First Aberdeen

[Volvodart]

Wrightbus said they will be back in April, but they previously said they were coming back from Wrightbus in March!

 

[83G/84D]

Are the earlier batch due to return soon? Sorry just seen earlier post which says April.

 

[Kernow Dave]

Until recently the 1/2 used to operate up to every 2 minutes at peak times and often buses would run full. Even off peak from 2012 to 2018 there was a 3/4 minute frequency off peak between RGU and Castle Street. With that being said Artics work far better on the 1/2 than deckers, especially along the King Street corridor.

The Enviro500s are being converted though, as mentioned in the previous post it's likely just an administrative error as 38212 was the first vehicle in the fleet to be done, both it and Citaro 11108 went down to Eminox in Gainsborough in December/January to be converted, tested and certified since they are the first of their types to be done.

Yes, i was just about to post about this. The first of the new examples for the 17/18 has just been delivered this afternoon, it had been reported previously that the new examples (39716-25) would be delivered first followed by 39701-15.

Bus Lists On The Web now has these as being:
39716 SV22VXC
39717 SV22VXD
39718 SV22VXE
39719 SV22VXF
39720 SV22VXG
39721 SV22VXH
39722 SV22VXJ
39723 SV22VXK
39724 SV22UZA
39725 SV22UZB

That's interesting, as First do not normally reuse fleet numbers. 39717 was originally SMK 717F (RML2717) AEC Routemaster, which was sold and exported to Thailand and 39724 (RML2724) AEC Routemaster which was sold for preservation.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

That's interesting, as First do not normally reuse fleet numbers. 39717 was originally SMK 717F (RML2717) AEC Routemaster, which was sold and exported to Thailand and 39724 (RML2724) AEC Routemaster which was sold for preservation.

I suspect they will be 39716 to 39727 excluding 717 + 724.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I suspect they will be 39716 to 39727 excluding 717 + 724.

That's possible, the one that arrived yesterday is 39716.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Not that it’s a big issue but does anyone know why the new Streetdecks have green grab poles internally compared to the standard first livery?

 

[Volvodart]

Probably because Aberdeen's colour is green.

 

[Jordan Adam]

A second blue Streetdeck-FCEV has been delivered today, unsure which one though as the registration is still covered. Interestingly these have advert frames fitted whereas the 70 plates did not.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

Probably because Aberdeen's colour is green.

The original buses weren’t delivered with green interiors though? Looks a lot like the interior of the Leeds buses.

 

[Volvodart]

Maybe First had more say about the second batch, rather than Aberdeen Council. I wonder if they have wifi too.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

USBs would be a nice touch on them since the last order never had any.

 

[Jordan Adam]

USBs would be a nice touch on them since the last order never had any.

The previous batch didn't have Wifi, USBs or high back seats. First were going to have them retrofitted with WiFi but i'm not sure if that has happened.

Something i've seen from a few non-transport related local Facebook Groups is that the "general public" have picked up on the fact the E400MMCs are better specified internally than the Streetdecks and are saying the "Glasgow buses are better". So it just goes to show that these things do make a difference when it comes to public perception.

That's interesting, as First do not normally reuse fleet numbers. 39717 was originally SMK 717F (RML2717) AEC Routemaster, which was sold and exported to Thailand and 39724 (RML2724) AEC Routemaster which was sold for preservation.

I suspect they will be 39716 to 39727 excluding 717 + 724.

The one that arrived on Saturday is 39717 (SV22VXD) so that confirms they are reusing those numbers, a third example 39718 (SV22VXE) has arrived today.

 

[Volvodart]

The first of the new Streetdecks are now in service on route 19.

 

[Jordan Adam]

39716/17/20 entered service today, with 39718/19 to follow tomorrow. 39721-25 will be getting delivered over the next few days with 39701-15 expected to start returning next week. It is expected that the loaned E400MMCs will start to return to Glasgow next week too.

 

[Whiteway215]

39716/17/20 entered service today, with 39718/19 to follow tomorrow. 39721-25 will be getting delivered over the next few days with 39701-15 expected to start returning next week. It is expected that the loaned E400MMCs will start to return to Glasgow next week too.

What will the new buses eventually replace? Thanks.

 

[Jordan Adam]

What will the new buses eventually replace? Thanks.

Enviro300 67804 and Volvo B7RLEs 69290, 69294 & 69351-57. Hence why these vehicles haven't been upgraded to Euro 6.

 

[Nev85]

BBC reporting First as saying that two of the Hydrogen fleet have returned to service after the issues first reported in February.

First said in a statement: "We are pleased to confirm two of our zero-emissions hydrogen buses have returned to service in Aberdeen.
"It is expected the number of hydrogen buses in service will continue to increase gradually over the coming weeks as we return our fleet to its full complement."

