TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[Leyland Bus]

Does anyone know if GNW has retired their Volvo B9TL fleet? Non have been active since the 15th with quite a few showing no use since the 10th.

The 2 Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s are still active though on the V1 and V2 but I expect these will come off and go elsewhere where depending on GNW plans. There was one Volvo B5LH EvoSeti tracking on the V1 yesterday so it’ll only be be a matter of time before these are shifted over to the 163 service I assume.

As mentioned upthread, the B9s have been withdrawn.

The Gemini 3 B5s will continue until enough Electroliners have entered service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

GNW 6177 was parked up on Princess Street, facing St Peter's Square, around 16:50 yesterday, displaying 'Contract'.
Assumed this was being converted into a driver trainer like similar 6178 (now 9013), obvs not

6177 is being kept as a Private Hire vehicle.

 

[mayneway]

GNW 6177 was parked up on Princess Street, facing St Peter's Square, around 16:50 yesterday, displaying 'Contract'.
Assumed this was being converted into a driver trainer like similar 6178 (now 9013), obvs not

Saw it heading towards Denton depot yesterday afternoon, being driven by one of their enthusiast drivers/supervisors.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Saw it heading towards Denton depot yesterday afternoon, being driven by one of their enthusiast drivers/supervisors.

Yes, he seems to do the vast majority of them.

 

[mayneway]

Yes, he seems to do the vast majority of them.

He’s a good guy - worked with him for many years at Queens Road.

Interesting GNW hasn’t done any rail replacement for a while, they were very keen at one point to win what they could. Maybe with a private hire fleet developing this might be something that develops in the future.

 

[Leyland Bus]

He’s a good guy - worked with him for many years at Queens Road.

Interesting GNW hasn’t done any rail replacement for a while, they were very keen at one point to win what they could. Maybe with a private hire fleet developing this might be something that develops in the future.

He is, see him regularly whizzing round the garage...

 

[GCH100]

Why does Wigan need a new depot ? Current one is less than 20 years old and has plenty of space.

The site has been acquired by developers to allow the site to be used to access a new extension to the South Lancs Industrial Estate at the rear of this site.

 

[First Northern]

As mentioned upthread, the B9s have been withdrawn.

The Gemini 3 B5s will continue until enough Electroliners have entered service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==


6177 is being kept as a Private Hire vehicle.

Thanks Lea!

Looks like someone got a pic of 6177, found this on flickr.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_17com/55341544211/

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Does anybody know when the new Stagecoach StreetDeck Electroliners will arrive and enter Service? I know some of the Busway ones are still arriving from Ballymena but I remember seeing a picture of 82451 a few months ago but nothing has been said since

 

[mattyharding]

Does anybody know when the new Stagecoach StreetDeck Electroliners will arrive and enter Service? I know some of the Busway ones are still arriving from Ballymena but I remember seeing a picture of 82451 a few months ago but nothing has been said since

I'm hoping very soon as the Liverpool ones are on the way as well so we might be getting ours at the same time

 

[mayneway]

I'm hoping very soon as the Liverpool ones are on the way as well so we might be getting ours at the same time

Hopefully the issues with the chargers are rectified first.

 

[mattyharding]

Hopefully the issues with the chargers are rectified first.

I'm hoping the Electroliners and our future buses all have A/C

 

[Bovverboy]

GNW Streetdeck 3485 looks to have expired at Chaseley Road on the 2218 Picc Gardens to Leigh service 35 last night. It was almost on time at Fitzwarren Street, but 9 late at the next stop, and 35 late at Chaseley Road, where it stopped. It was still there when I passed at 0200, in complete darkness. Do you think people have forgotten about it?

 

[Leyland Bus]

GNW Streetdeck 3485 looks to have expired at Chaseley Road on the 2218 Picc Gardens to Leigh service 35 last night. It was almost on time at Fitzwarren Street, but 9 late at the next stop, and 35 late at Chaseley Road, where it stopped. It was still there when I passed at 0200, in complete darkness. Do you think people have forgotten about it?

No ofcourse no one has forgotten about it GNW have a contracted tow company, who also serve the whole of Greater Manchester and beyond for other work. There isn't a designated unit for GNW or Bee Network, so the bus will be collected when they have a wagon and driver available which, at that time of night, will be a much smaller pool than during the day...

 

[M60lad]

Also depending on how said tow company works their drivers might be on night time call out so it would depend on where the driver would have to come from.

 

[mattyharding]

Has the Bee Network ordered more ADL buses recently

 

[978wta]

Is GNW still operating out of Heywood? If so what services are run from there please?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Is GNW still operating out of Heywood? If so what services are run from there please?

