TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[baza585]

If

It's to do with the paint code, in that it's not a standard fixed RAL or BS colour. It's a very loose definition so to speak amd it means that different paint companies will produce it to "their" spec rather than a standard spec and so there are variations. There's atleast 5 at Bolton alone...

If you'll excuse the pun, that's not a very bright idea, to put it mildly, particularly when multiple paint shops are involved!

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

It's to do with the paint code, in that it's not a standard fixed RAL or BS colour. It's a very loose definition so to speak amd it means that different paint companies will produce it to "their" spec rather than a standard spec and so there are variations. There's atleast 5 at Bolton alone...

Thank goodness, I thought my eyes were going funny!

On the subject of single-deck BZLs there are at least eleven in the yard at Hyde Road at the moment, as seen in the (dodgy grab shot from a train) photo below;

 

[Class 466]

I don't know if this has been discussed before (88 pages is a lot to get through) but I was in Manchester a few weekends ago and was intrigued that the buses and trams seemed to be painted in different shades of yellow

Trams aren't even in Bee Network Livery with many permanantly in Advertising liveries to cover up what remains of the vinyl spots that have faded on most of them.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2025 ==

Thank goodness, I thought my eyes were going funny!

On the subject of single-deck BZLs there are at least eleven in the yard at Hyde Road at the moment, as seen in the (dodgy grab shot from a train) photo below;

ready to go on the 150!

 

[M60lad]

Not to sure if Middleton have got something in return but ex First E300 27950 is now at Queens Road, not sure whether its covering for anything there but surprised its not gone back to Oldham Depot where it was originally allocated

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

Not to sure if Middleton have got something in return but ex First E300 27950 is now at Queens Road, not sure whether its covering for anything there but surprised its not gone back to Oldham Depot where it was originally allocated

Middleton have 10849 on loan from Queens Road.

 

[toms]

What are the plans for the repainted ex first vantage buses at Go North West? Will they have a refurb or are their plans for a newer fleet

 

[M60lad]

Stagecoach Manchester Enviro400City 11928 is currently at Middleton Depot on loan and E300 27827 is currently operating out of Oldham if this is a loan to Oldham is there a reason for the loan/what is it covering for?

 

[mayneway]

Stagecoach Manchester Enviro400City 11928 is currently at Middleton Depot on loan and E300 27827 is currently operating out of Oldham if this is a loan to Oldham is there a reason for the loan/what is it covering for?

Last I heard was Middleton were short of deckers due to a number being off for RTC and MoT’s etc

 

[Class 466]

Last I heard was Middleton were short of deckers due to a number being off for RTC and MoT’s etc

There’s a few hybrid Enviro 400s there that haven’t seen service for months now

 

[mayneway]

It’s been announced internally that the single deck BZL’s will operate on the freebus from the 7th July on a trail basis to see how they get on. I’m not too sure on how they will be charged etc but drivers are to be familiarised on them this week at Queens Road.

 

[Class 466]

It’s been announced internally that the single deck BZL’s will operate on the freebus from the 7th July on a trail basis to see how they get on. I’m not too sure on how they will be charged etc but drivers are to be familiarised on them this week at Queens Road.

Believe it’s overnight at Oldham - only 2 being used at the start of said trial.

 

[darylyates17]

It’s been announced internally that the single deck BZL’s will operate on the freebus from the 7th July on a trail basis to see how they get on. I’m not too sure on how they will be charged etc but drivers are to be familiarised on them this week at Queens Road.

Is it Queens Road that’s running them but charged at Oldham?

 

[mayneway]

Believe it’s overnight at Oldham - only 2 being used at the start of said trial.

That’s some waisted mileage to charge them.

 

[toms]

Are the BZLs still due to go out on the Freebus today? haven’t seen one yet

 

[py_megapixel]

Metroline seems to be doing various works on the BYD/ADL EVs at Sharston including the usual Bee Network interior refurbishment but also new destination boards (or perhaps just controllers?) and passenger information system supplied by Mobitec.

Seems a strange decision to prioritise these given the number of much older hybrid E400s still running around in worse condition (and with no interior PIS at all), unless replacement of those is tabled so soon that they aren't expected to be done at all.

 

[toms]

Metroline seems to be doing various works on the BYD/ADL EVs at Sharston including the usual Bee Network interior refurbishment but also new destination boards (or perhaps just controllers?) and passenger information system supplied by Mobitec.

