You beat me to it! I sighted it today operating a valley heights school service.Centralian wrote:The newest addition is 7384 MO, a Volvo B7R Euro 5. Snapped images of it today at Leura and Katoomba and operating the Katoomba - Springwood service, which does imply a Valley Heights based bus. Will post in my next BM postcard.
Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
I noticed the a/c unit at the front appears different to that on the other SB50's with BMHS, which made me realise it was the new vehicle. Also double checked the Volvo B6 and yes it does look deregistered. Unusual in that they had repainted it into the new stripes colours which implied it still had some life with BMHS.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Yeah I also noticed that.Centralian wrote:I noticed the a/c unit at the front appears different to that on the other SB50's with BMHS, which made me realise it was the new vehicle. Also double checked the Volvo B6 and yes it does look deregistered. Unusual in that they had repainted it into the new stripes colours which implied it still had some life with BMHS.
The Volvo B6 I have been told by one of the drivers that it has been Decommissioned, so your observations are correct.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Spotted 3712 MO the 'brown bus' at Valley Heights now sporting signage on the side. Just caught my eye in the depot as I was driving west and I thought it said 'Retro Tours' but I'll confirm in the next few days and get a snap - unless someone gets in earlier.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
- Fleet Lists
- Administrator
- Posts: 23803
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:49 pm
- Location: The Shire
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Retro Tours is confirmed in http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewt ... 42&t=77019
Living in the Shire.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Some changes sighted recently:
- 3764 MO is now at Valley Heights depot
- 3740MO is now based at Katoomba Depot
-3746MO Is now at Valley heights depot again.
- 3764 MO is now at Valley Heights depot
- 3740MO is now based at Katoomba Depot
-3746MO Is now at Valley heights depot again.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
3722 MO- now based at Valley heights depot
One of the Howard porter trolley buses, is at valley heights, will try and confirm rego.
One of the Howard porter trolley buses, is at valley heights, will try and confirm rego.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
The other one remains at Katoomba but appears to be unregistered.taptap23 wrote:3722 MO- now based at Valley heights depot
One of the Howard porter trolley buses, is at valley heights, will try and confirm rego.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
The Katoomba fleet appeared from Monday with 'Opal Bus' stickers on most of the vehicles, assume same at Valley Heights and Emu Plains.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
3757MO appears to be doing charters from valley heights depot again. Not sure what the jenolan caves run is now.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
3761MO is de-reg
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Sighted 1811 MO which has been repainted out of the trolley Livery and into the TfNSW Livery yesterday, and this bus is now at the Valley Heights depot.
Seems like they are using 5956 MO on the trolley shuttle at the moment.
Seems like they are using 5956 MO on the trolley shuttle at the moment.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Thanks for the observations taptap23. I might have the terminolgy wrong, but apparently because the bus comes under their region contract funding they're been told not allowed to have it in Trolley Tours livery. I believe another vehicle will also be coming off the Trolley Tours livery. Opal Card also appears to have brought the 'hail and ride' type service they offered along their routes to an end. Pick ups and drop offs have to be at an Opal Card identified bus stop. Seniors might still get away with it until they too get their own Opal Cards, but will then have to hike to their nearest stop along the route.
Noticed based at Katoomba depot while the Leura Gardens Festival is on and providing shuttle services have been Retro Tours 3712 MO and TV 2094 mini Trolley.
Noticed based at Katoomba depot while the Leura Gardens Festival is on and providing shuttle services have been Retro Tours 3712 MO and TV 2094 mini Trolley.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
I've heard that they will be putting new bus stops in certain areas around the mountains where they do Hail and ride currently.Centralian wrote:. Opal Card also appears to have brought the 'hail and ride' type service they offered along their routes to an end. Pick ups and drop offs have to be at an Opal Card identified bus stop. Seniors might still get away with it until they too get their own Opal Cards, but will then have to hike to their nearest stop along the route.
Interesting! I might go to Leura Gardens just to go for a ride on themCentralian wrote:Noticed based at Katoomba depot while the Leura Gardens Festival is on and providing shuttle services have been Retro Tours 3712 MO and TV 2094 mini Trolley.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Spotted today 1811 MO Volvo doing the run from Katoomba to Echo Point with Trolley Tours card on front windscreen/dash, but now in TNSW colours. So appears now back at Katoomba depot - photo soon. Also Retro Tours Volvo has now returned to Valley Heights depot after a stint at Katoomba for Leura Gardens Festival shuttles.
