PTA / Transperth & Private Observations - 2020

[Bus Suggestions]

I'd assume the oldest may be replaced. 1851-53 haven't been seen around. 1827, I think, has been withdrawn, but 1826 and 28 are still running around. I'd say 1824 and 1825 won't be going until works are finished on Joondalup Depot to allow the 4 new electric buses to enter service for the CATs.

[Squiddy]

Any NHs from Shenton Park or Mandurah due to retire soon? I know the ex-CAT buses with the funny-looking headlights are still running around in the Deep South.

Shenton Park/Claremont have no NHs left. 1351, 1354 and 1355 are the last three in service, and they're up at Beenyup now. Mandurah still has 1210-1219 (1215-1219 are the ones you refer to).

We only have ~50 NHs left at the moment so I suppose you could say they're all due to retire relatively soon. Though going solely by age (which is *USUALLY* the metric they use to determine when buses go), Mandurah's should have a bit of time left (though not much especially for 1210 and 1211).

1827, I think, has been withdrawn, but 1826 and 28 are still running around.

Close! 1826 is gone, not 27.

[Bus Suggestions]

They'll all be due by mid-late 2020, as 1850's rego (I believe 1850 was the last diesel NH delivered) expires 31st December this year. Some, such as 1178, are due by September.

[Bus-1809]

Correct, 1850 was the last NH to be delivered. If you are observant, you may have also noticed it has an extra grill on the left hand side!

1826 and 1829 have both been withdrawn already.

It's incredible to see the "PATH Midi NH's" being withdrawn already. I remember when 1817, 1818 and 1819 were new, before they got renumbered!!

If 1824 and 1825 are due for withdrawal, they can easily pull them off the CATS and pop a couple of B7's or B8's onto the CATS.

If those 7900E's spend their life on the Joondalup CATS, then that's a total waste of buying them, IMO.

1215 to 1219 (or the "ex CATS with the funny looking headlights") are CR226L Bodies, specifically built for the CATS. They are the only 5 in existence, for those who may not be aware.

[Bus Suggestions]

Correct, 1850 was the last NH to be delivered. If you are observant, you may have also noticed it has an extra grill on the left hand side!

As a regular Marmion area traveller, I have been wondering about that grille for a while. I initially assumed they didn't have a replacement for a damaged panel. I do wonder why they put an extra grille...

It's incredible to see the "PATH Midi NH's" being withdrawn already. I remember when 1817, 1818 and 1819 were new, before they got renumbered!!

I think I'll remember them by my own nickname, the 'Marmion Midis.' Although, just the 'northwest Midis' would be more accurate. Having to ride these things nearly everyday, one thing I'll remember them by is their ability to master tight corners and roundabouts as well as their real 'zippiness,' especially considering they have the same engine and power as the full-length NHs but carry a 1-metre shorter body. I'll miss seeing them pop up randomly at Warwick. If there's one thing I dislike, it's that they're extremely inadequate for school services when they end up rostered. But boy do they go fast.

If those 7900E's spend their life on the Joondalup CATS, then that's a total waste of buying them, IMO.

I expect there'd be two in CAT livery (or prioritised for CATs) and the other two running normal Joondalup services to compare their efficiency on two very different routes - if I recall from the documents, four are being delivered.

[Merc1107]

They'll all be due by mid-late 2020, as 1850's rego (I believe 1850 was the last diesel NH delivered) expires 31st December this year. Some, such as 1178, are due by September.

I don't believe rego expiry is a significant determinant in bus withdrawals. Don't forget the WA Govt. own the assets so 'paying' on-road costs would likely be money moving to another department. Even if the operator pays, rego costs can also be refunded.

Regarding the electrics, unless they're sent to a depot that works their buses very hard, the trial won't prove anything that isn't already known about the technology, and it'll be a waste. Little loops around Joondalup are an easy life for a bus.

[Squiddy]

Correct, 1850 was the last NH to be delivered.

Uhh, what about 1215-1230, 1355 and all the other 1200, 1300 and 1500s that are in the country?

[Enviro 500]

I swear 1362 is the last-ever NH to be built.

Anyway, I believe there are about 10 such vehicles still doing their job in the Goldfields. What would replace them? B8s 2780-∞ or CR228 B7s 2300-10?

[Enviro 500]

They'll all be due by mid-late 2020, as 1850's rego (I believe 1850 was the last diesel NH delivered) expires 31st December this year. Some, such as 1178, are due by September.

I don't believe rego expiry is a significant determinant in bus withdrawals. Don't forget the WA Govt. own the assets so 'paying' on-road costs would likely be money moving to another department. Even if the operator pays, rego costs can also be refunded.

Regarding the electrics, unless they're sent to a depot that works their buses very hard, the trial won't prove anything that isn't already known about the technology, and it'll be a waste. Little loops around Joondalup are an easy life for a bus.

I'd like to see some E-buses at Freo for the Circle Route. Letting them perform the full route will be the ultimate litmus test.

[Squiddy]

I swear 1362 is the last-ever NH to be built.

Anyway, I believe there are about 10 such vehicles still doing their job in the Goldfields. What would replace them? B8s 2780-∞ or CR228 B7s 2300-10?

1590 was the last diesel NH for Perth (*at least if the Volgren body numbers are anything to go by). There's no chance they'll send brand-new B8s out into the country, so seeing as it's all under Path I'd assume they'd send 2300s. I suppose it's also possible they could simply send more Swan B7s from Perth to Bunbury/Busselton or Albany, which could in turn displace Merc OCs over to Kalgoorlie.

