bus R802

[Madbus]

Hi, The other day I saw a bus that´s number was R802. What does the ´R´ mean?

[mmosca447]

Hi, The other day I saw a bus that´s number was R802. What does the ´R´ mean?

I am fairly sure the R stands for Rail replacement as these buses are used when suburban lines are not in use

[Madbus]

Hi, The other day I saw a bus that´s number was R802. What does the ´R´ mean?

I am fairly sure the R stands for Rail replacement as these buses are used when suburban lines are not in use

Well, it was running on the 747 route, but the screen on the front and back of it said it was running on route 751. Could this mean anything?

[Fleet Lists]

The fleet list shows R802 as a rail replacement vehicle but I thought the R was usually restricted to older vehicles but as this is a newer CB80 it seems a bit unusual.

[PD2/20]

The fleet list shows R802 as a rail replacement vehicle but I thought the R was usually restricted to older vehicles but as this is a newer CB80 it seems a bit unusual.

The rail replacement fleet consisted of Mercs and MANs. However by the time of the Noarlunga closure in 2013 almost all the Mercs had been retired and a number of newly delivered CB80 artics and rigids were added to the fleet. Some of the CB80s were subsequently moved to the regular fleet and renumbered accordingly but several such as R802 retain their R numbers and can be called on for rail replacement work.

[TA3001]

The rigids were retired by 2013, but there were still Merc artics in service until around August when they were all withdrawn excluding R588 which survived until about October or November IIRC.

Getting an SG280H on rail subs was like getting a CB60 L94UB instead of an SL202 back then. MAN artics have never excited me much, especially with Voith transmissions.

[jibb]

There are 9 of these Artics numbered R800-801-802 with Southlink,R803-804-805 with Light-City Buses,R806-807-808 with Torrens Transit and generally can be used on any route at any time including Adelaide Oval Footy Express services.

In October when there is several weeks of shutdowns of the Torrens Junction resulting in the cancellation of the Grange-Outer Harbour line services and partial shutdown of the Gawler line services, these Artics will go to whichever companies are doing Rail substitute services.

[Madbus]

I checked the Adelaide metro site for any disruptions on Route 747, 751(like I said earlier), and the Seaford line and nothing are wrong except for late night works on the Seaford line, so I don´t see why there should be any rail substitute buses.

[busrider]

As said above, the buses are designated rail buses for whenever rail replacement is required. When they're not needed for rail replacement services, they are used as normal buses in each operator's fleet.

[Madbus]

As said above, the buses are designated rail buses for whenever rail replacement is required. When they're not needed for rail replacement services, they are used as normal buses in each operator's fleet.

but what happens if there is an unplanned desruption and that bus is needed when it is running a normal route?

[jibb]

As said above, the buses are designated rail buses for whenever rail replacement is required. When they're not needed for rail replacement services, they are used as normal buses in each operator's fleet.

but what happens if there is an unplanned desruption and that bus is needed when it is running a normal route?

There are other rigid and artic buses available in each operators fleets. As has been said several times these buses are in continual use on regular scheduled services(and often school services).

[busrider]

If the bus requirement for emergency rail replacement can't be met with buses from the existing fleet, then private operators are called in to help out.

[Madbus]

Ok, but why would the bus that I saw say it was running on route 751 when it was on the 747 route?

[busrider]

Driver put in the wrong code on the destination sign, perhaps?

[Madbus]

he heh! yeah, maybe. Thanks for your help, bus rider.

[PD2/20]

There are 9 of these Artics numbered R800-801-802 with Southlink,R803-804-805 with Light-City Buses,R806-807-808 with Torrens Transit and generally can be used on any route at any time including Adelaide Oval Footy Express services.

...

According to Fleetlists the rail replacement rigids R850-859 were all renumbered into the operator fleets as follows:
R850-1 -> TT 1908-9
R852-3 -> LCB 1831-2
R854-5 -> LCB 1809-10
R856-9 -> Slink 3231-4

In Fleetlists 3235 is also described as a rail replacement vehicle but no R number is quoted. Is this correct?

[busrider]

Yes. 3235 and 3236 entered service with those numbers.

[Skexis]

Ok, but why would the bus that I saw say it was running on route 751 when it was on the 747 route?

Exactly where and when did you see it?

Yes. 3235 and 3236 entered service with those numbers.

...and were dead quiet to drive on rail subs as the radios could only send and receive the Hills channel.

[busrider]

I'd imagine that made them quite popular with some drivers