Seems a strange decision to prioritise these given the number of much older hybrid E400s still running around in worse condition (and with no interior PIS at all), unless replacement of those is tabled so soon that they aren't expected to be done at all.

Same has happened with some Stagecoach MMCs

 

[Geeves]

Are the BZLs still due to go out on the Freebus today? haven’t seen one yet

Toms. I saw one heading back towards Queens Road out of service around 1345 today, but it seems to be the usual rag tag bunch out on the work currently. Pretty sure I saw a Mellor breadvan go past Victoria earlier...

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Metroline seems to be doing various works on the BYD/ADL EVs at Sharston including the usual Bee Network interior refurbishment but also new destination boards (or perhaps just controllers?) and passenger information system supplied by Mobitec.

Seems a strange decision to prioritise these given the number of much older hybrid E400s still running around in worse condition (and with no interior PIS at all), unless replacement of those is tabled so soon that they aren't expected to be done at all.

The hybrids aren't lasting longer so they do the evs first. Also AVA is a legal requirement of buses of a certain age which the hybrids aren't at yet but the evs are

 

[toms]

Toms. I saw one heading back towards Queens Road out of service around 1345 today, but it seems to be the usual rag tag bunch out on the work currently. Pretty sure I saw a Mellor breadvan go past Victoria earlier...

I’ve seen the mellor on freebus a couple hours ago along with the usual couple of MMC and Gemini

 

[Bungle965]

I’ve seen the mellor on freebus a couple hours ago along with the usual couple of MMC and Gemini

Yep!
Does appear to be one out:

21248 - LV24 RPY

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Mellor Strata

bustimes.org

I have noticed in the past few weeks that they do stray onto the Free Bus at times, perhaps more unusually it appears to have started it's day on the 52!

 

[toms]

To add to what’s been said regarding AVA requirements for buses by October 2025, does this also include Bee Network school buses?

 

[py_megapixel]

The hybrids aren't lasting longer so they do the evs first. Also AVA is a legal requirement of buses of a certain age which the hybrids aren't at yet but the evs are

I take it AVA is the interior information systems. The Sharston EVs already had these systems installed and working; what Metroline has done is replaced an old system, supplied by Hanover Displays when the vehicles were originally delivered to Stagecoach, with a new one, supplied by Mobitec.

 

[toms]

I take it AVA is the interior information systems. The Sharston EVs already had these systems installed and working; what Metroline has done is replaced an old system, supplied by Hanover Displays when the vehicles were originally delivered to Stagecoach, with a new one, supplied by Mobitec.

I really cannot see why this has been made priority, the systems were fine as they were and Stagecoach have coped with their 69/20 mmcs fine having those systems.

 

[py_megapixel]

To add to what’s been said regarding AVA requirements for buses by October 2025, does this also include Bee Network school buses?

The national regulations don't apply to school services but I don't know what TfGM might stipulate on top of them. (For example, I know TfGM is specifying additional displays for visibility from rear-facing wheelchair spaces even on buses where the regulations don't require them)

 

[toms]

The national regulations don't apply to school services but I don't know what TfGM might stipulate on top of them. (For example, I know TfGM is specifying additional displays for visibility from rear-facing wheelchair spaces even on buses where the regulations don't require them)

Crazy how just because it’s a school service blind or deaf school children do not matter. I realise that it is probably an unlikely scenario for a child of this category to be getting on a bus alone without some sort of assistance but still

 

[Class 466]

Are the BZLs still due to go out on the Freebus today? haven’t seen one yet

66074 is out today on the 1 currently

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

Stagecoach Manchester’s ex Hyde Road based 19497 (MX09ASU) seems to have re-entered service for the first time since January now running out of Middleton depot.

 

[Class 466]

Stagecoach Manchester’s ex Hyde Road based 19497 (MX09ASU) seems to have re-entered service for the first time since January now running out of Middleton depot.

Not entirely surprised with 6 of those NK11 Hybrids now off the road

 

[darylyates17]

Not entirely surprised with 6 of those NK11 Hybrids now off the road

Seems be a thing that Stagecoach are getting rid of them outside of Manchester & London, maybe the Middleton examples are not far off being added to that list.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2025 ==

How many BZLs are for Queens Road?

 

[DDJohn]

Seems be a thing that Stagecoach are getting rid of them outside of Manchester & London, maybe the Middleton examples are not far off being added to that list.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2025 ==

How many BZLs are for Queens Road?

I've heard that 2 are being used as a trial, and if its deemed successful then 12 (66071-66082) have already been allocated from TfGM