TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[darylyates17]

They were supposed to be moving to Oldham to join the rest there, not sure if that's still the case.

Would presume they'll get done after they move was thinking it would be the case.

 

[mayneway]

Can someone tell me how many bzls ashton depot is getting

According to the PR Metroline have put out today 20 have entered service, but 80 will be there altogether ‘making it the first fully electric depot’ within the Bee network.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2025 ==

They were supposed to be moving to Oldham to join the rest there, not sure if that's still the case.

Most probably move to Oldham once the E100’s enter service, or suitable vehicles for the Freebus are made available.

I notice while most if not all of Oldhams ex Oxford hybrids have been refurbished there’s still several ex GNW B5’s that haven’t been touched. Maybe once all of Oldhams have been done the batch at Queens will be done.

 

[M60lad]

Considering most have been done now how many of the ex First E300s are yet to have the Bee Network refurbishment done also is there any plans to have these fitted in the near future with next stop displays?

With Ashton shortly being first fully electrified Bee Network Depot what's going to happen to the diesel/hybrid fleet what depot/s if any will they move to? Considering Oldham is a B5 depot could we actually see the current Ashton Depot B5s moving there?

 

[mayneway]

Considering most have been done now how many of the ex First E300s are yet to have the Bee Network refurbishment done also is there any plans to have these fitted in the near future with next stop displays?

With Ashton shortly being first fully electrified Bee Network Depot what's going to happen to the diesel/hybrid fleet what depot/s if any will they move to? Considering Oldham is a B5 depot could we actually see the current Ashton Depot B5s moving there?

There’s still 16 E300’s to be refurbished.

I honestly can’t see any of the vehicles for tranche 3 moving to Oldham. Priority will be returning the loaned E400’s back to Stagecoach.

As I’ve said previously, TFGM are apparently in talks with neighbouring authorities (presumably Merseyside) to either loan or sell buses onto them for their franchising.

Makes me wonder what the long term plans are for the Scania’s and unused B9’s which have sat in the army reserves car park in Failsworth since January.

 

[Class 466]

There’s still 16 E300’s to be refurbished.

I honestly can’t see any of the vehicles for tranche 3 moving to Oldham. Priority will be returning the loaned E400’s back to Stagecoach.

As I’ve said previously, TFGM are apparently in talks with neighbouring authorities (presumably Merseyside) to either loan or sell buses onto them for their franchising.

Makes me wonder what the long term plans are for the Scania’s and unused B9’s which have sat in the army reserves car park in Failsworth since January.

Scanias (especially) would make good target practice

 

[mayneway]

Scanias (especially) would make good target practice

I can think of plenty of practical uses for them
But on a serious note, these and the B9’s were purchased by TFGM, and I’m pretty sure they must have expected to get more usage out of them than they did, plus while they are parked up they are costing money in storage fee’s etc.
be interesting to see where they end up.


On another note, I notice Belle Vue are painting the former TFGM yellow school bus Versa’s white and selling them on. Presumably these were purchased after TFGM withdrew them all, but what happened to the rest?
Last time I was at Little Hulten depot there were around 10-20 parked up not in use.

 

[mangad]

On another note, I notice Belle Vue are painting the former TFGM yellow school bus Versa’s white and selling them on. Presumably these were purchased after TFGM withdrew them all, but what happened to the rest?
Last time I was at Little Hulten depot there were around 10-20 parked up not in use.

Belle Vue are still running some of them in yellow. Regularly see them out and about, often taking school children swimming.

Perhaps they now have more than they need so are getting rid of some.

 

[mayneway]

Belle Vue are still running some of them in yellow. Regularly see them out and about, often taking school children swimming.

Perhaps they now have more than they need so are getting rid of some.

Yes they use a mixture of Versa’s and coaches on the baths contracts, however many are being advertised on the trade sites painted white and for sale so clearly purchased some or all of them at some point from TFGM.

 

[Redmike]

Is there a reason that Stockport depot’s Ultroliners never venture from the 330? I can’t think of a reason why they couldn’t run on the 325 or 192 for example.

 

[Cavendish1]

Spotted the first 16 reg E400 MMC to be refurbished on the 350 yesterday, 10604.

 

[mayneway]

Is there a reason that Stockport depot’s Ultroliners never venture from the 330? I can’t think of a reason why they couldn’t run on the 325 or 192 for example.

Compliance.
TFGM will have insisted the ultroliners run on the 330. If one runs on something else it would be a fine for stagecoach.

 

[Class 466]

Is there a reason that Stockport depot’s Ultroliners never venture from the 330? I can’t think of a reason why they couldn’t run on the 325 or 192 for example.

They are fixed to that route as there’s a regularly used short term diversion on the 192 that would involve a low bridge. Stagecoach have opted to just allocate them solely a route where there’s no risk as they’re non-standard.

