TfGM Bus franchising

[cnjb8]

Thorntons are very competitive. At least one operator down south, who I won't name, finds it costs the same and is quicker to send its buses to Thorntons for refurbishment rather than do it in-house. Thorntons also do a rather fine job.

I believe First South West used them for driver training conversions, which is a very lengthy journey!

 

[WWH44L]

See Diamond 40745 is another sneaky yellow repaint. Spotted it yesterday minus Bee branding but still with Diamond logos and etc on the back.

 

[Leyland Bus]

See Diamond 40745 is another sneaky yellow repaint. Spotted it yesterday minus Bee branding but still with Diamond logos and etc on the back.

On a long weekend off, so knew it should have returned but couldn't jump the gun! Will have to catch up with it to finish the lettering!

 

[winston270twm]

On a long weekend off, so knew it should have returned but couldn't jump the gun! Will have to catch up with it to finish the lettering!

Streetlites 32260 & 32261 were transferred to DBNW (Bolton) yesterday to act as additional paint floats to cover Manchester based buses being repainted in to Bee Network Livery.

In addition, 2 x Streetdecks were brought back down from Manchester to the West Midlands & will be repainted in to Bee Network livery at Wilcox, Brownhills (Rotala's WM based painter)

 

[SeanM1997]

Error

 

[WWH44L]

On a long weekend off, so knew it should have returned but couldn't jump the gun! Will have to catch up with it to finish the lettering!

Haha now worries. Sure you’ll pin it down at some point. Do you know which two streetdecks have gone down to the West Midlands for repaint. Losing track of what’s where at the moment.

 

[winston270twm]

Streetlites 32260 & 32261 were transferred to DBNW (Bolton) yesterday to act as additional paint floats to cover Manchester based buses being repainted in to Bee Network Livery.

In addition, 2 x Streetdecks were brought back down from Manchester to the West Midlands & will be repainted in to Bee Network livery at Wilcox, Brownhills (Rotala's WM based painter)

40755 & 40766 are the two Streetdecks currently parked in Tividale Depot, West Midlands awaiting Bee Network Livery

 

[WWH44L]

40755 & 40766 are the two Streetdecks currently parked in Tividale Depot, West Midlands awaiting Bee Network Livery

Cheers Winston

 

[Leyland Bus]

40755 & 40766 are the two Streetdecks currently parked in Tividale Depot, West Midlands awaiting Bee Network Livery

Beat me to it!

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Delivered back from Thorntons this morning is freshly refurbished 40729, complete with refreshed interior to the new spec!
40822 has gone the other way in return.

 

[winston270twm]

Beat me to it!

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I was at Tividale depot yesterday

 

[WWH44L]

Beat me to it!

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Delivered back from Thorntons this morning is freshly refurbished 40729, complete with refreshed interior to the new spec!
40822 has gone the other way in return.

You both give great updates between the two of you

40729 looks pretty smart there! Is it defo 40822 that’s gone as I thought that was one of seven to go to West Midlands?

Also do you have anything in for repaint at BN (Bolton) this week?

 

[kiewilk0970]

Beat me to it!

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Delivered back from Thorntons this morning is freshly refurbished 40729, complete with refreshed interior to the new spec!
40822 has gone the other way in return.

Ooh I see they have finally put treebars on them now, needed them for a long time

And a fabric driver's seat much better than the leather we have currently

 

[Leyland Bus]

You both give great updates between the two of you

40729 looks pretty smart there! Is it defo 40822 that’s gone as I thought that was one of seven to go to West Midlands?

Also do you have anything in for repaint at BN (Bolton) this week?

Yep, I helped get it on the lorry!!!

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I should have added that 40712 is the next one in for repaint but its alittle poorly at the minute so its causing us afew headaches!

 

[bendoyle1983]

Beat me to it!

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Delivered back from Thorntons this morning is freshly refurbished 40729, complete with refreshed interior to the new spec!
40822 has gone the other way in return.

Why is there a red sign that talks about the buses being Hydrogen powered and better for London’s roads? Is this not a Diamond Bus NW bus?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Why is there a red sign that talks about the buses being Hydrogen powered and better for London’s roads? Is this not a Diamond Bus NW bus?

It's always been a DBNW bus but it's a cosmetic adjustment whilst a new panel arrives

 

[landgateblue]

New electrics at bryn....

