mattyharding
On Moderation
Following on from this why is the 348 every 20 minutes when it used to every 12-15 minutes before COVID
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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion
- Thread starter Leyland Bus
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
With the V1 being every 4 in peak anyway, it wouldn't need any additional vehicles to do it all day (in fact, it needs fewer as off peak journeys are about 10 mins quicker) but if they're upping the V2 in peak...
jeffery9098
On Moderation
Well yeah, Majority of public have been complaining at vantage 'lack of capacity' for years and the response was from GNW was to throw in some B9TL's because throwing more B5LH defeats the argument with 'reliability' being tied to operating those complicated and expensive hybrids. Even the B9TL's break down occasionally to the point where they get towed back to the depot on a lorry whilst braking down on the guided-busway itself!!! But hey at least, Salford Roads might get an improvement with these 19.5tons beasts are smashing themselves into the potholes making them bigger and creating the roads unsustainable for until council intervention and then 'resurfacing' so there's are benefits to it for road-users.
There's like speculation relating to the E200MMC's SK73 batch where they are intended to go onto 20/21/22/520 boards to replace the aging relics. Mainly because routes that were buried on like 575/576/524 (maybe 501 but it's technically an circular so it's defeating the argument) would eventually need double-deckers if the ridership increases and too much problems with Citaro's, B7RLE's and the lawnmowers (*E200 Classics*). You can tape up a bus as much you can but it'll eventually come to the point you have to break even and let it end peacefully to Barnsley rather than slaughtering until the wheels fall off or the retarder slips on majority of them. 3 out of 13 buses used for 575/576 do require a double-decker so it says something compared to 524 just states single-decker less than 7 years old (same with 501).
I can't see them running electric buses on 21/22 anytime soon, until they figured on what electric-single/double decker that weighs less than 18tons "weight-restriction bridge" but remember it'll most likely an TfGM order so it'll down to them.
stan claire
Member
575 has had a massive improvement recently, all buses on 575 were double deck yesterday and most on 576 until 3442 was swapped for 4129 later in the evening, for the past week or so I’ve seen way more deckers on these two
501 is ridiculous and needs something sorted out ASAP, I always see people getting turned away at the bus station after a single decker rocks up at the height of rush hour and it’s still well-used in the off-peak as it’s the main route from town to the hospital
Class 323 Fan
Member
Hi guys, what buses have been ordered for Hyde Road? Electrics wise
Thanks in advance
Thanks in advance
JasonL
Member
Probably Volvo's I know Stagecoach are due more Volvo's and they are due Electroliner's most likely for Oldham.
py_megapixel
Established Member
The capacity increase on the busway is TfGM's responsibility, GNW just operates what they are contracted to by TfGM. New buses take time to plan, order and build so putting some old vehicles on is a much better outcome than delaying improvements for several years.
It all seems to have been handled quite sensibly from my perspective: a need was identified for increased capacity so it was provided using the buses that were available, while a new order was planned that was large enough to deliver the full service with new buses.
Any bus will occasionally break down and have to be towed, and of course if it's operating on the busway at that point then it will block the busway. That's more of a flaw with the concept of a busway than anything else: all the inflexibility of a tramway with all the inefficiency or buses!
Hyde Road is no longer operated by Stagecoach.
JasonL
Member
I meant Volvo's for Stagecoach and Electroliner's for Stagecoach. It's not known what Hyde Road will receive.
There are a few routes like that, 632 was every 15 pre COVID (as the 362).
mattyharding
On Moderation
I wish the 348 would go back to being every 12-15 minutes especially in rush hour as some services fill up fast with school kids as the 348 passes two secondary schools
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Do we know when the Stagecoach Electroliners are due to arrive in England
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Not to sure what's wrong with it but just seen what I think is Diamond Northwest's 21241 Mellor Orion on a flatbed wagon heading up A663 Broadway this morning whether it was heading back to Rochdale I'm not to sure as only saw it from my room and didn't catch the name that was on the wagon.
Class 466
Established Member
I mean, it’s a Mellor bus so the list of what’s wrong is potentially endless
Leyland Bus
Member
The first new Vantage has now landed in the form of 2301 LV26 ZPJ. The bus features high backed seats upstairs (very similar to the current Vantage fleet) and two tables, whilst downstairs has standard bus seats but trimmed in grey e-leather.
mattyharding
On Moderation
Those seats upstairs look like something you'd find in 1st Class on a train
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
Is there an expected date for these to enter service? I'll definitely be looking to have a go on one.
I'm used to train introductions where the answer would be several years, I assume it's not the same for buses (maybe a couple months)?
