The dreaded FIRST BUS!

Riponian · Post by **Riponian** » Fri 01 Jul, 2011 10:12 am

Off at a tangent with the B7TL's - one of the 36XX ones has the electric fan arrangement and seems to cope better with warm weather. They manage to get out to Alwoodley through the traffic, but a couple I've been on have come to a halt near the Harrogate by-pass roundabout with the overheating bleeper on after the mad dash along the A61.I would have course preferred these to have been fitted with a Gardner 6LXC if these were still available.I'm also not sure if these have the Voith boxes rather than the ZF ones. Perhaps someone who crawls under the bonnet could inform me.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 01 Jul, 2011 8:36 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: raveydavey wrote: Another aspect of First world class annoyance is the almost deafening propensity of lots of their newer double deckers to emit explosive whistles, presumably from a compressed air reservoir, as they drive around.The things are a damn nuisance - in the city centre I've seen people nearly jump out of their skins as one of these buses "let's go" as it passes, and in the recent warm weather they've been loud enough to awaken me at night due to our window being left open.They're a noisy disgrace and I can scarcely believe that they are allowed out in traffic like this. Yes agreed with the air brake flatulence, I've heard it too, they blow at least once a minute. It's ridiculous isn't it? I've never heard any other vehicle behave in this anti social way before They do it on the move too, and not only that, but when they stand, they go into a body numbing vibration, It actually gives you a bit of a headache. They must be real inferior, cheap and nasty machines. Thanks goodness it's not just me - at least I don't have to travel on the damn things.After following that link on YouTube, it seems there are loads of them doing the same across the nation - I suppose there would be with Worst getting all their buses from the same people now.And Blakey is quite right about the constant roar of the cooling fans. I can't help but imagine these things are going to cost a fortune in maintenance over the years.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Fri 01 Jul, 2011 8:49 pm

Hi raveydavey. Your bit about Worst getting their buses "from the same people now" and the earlier mentions in the thread about the purple slug buses made me think of the old song 'The Purple People Eater'.

Crazy_Jane · Post by **Crazy_Jane** » Wed 13 Jul, 2011 6:38 pm

Do First not respond to their own complaints system anymore? Or did they ever?I put a complaint in with them in April about drivers overcharging on the 49/50 route after it happened for about the 5th time (or the 8th if you count the two other women behind me who also pointed out to the driver the fare was wrong - he wasn't having it).Got an automated acknowledgement the next day, nothing since then

patter · Post by **patter** » Wed 13 Jul, 2011 10:52 pm

they usually respond the same day to #firstbusfail on twitter

WiggyDiggy · Post by **WiggyDiggy** » Thu 14 Jul, 2011 11:26 am

Air BrakesJust something I noticed on holiday in Australia last year was several signs in residential areas warning vehicles in residential areas not to use air brakes at certain times precisely to avoid disturbing sleeping residents. Would be nice if the UK authorities felt the same way!(PS I'm guessing their vehicles had both types of brakes BTW!)

Crazy_Jane · Post by **Crazy_Jane** » Thu 14 Jul, 2011 2:35 pm

Thanks for the tip patter! I don;t usually do twitter but perhaps a bit of ritual humiliation is in order for Worst

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 26 Jul, 2011 10:34 am

One perhaps for Blakey and his contacts at Hunslet Park. There seems to be a verry strange "positioning run" by First that has recently started. At approximately 8.00am there is a "not in service" Worst bus on the A61. Nothing unusual in that you might think until I explain that the section of A61 in question is from Outwood (and presumably at least from Newton Bar) to Stourton. Is there not enough garage space at Hunslet Park and the bus is being overnighted at Arriva's Belle Isle (Wakefield) depot, have I missed a single direction service towards Wakefield being recently introduced, or is there another explanation for a Worst bus being well outside their normal territory. Noting that beyond Church Lane in Hunslet only the 200 yard stretch from Leadwell Lane (Half Way House) to Sharp Lane in Robin Hood is the only section of the A61 covered by a Worst Route

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 27 Jul, 2011 10:15 pm

Have set enquiries in motion about the A 61 sighting - I just have a vague recollection of one of my friends saying something about Hunslet (temporarily only) running some odd early morning journeys from "somewhere" to Huddersfield via a completely strange route - so it may be something to do with that.Watch this space !!I had to chuckle at your thoughts that Arriva might be offering "Bed and Breakfast" for a "First" vehicle - more chance of winning the Lottery without buying a ticket I should say !!

Post by **mhoulden** » Thu 28 Jul, 2011 12:23 am

I've noticed First staff sometimes travel on Centre Bus and vice versa when they're on the way to various bus depots and stations. With Centre Bus taking over a few of First's routes, were there any staff transfers as well?