Transdev Melbourne news January - June 2016

[Fleet Lists]

Nothing sad about it.

[Craig]

The first two Optare Solos for Transdev can be added, #119 & #120. As reported elsewhere, these are the first of seven ordered.

Interesting. Are they all to be used on the Manningham Mover to replace the existing unreliable Plasmas? At this rate, the 1995 Merc piecarts will outlast the 2008 Plasmas...

My understanding is indeed they are all for the Manningham Mover.

At a minimum, 7 buses are currently needed to run the Manningham Mover (6 on route and 1 spare) - however this also assumes alll driver changes happen enroute, which, just like under Ventura, is not always the case (instead buses return to the depot for a meal break while another bus pulls out around the same time).

I'd hazard a guess that the last of the piecarts will get withdrawn, and the plasmas becoming additional spare buses, some possibly scrapped and used for parts to keep the others on the road.

This also assumes that the current loop won't be split up anytime soon as part of any Greenfields changes.

Kind Regards


Craig

[krustyklo]

I'd hazard a guess that the last of the piecarts will get withdrawn, and the plasmas becoming additional spare buses, some possibly scrapped and used for parts to keep the others on the road.

To be honest I wasn't too serious about keeping the piecarts over the Plasmas, although it does seem they have been more reliable buses, even now.

This also assumes that the current loop won't be split up anytime soon as part of any Greenfields changes.

I don't know that's an assumption I would actually make. Whilst it seems to have been a good solution compared to the previous odd short coverage routes with poor frequency and hours of service, the route is still somewhat confusing and the service isn't hugely used given the indirect nature of much of it, although I do know someone who uses it between Doncaster and East Doncaster as they are happy to trade off the longer journey south of Doncaster Rd for a shorter walk from the bus stop to their house. Even now I am reluctant to board the bus at Shoppingtown as I can never remember which route is clockwise and which is anticlockwise, although renumbering the route 280A and 282C (or whichever way round it is) would solve that problem. I'm pretty sure one of the iterations of destinations on the Plasmas stated whether it was the clockwise or anticlockwise route, but I can't recall if it still does, or whether it is inconsistent. Although given the Crown buses and the Transdev Coaster don't say, I guess it is not currently all that relevant...

Given Transdev already tried cutting part of the loop to make a straight line, whilst dropping the frequency from 30 to 40 minutes, I think they have enough form on reducing the service level offered that it may well be tried again. To be fair, making it a more linear route would make it more legible, but it should ideally maintain the current coverage, even if it means part of the route is served by another route in the Greenfields scheme, presumably when it is announced alongside the tenderers for the next contract... (Yes, we are nearly 3 years into the 7 year contract)

[Comeng64]

One of the Optare Solos was just sighted running empty along King St (Doncaster) towards Doncaster Westfield. Didn't catch the number but it did have the 38xxx prefix. (8:20AM)

[man mk1]

a friend of mine has confirmed 299 288 277 and maybe 268 are withdrawn and 273 in the group to and all little national mini buses are withdrawn

[Fleet Lists]

Can we assume the withdrawn "little" buses relate to
4310 2431AO Mercedes Benz LO812 9BM688177RB025304 Custom Coaches 94-205 1.1995 B26F Doncaster
4380 2438AO Mercedes Benz LO812 9BM688177RB041940 Custom Coaches 94-398 5.1995 B26F Doncaster
4480 2448AO Mercedes Benz LO812 9BM688177SB042375 Custom Coaches 95-104 7.1995 B26F Doncaster

[krustyklo]

One of the Optare Solos was just sighted running empty along King St (Doncaster) towards Doncaster Westfield. Didn't catch the number but it did have the 38xxx prefix. (8:20AM)

Interesting, the only bus I saw around that time was just after 8.30am and it looked like a Plasma heading clockwise towards the Park and Ride waiting to turn right into Doncaster Rd.

The Crown hires are alive and well, there was a Crown bus around 5.20pm at Shoppingtown, probably on an anticlockwise Manningham Mover.

[RailwayBus]

Also, Im not a fan of renumbering the fleet 38***, just leave the numbers as they were

You can't leave fleet numbers as they were if these buses didn't previously exist to have numbers in the first place

[philm]

One of the Optare Solos was just sighted running empty along King St (Doncaster) towards Doncaster Westfield. Didn't catch the number but it did have the 38xxx prefix. (8:20AM)

Interesting, the only bus I saw around that time was just after 8.30am and it looked like a Plasma heading clockwise towards the Park and Ride waiting to turn right into Doncaster Rd.

The Crown hires are alive and well, there was a Crown bus around 5.20pm at Shoppingtown, probably on an anticlockwise Manningham Mover.

Also seen a couple running Kew school routes.

[CAL]

514 is operating 232 service in the city at the moment.

[Artzy]

The Crown hires are alive and well, there was a Crown bus around 5.20pm at Shoppingtown, probably on an anticlockwise Manningham Mover.

Five different Crown buses were seen running Manningham Mover services today (#s 9, 37, 65, 96 and 715 for those who like to keep track of them) so the Crown buses certainly don't look like they're going anywhere soon, no Optares sighted today too. :/

[Alstom 888M]

514 is operating 232 service in the city at the moment.

Some 232 services are now run out of Fitzroy depot.

[Bradley]

Here my new Transdev (Doncaster) artic pics #117 Scania K360UA, Gemilag on Melbourne/Vic photo section at: http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewt ... 43&t=82342

Cheers

Bradley.

[Comeng64]

Finally! Optare Solo #380119 is currently running the 8:07 AM inbound 318. Very strange to see it running a city route during peak hour. I will post pictures later, but I'm not at my computer right now.

[man mk1]

yer very strange cause i seen at at ringwood doing a 370 to mitcham around 10.30

[Comeng64]

As promised, here are some pics of Transdev's new Optare Solo, #380119, BS02AX. It ran the 8:07 AM inbound 318 service from Deep Creek to City - Lonsdale Street. Sister unit, #380120 was also 'out and about' today, running 273s in the morning around the same time. All pictures were taken on Andersons Creek Road, adjacent to Reynolds Road.
Notice that the side and rear destos do not function correctly.

[burrumbus]

You would think on a city service at that time a Solo may have a capacity issue ??

[CAL]

In true Transdev fashion looks like the wrong destination file has been uploaded. They'd give Reservoir a run for its money if they were around these days.

They do look ridiculously small for a City service. Had it been a simular size to the Skybus Solo-SR's the you could get away with it.

[hungho95]

are those optare solo shorter then the skybus ones and are they single not double doors?

[MAN 16.242]

You would think on a city service at that time a Solo may have a capacity issue ??

Possible allocated due to shortage of buses. The new TT/Rosters this week have seen further increases to dead running, while as another poster has point out some more MK2s withdrawn. Which has yet again put further strain on Transdev bus requirements . At the end of day it's public that losses through more missed trips and more wasted resources.

[maxy54]

are those optare solo shorter then the skybus ones and are they single not double doors?

Only fits 28 seated passengers. The ones at Transdev are only 7.5m, about 1.5m-2m shorter than Skybus' Solos and they also one door units Hungho95

[Artzy]

are those optare solo shorter then the skybus ones and are they single not double doors?

Only fits 28 seated passengers. The ones at Transdev are only 7.5m, about 1.5m-2m shorter than Skybus' Solos and they also one door units Hungho95

Not sure where you got 28 from? Only 24 seats in the Optares, so 5 less than the Plaxton Primos they use currently.

[maxy54]

Not sure where you got 28 from?

I tried to zoom in, on a rear shot you posted on Facebook, but I guess ill have to go with your observations

[Apollo]

Not sure where you got 28 from?

I tried to zoom in, on a rear shot you posted on Facebook, but I guess ill have to go with your observations

Thats why its best to only comment when you know for a FACT.

[Thebusofdoom]

Not sure where you got 28 from? Only 24 seats in the Optares, so 5 less than the Plaxton Primos they use currently.

Not that seat count would really matter on the routes they're intended for, I have never seen the 280/282 to be particularly busy. That said the Primo's may as well be a 21 seater; the six seats above the wheel arches are situated higher than normal so most people but the exceptionally tall will have trouble sitting on them. Doubt this is a problem with the Solo as the front wheels are in-front of the door.