donc
Inspector
Posts: 591 
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Post by donc on Dec 13, 2022 8:58:00 GMT
In 2023 the government's funding for buses will end in March, what will be the effects on the regions bus services?
How will the end of funding and the shortage of drivers pan out?
Will First and Stagecoach invest in any new buses for the area or will the area continue to see an aging fleet shuffled around from depot to depot?
Will we see any new companies move into the area particularly for tendered routes?
What will be the repercussions of high inflation? Will fares rise, will we see strikes return. Can the bus companies survive without govt help?
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syjunkie
Driver
Posts: 385
Member is Online
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Post by syjunkie on Dec 13, 2022 11:47:11 GMT
In 2023 the government's funding for buses will end in March, what will be the effects on the regions bus services? How will the end of funding and the shortage of drivers pan out? Will First and Stagecoach invest in any new buses for the area or will the area continue to see an aging fleet shuffled around from depot to depot? Will we see any new companies move into the area particularly for tendered routes? What will be the repercussions of high inflation? Will fares rise, will we see strikes return. Can the bus companies survive without govt help? Well new vehicle wise for stagecoach you have the e400mmcs for holbrook, rumour of yutongs for rawmarsh. As for new companies unless it's got a large background and knows it will be able to cope possible but can't see any new independents coming |
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Post by duncan on Dec 13, 2022 18:25:38 GMT
In 2023 the government's funding for buses will end in March, what will be the effects on the regions bus services? How will the end of funding and the shortage of drivers pan out? Will First and Stagecoach invest in any new buses for the area or will the area continue to see an aging fleet shuffled around from depot to depot? Will we see any new companies move into the area particularly for tendered routes? What will be the repercussions of high inflation? Will fares rise, will we see strikes return. Can the bus companies survive without govt help? . Heck, even new streetlites may be welcomed. They've got a 7-year lifespan as far as I know. 7 year life span? Where on earth do you get that rubbish from? There are 10 year old examples running round daily. |
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Post by duncan on Dec 13, 2022 18:36:49 GMT
What I foresee is further cuts from all operators, no new vehicles for First but some previously enjoyed ones. Strikes? what about? There is no need to strike here now, lots of other options available instead. SYPTE / SYMCA will still be running round like headless chickens. Various local politicians will be making noises about Taking control / fixing the buses.
In short no change.
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Post by The Captain on Dec 13, 2022 23:03:23 GMT
Streetlites.
Cheap.
🤭😂
Anyway.
Let's see how reality pans out.
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Post by The Captain on Dec 13, 2022 23:17:43 GMT
What I foresee is further cuts from all operators, no new vehicles for First but some previously enjoyed ones. Strikes? what about? There is no need to strike here now, lots of other options available instead. SYPTE / SYMCA will still be running round like headless chickens. Various local politicians will be making noises about Taking control / fixing the buses. In short no change. Bearing in mind conventional diesel powered buses are no longer being purchased after the end of this year what suitable electric/hydrogen or hybrid vehicles are out there that can live with Sheffield and put in a decent day's work without issues?. Slim and none. It's still gearbox after gearbox with the odd rear axle and the 9 year old Streetlites are now going through engines. It's all about range and reliability which is unproven on our area. So yes I'm expecting some nice 2nd purchases in the forthcoming months and some stuff moving on, other than that as you were network wise. |
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Post by duncan on Dec 14, 2022 15:38:09 GMT
7 year life span? Where on earth do you get that rubbish from? There are 10 year old examples running round daily. I know. I recall reading somewhere that given how cheap they are, that's ideally when they're to be replaced in a fleet, and that they're quite stopgap. Might even have been on the 10 year "celebration" post here. I did add as far as I know for a reason! Surprises me they're still going. I certainly dislike their abysmal ride quality. Can we put a few myths to rest here. 1 The streetlite is not now and never has been a cheap bus. 2 It is a lightweight bus designed to help operators stay solvent in the light of continued attacks from local authorities and PTEs onto their profitability and viability. 3 No bus apart from some early minibuses have ever been built with a 7 or even 10 year life expectancy EVER. 4 Given that one unit costs in the region of £200k no operator could afford to sell them on at 10 Years old (that style of operation rightly ended with the demise of Mainline). 