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Post by mattw on Aug 31, 2014 15:47:10 GMT
Heard a driver talking this afternoon on an X78 about new vehicles coming next year for the X78.
Apparently there will be 3 demonstration vehicles in January to try on the route and then the new vehicles will arrive towards the summer of 2015.
Can anyone confirm or deny this or shed any further light on the situation?
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Post by The Captain on Aug 31, 2014 15:50:30 GMT
Heard a driver talking this afternoon on an X78 about new vehicles coming next year for the X78. Apparently there will be 3 demonstration vehicles in January to try on the route and then the new vehicles will arrive towards the summer of 2015. Can anyone confirm or deny this or shed any further light on the situation? New vehicles for X78 next year. Should be a B5TL and a Streetdeck demo due for use more than likely at OG. |
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Post by DPL233 (33LUG) on Aug 31, 2014 16:24:17 GMT
Heard a driver talking this afternoon on an X78 about new vehicles coming next year for the X78. Apparently there will be 3 demonstration vehicles in January to try on the route and then the new vehicles will arrive towards the summer of 2015. Can anyone confirm or deny this or shed any further light on the situation? New vehicles for X78 next year. Should be a B5TL and a Streetdeck demo due for use more than likely at OG. So they decide to try out the likely candidates at OG, then order the buses for RO, sounds very stupid to me lol |
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Post by The Captain on Aug 31, 2014 16:27:48 GMT
New vehicles for X78 next year. Should be a B5TL and a Streetdeck demo due for use more than likely at OG. So they decide to try out the likely candidates at OG, then order the buses for RO, sounds very stupid to me lol Buses for X78 might already have been decided upon...... |
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vwd14
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Post by vwd14 on Sept 1, 2014 20:56:42 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it mentioned here before that the X78 was getting hybrids? So that would mean B5LHs (or some other option).
It will be very interesting to see how both the B5TL and the StreetDeck get on in Sheffield, they both have dinky little engines after all. There was a time not too long ago when midibuses had bigger engines than what's under the bonnet of these machines.
Translink recently took delivery of B5TLs for use in Belfast and they are reportedly quite underpowered, although Dublin Bus didn't have that problem with their demo B5TL. Then again almost all the routes in Dublin don't have hills (and the route that the demo was and still is allocated to certainly does not have hills). The StreetDeck's engine is rated as having even less power than the B5TL.
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Post by woah on Sept 1, 2014 21:35:25 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it mentioned here before that the X78 was getting hybrids? So that would mean B5LHs (or some other option). It will be very interesting to see how both the B5TL and the StreetDeck get on in Sheffield, they both have dinky little engines after all. There was a time not too long ago when midibuses had bigger engines than what's under the bonnet of these machines. Translink recently took delivery of B5TLs for use in Belfast and they are reportedly quite underpowered, although Dublin Bus didn't have that problem with their demo B5TL. Then again almost all the routes in Dublin don't have hills (and the route that the demo was and still is allocated to certainly does not have hills). The StreetDeck's engine is rated as having even less power than the B5TL. Route One magazine seemed more than happy with the performance of the B5TL including uphill, I suspect it will be similar to a B9TL performance wise. |
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Post by kuyoyo on Sept 1, 2014 22:04:22 GMT
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it mentioned here before that the X78 was getting hybrids? So that would mean B5LHs (or some other option). It will be very interesting to see how both the B5TL and the StreetDeck get on in Sheffield, they both have dinky little engines after all. There was a time not too long ago when midibuses had bigger engines than what's under the bonnet of these machines. Translink recently took delivery of B5TLs for use in Belfast and they are reportedly quite underpowered, although Dublin Bus didn't have that problem with their demo B5TL. Then again almost all the routes in Dublin don't have hills (and the route that the demo was and still is allocated to certainly does not have hills). The StreetDeck's engine is rated as having even less power than the B5TL. Route One magazine seemed more than happy with the performance of the B5TL including uphill, I suspect it will be similar to a B9TL performance wise. Go North East trialled the Lothian example a few weeks ago on the Bishop Auckland-Newcastle express - it didn't impress, espeically when it couldn't keep to running times 15-year old Tridents and B7TLs can. |
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vwd14
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Post by vwd14 on Sept 1, 2014 22:40:30 GMT
