Hey Hugh thanks so much for the info,just a couple of points. Re the
shortage of E's, there is still 13 more to be delivered including the
extra 10 on the contract so the likely hood of there ever being a shortage
of E's to me would be very small and surely the B's would be better off
providing extra capacity on other routes.The other point is that will they
run all day, every day,or just when needed in the peaks and will there be
dedicated B Class tables?There is 4 left at the moment 2058,2109,2119
(currently on loan to Cam as of today) & 2130 so would it be safe to say
that that's the 4 needed?
On Saturday, 18 May 2019 16:48:08 UTC+10, Mal Rowe wrote:
>

> Hugh Waldron has provided advice on the retention of B2s at Preston:

> ====

>

> Hope this helps answering the “B2” debate at Preston.

>

> My contact tells me that New Preston will retain four “B2” class trams so

> that drivers will not have to be retrained on “B2” class trams if they are

> required to do a DOC (Day off cancelled) at another depot or if due to

> shortage of “E” class additional “B2” class trams are required to be loaned

> to New Preston.

>

> The rule was in my days to be qualified for a particular type of tram you

> must drive that type of tram at least once every six months. Therefore by

> keeping four “B2” class trams all drivers would have the opportunity of

> driving one every so often.

>

> During my time at Kew if a driver was required from another depot he/she

> could not drive a “C1” class unless they had previously driven “C1” class

> trams during the previous six months. (We had a few drivers that had

> transferred from Kew and were happy to come back for the odd day) Hence if

> a driver was not trained to drive “C1” class trams this became another

> reason for an “A” on route 109. The main reason for the odd “A” class on

> route 109 was the driver was learning to be an “A” class driver or they

> were an “A” class driver only due to a medical problem.

>

> A DOC at another depot can only be given providing no drivers from that

> depot were available for that shift required to be covered.

>

> Regards Hugh

>