10 Years Of Streetlites - Achievements (Read 1,630 times)

[crossscythe]

It was the autumn of 2012 when the first Streetlite hit the roads of Sheffield. With it's stylish and innovative design, it was certainly striking on the streets of Sheffield. In what was, at the time, rather new Olympia livery, these beasts were initially trialled on Service 51 in Sheffield. These 62' registered vehicles travelled west to east, from Lodge Moor to Charnock. Despite some natural teething problems, such as lively kneel facility hydraulics, these photogenic vehicles proved a success and a large batch was ordered.

In the summer of 2013, a large batch hit the streets, initially on routes 76 and 52. Quirky advertising, such as 'stone wheel' diagrams on the advertising racks showed how far bus travel had evolved. With the original main batch equipped with long distance leather seating, sturdy Wright Bus bodies and powerful Cummins engines, these vehicles proved popular amongst customers and operational staff alike. A further batch followed in 2014 and these were WiFi enabled and equipped with passenger information speakers. Some of the fleet was shorter than the standard 'Max' range, but still managed to comfortably accomodate the commuters of Sheffield.

In 2016 and 2018, more additions followed, including Hybrid versions. Streetlites began to expand on the network, operating routes such as the 22, 56 and latterly, the 95, 95a. Rival company Stagecoach even acquired a small batch of these marvellous buses, as part of the North Sheffield Bus Partnership Scheme. Consquently, First deployed these buses on route 1a and Stagecoach on route 1.

First's Rotherham and Doncaster's services also gained the luxury of the Streetlite. Mainly replacing the comfortable and greatly powerful B7 Eclipses, these vehicles proved their worth whilst navigating the tight bends of the estates around Thrybergh and Ravenfield. Doncaster also saw an influx, with vehicles venturing a far a field as Sykehouse.

The Streetlites are a familiar face in South Yorkshire. If you are traveĺling on one or one passes you, their distinctive design will catch your atrention. The Streetlites are a strong chariot of South Yorkshire.

[he6762]

Are you on drugs?

"Long distance leather seating"

"Popular with passengers and operational staff"

Nov 16, 2022 3:47:14 GMT crossscythe said:

It was the autumn of 2012 when the first Streetlite hit the roads of Sheffield. With it's stylish and innovative design, it was certainly striking on the streets of Sheffield. In what was, at the time, rather new Olympia livery, these beasts were initially trialled on Service 51 in Sheffield. These 62' registered vehicles travelled west to east, from Lodge Moor to Charnock. Despite some natural teething problems, such as lively kneel facility hydraulics, these photogenic vehicles proved a success and a large batch was ordered.

In the summer of 2013, a large batch hit the streets, initially on routes 76 and 52. Quirky advertising, such as 'stone wheel' diagrams on the advertising racks showed how far bus travel had evolved. With the original main batch equipped with long distance leather seating, sturdy Wright Bus bodies and powerful Cummins engines, these vehicles proved popular amongst customers and operational staff alike. A further batch followed in 2014 and these were WiFi enabled and equipped with passenger information speakers. Some of the fleet was shorter than the standard 'Max' range, but still managed to comfortably accomodate the commuters of Sheffield.

In 2016 and 2018, more additions followed, including Hybrid versions. Streetlites began to expand on the network, operating routes such as the 22, 56 and latterly, the 95, 95a. Rival company Stagecoach even acquired a small batch of these marvellous buses, as part of the North Sheffield Bus Partnership Scheme. Consquently, First deployed these buses on route 1a and Stagecoach on route 1.

First's Rotherham and Doncaster's services also gained the luxury of the Streetlite. Mainly replacing the comfortable and greatly powerful B7 Eclipses, these vehicles proved their worth whilst navigating the tight bends of the estates around Thrybergh and Ravenfield. Doncaster also saw an influx, with vehicles venturing a far a field as Sykehouse.

The Streetlites are a familiar face in South Yorkshire. If you are traveĺling on one or one passes you, their distinctive design will catch your atrention. The Streetlites are a strong chariot of South Yorkshire.

[The Captain]

Nearly spat all my coffee out!.

[donc]

Yes aren't they wonderful (!) when they are put on a route with four schools to pass at 2.30pm and hundreds of school kids have plenty of room to get on.

Streetlites would be lovely if they were placed on routes that could accomodate them not the busiest routes, yesterday I was on a streetlite that got stuck in school traffic people stood from back to front of bus, right behind a double decker with barely anyone upstairs.

[overground]

Strong chariot, not the words I’d use! I personally doubt very much that they will get the same life out of them as they have done most Volvos in recent years, around the 17 year mark.

I have spoken to some drivers in the past though that have liked them, often newer drivers but a majority do not.

[duncan]

Nov 16, 2022 15:28:09 GMT donc said:

Yes aren't they wonderful (!) when they are put on a route with four schools to pass at 2.30pm and hundreds of school kids have plenty of room to get on.

Streetlites would be lovely if they were placed on routes that could accomodate them not the busiest routes, yesterday I was on a streetlite that got stuck in school traffic people stood from back to front of bus, right behind a double decker with barely anyone upstairs.

But in fairness that is not a fault of the vehicle is it?

[overground]

Apart from the obvious let down that they’re lightweight and rather “flimsy” one of the biggest is that they weren’t built with any thought to repairing them, there’s numerous jobs that are difficult to do or access. And who in the right mind powder coats a chassis!?

[dougie]

I suppose, to be charitable, you could argue that (like the "Voyager" trains), the Stretlites aren't entirely terrible, it's not their fault if they are put on routes that they weren't intended for - if operators order these short single deckers to replace much bigger buses (on a corridor like the 75/76 in Sheffield) then you can't blame the people in Ballymena who constructed them

Tehey weren't ordered to be amazing buses that would "transform travel", they were ordered as a cheap way of replacing the "thirsty" buses (including the first generation of single deckers), saving money with the efficient/ lightweight builds (at a time when fuel prices were volatile), especially as this was the early bit of the "Austerity" era

I don't enjoy them, they seem horribly unsuited to some of the routes that they are allocated to - I'd much rather have an older double decker than a younger Streetlite - full of rattles and judders - sometimes I choose the off-side seat by the "emergency exit" door just so I can try to stop the metal rod from vibrating so much, since it's so annoying to have to listen to when I'm sitting anywhere else on the bus

Then again, I''m honestly a bit surprised that some made it to a decade in service - they always felt like a cheap stopgap - maybe they'll end up like the Pacers were on the Railway (intended as a short term option but lack of funds means you're stuck with them for significantly longer)

[duncan]

Nov 20, 2022 16:54:04 GMT dougie said:

I suppose, to be charitable, you could argue that (like the "Voyager" trains), the Stretlites aren't entirely terrible, it's not their fault if they are put on routes that they weren't intended for - if operators order these short single deckers to replace much bigger buses (on a corridor like the 75/76 in Sheffield) then you can't blame the people in Ballymena who constructed them

Tehey weren't ordered to be amazing buses that would "transform travel", they were ordered as a cheap way of replacing the "thirsty" buses (including the first generation of single deckers), saving money with the efficient/ lightweight builds (at a time when fuel prices were volatile), especially as this was the early bit of the "Austerity" era

I don't enjoy them, they seem horribly unsuited to some of the routes that they are allocated to - I'd much rather have an older double decker than a younger Streetlite - full of rattles and judders - sometimes I choose the off-side seat by the "emergency exit" door just so I can try to stop the metal rod from vibrating so much, since it's so annoying to have to listen to when I'm sitting anywhere else on the bus

Then again, I''m honestly a bit surprised that some made it to a decade in service - they always felt like a cheap stopgap - maybe they'll end up like the Pacers were on the Railway (intended as a short term option but lack of funds means you're stuck with them for significantly longer)

I think many people get carried away with some buses and forget what they are for.

The streetlite is a tool to do a job, nothing more.

It came in at the right price with the right running costs so therefore was a good tool. Does a builder by a "trendy" shovel or one that will do the job?

