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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

py_megapixel

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Does anyone have any idea of what Metroline's fleet plans? I believe as far as the new orders go there are the 126 Wright double decks, some quantity (how many?) of ADL single decks and, if the previous tranches are anything to go off, 50-100 electric double decks purchased by TfGM, but that still leaves a lot open.

Yes, Wrightbus Electroliner double decks. Current electric routes 36,37,471 to go 100% electric and additional corridor to be electrified (won’t name which; suspect TfGM will want to announce).
Are these being purchased by TfGM, as with the existing electrics, or by Go-Ahead?
 
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CJ1

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Does anyone have any idea of what Metroline's fleet plans? I believe as far as the new orders go there are the 126 Wright double decks, some quantity (how many?) of ADL single decks and, if the previous tranches are anything to go off, 50-100 electric double decks purchased by TfGM, but that still leaves a lot open.
I believe they have ordered those Streetdeck Ultroliners, although not confirmed by Metroline or Wrightbus. Please correct me if I’m wrong but I haven’t seen anything of yet.

I quess they will order some ADL E400 MMCs and more E200 MMCs. No doubt they will order some EVs, I’m guessing the Streetdeck/GB Kite Electroliners along with some other EVs. No clue as of yet.

I heard somewhere that they are going to bring up some E200s, E400Hs and B5LHs from Metroline London. Not sure when though. Although regarding the E200s I think it’s the YX12 and YX61 ex First E200s they are bringing up.
 

GCH100

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My best guess, based on no knowledge whatsoever(!) is a Wigan to Leigh route so every borough can see electrics. There's a few filling shakers currently on the 609.

As far as I am aware nothing at Wigan can be electrified, as the depot has not been selected for conversion to electric, only routes based at Bolton in Go North West for the moment can be made electric, what will possibly happen is that these will be replaced by former Diamond North West Wright StreetDecks, cascaded from Bolton. If they want to see a route into the Wigan borough electrified, then maybe the 582 Leigh - Atherton - Bolton service which has a run out of about 11 or 12 vehicles, that would leave the remainder for the 36, 37 and 471 which seems possible, the other route they might electrify would be the 8 Manchester - Bolton.

The reason you cannot find a Metroline Wright StreetDeck order is possibly because none has been placed the order that the WrightBus website was related to was the past order in 2020, for 163 for Diamond North West plus a few others that where bought from WrightBus that were ex Demonstrators, this was the last large StreetDeck diesel order https://www.rotala.uk/news/rotala-announces-further-investment-in-new-vehicles.html
 
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Mwanesh

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As I understand it ADL was contractually bound to only supply BYD EVs for a set number of years. That came to an end this year and as you say clearly ADL wish to concentrate on their own product. While it was widely assumed the partnership would come to an end the abruptness of it appears to taken a lot of people by surprise, me included.
BYD are going it alone .Saw in the trade press they will be supplying some units to Go Ahead London.
 

Leyland Bus

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The reason you cannot find a Metroline Wright StreetDeck order is possibly because none has been placed the order that the WrightBus website was related to was the past order in 2020, for 163 for Diamond North West plus a few others that where bought from WrightBus that were ex Demonstrators, this was the last large StreetDeck diesel order https://www.rotala.uk/news/rorotala-announces-further-investment-in-new-vehicles.html
As has already been discussed around post #788 the above article (which annoyingly links to a photograph of a newspaper article on Wright's own website!) states that
"of the 1,000 plus buses that will roll of the production line this year, only 12% will be conventional diesel, a legacy order of 126 buses for Manchester"

Now given that article was written on the 4th April 2024, I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the Diamond order but it also doesn't say who in Manchester or what the buses are. I peraonally can't find where it states 126 StreetDecks but it is early in the morning...
 

Class 466

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The reason you cannot find a Metroline Wright StreetDeck order is possibly because none has been placed the order that the WrightBus website was related to was the past order in 2020, for 163 for Diamond North West plus a few others that where bought from WrightBus that were ex Demonstrators, this was the last large StreetDeck diesel order https://www.rotala.uk/news/rotala-announces-further-investment-in-new-vehicles.html
There are photos online of new Streetdecks with the revised front in Bee Network livery being towed. Metroline have definitely ordered some new ones.

Over 300 new buses are due to enter service going by this contract with journeo
 

CJ1

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Andy Burnham is due at Alexanders in Falkirk tomorrow to see some Manchester buses on the production line
Do you know what type of vehicles it is in production?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

There are photos online of new Streetdecks with the revised front in Bee Network livery being towed. Metroline have definitely ordered some new ones.
Where did you find these photos, please could you supply a link?
 

Class 466

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Do you know what type of vehicles it is in production?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


Where did you find these photos, please could you supply a link?
Initially shared in a Discord server. I have it to hand but as nobody seems to know the original copyright holder I cannot post it.
 

Citibus

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Where did you find these photos, please could you supply a link

This is on a open to all Facebook group


Seen today outside wrightbus is a brand new streetdeck for bee network. Quite a few seen but not sure how many are due

 

johncrossley

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These came from First Berkshire, so why were they painted red instead of yellow after leaving First?

