Glen wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:05 pm I thought usually drivers belong to one depot however you define such depot.

Well, yes and no. I’m the scenario mentioned above, uou would belong to Depot A, but your shift departs from Depot A lot B, as it were.

gilberations wrote: ↑This is why companies such as busways decided to build 2 new depots when it took over region 1. Shorter dead running from Mulgrave to Rouse Hill than Glendening.

Busways were probably going to need a new depot anyway, presuming that expanding Glendenning wasn't an option.

gilberations wrote: ↑I wouldn’t be surprised if busways end up closing the ryde depot and constuct a new one in Silverwater or Rydalmere, or even downsize the Ryde depot and still build an additional.

Slightly different arrangement in that TfNSW already owns Ryde outright. Hillsbus and Transdev established a yard in Camelia at relatively short notice when awarded the Chatswood - Epping rail replacement contract a few years ago.

Busways 1234 and 1286 back in service first of the Mercedes buses to re enter service from what I've seen still majority Ex Westbus fleet out at the moment though

Think 1097 was off the road also as first time I've seen it on the road in about a month was out yesterday and today it's on the New 779 but destination set incorrectly to Erkine Park Industrial. I thought the new display was Kemps Creek Industrial

gilberations wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:16 pm

Glen wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:05 pm I thought usually drivers belong to one depot however you define such depot.

Well, yes and no. I’m the scenario mentioned above, uou would belong to Depot A, but your shift departs from Depot A lot B, as it were.

That can cause issues with drivers when their travel time from home is longer to the second depot compared to their base depot.

Glen wrote: ↑Tue Jan 11, 2022 2:08 pm

gilberations wrote: ↑Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:16 pm

Well, yes and no. I’m the scenario mentioned above, uou would belong to Depot A, but your shift departs from Depot A lot B, as it were.

That can cause issues with drivers when their travel time from home is longer to the second depot compared to their base depot.

Nothing an enterprise agreement provision can’t fix

Would expect that subdepots have their own allotment of drivers and duties to negate issues concerning where a driver's "home" is.
Yes, an EA provision could solve it. If another driver has to cover a shift, not sure what the arrangement would be (they might even take a bus from their own depot).

Whether the buses rotate in and out for fuel, wash and maintenance is another matter entirely.

Drivers need to sign on and off at the same depot as a driver signing off at Depot B will still require them to get back to Depot A to pick up his car. All problems can be solved with money, but does somewhat defeat the purpose of having a subdepot in the first place.

In many awards/ industries, staff who are required to travel from their normal work base to another location (or direct to it from home) may be paid a distance based allowance for the extra travel. Also the cost is tax deductible.

Can someone advise whether there are some "am" services from QVB to the north-west which are ALWAYS served by a double-decker?

lunchbox wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:15 pm Can someone advise whether there are some "am" services from QVB to the north-west which are ALWAYS served by a double-decker?

I remember pre-metro the 607X would always run it’s deckers in both directions all day. The dead running for a 607X shift would be to/from rouse hill and the foundry rd depot, not the city.

Was driving along Victoria Rd (Gladesville) today:
-501 - were largely operated by gas rigids (O500), many in Metrobus livery
-500X - most were rigids, a few bendys
Noticed that Busways has introduced a much 'squarer' font for the destos, particularly for the numbers. I'm not yet sure if this is for better or worse.

Which of those are meant to be articulated? And how much is the AdBlue shortage playing into their choice of allocations?

500X is normally operated by artics, 501 by rigids.

Busways 858 on 774 lates replaced at Nepean hospital by 1110 due to faulty front and Rear doors.

Merc1107 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 5:46 pm Which of those are meant to be articulated? And how much is the AdBlue shortage playing into their choice of allocations?

The majority of buses i spotted today were pre-adblue Volvo/CB60, allongside the gassies. Typically I spot gassies on the 501 & the Metrobus livery CR228L/B12RLEA on the 500X, though even in normal times the allocation is quite a bit more mixed than this trend.

Route 500x was largely operated by artics with the odd rigid under State Transit. Perhaps with patronage being down, Busways have deemed rigids sufficient.

lunchbox wrote: ↑Fri Jan 14, 2022 3:15 pm Can someone advise whether there are some "am" services from QVB to the north-west which are ALWAYS served by a double-decker?

During School Vacation, most but not all trips between
607X ex QVB 07:15-10:40
610X ex QVB 07:20-10:40

[quote=iamthouth post_id=1086404 time=1642478953 user_id=7761]
[quote=lunchbox post_id=1086243 time=1642133723 user_id=2517]
Can someone advise whether there are some "am" services from QVB to the north-west which are ALWAYS served by a double-decker?
[/quote]
During School Vacation, most but not all trips between
607X ex QVB 07:15-10:40
610X ex QVB 07:20-10:40
[/quote]

^^^^Thanks iamthouth

Former Newcastle Transport 3681 noted for sale on Gumtree in Lalbert Vic

Linto63 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:12 pm Route 500x was largely operated by artics with the odd rigid under State Transit. Perhaps with patronage being down, Busways have deemed rigids sufficient.

I think with patronage being down, it's about minimizing the use of AdBlue vehicles as much as possible.

Not forgetting that there may be a shortage of Bendy qualified drivers owing to COVID. The 500x would be allocated to qualified artic drivers on specific rosters backed up by qualified reliefs who would be moved from other rosters, who's shifts would be covered by the Day-Off Relief Roster, better known as the scrap-heap!

In time, I am sure that Busways will reallocate fleet to ensure that "service levels reflect demand"

Special_K wrote: ↑Wed Jan 19, 2022 3:16 pm Day-Off Relief Roster, better known as the scrap-heap!

I am intrigued to know how this nickname came about. Please elaborate.

it used to be called the scrap heap in the late 60's and 70's,as i was on the scrap heap roster in 1968

Some drivers like being on it.

Is it just a lot of varied shifts to fill in leave, long term sickies and so on? And how would that compare to typical STA rostering? Assuming STA, like many large operators, simply ran a rotating roster (or several) and drivers did not have the same shift for a week (or even permanently) as seen with the smaller privates?