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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

darylyates17

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all 24 plate bee network liveried E400MMC will move over to Stagecoach Queens Road once fleet capacity is increased within non bee network depots, Queend Road also has a bus shortage
Should free up the B5s and Scanias at Queens Road with the EV order to replace the B9s, the BZLs for Stockport will free up vehicles there once all 170 get built.
 
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tomoufc

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Thanks for the replies. If the 24 plate bee network liveried E400MMCs are planned to move elsewhere in GM, then what will they be replaced by in Stockport? Cheers
 

Lucy Michela

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5 Jul 2019
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What's actually wrong with the ex First E300s from a driver point of view?

There's at least quite a few of them in the fleet that have good turn of speed and good acceleration when pushed, just a shame that as far as I know only one (27931) has been refurbished and this one apparently performs like as new, while most time they are stuck on 52/53s whenever they get to stretch their legs on something like 67/100 on Barton Stretch and the A57 from Hollins Green-M6 you'll see how reliable they can be.

As for the conversion from singles to deckers on Mainline route (to/from Manchester for example) then this is Stagecoach Policy and has been for a while hence why its rare you see singles on Manchester routes from Hyde Road, Stockport and Sharston Depots.

I know Oldham run singles on some Manchester duties but I think if they had enough deckers at Oldham Depot than this wouldn't happen plus I know there's the culture at Oldham Depot that some drivers prefer driving singles than doubles so if a single is sat in the depot available that they would take out a single rather than a double decker on their duty.
The vehicles that Bee Network routes are decided by TfGM. They include it in the contract for them, I did get sent some photos of Tranche 1 routes when speculation as to what would do what route was rife.

It's why you almost never see Bee Network routes with random fleets, and those that you do see that on are usually a temporary basis of it - for example, I believe the 41 will be doubles when everything arrives. That's not for sure, but I'm almost certain I heard that somewhere.

The 52/53 are booked as Evoras and E300s. It seems TfGM are classing the two types as so similar that they can be interworked on contracts. It makes sense I guess, they're similar size and types of bus overall.
 

mayneway

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all 24 plate bee network liveried E400MMC will move over to Stagecoach Queens Road once fleet capacity is increased within non bee network depots, Queend Road also has a bus shortage
Queens road does not have a bus shortage! It’s running with the vehicle allowance set by TFGM. Additional vehicles were added when the Free bus Versa’s were withdrawn, and it doesn’t help that several Scania’s, B9’s and a E400MMC are all long term VOR.

I believe the ‘pooled’ Scania’s and B9’s will move to Stockport with New/younger E400 MMC’s coming the other way at the end of the November - what’s what we have been told anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

The vehicles that Bee Network routes are decided by TfGM. They include it in the contract for them, I did get sent some photos of Tranche 1 routes when speculation as to what would do what route was rife.

It's why you almost never see Bee Network routes with random fleets, and those that you do see that on are usually a temporary basis of it - for example, I believe the 41 will be doubles when everything arrives. That's not for sure, but I'm almost certain I heard that somewhere.

The 52/53 are booked as Evoras and E300s. It seems TfGM are classing the two types as so similar that they can be interworked on contracts. It makes sense I guess, they're similar size and types of bus overall.
Everything in and out of the city centre *should* be double deck. The 52 should be Evora’s and the 53 E300’s.
There’s a question mark over the 90 and 149 which is one of the reasons we were given extra E200’s which have been a god send as the bigger singles are too big.
 

Class 466

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Queens road does not have a bus shortage! It’s running with the vehicle allowance set by TFGM. Additional vehicles were added when the Free bus Versa’s were withdrawn, and it doesn’t help that several Scania’s, B9’s and a E400MMC are all long term VOR.

I believe the ‘pooled’ Scania’s and B9’s will move to Stockport with New/younger E400 MMC’s coming the other way at the end of the November - what’s what we have been told anyway.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Everything in and out of the city centre *should* be double deck. The 52 should be Evora’s and the 53 E300’s.
There’s a question mark over the 90 and 149 which is one of the reasons we were given extra E200’s which have been a god send as the bigger singles are too big.
Which MMC is VOR?
 

