Transdev NSW Fleet changes - ex Veolia and Shorelink

[Daniel]

A few Veolia changes:

(64) m/o 9223 Merc LO814 - has been repainted into all white
(120) m/o 9256 Merc O405 - is now based at B
(121) m/o 9255 Merc O405 - is now based at B
(173) m/o 1475 Merc O305 - is now based at M
(219) m/o 8731 Scania L94UB - has lost its AOA, now reverting back to # livery

[eddie2190]

According to Fleetlists, 624 is at Taren Point but I have a photo of it (taken on the 2nd April 2008) laying over at Centro while on route 925.
Although highly unlikely, it may have been a one off, although I do think that it has moved back to B.
So could someone please confirm this??
Also haven't seen 672 around for a while..... maybe it's gone back to Menai??
I also cannot understand Bankstown base's new love for the MAN midgets 694-696.
They are now frequently spotted on Route 900 trips.....

[Windy]

What is the patronage like on the 900s these days? Maybe it has something to do with that?

[Simes]

What is the patronage like on the 900s these days? Maybe it has something to do with that?

Could a shopper run(s) be part of the shift where the midi's are used?

[eddie2190]

What is the patronage like on the 900s these days? Maybe it has something to do with that?

I doubt it's because of patronage...........
The midget was doing a PEAK HOUR 900 to LIVERPOOL!!! ie. plenty of UWS students.
I guess it'd have to do with shifts........ the shopper suggestion seems logical.....
Either that or the bus allocation is completely retarded.

[Daniel]

(35) m/o 8947 Hino RG197K / PMCA is now based at R
(672) m/o 1050 Mercedes OH1418 / CC is still based at B
I will endeavour to confirm the location of (624)

[Daniel]

(50) m/o 9238 Mercedes O305 / PMC - withdrawn & de-reg at M depot (last government MkI in service and was still in Baxter's livery when withdrawn from Veolia)
(624) m/o 7892 Mercedes O305 / PMC - now based at B depot
(683) m/o 8425 Leyland Tiger / CC - now based at T depot
Also Ben O, the ^above^ comment about (35) still need to be reflected in the fleet list.

[eddie2190]

Bankstown's 317 was spotted today operating Rail Replacement at Strathfield and was being driven BY A TAREN POINT DRIVER!!
I SURE HOPE THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY TRANSFER!!
No one wants the windows on a Volgren smashed this time...

[Daniel]

Bankstown's 317 was spotted today operating Rail Replacement at Strathfield and was being driven BY A TAREN POINT DRIVER!!
I SURE HOPE THAT THIS IS A TEMPORARY TRANSFER!!
No one wants the windows on a Volgren smashed this time...

So what? Drivers move between depots from time to time for rail etc. Therefore the bus cannot be assumed transferred because of a certain driver in it...

[Ben O]

Hey Dan, sorry I must have overlooked your post previously - I shall update tonight. Is the deregistration of the Mk I a recent development? (as in, this month?)

[Daniel]

Yes, (50) was de-reg within this month, unsure of the exact date though. I'll try and find out if it has been removed from the depot yet.
Thanks Ben, greatly appreciated.

[Simes]

(50) m/o 9238 Mercedes O305 / PMC - withdrawn & de-reg at M depot (last government MkI in service and was still in Baxter's livery when withdrawn from Veolia)

Damn it It didn't take the double crown Is #52 still soldiering on?

[Daniel]

(50) m/o 9238 Mercedes O305 / PMC - withdrawn & de-reg at M depot (last government MkI in service and was still in Baxter's livery when withdrawn from Veolia)

Damn it It didn't take the double crown Is #52 still soldiering on?

For the moment, yes. But who knows for how much longer...

[eddie2190]

(411) m/o 9281 Volvo B12BLE Bustech VST. The pride of the fleet. My favourite bus. The best Volvo in the fleet and arguably the BEST bus in the WHOLE fleet.
I was at Bankstown today at 3:30pm and spotted a VST pulling into the Villawood/Punchbowl bus co stop and I saw that the desto was displaying way too many words to be 'not in service' so I walked over to have a look.
To my complete horror, it was 411 on VILLAWOOD ROUTEWORK!! It was doing a 908 to Merrylands with a Villawood driver and was picking up passengers so we do know that it at least operated out of Villawood today. Whether this is a one day thing (unlikely) or a permanent transfer, I will seek to confirm.

The only reason I can think of is that Veolia is getting a(nother) new batch of B12BLEs, which will be allocated to Villawood depot (since their newest buses are the Scania L94UBs) and that the best Volvo in the fleet is merely there for driver training and will be returning to Bankstown base. (hopefully)!!
By the way, it must be said that a VST on 908 looked very different and refreshing and I look forward to seeing it if Villawood is getting new buses.

[Daniel]

Woah, woah... Just settle a bit there Eddie, your probably looking into things a little too much - just wait and see. Driver training!? Yeah, right..

[eddie2190]

HAHA... sorry....
You're right Dan.... time will tell.

[Daniel]

(97) m/o 7680 Volvo B10M / CC - repainted into all white
(106) MO 3415 Volvo B10M / CC - moved to M depot
(219) m/o 8731 Scania L94UB / Bustech - moved to R depot

[eddie2190]

(97) m/o 7680 Volvo B10M / CC - repainted into all white
(106) MO 3415 Volvo B10M / CC - moved to M depot
(219) m/o 8731 Scania L94UB / Bustech - moved to R depot

Ahhhh so 219 has finally left Menai. Did they get anything in return?

[Daniel]

Ahhhh so 219 has finally left Menai. Did they get anything in return?

Nope. But they gained (106) from B anyway. I also noted (104) returned after a few weeks away, now with Mobitec desto.
Also (64) was spotted in Taren Point depot this afternoon... Not sure if has been traded as (661) was in there too.

[eddie2190]

Ahhhh so 219 has finally left Menai. Did they get anything in return?

Nope. But they gained (106) from B anyway. I also noted (104) returned after a few weeks away, now with Mobitec desto.
Also (64) was spotted in Taren Point depot this afternoon... Not sure if has been traded as (661) was in there too.

64 could very possibly have gone back to TP since it was really only spotted (by me) on 912s on that one day and I haven't seen it since. 65 has stayed on 912s and was operating it today as well. B already has 3 midgets (694-696) which seem to be quite popular nowadays (694 spotted today on 905 to Fairfield) so 661 doesn't really need to come back. Villawood only needs one midget anyways for 912s.

[eddie2190]

684 from Menai (according to Fleetlists) was spotted today doing STHS school runs. (usually reserved for TP)
It is also special in that it is sign written on both sides for MLC...

[Fleet Lists]

It is also special in that it is sign written on both sides for MLC...

That has been noted in the livery summary for quite some time now - probably close to 12 months.

[Ben O]

Sadly the fleetlists will never accurately depict the depot allocations of the Veolia fleet due to the constant change.

m/o 8813 in the MLC school run colours lays up near the school in Burwood? (I think) for quite some time most afternoons.

[eddie2190]

213 was doing Villawood runs today.

[Daniel]

213 was doing Villawood runs today.

Eddie, you're missing a valuable point here... Quite a number of runs are shared between Bankstown and Villawood, and hence from time to time different buses will show up on different runs between those depots at certain times. That would probably explain you're sightings of both (213) and (411).