TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[mayneway]

Could we see those two routes with a reasonable number of Oldham's Solo SRs move to Queens Road? It seems it has no intention of electrification in the short term, but then again wouldn't it have been easier to move it from Middleton to Queens Road, if they knew they wanted Oldham to be 100% electric? In the long term, what would the 129 operate with?
Also is there a possibility of rerouting it so it can use normal electrics, such as an Enviro100EV?

The E100ev’s were brought in for the smaller Oldham routes, infact I spotted one of them on the 129 only last week. The only issue is the 415, but there’s talk of it being re-routed slightly avoiding the low bridge.

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On the subject of next stop displays and announcements, I went to Woodford the other day on the 42B with a VW and these don’t seem to be fitted with any of this equipment.
Returned on a Diamond E200 on the new 377 service which didn’t generate any custom on the new estate. At every stop the announcement was “this is the 337 service to Stockport” etc.

They are very very glitchy. I drove one last week that just constantly said ‘ please make sure you take all your belongings - thank you for travelling on the Bee network’ over and over and over!

Another thing I’ve noticed with them is if you take any kind of diversion it sends them haywire and they fail to recognise when your back on normal route.

 

[mattyharding]

The E100ev’s were brought in for the smaller Oldham routes, infact I spotted one of them on the 129 only last week. The only issue is the 415, but there’s talk of it being re-routed slightly avoiding the low bridge.

That bridge on the 415 must be very low if it can't even use large single deckers

 

[stait.john]

Does anyone know which 5 Streetdecks are moving from GNW to Stockport? I assume the ex-Metroline ones?

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Does anyone know which 5 Streetdecks are moving from GNW to Stockport? I assume the ex-Metroline ones?

Presumably 3555-3560 which haven’t been used since August? Will be either 5 or possibly 6 moving imminently and then the other 4 (or 5) to move over later in the year.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Does anyone know which 5 Streetdecks are moving from GNW to Stockport? I assume the ex-Metroline ones?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Sunday at 15:38 ==


Presumably 3555-3560 which haven’t been used since August? Will be either 5 or possibly 6 moving imminently and then the other 4 (or 5) to move over later in the year.

6 are moving. Not heard anything regarding the rest... yet.

 

[JasonL]

It's a real shame 6 of the MF74 Street decks are leaving Wigan. They were brought in to replace the E400s at Wigan.

 

[M60lad]

Regarding the situation with 415 I think its all up in the air at the moment and their still trying to work out how best to run it, it was supposed to have changed at the last timetable change in September but allegedly they looked at the timetable that was being proposed and decided it wasn't going to work, plus the fact that 129 was supposed to be transferred to Middleton Depot who then decided that they didn't want it.

It will be interesting to see what does happen with 129/415 but considering the September timetable change has been and gone now when is the next major timetable change to services in the Greater Manchester area? I only ask as I'm not hearing of any more services changing in the future so I'm guessing it could be next year sometime before anymore service changes are announced which may or may not include changes to 129/415s.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Given all the recent chatter, how many E300s are at Oldham?

 

[M60lad]

E300s at Oldham are 27937-27951 with the rest at Queens Road although 27827 is at Little Hulton Schools Unit

 

[mayneway]

That bridge on the 415 must be very low if it can't even use large single deckers

It’s very low and at an angle so many single deckers, including electrics won’t go under as they have pods on the roof.

 

[M60lad]

The bridge on 415 is quite an odd situation as Leyland Nationals had pods on their roofs and managed the bridge no problem

 

[mayneway]

The bridge on 415 is quite an odd situation as Leyland Nationals had pods on their roofs and managed the bridge no problem

The road under the bridge has been resurfaced over the years and reduced the height.
First measured it with their Streetlites and they wouldn’t fit, and then Go North West assessed it and found the majority of their E200’s with pods wouldn’t fit hence why every bus in the fleet was fitted with warning stickers.

 

[Leyland Bus]

The road under the bridge has been resurfaced over the years and reduced the height.
First measured it with their Streetlites and they wouldn’t fit, and then Go North West assessed it and found the majority of their E200’s with pods wouldn’t fit hence why every bus in the fleet was fitted with warning stickers.

Quite...

 

[M60lad]

Not to sure whether it was loan to Oldham or Queens Road operated it at the time, but I do remember years ago one of First Manchester's Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown's on 415 and it actually went through the bridge no problem.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It’s very low and at an angle so many single deckers, including electrics won’t go under as they have pods on the roof.

I thought I'd have a look on Streetview as I wasn't familiar.

It does have a rather pronounced angle and bend into it. The 2009 photos show the 9'9 signage looking very faded so it's been signed at that height for a time. Interestingly, also has First Wright Crusader bodied Darts on it though by 2015, it was a Solo.

 

[redgate]

Quite...

TIL what Ferry Lift is

 

[Park47515]

Not to sure whether it was loan to Oldham or Queens Road operated it at the time, but I do remember years ago one of First Manchester's Volvo B10BLE Wright Renown's on 415 and it actually went through the bridge no problem.

I remember using it with a Superbus liveried crusader, that Oldham had which must have been a tight fit.