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| Volvo B7l 66332 in its Northampton days. Pic by Mark Seanor |
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Friday, 4 April 2014
Is This REALLY Exciting News?
Norwich Bus Page reports that First have confirmed that Norwich Volvo Eclipse 66332 is the first Norwich vehicle to be painted into the new livery. There is much excitement at this news. Really? A 12yo vehicle in Norfolk's County City getting a paint job isn't progress or anything to celebrate as far as I can see. It shows that it isn't going to be replaced!! A city with the heritage, attractions, people and links of the quality that Norwich has deserves a modern, up to date fleet of buses. Not mutton painted as lamb. And I say that as a Suffolk man! I bet Anglian and Konect are quaking in their shoes at that announcement!
Well you never know, maybe these "more announcements" are that the fleet is getting heavily invested in and the current fleet are being repainted ready to be moved elsewhere? Ipswich could do with replacing their Scanias, or Yarmouth's Renowns and Lowie's Darts. But still, its improving their image and that is a step in the right direction :)
ReplyDeleteIpswich are definitely replacing their Scanias, but what with remains to be seen. Yarmouths Renowns are being replaced by the ex First Leicester deckers. Who knows about the Darts at Lowestoft. but yes, we'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteeither way, it's an excuse to get out spotting and a chance to finally 'amend' something on my Norwich fleet list! :D
DeleteSteve,think positive,for so long First were in the diastraights,now with new management and new team leaders,things will happen,but,it's a big net work that is changing direction,just like the QE2 it cannot turn around in a short space of time,come on mate,eee give em a chance.
ReplyDeleteIn which case let them say what the plans are. I would like nothing better than to post a really upbeat positive celebratory report on First's fleet - I'm bursting to. And hopefully in the next few days I'll have one. But in the meantime I'd rather see the money spent on new vehicles or refurbishing older ones than just tarting up the outside which might be good for a photo but not an hour long journey.
ReplyDeleteUs pensioners get paid for doing nothing. We need to learn that in the real world people have to earn their keep. Nationally First have made a big bus order, details all over the web for those that care to look, but it has to trickle down locally. Money will go where there is money to be made - East Anglia has never been an investment priority for anything - look at the rails and roads. Compare it to the northern conurbations, the south and Bristol: First's priorities. Why do you think we're more important: better local authority support, more profitable, greater bus use instead of the car, or what? Or just: I want it (for my blog, presumably). . . and s*d everyone else? I suspect that people use the bus here because they have to, and First's local objective is to "protect" their network with as many frequent (at least timetabled) buses as they can. A few scattered new buses doesn't offer anything commercially. Something to think about: what's your investment case, in terms that a banker would understand? Because they're the people First have to keep happy to have a business in the first place. Not every company is the same, before the answer is "others can do it", with their different size, scale, commercial objectives and investment profile.
ReplyDeleteJust one further thought: did I hear that First's eastern area Commercial Director is answering questions on an EADT blog tomorrow: if so a golden opportunity to ask him why he doesn't secure new buses for the local network, and to tell him why he should. And don't accept any excuses. What else is he there for?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. I'll check it out and see what I can do - could be fun!
ReplyDeleteSorry Steve 'twas the wrong paper it's the Norwich EDP - see FN&S twitter feed (link from their home page) for the info. Right day, wrong paper; at least that 1/2, probably better than WirstBus anyway.
ReplyDeleteOnly just seen your first comment. There are plenty of new vehicles for my blog thanks, and some of them are even nearly decent. I like older buses - the ones that were built properly at least - Olympians being a classic example and I'm banging the drum for the Routemasters this year but I am also a realist.
ReplyDeleteBasically you have got to give people a reason to leave their cars at home and get the bus. It has got to be financially attractve to those without a free pass, reliable and comfortable. Very few of First's EC fleet falls into the "comfortable" bracket. Other companies have invested in the area - Anglian have invested heavily in new vehicles and if you travel on the 88 or 61 you will see it has paid off as most journeys are full. I understand further investment is on the cards. The same applies to Konect and to a lesser extent Sanders and Simonds. All have more modern fleets than First
I sincerely hope the new Business Manager at First has the vision to see what potential there is for this area with the right investment and imagination. Yes I want to see new buses for the area, but DECENT new buses, not those starting with an E, that will be worse than the ones they replace in 2 years. To suggest I want it for my blog is quite insulting really - I travel hundreds of miles on buses a week and it's my bum not my blog I'm thinking of.
But there is something far more important. Buses today are a million miles from where they were 30 years ago when I was a boy. I want a bus network still very much in place for my kids and grand kids in 30, 40, 50 years time. If that means criticising where I feel its warranted or encouraging companies to invest and expand in this area, which has much untapped potential then I'll do it, and I make no apology for doing so. Nothing would please me more than to be posting positive news after positive news and I'll continue to express my views until such time I can do so.
Sorry, I was being cheeky but a good response. What I don't understand is that in other areas where First have their "new network" - I'm thinking of Glasgow, Sheffield, Aberdeen, Bristol and even perhaps Somerset and Hampshire - it's come along with new and refurbished buses. But not in Norwich and the east. Why not? What's wrong with us? Or are local management loosing a trick? I can only think it's an inferior financial return or perhaps the absence of any "political capital"? I know First poured all their money into the black hole that is America which isn't an albatross that the other groups have to bear. I agree with you that if they're going to do the job they should do it properly. But I'm vexed why they don't. How do we get ourselves up the stakes? It's like First believe the buses in the Tory heartlands are a lost cause. We get Freddy the Frog, the booby prize.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good question. I know there is refurbishment on the cards in Ipswich, but you are correct when you say a few new buses sprinkled around won't make much difference. Even then give me the choice between an X1 E400 or Olympian 34109 and I'd take the Olympian regardless of how much you paid me not to. So it's not just a newer, more modern fleet we need - some might even say deserve - but the RIGHT modern fleet.
ReplyDeleteEssex don't really fare much better - they have got some rubbish too. I have yet to travel on one of the hybrids on the 100 between Chelmsford and Lakeside so can't comment on them yet. Thankfully, though, now First have pulled out of London all the new bus budget can go where it's needed as opposed to London where it was demanded.
I try to stay out of politics, but I am surprised the Green Party haven't kicked up more of a fuss in Norwich for cleaner more efficient vehicles for those who can't pedal!
Yep, but I thought they've already burned the candle: in Jan they reported this years national order as:
ReplyDeleteADL Enviro 200 no. 37
ADL Enviro 400 no. 60
Optare Solo no. 15
Optare Versa no. 6
Volvo Plaxton no. 6
Wrightbus StreetLite Micro Hybrids no. 274
Wrightbus StreetLite no.27.
Paddington (H.O.) rules OK. They boast about the Streetlife MHs being designed for and with First, but I think that's all about fuel consumption rather than passenger comfort. This is First, the Bankers Bus Company!
Bankers or bonkers? Are we heading for another minibus revolution? It didn't work in the late 80's and it won't work now. 60 new deckers nationwide? Not many compared to the number being withdrawn elsewhere. We shall see but those figures don't have me jumping up and down with excitement.
ReplyDeleteAnd now it's gone.....
ReplyDeleteSo that was worth the expense then......I'd prefer services maintained rather than a repaint.
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