TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[Redmike]

Presumably Diamond will need a couple of extra vehicles for the 377.

 

[317 forever]

It is amusing that some of the dumped E400Hs in the yard opposite Stockport garage have notices on them I'm a Bee Network bus waiting to be made yellow.

I presume they will never be made yellow for Bee Network now

 

[mattyharding]

It is amusing that some of the dumped E400Hs in the yard opposite Stockport garage have notices on them I'm a Bee Network bus waiting to be made yellow.

I presume they will never be made yellow for Bee Network now

Yeah the way things are going Hybrids won't be in Manchester much longer as Oldham now has new EVs arriving with Stockport getting Oldham's diesel MMCs

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2026 ==

Is the 348 destined to be forever a diesel route or if not when will the new buses start popping up on the route

 

[mayneway]

Is the 348 destined to be forever a diesel route or if not when will the new buses start popping up on the route

If Oldham is going 100% electric and Oldham operate the 348 then it kind of answers your question does it not?

Again still a number of hybrids in use at Hyde road so Manchester isn’t anywhere near being hybrid free yet!

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Again still a number of hybrids in use at Hyde road so Manchester isn’t anywhere near being hybrid free yet!

Cant forget GNW's ex Busway Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 3s that go on the 8/36/37, with no sign of replacement with Bolton wanted to be electric in a similar time frame to Oldham and Hyde Road

 

[jamieintercity]

Are all the ex stagecoach east Scotland hybrids now withdrawn with metroline?

 

[mayneway]

Are all the ex stagecoach east Scotland hybrids now withdrawn with metroline?

Sure they are retained for schools.

 

[stait.john]

10412, 10423-10430, 10443, 10587 & 10588 all now based at Little Hulton.

 

[978wta]

Which stagecoach depot operates the 415? If it’s Oldham or Middleton and these are going full electric I wonder what they will use on that route or does that problematic bridge cause issues?

 

[mayneway]

Which stagecoach depot operates the 415? If it’s Oldham or Middleton and these are going full electric I wonder what they will use on that route or does that problematic cause issues?

Oldham have operated it since Middleton went electric but there’s rumours of it moving back to Queens road along with the 129. There’s also rumours of if staying at Oldham and being rerouted so electrics can be used on it.
Given that Queens road already has the Solos for the Bury routes it would make more sense to move both the 415/129 back to Queens road. Time will tell!

 

[978wta]

Oldham have operated it since Middleton went electric but there’s rumours of it moving back to Queens road along with the 129. There’s also rumours of if staying at Oldham and being rerouted so electrics can be used on it.
Given that Queens road already has the Solos for the Bury routes it would make more sense to move both the 415/129 back to Queens road. Time will tell!

Thanks

 

[M60lad]

There's also the rumour of the routes being split with Oldham Depot keeping 415s and Middleton or Queens Road getting 129 due to running time issues causing late running on both routes meaning if a 415 is late into Middleton either 129 is dropped or a bus on another route (normally either 17 or 18) is swapped out and put onto 129s to cover the journey with 415 dropping back so it can leave Middleton on time again.

 

[mayneway]

26333 has moved from Stockport to Queens road and is currently being used for VF’ing as ifs the first with camera mirrors at the depot.
Once enough of the MMC’s move from Oldham to Stockport the remaining E200’s at Stockport will also move to Queens road meaning Stockport is fully double deck.

Not quite sure what the plan is for the E200’s at Queens road but there’s talk of them being used on the 480.

 

[bolt057068]

This has appeared in the Bolton Evening News; to be honest, it doesn't surprise me.

Some Bee Network buses 'not supposed to be on the road' as safety concerns voiced

Whistleblowers have warned that bus drivers or passengers could end up being ‘seriously’ hurt on Bee Network services.

www.theboltonnews.co.uk

 

[Class 466]

26333 has moved from Stockport to Queens road and is currently being used for VF’ing as ifs the first with camera mirrors at the depot.
Once enough of the MMC’s move from Oldham to Stockport the remaining E200’s at Stockport will also move to Queens road meaning Stockport is fully double deck.

Not quite sure what the plan is for the E200’s at Queens road but there’s talk of them being used on the 480.

Presumably they’ll replace the stagecoach spec E200s there still - heard that some of the E300s at Oldham are going there once the Kites arrive

 

[mayneway]

Presumably they’ll replace the stagecoach spec E200s there still - heard that some of the E300s at Oldham are going there once the Kites arrive

There seems to be a lot of speculation at the moment. I’ve heard most of Oldhams E300’s are moving over and the Evora’s are moving on, I’ve heard the three smaller E200 MMC’s are moving on.
Lots of conflicting rumours.

Interesting that after months of data collecting and capacity surveys TFGM have finally deemed the trio of E200’s useless on the 325!

 

[redgate]

There seems to be a lot of speculation at the moment. I’ve heard most of Oldhams E300’s are moving over and the Evora’s are moving on, I’ve heard the three smaller E200 MMC’s are moving on.
Lots of conflicting rumours.

Interesting that after months of data collecting and capacity surveys TFGM have finally deemed the trio of E200’s useless on the 325!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Aug 2026 ==

Interesting that after months of data collecting and capacity surveys TFGM have finally deemed the trio of E200’s useless on the 325!

As a family that use the 325 numerous times a day, with a wheelchair user - we are absolutely over the moon about this!!

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Stagecoach 13161 has moved to Gillmoss from Oldham. Does anybody know why specifically it has transferred there? I heard a rumour that these were going to Hull, but this is quite surprising (https://flic.kr/p/2svNGcR not my picture)

 

[Class 466]

Stagecoach 13161 has moved to Gillmoss from Oldham. Does anybody know why specifically it has transferred there? I heard a rumour that these were going to Hull, but this is quite surprising (https://flic.kr/p/2svNGcR not my picture)

Understand that they need more room at Oldham with all the new vehicles due, it being there doesn’t mean it’s going into service from there necessarily, it could just be to get it out the way ahead of it going to its next home.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Understand that they need more room at Oldham with all the new vehicles due, it being there doesn’t mean it’s going into service from there necessarily, it could just be to get it out the way ahead of it going to its next home.

Hmm that does make sense, could they not have used the old temporary depot in Chadderton? Gillmoss needs its own space as it is being used for new buses for St Helens

 

[mattyharding]

Understand that they need more room at Oldham with all the new vehicles due, it being there doesn’t mean it’s going into service from there necessarily, it could just be to get it out the way ahead of it going to its next home.

Next home being either Hull or Barnsley (scrap)

 

[mayneway]

Hmm that does make sense, could they not have used the old temporary depot in Chadderton? Gillmoss needs its own space as it is being used for new buses for St Helens

Following on from what @Class 466 has said, both Gillmoss and Rock ferry carry out remedial work for stagecoach when engineering in Manchester is overstretched so it’s possibly having body work or even MOT work.
I doubt these are moving over for any significant reason and will most likely go into storage until being moved on.

 

[M60lad]

Following the recent departure of the ex Newcastle E400Hs from Chadderton, do TfGM still own/rent Chadderton Depot and are there any plans on using it again in the near future?

When are the next batch of Electroliners due to arrive and enter service at Oldham Depot?

 

[mayneway]

Following the recent departure of the ex Newcastle E400Hs from Chadderton, do TfGM still own/rent Chadderton Depot and are there any plans on using it again in the near future?

When are the next batch of Electroliners due to arrive and enter service at Oldham Depot?

They leased the yard for a period of time, if it’s empty I’d say the lease has expired.

 

[mattyharding]

When are the next batch of Electroliners due to arrive and enter service at Oldham Depot?

Today another 7 entered service