DartSLF Opinions 2013

[V671 DVU]

RE: DartSLF Opinions 2013

(29/12/2013 01:50)CX54 DKD Wrote:  On your number 4 @V671, would you not consider that to actually be the Renowns rather than the Olympians? Not at all having a pop, just a genuine question! I do realise this post is slightly off-topic too so apologies all!

Good point actually, R-WVRs are defo the last proper step buses though

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: DartSLF Opinions 2013
1 - Who was the best company of the year?
Stagecoach Manchester. A superb fleet that just keeps improving year-on-year. The larger Merseyside operators could learn a lot from them.

2 - Who was the worst company of the year?
Impera by a country mile. Terrible buses, negligent treatment of passengers, pulling off routes early and one of the most predictable demises you’ll ever see in the industry.

3 - What bus(es) were the best delivery to a company of the year?
Arriva Runcorn’s MAN EcoCity/Caetano City Golds. They don’t match the standards of the demonstrator, but are warm and comfortable enough to stand out. Eco-friendly and pleasant to ride.

4 - What withdrawn bus(es) were the hardest goodbye from a company of the year?
It has to be the DLAs on Merseyside. Beyond the acceleration problems, these are some of the smoothest riding buses out there and the step up compared with the R-WVRs merely a year older is massive.

5 - Which bus(es) looked the smartest during the year?
Hard to say really, but simply based on how well kept they are for their age, the 7651-7656 batch of Marshalls at Southport. Looked after by both the depot and passengers.

6 - What was the rarest sighting of the year?
No idea on this one. Haven’t paid much attention and not a great deal stands out. Perhaps a Preston – Longridge branded Enviro400 appearing on the X2 a few months back.

7 - What was the biggest surprise in the industry of the year?
Undoubtedly First buying Finglands.

8 - What was the biggest disappointment in the industry of the year?
A few things spring to mind: there is obviously the issue with Liverpool’s bus lanes courtesy of an ignorant man utterly out of his depth as mayor, but also Stagecoach Merseyside missing yet another opportunity to meet supply with demand and draft in double deckers. Enviro300s do not cut it.

Thirdly, the Bolton and Birkenhead Volvo B5L Hybrids are a major disappointment. The livery is gaudy, the ride quality lacklustre and the seats unacceptably hard. I was never a huge fan of the Enviro400s at Birkenhead, but they are a whole lot better than these. The Enviro400H is a vastly superior product.

9 - What bus was the best during the year?
Purely on the surprise factor, it has to be 7654 (V654DVU). Absolutely superb in all departments, and probably the best Dennis Dart I have ever been on.

10 - What bus was the worst during the year?
It could be any of the horrendous ex-Birkenhead ELC Myllennium fleet now lingering at Speke, but 2456 gets my vote. As awful as a bus could conceivably be and completely unacceptable for a large city depot like Speke. Not far behind are the ‘VLW’ 4200-4205 batch at Birkenhead.

[Polo Mint]

RE: DartSLF Opinions 2013
1 - Who was the best company of the year?
Answer -First Manchester

2 - Who was the worst company of the year?
Answer: Maytree Transport

3 - What bus(es) were the best delivery to a company of the year?
(This includes new and old buses to a company/depot that may have already been in use!)
Answer - Arriva Double Decker hybrids with the very fetching paint scheme, or the Stagecoach Hybrids on the 192 with wifi.

4 - What withdrawn bus(es) were the hardest goodbye from a company of the year?
(This includes new and old buses that left a company/depot, even if they're still in use elsewhere!)
Answer - All of First Bury's Olympians

Question 5 - Which bus(es) looked the smartest during the year?
Answer - Arriva Sapphire (only saw pics, mind you)

6 - What was the rarest sighting of the year?
Answer - An Optare Solo on First Manchester X84 (an express route that is about 1.5 hours long), usually operated by an Enviro400 or B9TL.

7 - What was the biggest surprise in the industry of the year?
Answer - FirstGroup purchase of Finglands

8 - What was the biggest disappointment in the industry of the year?
Answer - closure of Maytree/Sale of Bluebird

9 - What bus was the best during the year?
Answer - Stagecoach 192 Hybrids

10 - What bus was the worst during the year?
Answer - That retched Borismaster or the Marshall Darts arriving from Yorkshire to First Manchester.

[WGemini4488]

RE: DartSLF Opinions 2013
1 - Who was the best company of the year?: People's Bus Limited

2 - Who was the worst company of the year?: Impera (leaving passengers stranded halfway into a journey).

3 - What bus(es) were the best delivery to a company of the year?: People's Bus BMC Condor.

4 - What withdrawn bus(es) were the hardest goodbye from a company of the year?: I think i would say the DLAs from bootle but they still have one but not the best.

5 - Which bus(es) looked the smartest during the year?: Birkenhead's Wright Gemini 2 Hybrids and Runcorn's Man Eco-Cities

6 - What was the rarest sighting of the year?: Seeing Green Lane buses operating Bootle's routes on Boxing Day.

7 - What was the biggest surprise in the industry of the year?: Hasn't been any.

8 - What was the biggest disappointment in the industry of the year?: Wright Pulsars are still invading Merseyside
.

9 - What bus was the best during the year?: 27717 (PO11 BCV) STAGECOACH MERSEYSIDE

10 - What bus was the worst during the year?: 2201 (X201 ANC) ARRIVA GREEN LANE