YX63 LKV
YX63 LLD
YX63 LLE
YX63 LLF
YX63 LLG
 
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Leyland Bus

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These came from First Berkshire, so why were they painted red instead of yellow after leaving First?

YX63 LKV
YX63 LLD
YX63 LLE
YX63 LLF
YX63 LLG
These (as has been mentioned before) are stop gap buses, along with the red and blue and blue and turquoise B7s. They aren't actually painted, they are half wrapped in red vinyl because a couple of them when at Ensign had had new fibreglass panels fitted which were red (FirstBus had to straighten the buses out before handing them back) so Ensign/GNW had them wrapped in red for speed.

Two of those 5 have also long since left the fleet and are now, I believe, with East Yorkshire.
 

johncrossley

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These (as has been mentioned before) are stop gap buses, along with the red and blue and blue and turquoise B7s. They aren't actually painted, they are half wrapped in red vinyl because a couple of them when at Ensign had had new fibreglass panels fitted which were red (FirstBus had to straighten the buses out before handing them back) so Ensign/GNW had them wrapped in red for speed.

Two of those 5 have also long since left the fleet and are now, I believe, with East Yorkshire.

Thanks for that, I must have missed it when discussed earlier.

bustimes.org shows all 5 in service today for Go North West.
 

Leyland Bus

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One of the three (as yet undecided) will likely move to Wigan to replace 4201 which will move to Denton Garage in due course.
 

Class 466

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Year long (so far) stop gaps with no replacements in sight for the current disorganised mess of a single decker fleet which includes some vehicles in a battered state with scuffs and dents all along the bodysides giving off the best impression of the Bee Network to visitors and commuters. And that’s before there’s any mention of the sub standard EvoSetis being put on what was once deemed a premium service.
 

CJ1

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Year long (so far) stop gaps with no replacements in sight for the current disorganised mess of a single decker fleet which includes some vehicles in a battered state with scuffs and dents all along the bodysides giving off the best impression of the Bee Network to visitors and commuters. And that’s before there’s any mention of the sub standard EvoSetis being put on what was once deemed a premium service.
Go-Aheads single deck fleet is pretty awful at the moment. The Citaros, Eclipses and Solos need to go. I’m not sure why they don’t bring up some 13, 63, 14, 64 plate E200s up from London, they will do the job and help them get up to capacity. I guess in time all the EvoSetis will get the full livery and refurb, although I thought they weren’t too bad. Wouldn’t mind if they brought some more up.
 

Dallamlad

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I know we’ve been over new fleet orders etc but does anyone know what the current thinking is around upgrading the V1 and V2? I’ve always thought Tri-axle models would be good but not sure what the limits of the infrastructure are?

I imagine standard electrics will be/have been ordered for flexibility but just curious.
 

Leedsbusman

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I know we’ve been over new fleet orders etc but does anyone know what the current thinking is around upgrading the V1 and V2? I’ve always thought Tri-axle models would be good but not sure what the limits of the infrastructure are?

I imagine standard electrics will be/have been ordered for flexibility but just curious.
Is there a tri axle electric double decker with guide wheels available for the UK?
 

CJ1

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I know we’ve been over new fleet orders etc but does anyone know what the current thinking is around upgrading the V1 and V2? I’ve always thought Tri-axle models would be good but not sure what the limits of the infrastructure are?

I imagine standard electrics will be/have been ordered for flexibility but just curious.
I think Go-Ahead want to use their Streetdeck Electroliners that are on order for the V1, V2 and V4 and possibly some others. I think they are going to allocate the ex First Vantage B5LH Gem3s on other routes eg 163, 472, 474 etc.
 

mic

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Oldhams B5 13166 now in Bee Network livery done inside and out
 

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py_megapixel

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Multiple doors would make a huge difference on the busway, as well as on other busy corridors, but I doubt they'll ever be ordered as there are too many places they wouldn't work. Drive-in-reverse-out bus stations seem to be favoured nowadays, and they have their advantages, but they also have some pretty major shortcomings and one of those is that they restrict vehicles using them to front doors only. Also plenty of roadside stops with shelters or other street furniture that would block the doors.

That said, street furniture can be moved and has to be replaced periodically anyway, so ensuring it is compatible would be a prudent decision in case it is desirable in the future. And the DI-RO bus stations in Manchester mostly (if not entirely) have a separate alighting stand which is outside the main building and could accommodate multiple doors. At a bus station, the ability to board through doors other than the front one isn't so important because, as long as the driver starts letting passengers on in good time, slow boarding won't delay the bus. (In fact, boarding through the front door only at all times might be desirable, for revenue protection reasons)
 

WWH44L

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I think Go-Ahead want to use their Streetdeck Electroliners that are on order for the V1, V2 and V4 and possibly some others. I think they are going to allocate the ex First Vantage B5LH Gem3s on other routes eg 163, 472, 474 etc.
It’s already reported in message 1188 that the 19 newbies are to allow routes 36/37/471 (plus one other) to go 100% electric.
 

CJ1

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It’s already reported in message 1188 that the 19 newbies are to allow routes 36/37/471 (plus one other) to go 100% electric.
These routes are already electric. As Class 466 said they are pretty much electric unless one breaks down. I would assume they would try to electrify some other routes like the Vantage routes or the 163 for example, although I’m not sure what depot it uses.
 

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