TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Hello! Forgive me, for I moved from Leigh to Worcester in March, and haven’t caught up since then. (And I’m moving to Cambridge next month, so back to guided busways, haha)

Am I right in thinking the beloved Vantage buses (and dreaded Evosetis, and old London blue-tinted B9s) have now gone??

Mind you I saw a picture of a new (potential replacement?) Streetdeck with Vantage style seating which looks quite smart.

 

[py_megapixel]

Hello! Forgive me, for I moved from Leigh to Worcester in March, and haven’t caught up since then. (And I’m moving to Cambridge next month, so back to guided busways, haha)

Am I right in thinking the beloved Vantage buses (and dreaded Evosetis, and old London blue-tinted B9s) have now gone??

Mind you I saw a picture of a new (potential replacement?) Streetdeck with Vantage style seating which looks quite smart.

The new Streetdecks have very similar interiors to the old Vantage buses (except, of course, much less worn out, and without the Vantage branding). You still get coach seats and a couple of tables on the upper deck. They're electric so very quiet and smooth too.

I'm not sure if they have completely taken over the busway services yet, or whether a few older ones are still left.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The new Streetdecks have very similar interiors to the old Vantage buses (except, of course, much less worn out, and without the Vantage branding). You still get coach seats and a couple of tables on the upper deck. They're electric so very quiet and smooth too.

I'm not sure if they have completely taken over the busway services yet, or whether a few older ones are still left.

Ah thank you! I loved the Vantage buses so would have been sad to see them go, but if this also means the Evosetis have gone too, happy days.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Am I right in thinking the beloved Vantage buses (and dreaded Evosetis, and old London blue-tinted B9s) have now gone??

The Vantage buses are no longer on the busway, and have gone to other Go North West services out of Bolton.

The new Busway buses are quite nice in my opinion, obviously a step above generic bus standard (including a couple tables on the top deck) and are about on par with the Vantage buses.
And yes they are now the only Busway buses, since this fleet is big enough to fully cover it.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The Vantage buses are no longer on the busway, and have gone to other Go North West services out of Bolton.

The new Busway buses are quite nice in my opinion, obviously a step above generic bus standard (including a couple tables on the top deck) and are about on par with the Vantage buses.
And yes they are now the only Busway buses, since this fleet is big enough to fully cover it.

Ah, shame I missed the new ones then. Though I generally got lucky and predominantly had Vantage buses on the daily commute, with the odd Evoseti horror popping up late at night.

 

[py_megapixel]

Evoseti horror

I don't live near the busway so only use it very occasionally, but I thought it was great fun to be in an ex-London Evoseti rattling along the East Lancs bus lane at 40mph.

Admittedly, if I commuted on them several times a week, I imagine so I would have a very different view, and would have been very glad to see the new fleet!

(Also the Evosetis, or at least the few I've been on, have the auto announcer set really deafeningly loud for some reason)

 

[mattyharding]

Can operators lose depots because of poor performance (I know this probably isn't relevant but still)

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Manchester Bee Network Staff, Enthusiasts and Fans (All Zones and Depots) | Beauty and the Bees at least 4 more here | Facebook

Beauty and the Bees at least 4 more here. 2 with WDE prefix on the fleet number. Both are missing the Bee logo ob the front but have gained some sort of a sensor I haven’t spotted on the rest

www.facebook.com

One of the batch of 9 StreetDeck Electroliners has been spotted in Birkenhead Docks, and unlike the 100 Metroline examples, it does not feature the TfL Bus Safety Standard Spec speaker for artificial noise, instead the standard Bee Network logo seen on the previous 55 and all of GNW's. Does anybody know why Metroline's have the external speaker, while the 9 Stagecoach examples from the same batch do not?

 

[mattyharding]

Manchester Bee Network Staff, Enthusiasts and Fans (All Zones and Depots) | Beauty and the Bees at least 4 more here | Facebook

Beauty and the Bees at least 4 more here. 2 with WDE prefix on the fleet number. Both are missing the Bee logo ob the front but have gained some sort of a sensor I haven’t spotted on the rest

www.facebook.com

One of the batch of 9 StreetDeck Electroliners has been spotted in Birkenhead Docks, and unlike the 100 Metroline examples, it does not feature the TfL Bus Safety Standard Spec speaker for artificial noise, instead the standard Bee Network logo seen on the previous 55 and all of GNW's. Does anybody know why Metroline's have the external speaker, while the 9 Stagecoach examples from the same batch do not?

