TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[Ethan TRINH]

If tracking is to be believed, 13175/76 are hanging on today, on the 93 and 33 respectively. Unless their ticket machines are in something else, of course...

I've seen 13176 today on the 33. And yes, the Queens Road ones are still around.

 

[darylyates17]

I've seen 13176 today on the 33. And yes, the Queens Road ones are still around.

Guessing 3 MMCs from Oldham will replace them?

 

[mattyharding]

Guessing 3 MMCs from Oldham will replace them?

i've been saying the same thing for the past few weeks and they might do, but those 3 16 plate MMCs are still being used on routes like the 348, 350 etc

 

[Worm]

I remember using it with a Superbus liveried crusader, that Oldham had which must have been a tight fit.

Crusader Darts were the main vehicle on the route for 16 years before the Solos

 

[Ethan TRINH]

Anyone been on TEH170 recently? It sounds a lot healthier than before.

 

[M60lad]

Out of interest why have the E300s at Oldham and Queens Road had dot matrix next stop displays fitted when they could have easily have had the bigger standard screens fitted? Why are they fitted where they are as I don't think disabled passengers can see it unless they turn round and crane their necks? Earlier this year I had a ride on a First Worcestershire example and that had a proper screen fitted just behind the doors on the nearside.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Out of interest why have the E300s at Oldham and Queens Road had dot matrix next stop displays fitted when they could have easily have had the bigger standard screens fitted? Why are they fitted where they are as I don't think disabled passengers can see it unless they turn round and crane their necks? Earlier this year I had a ride on a First Worcestershire example and that had a proper screen fitted just behind the doors on the nearside.

Probably because they are nearing end of life and weren't keen to spend thousands on buses that will soon leave front line service...

 

[mayneway]

Probably because they are nearing end of life and weren't keen to spend thousands on buses that will soon leave front line service...

That in its self is an interesting comment given the money they spent on the B5 hybrids, not to mention the B9’s and the scania’s - but at least the latter wasn’t painted!

Never understand why they bothered to paint and refurb the interiors on the hybrids when they have actually done the same amount of service in Manchester as the good old B9’s.

 

[Leyland Bus]

That in its self is an interesting comment given the money they spent on the B5 hybrids, not to mention the B9’s and the scania’s - but at least the latter wasn’t painted!

Never understand why they bothered to paint and refurb the interiors on the hybrids when they have actually done the same amount of service in Manchester as the good old B9’s.

In the beginning, TfGM were very dough eyed with the Hybrids becuase of the green credentials od such a system (better than full diesel) but by the time they realised that old hybrids rarely work as they should and would cost an absolute fortune to refurb the mechanicals, they had already done a hat full of the Oxford ones and painted most of the ex FirstBus ones...

I have asked if they plan to send the ex Vantage ones away for converison to electric as they are considerably younger but no one knows..!

 

[stait.john]

Today’s Stagecoach moves:

10605, 10614, 10615, 11257 & 11879 have moved Oldham to Stockport.

12188 & 12189 have moved Stockport to Rock Ferry

12115, 12127, 19565 & 19566 have been withdrawn this morning after the am peak.

 

[mattyharding]

Today’s Stagecoach moves:

10605, 10614, 10615, 11257 & 11879 have moved Oldham to Stockport.

12188 & 12189 have moved Stockport to Rock Ferry

12115, 12127, 19565 & 19566 have been withdrawn this morning after the am peak.

I wonder what's going to move to Queens Road to replace the last 3 B5LHs that they have as all the Oldham ones have gone

 

[mayneway]

In the beginning, TfGM were very dough eyed with the Hybrids becuase of the green credentials od such a system (better than full diesel) but by the time they realised that old hybrids rarely work as they should and would cost an absolute fortune to refurb the mechanicals, they had already done a hat full of the Oxford ones and painted most of the ex FirstBus ones...

I have asked if they plan to send the ex Vantage ones away for converison to electric as they are considerably younger but no one knows..!

I believe they were ‘hoodwinked’ into believing they were in a better condition than they actually were.
I mean considering the condition the ex queens road B5’s were when everything was still commercial, Go North West must have been rubbing their hands together when TFGM agreed to buy them.

I have heard a little rumour some of the Evosetti’s *may* be moving to another operator in the next few months.

