Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Vehicle and Fleet discussions for First Midland Red Buses Limited or its predecessor, Midland Red West Limited.
Post Reply
MetroCammell
Posts: 4
Joined: 15:13 Friday 22nd July 2016

Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by MetroCammell » 14:13 Tuesday 3rd January 2017

32055 (W215 XBD) has moved to Cornwall and was seen at Camborne a short time ago.

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by AdamH » 19:24 Tuesday 3rd January 2017

These are not DDA compliant, hence 32057 being sent to Worcester to be butchered for parts. Has 32055 been converted?

I know 32056 is still in service at Stoke... Have they been granted an extension, or has it been overlooked?

DD12
Posts: 1650
Joined: 19:49 Monday 4th July 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by DD12 » 23:18 Tuesday 3rd January 2017

AdamH wrote:
19:24 Tuesday 3rd January 2017
These are not DDA compliant, hence 32057 being sent to Worcester to be butchered for parts. Has 32055 been converted?

I know 32056 is still in service at Stoke... Have they been granted an extension, or has it been overlooked?
.... and is 32056 perhaps now only used on school-only, services/ contracts ?

( I assume that this would still be legal) (?)

MetroCammell
Posts: 4
Joined: 15:13 Friday 22nd July 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by MetroCammell » 08:01 Friday 6th January 2017

It has been reported elsewhere that it,and one other have been stored in Cornwall for a while.32055 is to donate spares to another vehicle.

Mechwr26
Posts: 114
Joined: 22:30 Sunday 7th August 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by Mechwr26 » 22:08 Sunday 8th January 2017

Before I pulled the engine from 32057 I had a good look around it and it's a nice bus. The interior is lovely and mechanically looked spot on. I don't enjoy killing vehicles for parts but apparently it's the age of the vehicle that decides when it's finished with and not the condition

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by AdamH » 09:25 Monday 9th January 2017

It was built before the DDA laws came in so can not be used for service work from 1st Jan 2017. I would imagine many perfectly good buses are being scrapped for the same reason.

DD12
Posts: 1650
Joined: 19:49 Monday 4th July 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by DD12 » 19:09 Tuesday 10th January 2017

Thanks again Mechwr26, for your interesting posts.
Mechwr26 wrote:
22:08 Sunday 8th January 2017
Before I pulled the engine from 32057 I had a good look around it and it's a nice bus. The interior is lovely and mechanically looked spot on. I don't enjoy killing vehicles for parts but apparently it's the age of the vehicle that decides when it's finished with and not the condition
I think this is one of many examples of where a "family firm" could get better results than First -
- getting rid of unreliable "rogue buses" (like 32067, 32852,54, 33042, 44511, and some of the old Olympians) as soon as possible (including trading them in for new ones), and choosing to upgrade good ones like 32057.

I dread to think of how many fare-paying passengers have been lost due to breakdowns of buses in service, or due out into service.

User avatar
AdamH
Posts: 2044
Joined: 12:17 Sunday 3rd July 2016
Location: Worcester
Contact:

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by AdamH » 21:05 Tuesday 10th January 2017

With a big firm like First, the people deciding the future of these vehicles may never have even seen them. It will just be a line on a spreadsheet with a book value to them. They certainly wont have any emotional attachment (good or bad) to them like we do as drivers, mechanics or enthusiasts.

On another note, I understand some parts from 32057 will be used to fix 33405 after that vehicle was involved in a collision last week. I do like those Tridents so it's good news that it isn't going to be written off.

Mechwr26
Posts: 114
Joined: 22:30 Sunday 7th August 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by Mechwr26 » 23:40 Sunday 15th January 2017

It certainly looks like it wouldn't take much work to make these older deckers DDA compliant. They have wheelchair ramps, interlocks and suspension kneeling already fitted.

MetroCammell
Posts: 4
Joined: 15:13 Friday 22nd July 2016

Re: Volvo B7TL transfer to Kernow.

Post by MetroCammell » 16:54 Wednesday 2nd August 2017

32053 is now at Camborne depot. I don't know how long it has been down here but it appears to be complete although has not been seen in service.

32055 & 32056 previously here, are reported as disposed of.

Post Reply

Return to “Fleet Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests