Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
- Volgren optimus fan
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
I know this is off topic but according to abc bus and coach magazine monthly bus fleet lists rover coaches have got 2 more buses recently a Iveco delta custom coaches SB50 and also a iveco daily van just thought i post that so rovers fleet list gets edited thanx
- Fleet Lists
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Any more information on this alleged takeover?
Living in the Shire.
- Daniel
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Sale finally completed on 7th February.Fleet Lists wrote:Any more information on this alleged takeover?
- AccordV6L
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Busways 1211 got caught in some power lines in South Marayong this arvo https://www.instagram.com/p/BfcZnF3jrPJ/
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
The driver seems to have his hand on the handrail and his feet on the ground. I understand that this is what they advise you not to do on the poorly-maintained trolleybuses in North Korea!AccordV6L wrote:Busways 1211 got caught in some power lines in South Marayong this arvo https://www.instagram.com/p/BfcZnF3jrPJ/
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
That's a passenger isn't it?tonyp wrote:The driver seems to have his hand on the handrail and his feet on the ground. I understand that this is what they advise you not to do on the poorly-maintained trolleybuses in North Korea!AccordV6L wrote:Busways 1211 got caught in some power lines in South Marayong this arvo https://www.instagram.com/p/BfcZnF3jrPJ/
Also, would the bus have made it under if it stayed to the left of the road? Or would that not be possible given the curvature of the road?
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Oh, well that's Ok then isn't it.molybtek wrote:That's a passenger isn't it?tonyp wrote: The driver seems to have his hand on the handrail and his feet on the ground. I understand that this is what they advise you not to do on the poorly-maintained trolleybuses in North Korea!
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Yep - customers' always righttonyp wrote:Oh, well that's Ok then isn't it.molybtek wrote: That's a passenger isn't it?
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Busways wouldn't allow a driver to dress like that.
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
The Pegaus website has now died - "Forbidden - Visitors from your country are not permitted to browse this site."Daniel wrote:Sale finally completed on 7th February.Fleet Lists wrote:Any more information on this alleged takeover?
Living in the Shire.
- ScaniaGrenda
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Rover Coaches is demoing a Mercedes-Benz 0500LE(?) with a CB80 Generation 2 body. The driver operating the other bus told me they only received it yesterday and was asking me if I knew who had it before. Since my phone doesn't have data currently I wasn't able to tell him. The driver driving the Mercedes was okay with me taking pictures at first but after I later hopped off the bus the driver had a dig at me and told me not to photo again even tho the bus was empty and made sure not to get anyone in it including the driver, I blurred he's face out as seen in the photo above. Probably my only chance to get a photo of this so I wasn't going to miss out because one said no. God knows if I'll ever see this again on 110 or how long Rover will have it for.
Registration is CJ 65 VY
Fleet No is currently 6 as of 22-Feb-2018
Registration is CJ 65 VY
Fleet No is currently 6 as of 22-Feb-2018
Transport enthusiast & photographer / videographer since 2016, documenting & preserving our local Transport History through videos & photos.
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Nice photos! But.... on the operational side:
They deploy buses on an intense, high-turnover service that's not only part high-floor, but has the highest, least user-friendly aisle-steps out of all the main offerings on the market (though watch this space for Carbridge/Gemilang!).
I have sometimes been chastised on this forum by people obviously working for operators, that operators know best all the requirements for buses , including what passengers want. It would certainly be true in terms of the mechanical and financial aspects, but I have to say that most operators appear to have no idea about how buses actually work as city passenger transport vehicles, including, but not limited to, issues of passenger mobility (it's way more than wheelchairs), passenger internal flow and external exchange and effective loading (which means evening-out load distribution to fit as many as possible on board). I'd suggest starting by looking at how trams work.
I guess from this aspect it's a bit of a blessing that Custom is turning up its toes. One less design under-performer to deal with - though probably to be replaced by twice as many from Asia.
They deploy buses on an intense, high-turnover service that's not only part high-floor, but has the highest, least user-friendly aisle-steps out of all the main offerings on the market (though watch this space for Carbridge/Gemilang!).