 

[M60lad]

If that is true about the Evosetti's will it be the Bee Network ones that are on 163s or the Schoolbus ones that are based out of Denton Depot that I see every morning heading back to Depot after doing Newman College runs? What if anything will replace them?

Speaking of Hybrids has Metroline's TEH170 been on the same board the past week as if BusTimes is led to believe its been doing the exact same routes at the exact same times Wednesday-Friday this past week for some reason?

 

[mattyharding]

If that is true about the Evosetti's will it be the Bee Network ones that are on 163s or the Schoolbus ones that are based out of Denton Depot that I see every morning heading back to Depot after doing Newman College runs? What if anything will replace them?

Speaking of Hybrids has Metroline's TEH170 been on the same board the past week as if BusTimes is led to believe its been doing the exact same routes at the exact same times Wednesday-Friday this past week for some reason?

There's a chance that Stagecoach could take a few Evosetti's for Queens Road to replace the elderly B5LHs

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Speaking of Hybrids has Metroline's TEH170 been on the same board the past week as if BusTimes is led to believe its been doing the exact same routes at the exact same times Wednesday-Friday this past week for some reason?

Matt Haslam did a video yesterday and when he was taking out TEH175 I believe, it was parked behind TEH170 which had a red steering wheel cover on it, and I wouldn't be surprised if they don't want to have it break down being a Euro6 Standard Hybrid, especially when TEH175 broke down as he was driving it past all the other buses, not even left the depot!

 

[mayneway]

If that is true about the Evosetti's will it be the Bee Network ones that are on 163s or the Schoolbus ones that are based out of Denton Depot that I see every morning heading back to Depot after doing Newman College runs? What if anything will replace them?

Don’t want to say too much at the moment but there’s talk within the drivers canteen of a major route reshuffle that could see some interesting changes in January.

 

[py_megapixel]

Is that all the B9s gone from Hyde Road then? None seem to be in the bustimes.org list anymore, but lots of shiny new electric Streetdecks are...

 

[Ethan TRINH]

Is that all the B9s gone from Hyde Road then? None seem to be in the bustimes.org list anymore, but lots of shiny new electric Streetdecks are...

It's confirmed that they all departed the fleet on 30 September. But their last day of running was on the 29th.

 

[mayneway]

Is that all the B9s gone from Hyde Road then? None seem to be in the bustimes.org list anymore, but lots of shiny new electric Streetdecks are...

Yes all gone.
Metroline did kind of mark their passing internally, but it just makes me wonder IF things were still commercial would their withdrawal been marked a little bit bigger - similar to the way Go North West celebrated the retirement of the final ex First B7 a few years back.

While I love driving the new electrics I really doubt we will see them have the life span the B9’s had in Manchester.

 

[Class 466]

Don’t want to say too much at the moment but there’s talk within the drivers canteen of a major route reshuffle that could see some interesting changes in January.

To be fair, they’ve franchised everything, but lots of it is the same as 4 years ago with just a yellow… or almost yellow bus.

 

[mayneway]

To be fair, they’ve franchised everything, but lots of it is the same as 4 years ago with just a yellow… or almost yellow bus.

Yep progress has been slow, we are still seeing the same performance issues we had before the network commenced and if anything TFGM seem to be very slow to make improvements.
If this reshuffle does go ahead in January it will be the first major changes for the network and the depots involved, I know though that some of the drivers are not happy at the news though.

 

[stait.john]

Yep progress has been slow, we are still seeing the same performance issues we had before the network commenced and if anything TFGM seem to be very slow to make improvements.
If this reshuffle does go ahead in January it will be the first major changes for the network and the depots involved, I know though that some of the drivers are not happy at the news though.

I’ve said for a long while that once tranche 3 was in place, there would be changes made to the network and probably Garage reallocations. One oddity that springs to mind is the 480 being operated from Queens Road when it should be operated by one of the Bolton franchises.

Very few improvements in my opinion, more peak buses required which is a big cost, in my opinion too many off peak buses on 192 (which could be used to improve other services) and of course the 142/143 which still run at high frequency from when Stagecoach filled all the departure slots at Piccadilly. Do we really need them all? Improve the 42 & 43 instead?

Could improve the 197 and maybe bring back something like the 196?

Anyway this is the wrong chat for this, I should’ve put it in the service thread really!