Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Birkenhead Depot

(10/12/2016 23:45)Enviro400 Wrote:  If I were running the show at Birkenhead, I'd stick the new hybrids on the rail replacements for the first week and then on the 437/432/433 of the remainder of the contract, and put the old hybrids on the rails.

This is a massive opportunity for the buses to show literally thousands of potential passengers what their alternative offering is. Playing their cards right, Arriva could seriously benefit from this.

By doing what I suggest, you maintain a high standard of vehicle on the rails for the duration of the contract (as is stated in Merseyrail's information pamphlet) and you also provide arguably the highest possible standard of vehicle within the current Merseyside fleet on the services that you're trying to attract custom to.

Buses may take longer to get from A to B, but they have leather seating which is perceived as being cleaner and they have WiFi access. I imagine and hope that the new hybrids will also have 13A or USB sockets as well. If not, Arriva have missed a trick.

As much as I admire your thinking I don't agree with the idea. The Gemini 3s have been ordered for another depot and they are on loan to Birkenhead specifically for the rail replacement contract which as Motormayhem has said specifies high quality vehicles with WiFi and USB charging points. Apart from that the 2013 batch of hybrids have a lower capacity than the brand new Gemini 3s for Green Lane and Speke depots so using the 2013 batch on the rail replacement services would be an unnecessary decrease in capacity