[Archive] Arriva North West - Speke Depot

[mr t]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
4471 died on the 79s this afternoon by Picton Clock

[MX12CFE]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Nice to see deckers out and about on the 75 yesterday one of them was Gemini 2 MX61AXS which i rode.

[jtd508110]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Yes they tend to be utilised on Sunday's on the 75 and 80a with the reduction in service frequency.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
4108 failed yesterday on Elliot Street in Liverpool. A fitter was in attendance at about 10:30, however he shortly drove off.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
2593 failed at "Penny Lane" this morning at about 10:00 and was there until midday (at least).

[jtd508110]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Unusually, a mylenium is still out on the 80A this evening. I think its 2465, but can't be sure in the darkness.

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
I'm sure I read somewhere here that route 81 would be the main route for ex-London VLWs. I hope that, when Southport receives its new Enviro400s, some ALX400s will move to Wilmslow, enabling 4215/16 and any others if applicable to come to Speke. This could make it easier to locate a VLW here.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(12/04/2014 19:35)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I'm sure I read somewhere here that route 81 would be the main route for ex-London VLWs.

Their main allocation does seem to be 81s/81As these days!

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(12/04/2014 19:47)KU02 YUH Wrote:  Their main allocation does seem to be 81s/81As these days!

Thanks KU02! If there are some on routes 81/81a each day this should make it easy to track one down. If there are few if any new buses due for Arriva in Liverpool this year, I could combine these with route 375/385, with another bus to Bootle, connecting with an eastbound route such as the 10 or 82a. I could thus have a "central Liverpool bypass" trip for a change!

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(12/04/2014 19:35)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I'm sure I read somewhere here that route 81 would be the main route for ex-London VLWs. I hope that, when Southport receives its new Enviro400s, some ALX400s will move to Wilmslow, enabling 4215/16 and any others if applicable to come to Speke. This could make it easier to locate a VLW here.

Do you mean Winsford rather than Wilmslow? My understanding is that the eight B7TLs currently at Southport will move to Winsford as DLA replacements once the new Enviro400s arrive. Speke's batch of Enviro400s will be replacements for the ELC Myllenniums and will be primarily for use on the 86 corridor. The Myllenniums are expected to move to Green Lane on a short-term basis until further new buses are delivered to Green Lane next year.

The VLWs currently at Speke are spread around - it's not uncommon to see them on the QBP 86 and 82 routes covering for the regular deckers. They also see use on the 75 and 80/80A as well as the 81/81A. From what I've seen recently, there are usually only a handful of deckers on the 81, generally two to four, and these are often VDL DB300s as well as VLWs. Overall though, the 81 is still probably the best bet for VLW hunting!