I have sometimes been chastised on this forum by people obviously working for operators, that operators know best all the requirements for buses , including what passengers want. It would certainly be true in terms of the mechanical and financial aspects, but I have to say that most operators appear to have no idea about how buses actually work as city passenger transport vehicles, including, but not limited to, issues of passenger mobility (it's way more than wheelchairs), passenger internal flow and external exchange and effective loading (which means evening-out load distribution to fit as many as possible on board). I'd suggest starting by looking at how trams work.
I guess from this aspect it's a bit of a blessing that Custom is turning up its toes. One less design under-performer to deal with - though probably to be replaced by twice as many from Asia.
- ScaniaGrenda
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
I rode in it. It was pretty clean to be honest and interior wise same as any other CB80 (Don't believe it was fitted with seat-belts but I think Rover does have a CB80 with seat belts) I think some film for the rear right side window was pealing off and I'm not sure if the engine was healthy. Sort of hard to hear with the music playing. Apparently this was loaned to Transdev according previously to a gallery photo and god knows if they pushed the poor thing to the limit.
I saw it coming from some distance away and thought from the distance it was one of PSC ex BT buses but getting a closer look showed it to be a white CB80 and I'm like "I don't know anyone with white CB80's running around. Then it got closer and saw it was a Mercedes CB80. All we have down here in Newcastle in terms of CB80's is Rovers current Iveco Metro CB80 buses (both with Gen 1 and 2 bodies) and PSC only Volvo CB80. No Scania CB80's running around or MAN's but I think busways operates limited routes to Charlestown on the 99 route and I believe that is served by a CB80 bus according to a transport tracker.
If Keolis Downer wasn't in the game in Newcastle and Transit Systems was I believe we would've had more CB80's by now instead of the BCI's. I'll take Australian built buses before I'll taken an Asian built one (No offence)
Custom Coaches / Custom Bus was good back in the day but like you said next body manufacturer could be Asian made for all we know. At least Volgren is still around but what happens when they bite the dust eventually?
anyway I'm probably going off topic but this is the first demo bus I've ever ridden on and besides the minor issues posted above I found it pretty good a demo bus. Will ride again if I get given the chance.
I saw it coming from some distance away and thought from the distance it was one of PSC ex BT buses but getting a closer look showed it to be a white CB80 and I'm like "I don't know anyone with white CB80's running around. Then it got closer and saw it was a Mercedes CB80. All we have down here in Newcastle in terms of CB80's is Rovers current Iveco Metro CB80 buses (both with Gen 1 and 2 bodies) and PSC only Volvo CB80. No Scania CB80's running around or MAN's but I think busways operates limited routes to Charlestown on the 99 route and I believe that is served by a CB80 bus according to a transport tracker.
If Keolis Downer wasn't in the game in Newcastle and Transit Systems was I believe we would've had more CB80's by now instead of the BCI's. I'll take Australian built buses before I'll taken an Asian built one (No offence)
Custom Coaches / Custom Bus was good back in the day but like you said next body manufacturer could be Asian made for all we know. At least Volgren is still around but what happens when they bite the dust eventually?
anyway I'm probably going off topic but this is the first demo bus I've ever ridden on and besides the minor issues posted above I found it pretty good a demo bus. Will ride again if I get given the chance.
Transport enthusiast & photographer / videographer since 2016, documenting & preserving our local Transport History through videos & photos.
- BanksfielderIdiot823
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Well you can tell the driver that Transit Systems' Smithfield depot had this bus just before Rover got it.ScaniaGrenda wrote:Rover Coaches is demoing a Mercedes-Benz 0500LE(?) with a CB80 Generation 2 body. The driver operating the other bus told me they only received it yesterday and was asking me if I knew who had it before. Since my phone doesn't have data currently I wasn't able to tell him.
Going a little further back in 2017, it was also with CDC Hillsbus in Northmead, and yes; even further back in the same year, Transdev had the bus.
Volgren all day, every day
Dear T80; If the decker's not a Volgren, I'm not interested.
Westbus Fairfield + Dandy Hub = perfection
Good old Collingwood forever.
Long live the potato cake.
Dear T80; If the decker's not a Volgren, I'm not interested.
Westbus Fairfield + Dandy Hub = perfection
Good old Collingwood forever.
Long live the potato cake.
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
A photo when it was with Transdev https://www.flickr.com/photos/193972346 ... 680824202/ 21/2/2017.