5 Ride quality is fairly low on the list of priorities when you are trying to make ends meet in an environment like South Yorkshire and in particular Sheffield. Its a question of a bus or no bus. 6 Apart from various very cheap second hand purchases operators dont buy new stop gap buses. Stop gap buses are those destined for disposal but have their life extended for a while generally. 7 there is no reason in the world why these buses will not get a full life (16-7 years) 8 the 7 year thing as has been mentioned was an estimated unit life (engine, gearbox, axle) and this has been bourne out by Captains comments. The lower running costs of these buses makes the cost of these units an acceptable compromise. |
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Post by mrmoose on Dec 14, 2022 17:44:07 GMT
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Post by overground on Dec 14, 2022 23:25:44 GMT
I know. I recall reading somewhere that given how cheap they are, that's ideally when they're to be replaced in a fleet, and that they're quite stopgap. Might even have been on the 10 year "celebration" post here. I did add as far as I know for a reason! Surprises me they're still going. I certainly dislike their abysmal ride quality. Can we put a few myths to rest here. 1 The streetlite is not now and never has been a cheap bus. 2 It is a lightweight bus designed to help operators stay solvent in the light of continued attacks from local authorities and PTEs onto their profitability and viability. 3 No bus apart from some early minibuses have ever been built with a 7 or even 10 year life expectancy EVER. 4 Given that one unit costs in the region of £200k no operator could afford to sell them on at 10 Years old (that style of operation rightly ended with the demise of Mainline). 5 Ride quality is fairly low on the list of priorities when you are trying to make ends meet in an environment like South Yorkshire and in particular Sheffield. Its a question of a bus or no bus. 6 Apart from various very cheap second hand purchases operators dont buy new stop gap buses. Stop gap buses are those destined for disposal but have their life extended for a while generally. 7 there is no reason in the world why these buses will not get a full life (16-7 years) 8 the 7 year thing as has been mentioned was an estimated unit life (engine, gearbox, axle) and this has been bourne out by Captains comments. The lower running costs of these buses makes the cost of these units an acceptable compromise. I honestly think that 12-13 years old they’ll be end life, I highly doubt that they will get 16-17 years out of them but that is my thoughts. They are going through engines/gearboxes/axles now but that’s by the by, I’m mainly on about the chassis/structural side of them. If you remember rightly the SPD Darts that Rotherham had were around 13 years old when they were withdrawn yet the Volvos at the same age lasted a few years longer. |
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Post by The Captain on Dec 15, 2022 0:12:20 GMT
Can we put a few myths to rest here. 1 The streetlite is not now and never has been a cheap bus. 2 It is a lightweight bus designed to help operators stay solvent in the light of continued attacks from local authorities and PTEs onto their profitability and viability. 3 No bus apart from some early minibuses have ever been built with a 7 or even 10 year life expectancy EVER. 4 Given that one unit costs in the region of £200k no operator could afford to sell them on at 10 Years old (that style of operation rightly ended with the demise of Mainline). 5 Ride quality is fairly low on the list of priorities when you are trying to make ends meet in an environment like South Yorkshire and in particular Sheffield. Its a question of a bus or no bus. 6 Apart from various very cheap second hand purchases operators dont buy new stop gap buses. Stop gap buses are those destined for disposal but have their life extended for a while generally. 7 there is no reason in the world why these buses will not get a full life (16-7 years) 8 the 7 year thing as has been mentioned was an estimated unit life (engine, gearbox, axle) and this has been bourne out by Captains comments. The lower running costs of these buses makes the cost of these units an acceptable compromise. I honestly think that 12-13 years old they’ll be end life, I highly doubt that they will get 16-17 years out of them but that is my thoughts. They are going through engines/gearboxes/axles now but that’s by the by, I’m mainly on about the chassis/structural side of them. If you remember rightly the SPD Darts that Rotherham had were around 13 years old when they were withdrawn yet the Volvos at the same age lasted a few years longer. As we've noted the 14 plates seem to be the roughest underneath, the Merc stuff as a whole perform better but need constant attention via Jaltester but don't eat engines like Streetdecks, the first lot have been let down by the Eminox mods, too many derates and recals plus the trims had it on a lot. See what happens next year, 2nd hand market could be eye opening. |
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