Class 466

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I’ve no idea, but it’s not great whilst we’re lumbered with old vehicles. It joins many interesting decisions by Stagecoach of late. 11814,15,17,18 permanently transferred to Kent - was only offered to them last Thursday.
 
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M60lad

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Apparently the 4 Bee Network MMCs transferred to Herne Bay were from Oldham Depot. Hopefully Stagecoach will find some other deckers to replace these at Oldham Depot. Oldham really need deckers, especially for services into/out of Manchester instead of them using E300s on some duties.
 
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W176 XMA

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I’ve no idea, but it’s not great whilst we’re lumbered with old vehicles. It joins many interesting decisions by Stagecoach of late. 11814,15,17,18 permanently transferred to Kent - was only offered to them last Thursday.
Is it confirmed this is permanent? Doesn't seem likely with being brand new Bee Network buses
 

Class 466

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47550

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Manchester
Are any other of the 24 plates due to leave ? 11875-80 haven't entered service yet (I think) despite being delivered over a month ago.
 

mayneway

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Yep it’s been confirmed by management staff in a Facebook Group- they’re now at Herne Bay and will be repainted in due course.

Update: this implies the 24 plate MMCs are just a contingency fleet.

https://x.com/skmpub/status/1810225620250411024?s=46
I would take the contingency comment with a liberal dose of salt.
The 24 plates have been built to TFGM spec and have had the TFGM radio systems and telematics systems fitted. It seems very odd that they have chosen 4 to cascade that have been used in service, and will have had the equipment fitted only to be removed again. Especially when there’s newly delivered examples at Hyde road that haven’t even been PDI’d (pre delivery inspection) yet.
 

py_megapixel

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As for the conversion from singles to deckers on Mainline route (to/from Manchester for example) then this is Stagecoach Policy and has been for a while hence why its rare you see singles on Manchester routes from Hyde Road, Stockport and Sharston Depots.
Stockport only has a handful of singles left now anyway (they go out on the 312 and then a couple of other random routes each day). Even on Stockport locals, the vast, vast majority of the allocation is now doubles.
 

gka472l

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On the bus times website they have now made a Metroline one. On the fleet list it has two Gemini’s which are used for training.

There's a shot of them on Flickr, doesn't say where it was taken though, although the Arriva sign on the shelter on the right could possibly be at Wythenshawe? https://www.flickr.com/photos/rossendalevyking/53846678177

HTH

EDIT - on looking on Google maps, it's Wythenshawe.....shelter & green walkways look correct if the shot was taken just outside the entrance
 

py_megapixel

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Can anyone offer any actual insight into why on earth Bee Network spec vehicles specifically have been chosen for transfer to the south coast? Or, for that matter, what they were doing at Hyde Road (and Stockport) in the first place? Without context this seems an utterly baffling decision.
 

mancbus

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There's a shot of them on Flickr, doesn't say where it was taken though, although the Arriva sign on the shelter on the right could possibly be at Wythenshawe? https://www.flickr.com/photos/rossendalevyking/53846678177

HTH

EDIT - on looking on Google maps, it's Wythenshawe.....shelter & green walkways look correct if the shot was taken just outside the entrance
What vehicles do you think Wythneshawe will get?
 

darylyates17

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8 Nov 2015
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St Helens
Can anyone offer any actual insight into why on earth Bee Network spec vehicles specifically have been chosen for transfer to the south coast? Or, for that matter, what they were doing at Hyde Road (and Stockport) in the first place? Without context this seems an utterly baffling decision.
Maybe more have been ordered than was required
 

Class 466

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Can anyone offer any actual insight into why on earth Bee Network spec vehicles specifically have been chosen for transfer to the south coast? Or, for that matter, what they were doing at Hyde Road (and Stockport) in the first place? Without context this seems an utterly baffling decision.
Most of the 24 plate Enviro 400MMCs were a contingency order - don’t be surprised if more leave (even though some areas are lumbered with knackered Ex-Go North West B9TLs still).

Stagecoach have changed their fleet plans multiple times of late. Who knows what we’ll end up with!
 

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