LDN: E400 B9 enters service on route 85- a test case for volvos

Hello,

Tfl/London buses do not approve of the noise level produced by the volvo B7L d/ds in service [the engine fans], as noise levels exceed 77 dcbs.
Therefore, no new volvos were bought for service on TfL operated services since 2006.
a lone B9 - a prototype- with Wright body is now in AF garage, after it's initial stay at SW [and route 11], and now works on route 74.
Go Ahead, with London Buses agreement purchased 3 E400 bodied Volvo B9 d/ds for trial service; those entered service yesterday on route 85.
The class is called VE.

Here is VE1 approaching the bus stop at Putney Station.
Note the new London general logo being used for the first time.

regards

Yoram

So they finally got around to put these things on the road, but with Go-Ahead London just ordered another massive batch of Tridents/Optare, I can't help thinking this is a case of "too little too late" for Volvo. In fact, I would think that Volvo's best chance to return to London lies on their new hybrid double decker due for launch next month.

I have been told that the new hybrid would be exhibited in the bus show in Birmingham 3-6 NOv. How long would it take for it to enter service on route 23? well,the infrastructure necessary for it has not been installed yet at X garage [home of route 23!].
We also expect the first one of 5 E400 ADL trident hybrid for route 16; it has been to London and sent back for some modifications.

regards

Yoram

原帖由 yblumann 於 2008-10-14 21:42 發表
I have been told that the new hybrid would be exhibited in the bus show in Birmingham 3-6 NOv. How long would it take for it to enter service on route 23? well,the infrastructure necessary for it has  ...

I thought First are just getting the Wright Gemini integral hybrid only, and the Volvo hybrids are supposed to go to Arriva (on top of a few Gemini integral from what I remember)? I would be surprise what additional facilities are needed at Westbourne Park (i.e. X garage for those who are not familiar with London) - afterall, the hybrid only need diesel to run!

some additional facilities were necessary when the hybrid started running at Wood Green in 2006. Add to that training etc. 4 Hybrids are going to X for route 23.

with all the talk of the hybrids, we have 1 d/d on route 141 which only runs mon-fri, and not every day, and 7 single decks on route 360- never more than 4 out of the 7on the road, never on Sunday, and 4 on route 129, very often you only see 1-2 on the route, and it is not rare to see none at all.
With 43 more to come, you wonder what their service record would be!

regards

原帖由 NV58 於 2008-10-15 05:32 發表
I can't help thinking this is a case of "too little too late ...

It seems similar to when Trident was launched
and Volvo was yet to have any comparable product favour by
operators 10 years ago.

Here in London we get the impression that Volvo gave up on London. If you look at the UK market, First ordered a huge number of volvo products [single and d/ds], and Dublin Bus as well. Perhaps they are happy with that?
Perhaps they wish to re-gain entry into the London market with hybrid products..

regards

原帖由 ksmbh 於 2008-10-15 17:40 發表


It seems similar to when Trident was launched
and Volvo was yet to have any comparable product favour by
operators 10 years ago.

That was a little different though. At that point, everybody knows the B7TL was coming, and Go-Ahead London and London United actually had over 200+ on order at the time when the Trident & DB250LF were going into service. This time though, the only B9TL in London (not counting the open-tops) was the demostrator supplied in 2006, and none was ordered because of the ban imposed by TfL. This batch of 3 is serving nothing more than evaluation for Go-Ahead London, but with a large fleet of E400s already in place, and more Trident/Olympus coming, I hardly see how Volvo can pull themselves back with the B9.

As I said, if there is any hope, let's wait for their hybrid next month, then there maybe a chance Volvo can bag an order on its road to recovery in London.

It just puzzled me how can Volvo responds so slow
to what the operators want and need,
which is quite a contrast to ADL.

原帖由 ksmbh 於 2008-10-17 05:35 發表
It just puzzled me how can Volvo responds so slow
to what the operators want and need,
which is quite a contrast to ADL.

Well no, that's probably a bit unfair to Volvo. They did put out a B9TL demonstrator to London General back in 2006, which is about the same time as the first E400 (the then Stagecoach 18500) was on the road. The problem for them is by then, the radiator noise of the B7TL has become such an issue that TfL has issued a ban to all operators from buying any Volvo vehicles until the problem is resolved. So Volvo ended up spending much of the time in 2007 just to design the cooling system for the B9TL (the forst B9TL had the same cooling system as the B7TL) and, at the same time, fixing the radiator of all the B7TLs, some 1,000, just in London.

By the time TfL is satisfied enough and allowing the ban to be lifted this year, ADL and Scania have established such a strong foothold, and more importantly, taking away Volvo's traditional customers like Go-Ahead London, Arriva and First. By now it is simply very difficult for Volvo just to return to the London market, let alone getting a significant share.