On Mon, 20 Jul 2015 21:25:34 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:
of that lack of testing. I fear we will keep on reaping the
consequences for years to come - long after any warranty period has
expired.

And long after Boris's tenure as Mayor is just another footnote in political
history.

I don't see tweets and comments from people complaining about other
bus types "smelling of ****" - this seems a rather unique NB4L trait.

I wonder if there's a fault with the adblue system? I presume they use it.

One thing I do think should be answered is whether the alleged sacking
by Metroline of a bus driver who refused to drive NB4Ls on safety
grounds happened or not. I notice nothing's been said about that.
That's a pretty crucial issue given the Mayor's recent decision to
extend confidential reporting (CIRAS) to London's bus operations.

While I'm no fan of the things are can't really see how there could be an
issue so severe that it would affect safety, unless the driver was claiming
that the brakes don't work properly.

--
Spud

On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:52:48 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:
The allegations include

a) brake / handbrake problems.
b) slow acceleration meaning risk of misjudging moves into traffic.
c) the electrical system failing meaning loss of steering control -
this has happened umpteen times.

http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/londoner...-con-that-is-t
e-boris-bus/

I might be more inclined to believe what he said if he got some basic facts
right.

"The fact that they cannot operate on their electric motors because of battery
failure"

They're serial hybrids, the electric motors are the only things turning the
wheels. The diesel engine is a generator.

"Some buses disengage from gears"

What gears? Does he mean it comes out of drive mode?

“The most unreliable and poorly engineered bus that has ever been made�

Obviously this guy has a short memory. When boris buses start spontainiously
bursting into flames then perhaps he might have a point.

Who wrote this - oh Mr Wolmar, a well known source of unbiased commentary.
*cough*

--
Spud

Mr. Wolmar was recently on Venessa Feltz's phone-in programme on BBC Radio
London. He made a fool of himself and came across as a gormless bigot.

For example, on the question of Council Housing (or whatever euphemism
they're using this month) he maintained that the only reason houses were not
being built in large numbers in London was the hostility of Tory controlled local
authorities. When Venessa Feltz pointed out that local authorities not
controlled by the Tories were also not building houses he denied the
assertion. When she reminded him that many Council Leaders had told her
- and of course her "lovely listeners" - that the reason they were not building
them was the "right-to-buy" legislation, he insisted that was not true!

He was similarly bigoted on the subject of cars. Anyone who votes for such a
mindless muppet deserves all they get.

Robin9 wrote:
y;149428 Wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:52:48 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:-
The allegations include

a) brake / handbrake problems.
b) slow acceleration meaning risk of misjudging moves into traffic.
c) the electrical system failing meaning loss of steering control -
this has happened umpteen times.

http://tinyurl.com/oha9v7v
e-boris-bus/-

I might be more inclined to believe what he said if he got some basic
facts
right.

"The fact that they cannot operate on their electric motors because of
battery
failure"

They're serial hybrids, the electric motors are the only things turning
the
wheels. The diesel engine is a generator.

"Some buses disengage from gears"

What gears? Does he mean it comes out of drive mode?

“The most unreliable and poorly engineered bus that has ever been
made�

Obviously this guy has a short memory. When boris buses start
spontainiously
bursting into flames then perhaps he might have a point.

Who wrote this - oh Mr Wolmar, a well known source of unbiased
commentary.
*cough*

--
Spud

Mr. Wolmar was recently on Venessa Feltz's phone-in programme on BBC
Radio
London. He made a fool of himself and came across as a gormless bigot.

For example, on the question of Council Housing (or whatever euphemism
they're using this month) he maintained that the only reason houses were
not
being built in large numbers in London was the hostility of Tory
controlled local
authorities. When Venessa Feltz pointed ou that local authorities not
controlled by the Tories were also not building houses he denied the
assertion. When she reminded him that many Council Leaders had told her

- and of course her "lovely listeners" - that the reason they were not
building
them was the "right-to-buy" legislation, he insisted that was not true!

He was similarly bigoted on the subject of cars. Anyone who votes for
such a
mindless muppet deserves all they get.

