What PT did you get today? (2019-)

[triumph]

Yesterday
545 (R3)
563 (57)
499 (57)
437 (R4)
810 (51)
811 (31)
931 (47) Outbound paused at stop beyond Lachlan St in Coulter Dr while driver listened to operations notifying of traffic accident and diversions to routes 32 and 45. Route 47 was not mentioned so, with some doubt I think, carried on. Sure enough, an accident site at junction of Coulter Dr and Shumack St came into view with traffic 'U' turning. Picked up passengers waiting at a stop and then did a multi-point turn and returned back to Lachlan St.. Continued via Lachlan and Redfern Sts to rejoin route. Then, a bit late, operations remembered route 47. Driver remarked to me he was grateful was not assigned a 'bendy'.
452 (47) Diversion still in place inbound.
665 (R3)

[Barry Drive]

931 (47) Outbound paused at stop beyond Lachlan St in Coulter Dr while driver listened to operations notifying of traffic accident and diversions to routes 32 and 45. Route 47 was not mentioned so, with some doubt I think, carried on. Sure enough, an accident site at junction of Coulter Dr and Shumack St came into view with traffic 'U' turning. Picked up passengers waiting at a stop and then did a multi-point turn and returned back to Lachlan St.. Continued via Lachlan and Redfern Sts to rejoin route. Then, a bit late, operations remembered route 47. Driver remarked to me he was grateful was not assigned a 'bendy'.

If the bus was beyond Lachlan St at the time, it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. No point of escape until the accident site.

[triumph]

True. Possibly why the driver elected to continue on and have a look, but the lack of advice re route 47 from operations was more likely foremost in the driver's mind. Police later reported multiple vehicles involved in the accident with no injuries. When a diversion due to a crash happens, it is always concerning as to the seriousness for those involved in the crash.   

[Snorzac]

Sometimes you do get stuck in awkward spots with accidents, I was once running empty back to belconnen from Kippax late at night and the police closed Southern Cross/Coulter Dr after I had gone past the last availiable exit, the best thing to do is exactly what your driver did and just exercise a bit of patience, eventually the police guided me through the accident scene without interfering with any of the evidence that needed to be collected 

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

980 (72S)
301 (71N)

The weirdest thing happening this morning with 980, don't know if I should speak about it here or not because it's so out there that it may be really inappropriate. It was so weird that I'm tempted to see if the driver has 980 tomorrow and ride it to see if it happens again. I've never experienced anything like this on a Renault before, and I've seen/heard a lot of things over the last 27 years.
Also wow 301 still has all the old seating fabric, such a sight for sore eyes.

[L94UBbusfan]

I do rather like that 301 still has the old seat covers. Correct me if I am wrong on this, but I believe 301 is the only bus in the fleet without the rainbow or blue seat covers?

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

The bus drivers on here would know better than me.

So far today:
980 (72S) - he's had this every day this week lol. I thought shift buses were a thing of the past.
308 (71N)

[triumph]

405 (R3)
551 (54)
522 (54)
439 (R3)

[triumph]

705 (R3)
706 (R4) Consecutive fleet numbers is quite rare for me.
633 (57)
382 (57) Very unusual, just after mid-day, a full load boarded at Federation Mall stop. Had MyWays too.
399 (R3)

[triumph]

933 (47) 2nd oldest bus in service use.
544 (47)

[L94UBbusfan]

714 (R2)
336 (58)
383 (58)
348 (R2)

[triumph]

Yesterday
393 (R3)
420 (32)
459 (32)
453 (R3)

Today
428 (R3)
497 (R3)

[triumph]

552 (R3)
491 (R5)
343 (65)
445 (R7)
001 (R1)
507 (R8)
509 (R3)

[triumph]

Should have mentioned in previous post - R7 diverted (as did all other N bound traffic) into State Circle (clockwise) thence via Flynn and Coronation Drives back to Commonwealth Ave. This was due to a serious crash (reported on in the media) some 12 hours! earlier. Even so there were glimpses of a car just being loaded on to a tow truck.

