(04 Apr 2016, 5:24 pm)mb134 wrote Oooh no!

I remember when I was younger, I was used to bench and coach seated Olympians on the X31. One day a, to me, 'new' Lowlander turned up, with those awful plastic Urban 90s, I remember people complaining, and wondering where the 'old' buses had gone to!

I always found bench seats more than good enough.

I like the bench seats - I noticed a couple of MPDs in Scarborough running around with them. I assumed that this meant that they are breaking the DDA regulations (unless permission has been given)?

(04 Apr 2016, 5:35 pm)S813 FVK wrote I like the bench seats - I noticed a couple of MPDs in Scarborough running around with them. I assumed that this meant that they are breaking the DDA regulations (unless permission has been given)?

East Yorkshire's Bench Seated MPDs are 52-regs.

(04 Apr 2016, 5:48 pm)Kuyoyo wrote East Yorkshire's Bench Seated MPDs are 52-regs.

Indeed they are. KXJ and KXK are the ones I spotted. Noticed Y485 VRH had bench seating, too.

The Volvo Olympian's I had on that bus trip on Saturday all had bench seats and they were extremely comfortable, excluding the Northern Counties Palatine I rode were they were rather worn and made my back ache. So if they aren't worn I think they are brilliant and miss them on buses today.

(04 Apr 2016, 5:51 pm)S813 FVK wrote Indeed they are. KXJ and KXK are the ones I spotted. Noticed Y485 VRH had bench seating, too.

This one does, too - we got a good look inside at Beverley, last weekend. The foldy uppy seats at the front are a similar style to the Prince Bishops solars, though.
https://www.eyms.co.uk/enthusiasts/vehic...icleid=170

---

(04 Apr 2016, 5:51 pm)S813 FVK wrote Indeed they are. KXJ and KXK are the ones I spotted. Noticed Y485 VRH had bench seating, too.

This one does, too - we got a good look inside at Beverley, last weekend. The foldy uppy seats at the front are a similar style to the Prince Bishops solars, though.
https://www.eyms.co.uk/enthusiasts/vehic...icleid=170

I have been wondering recently why the NSA screens on GNE have been substituted with smaller screens, just I prefer the bigger screens?

(06 Apr 2016, 9:35 am)NK53 TKT wrote I have been wondering recently why the NSA screens on GNE have been substituted with smaller screens, just I prefer the bigger screens?

The LED displays look more professional than the TFT monitors previously used. There's certainly more of a corporate feel to the announcements now, with the voice of London's buses being used as opposed to a local DJ presenter.

(06 Apr 2016, 11:39 am)Dan wrote The LED displays look more professional than the TFT monitors previously used. There's certainly more of a corporate feel to the announcements now, with the voice of London's buses being used as opposed to a local DJ presenter.

Ah, that makes sense

Not a bad little read.

I noted the comments on rattly buses too...

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2016...nnovation/

(27 May 2016, 3:12 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not a bad little read.

I noted the comments on rattly buses too...

http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2016...nnovation/

It doesn't matter how big a litter bin is if some twit is going to leave their empty bottle on the seat, regardless.

And stuff projected onto the pavement is just something I'd feel like I was going to trip over. Stop the rattles, great, but dispense with silly gimmicks.

(27 May 2016, 3:32 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It doesn't matter how big a litter bin is if some twit is going to leave their empty bottle on the seat, regardless.

And stuff projected onto the pavement is just something I'd feel like I was going to trip over. Stop the rattles, great, but dispense with silly gimmicks.

Doesn't make much difference having a bin on the bus, some of Darlington's Pulsars have some and you still get people chucking bottles and throwing litter to leave them rolling down the bus.

(27 May 2016, 3:40 pm)Jimmi wrote Doesn't make much difference having a bin on the bus, some of Darlington's Pulsars have some and you still get people chucking bottles and throwing litter to leave them rolling down the bus.

That's exactly what the X1 that got on my every nerve, last Saturday, was like!

They're a bloody weird lot down there.

(27 May 2016, 3:32 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It doesn't matter how big a litter bin is if some twit is going to leave their empty bottle on the seat, regardless.

And stuff projected onto the pavement is just something I'd feel like I was going to trip over. Stop the rattles, great, but dispense with silly gimmicks.

Decent luggage racks (can't think of owt decent in recent years apart from the Solars) and rattle reduction technology would do me.

(28 May 2016, 7:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote Decent luggage racks (can't think of owt decent in recent years apart from the Solars) and rattle reduction technology would do me.

Solves everything

I don't think buses need to have bins. People just need to be civilised, and take their litter with them. It's rare that you're going somewhere that doesn't have a bin.

New buses don't have any luggage space at all. It's as simple as that. The one tiny place for them on a Streetlite has the fire extinguisher and Metro newspaper rack there, so I'd argue you couldn't put anything there for fear of obstructing the fire extinguisher. Geminis are no better mind, with a tiny bit of storage space at the front. It's as if we were spoilt with buses like Nationals and the Olympians... you could literally store suitcase upon suitcase in them.

