After only 5 months in public service is time up already for the X1 E400's? Passengers have been singularly unimpressed with the noise and comfort level in the much heralded vehicles. Rumours are circulating that the powers that be are not happy. Issues such as rattling, seat deterioation and general ride quality are causing the decision makers to scratch their heads. Long before they should have had to, can they already be looking at the long term future of the E400's
Following passenger surveys it is clear the E400's are not as popular as was hoped. Out of all First's flagship routes the X1 should be the Blue Riband as it is still the longest bus route in the country. Only the best will do and it certainly seems that the current fleet are not the best. Looks like the B9's were a lot better than they were given credit for. Surely the E400's won't survive 5 years like the B9's did.
Doubtless there will be those who continue to champion the E400's. After all they still look fantastic from the outside and those destination screens still leave me highly impressed, so unless you are a regular traveller on them they may still seem great, so is it possible they are already going to be replaced? You just never know.
UPDATE
For those of you who haven't read the last few comments just look at the first letter of every sentence! The question now is how long will it be before that post IS true!
I can't say about the quality as have not travelled on them but the B9's were ok, they pass the shop every 20 mins and always seem quite quiet as do most of the alx400's (30888 ??? lol ) Would be interesting to find out how the other E400's around the country fare I mean there are gallons of them in service but if you break it down the majority are on urban/suburban routes with a few what I would call medium routes and school stuff but is it the actual length and thrash factor of the X1 that is the cause. Maybe a coach operator would have specified a different drivetrain and suspension layout ?? If memory serves the big deckers with Sanders have coach engines which are designed more for distance ? If your thinking is correct thats 5 mill up the chimney flipping heck I would be a tad gutted.
ReplyDeleteperhaps a little money should be thrown at the last batch of B9's which are in Norwich 36166 to 36180 and use those on the X1 along with the lowest mileaged previous B9's until later models can be sourced,NOW THAT would make sense if you say they are that bad,Start a Poll to see if they should be replaced,you never know public opinion matters these days,well that's what we are being told
ReplyDeleteNow for the B7's in Norwich,which one do The Steanator refer to.
ReplyDeleteThey always say going forward is the thing as in new to replace old don't look back so saying that witness the Olympian revival in yarmouth or is is due to shortage?? who can tell but they seem to be accepted as is. Spoke to someone today who says that the gas buses are going the same way all rattly and stuff.
ReplyDeleteDam good April fool there young man A+
ReplyDeleteOmg as they say should have gone to specsavers lol I do believe thats hook line sinker and copy of angling times Mr Lister sir lol
ReplyDeleteThanks guys - how the hell do I top that next year! On a serious note though there were some really good points made, and the fact that the story was so believable tells its own story - that for the money invested First just simply haven't got what they paid for.
ReplyDeleteWell it had me fooled,as so many people in the past have said,these E400's are not a patch on those with Konect,i didn't even think of it being April fool as the subject has been in the limelight on several occasions regarding their ride quality & noise,well done Steve,it's a shame it had to be a fools run,yep hook line & and a stinker of a catch
ReplyDeleteWell Jim I have a feeling that unlike the famous Spaghetti Tree April Fools joke in the 70's this one might just come true one day. I hope so.
ReplyDelete