Route One magazine seemed more than happy with the performance of the B5TL including uphill, I suspect it will be similar to a B9TL performance wise. Go North East trialled the Lothian example a few weeks ago on the Bishop Auckland-Newcastle express - it didn't impress, espeically when it couldn't keep to running times 15-year old Tridents and B7TLs can. Not being able to keep up with a B7TL is quite worrying, since B7TLs are not exactly fast. Although I am not a fan of ADLs, and I don't think our new Enviro 400s won't be half as good as the B9TLs that preceded them, I must admit that on first impressions the MMC model E400 looks like a massive step forward from the current model. At least ADL have kept the larger capacity six cylinder engine for Euro 6, and unlike Wrights, have kept proper sized windows downstairs and upstairs. The MMC looks better than the current model, and if ADL are true to their word the MMC will rattle a lot less, which would be a good thing. The Gemini 3 looks a LOT cheaper inside than the Gemini 2, especially around the driver's cab where the materials look really cheap and brittle compared to Gemini 2. |
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vwd14
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Post by vwd14 on Sept 14, 2014 23:54:09 GMT
Obviously, we've had both on trial. As you say, the B5 is a little underpowered, but Volvo has promised to improve the turbo. The engine is roughly the same size as an Ailsa, and that seemed to do OK. Cheapness inside is a spec problem. We've got 25 on order, that should be here before Christmas, but they are to our full spec. The E400 was OK, but the new gearbox has it is fourth by 15 mph. Not under consideration, but something different might be for next year. I take it your ones will have Voith rather than the more usual (for a Volvo) ZF gearboxes? |
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Post by DPL233 (33LUG) on Sept 15, 2014 11:52:51 GMT
Obviously, we've had both on trial. As you say, the B5 is a little underpowered, but Volvo has promised to improve the turbo. The engine is roughly the same size as an Ailsa, and that seemed to do OK. Cheapness inside is a spec problem. We've got 25 on order, that should be here before Christmas, but they are to our full spec. The E400 was OK, but the new gearbox has it is fourth by 15 mph. Not under consideration, but something different might be for next year. I take it your ones will have Voith rather than the more usual (for a Volvo) ZF gearboxes? Dont most Volvo's come with their own I-Shift box these days. |
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Post by snowdonranger on Sept 15, 2014 18:06:19 GMT
Afraid not. ZF this time around. Cost. If you're in the area, come to our open day on Saturday 28 September. Open day? Where? Regards, Darren. |
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vwd14
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Post by vwd14 on Sept 15, 2014 20:17:46 GMT
Afraid not. ZF this time around. Cost. If you're in the area, come to our open day on Saturday 28 September. Interesting, first buses with ZFs for Lothian in quite a while. Can't see many B5TLs with Voith boxes being sold in that case seeing as the main customer of Voith equipped Volvos (especially in recent times) has been yourselves. |
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Post by The Captain on Sept 18, 2014 16:58:31 GMT
Both Streetdecks for First (the one for FSY in particular)are very near completion, elements of Streetlite styling and parts mixed with Gemini 3. The engine is the Daimler Euro-6 in-line engine mounted in a very uncluttered engine bay to the nearside. It also has the glazed staircase although this does not look as striking as the Lothian example. There are one or two other new features aimed at ease of maintenance and practicality.
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vwd14
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Post by vwd14 on Sept 28, 2014 19:57:46 GMT
Is there any chance they will consider the Volvo B5LH for the deckers next year? I was on a Euro 6 Metroline example during the week (they're now allocated to route 7 in London); very, very impressive machines, faster than the E400 hybrids taking off, and the build quality blows OG's recently delivered E400s out of the water - they're just as solid as the older Geminis.
It's also properly smooth at idle even when the engine is on unlike the older B5LHs, which vibrate like the best B6BLEs at idle when the engine is on.
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Post by duncan on Sept 28, 2014 21:17:32 GMT
Is there any chance they will consider the Volvo B5LH for the deckers next year? I was on a Euro 6 Metroline example during the week (they're now allocated to route 7 in London); very, very impressive machines, faster than the E400 hybrids taking off, and the build quality blows OG's recently delivered E400s out of the water - they're just as solid as the older Geminis. It's also properly smooth at idle even when the engine is on unlike the older B5LHs, which vibrate like the best B6BLEs at idle when the engine is on. Toss up between B5TL and streetdeck. Hybrid not now an option. It will not be the X78 that they go on, they will however run from Rotherham depot. Watch this space............. |
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