[Archive] Arriva North West - Speke Depot

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(12/04/2014 20:09)507009 Wrote:  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!

Thank you for your informed news 507009. As the Enviro400s for Speke should be identical to those planned for routes 375 and 385, I may prefer to ride one in Liverpool after all. Yes, I did mean Winsford, whoops!

As an aside, I hope some Streetlites, potentially Micro Hybrid or even Sapphired, come to Arriva in this area eventually, but I doubt they will this year at least.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
No problem, Metroline. It will be interesting to see if both Southport and Speke receive identical Enviro400s; certainly, you'd expect the 375/85 ones to have high-backed seating. Both will have Wi-Fi, but will the seating be the same as well? I really hope so, as it would seem a step down for the 86 to go to low-backed seating after so long.

[MX12CFE]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Gemini 1 LJ51DJE is on the 79 today along with a Commander.

[M113 YKC]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(14/04/2014 16:35)MX12CFE Wrote:  Gemini 1 LJ51DJE is on the 79 today along with a Commander.

A Volvo ALX400 was also on the 79/79D this afternoon!

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
I had 4127 on 81 late this afternoon, funny wheezing sound from the engine when it starts moving again after a stop or after lights, other than that no complaints about the bus really.

[childwallblues]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot

(14/04/2014 16:35)MX12CFE Wrote:  Gemini 1 LJ51DJE is on the 79 today along with a Commander.

Commander was 2595 CX06BJV.

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
More deckers than usual were on the 81 today. Three of the former VLWs, two B7TLs (4110 and 4112) and a VDL DB300 were all out. A shoddy allocation was CX07CSU on the 86/86A during the day.

The Myllenniums' dismal reliability was on show as well as the DB300 replaced the heap that is 2458 on the 81 at Speke Morrisons, while 2465 (IIRC) was also observed running out of use with a fitter on board during the day. The 'distinctive' 2455 started the day on the 81 but had moved to the 78 by the evening, indicating a possible problem with this one as well.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Another VLW on 81's this morning was 4108 that I had on the way to work. As for mylleniums, well 2458 is just about the biggest heap of the lot.

[jtd508110]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
Also notable yesterday was 4212 on the 82 and 4127 on the 80A

[Arriva3137]

RE: Arriva North West - Speke Depot
4126 was on the 82 yesterday