The fixed rosters are a good way to build that relationship and, in doing so, some drivers develop empathy for passengers and vice versa. I would expect it also may have benefits for developing intelligence around problem areas and individual services which might need more attention from AOs. All o...

krustyklo wrote:

bought new trams

I thought the E Class were ordered by the Brumby Government. IIRC, ordered September 2010.

Deliveries to date have been occurred under the Napthine Government, which could be spun in some creative way.

Agreed totally Leyland B21 and Krustyklo.The strong visual and anecdotal evidence does suggest Transdev Melbourne underbid quite seriously to obtain the contract.Will be very interesting indeed to see how they manage ,or otherwise, the remaining years of the contract. Whoever wins the following con...

No surprises. The Government will happily sign a contract for East West Link despite very public protests and court cases against it. Yet, when it comes to doing something good for a tram system that is experiencing record patronage but increasingly slower journey times, it is "put on hold" until fu...

Is the plan for East Preston to only run the 86 and the new Preston Depot to only run the 11? If this is so would there be issues with driver fatigue running up and down the same track all day similar to the reason why Metro drivers can only do one return trip on each line in a day. I believe the p...

I think the changes are good and over one month on, appear to be working as intended. I did notice on the weekend at the Victoria Gardens tram stop someone has written on the platform in chalk that Napthine has let people down regarding the abolition of route 24 and that it was unfair for Ikea to ge...

Why are they splitting? One of the reasons is probably the differences in patronage on the two halves, with the north half being much busier, and during certain times of day experiences overcrowding, despite being 3-4 minutes in peak. Splitting it means can use the B class trams just on route 11. W...

Great photos as always Craig.

I saw one of those ex National Mercs out and about back in March when there was an issue on the Glen Waverley line. I am surprised they still carry National Bus signage, but then do Ventura still 'own' the brand?

mattylovesB1.2001 wrote:Some very unusual things happened today:
- B2.2004 and B2.2041 were both sighted on route 48a services
- route 70a was operated by Ws this morning

This may have been due to the ANZAC Day parade which saw numerous service changes in place from 7:00am to 1:00pm on 25/4.

The above clip is of a Comeng fitted with chopper control.

I would not expect much to change until the next roster change which is scheduled for the middle of the year. It is then that trams are likely to move around in line to meet the operational requirements of the new roster. One of the key changes I have seen discussed in other circles is the return of...

Maybe MAN engines generate more heat than others and the engine bays are too small and are badly ventilated, or the radiators may be too small. I have been told in the past that the CB30 MANs, namely the earlier yellow ones delivered under National Express, have small radiators which tends to cause...

I also spotted both 6001 and 6002 in Flinders Street yesterday. They soon disappeared off in to the distance, but I did read a sighting on another site putting them at Vermont South sometime in the afternoon.

I was following a Scania tonight, the number escaped me, but it was showing "279 Centro Box Hill" complete with a Centro logo. Is this a Transdev thing? Not sure whether it is a Transdev thing, but doesn't seem terribly appropriate to me. I suspect I was following the same bus last week down in Por...

I was following a Scania tonight, the number escaped me, but it was showing "279 Centro Box Hill" complete with a Centro logo.

Is this a Transdev thing?

Unknown Designline "bubble" seen on route 280 (Manningham Mover) this afternoon turning out of Daly Street on to Wetherby Road in Doncaster.

I cannot recall seeing a maxi bus on the Manningham Mover before.

Noticed today that High floor Scanias are still doing some 270/271 trips (339,340) do these buses now belong to Transdev or are they just there temporarily in the change over period? , the reason I ask as they were not part of the fleet in the tender documents. One of them is still on the 271. Just...

I am really surprised that a process has not been set up to promptly remove Ventura logos at a minimum and fit Transdev decals. For those who can remember back to April 2004, Yarra Trams (then a partnership between Transdev and Transfield) organised for all M>Tram and Met Tram logos to at least be c...

Opel are pulling out of Australia after less than a year. http://www.news.com.au/business/companies/opel-abandons-australian-arm-after-less-than-a-year-after-poor-sales/story-fnda1bsz-1226690333291 The Opel dealer in Nunawading (Eastside Opel) has just recently completed building it's showroom!!!! ...

Saw a convoy of Smart Buses on the Eastern Freeway this morning around 11:00am lead by the Designline Scania based at Lilydale. I assume the Scania was the transport back to wherever the buses originated from. All of the Smart Buses buses had their Ventura logos removed and the destinations were sho...

I am pleased that the project plans to address the issues with the current terminii at both ends of the line as well as the hold up of passenger services caused by the loading and unloading of Restaurant trams. I have seen this take up to 10 minutes when all three trams are running and you have patr...

I've heard that Ford may apply the Falcon name to the Taurus. I hope they do this-it will never sell, people will see through the ruse and they'll be worse off than if they kept the plant open. Likewise I hope they try and redefine themselves as a seller of "premium" Eurotrash-People who want that ...

The writing has been on the wall for sometime and today's announcement was inevitable in my opinion. I am surprised they made an announcement so early as Mitsubishi announced their closure about two months out from the actual closure date. What will be interesting now is to see whether they last unt...

Wonder if we will see the 'backlog of takeovers' now be cleared. How many more smaller operators are going to be purchased by the big boys in the weeks or month ahead. So, I know Drivers where against the 'standard PTV livery (Years ago when it was whatever else)' on their buses. Wonder if that did...