Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

[Barney]

RE: Arriva North West - Bootle Depot

(14/02/2015 16:12)507009 Wrote:  I agree that it's a stretch to call six year old deckers 'ageing'. They're only ageing in the sense that they could do with an internal refresh and a tighten up, but Pulsars suffer from the same problems.

Also, I'm not sure I buy into this 'late running' lark. Since the 10B was converted to Enviro400s, the reliability of the route has improved markedly in my experience, rather than buses turning up seemingly willy-nilly on weekdays. As for the comparison, I used the 52 and 53 on a couple of weekends in the run up to Christmas 2014 when the shoppers were out in force and even the deckers running completely full. If anything, it was the Pulsars running late more often than the Enviro400s on both routes.

In short, the Enviro400s are going to be a massive improvement for the vast majority of the 52/52A passengers as they will actually get a seat on many of the busier services. Even if they have to stand on the peak time runs, that's a lot better than watching a Pulsar sailing past because it's short of capacity.

Personally, I think the 52/53/55 corridors should be decker operated on weekends without excuse. This is where the real capacity is on weekends as the 60 and 61 are a lot quieter. For the Sunday 52/52A and 55 to be Pulsar operated, running full throughout the day, is a disgrace in my opinion when the lion's share of the existing Enviro400s sit in the depot gathering dust.

Strong words indeed! I agree with everything that you have written and would like to think that, given the reduced frequency of the 52/52A at the weekend and especially Sunday, the new deckers will also be used as a matter of course on the 53 and 55. Does anybody know what the PVR for the 52/52A is on a Sunday? My guess is six and that means ten will be left sitting in the depot.