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Monday 12 September 2016

New Deckers For National Express

I don't normally do one off posts but making an exception today. Tim Miller published a pic on Twitter earlier which had me drooling a bit. National Express are taking delivery of this Caetano Invictus bodied double decker which is certainly a head turner. I stand to be corrected but I can't remember NE having new deckers since the glory days of Rapide so this is certainly a new angle for them.

These vehicles are so new I can't find out much about them - the only other pictures available are of the 12 examples purchased by Translink of Northern Ireland, which are Scania K410's with Euro 6 engines used on the Belfast - Londonderry route

It transpires, thanks to the efforts of Roy from East Norfolk Bus Blog that the National Express Invictus coaches are to be used on the London Victoria - Luton Airport service. I'm not a great fan of the Levantes so I will be interested to see what the ride on the Invictus is like. Added to my "to do" list.

This pic was taken by Brian Madge of Parks of Hamilton, and all credit goes to him.

The Scania Caetano Invictus.        pic (c) Brian Madge

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6 comments:

  1. Anonymous14 September 2016 at 14:29

    An article on the Suffolk Free Press site suggest Chambers are cutting buses services across the county,.. If it is true I suspect it may really mean Go Ahead Group Companies in the East. Given their financial position it could well be true. Quote "Chambers bus company is to reduce it services across the county. I have found no other source I am asking the Suffolk Free Press as to if they have any further information.

    http://www.suffolkfreepress.co.uk/news/latest-news/hope-for-bus-station-move-protesters-1-7577722

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    1. Steve W14 September 2016 at 15:47

      Both Chambers and Hedingham have been cancelling services this week due to staff shortages. I have heard unconfirmed reports of a mass handing in of notice at Konect. Ask any Anglian driver what's going on you'll get a shrug of the shoulders and "Still here aren't we!"

      I've given up trying to guess what's going on at Go East as I've reached the conclusion they haven't got the first idea themselves. If they don't know what chances have the rest of us got.

      Btw unfortunately the link you supplied doesn't work. I know there are changes at Go East companies on October 2nd which haven't made it to the respective websites yet. Read into that what you will if it's good news, bad news or just poor publicity.

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  2. Anonymous14 September 2016 at 22:23

    National Express used double deck coaches on routes up to around 2008. It stopped when one of them rolled over on the M25. They have been used well after Rapide days, the last decker receiving the round logo design livery.

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    1. Steve W14 September 2016 at 23:00

      I said I stood to be corrected! If I was perfect you wouldn't have anything to pick me up on. How about links to pics of these deckers?

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    2. Steve W14 September 2016 at 23:18

      Incidentally at the time of the crash you mentioned the entire NEx double decker fleet totalled 12, all Neoplans operated by Trathens on various routes between the West Country, London, West Midlands and Scotland. Living in Suffolk I had more chance of seeing a Bugatti Veyron. Compared to the number of deckers in the 80's 12 is rather minimal!

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  3. Unknown23 February 2017 at 15:22

    is there any Inside shots of it?

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