the entrance gate.

It does seem quite consistent that SP DC has a tracker for the uni runs and having 1001 not tracking on its machine since September it would make sense. Does seem like the sprinter does have a lot of maintenance

 

[Trainman40083]

It does seem quite consistent that SP DC has a tracker for the uni runs and having 1001 not tracking on its machine since September it would make sense. Does seem like the sprinter does have a lot of maintenance

I wonder if the 4th Merc is still around? There was one in the same livery as 1124.

 

[bringiton]

Just saw 3729 in derby bus station, its definitely the one tracking under 4403


https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/changes-to-multi-journey-ticket-prices-across-derby

Looks like arriva Derbys ticket prices are increasing again

 

[Trainman40083]

Scania 3505 on Chellaston routes today, tracking as 3505 at last

 

[zakky1.0]

Looks like arriva Derbys ticket prices are increasing again

seemed negative, fares have been the same for around a year, yearly fare increases are very normal in this industry, Arriva are the highest paid staff in Derby, which I'll gladly pay an extra 50p a week to keep paying drivers a very good wage.

 

[bringiton]

seemed negative, fares have been the same for around a year, yearly fare increases are very normal in this industry, Arriva are the highest paid staff in Derby, which I'll gladly pay an extra 50p a week to keep paying drivers a very good wage.

Yeah, after i sent it i looked at the current fares and realised it wasn't that high of an increase. I originally saw it on the bus (3736) but usually they have a figure next to it where it says the current vs the new. The highest increase is on the annual fare which is around 20 quid

 

[Trainman40083]

seemed negative, fares have been the same for around a year, yearly fare increases are very normal in this industry, Arriva are the highest paid staff in Derby, which I'll gladly pay an extra 50p a week to keep paying drivers a very good wage.

And what can you actually buy for 50p these days? Well apart from a visit to the Derby bus station toilets Are they really the highest paid staff in Derby??

 

[zakky1.0]

And what can you actually buy for 50p these days? Well apart from a visit to the Derby bus station toilets Are they really the highest paid staff in Derby??

yes. but who actually wants to pay 50p each time? drivers are now being let in for free.

& yes, Mon-Fri day wage is £15.50 I believe, with evenings, weekends & bank holidays being about £1 higher each time.

 

[Trainman40083]

yes. but who actually wants to pay 50p each time? drivers are now being let in for free.

& yes, Mon-Fri day wage is £15.50 I believe, with evenings, weekends & bank holidays being about £1 higher each time.

Surely drivers have their own facilities, adjacent. Soon they will be saying that it costs more to collect the 50p than the revenue gained. After all, a guy seems to be stood there most of the day. I wonder if anyone waters in the River Gardens area?

 

[43055]

Strange though, it seems far older than others that have arrived. Is that the best Milton Keynes has?

Looking at the bus times fleet list, it seems to be the oldest Pulsar they had.

 

[joieman]

The two DB250s 4760 and 4761 (at Leicester) were apparently supposed to be withdrawn at the end of this week from what I heard on social media, but given that neither of them have been out this week, I can't help feeling that the two of them are de facto withdrawn already. The former hasn't lasted a full day in service for about a month.

 

[Andy Pacer]

The two DB250s 4760 and 4761 (at Leicester) were apparently supposed to be withdrawn at the end of this week from what I heard on social media, but given that neither of them have been out this week, I can't help feeling that the two of them are de facto withdrawn already. The former hasn't lasted a full day in service for about a month.

I'm not sure what the significance of this week is, especially as there doesn't seem to be anything lined up to replace them.

 

[joieman]

I'm not sure what the significance of this week is, especially as there doesn't seem to be anything lined up to replace them.

Yeah, because I thought the new 4425 was supposed to replace 4202, except 4202 is still hanging around!

Perhaps the upcoming timetable changes might reduce the PVR slightly.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Yeah, because I thought the new 4425 was supposed to replace 4202, except 4202 is still hanging around!

Perhaps the upcoming timetable changes might reduce the PVR slightly.

4425 replaced 4201, 4424 was for the PVR increase that came in at the end of August. I wouldn't have thought the changes in October will change any PVR.

 

[Trainman40083]

4425 replaced 4201, 4424 was for the PVR increase that came in at the end of August. I wouldn't have thought the changes in October will change any PVR.