He's certainly very anti-car, so much so that he refuses to use them in his
endless campaign to become Labour mayoral candidate. It's completely
dominated his life for the last year, and it's made him more and more left
wing as he tries to appeal to local constituency activists.

I can't imagine what he has to offer them that the other candidates, all
experienced London MPs, can't, but failing to do so probably makes him
increasingly desperate and eccentric. It also means he has little time to
keep up with his former specialist subject, transport.

And, of course, next year, when he's no longer a would-be politician, he
won't have a new railway book to promote.

On 21/07/2015 21:52, Recliner wrote:
[...]
And, of course, next year, when he's no longer a would-be politician, he
won't have a new railway book to promote.


He might have a "I ran for the Mayoral nomination" book...

Mizter T wrote:
On 21/07/2015 21:52, Recliner wrote:
[...]
And, of course, next year, when he's no longer a would-be politician, he
won't have a new railway book to promote.


He might have a "I ran for the Mayoral nomination" book...

I think that's the book he writes next year, to sell in 2017.

wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:52:48 +0100
Paul Corfield wrote:
The allegations include

a) brake / handbrake problems.
b) slow acceleration meaning risk of misjudging moves into traffic.
c) the electrical system failing meaning loss of steering control -
this has happened umpteen times.

http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/londoner...-con-that-is-t
e-boris-bus/

I might be more inclined to believe what he said if he got some basic facts
right.

"The fact that they cannot operate on their electric motors because of battery
failure"

They're serial hybrids, the electric motors are the only things turning the
wheels. The diesel engine is a generator.

"Some buses disengage from gears"

What gears? Does he mean it comes out of drive mode?

“The most unreliable and poorly engineered bus that has ever been made�

Obviously this guy has a short memory. When boris buses start spontainiously
bursting into flames then perhaps he might have a point.

Who wrote this - oh Mr Wolmar, a well known source of unbiased commentary.
*cough*

Yup, it's all part of his mayoral campaign, and that document looks like it
was put together by Unite. Wolmar is busy flying the red flag in the hope
of being backed by local lefties.

On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:32:17 +0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
Yup, it's all part of his mayoral campaign, and that document looks like it
was put together by Unite. Wolmar is busy flying the red flag in the hope
of being backed by local lefties.

Perhaps we'll see him and Comrade Corbyn doing an open top bus campaign tour
around London. Wouldn't be a Boris Bus of course even if there was a cabriolet
version.

--
Spud

wrote:
On Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:32:17 +0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
Yup, it's all part of his mayoral campaign, and that document looks like it
was put together by Unite. Wolmar is busy flying the red flag in the hope
of being backed by local lefties.

Perhaps we'll see him and Comrade Corbyn doing an open top bus campaign tour
around London. Wouldn't be a Boris Bus of course even if there was a cabriolet
version.

I think that bus has already been booked by Diane Abbott and Comrade
Corbyn. Wolmar will have to cycle behind it.

On 2015-07-21 08:52:48 +0000, Paul Corfield said:

a) brake / handbrake problems.

That is concerning. And odd, given that there's no need for the
braking systems to be other than standard Wrightbus kit. Are other
Wrightbus vehicles affected?

b) slow acceleration meaning risk of misjudging moves into traffic.

A professional driver needs to drive to the capability of their
vehicle. Perhaps reduced acceleration will stop the passengers being
thrown around by way of aggressive acceleration, often unnecessarily
so. So this, while perhaps a design flaw, is not in and of itself
dangerous. Professional drivers shouldn't "misjudge moves into
traffic" whatever they are driving. It is their professional role not
to.

c) the electrical system failing meaning loss of steering control -
this has happened umpteen times.

*Loss* of steering control, or just loss of power-assist? I didn't
think fly-by-wire steering was permissible, while it should be possible
to pull the vehicle over safely (if heavily) to the kerb and stop if
power-assist is lost.

(a) is a concern if true, (b) and (c) are just inconveniences, which
perhaps the driver is simply bored of.

Neil
--
Neil Williams
Put my first name before the @ to reply.