London bendy buses now with Arriva Merseyside

[northwichcat]

I saw one of the old London bendy buses at Liverpool South Parkway recently. It has been repainted in to an 'Air Express' livery, it was showing 'Anfield' on the destination display but I imagine it wasn't in service as I don't think there are any Anfield buses from South Parkway.

 

[BestWestern]

Yep, those who operated them in London have been desperately trying to find alternative uses for them! Go Ahead have tried theirs with Brighton and Hove.

 

[northwichcat]

Arriva Merseyside had been rumoured as being interested in them for routes between Speke and Liverpool for around 12 months but it was the first time I have actually seen one in Merseyside last week.

Some were rumoured to be being sold to replace yellow buses in Malta but I don't know if that has/will go ahead.

 

[mbonwick]

The vast majority of Arrivas bendies are going out to Malta.

I did have a list somewhere of the bendys that were coming to Merseyside, but I can't find it atm....

 

[Anon Mouse]

Yep, those who operated them in London have been desperately trying to find alternative uses for them! Go Ahead have tried theirs with Brighton and Hove.

There was one on the 58 on Tyneside about a month ago
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The vast majority of Arrivas bendies are going out to Malta.

I did have a list somewhere of the bendys that were coming to Merseyside, but I can't find it atm....

So I've missed the chance for vintage Leyland and Bristol buses in Malta? :cry:

 

[mbonwick]

Yep, a ridiculous number of King Longs are on their way from China (172) I think, ready for when Arriva take on the contract to provide bus services from the start iof July.

 

[GNERman]

Pennine Buses in Skipton should procure a load to replace their old Leyland National's that are knocking around, although I doubt that the capacity would be well utilised...

 

[londonmidland]

The bendy busses are also in Leicester working for the University students.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Pennine Buses in Skipton should procure a load to replace their old Leyland National's that are knocking around, although I doubt that the capacity would be well utilised...

Do they run these Leyland National buses on the 215 Skipton to Burnley route?

 

[martinsh]

Do they run these Leyland National buses on the 215 Skipton to Burnley route?

No. They don't have any left. they are all step entrance Darts these days.

 

[sonorguy]

Pennine Buses in Skipton should procure a load to replace their old Leyland National's that are knocking around, although I doubt that the capacity would be well utilised...

I think that bendy buses would be even less suited to Skipton and N. Yorks roads then they were to London!

 

[northwichcat]

So I've missed the chance for vintage Leyland and Bristol buses in Malta? :cry:

They're being withdrawn this year. I've seen somewhere in an article that this summer is your last chance to ride the yellow buses in Malta.

 

[northwichcat]

So I've missed the chance for vintage Leyland and Bristol buses in Malta? :cry:

Here's details of what Arriva Malta will offer: https://mitc.gov.mt/MediaCenter/PDFs/1_modern_cost_effective.pdf

 

[Statto]

The Arriva Merseyside ex London Bendies are for the 501 Airport-[stn]LPY[/stn][& have been in service for a couple of months], they were originally going to go on the 26/27, but Merseytravel seemed to have barred them from going through most of there bus stations due to there length, but have extended the bus bays at [stn]LPY[/stn] to accommodate the Bendies.

The 501 is a bizarre route to have Bendies on, as you could put a Solo or a Enviro 200 on the 501 & it still would not fill even half the vehicles with passengers.

Even more bizarre there's a regular commercially operated 10 min Daytime 86A[operated by the same company & Depot which follows the 501 route Airport-[stn]LPY[/stn] but continues to Liverpool One Bus Station, so you could say the 501 isn't needed.

 

[northwichcat]

The 501 is a bizarre route to have Bendies on, as you could put a Solo or a Enviro 200 on the 501 & it still would not fill even half the vehicles with passengers.

The ones going towards the Airport don't fill up much but the ones going away from the Airport soon after a flight has landed can have 20-30 passengers on. If a Solo was fitted with extra luggage space it would probably have around 12 seats, so certain services would be packed.

Ideally the service should be free for anyone with a Liverpool South Parkway rail ticket (these are sold by Northern at Liverpool Airport) rather than the £1.80 single charge on the bus, which is around £1.70 extra each way when added to a rail ticket. The Airport could subside this through proportionality small increases in parking charges.

