Four CD Element 2s (748-751)

Started by Barry Drive, June 16, 2023, 10:03:14 AM

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Cutepattern1098

Will TC order any additional Elements? If not I don't quite understand the logic of this order at all.

L94UBbusfan

I finally rode on an Element today (748), here are my thoughts:

- The interior is quite nice and feels modern, despite the bus being pretty full it felt really open and spacious with the windows. Definitely the nicest in the fleet in my opinion!
- I like how the rear doors open! It's similar to the light rail.
- There is a large what I would presume to be a passenger information board which looks really great (can't confirm as it wasn't working today)
- Overall, I definitely think TC should order more of these, from a passenger experience they are the nicest buses to ride on. Hopefully Element 2s will be in the 110 bus order promised by Labor.

Busnerd

The rear doors are called 'plug doors', these were also fitted to all the Dennis Darts and the PR100.3A fleet of the past.

Sylvan Loves Buses

Quote from: Busnerd on September 20, 2024, 09:04:30 PM'plug doors
Have always wondered about that. D'you know where I can get some, would love a plug door on my fridge.

L94UBbusfan

Quote from: Busnerd on September 20, 2024, 09:04:30 PMThe rear doors are called 'plug doors', these were also fitted to all the Dennis Darts and the PR100.3A fleet of the past.

Interesting. I forgot the Darts had them and I don't recollect riding on a PR100.3A.

Sylvan Loves Buses

126-131 were the 3's that had them. Did 113 have them, I remember that one being weird for a few reasons?

Busnerd

113 Just had normal doors however it did have the sloped entry rather than stairs like the PR100.3A's

triumph

113 also had kneeling suspension, which I observed in use at a time quite close to its retirement. There is a lot of interesting detail in the Fleetwiki entry for this bus.

triumph

The 4 CD Element2s are reported in the media as being sent to Sydney for battery work to bring the daily range, on one full charge, to that advised by the vendor when the lease was entered into, being 400km.
It is expected that they will be back in time for the ramp up of school services.

 

Barry Drive

Another example of "don't believe everything you read".

While 748 has been sent to Sydney, the other 3 haven't, yet. But the others are not being used.

I have my doubts that the rectification will be simple or quick - assuming they can be fixed at all. In the interim, they can be replaced by new Yutongs but this can't be a long term solution once more CNG Buses get withdrawn.

triumph

Quote from: Barry Drive on January 17, 2025, 08:40:04 AMAnother example of "don't believe everything you read".

While 748 has been sent to Sydney, the other 3 haven't, yet. But the others are not being used.

I have my doubts that the rectification will be simple or quick - assuming they can be fixed at all. In the interim, they can be replaced by new Yutongs but this can't be a long term solution once more CNG Buses get withdrawn.
Media were both Canberra Times and The Riot Act. Posted because nothing had already appeared in Forum.
'rectification' of what? Are the media news reports reasonable in the lack of range aspect? 

Barry Drive

Original source of report came from ABC Radio. And also reported on ABC News.

I was pointing out that you can clearly see the other 3 Elements parked outside the workshops at Belconnen Depot. So they haven't all left, even if that is the eventual intention.

As for the lack of range: this is definitely true, and it is not just the ones used in Canberra with this issue.

L94UBbusfan

In the Riotact article, Chris Steel said "we expect them to return to the fleet to provide services, especially as we ramp up with the school year starting". Personally, I find it quite unlikely that all 4 Elements will be back in service around the time school services are ramping up. Who knows how long this "range extension" process will take (if it can even be done) and I highly doubt it will be a quick process.

Also, would I be correct in assuming that the range issue is why the Elements are yet to be fitted with MyWay+?

L94UBbusfan

Another media article regarding Canberra's Element 2s has been released.
Custom Dennings national relationship manager Mick Neskes said that the company has "absolutely no reports of range concerns" from Transport Canberra, and said the issues are mechanical. He also said only the bus with a faulty sensor (748) needed to be sent back.
I find it odd that 748 was sent back for a problem that sounds like it could be fixed in Canberra, unless this article is complete garbage