 

[stait.john]

Vantage news
39256 has gone to Bus & Coach World for repaint with 39244 arriving back in exchange freshly outshopped in Bee Network yellow.

39258 should depart on Monday for repaint at Reads in Oswaldtwistle.

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Vantage news
39256 has gone to Bus & Coach World for repaint with 39244 arriving back in exchange freshly outshopped in Bee Network yellow.

39258 should depart on Monday for repaint at Reads in Oswaldtwistle.

And I should mention 69539 is on loan from Oldham currently fitted with guidewheels for the first time in many months.

 

[Leyland Bus]

In DBNW (Diamond Bus North West) news, 40740 is back from repaint at Blackburn.

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40796 has also returned from having front end accident damage repaired.

 

[mic]

I am wondering if any of Oldhams B9s will be painted into Bee Network in the coming months, or moved elsewhere.

 

[M60lad]

Personally with Stagecoach getting Oldham Depot next year I very much doubt that any of Oldham's fleet will get repainted into Bee Network as Stagecoach don't seem to be keen on Wright vehicles so I can see Oldham's fleet next year getting a complete refresh for when Stagecoach take over.

I know that First have got some services in the Rochdale area that Rosso currently run but some of these (depending what services they actually are) actually need smaller vehicles something which First Manchester/Oldham haven't got at the moment so they will have to inherit some from somewhere next year.

 

[jonesy3001]

I take it other depots like tameside and sharston haven't been mentioned yet or will they be staying the same?

 

[Leyland Bus]

I take it other depots like tameside and sharston haven't been mentioned yet or will they be staying the same?

Sharston will come under the final tranche along with Hyde Rd, Stockport etc

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I know that First have got some services in the Rochdale area that Rosso currently run but some of these (depending what services they actually are) actually need smaller vehicles something which First Manchester/Oldham haven't got at the moment so they will have to inherit some from somewhere next year.

I am wondering if any of Oldhams B9s will be painted into Bee Network in the coming months, or moved elsewhere.

I don't think that some tired, faded B9s that are 15 years old will quite measure up to the Bee Network vision. There's still a good few B7TLs in East Anglia and Cornwall that need to be pensioned off!

As for First's limited tranche 2 win, they'll need to get some premises sorted! However, IIRC there was talk on this forum that First Glasgow's e200mmc were earmarked for wins in tranche 1 (had they been successful).

 

[Leyland Bus]

Further updates from Bolton, 40776 and 40795 have returned from repaint but due to "operational difficulties" both are also out running with minimal lettering.

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40823 is the next Thorntons returnee this morning with 40728 going in the opposite direction for full refurbishment.

 

[Geeves]

As for First's limited tranche 2 win, they'll need to get some premises sorted! However, IIRC there was talk on this forum that First Glasgow's e200mmc were earmarked for wins in tranche 1 (had they been successful).

Youd imagine that First will again go for work in the final tranche, and wouldn't it be a turn up for them to end up running from Sharston etc. That also provides a home for the 20 or so Rochdale buses with dead running

 

[winston270twm]

Youd imagine that First will again go for work in the final tranche, and wouldn't it be a turn up for them to end up running from Sharston etc. That also provides a home for the 20 or so Rochdale buses with dead running

One slight issue with that statement, Tranche 2 starts in March 2024 & Tranche 3 Franchises including Sharston don't start until Jan 2025

 

[mangad]

Isn't the other elephant in the room that a small franchise can't use a large franchise depot? Sharston - assuming Stagecoach sell it - will the home of a large franchise whilst First's franchise is small.

First wouldn't rely on hope of winning in future as their business plan anyway, but even if they did, it wouldn't work.

 

[Delenn]

Isn't the other elephant in the room that a small franchise can't use a large franchise depot?

I was under the impression that this had quietly been forgotten. Of course, there is every chance I'm wrong though.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Bolton repaint update, Streetdeck 40712 has been completed and returned to traffic following repairs.

It's place in the paintshop has been taken by Citaro 33024.

 

[WWH44L]

Bolton repaint update, Streetdeck 40712 has been completed and returned to traffic following repairs.

It's place in the paintshop has been taken by Citaro 33024.

Thanks for the update. The report of 33024 getting repainted will stop whoever it is from deleting it from the bus times website just because it’s been VOR (Hopefully)

VOR - vehicle off road

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Does anyone have a full list of the vehicles that Go North West are drafting in for Bee network?