First Group: General Discussion

[Bungle965]

It's hard to say without knowing what the individual circumstances are. Perhaps they've done the sums in Manchester and believe that the cost of bendis doesn't stack up but they do in Aberdeen.

The only route that they ever really dominated on before getting pulled out from service was the 135, which has been taken over by Queen's Road B9TL, which were hardly rare as on evenings they would be used on that route anyway.
The 471 which they used to stray onto should be B9s however there has been on regular occasions where Volvo B7s turn up which are not suitable for that route due to being only single decker. ADL E400s also turn up on quite a regular occasion.
Sam

 

[alexf380]

Also, Bolton's bendies are of the much thirstier Scania build compared to Aberdeen's Volvo/Wrightbus versions.

 

[Bungle965]

Also, Bolton's bendies are of the much thirstier Scania build compared to Aberdeen's Volvo/Wrightbus versions.

Manchester had a batch of the Volvo versions, they eventually got rid of all but one of them. The one that they did keep however always seemed to spend more time in the depot than was actually in revenue earning service!
Always wondered if it was more of a depot pet.
Sam

 

[LAIRA]

I live in Plymouth so maybe wrong but I thought the new Bus Station in Bolton is bays and bendies do not reverse very well.

 

[Harbouring]

Noticed new ticket machine on a 240 earlier , hopefully get contactless , would be far better than the app

First in Portsmouth and Southampton now have a ticketer with signs proclaiming contactless is coming soon. They are a bit behind as their rivals in each city stagecoach and Bluestar have had it for a few months now. Perhaps they want to give drivers time to get used to the new interface.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Manchester had a batch of the Volvo versions, they eventually got rid of all but one of them. The one that they did keep however always seemed to spend more time in the depot than was actually in revenue earning service!
Always wondered if it was more of a depot pet.
Sam

I'm pretty sure the Manchester ones were of the Volvo B10LA Wright Fusion variant where as Aberdeens are the Volvo B7LA Wright Eclipse Fusion. They work perfectly fine here.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I live in Plymouth so maybe wrong but I thought the new Bus Station in Bolton is bays and bendies do not reverse very well.

That's true and would be a factor on the 471 but the more usual home is the 135 Bury to Manchester.

 

[THarris123]

It's hard to say without knowing what the individual circumstances are. Perhaps they've done the sums in Manchester and believe that the cost of bendis doesn't stack up but they do in Aberdeen.

Well from what I heard, Bury didn't do a brilliant job at maintaining them and when Bolton got them their standards of maintenance were higher. Bolton also didn't really like the Bendies very much and were/are having staffing shortages for drivers who know how to drive the Bendies. All of those are factors to it, but the main factor being rust, from what I understood when I went up there.

 

[THarris123]

First in Portsmouth and Southampton now have a ticketer with signs proclaiming contactless is coming soon. They are a bit behind as their rivals in each city stagecoach and Bluestar have had it for a few months now. Perhaps they want to give drivers time to get used to the new interface.

On that subject. Bristol are due to receive their ticketer machines from Friday, Wells from October and Bath from November/December.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well from what I heard, Bury didn't do a brilliant job at maintaining them and when Bolton got them their standards of maintenance were higher. Bolton also didn't really like the Bendies very much and were/are having staffing shortages for drivers who know how to drive the Bendies. All of those are factors to it, but the main factor being rust, from what I understood when I went up there.

There should be a few caveats to that. Firstly, there's always the "we inherited a load of rubbish" that is used as an excuse in any industry. On the flip side, once a depot is announced for closure, there is usually a noticeable dip in standards. Why busy a gut if you're going to be made redundant etc? Or people with little service jump ship.

Corrosion on Omnicities is not generally a big issue so I'm a bit suspicious of that. However, lack of space at Bolton depot, challenges with maintenance facilities, the overall cost of operation are probably all factors.

 

[Blackpudding]

I live in Plymouth so maybe wrong but I thought the new Bus Station in Bolton is bays and bendies do not reverse very well.

The vast majority of stands are bays but there are also a few drive by stands, one of which, E, is used by the 471.

Plan here if you are interested.
http://www.tfgm.com/buses/Documents/Departures/Bolton.pdf

 

[Blackpudding]

There should be a few caveats to that. Firstly, there's always the "we inherited a load of rubbish" that is used as an excuse in any industry. On the flip side, once a depot is announced for closure, there is usually a noticeable dip in standards. Why busy a gut if you're going to be made redundant etc? Or people with little service jump ship.

Corrosion on Omnicities is not generally a big issue so I'm a bit suspicious of that. However, lack of space at Bolton depot, challenges with maintenance facilities, the overall cost of operation are probably all factors.

Add trained drivers to that last paragraph and I believe it covers the issue.

 

[overthewater]

There should be a few caveats to that. Firstly, there's always the "we inherited a load of rubbish" that is used as an excuse in any industry. On the flip side, once a depot is announced for closure, there is usually a noticeable dip in standards. Why busy a gut if you're going to be made redundant etc? Or people with little service jump ship.

Corrosion on Omnicities is not generally a big issue so I'm a bit suspicious of that. However, lack of space at Bolton depot, challenges with maintenance facilities, the overall cost of operation are probably all factors.

It was Bury and Tameside that are closing not bolton?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It was Bury and Tameside that are closing not bolton?

You misunderstand.

THarris was saying that Bolton had received fleet from Bury on its closure that was allegedly poorly maintained. My statement was that it is an easy get out for the receiving depot (Bolton) though in all fairness, there is usually a dip in overall depot performance when closure is announced.