Surprised 4201 and 4202 haven't been sent to Derby

 

[Andy Pacer]

Surprised 4201 and 4202 haven't been sent to Derby

I could understand the logic in swapping 4202 for an E400 for Leicester but not sure what the benefit in moving 4201 to Derby from Milton Keynes would be.

 

[Trainman40083]

I could understand the logic in swapping 4202 for an E400 for Leicester but not sure what the benefit in moving 4201 to Derby from Milton Keynes would be.

Make the Derby fleet older... After all, one depot had to replace High Wycombe as the dumping ground.

 

[Volvo142]

Derby could do with additional deckers to be honest.

There's only two spares to cover the Alvaston, Stenson and Uni routes.

 

[SSmith2009]

Derby could do with additional deckers to be honest.

There's only two spares to cover the Alvaston, Stenson and Uni routes.

If its anything like Leicester its poor allocating of vehicles on routes: service 87 is always a double decker while singles run around rammed on the 5/5a.

 

[Volvo142]

No, the 38 is Derby's busiest and most profitable route, hence why it received brand new Sapphire E400s back in 2014.

Alvaston is the next busiest, but certain journeys on 2A would benefit from having deckers, as the Scanias are often overcrowded and sometimes run with Bus Full displays.

 

[Trainman40083]

No, the 38 is Derby's busiest and most profitable route, hence why it received brand new Sapphire E400s back in 2014.

Alvaston is the next busiest, but certain journeys on 2A would benefit from having deckers, as the Scanias are often overcrowded and sometimes run with Bus Full displays.

Did they not cut the frequency of the 38 in COVID times, seeing the Sapphire brand replaced. Of course Enviro 400s 4400/4401 then went to Aylesbury.

 

[Volvo142]

Yes, it went from every 10 to every 12 mins, with PVR changing from 8 to 7. So after sending the Streetdeck to Tamworth and it's replacement (4545) to Leicester, that left seven E400s for a PVR of 7.

So goodness knows why 4400/1 were sent to Aylesbury, or why they haven't returned once Aylesbury was closed

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes, it went from every 10 to every 12 mins, with PVR changing from 8 to 7. So after sending the Streetdeck to Tamworth and it's replacement (4545) to Leicester, that left seven E400s for a PVR of 7.

So goodness knows why 4400/1 were sent to Aylesbury, or why they haven't returned once Aylesbury was closed

I understood that Derby asked for 4400/4401 back but the management further up declined..There had been an idea they would go on the X38 to cope with busy services. As it has been seen, that developed into a different plan

 

[joieman]

I understood that Derby asked for 4400/4401 back but the management further up declined..There had been an idea they would go on the X38 to cope with busy services. As it has been seen, that developed into a different plan

And now they're in Leicester, so close yet so far!

 

[Edvid]

Anyone know when Arriva are getting their next batch of EV buses for Leicester? I was told earlier this year it would be "October" - well here we are......

The previous order for ZEBRA-subsidised electrics was made 13 months after confirmation of a successful bid by Leicester. On that basis you'll have to wait another 6 months until a ZEBRA2-subsidised order is made* and roughly another year beyond that for the first buses to arrive...

[* For those who travel with Arriva Yorkshire, 30 months (overall) and counting!]

 

[Robertj21a]

And now they're in Leicester, so close yet so far!

.....and often get ever nearer Derby - on 127 to Loughborough and Shepshed.

 

[Trainman40083]

The previous order for ZEBRA-subsidised electrics was made 13 months after confirmation of a successful bid by Leicester. On that basis you'll have to wait another 6 months until a ZEBRA2-subsidised order is made* and roughly another year beyond that for the first buses to arrive...

[* For those who travel with Arriva Yorkshire, 30 months (overall) and counting!]

Yes but any Arriva operation will have "operational difficulties" meaning nothing is ever on time, even electric bus orders.

 

[Robertj21a]

Yes but any Arriva operation will have "operational difficulties" meaning nothing is ever on time, even electric bus orders.

Can you expand on that rather broad statement about 'any Arriva operation.....'. It doesn't sound true to me.

 

[Trainman40083]

Can you expand on that rather broad statement about 'any Arriva operation.....'. It doesn't sound true to me.

Every time anyone seems to ask Arriva Midlands about a missing bus, they always get the same answer. I guess over time they give up asking