General - Auckland (Part 3)

[Mercman]

Thats good news ! there are far too many of them.
Hopefully some bigger Buses will be purchased to replace the remaining older Buses.

[Cordes Express]

When passing Metalman in Takanini on the motorway yesterday, I saw a Waka Pacific Artic about to be chopped up. Sorry I couldn't see the number...

[stadt80]

Probably #2010, #2009 is parked up at Swanson Depot, should be collected soon for preservation....

[LB608]

2009 is going to Hamilton

[Mercman]

Thats good news hopefully others can be saved before the crusher gets them first.
Metalman East Tamaki has a host of collectables waiting for a saviour.
1877 2017, 2014,1727 1143 1145 etc
some of these are part of the story line to Aucklands Bus history .
Unfortunatley MOTAT is not interested in Buses anymore.
But hopefully a collection can be started.

[ka9102]

Was not 2010 supposed to go to motat?

I've also heard that 1727 has been shipped to South Island for restoration?

[Cordes Express]

Are Metalman actually selling the buses off now? Does anyone know who to contact there about them...?

[flyer682]

No, 2010 is still in running condition and apparently stored at Takanini Metalman so will be driven to MOTAT. 2020 has been used for parts and will have to be towed to Metalman from Wiri Depot.

Here's a photo of 2020 when it still worked, somewhere in Mangere 3 September 2012.

[Cordes Express]

Does anyone know who it is in Papakura, that has the two Man SG220's??? They are both parked on Hunua Road just across the road from Humes Pipes. They are No's 2016 & 2019. There is also a Tag Axle Mercedes Benz O303 Peanut Movan and occasionally a 1600 series Man SL200 Movan in the same yard.... If I get a chance, I will try to get a photo when I pass next.

[flyer682]

Be interested to see a photo of 2016 & 2019. I have fond memories of those from my days at Orewa Depot. 2016 was always a bit quicker than the others and I took a school group to the opening of the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland in her.

[stadt80]

So I'll kick off the first post for 2015 in the Auckland section! - 2014 & 2017 are still complete and parked in Metalmans East Tamaki yard.

[O305]

Photo: CARALISE TRAYES/ Fairfax NZ

1423038380455.jpg (60.46 KiB) Viewed 6380 times

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/65788218/one-dead-in-auckland-crash

The Stuff article covers several crashes, here's what it says about the bendy bus crash:

Earlier, at 4:20pm, a bendy bus crashed into a power pole in Whangaparaoa, north Auckland, blocking two lanes of traffic and causing major traffic delays.

The bus lost control while coming down a steep hill, crossed the centre line, and hit a power pole, firefighters said.

The driver of the bus had minor injuries and no-one else was on board at the time.

"Because we haven't had rain for a long time the road is very wet and slippery," Silverdale fire chief Jake Kennedy says.

Tindalls Bay resident Natalie Payne, at home at the time, heard a "screeching, massive bang."

"I went up the walkway and saw the bus cutting the top of the public walkway off so you couldn't get past unless you went under it."

[stadt80]

Howick & Eastern Scania K230 #248 - The first Bus to be painted into the new standard AT Metro livery

[burrumbus]

To our Auckland experts.When do the results of the tendering exercise in Auckland become known??.I can't find anything thus far.
Cheers.

[stadt80]

The Tender documents containing the routes and timetables for the New Southern Network has not yet been released as it needs to be signed off by the NZTA. Funding cuts to the construction of the two major interchanges ( Manukau & Otahuhu ) may well see the implementation dates pushed out further as it is critical that Otahuhu Interchange is completed for the New network to operate.

On a positive note the New Network for the Hibiscus Coast should be implemented before the end of the year as it is not Tendered but negotiated with the two incumbent operators ( Ritchies & NZBus ).

[stadt80]

Ritchies #329 - Ex Demonstrator MAN Lion City ( Gemilang ) in service on the Northern Express

[OLYMPIAN]

The new Auckland Northern Express Scania K320UD spotted at Designline factory

[aza]

Ritchies new Scania K320UD spotted after finishing the 08:16 Northern Express Service from Albany Station on the 20.07.2015

[OLYMPIAN]

I think a Scania grille is more suitable than this grille

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

The Scania K320UD is now completed with Northern Express branding. Fleet number is 489.