[L94UBbusfan]

452 (24)
530 (R2) - sounded awful
674 (R4) - new AOA, looks ok, however I didn't get any photos
367 (71)
482 (R4)
601 (R3)
627 (24)

Saw 473 broken down on Barry Drive around 5pm, didn't look too serious, tow truck was there

[triumph]

Yesterday
577 (R3)
688 (R5)
720 (R4)
722 (R3)

[triumph]

Yesterday
309 (R3)
511 (R4) Next R4, timetabled 6 min later from Cohen St, overtook us at ANU stop opposite Clunies Ross St. - consequence of bus I was on commencing 2min late and loading passengers who should have been on the following service, leading to compounding further delay. Traffic was very light. By Woden 7min late. 2nd following R4 had almost caught up too.
371 (57)
658 (57)
001 (R1)
542 (R9)
329 (R3)

[L94UBbusfan]

No L94's today 
811 (26) - saw 976 on training duties 
655 (R8)
465 (R8)
001 (R1)
439 (31)
805 (51)
014 (R1)
410 (25)

[triumph]

637 (R3)
593 (R3)

[triumph]

Sat 26/4/24
730 (R2)
808 (R9) Due to big sports event, (Watson bound) diverted to avoid Battye St by continuing in Thynne St from Watkins St, thence via Paget St to Braybrooke St and towards Belconnen until doubling back onto the normal route at the Jnc of Braybrooke St with Braybrooke St (!) roundabout. This, in both directions, is a regular diversion for R9 during big game periods.
014 (R1)

[triumph]

Sat 26/4/24
....
014 (R1)

And 006 (R1)

[L94UBbusfan]

623 (23)
957 (25)

My second Renault ride of the year, but it was an awesome trip even with all the school kids on board.

[triumph]

933 (47) 2nd oldest bus in service use.
544 (47)

re 933. Having not ridden this bus for some years, I was keen to chase it down but when seen I was never in a position to travel. Worried it might retire soon, I intensified the search. Discovered it on the Friday before the school holidays doing a route 47 later in the afternoon. So drove to Whitlam and boarded it for the return to Belconnen, alighting at Westfield. Good thing I did. Driver said he had completed his shift. So it turns out, with it now retired, this was its very last run in service and I fluked being on it - should have stayed on to Belconnen. Interchange.

[L94UBbusfan]

Yesterday (3/5/24)

334 (26)

[triumph]

1/5/24
552 (R3)
499 (57)
704 (57)
641 (54)
553 (54)
544 (R3)

Today
703 (R3)
720 (R5)
333 (57)
560 (57)
804 (R5)
002 (R1)
539 (R8)
731 (R2)
951 (44)
417 (R3)

[L94UBbusfan]

581 (23)
343 (26)

343 had a new Next Stop light, it flashes Next and then Stop in yellow. I've never seen something like it before, but I like it!

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

It's always had that. 343 is the only one of those buses that has a longer sound + a 3-tone on the wheelchair button. If you pay very close attention to the flashing display, each cycle there's very quiet high-pitched beep too.

[L94UBbusfan]

Now I think about it, I don't remember having ever ridden on 343 before (or if I have it was over 5 years ago) which I why I didn't know about this. I didn't hear the pitch as the bus was full of school kids talking. I wonder why 343 has a different Stop light to every other L94? Are there any other buses with this light?

Edit: Answering my own question, no, 343 is the only bus with this next stop light

[triumph]

Now I think about it, I don't remember having ever ridden on 343 before (or if I have it was over 5 years ago) which I why I didn't know about this. I didn't hear the pitch as the bus was full of school kids talking. I wonder why 343 has a different Stop light to every other L94? Are there any other buses with this light?

Edit: Answering my own question, no, 343 is the only bus with this next stop light

There are number of buses with 'next stop' lights that flash. Not clear in the preceding discussion, is that regarding 343 the flashing alternates up/down between different lines/levels in the display. Presumably it was installed (and provided by the marketing body?) as a trial, which subsequently wasn't adopted for other buses. Actually, I rather like it.

[triumph]

722 (R3)
368 (R4)
638 (57) (from City)
803 (57)
535 (R4)
654 (R4)
726 (R4)
713 (R3)

[Snorzac]

To keep this on topic yesterday I rode on numerous transport in Sydney including trains, buses and ferries, the highlights a ride on "Freshwater" to Manly and also a brief ride on Transdev John Holland's CD Element I 3129ST

Now the whole reason for this post is to explain 343; 343 was a trial of sorts with the bus featuring a "Thoreb" drivers screen and associated controls which im honestly not sure ever functioned, it was also the first Hanover LED desto for trial purposes (citation possibly needed) and the stop light was also in there from new

[L94UBbusfan]

343 was a trial of sorts with the bus featuring a "Thoreb" drivers screen and associated controls which im honestly not sure ever functioned, it was also the first Hanover LED desto for trial purposes (citation possibly needed) and the stop light was also in there from new

I knew it was a trial bus for the Hanover LED desto, but I didn't know about the stop light, which is why I presumed it was new. Thanks for explaining it all.

[Barry Drive]

There are number of buses with 'next stop' lights that flash.

The flashing LED Next Stop light in 343 was only in 343, although it's fairly common in Adelaide CB60s built at the same time. Some do have the red "STOP" that flash, rather than being constant.