It spent quite some time with them.
It spent quite some time with them.
Living in the Shire.
- Richard290
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Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018
Another error today - stop 2065136, Pacific Hwy before Innes Rd, Greenwich, routes 602X and 612X are just marked as 602 and 612. The renunbering to route 602X and 612X occurred in January 2014 when both routes were rerouted to run through the Lane Cove Tunnel and Epping Rd service was provided by new route 627.
Living at the north end of the 513 & 535. and the confluence of 513, 535, 546, 549, 550, 553, 625 & 630.
Re: STA Observations - January to June 2018
This has been picked up and new headers are in production to be installed shortly.Richard290 wrote:Another error today - stop 2065136, Pacific Hwy before Innes Rd, Greenwich, routes 602X and 612X are just marked as 602 and 612. The renunbering to route 602X and 612X occurred in January 2014 when both routes were rerouted to run through the Lane Cove Tunnel and Epping Rd service was provided by new route 627.
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Just a general question: does TfNSW provide any subsidy and/or require minimum standards of service (routes, timetables) for rural route bus services?
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Yes,there are minimum standards of service for rural and regional bus contracts.This groups country towns by population,which then specifies a standard of frequency,coverage ,operating hours based on the population of that town.Every town above either 6,000 or 7,000 people should have a town bus service,with a percentage of the houses in that town within 400 metres of a bus stop and 3-4 trips on each route between school hours.The bigger the town ,the more frequent the service and more bandwidth is necessary.I can't remember the exact population sizes.The same population criteria applies to town to village and village to village Type B Commercial services.
Up until the new R & R Contracts issued for the former Commercial B Type contracts,operators had to carry the can on unprofitable town and other village to village and town to village services.
The new contracts issued on 1/7/16 include the town bus services hours and kms on the contract so they are subsidised,in the same way as the former Type A non commercial contracts.This includes dedicated school services operated under a Rural and Regional contract.
The vast,vast majority of rural and regional route services-town bus services ,town to village and village to village carry miniscule adult loadings,even in larger regional cities,and really just don't have relevant services that will attract even moderate loads of adults.Hence part of the governments rationale in trialling on demand services.The relevancy of operating full size low floor buses on very infrequent 2-6 trip timetables to carry 1-2 people per trip really has to be questioned.
I recently read a blurb from TFNSW advising the number of Rural and Regional route services was 380,000 trips per year.The patronage ?? 380,000 pax.One pax per trip.Is that a good spend on behalf of the NSW taxpayer ??
Hence the trials of on demand.If succesful,I predict many rural and regional route services will be converted to on demand..
Up until the new R & R Contracts issued for the former Commercial B Type contracts,operators had to carry the can on unprofitable town and other village to village and town to village services.
The new contracts issued on 1/7/16 include the town bus services hours and kms on the contract so they are subsidised,in the same way as the former Type A non commercial contracts.This includes dedicated school services operated under a Rural and Regional contract.
The vast,vast majority of rural and regional route services-town bus services ,town to village and village to village carry miniscule adult loadings,even in larger regional cities,and really just don't have relevant services that will attract even moderate loads of adults.Hence part of the governments rationale in trialling on demand services.The relevancy of operating full size low floor buses on very infrequent 2-6 trip timetables to carry 1-2 people per trip really has to be questioned.
I recently read a blurb from TFNSW advising the number of Rural and Regional route services was 380,000 trips per year.The patronage ?? 380,000 pax.One pax per trip.Is that a good spend on behalf of the NSW taxpayer ??
Hence the trials of on demand.If succesful,I predict many rural and regional route services will be converted to on demand..
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Thank you burrumbus for the comprehensive reply. I'm wondering specifically why the Nowra and region (basically Bay and Basin) services have grown little over the last 20 years when population growth has been about 50% over that time and is now about 50,000 for this extended urban region which is on the perimeter of the Sydney-Newcastle-Wollongong conurbation. They barely seem to reflect the minimum standards you describe.
I can see that there must be an amount of cross-subsidising by businesses such as Nowra Coaches and Kennedys that have large charter, tours and long-distance (and school of course) operations. The route services are obviously a tedious drop in the bucket for them, maintained I guess simply to prevent another operator moving into the territory by winning a contract. The operators generally aren't terribly customer focussed if there's some issue to raise (curt and dismissive would be a kind description) and, as always in the industry, the wonderful drivers carry the PR front for the company. If you raise issues with TfNSW forget it, you never hear from them again! A different world from the metropolitan scene.