Even more bizarre there's a regular commercially operated 10 min Daytime 86A[operated by the same company & Depot which follows the 501 route Airport-[stn]LPY[/stn] but continues to Liverpool One Bus Station, so you could say the 501 isn't needed.

That's no longer true. When 501 went from 3 buses per hour to 4 the 86A ceased to call at South Parkway between 05:51 and 18:55. (Route 501 runs between 06:51 and 18:51)

Bus 80A does serve South Parkway and the Airport all day but goes via the business park and consequently takes 17 minutes opposed to the 10 minutes that 501 takes.

 

[Statto]

The ones going towards the Airport don't fill up much but the ones going away from the Airport soon after a flight has landed can have 20-30 passengers on. If a Solo was fitted with extra luggage space it would probably have around 12 seats, so certain services would be packed.

Ideally the service should be free for anyone with a Liverpool South Parkway rail ticket (these are sold by Northern at Liverpool Airport) rather than the £1.80 single charge on the bus, which is around £1.70 extra each way when added to a rail ticket. The Airport could subside this through proportionality small increases in parking charges.



That's no longer true. When 501 went from 3 buses per hour to 4 the 86A ceased to call at South Parkway between 05:51 and 18:55. (Route 501 runs between 06:51 and 18:51)

Bus 80A does serve South Parkway and the Airport all day but goes via the business park and consequently takes 17 minutes opposed to the 10 minutes that 501 takes.

My i've only just got the latest 86A timetable & i haven't looked at that yet. That's not a bad idea allowing [stn]LPY[/stn] Rail tickets on the 501, maybe print an extension valid to the Airport[& valid on all buses between [stn]LPY[/stn] & Airport]on the Rail ticket?

I've heard on another Forum that some of the Bendies could go on the 500 as well, which would be useful, as the 500 can be heaving, but the problems are the Bendies using the other Bus Stations in the City Centre.
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I've had a look at the 86A timetable, & it still calls at [stn]LPY[/stn] between 6am & 6pm Mon to Sat daytime.
this is the latest timetable http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/pdf/tt_001/86A%20Liverpool%20-%20Liverpool%20John%20Lenmon%20Airport%20%28from%2024%20July%202011%29.pdf
& this is the summer timetable http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/pdf/...n Lennon Airport (from 19 September 2010).pdf

 

[northwichcat]

I've had a look at the 86A timetable, & it still calls at [stn]LPY[/stn] between 6am & 6pm Mon to Sat daytime.
this is the latest timetable http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/pdf/tt_001/86A%20Liverpool%20-%20Liverpool%20John%20Lenmon%20Airport%20%28from%2024%20July%202011%29.pdf
& this is the summer timetable http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/pdf/...n Lennon Airport (from 19 September 2010).pdf

It must be Arriva don't want South Parkway passengers on that service. If they don't advertise the stop people will catch alternative buses.

 

[Statto]

It must be Arriva don't want South Parkway passengers on that service. If they don't advertise the stop people will catch alternative buses.

I've had a look at the Arriva timetable towards the Airport, LPY is only a timetable calling point on 186 journeys, yet LPY is a timetable calling point on all 86A towards the City Centre. http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/uploadedfiles/Services/North_West/NWSP86,86A,86D,86E_310110_100110.pdf

 

[bb21]

I don't know the area, but I will hazard a guess that 501 charges a premium on its fare? In which case it is understandable that they're unwilling for passengers to use the cheaper 86.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't know the area, but I will hazard a guess that 501 charges a premium on its fare? In which case it is understandable that they're unwilling for passengers to use the cheaper 86.

No an Arriva Merseyside single fare is £1.80 whatever route you travel on. (Arriva run both routes 501 and 86A.)

 

[stuart100100]

No an Arriva Merseyside single fare is £1.80 whatever route you travel on. (Arriva run both routes 501 and 86A.)

The 500 definitely charges a premium, think it's about £2.70

 

[Pumbaa]

The 500 definitely charges a premium, think it's about £2.70

And you can't use seasons/passes on it either, which is a ballache.