 

[M60lad]

Rather an odd working last night saw Oldham Solo SR 48105 operating a single trip on 182 (17:05 Shaw-Piccadilly). While some might say this shouldn't happen I can actually see the logic here as Mon-Fri there's both a 181 & 182 leaving Shaw within 5 mins of each other, 182 leaves Shaw at 17:05 with 181 leaving Shaw at 17:12 and both of these return empty to Depot after getting to Manchester, the next 182 from Manchester at 18:47 runs empty from Depot to Manchester.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Whats happening with 6165? Not been out since early feb

 

[WWH44L]

Whats happening with 6165? Not been out since early feb

At Thorntons for repaint and refurb.

 

[Jacobdas]

I’m was just wondering if there will be any new buses going to middleton depot?

 

[mayneway]

I’m was just wondering if there will be any new buses going to middleton depot?

Middleton is currently in the process of being electrified, once it’s complete there should be some big changes.
Not entirely sure how far along the electrification works are as Stagecoach/TFGM reportedly rented a yard a stones throw from
Morrisons in Hollinwood to operate from while the final phase of the work was completed but as of yet they haven’t moved out.

 

[gka472l]

Supposed to be getting BZL's from what I'm aware of, 86031-86069 being the numbers.....

 

[mayneway]

Queens road clearly struggling this morning as Mellor 44901 was used on extremely busy 52’s until lunchtime when it was swapped.

 

[darylyates17]

Middleton is currently in the process of being electrified, once it’s complete there should be some big changes.
Not entirely sure how far along the electrification works are as Stagecoach/TFGM reportedly rented a yard a stones throw from
Morrisons in Hollinwood to operate from while the final phase of the work was completed but as of yet they haven’t moved out.

This will explain why a lot of Tridents are still in use and the 2 ex JPT E300s

 

[mangad]

Noticed yesterday that that there was a blue vehicle on the 385, with no Bee Network branding at all but with large Diamond logos - BC20 OCU according to bustimes.org - which is normally relegated to school services, despite not being that old. Given Diamond's Bee Network fleet is pretty much new and yellow, although with a couple of white vehicles, seems an unusual move.

 

[mayneway]

Noticed yesterday that that there was a blue vehicle on the 385, with no Bee Network branding at all but with large Diamond logos - BC20 OCU according to bustimes.org - which is normally relegated to school services, despite not being that old. Given Diamond's Bee Network fleet is pretty much new and yellow, although with a couple of white vehicles, seems an unusual move.

The school fleet does sneak onto regular work now and again so it’s probably covering for something that’s broken down.

 

[M60lad]

Nothing odd in an operator using an unbranded Bee Network vehicle on a Bee Network route, Stagecoach Manchester are doing it daily with 10429 although this probably has special dispensation considering the RAF livery/branding it carries.

 

[mangad]

Nothing odd in an operator using an unbranded Bee Network vehicle on a Bee Network route, Stagecoach Manchester are doing it daily with 10429 although this probably has special dispensation considering the RAF livery/branding it carries.

It's not an unbranded bus. It's a fully branded bus. The wrong brand. With big Diamond logos all over it.

 

[Nymanic]

For the record, it looks like three of the four vehicles deployed on the 87 last Saturday (22/03) were Diamond-branded - one of which had both Bee Network and Diamond branding. (For completeness, the fourth vehicle was a diminutive Mellor Orion)

While presumably due to vehicle shortages, it's still curious to see this happening on days when there are no school runs to cater for.

 

[mayneway]

Nothing odd in an operator using an unbranded Bee Network vehicle on a Bee Network route, Stagecoach Manchester are doing it daily with 10429 although this probably has special dispensation considering the RAF livery/branding it carries.

Other than it’s non compliance and everytime it starts a journey the operating company are fined!

Im not sure on 10429, when it was at Queens road it was only supposed to be used on the Freebus.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

It's not an unbranded bus. It's a fully branded bus. The wrong brand. With big Diamond logos all over it.

Isn't branded for bee network and its a Stagecoach bus so won't have Diamond logos

 

[mangad]

Isn't branded for bee network and its a Stagecoach bus so won't have Diamond logos

Well no. But I was referring to a Diamond vehicle in their standard livery with very big Diamond logos - that is certainly not unbranded - used on Bee Network services, not a Stagecoach vehicle that's probably being treated as a bus in all over advertising.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Red B5LH hybrid takeover on the free bus this morning!
Photo shows Stagecoach 13179 and 13181 at Piccadilly railway station with 13178 in the background

 

[W176 XMA]

Red B5LH hybrid takeover on the free bus this morning!
Photo shows Stagecoach 13179 and 13181 at Piccadilly railway station with 13178 in the background

All the QR B5s are normally on the free bus though they do stray from time to time