The area is also lacking a core route through the longitudinal axis from Bomaderry station through Nowra to South Nowra industrial area. Every now and again you see a letter in the local paper from somebody saying they can't apply for a job in South Nowra because they don't have a car and there's no practicable bus service. Its as though TfNSW has never sat down and looked at the transit needs of the area in relation to planning objectives and urban growth. Of course local council planners could play a role here but they don't seem to be abłe to think beyond "everybody has a car don't they?" I'm setting out to cause planners to think outside the square by making a submission to the RMS for a peak periods bus lane on the proposed widened highway and bridge between Bomaderry and Nowra because both route and school buses get caught in stupefying Sydney-style gridlocks (and that's not even mentioning holiday times when the entire south coast is bumper to bumper!). Bus lanes in Nowra - who'd have though of it?!
In terms of on-demand, yes it's a possible solution as long as the fares are no higher than they are on a route bus and the vehicles are low-floor accessible. Apart from those two (show-stopping?) issues, its a fine idea! If the atrocious CB80 Cargo is inadequate as an accessible bus, what chance does a minibus have? Back to the drawing board.
I can see that there must be an amount of cross-subsidising by businesses such as Nowra Coaches and Kennedys that have large charter, tours and long-distance (and school of course) operations. The route services are obviously a tedious drop in the bucket for them, maintained I guess simply to prevent another operator moving into the territory by winning a contract. The operators generally aren't terribly customer focussed if there's some issue to raise (curt and dismissive would be a kind description) and, as always in the industry, the wonderful drivers carry the PR front for the company. If you raise issues with TfNSW forget it, you never hear from them again! A different world from the metropolitan scene.
The area is also lacking a core route through the longitudinal axis from Bomaderry station through Nowra to South Nowra industrial area. Every now and again you see a letter in the local paper from somebody saying they can't apply for a job in South Nowra because they don't have a car and there's no practicable bus service. Its as though TfNSW has never sat down and looked at the transit needs of the area in relation to planning objectives and urban growth. Of course local council planners could play a role here but they don't seem to be abłe to think beyond "everybody has a car don't they?" I'm setting out to cause planners to think outside the square by making a submission to the RMS for a peak periods bus lane on the proposed widened highway and bridge between Bomaderry and Nowra because both route and school buses get caught in stupefying Sydney-style gridlocks (and that's not even mentioning holiday times when the entire south coast is bumper to bumper!). Bus lanes in Nowra - who'd have though of it?!
In terms of on-demand, yes it's a possible solution as long as the fares are no higher than they are on a route bus and the vehicles are low-floor accessible. Apart from those two (show-stopping?) issues, its a fine idea! If the atrocious CB80 Cargo is inadequate as an accessible bus, what chance does a minibus have? Back to the drawing board.
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Well even Hunter Valley Buses had to join in on operating the 110 at some point. Usually this is now covered by Port Stephens and Rover Motors (Coaches) but looks like Hunter Valley Buses wanted to join in on the fun. Only one bus today from them operating on the 110 and that's 3609 MO
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- boronia
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Perhaps the other operators didn't have enough spare buses today, so KD has contracted HVB to supply a bus.
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
Byways 906 on the 776 I think this is a transfer to penrith from Glendenning as it still has Glendenning wording on the bus
- Campbelltown busboy
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Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
The 776 can be run from ether depot as Glendenning is closer to Mount druitt they can get a replacement bus to Mount Druitt station from the Glendenning depot within 10 minutes if a Penrith based bus comes into Mount Druitt from Penrith on a Mount Druit bound 770,774,775,776,780 with a reported machanicl issue with and another thing all shifts that run the old Westbus region 1 routes out of Mount Druitt station can be run from ether Glendenning or PenrithStonesourscotty wrote:Byways 906 on the 776 I think this is a transfer to penrith from Glendenning as it still has Glendenning wording on the bus
Re: Private Observations - January 2018 to June 2018
glendenning does have a few runs out to penrith and south, it's not as if those penrith routes are solely operated by penrith depot, that's the westbus days