[Bus Suggestions]

1850 was definitely then the last CR225L midi delivered (just checked on perthbus, 1850 is VP0193, 1215 is VP0194). I'd assume it most likely that 2780+ would displace the 2300s to Kalgoorlie and other regional, same with 2800s displacing early 1400s, 1600s and 2400s regional.

[Bus Suggestions]

2022 refurbed.

[TP1462]

1439 refurbished this should complete refurbishments at Southern River just sighted on seventh road on a 245 Armadale bound


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[Off The Rails]

You already posted about it 10 days ago...

Cheers!

[pasha241]

will welshpool or redcliffe get new 278x volvo or the new one will send to malaga. Also if i not wrong in 2018 there are info that actually 2758 onward actually delivery to bayswater not malaga while the 2004-2012 OC move from Bayswater to Malaga. However, the reality is 2004-2012 still move to malaga while the 2758 onwards move to malaga.

[Bus-1809]

Sorry folks, I was rushing when I posted that.

1362 is the last NH.

1850 was last one of the 1820-1853 batch delivered.

[Enviro 500]

1850 may be the last NH midi but given its advanced age, it was still repaired and put back in service after taking a hit from 2441.

[Enviro 500]

will welshpool or redcliffe get new 278x volvo or the new one will send to malaga. Also if i not wrong in 2018 there are info that actually 2758 onward actually delivery to bayswater not malaga while the 2004-2012 OC move from Bayswater to Malaga. However, the reality is 2004-2012 still move to malaga while the 2758 onwards move to malaga.

I think 23xx CR228 Volvos may move to Goldfields when Kal NHs retire, to be supplanted by Welshpool OCs, making way for 278x B8s. Anything is possible though.

Welshpool swapped some of its OCs for B7s last year despite sending all its original B7s to Redcliffe, making me suspect it is making the transition away from CNG fleets.

If anything, I suspect Malaga, SR and Freo may be the last CNG depots in future. Claisebrook is now fully AdBlue.

[Squiddy]

Claisebrook is now fully AdBlue.

They still have 1178, so no they're not.

[pasha241]

will welshpool or redcliffe get new 278x volvo or the new one will send to malaga. Also if i not wrong in 2018 there are info that actually 2758 onward actually delivery to bayswater not malaga while the 2004-2012 OC move from Bayswater to Malaga. However, the reality is 2004-2012 still move to malaga while the 2758 onwards move to malaga.

I think 23xx CR228 Volvos may move to Goldfields when Kal NHs retire, to be supplanted by Welshpool OCs, making way for 278x B8s. Anything is possible though.

Welshpool swapped some of its OCs for B7s last year despite sending all its original B7s to Redcliffe, making me suspect it is making the transition away from CNG fleets.

If anything, I suspect Malaga, SR and Freo may be the last CNG depots in future. Claisebrook is now fully AdBlue.

correct me if i'm wrong. but the reason why welshpool swapped their oc because they need volvo bus for night shift bus (except for SR which all CNG)

i think based on my opinion the depo that likely to be scrapt for cng first is not welshpool, is Bayswater because the amount of CNG bus in there is not as much as malaga or welshpool.

also i was thinking why welshpool send ex SWAn Bus (1399-1413) to Malaga rather than The Midi at Welshpool to make the fleet more consistency, so all 13xx-14xx CNG is at Welshpool, while all midi Path at Malaga.

[Merc1107]

Welshpool swapped some of its OCs for B7s last year despite sending all its original B7s to Redcliffe, making me suspect it is making the transition away from CNG fleets.

pasha241's response is correct - the swap was made for operational reasons.

also i was thinking why welshpool send ex SWAn Bus (1399-1413) to Malaga rather than The Midi at Welshpool to make the fleet more consistency, so all 13xx-14xx CNG is at Welshpool, while all midi Path at Malaga.

With the Morley contract area being the busiest in Perth, personally I don't agree with concentrating the Midi fleet there. Inevitably, they'll end up operating along on busy routes during the peak like the 950, 960, 60, Guildford Rd. and Alexander Dr. services - not a win for the passengers, the driver that has to tell passengers to wait for the next bus or the personnel handling complaints.

The Midis certainly have their place in the fleet for specific niche tasks, but whether they make much sense beyond, I'm not sure. The new CAT buses seem to have the same seating capacity as their green and silver counterparts, not sure about standing capacity.

[Zidanehartono]

Saw 1343 at Perth Airport this afternoon.

[Enviro 500]

Saw 1343 at Perth Airport this afternoon.

Domestic or International section? I saw a NH featured on a news clip about a ChiNazi Flu outbreak on a livestock carrier this arvo.

[Enviro 500]

With the Morley contract area being the busiest in Perth, personally I don't agree with concentrating the Midi fleet there. Inevitably, they'll end up operating along on busy routes during the peak like the 950, 960, 60, Guildford Rd. and Alexander Dr. services - not a win for the passengers, the driver that has to tell passengers to wait for the next bus or the personnel handling complaints.

The Midis certainly have their place in the fleet for specific niche tasks, but whether they make much sense beyond, I'm not sure. The new CAT buses seem to have the same seating capacity as their green and silver counterparts, not sure about standing capacity.

Morley has enough Midis already. The 18xx and ex-CAT ones can handle things well.

As for the B8s, I think they are all 12m ones with B41Dw seating configuration.

[Zidanehartono]

Domestic or International section?

It was at the domestic terminal where i saw it.