There are 2 of the batch of 9 there, 82544 and 82545

 

[JD2168]

Ex Go North West B9TL Gemini 3283 - LX60 DWU is now with Transpora. Seen on 11/9/26 at Sheffield Interchange in between Tram Replacement duties

 

[M60lad]

Oldham's Fleet of E300s are the latest to have next stop displays with 27944 one of the ones that's recently had it fitted and destination blinds updated

 

[mattyharding]

Oldham's Fleet of E300s are the latest to have next stop displays with 27944 one of the ones that's recently had it fitted and destination blinds updated

But why as they're due to be replaced soon

 

[py_megapixel]

But why as they're due to be replaced soon

Unless they're due to be replaced in the next 2 weeks, it will be legally required that the equipment is installed and working.

 

[mayneway]

But why as they're due to be replaced soon

They might be replaced at Oldham but word is they are moving to other depots so needs the system.

 

[M60lad]

Any idea of which Depot/s they will be moving to? I'm guessing not another Bee Network Depot

 

[mayneway]

Any idea of which Depot/s they will be moving to? I'm guessing not another Bee Network Depot

Still rumours some are going to Queens road and the Evora’s are moving on.

 

[Ethan TRINH]

Still rumours some are going to Queens road and the Evora’s are moving on.

Any idea where the eVoRas are going?

 

[M60lad]

Bit of a downgrade if you ask me if theirs already plans of Evora's moving somewhere else and being replaced by E300s from Oldham Depot, the thing is where could the Evora's actually move to? I was actually thinking that they could actually join the ones at Rochdale but then that would probably mean Rochdale losing some or all of their Strata's but then that creates a problem as theirs some routes at First Manchester (Rochdale Depot) that obviously a Evora can't fit round.

 

[py_megapixel]

Am I right in saying they're higher capacity than an E200? If so, Wythenshawe could potentially get some use out of them as their E200s can get very crowded at the busiest times on certain routes.

But to be honest I am not holding my breath as this is all unsubstantiated rumour!

Is there any reason for Queen's to particular want rid of the Evoras?

 

[mayneway]

But to be honest I am not holding my breath as this is all unsubstantiated rumour!

Is there any reason for Queen's to particular want rid of the Evoras?

It’s speculation but let’s put it this way. The E300’s are leaving Oldham with the arrival of new single deckers to give the depot 100% electric status, but the E300’s are having the audio and next stop retro fitted at a massive cost.

Only reason for the Evora’s moving from Queens is to standardise the fleet. Stagecoach don’t like Volvo products they prefer AD’s.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

It’s speculation but let’s put it this way. The E300’s are leaving Oldham with the arrival of new single deckers to give the depot 100% electric status, but the E300’s are having the audio and next stop retro fitted at a massive cost.

Only reason for the Evora’s moving from Queens is to standardise the fleet. Stagecoach don’t like Volvo products they prefer AD’s.

What about the Solo SRs and Enviro200s oldham have for the 129/415, 180 402 403 411?

 

[py_megapixel]

The E300’s are leaving Oldham with the arrival of new single deckers to give the depot 100% electric status, but the E300’s are having the audio and next stop retro fitted at a massive cost.

This is a legal requirement. From the start of October all buses must be fitted. Most of the old hybrid E400s at Hyde Road and Sharston seem to have had it fitted as well, with only a few now running around without it.

Even if they aren't going to be used after the end of this month (which I think is unlikely) any other operator that purchases them will require it.

 

[W176 XMA]

It’s speculation but let’s put it this way. The E300’s are leaving Oldham with the arrival of new single deckers to give the depot 100% electric status, but the E300’s are having the audio and next stop retro fitted at a massive cost.

Only reason for the Evora’s moving from Queens is to standardise the fleet. Stagecoach don’t like Volvo products they prefer AD’s.

It's not all the Evoras going, I've heard between 4 to 7 but some will be staying, plans can always change however

 

[darylyates17]

It's not all the Evoras going, I've heard between 4 to 7 but some will be staying, plans can always change however

I wonder why Evoras were ordered instead of long E200MMCs unless it was a TfGM order?

 

[Steve440]

I wonder why Evoras were ordered instead of long E200MMCs unless it was a TfGM order?

Stagecoach have a fair few Evoras in other areas, particularly North Scotland.