It's an issue that hasn't gone away, so I'm not sure why manufacturers no longer include luggage space? Passengers get frustrated (and I saw quite a bit of this in Brighton), that other passengers have bags with them, and on the seat next to them. How can you channel behaviour if you're removing the solutions?

(29 May 2016, 10:34 am)Adrian wrote New buses don't have any luggage space at all. It's as simple as that. The one tiny place for them on a Streetlite has the fire extinguisher and Metro newspaper rack there, so I'd argue you couldn't put anything there for fear of obstructing the fire extinguisher. Geminis are no better mind, with a tiny bit of storage space at the front. It's as if we were spoilt with buses like Nationals and the Olympians... you could literally store suitcase upon suitcase in them.

It's an issue that hasn't gone away, so I'm not sure why manufacturers no longer include luggage space? Passengers get frustrated (and I saw quite a bit of this in Brighton), that other passengers have bags with them, and on the seat next to them. How can you channel behaviour if you're removing the solutions?

I'd probably suggest that manufacturers would still offer the luggage space, but it's down to the operator to specify that they wanted it. See photo below of one of Lothian's "Airlink" branded Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied Volvo B5TLs:

Lothian Buses: 437 / SA15VTT by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Thinking more locally than Brighton with Go North East's Prince Bishops services... These services, especially at peak times, could benefit from double-deck vehicles, as single-decks do (and have done for a while now) get fully seated with plenty of standees at peak times. Despite this, Go North East has still opted to purchase brand new single-deck vehicles. Whether that's down to the higher cost associated with buying a double-decker or not, who knows..? It makes sense therefore to pack as many seats as possible into a single-deck, even if that means compromising leg room and storage space.

It's probably a similar story with other services too - both in and outside of the region. As in the example above, manufacturers will still allow operators to have purpose-built interiors.

(29 May 2016, 10:34 am)Adrian wrote I don't think buses need to have bins. People just need to be civilised, and take their litter with them. It's rare that you're going somewhere that doesn't have a bin.

New buses don't have any luggage space at all. It's as simple as that. The one tiny place for them on a Streetlite has the fire extinguisher and Metro newspaper rack there, so I'd argue you couldn't put anything there for fear of obstructing the fire extinguisher. Geminis are no better mind, with a tiny bit of storage space at the front. It's as if we were spoilt with buses like Nationals and the Olympians... you could literally store suitcase upon suitcase in them.

It's an issue that hasn't gone away, so I'm not sure why manufacturers no longer include luggage space? Passengers get frustrated (and I saw quite a bit of this in Brighton), that other passengers have bags with them, and on the seat next to them. How can you channel behaviour if you're removing the solutions?

That's one thing you don't see on double deckers anymore, luggage space underneath the staircase, admittedly I can't imagine there would be much space on Arriva's low height E400's but still, would be better than that tiny bit behind the front seats which again is totally taken up by the Metro trays. The full height E400's used to have a seat under the staircase but I think it was removed from some later models because some passengers felt claustrophobic, think that is a slightly silly reason to remove a seat as not everyone who would sit there would feel like that.

Is there much difference in terms of length on the E400's as the Gemini's seem to seat about 70 passengers whereas some of the E400's can seat upto 80 seated passengers. The Sapphire 7 examples seat 76 I think but they are missing a few seats at the front upstairs which I think is to accommodate the next stop announcement screen but it also has a excellent amount of legroom between most of the seats upstairs.

I mean more luggage space is going to equal to less seats, but if seats are being used as luggage space, then you've got that problem anyway.

The other alternative is to have what Lothian have on their deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/lothian_bu...251428/in/

(29 May 2016, 10:55 am)Adrian wrote I mean more luggage space is going to equal to less seats, but if seats are being used as luggage space, then you've got that problem anyway.

The other alternative is to have what Lothian have on their deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/lothian_bu...251428/in/

Wasn't that an Airlink originally though and thats why it has them?

(29 May 2016, 11:01 am)Tom wrote Wasn't that an Airlink originally though and thats why it has them?

Yep - it was.

Only the vehicles which have been allocated to the Airlink service have had the extra luggage space installed from new. Goes back to what I was saying before about manufacturers having the extra luggage space available, but it has to be specified rather than done by default.

(29 May 2016, 10:34 am)Adrian wrote I don't think buses need to have bins. People just need to be civilised, and take their litter with them. It's rare that you're going somewhere that doesn't have a bin.

New buses don't have any luggage space at all. It's as simple as that. The one tiny place for them on a Streetlite has the fire extinguisher and Metro newspaper rack there, so I'd argue you couldn't put anything there for fear of obstructing the fire extinguisher. Geminis are no better mind, with a tiny bit of storage space at the front. It's as if we were spoilt with buses like Nationals and the Olympians... you could literally store suitcase upon suitcase in them.

It's an issue that hasn't gone away, so I'm not sure why manufacturers no longer include luggage space? Passengers get frustrated (and I saw quite a bit of this in Brighton), that other passengers have bags with them, and on the seat next to them. How can you channel behaviour if you're removing the solutions?

I think the design of a National lent itself to the huge amount of storage space though. The height of the saloon floor and associated void above the wheel was perfect for storage.