However, given the fact that following Bury's closure, parking space at Bolton is at a premium, there is pressure on maintenance space, and all the other attendant issues (fuel and maintenance costs, trained drivers, etc), that mix may well be the reason for their withdrawal.

 

[overthewater]

Got you. Is there any room for expanding the depot to get more space?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Got you. Is there any room for expanding the depot to get more space?

I don't doubt you could but doesn't solve the challenge of maintenance bays and, being honest, it's a lot of hassle for a load of expensive to run, ageing oddballs

 

[overthewater]

I don't doubt you could but doesn't solve the challenge of maintenance bays and, being honest, it's a lot of hassle for a load of expensive to run, ageing oddballs

Will the company be getting new stock; Sorry newer stock from elsewhere any time soon? If its not it might be its only option or its more cutback ahoy.

Its been reported there being stored at Oldham before getting scrapped.


BUT in better news Glasgow has something new appearing tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled, but there would be MAD to apply the Express branding on the X8, because there used crappy old tridents on there route why waste the money on top branding on 15 year old buses?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Will the company be getting new stock; Sorry newer stock from elsewhere any time soon? If its not it might be its only option or its more cutback ahoy.

Its been reported there being stored at Oldham before getting scrapped.

I don't know what you mean. They've got a number of vehicles from across the country, some permanent and others temporary. That and other changes mean they're able to cull the bendies.

Why would there be more cuts?

This is the season of new vehicles and cascades so who knows what will happen across the country? Even more so when there are potential delays on Bristol Metrobus.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Will the company be getting new stock; Sorry newer stock from elsewhere any time soon? If its not it might be its only option or its more cutback ahoy.

Its been reported there being stored at Oldham before getting scrapped.


BUT in better news Glasgow has something new appearing tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled, but there would be MAD to apply the Express branding on the X8, because there used crappy old tridents on there route why waste the money on top branding on 15 year old buses?

If it's route branding then the 'Xpress' services are getting rebranded and I've heard that The One is also on the cards...

 

[overthewater]

I don't know what you mean. They've got a number of vehicles from across the country, some permanent and others temporary. That and other changes mean they're able to cull the bendies.

Why would there be more cuts?

This is the season of new vehicles and cascades so who knows what will happen across the country? Even more so when there are potential delays on Bristol Metrobus.

If there still short of buses even after all the help? how do you resolve the problems?>

If it's route branding then the 'Xpress' services are getting rebranded and I've heard that The One is also on the cards...

Oh yes the one. Lets see what tomorrow brings.

 

[Bungle965]

Rumour mill seems to be in overdrive this evening with various sources suggesting that First are withdrawing from Manchester.
Sam

 

[overthewater]

Rumour mill seems to be in overdrive this evening with various sources suggesting that First are withdrawing from Manchester.
Sam

Where? Also I think the rumors have gone well overbroad in this department. There would either sell the whole operation I cant see that happening.

 

[Bungle965]

Where? Also I think the rumors have gone well overbroad in this department. There would either sell the whole operation I cant see that happening.

Someone on another forum while also a Facebook post which mentioned that Bolton would be taken over by Stagecoach while Queens Road, Rusholme and Oldham would be RATP.
Sam

 

[overthewater]

Someone on another forum while also a Facebook post which mentioned that Bolton would be taken over by Stagecoach while Queens Road, Rusholme and Oldham would be RATP.
Sam

I think someone had to much Dizzy water, Stagecoach would deffo not be allowed.

 

[tombowell]

Someone on another forum while also a Facebook post which mentioned that Bolton would be taken over by Stagecoach while Queens Road, Rusholme and Oldham would be RATP.
Sam

What Facebook group is this on?

 

[Bungle965]

What Facebook group is this on?

Transport for Greater Manchester Unofficial.
So yes, nice and reliable.
Sam

 

[overthewater]

Im not taking that bet for tomorrow.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Transport for Greater Manchester Unofficial.
So yes, nice and reliable.
Sam

This has also been posted on dartslf. Sounds like the sort of stuff from an overly fertile imagination....

 

[Kahuna47]

Evening all,

I've been lurking about for a while but have registered myself under a different user name to save any reprisals.

I might be able to answer a few questions about the Manchester ops as I work there

With the bendies they were relatively well looked after at Bury, but when Bolton took over they didn't have any engineering who knew how to look after them - they sacked off the entire Bury engineering team! They're just sitting rotting away now which is a real shame.

When Bury closed 54 drivers quit overnight, leaving a massive gap. They're training them up as quick as they can (a little too quick if you ask recent trainees!) but its still not enough. Even if they got the full amount of drivers there still isnt enough buses to cover the routes!

We've got plenty of off casts from other OpCos (particularly Glasgow and Bluebird) which aren't bad to drive. Infinitely better than the E400s which are all broken and in 'limp mode' - I have cyclists overtaking me on some of the hills!

The rumours about takeovers have been going round loads - there have been 'spies' (sarcasm as they stick out like a sore thumb!) from RATP and Stagecoach on various services checking things out. There was meant to be an announcement when Bolton Interchange opened which never materialised. The Canteens across all the depots are rife with the rumours but we'll see what happens!

K

 

[overthewater]

First sacked the whole Bury engineering team! :roll: You would have thought there would have moved them over to the Bolton since there still have the same amount of buses just all in once place..

No wonder the rumors are riff if the people in control of Manchester are muppet.