 

[stuart100100]

And you can't use seasons/passes on it either, which is a ballache.

I used a Saveaway on it this afternoon with no problems.

I've used a Trio pass before in the days when I had one

 

[buses7675]

I used a Saveaway on it this afternoon with no problems.

I've used a Trio pass before in the days when I had one

Hi All,

Very true, all normal Merseytravel passes and Arriva passes are valid on routes 500 & 501.

The two Mercedes Citaro O.530Gs used on the 501 are 6005 BX04 MXB & 6014 BX04 MXM


Arriva NW&W 6014 BX04 MXM by buses7675!, on Flickr

Following removal of doors and fitting luggage racks these now only seat 41 - they sat 49 when new and the luggage rack takes up the space of 8 seats, but despite having a door removed no extra seats were added!

There is a suggestion route 500 will also get some of these soon, however this is yet to be confirmed.

Route 86A still called at the [stn]LPY[/stn] a few weeks back too when I got those photos though I do believe a change is planned to drop it to encourage use of the 501.

Cheers

Steve Dave
Merseyside Dennis Dart Website
http://dartslf.com/

 

[bb21]

Following removal of doors and fitting luggage racks these now only seat 41 - they sat 49 when new and the luggage rack takes up the space of 8 seats, but despite having a door removed no extra seats were added!

Can I enquire as to the interior layout of the buses now? It would appear that the nearside seats forward of the centre door and behind the front axle have been removed, and some on the offside too (4 each side)? Is the single seat above the front axle on the nearside remaining? If 8 seats were removed, does this mean the area where the centre door used to be now offers extra free space? From your picture, it does not seem that the space were invaded by luggage racks.

Finally how many are they now licensed to carry including standees? They were 142 before refurb.

Thanks.

 

[buses7675]

Hi,

I've only been on one of the refurbs however there was a discussion about this on my website. From the discussions the wheelchair bay has been moved back to use up some of the space previously used by the centre doors. This may be to improve access as wheelchairs now enter through the front doors when they previously went in the middle and DDA regulations insist on all sorts of minor changes if the doors are swapped over.

Other than that all seats remained the same other than the 8 removed on the offside in the front section to add the luggage rack in.

Arriva North West also have a number refurbished like this but without luggage racks (so they are AB49D) which were at one point intended to enter service at Runcorn depot however this plan has since changed so for now they remain out of use.

I'm not sure on the standing capacity, I can only imagine it has gone up due to the larger wheelchair bay. Next time I go on one (probably this week all being well) and I'll post my findings!

Cheers

Steve Dave
Merseyside Dennis Dart Website
http://dartslf.com/

 

[Statto]

And you can't use seasons/passes on it either, which is a ballache.

I used a Saveaway on it this afternoon with no problems.

I've used a Trio pass before in the days when I had one

I think it's Arriva only tickets you can't use on the 500, i've had no problems using the 500 with Merseytravel Saveaways/Passes, & theres always the 82A, which covers most of the 500 route, although serves all stops, & diverts through Garston, & doesn't serve the City Centre apart from Liverpool One BS.

 

[anthony263]

Some of the london citaro's are now being used by CT plus on services around Bristol:

www.thisisbristol.co.uk


I wonder how long before one of them goes up in flames

 

[Electrostar]

The Bristol report states, "The buses were originally used by Hackney-based CT Plus on London routes during the last decade, and had yellow corporate branding."

As a Londoner I don't remember CT Plus ever using bendy buses, and certainly not in yellow corporate branding. All bendy buses were LT red, other than those covered in all-over advertising, such as for the UEL on the 25.

If I remember CT Plus originally ran yellow, non-TfL community hoppa-style buses in Hackney and later diversified into winning the contracts to run TfL services (starting with route 153) using a mix of red single and double deckers.

CT Plus shares the Ash Grove depot with Arriva London, where lots of [red] bendy buses have been stored, so perhaps this is where the confusion arose.

 

[mbonwick]

CT Plus do/did operate bendy buses, there's a photo on flickr somewhere of one of their ex-Stagecoach examples at a Stagecoach garage from last month.