The short ones that arrived were a mistake in that the camp within first that was aiming for certain outcomes had not communicated this to the camp that purchases vehicles. As for putting then on the likes of the 75/6 corridor, if the staff on those routes had recorded passengers correctly on the ticket machines the data would have shown that deckers were needed but sadly this did not happen and the machine data showed that streetlites would cope. At this point vehicles had been moved and replacements were not easily come by. None of the above is the fault of the vehicles.
Yes they are laid out differently to Volvos, that within First South Yorkshire is always a handicap where Volvo is the norm and historically anything else was just not tolerated and eventually fobbed off onto another area or depot who would then get many years service out of them, often in more trying geographical locations.
I recall one of the "Experts" on here proclaiming that they had a 7 year life, the same "expert" has had little to say on them since. Mainly because what was being talked about was a 7 year UNIT life i.e. engine / gearbox / axles. I wonder how many have gone beyond that?
Some drivers are saying they are terrible, others get on with them quite well. I have driven them and find them OK if you drive them properly. They are not a Volvo or a DAF or a Scania so dont expect them to drive like one. All buses drive differently and the "skill" that drivers are paid for is to be able to adapt to different types and drive them professionally in return for a reasonable wage.

[The Captain]

13/63 plates are alright apart from the derates, newer they are the more temperamental.
I understand Stagecoach took all the Hybrid side out of theirs.

[crossscythe]

Nov 21, 2022 11:04:51 GMT duncan said:

Nov 20, 2022 16:54:04 GMT dougie said:

I suppose, to be charitable, you could argue that (like the "Voyager" trains), the Stretlites aren't entirely terrible, it's not their fault if they are put on routes that they weren't intended for - if operators order these short single deckers to replace much bigger buses (on a corridor like the 75/76 in Sheffield) then you can't blame the people in Ballymena who constructed them

Tehey weren't ordered to be amazing buses that would "transform travel", they were ordered as a cheap way of replacing the "thirsty" buses (including the first generation of single deckers), saving money with the efficient/ lightweight builds (at a time when fuel prices were volatile), especially as this was the early bit of the "Austerity" era

I don't enjoy them, they seem horribly unsuited to some of the routes that they are allocated to - I'd much rather have an older double decker than a younger Streetlite - full of rattles and judders - sometimes I choose the off-side seat by the "emergency exit" door just so I can try to stop the metal rod from vibrating so much, since it's so annoying to have to listen to when I'm sitting anywhere else on the bus

Then again, I''m honestly a bit surprised that some made it to a decade in service - they always felt like a cheap stopgap - maybe they'll end up like the Pacers were on the Railway (intended as a short term option but lack of funds means you're stuck with them for significantly longer)

I think many people get carried away with some buses and forget what they are for.

The streetlite is a tool to do a job, nothing more.

It came in at the right price with the right running costs so therefore was a good tool. Does a builder by a "trendy" shovel or one that will do the job?

The short ones that arrived were a mistake in that the camp within first that was aiming for certain outcomes had not communicated this to the camp that purchases vehicles. As for putting then on the likes of the 75/6 corridor, if the staff on those routes had recorded passengers correctly on the ticket machines the data would have shown that deckers were needed but sadly this did not happen and the machine data showed that streetlites would cope. At this point vehicles had been moved and replacements were not easily come by. None of the above is the fault of the vehicles.
Yes they are laid out differently to Volvos, that within First South Yorkshire is always a handicap where Volvo is the norm and historically anything else was just not tolerated and eventually fobbed off onto another area or depot who would then get many years service out of them, often in more trying geographical locations.
I recall one of the "Experts" on here proclaiming that they had a 7 year life, the same "expert" has had little to say on them since. Mainly because what was being talked about was a 7 year UNIT life i.e. engine / gearbox / axles. I wonder how many have gone beyond that?
Some drivers are saying they are terrible, others get on with them quite well. I have driven them and find them OK if you drive them properly. They are not a Volvo or a DAF or a Scania so dont expect them to drive like one. All buses drive differently and the "skill" that drivers are paid for is to be able to adapt to different types and drive them professionally in return for a reasonable wage.

They are still in remarkably good condition in terms of customer experience and seem to power up hill like Jenkin Road with great ease. Hopefully this marks a step towards buses being more longlasting. Some of them are only three years younger than the Alexander PSs were when they were withdrawn! It would be nice to see them meet or beat the 25 years service that the Dominator acheived, or atleast the 22 years that some of the R reg B10s acheived (despite a brief cascade to West Yorkshire).

[The Captain]

25 years no chance.
Could do with a clear out tbh.

[overground]

25 years, haha.
I don’t even think 15 years myself, I’m fairly certain that the 10/11/12 plate Volvos will easily outlive the 13/14 plate Streetlites. As for the B10s it was mainly because they were high floor that saw them withdrawn when they were. The norm for a bus with FSY in recent years before withdrawal has been around the 17 year mark