Heywood is no more and buses now run out of Nelson St, Bolton instead. HTH

 

[M60lad]

Seems Go Northwest's Denton Depot have got a number of vehicles out of service at the moment which is leading to a few odd workings at the moment including Schoolbus E200 now seeing regular use on 339 & 396 services replacing a MMC200.

 

[Cavendish1]

Are there problems at ashton? A streetdeck has just passed me on the 346?

 

[Mollman]

Has the Bee Network ordered more ADL buses recently

Most recent announcements have been Wrights

 

[mayneway]

Are there problems at ashton? A streetdeck has just passed me on the 346?

There were issues with a number of the BZL’s during the heatwave last week where the fans powering the air cooling system burnt out, so contractors are on site sorting them out.

 

[Cavendish1]

There were issues with a number of the BZL’s during the heatwave last week where the fans powering the air cooling system burnt out, so contractors are on site sorting them out.

Thanks for that

 

[mayneway]

Seems Go Northwest's Denton Depot have got a number of vehicles out of service at the moment which is leading to a few odd workings at the moment including Schoolbus E200 now seeing regular use on 339 & 396 services replacing a MMC200.

Longer E200’s 4023 and 4025 are used pretty much on a daily basis on regular service work at Denton and have been for a while. I think it’s 4023 that doesn’t have a working destination blind so stays on the same service all day with paper numbers in the windscreen.

One of the ferry cars broke down last week in Hyde bus station, presuming it’s still off the road as one of the Evosetti’s was parked on layover in Ashton yesterday on taxi duties.

 

[Cavendish1]

Longer E200’s 4023 and 4025 are used pretty much on a daily basis on regular service work at Denton and have been for a while. I think it’s 4023 that doesn’t have a working destination blind so stays on the same service all day with paper numbers in the windscreen.

One of the ferry cars broke down last week in Hyde bus station, presuming it’s still off the road as one of the Evosetti’s was parked on layover in Ashton yesterday on taxi duties.

5101 is running round with paper blinds, notice some of the early gnw E200s have turned up in kent

 

[Leyland Bus]

5101 is running round with paper blinds, notice some of the early gnw E200s have turned up in kent

Unless more have gone since, those went when Queens Road went to Stagecoach.

 

[mayneway]

5101 is running round with paper blinds, notice some of the early gnw E200s have turned up in kent

It might be 5101 that has the paper in the windscreen. I know one was doing 345’s only instead of the usual inter working.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2026 ==

Unless more have gone since, those went when Queens Road went to Stagecoach.

It’s 4028 and 4030 which have turned up in Kent still in Bee network custard yellow working for Go ahead group ‘fast track’?

These are obviously ex Diamond and were never ever ever at Queens road.

On the subject of E200’s and Queens road, I always wondered why Go north west didn’t hang onto their own E200’s instead of sending them south - they were far superior to the ex diamond stuff.
I know a couple did get retained and went to Wigan, 4022/4023 I believe.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

It’s 4028 and 4030 which have turned up in Kent still in Bee network custard yellow working for Go ahead group ‘fast track’?

These are obviously ex Diamond and were never ever ever at Queens road.

4028 and 4030 were ex Go ahead London and working for Kent Country as I think they got a new route

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2026 ==

On the subject of E200’s and Queens road, I always wondered why Go north west didn’t hang onto their own E200’s instead of sending them south - they were far superior to the ex diamond stuff.
I know a couple did get retained and went to Wigan, 4022/4023 I believe.

4020-2 were the only ones kept as 4023 (SN11FFZ) is also Ex GAL

 

[mayneway]

4028 and 4030 were ex Go ahead London and working for Kent Country as I think they got a new route

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Jun 2026 ==


4020-2 were the only ones kept as 4023 (SN11FFZ) is also Ex GAL

You are right, I remember them at Queens road in red still with dual doors. They were converted and painted and were used at Bolton when they first took the depot over.

I’m hanging my head in shame haha.

 

[Leyland Bus]

It’s 4028 and 4030 which have turned up in Kent still in Bee network custard yellow working for Go ahead group ‘fast track’?

These are obviously ex Diamond and were never ever ever at Queens road.

On the subject of E200’s and Queens road, I always wondered why Go north west didn’t hang onto their own E200’s instead of sending them south - they were far superior to the ex diamond stuff.
I know a couple did get retained and went to Wigan, 4022/4023 I believe.

Alright, we all make mistakes!

I'd completely forgotten about those, amoungst the mele of debranding buses, I had gone to Wigan specifically to do those two! Prior to that, the E200s that left were ex Queens at the changeover.

 

[LAIRA]

Alright, we all make mistakes!

I'd completely forgotten about those, amoungst the mele of debranding buses, I had gone to Wigan specifically to do those two! Prior to that, the E200s that left were ex Queens at the changeover.

YY66PCV came to Plymouth but sadly caught fire on Monday and is beyond repair