329 [post from stadt80 in March], which was Ex Demonstrator MAN Lion City ( Gemilang ) is now in Auckland Transport High Frequency & Northern Express livery.

681 is in Auckland Transport High Frequency & Northern Express livery awaiting branding.

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

New delivery photographs from Ritchies buses at Constellation station on the Northern busway.

New bus 316 [JAH531] seen in Ritchies livery which is a MAN 15.250, MCV Evolution, 2015 build.
It is similar to 891-900 [built 2013-2014], and has a partner, 317 [not yet seen, registration unknown].

Second hand imported MAN 14.420 bus 977 [JDK10] seen in Auckland Transport Metro livery [but with Ritchies titles, rather than Metro]. The livery is being phased in as the Auckland Transport network revamp commences with the Hibiscus Coast [10-15km north of Constellation Station and Albany].

Also at Albany depot is 975 [JDK9] with not yet sighted 076 and 976 underway at Swanson depot.

Interestingly, the 2015 build is in Ritchies livery and the older, imported 2011 build, is in the Metro livery.

Ritchies have at least 7 x 2008 Optare Versa imports - 5 at Albany and 2 at Swanson.

At Albany are:
O19 - JDT633
O34 - JBJ296
O54 - JBW459
O79 - JBJ298
163 - JBJ297

At Swanson are:
O15 - not yet seen
154 - JBW458

[stadt80]

New for Birkenhead Transport is #76 Gemilang bodied MAN 18.250

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

Further Ritchies updates at Albany depot:

317 registered JAY175.
015 [Optare Versa] is registered JFP504.
A 3rd MAN 14.240 seen [in basic blue pre Auckland Metro] and is registered JFP505 [fleet number 978].

I saw a MAN 14.240 pre-refurbishment at Swanson depot in April in blue with fleet number 976 - not yet seen in operation.

[BusPlaneTrainTram]

More Double Decker buses for Auckland

Auckland's public transport system is set to be increased by a fleet of 54 new double-decker buses.

Ritchies currently operate 2 double deckers, with another imminent Designline delivery and 15 more BCIs coming from China to operate on the Northern Express which will extend to Silverdale on 18th October.

Howick & Eastern have 15 buses on order, with two prototypes being assembled in England and shipped to Auckland [for October implementation], followed by 13 in production in Tauranga from January, 2016. Buses are expected to be operated on routes 500/501/550/551 [and expresses] from Britomart to Botany and Howick.

NZ Bus has bought 23 of the new buses to be built in Tauranga and delivered between April and July 2016.
Fifteen are planned for use on Mt Eden Road [routes 274/277 to Three Kings and Waikowkai] and eight on the Northern Busway service 881 from Torbay-Albany-City-University-Newmarket.

Link to bus building in Tauranga:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty ... d=11507151

[OLYMPIAN]

More Double Decker buses for Auckland

Auckland's public transport system is set to be increased by a fleet of 54 new double-decker buses.

Ritchies currently operate 2 double deckers, with another imminent Designline delivery and 15 more BCIs coming from China to operate on the Northern Express which will extend to Silverdale on 18th October.

Howick & Eastern have 15 buses on order, with two prototypes being assembled in England and shipped to Auckland [for October implementation], followed by 13 in production in Tauranga from January, 2016. Buses are expected to be operated on routes 500/501/550/551 [and expresses] from Britomart to Botany and Howick.

NZ Bus has bought 23 of the new buses to be built in Tauranga and delivered between April and July 2016.
Fifteen are planned for use on Mt Eden Road [routes 274/277 to Three Kings and Waikowkai] and eight on the Northern Busway service 881 from Torbay-Albany-City-University-Newmarket.

Link to bus building in Tauranga:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty ... d=11507151

One interesting point is they have raise the GVW with extra 1.5t, so the double decker can carry more

There is a possiblities of giving more limit to the GVW, higher than 24t, the world standard