Is this the case or are they being disingenuous with the new Streetdecks being delivered?

 

[Volvodart]

No these are the new 22 plate ones.

 

[Jordan Adam]

39716-20 are all in service today, albeit mostly off route!

Here's 39720 at Ashwood on the 2 this afternoon.

First Aberdeen 39720 SV22VXG (20th April 2022)

First Aberdeen Wright Streetdeck Hydroliner 39720 sits at Ashwood terminus on it's first day of service preparing to operate a Service 2 to Auchinyell. 39720 is one of ten Streetdecks (39716-25) currently on delivery to Aberdeen for the Blue Line 17/18, these join the existing fifteen...

www.flickr.com

First Aberdeen 39720 SV22VXG (20th April 2022)

First Aberdeen Wright Streetdeck Hydroliner 39720 is seen here at Ashwood Terminus while working a Service 2 between Ashwood and Auchinyell. 39720 is one of ten Streetdecks (39716-25) currently on delivery to Aberdeen for the Blue Line 17/18, these join the existing fifteen (39701-15) which...

www.flickr.com

 

[Deltic1961]

Why do they waste time and money branding routes then run them on different services? Has driven me crazy for years now.

I get there will be the "odd" occassion but First Aberdeen are really bad for it.

Probably nobody else even notices, just my Virgo OCD.

 

[stevenedin]

I agree. I think they should just use the standard livery instead of route branding.

 

[JumpinTrainz]

I like the idea of route branding also but I do think given how big the First empire is and how often buses are transferred around - a standard livery and interior design would be more uniform and beneficial.

To get back to topic, however - these new buses look great. It’ll be exciting to see the new electrics arrive too to oust some of the older stock.

 

[lachlan]

Route branding could be a good accessibility aid, helping partially sighted people find their bus when they may struggle to read the number. But buses are on the "wrong" route so often that there's no way you could trust it.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The issue with Aberdeen isn't that they can't allocate them to the correct routes, it's more that there's so much interworking between routes that it's inevitable that branded buses will appear on services they're not branded for at times. For example quite a number of daytime 13 and 17/18 duties work on to the 1/2 in the evening. There will probably need to be some service/board changes in the near future to reduce the amount of interworking between the 17/18 and other services though.

It seems since it was their first day of service 39718-20 were just put on the last (or some of the last) duties out from the depot, hence them being off route. I can't really complain as it did allow for some more interesting photos away from the 17/18 which i find are rather boring routes with limited "good" places for photos.

First Aberdeen 39718 SV22VXE (20th April 2022)

First Aberdeen Wright Streetdeck Hydroliner 39718 SV22VXE is seen here on it's first day of service turning from Meston Walk on to College Bounds while operating a Service 20 from Hillhead Of Seaton to Balnagask. Photo Date: 20th April 2022

www.flickr.com

39717 (it does exist) was at least on the 17/18 today though.

First Aberdeen 39717 SV22VXD (20th April 2022)

First Aberdeen Wright Streetdeck Hydroliner 39717 SV22VXD passes under Stoneywood Railway Bridge while operating a Blue Line 17 from Dyce to Faulds Gate. A huge thank you must go out to the driver who slowed the bus right down to a crawl under the bridge allowing for better photos than i had...

www.flickr.com

 

[Deltic1961]

The one at Stoneywood is a cracking photo.

 

[Volvodart]

The duties 39718/20 went onto yesterday were cancelled on the First app. I do not know if due to no bus or no driver being available, and they went on part way round their first trip. I presume something had to be done to the Streetdecks before they could go out.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The duties 39718/20 went onto yesterday were cancelled on the First app. I do not know if due to no bus or no driver being available, and they went on part way round their first trip. I presume something had to be done to the Streetdecks before they could go out.

39718 first tracked on the 10:00 20 to Torry, however i saw it on Union Street at Music Hall heading eastbound not in service at 10:55. It was at least on the 20 by the 12:15 run as i saw it at Adelphi in service. Perhaps they needed to do a quick road test prior to them going out in to service?

 

[PG]

The one at Stoneywood is a cracking photo.

Aye cracking picture well done @Jordan Adam .

Brings back memories of route learning (in service) with an Atlantean, apprehensively approaching; being told to line up left knee with the centre line on road and not to move the wheel for anything coming toward you until you'd cleared the bridge. Didn't have the bollards back then either...

 

[Cloud Strife]

Why do they waste time and money branding routes then run them on different services? Has driven me crazy for years now.

No idea, but First Aberdeen always seemed to be obsessed with trying to brand particular lines.

 

[PG]

No idea, but First Aberdeen always seemed to be obsessed with trying to brand particular lines.

In my experience hardly anyone uses the names, except maybe 'the bridges', and just refers to their bus by number or occasionally final destination.