I have just returned from a long weekend based in Edinburgh, but travelled to many places outside the great city too. I had several missions in mind, and despite the weather trying its hardest to influence things I achieved everything I set out to do. The main mission was to sample as many of today's new buses as possible, to decide once and for all which is the best. The result will be somewhat surprising.
Having travelled up by Megabus for next to nothing I set out early the next day for Glasgow. However, as First don't run a direct service from Edinburgh to Glasgow I decided to travel via Stirling, so I could sample First's new E400 MMC's on the Unilink there. I had no idea what would take me there so was pleased when a brand new full length Streetlite turned up. As I haven't been on any of Norwich's new Streetlites yet this has now saved me the trouble, and was a much longer run - nearly two hours.
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| First Scotland Royal Route liveried Wright Streetlite 63263 SN65 OJM at Stirling Bus Station |
It was good to have such a long run to test the Streetlite out on, in extremely varying weather conditions too, from bright sunshine to torrential rain. However I don't like them. Wright have let their standards slip, of which more later, but the Steetlite is too noisy, too bumpy and too rattly at such a young age. It wasn't even that warm. They feel like vehicles built on the cheap to compete with the E200. Later on in the day I caught another one from Falkirk back to Edinburgh and the interior lights are so bright it is almost impossible to see anything outside. When in unfamiliar territory that is very unhelpful.
On arrival at Stirling I was trying to make sense of the confusing maps and route indicators wondering where on earth the Unilink buses went from when rather luckily one pulled in right by me. The driver told me a complete loop took around 40 mins which was perfect to maintain my schedule.
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| First Midland Bluebird 39301 E400MMC SN15 ELC at Stirling Bus Station |
These are so much better than the old E400's. They feel like real buses, with a deeper engine tone, more solid suspension that provides a smoother ride, and a much higher feel of quality. Still a few unnecessary rattles but I really enjoyed the circular journey around Stirling and the university.
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| The rear of 39305 taken from 39301 at Stirling University |
The E400MMC's are not the only unusual deckers First have at Stirling. A fleet of Scania Omnideckers also ply their trade up there.
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| Unidentified First Midland Bluebird Scania Omnidekka in Stirling |
So onto Glasgow, and the journey to Glasgow was provided by what I thought would be the worst ride of the day. For a long journey I was surprised to see Volvo B10BLE 60220 T566 BSS roll in on the X39. Of course, as is the case now the X meant anything but and we went via just about everywhere. The bus also leaked. Badly. In fact at one point I'm not sure if it was raining harder inside or outside the bus. It was a long journey!
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| First 60220 at Stirling Bus Station about to depart for Glasgow |
I do have to ask if the DDA rules applying to single deck buses at the end of the year also apply in Scotland. If so, with only 6 weeks to go First Scotland have a huge number of these B10 BLE's still in service that I assume will have to be replaced. Not sure how they will do it.
In the next installment Glasgow and a new E200.
Great post Steve - good to see all the different variations of the standard Olympia livery. :D Hope you had a good week!
ReplyDeleteJust for the record 60220 is a Scania L94UB
ReplyDeleteSo why the hell has it got a 60 prefix and not a 65 prefix! First - you are darned confusing at times! Thanks for putting me right.
DeleteNo problem. It was at Manchester at the time when they were renumbering by region. It was only later when someone saw sense and realised it would make more sense to renumber by type!.
DeleteIn response to your final question the DDA regulations do apply in Scotland and with new vehicles going into Glasgow recent sufficient E300's will be cascaded to rid Scotland East of their final non DDA Volvo B10BLE's and Scania L94UB's
ReplyDeleteGood luck to them - there's an awful lot to replace. Might have to make a flying visit early next year to see how they've done.
DeleteI hope for your sanity you managed something other than just Wirst (I refuse to use the F-word, it's just an insult to the English language). But seriously, do they just tender for the lowest price on a spec for just the passenger carrying capacity and lowest mpg the manufacturer can make up? And then, of course, one fits all. (Though in fairness, as the old saying goes, beggars can't be choosers).
ReplyDeleteWell to be fair First had the majority of the vehicles I wanted to travel on, plus they also helped me with travel costs which was decent of them. I have to say all the new vehicles I travelled on had comfortable seats - at least that message seems to be getting through - but yes other operators will be making appearances in later posts, though probably not the next one!
DeleteI don't think Wright have quite got the Streetlite Max (the longest 11.8m version) quite right, as you say these models appear to generate a number of rattles which is quite disappointing in such a new bus. These rattles don't appear on the shorter standard models (10.8m or less) even some of the earliest door forwards which have been on quite punishing rural bus schedules in the Peak District for over 3 years. I have a fear the Max is a stretch too far for the Streetlite and since both ADL & Optare are going the same way for their big singles (the E200MMC & stretched Versa/Metrocity) this could become more widespread though the early long E200MMCs at National Express West Midlands don't seem too bad, ADL may have finally got their finger out on rattles.
ReplyDeleteFirst have been rebuilding a number of their newer Renowns & Flolines (by newer we mean 1999 or 2000 vehicles) so that they conform to DDA regs so they may not need to replace all of these older vehicles initially (certainly this has been happening in Yorkshire in some numbers). First have tended to actually go for a higher spec than standard, though they haven't always worn well once they have entered service (the Barbie spec interiors was a big improvement on the normal offer at the time but it faded badly very quickly which is an issue) and they also don't go for maximum capacity possible on the model they are buying (most of the Streetlites are one row, or 4 seats down on normal models). First do have a number of issues still to resolve but the spec they buy has never been one I would aim at them.
Hi So the B10BLE's are gonna be withdrawn coz of Not applying to DDA compliances?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know they have been. Only the Solars remain.
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