The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
5 posters
The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
There are all sorts of rumours going round at the moment, about Halifax based HJC. The number of complaints are skyrocketing about missing buses on some of his routes, and it is alleged that he is having to knock service buses to honour school & college contracts.
The fleet is a mish-mash of aged double deckers (Metrobuses & Olympians, plus Darts that havent even been painted), plus 3 leased ADL Enviro Darts for a PTE contrtact, and BMC Condors for MyBus work.
The local rag has even posted an angry letter from a member of the public. Sadly, Halifax is being run into the ground bus wise, with First not giving a toss, and Centrebus bumbling along in their own useless way. The only ones running reliably are TJ 'Hovisvan' Walsh, with their fleet of Iveco & Merc breadvans, which always look immaculate!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
The fleet is a mish-mash of aged double deckers (Metrobuses & Olympians, plus Darts that havent even been painted), plus 3 leased ADL Enviro Darts for a PTE contrtact, and BMC Condors for MyBus work.
The local rag has even posted an angry letter from a member of the public. Sadly, Halifax is being run into the ground bus wise, with First not giving a toss, and Centrebus bumbling along in their own useless way. The only ones running reliably are TJ 'Hovisvan' Walsh, with their fleet of Iveco & Merc breadvans, which always look immaculate!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Bristol LH- Admin
- Posts : 851
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Well i suppose it was coming.They don`t exactly have a very young fleet of modern low floor buses do they.
K1YRL- Posts : 333
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Up north
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Not surprised, most of their buses are all beat up with the paint flaking of them, and in desperate need of cleaning on the inside. I rekon it is due to a lack of funds. They seem to be run their old darts a lot on the 629 more recently, instead of the low floor enviros.
Mtravel have metrobuses too (mk2 though, but still) they are much nicer.
HJC runs old bangers because it can't make money on the old biddies that use its services. Profitable services are run by first. Any money that is made is used to do up the Routemasters for weddings and that kind of tat.
Mtravel have metrobuses too (mk2 though, but still) they are much nicer.
Halifax Joint Committee is not a hobby that runs classic bus services for peoples' enjoyment,
HJC runs old bangers because it can't make money on the old biddies that use its services. Profitable services are run by first. Any money that is made is used to do up the Routemasters for weddings and that kind of tat.
LynxZF7- Posts : 101
Join date : 2010-05-16
Location : West Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
M Travel's Metrobuses are on the way out, and have largely been replaced by Spectras. The Excels he had have been replaced by Dart SLF's to improve reliability too. I used to work with Darren Taylor, who is the transport manager there. Nice bloke, but very sarky, and a good fitter too...
Bristol LH- Admin
- Posts : 851
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Who on earth thought Darts would improve reliability?
Pukerlicious- Posts : 189
Join date : 2010-09-05
Age : 30
Location : South Wales
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Someone with brains. Early Dart SLF's are pretty damn reliable. no ECU's to worry about, unlike Excels...
Bristol LH- Admin
- Posts : 851
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
I will side with you on that actually, the PP1 bodied ones are generally good as gold. R/S and upwards though; run. Run for your lif... wallet.
I assume the Excels are the newer ones? Let me guess, Merc engined... lol
I assume the Excels are the newer ones? Let me guess, Merc engined... lol
Pukerlicious- Posts : 189
Join date : 2010-09-05
Age : 30
Location : South Wales
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Mk1 Excels. Gearbox issues, electrical issues, suspension issues...Generally were a waste of money, as like all Optare low floor products, they are crap!
Bristol LH- Admin
- Posts : 851
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
We've got 3 down here (one R and two S reg, ex Reading Bus) and they've proven to be very reliable so far.
Pukerlicious- Posts : 189
Join date : 2010-09-05
Age : 30
Location : South Wales
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
You will find that they aren't even remotely reliable at all. The World Series gearbox fitted screws up with alarming regularity. Nobody has been happy with the Excel.
Bristol LH- Admin
- Posts : 851
Join date : 2010-04-26
Location : Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Excels are horrible, the sound the gearbox makes is as thought it has fallen out and is scrapping along the road. They seem to have rubbish speed and acceleration also. They have the same engine as darts, so think of them as dennis darts but cheaper *shudder*
LynxZF7- Posts : 101
Join date : 2010-05-16
Location : West Yorkshire
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Strange you all say this...
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
This comment (from a driver) in particular:
they are very nice to drive... smooth and powerful - the passengers get on very well with them and visability is excellent thru that big windscreen.!! lol.... there is a third one of ours about somewhere - away being painted apprentley at the mo.........
(This was shortly after they purchased them back in March)
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
This comment (from a driver) in particular:
they are very nice to drive... smooth and powerful - the passengers get on very well with them and visability is excellent thru that big windscreen.!! lol.... there is a third one of ours about somewhere - away being painted apprentley at the mo.........
(This was shortly after they purchased them back in March)
Pukerlicious- Posts : 189
Join date : 2010-09-05
Age : 30
Location : South Wales
Re: The writing on the wall for a Yorkshire independant?
Norfolk Green, a medium sized independent near to me operates six Excels. Two are unreliable and break down constantly, but the others are about on a par with Darts in that respect. They seem to go a lot better than a SLF Dart of the same age, and I find them quite comfortable - the majority of Excels I've been on have been much nicer than an equivalent Dart, especially those horrible Pointer 1 bodied SLF heaps or Enviro200s.
Paladin- Posts : 228
Join date : 2010-04-26
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
|
|