[UK] 巫婆再現 - The Witch Way X43

兩星期前, Burnley & Pendle 為旗下的皇牌路線 X43 進行了全新的包裝,
並將它命名為 The Witch Way. 這是自 Blazefield Group 於 00 年從捷達
收購了 Burnley & Pendle 以後, 第二次為 X43 進行的大幅革新.

是次服務調整, 主要集中於 X43 的車隊更新 - 15 部全新的 10.6m 富豪
B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 正陸續取締原來負責行走, 於 2001 年購入
的 16 部 10.5m 富豪 B7TL/Plaxton President. 新巴士的車隊色彩基本上
與姊妹公司 Harrogate & District 的 36 線的同款巴士大致相若, 但這批
巴士更優勝的地方, 是全車上下層均採用了真皮座椅. 另外, 新巴士的駕
駛艙亦被大幅修改, 並採用了新款的軑盤及錶版 (不知九巴新一批 B9TL
會否有相同設計?). 另一點有別於 Blazefield 以往購入的 B7TL 的, 是這
批巴士採用了較大馬力的 D7C-250 引擎及 ZF 六前速波箱, 加上較寬鬆
的鎖速, 令新巴士在應付 Burnley 一帶的山區及 Rawtenstall 與曼城之間
的 M66 高速公路時, 更能揮灑自如.

今次服務調整未有影響路線的班次, 繼續維持了周一至六日間班次 20
分鐘, 周一至五繁忙時間 10 分鐘一班, 周日半小時一班. 唯一 Burnley
& Pendle 未有刻意知會乘客的, 是 X43 北行只到 Nelson, Nelson 以北
至 Colne 的一段, 已隨著是次服務調整而被取消了.

至於 16 部原本行走 X43 的 B7TL, 八部會東遷至 Harrogate & District,
而餘下八部的去向如何, 請看下回分解.

14th August saw the relaunch of Burnley & Pendle's trunk route X43,
now known as The Witch Way, and updated from existing fleet of B7TL/
President to B7TL/Eclipse Gemini.

The new Volvos receive a livery which resemble that on the Harrogate
36 sisters. Like the Harrogate examples, the Witch Volvos are fitted with
leather seats, but differed by that the lower deck seats are also leather-
trimmed. These B7TLs also differ by having a completely new cab design,
a new steering wheel and dashboard.

15 of the new Geminis are destined for the Witch Way, which is withdrawn
between Nelson and Colne during the service change. It was hope that the
buses would be ready at the launch date, 14th August. However, because
of delivery problem (apparently they failed the tilt test, as I was told. Before
anyone ask though, they failed for a very different reason), only five were
in the fleet by time of the launch. As per yesterday, around 10 have been
delivered, and I saw at least 6 on the road, and one remained in the depot.
Interestingly, each Gemini are named after a witch as part of the Witch Way
marketing champaign.

The older B7TL/Presidents originally worked the X43 will be split between
Harrogate & District and Lancashire United. Pictures of the latter will follow
in a later day.




Burnley & Pendle 2750 "Elizabeth Southerns (Old Demdike)", Volvo B7TL-57/Wright Eclipse Gemini, Burnley Bus Station (27th Aug 2005)


Burnley & Pendle 2755 "Jane Bulcock", Volvo B7TL-57/Wright Eclipse Gemini, Manchester (27th Aug 2005)


Burnley & Pendle 2756 "John Bulcock", Volvo B7TL-57/Wright Eclipse Gemini, Burnley(27th Aug 2005)









[ Last edited by NV58 on 2005-8-27 at 23:20 ]

全架車好正，車頭銀色位好型，再睇內籠，上層D皮櫈睇到我流晒口水！

Oh why don't they put X43 on the headrests?
You are really lucky in the North! Look at what Arriva is doing on those ex-Sovereign services #:-/

[ref=353355]AD156[/ref]  在 2005-8-28 04:08 發表:

Oh why don't they put X43 on the headrests?

I thought they would put the witch logo on the seats too, so that was one of
the small disappointment to me to these otherwise impressive buses.

啲座位幾好,不過同內籠唔係好親,豪華啲就更好

[ref=353840]NV58[/ref]  在 2005-8-28 08:46 PM 發表:



I thought they would put the witch logo on the seats too, so that was one of
the small disappointment to me to these otherwise impressive buses.

想問有冇你頭像ge相
thx

The new steering wheel and dashboard which I saw
as far as some boardmates posted their photos of
Australian Volvo B12BLE's one here before. I remem-
bered that someone spoke this new steering wheel
wasn't very good.

Please point me out If my reply is wrong.

However, I'm very pleased to see NV58's photos
of Wright B7TLs of The Witch Way, especially all lu-
xury seats because they're more comfortable as well
as I think.

[ Last edited by a396 on 2005-8-30 at 00:18 ]

What a nice cabin...

the livery is also very eye-catching...

[ref=354796]DK704_3N133[/ref]  在 2005-8-29 11:03 發表:
想問有冇你頭像ge相
thx

Sorry for much belated reply, but here you go:


Burnley & Pendle 2757, Volvo B7TL-57/Wright Eclipse Gemini, Manchester (27th Aug 2005)

edhong: Yes they are named after different witches. I only saw just half
of them anyway, so I don't have a complete list at the moment. The ones
I know are:

2750 - Elizaveth Southerns (Old Demdike)
2751 - Elizabeth Device
2752 - Alizon Device
2753 - Anne Whittle (Old Chattox)
2755 - Jane Bulcock
2756 - John Bulcock
2757 - Katherine Hewitt (Mouldheels)