Not sure it has spoiled passengers expectations though.
I think the quest for bums on seats and the impact of DDA has ensured storage is maybe further down the line of demands. How many more seats can you get in a Merc (bearing in mind the height of the luggage rack), at the expense of another square metre of storage?

(29 May 2016, 10:55 am)Adrian wrote I mean more luggage space is going to equal to less seats, but if seats are being used as luggage space, then you've got that problem anyway.

The other alternative is to have what Lothian have on their deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/lothian_bu...251428/in/

They would just fill up with kids like the ones above the front wheels on pulsars do!

(29 May 2016, 9:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They would just fill up with kids like the ones above the front wheels on pulsars do!

That's true. I remember when the Solars first came into service with GNE, and we'd always sit in the luggage bays.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/45168281@N05/27515749111/

I think Stagecoach may be the winner for best new seating. It's been confirmed they've switched to e-leather, and while I have seen the distinctive stagecoach-style seat clad in e-leather, it appears they've also switched to full height seating too.

While they may look a bit garish, I suspect they win on the comfort front vs GNE and Arriva. I look forward to this spec arriving in the North East.

Also note the reversed seating at the rear on the upper deck, cue gansta schoolchildren. Just when you though it was safe to go back upstairs...

For 10 #NEBpoints, can anyone tell me the correct spelling that should be used on the NSA screen on the 4?
Is it:
a) North View Terrace - The Granaries?
or
b) North View Terrace - The Graneries?

The incorrect answer will be uploaded later on.

(16 Jun 2016, 2:04 pm)Andreos1 wrote For 10 #NEBpoints, can anyone tell me the correct spelling that should be used on the NSA screen on the 4?
Is it:
a) North View Terrace - The Granaries?
or
b) North View Terrace - The Graneries?

The incorrect answer will be uploaded later on.

Is that the same Granaries that the Prince Bishops stops at? I heard mutterings from another passenger about the spelling of that, once.

(16 Jun 2016, 7:08 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Is that the same Granaries that the Prince Bishops stops at? I heard mutterings from another passenger about the spelling of that, once.

Aye, the same stop.
I haven't sampled the purple Streetlites yet, so haven't noticed it on there.
Saying that, I have never noticed it on the 4 in the past - despite using the Mercs on a too regular basis.

https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos...292266539/

Probably the most appropriate thread.

How to clean a filthy bus seat!

I had my first ride on a refurbished Merc today. Eager to give it a go, I snubbed a Solar (which would have got me to my destination quicker), in favour of the longer trip on the Merc.

I was impressed as I first boarded.
It had more about it than those Streetlites. The embossed logos looked classy.

However, my first impressions didn't last long.
I sat down and noticed that the logos were becoming frayed. Stitching was coming away too.
Finding a seat proved trickier than I thought. Not because of the number of passengers, but because of the sticky/greasy finger marks glinting in the early evening sun.
I have no idea what the cleaning arrangement is for these seats, but after the money spent on them, I would hope it was an efficient clean.
The sausage roll flavoured finger marks looked fresh and I didnt want them transferring to my clothes, so I chose the least affected seat.

After the bus pulled away, I also noticed the lack of padding on the seats. Im not sure if mine had been missed out at the factory or if it was intentionally thin.
The seats may look good (when clean and when the logos aren't frayed), but they're not comfy. 

I didn't have a usb charger with me to test out the plugs, so can't comment on the effectiveness of them.

The next stop/bus stopping set-up looked like an after thought too.
The positioning, font and different colour LED's just didn't do it for me I'm afraid. It was almost like the street sign clutter that we hear about every so often.

Having seen fares increase and justifications of the increases from GNE staff, pointing towards these refurbs, I would have hoped to have enjoyed a far better experience.

(30 Aug 2017, 10:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote I had my first ride on a refurbished Merc today. Eager to give it a go, I snubbed a Solar (which would have got me to my destination quicker), in favour of the longer trip on the Merc.

I was impressed as I first boarded.
It had more about it than those Streetlites. The embossed logos looked classy.

However, my first impressions didn't last long.
I sat down and noticed that the logos were becoming frayed. Stitching was coming away too.
Finding a seat proved trickier than I thought. Not because of the number of passengers, but because of the sticky/greasy finger marks glinting in the early evening sun.
I have no idea what the cleaning arrangement is for these seats, but after the money spent on them, I would hope it was an efficient clean.
The sausage roll flavoured finger marks looked fresh and I didnt want them transferring to my clothes, so I chose the least affected seat.

After the bus pulled away, I also noticed the lack of padding on the seats. Im not sure if mine had been missed out at the factory or if it was intentionally thin.
The seats may look good (when clean and when the logos aren't frayed), but they're not comfy. 

I didn't have a usb charger with me to test out the plugs, so can't comment on the effectiveness of them.

The next stop/bus stopping set-up looked like an after thought too.
The positioning, font and different colour LED's just didn't do it for me I'm afraid. It was almost like the street sign clutter that we hear about every so often.

Having seen fares increase and justifications of the increases from GNE staff, pointing towards these refurbs, I would have hoped to have enjoyed a far better experience.

At least you can see the muck. Imagine how much we must end up sitting on, completely unawares, on fabric seats.