Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beaches

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neilrex
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by neilrex »

I see less need to be "kind" when there is another bus in ten minutes.

Also, they should be allowed to run early, at least when "turn up and go" timings are in effect. If the bus is three minutes "early" now, it might soon get held up for an extra traffic light cycle down the road, and still arrive "on time". They should just go for it.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Swift »

You need to be cruel to be kind....to everyone.
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swtt
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by swtt »

neilrex wrote:I see less need to be "kind" when there is another bus in ten minutes.

Also, they should be allowed to run early, at least when "turn up and go" timings are in effect. If the bus is three minutes "early" now, it might soon get held up for an extra traffic light cycle down the road, and still arrive "on time". They should just go for it.
This is the STA we are talking about in terms of its operating rules :) Late running is OK but any form of early running is taboo!

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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by swtt »

And this is not a go at the drivers - - they simply operate according to the rules, whether they agree or not!

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tonyp
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by tonyp »

It's a courtesy I would have appreciated when I went to catch a B Line bus a few weeks ago when one shut his doors at the stop while waiting for the lights and the next one was running late 10 minutes behind! That, plus stopping people boarding at the front door while people were exiting at the centre. Government bureaucracy vs private courtesy and common sense - well, mostly!

A couple of times in Czech Republic I have seen train drivers of large locomotive-hauled consists stop the train when they see a late-running passenger. That takes quite a bit more doing than stopping a bus - and they're sticklers at timetables there!

I think there's often a little leeway available in the fine balance between courtesy and the timetable.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by boronia »

Took a B-line up to Mona Vale recently. I was rather intrigued by the timings on the next due 199
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by swtt »

That would be real time information, indicating it was running desperately late?
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Swift »

swtt wrote:This is the STA we are talking about in terms of its operating rules :) Late running is OK but any form of early running is taboo!
Who can forget that manager at R years ago who was pounding drivers for offences such as running as little as 3 minutes ahead of schedule at timing points. Drivers were fleeing to P as a result. Just as with running late, many factors lead to unavoidable early running and passengers don't appreciate sitting at a stop for no apparent reason.
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molybtek
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by molybtek »

Swift wrote: Who can forget that manager at R years ago who was pounding drivers for offences such as running as little as 3 minutes ahead of schedule at timing points. Drivers were fleeing to P as a result. Just as with running late, many factors lead to unavoidable early running and passengers don't appreciate sitting at a stop for no apparent reason.
I think I prefer a late running bus than a bus leaving ahead of schedule...
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by tonyp »

molybtek wrote:
I think I prefer a late running bus than a bus leaving ahead of schedule...
Leaving ahead of timetable is poor form in a public transport operation. It causes people to miss the service - this should be a self-evident fact.

One thing I've noticed after extended viewing of the online journey trackers is the number of services running early. Not trains, understandably, but trams and buses.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by boronia »

I wouldn't put too much faith in these trackers for accuracy.

Many times I have just "missed" a bus, and seen that the next bus is due in, say, 20 minutes. But miraculously the missed service turns up unannounced 5 minutes later than claimed. And that is with the bus allegedly on-line.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by tonyp »

boronia wrote:I wouldn't put too much faith in these trackers for accuracy.

Many times I have just "missed" a bus, and seen that the next bus is due in, say, 20 minutes. But miraculously the missed service turns up unannounced 5 minutes later than claimed. And that is with the bus allegedly on-line.
I would have hoped they have improved on a few years ago when you would see a bus driving through the middle of some buildings!
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Swift »

tonyp wrote: I would have hoped they have improved on a few years ago when you would see a bus driving through the middle of some buildings!
Better drivers nowadays?
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Tonymercury »

tonyp wrote: I would have hoped they have improved on a few years ago when you would see a bus driving through the middle of some buildings!
Sounds like the Den Haag tram depot at Scheveninigen.
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Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018

Post by Jurassic_Joke »

There's a standard bus Volvo B12BLE CB60EvoII running on B1 right now...wonder what went wrong with the deckers!
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Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018

Post by Swift »

Surely not all 36 units are used at any one one time?
It sounds like all the reserve are getting work done.
They should wrap a couple of B10BLEs in yellow for spares and staff bus duties only to prevent any traces of the same disease afflicting Metrobus routes.
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Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018

Post by Fleet Lists »

It may not have been a bus shortage but a shortage of trained drivers in which case a wrapped B10ble would have been some help..
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Swift
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Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018

Post by Swift »

Yeah, and like them or loath them, there is no denying that Orana bodywork looks modern enough to fool the bus catching masses and would look quite eye catching in the livery.
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ay7744
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by ay7744 »

The B1 today has some interesting buses operating on it, namely:
1x Volvo B10BLE
3x Volvo B12BLE Euro 5 CB60
1x Volvo B12BLEA Euro 3 Articulated CB60
(rest are the MAN A95s)

Any possible ideas why this is happening? It is a Sunday after all.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Fleet Lists »

As suggested in posts moved from another thread, possible shortage of drivers trained on the MAN DD's.
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boronia
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by boronia »

There was a report from Norbert a few weeks ago where he operated a B-1 service with a 16xx artic from P. It displayed L90 as there were no B desto's in the bus.

It may have been an additional service, rather than a substitution. Perhaps today's fine weather is attracting too many people to the beaches?
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Fleet Lists »

Are you saying that Norbert who has not visited this board since 2013 is now a bus driver? I thought he had gone into information technology.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by jpp42 »

Report on another forum says all B-line deckers have been withdrawn due to concerns about electrical faults.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Swift »

Fleet Lists wrote:Are you saying that Norbert who has not visited this board since 2013 is now a bus driver? I thought he had gone into information technology.
What better job for a bus enthusiast? IT is very high pressure and it's far from glamorous.
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Re: Northern Beaches BRT: B-Line to transform Northern Beach

Post by Daniel »

Swift wrote:
Fleet Lists wrote:Are you saying that Norbert who has not visited this board since 2013 is now a bus driver? I thought he had gone into information technology.
What better job for a bus enthusiast? IT is very high pressure and it's far from glamorous.
Plus he is closer to his beloved 3419.
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