On 1 Feb 2005 09:35:50 -0800, "Rupert Candy"
wrote:

Paul Corfield wrote:

Well I did promise to give you an update on the 159 when more details
emerged. The new contract award was announced yesterday for the 159 -
it
is staying with Arriva London South but will get new double deckers
which certainly means it loses its conductors as well.

Thanks for the update Paul - presumably this means more VLWs like the
137? It could be a lot worse...

Actually they are DWs - standing for DAF / Wright Pulsar Geminis
although the DAF name has been replaced by VDL as the company name.
Initially Wrights would only body Volvo chassis with the Gemini bodywork
but given that Arriva are the importer for VDL chassis it was worth
Wright's while to modify the design to permit the use of VDL chassis.
Route 19 is getting DWs with a modified chassis design with improved
suspension.

I would not be astonished to see DWs ordered for the 159 but Arriva do
swap about between chassis and bodywork builders so it is entirely
possible that you might get Transbus bodied Volvos or even something
else that is completely original like the new rumoured Transbus Enviro
400 but that is a long shot!
--
Paul C


Admits to working for London Underground!