Rail Replacement - Bike Bus

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Rail Replacement - Bike Bus

(07/12/2016 20:48)Raawwwrrr! Wrote:  There's atleast 3 mylleniums in the region already in withdrawn state and the others will soon be following (Understandably not in the best condition and probably Sorn).

With the Gemini 3's shortly arriving into the region on temporary loan to Birkenhead this would free up mylleniums currently sat at LS, which could be converted. It is not unusual for depots either to provide a loan to allow such a conversion to take place. By the time the rail replacement is over, all of the X and Y reg vehicles will be withdrawn due to single decker buses being freed up by SL and GL as the Gemini 3's settle into their destined homes.

It's also worth noting that 2 extra buses will be on loan to Arriva NW very shortly for electric vehicle trialing (again freeing up 2 buses)

I don't see the point in converting 8214 only for it to be replaced by a low floor vehicle - it would just be a waste of money. In this particular case there isn't a necessity for the bicycle carrying bus to be low floor anyway seeing that it's specifically for Merseyrail passengers who are cyclists. If one of the saloons coming up for withdrawal was used instead of 8214 then it would mean having to wait until the Yutong and StreetAir loan buses arrive and then waiting for the selected vehicle to be converted after it's been released. Considering the popularity of bicycles on Merseyrail services I don't think that would be a very popular move

And as 60008 has pointed out the Myllenniums are too big for the tunnels anyway so it would be a non-starter