Still no obvious signs of ownership change.
Still no obvious signs of ownership change.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Apparently a few more are to go into TfNSW Livery over the next month or so.Centralian wrote:Spotted today 1811 MO Volvo doing the run from Katoomba to Echo Point with Trolley Tours card on front windscreen/dash, but now in TNSW colours. So appears now back at Katoomba depot - photo soon. Also Retro Tours Volvo has now returned to Valley Heights depot after a stint at Katoomba for Leura Gardens Festival shuttles.
Still no obvious signs of ownership change.
I also noticed new desto files are being put in to buses at Emu Plains and Valley Heights depots, this now allows the bus to display "Opal Bus" and the Route number is on the right hand side. Katoomba appears to not have been updated as of yet.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Sighted what looked to be 3703 MO being worked on at katoomba depot, looks like it might be getting registered again.
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
November 24 and still no obvious signs of new owners.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Yep taking a while,Centralian wrote:November 24 and still no obvious signs of new owners.
There is a list of demands apparently- e.g new destos at Emu and Valley Heights (none at Katoomba yet), which had to be done before takeover. Although i had noticed that CDC had traffic info for the mtns on their website.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
New ownership occured on December 1, 2014
- Centralian
- Posts: 2432
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:03 pm
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Some observations over the last week or so at Katoomba depot:
3739 MO Volvo QCC Majestic appears to be based at Katoomba depot now, overnighting all this week and sighted out on the road in Katoomba.
7773 MO the re-registered Volvo B6 is also Katoomba based and doing school runs this week.
The two mini trolleys appear to have been put into hibernation in the corner of the Katoomba shed.
There appears to be fewer of the large Trolley's based at Katoomba only sighting one in the shed overnight, but I need to study that some more.
Route buses appear to be doing more of the shuttles to Echo Point and Scenic World.
Also full side and/or rear advertising is much more prevalent across the fleet at Valley Heights and Katoomba, probably Emu as well.
No yellow buses sighted to date at Katoomba.
3739 MO Volvo QCC Majestic appears to be based at Katoomba depot now, overnighting all this week and sighted out on the road in Katoomba.
7773 MO the re-registered Volvo B6 is also Katoomba based and doing school runs this week.
The two mini trolleys appear to have been put into hibernation in the corner of the Katoomba shed.
There appears to be fewer of the large Trolley's based at Katoomba only sighting one in the shed overnight, but I need to study that some more.
Route buses appear to be doing more of the shuttles to Echo Point and Scenic World.
Also full side and/or rear advertising is much more prevalent across the fleet at Valley Heights and Katoomba, probably Emu as well.
No yellow buses sighted to date at Katoomba.
Think for yourself, while it's still legal !
- crazyturbo76
- Posts: 1135
- Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 3:02 pm
- Favourite Vehicle: MB OC500LE/Custom 'CB80'
- Location: Usually in Region 1 territory
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
Might take a while for CDC to move buses to BMT, as that is what happened when they took over Qcity...
- Fleet Lists
- Administrator
- Posts: 23803
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:49 pm
- Location: The Shire
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
That still does not appear to have been confirmed.R-C wrote:New ownership occured on December 1, 2014
Living in the Shire.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
-3757 MO is now running out of Valley Heights depot again.
-3772 MO appears to no longer be running out of Katoomba depot, hasnt been sighted for some time.
-I suspect 3760 MO and 3762 MO may now be running out of Emu Plains as i havent sighted either of them at Katoomba or Valley heights depot doing runs or at the depot for ages.
-3772 MO appears to no longer be running out of Katoomba depot, hasnt been sighted for some time.
-I suspect 3760 MO and 3762 MO may now be running out of Emu Plains as i havent sighted either of them at Katoomba or Valley heights depot doing runs or at the depot for ages.
Re: Blue mountains bus co fleet changes
With BMBC now takenover, there seems to be a lot less buses at Katoomba from what I've seen, the trolley tour now seems to be running with the ex BCC buses.
- 1810 MO,7010 MO,7773MO and 3724 MO no longer seem to be running out of Katoomba
- 3739 MO and 3772 MO are at Emu Plains
- 3740 MO is at Katoomba
- 1810 MO,7010 MO,7773MO and 3724 MO no longer seem to be running out of Katoomba
- 3739 MO and 3772 MO are at Emu Plains
- 3740 MO is at Katoomba