And yes, 343 was the first Hanover LED. If you look closely the front display is mounted at an angle, whereas in all other buses it's straight.

[triumph]

707 (R3)
665 (R2)
725 (54)
959 (54)
004 (R1)
003 (R1)
958 (30)
653 (R3)

[triumph]

630 (R3)
561 (R4)
340 (57)
982 (64)
810 (65)
456 (R4)
960 (53)
334 (53)
597 (R3)

[triumph]

982 (64)
980 (65)

[L94UBbusfan]

Wednesday (22/5/24)
599 (23)
339 (26)

Yesterday (23/5/24)
664 (30)

Today
957 (25)

[triumph]

550 (R3)
402 (57)
573 (57)
542 (R4)
445 (R6)
009 (R1)
647 (R9)
631 (R3)

[triumph]

950 (47) Oldest (by month, and 951 in service same month, but 950 earlier fleet number) in service.
583 (47)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Thursday:
328 (71S)
980 (77S) - first bus hop of the year. Thought I may as well get it considering it was there when I arrived at the Interchange and was kinda on the 70's way anyway - and it's over a month since my last Renault trip
599 (70N)
360 (71N)
522 (R5N)
638 (R5S)
523 (R5S)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Yes I see, it's still going
979 (72S)
317 (71N)
576 (R4N)
643 (57N)
449 (58S)
513 (R5S)

[triumph]

624 (R3)
701 (R4)
At Civic noted 976 parked in Alinga St with a trainee group nearby.
370 (57)
571 (57)
515 (R4)
801 (71)
537 (R7)
398 (R2)
624 (R3)
Arriving platform 2 Westfield for R3, the real time' display said i minute, then 2 min (so the bus was operating backwards was it???), and then alternated between 1 and 2 minutes for over 10 minutes.  For 1 or 2min to be true the bus would have had to have been at the preceding stop, Belconnen Interchange. In reality, when I first observed the 1min, the bus was still in Haydon Dr..

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Hmm, can't really decide which topic to put this in cuz it's a mix of a bit a everything we're talking about atm, but I'll include the travels from the relevant days to stay somewhat on topic.

Think I found out what happened with 931, they swapped out the strange engine put it in renumbered 931... 391. Lol probably not, but with 931 on the mind I saw it in Tuggeranong Depot when I was there on Sunday so I thought I'd go around the back to get probably one last photo of it. While I was there I spotted 812 and although I didn't notice it at first, there was a sus bus sitting next to it. On my way back past the workshop is when I noticed a not-so-happy looking 697. So I kinda knew the likelihood of riding 693 again any time soon would be doubtful, but damn another one. I won't show pics just in case, but let's just say a bus' front windscreen + a molotov cocktail is not a good mix.
The painting of why the Renault's are taking so long to die is getting clearer with each day that passes. CNG tanks way past their expiry dates stacked up against the rear fence and new buses that keep getting f**ked up, yeh I get it now. Guess this is the only highlight of the last two weeks.

751/748 (i think) & 931/976

Tuesday 4th
599 (R4N)
950 (32W)
676 (31W)
625 (R9W)

Sunday 9th
806 (71S)
806 (81S)
550 (71N)

[L94UBbusfan]

Good photos of the training buses. Did you get any images of the CNG tanks along the fence? Cause that would be an interesting picture. Keeping this on topic...

462 (23)
408 (23)

As noted in the Element 2 topic, I also saw 750 today, which was pretty cool.

[triumph]

Should have been here, not under Renaults ...

979 (65)
504 (71)

[L94UBbusfan]

Last minute trip


963 (25)
555 (26)

I haven't ridden 963 in a number of years, so when I saw it on the 25 route which I sometimes get, I couldn't say no to riding it. It was in such good condition, and it was much quieter than 555 which I rode afterwards. It was such an awesome ride, and if it's my last Renault ride, I won't even mind.

[triumph]

721 (R3)
633 (R4)
367 (57)
359 (57)
446 (51)
437 (51)
012 (R1)
434 (R8)
732 (R3)

(Noted 749 doing a route 42, and 815 doing a route 23. Also 321 was in use today.)

[743]

589 (R10)
959 (31)
963 (31)
410 (R10)

[triumph]

628 (R3)
517 (R4)
516 (R4)
692 (57)
749 R5
003 (R1)
464 (R8)
573 (R3)

Noted 813 doing a route 30. Checked Any Bus which showed 'Scheduled' not fleet number.

[L94UBbusfan]

353 (26)
353 (R8)
398 (R2)
101 (903)
584 (R2)
421 (R8)
And I am currently on 429 (26)

I've been meaning to ride on a Poncho since they first entered service, today was finally the day. They are good little buses. I saw 750 and 814 today too, I was going to ride 750 but it was terminating  .