Leyland Bus
Member
As a new bus, it should only be a week or two depending on any issues arising (which some have had and is completely normal) but with these, I don't know if TfGM want to do a launch with afew of them or if they'll just go straight out when ready. I'm off now til Wednesday but i'll try find out...
mattyharding
On Moderation
Do we have an estimated date of arrival for the Stagecoach Electroliners yet
Dallamlad
Established Member
Latest bus orders confirmed
darylyates17
Member
Thought Metroline would need more than 100 to replace all the hybrids and B9s.Latest bus orders confirmed
I can’t see anywhere in the article where it says they are replacing all the hybrids and B9s with 100 buses
aswilliamsuk
Member
- Joined
- 10 Jul 2016
- Messages
- 527
It was previously announced that agreement had been reached to fund 220 electric buses to complete conversion of both Hyde Road and Oldham, and so far there have been orders for 55 and then 125 from Wrightbus (80 for Oldham - 64 deckers and 16 singles; and 100 for Hythe Road), which suggests there's another 40 vehicles to be announced. I wonder if ADL might benefit from that? I'd be surprised if there weren't more singles to come in particular...
mattyharding
On Moderation
I think Oldham's future fleet will consist of ADL E400 EVs, the 50 BYDs we have, Streetdeck Electroliners, GB Kites and possibly BZLs in the future if the rumours of the Streetdecks going to Stockport once they get electric buses become true
py_megapixel
Established Member
According to Bustimes, Metroline currently has 90 'classic' E400 hybrids, 14 of the Volvo E400s hybrids, and 34 Volvo B9TLs.
Of those, 7 are the driver training buses and a further 10 haven't been in service for several months. So that gives a total of 121 "legacy" pre-franchising buses still in passenger service with Metroline.
100 really isn't far off being able to replace them all, especially when you consider that EV deliveries to the rest of Manchester are in some cases making relatively modern buses available for cascade. And there are of course more orders to come.
Also the legacy buses are quite old, haven't been painted yellow or fitted internally to TfGM's interior spec, and come October they won't even be legal to operate any more as they won't meet the accessible information regulations.
Considering all of that, if I were a gambling man, I'd not be betting on hybrids and B9s being on the streets of Manchester many more months...
Of those, 7 are the driver training buses and a further 10 haven't been in service for several months. So that gives a total of 121 "legacy" pre-franchising buses still in passenger service with Metroline.
100 really isn't far off being able to replace them all, especially when you consider that EV deliveries to the rest of Manchester are in some cases making relatively modern buses available for cascade. And there are of course more orders to come.
Also the legacy buses are quite old, haven't been painted yellow or fitted internally to TfGM's interior spec, and come October they won't even be legal to operate any more as they won't meet the accessible information regulations.
Considering all of that, if I were a gambling man, I'd not be betting on hybrids and B9s being on the streets of Manchester many more months...
mattyharding
On Moderation
Same story with the B5LHs in Oldham (well the 61 plate ones anyway) as they turn 15 very soon and while yes the majority of them are yellow they are still showing their age with frequent breakdowns and just poor reliability
mayneway
Member
There’s a couple of uplifts planned for Metroline in September. I know the 219 is getting a big PVR increase, along with a Hyde road service I can’t quite remember so that needs to be factored in.
mattyharding
On Moderation
It's the 255 that you were referring to when you mentioned Hyde Road
mayneway
Member
You’re spot on thank you.
jeffery9098
On Moderation
ADL can't benefit it. The problem with AD Enviro400EV is that it's insufficient for charging capabilities. It's a good vehicle but hearing that stagecoach in different places can't charge more than 5 of them 'simultaneously' due to charging reasons because of hitting that limit that alerts the substations. I mean some the AD E400EV don't even get fully charge but partially charged so that they can charge the other(s) to a sufficient percent. With the Electroliners, It was focused in fast-charging capabilities rather than having highest total miles pes per charge. You can charge more than 20+ of them simultaneously and won't upset the grid. As there is limitations on how much kW's a depot can provide + you don't want to trip off the substations. ADL knows that market has shifted from total miles per charge to how fast a bus can charge more reliable and doesn't waste a lot. I believe they were previewing the AD E400EV with another battery that is focused on fast-charging capabilities. You don't want an electric-bus that would hog the infrastructure which would restrict limitations on how much electric buses you can charge overall.
With Hyde Road, it was alleged that they were going to get BD11's + Electroliners. It's a smart decision and choice with BD11's mainly for total miles having around 480miles per charge compared to Electroliners having 275miles so it's like you have a EV that can fast-charge and EV that doesn't need to charge that much and won't hog the lanes
. Those streetdecks would end up going elsewhere in GM, I thought sharston because 'repower' came to mind but as with Stockport apparently gaining some then I would've of thought the logical choice is to eventually dump all of the needed BZL's 170 'existing' to Stockport rather having to order a large fleet of EV's. If ADL are able to score a order then it'll likely be the Enviro200EV because the weight restriction of 18tons 'somewhere' in Swinton on 21/22 then sure Enviro200EV has a mgw of 17tons or under 18tons so :/.
Does anybody know how old the ex First E300s are and how long they've got left in service before they need replacing?
Are there any plans to have next stop displays fitted to these as I know it can be done as I had a ride on a First Worcester one yesterday which had a proper next stop information screen fitted attached to the bulkhead behind the doors.
Are there any plans to have next stop displays fitted to these as I know it can be done as I had a ride on a First Worcester one yesterday which had a proper next stop information screen fitted attached to the bulkhead behind the doors.
Leyland Bus
Member
The 13 plate ones Andrew? Registered in 2013 so making them 13 years old?