toms
Member
This is a hypothetical question, but what about the routes that are due to be electrified at queens road but can’t be?
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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion
- Thread starter Leyland Bus
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mayneway
Member
Not sure.
darylyates17
Member
Could this have something to do with why the Mellors haven't left for Diamond yet?
MCRTransitYT
Member
No, thats all because of the E100ev problems that were eventually sent to Oldham.
darylyates17
Member
Had a feeling it was a separate issue.
MCRTransitYT
Member
I mean it's possible as 44904 is still in service so it's likely the last solo hasnt moved from Oldham to Queens
mayneway
Member
As far as I’m aware 3 Mellors have gone and one is to be retained.
They're still at the depot
mayneway
Member
Withdrawn though?
Yeah have been out of use for a while
darylyates17
Member
Thought 4 were going to Diamond not 3?
MCRTransitYT
Member
Yes, all 4 are going to Diamond to become 21247-50 under rotala
darylyates17
Member
Obviously some confusion over 44904 with it still being in service.
MCRTransitYT
Member
3458 is the next bus to receive a bit of bridge, has hit Weston Street Bridge this evening while deadrunning back to the depot. Strange how it happened nearly a year ago (26th November i believe) with either 3452 or 3453 (can't remember which one)
mayneway
Member
Hate jumping to conclusions but wonder if it’s a coincidence Bolton depot is once again heavy with agency drivers from all over the country
JasonL
Member
Don't the drivers know that they can't go down there?
Looking at Bus Times after reading about this incident it's previous trip was 18:00 10 service which finished at Brookhouse so for this to have happened the driver has obviously headed the normal route back to Depot via M60/A666 but instead of coming off at Trinity Street they've decided for some reason to come off the junction before at Raikes Lane and head direct via Weston Street to Depot.
I do wonder whether after what's happened whether additional protection like Barton Bridge will be fitted to Weston Street Bridge, for example overhead beams and chains before the bridge in both directions and additional warning signs on the approach to the bridge. The only problem though with what I've suggested though is is there enough room to put height beams and chains on each side of the bride in on Weston Street as I'm not particularly sure.
I do wonder whether after what's happened whether additional protection like Barton Bridge will be fitted to Weston Street Bridge, for example overhead beams and chains before the bridge in both directions and additional warning signs on the approach to the bridge. The only problem though with what I've suggested though is is there enough room to put height beams and chains on each side of the bride in on Weston Street as I'm not particularly sure.
Class 466
Established Member
Do GNW still have driver retention issues? I know it’s fairly industry wide post covid but some depots definitely seem to fare worse than others in Manchester.Hate jumping to conclusions but wonder if it’s a coincidence Bolton depot is once again heavy with agency drivers from all over the country
Leyland Bus
Member
This will be Barton Lane bridge again, agency or not this is unacceptable. Anyone doing this should have thier bus entitlement revoked, a hefty fine and atleast 6 points on thier car license. There are no excuses for this.Hate jumping to conclusions but wonder if it’s a coincidence Bolton depot is once again heavy with agency drivers from all over the country
mattyharding
On Moderation
That could have also affected trains as well as it hit a bridge carrying the railway
MCRTransitYT
Member
I checked bolton departures and there wasn't any major delays other than delays caused by a points failure between Piccadilly and the airport which causes Blackpool North services to be terminated at picc
mayneway
Member
Nothing to do with Barton lane it’s the bridge on western street just further down from the depot. All employed drivers are certainly were given training on induction about dead runs and which way to return to the Bolton depot, there are strong rumours the driver in this instance had come off the 10 and run dead back to depot using the sat nav on his phone and it’s took them the quickest way back.
Not disagreeing with you but In some instances the company have to take some blame. Drivers at Bolton certainly were always told which way to return to depot so why hasn’t this driver? Again we don’t know the circumstances but what’s the chances it’s someone that’s been rushed out to cover open work without the adequate training.
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From what I believe things settled down until Metroline and stagecoach got the pay deal and it’s left them short again.
My mates agency down in south and he has been contacted by two agencies he does work for offering him 16 weeks at Bolton depot - he’s refused.
A former colleague of mine at Bolton has confirmed the place is ‘flooded’ with agency once again.
Hate to turn things political but twice now Burnham has pledged to end the use of agency drivers and it turns out more are being taken on.
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It would be good to have a separate thread about BN staffing, if there isn’t one already. It’s an interesting and somewhat unique scenario, and very political, as you mention.
Haydocky
New Member
17/18 were marked for electrification so moved to Oldham. Other routes could be moved to Middleton upon completion, but this is just a guess.
Also worth mentioning that the free buses in the city centre are still Queens routes, but the buses are charged at Oldham and brought into the city by Oldham drivers for Queens drivers to use - or so I've been told.
Leyland Bus
Member
I was meaning the discussion of it, I know which darn bridge has been hit!
And no, as per Barton Lane, the bridge has possibly the largest neon lettering reading "LOW BRIDGE" in the area, agency or not, drivers have eyes. Also, low bridge info is absolutely plastered round the main driver areas, on the tv monitors, blink everywhere, it is inexcusable and if he was using his phone for satnav, even more so as they're made for cars...
mayneway
Member
I see what your saying now and yes it is inexcusable - at the end of the day he or she is a professional driver and should know what a bus will and will not go under.
I will however say, having worked as an agency driver and for Go North west that sometimes there is a rush to send drivers out and get ‘wheels turning’. When heywood first opened agency drivers were only shown routes once. There was no desire to show them preferred dead runs and areas to avoid so if that’s the case here - we don’t and won’t ever know, then the company should shoulder some blame, and as I found out recently TFGM is coming down hard on operators who are involved in these kinds of incidents.
Let’s just be thankful nobody was onboard and hurt at the time!
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Not sure on the logistics of the free buses getting too and from queens road, however the original plan was to move the free bus to Middleton as it was TFGM’s desire to have the free bus fully electric.
However the union stepped in and reminded management as there was a dedicated freebus rosta they couldn’t just move the work to another depot and expect drivers to either move with the work or remain and do regular work so this is why it’s currently run the way it is.
Out of interest apart from the usual routes are there any oddities programmed into Stagecoach Manchester's blinds? I only ask as I believe 27932 has been photographed showing 11 Altrincham complete with via points while parked up at Salford Shopping City today.
Am I right in thinking that for ease of transfer some if not all route are programmed into various Bee Network vehicles?
Am I right in thinking that for ease of transfer some if not all route are programmed into various Bee Network vehicles?
Besides the location I don’t see what is odd about that, Service 11 is run by Stagecoach Manchester
MCRTransitYT
Member
The bus isn't Stockport depot so why should a Queens Road bus have a route not in its depot?
I would imagine a test blind, just like how Wigan depot gnw buses have the bolton 8 on it
All Stagecoach Manchester routes are in the blinds on the buses at Queens, at least they are on the Hanovers anyway not 100% sure about the newly fitted Mobitecs