Once 13175-79/81 arrive at Oldham Depot I can see them being used on various routes including 348 & 350s nothing stopping them really. One regular route that the former Oxford B5s are used on these days is 81 with one of the duties on 81 finishing by doing 19:12 182 Manchester-Shaw service.
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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion
- Thread starter Leyland Bus
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mattyharding
On Moderation
But they are so unreliable and constantly breaking down like 1 broke down yesterday on the 348
Class 466
Established Member
It’s not that strange. Ticket Machines stop tracking occasionally
mayneway
Member
The ticket machines are awful at the moment. Don’t know how much TFGM are paying tickiter but there’s been some software updates recently that have left machines virtually unusable. Generally they are very laggy and often take seconds to respond after a passenger has put a card on the reader or I’ve pressed a button.
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The B9’s were unreliable as were the Scania’s but TFGM insisted they were to be used and it will be the same with the B5’s.
Class 466
Established Member
As expected, Free bus is now pretty much solely BZL operated with vehicles cycling on/off for charging at Oldham during the day.
MCRTransitYT
Member
It's probably been mentioned before but can they not use the chargers installed on Piccadilly approach?
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Yeah it has, they were unreliable apparently
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Yeah it has, they were unreliable apparently
darylyates17
Member
I wonder if the B5s moving to Oldham that these BZLs are replacing will free up the few classic E400s they have?
Class 466
Established Member
Nope, that’ll happen when Middleton goes electric- most of the Queens Road B5s will go into reserve at Oldham
mattyharding
On Moderation
What does "reserve" mean
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Spare I think incase buses break down/need repair
mayneway
Member
The chargers at Piccadilly changed companies soon after Stagecoach took over queens road and the fast charge option was no longer free so would have required payment via an app. This is why the electric Versa’s started appearing on services like the 149 instead of the free bus.
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The classic E400’s are only officially at Oldham as part of the schools fleet, but ironically many have ended up out in regular service when B5’s have failed.
Also worth mentioning that solo 48108 turned up on a peak afternoon 348 again today.
Considering what I keep hearing about compliance on various routes what does this mean exactly? Are there certain routes that can only have certain types of vehicles allocated, for example I've heard/read recently that Oldham's B5s aren't supposedly allowed on 17s despite one appearing this week. Can PTE fine a Bee Network company if a certain type of vehicle is used where it isn't meant to be used?
Also Oldham Depot's 402 service is mainly Solos but quite regularly a E300 or even a double decker will deputise if a Solo isn't available usually on a Saturday morning.
Also Oldham Depot's 402 service is mainly Solos but quite regularly a E300 or even a double decker will deputise if a Solo isn't available usually on a Saturday morning.
If it is the contract specification and that is breached then there are usually penalties such as reduced payments. If it is persistent then TfGM could threaten to terminate the contract but that might be a bit extreme.
If an E300 or decker deputises for a Solo we can at least be sure there will be adequate passenger capacity, the converse should be a bigger worry. I suspect that the Bee Network is trying to get by with too few spare buses.
Another thing which could help would be if the school work were to be shared out more equitably between the depots, one or two of the bigger depots have hardly any school work at all, so there aren't enough buses running back in between peaks.
mayneway
Member
Basically every route/board has a specified vehicle type. I’d imagine the 348 for example will probably specify HYBRID D/D. It’s not an issue if any other decker is used as long as it meets age requirements but if a single is used or even a solo then it’s a breach.
Oldham were getting away with compliance at one point as there was issues with the chargers at the depot so obviously to make service anything and everything has been used but im not sure if that’s still the case.
Hyde road will also have few restrictions as they are still using the B9’s.
The Bee Network site has a route checker. It certainly shows some Stagecoach Manchester services running normally, such as the 53 and 135. A quick check showed one Little Hulton route as running too.
mayneway
Member
Queens road and Middleton depot are the only two depots that will be operating along with all the Go North west depots and Diamomd depots.
All Metroline depots, stagecoach Stockport and Oldham and First Rochdale will be running no services.
*edit* Middleton also on strike.
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That is, of course, if it's still a Little Hulton route. A few school services seem to have been transferred between depots/companies.
toms
Member
Isn’t the 469 operated from Middleton, it’s stated that it will not operate on both strike days
Class 466
Established Member
Which ones have changed companies? I know some moved around stagecoach depots.
I can't remember which one it was now (low 600s is as much as I remember !) but bustimes said the vehicle was from Little Hulton, and the bus only did school services with no interworking with non-school services. So that fit.
mayneway
Member
I wasn’t aware Middleton were included in the strike but they possibly are.
toms
Member
Could be an error on tfgms end possibly because I don’t remember seeing other Middleton routes but I could be very wrong
mayneway
Member
I’ve checked they are out on strike.
I had the 721, 768, and 893 recorded as having been let under the Queens Road Large franchise in tranche 2. I now find I have also got the 893 recorded as having been let under the Oldham Large franchise (tranche 2) and the 721 and 768 recorded as having been let under the Tameside Large franchise (tranche 3). In reality the 893 is being operated by Stagecoach Oldham, the 721 by Metrolink Ashton (only operates PM?), and the 768 by Metrolink Ashton (AM) and Diamond Eccles (PM). I haven't found any trace of the 768 having been let under any franchise subsequently picked up by Diamond.
py_megapixel
Established Member
18 route also shows as not operating on strike days
18 is operated out of Oldham Depot so of course won't be operating on any of the strike days.
Apparently some School Services are operating that are normally operated by depot's that are involved in the Strike Action so not to sure which Depot's are operating these or where drivers are coming from to operate them as nobody would want to cross a picket line.
Apparently some School Services are operating that are normally operated by depot's that are involved in the Strike Action so not to sure which Depot's are operating these or where drivers are coming from to operate them as nobody would want to cross a picket line.
I have just looked at the live tracking on bustimes and cross checked three Stagecoach Manchester schools services that are running and the TfGM checker says they are all unaffected so must be run by non striking depots.
First are running multiple schools services this morning and right now, no others.
This probably should be discussed on the other Bee Network thread through.