devnull wrote: » We must get people out of their cars to stop the city grinding to a halt if we don't encourage modal shift and honestly, stepping on a 2006 AX literally says nothing has changed on vehicles since the early 90s. In the UK, National Express platinum brand, Arriva Saphire and Stagecoach Gold and the Witch Way in Lancashire to name a few have been very successful in attracting modal switch from people who haven't been on a bus in a long time with modern vehicles.
Stephen15 wrote: » I wouldn't be suggesting that now myself while I like to see new buses on the road I wouldn't be suggesting leather seats etc. Generally a consistent transport network rather than a fragmented one like the UK where there are more expensive premium services. I would much rather a consistent network where all buses look the same and have the same features with the same fare.
However I would like to see these kind of buses on non PSO work I think DB need to update their Airlink service and it would be very good if they invested in some new buses with leather seats and USB ports considering it is considered a premium service despite the buses on it not being the same as DB buses.
devnull wrote: » Oh for sure, I don't think we need to go down the leather seats road either or have a two tier PSO network, my point more was that to get people out of their car you need to challenge and change perceptions and that the fact these services have been so successful is because they have been able to do that. Generally the bus spec we have in Dublin City bus (GA & DB) services is pretty high these days, most UK cities wouldn't have the same spec we have on the latest deliveries for their standard services, Wifi over there is still not a standard feature and USB sockets and on-board information is even less common on your run of the mill services.
They're free to do what they want on that - Aircoach themselves cut out a very specific market for themselves for instance when the started- a lot of their custom when they started up came from taxi users and those who use private cars and never used regular buses, that's why they built the whole brand on luxury. True that the Airlink service needs replacing though sooner or later.
Stephen15 wrote: » Agreed although London has a relatively young fleet compared to the rest of the UK although the buses don't have WiFi or USB. I not a huge fan of the SGs myself although the newer ones from 2016 onwards seem a bit nicer and less rattley than the older 2014 and 2015 ones.
Perhaps DB could be doing a bit more to compete with Aircoach and taxis on that route for journies into the city centre where DB has the advantage of the Port Tunnel. Translink recently updated their Belfast International Services and the new buses do look quite nice perhaps DB could do something similar with the Airlink.
punisher5112 wrote: » I find the wright body vehicles to be absolutely cat. They are far from comfortable and panels especially in ceiling are extremely easy to break up. I find the whole ride extremely uncomfortable and every little bump felt. Windows openings too small and I find the seats very cramped. I do get onto the off ax or even and they are more comfortable.
dashcamdanny wrote: » What people NEED to see here is a more expensive tender being given to a foreign company over an Irish one. That is a fact and stinks from hi heaven.
Cookie_Monster wrote: » Does it bother you driving a foreign built bus as well, or is that somehow different?
n!ghtmancometh wrote: » SG's are awful. Far less space for passengers as seats are smaller, and the window ledge is at an awkward position which makes it hard to lean into, and give the person sitting in the outside seat room to sit into their seat. I'd rather a comfortable journey over usb ports. Always delighted when a AV or VG turns up. Very prone to an annoying vibration rattle noise upstsirs when they are stuck in traffic, I assume it's the poorly constructed roof panels.
Stephen15 wrote: » I hear Go-Ahead will be looking for drivers again in October not sure it could be for the ex BE contract or it could be for the routes which transfer over in January.
Please note we will not be processing any applications that hold a B Licence or a Learner Permit at this present time. If you have already applied and hold a B Licence or Learner Permit we will be in contact in due course regarding your application.
devnull wrote: » I don't dispute at all that the Gemini 2 and 3 is made from more lightweight materials than the original version but I still think it has a better and more modern interior that is more likely to get people out their cars than an old style av or ax bus. The trend now is to lightweight vehicle structures and reduced fuel consumption to lower running costs. Commercial companies in the UK wouldn't be investing large sums of money in such specification if they could get the same number of passengers with a more basic spec as it would make no commercial sense. They do it as they know it encourages more customers than buying average run of the mill vehicles as they know they will see returns on investment. Enthusiasts and people who post on this forum on boards are generally not going to be people who need to be convinced to switch to the bus as they already will. Take 100 random people off the streets and ask them which they prefer. It won't be a 20 year old bus and the operators will prefer the newer bus too as it will save them hugely if fuel costs. The VG is the best frame and structure Hard wearing and best build quality bus DB have. If you can give it the interior features the SG has you have an excellent bus. The problem is that people stopped buying VGs in UK and Ireland because the build quality came with a serious weight penalty which saw them undercut by a range of lighter more cheap to run vehicles and lost a lot of customers so they had to adapt to remain relevant in the market.
dfx- wrote: » Give the 100 random people a third option of "no preference" or "no opinion", it'll be a very close call with no preference doing very well.
When you step off one of them and step onto a GT, you wonder how such a similar looking bus is so much worse. If you were to be asked how to improve a SG or GT, you could point to a VG and say "build that instead".
Yer Da sells Avon wrote: » Since they got rid of the last of the non-low-floor double deckers (the late '90s ones with the Volvo logo going across the grille), I have no preference. I hated those buses with a passion. The water leaking through the poorly-fitted rubber around the upstairs windows... the constant puddle/pool sloshing around on the floor... the resultant damp smell... that 'ping... ping... ping' alarm... the sound of the driver punching the dashboard to (only momentarily) shut the alarm up. When the original low-floor double deckers started appearing in the early 2000s, they were an improvement in every possible way.
punisher5112 wrote: » They were the best bus ever no messing. Brilliant drive and handled so well.
markpb wrote: » They were pretty miserable for the other hundred people on the bus I could be wrong but I think they were the same buses that had the lower-front saloon plunged into darkness at night because the lights would cause a reflection on the drivers windscreen.
CatInABox wrote: » I have to admit, I haven't joined this conversation about what type of buses people like or don't like, mainly because I don't care, but this just made me shiver. I HATED these buses.
dashcamdanny wrote: » What? You come out with some amount of scutter. :rolleyes: What do you think?
punisher5112 wrote: » Miss the sounds off them too.
Yer Da sells Avon wrote: » "ping...ping...ping...ping..."
