SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 28, 2012 23:21:55 GMT 1
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 29, 2012 10:49:02 GMT 1
180/184 branding now appiled to 33669/72/74/76
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 29, 2012 17:14:57 GMT 1
I'm still not convinced 37288/9 are actually to transfer back to Manchester. Until they physically move back there, then i would suggest any notion of it is mere rumour and conjecture. they have now been reported as transffered to first Manchester Queens Rd
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2012 18:42:11 GMT 1
First Manchesters 62147, 62216, 62217 & 62218 were all seen parked up at cherry row today. Cheers Andy
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 29, 2012 20:49:43 GMT 1
180/184 branding now appiled to 33669/72/74/76 Spotted a couple of 180/184 branded Enviros this morning, although didn't get chance to note which ones. Branding is similar to the ones that were on the B9s but has 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton' instead of 'Manchester-Oldham-Saddleworth' for the 10 minute or better frequency route description.
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 29, 2012 21:31:36 GMT 1
180/184 branding now appiled to 33669/72/74/76 Spotted a couple of 180/184 branded Enviros this morning, although didn't get chance to note which ones. Branding is similar to the ones that were on the B9s but has 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton' instead of 'Manchester-Oldham-Saddleworth' for the 10 minute or better frequency route description. i am sure the 184 bit said Manchester to Huddersfield by the way going over to Marsden tonight to my bothers came up behind the last bus going over and the driver was doing about 20mph all the way down
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 30, 2012 18:35:41 GMT 1
37288/89 now back here 88 at Oldham and 89 at Bolton to those who said 88 was on 184 seen near Huddersfield it was really in Oldham depot have fleetnames removed I said they would come back here and i was right
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 30, 2012 21:22:29 GMT 1
Spotted a couple of 180/184 branded Enviros this morning, although didn't get chance to note which ones. Branding is similar to the ones that were on the B9s but has 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton' instead of 'Manchester-Oldham-Saddleworth' for the 10 minute or better frequency route description. i am sure the 184 bit said Manchester to Huddersfield by the way going over to Marsden tonight to my bothers came up behind the last bus going over and the driver was doing about 20mph all the way down It does have the individual routes listed 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton-Greenfield' for 180 and 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton-Uppermill-Huddersfield' for 184, while the combined route is just 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton' instead of 'Manchester-Oldham-Saddleworth', which was used on the B9s. I think 33670/1 have been branded for the 180/184, so to add to 33669/72/74/76, it does look like they've grouped the buses together again rather than just brand any bus in a random order.
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 30, 2012 21:48:02 GMT 1
i am sure the 184 bit said Manchester to Huddersfield by the way going over to Marsden tonight to my bothers came up behind the last bus going over and the driver was doing about 20mph all the way down It does have the individual routes listed 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton-Greenfield' for 180 and 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton-Uppermill-Huddersfield' for 184, while the combined route is just 'Manchester-Oldham-Grotton' instead of 'Manchester-Oldham-Saddleworth', which was used on the B9s. I think 33670/1 have been branded for the 180/184, so to add to 33669/72/74/76, it does look like they've grouped the buses together again rather than just brand any bus in a random order. the pioneer B9s are due to be 348/350 branded aswell the waiting time at Oldham is no more now they still need 5 for Oldham but the spare waits in Ashton now as 348/350 service now interworks
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Post by rwilkes on Oct 31, 2012 10:03:29 GMT 1
Seems First's Wigan busness is to be sold to Stagecoach - Stagecoach announcement
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Post by Burnside on Oct 31, 2012 11:00:30 GMT 1
Until those morons at the OfT get involved, at which point First will withdraw and Stagecoach will take over for free!
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 31, 2012 14:45:18 GMT 1
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mic
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Post by mic on Oct 31, 2012 17:07:38 GMT 1
bet Chester and Rock Ferry will be next B9s 37288/89 both in service at Bolton now
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Post by sconehead85 on Oct 31, 2012 18:09:04 GMT 1
Stagecoach buying Wigan depot is a logical move, with Arriva and SLT present there are no competition issues. It will be part of Stagecoach Manchester despite being closer to Chorley and Gillmoss depots.
Quite an interesting mix of buses could pass to Stagecoach, a small number of Dennis Arrows (18990 up ?), a few Volvo Olympians, 10 Volvo B9TLs. The single deckers mean First removing its last Optare Excels, a couple of Versas, Volvo B10BLEs, Dennis Darts and a number of thev 68xxx school buses. Its possible the Arrows could be replaced by Stagecoach drafting in Volvo Olympians, and the Excels by another reprieve for 20 ex Gillmoss Volvo B10Ls/B10BLEs.
sconehead85
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Post by humberside on Oct 31, 2012 19:16:15 GMT 1
It will be part of Stagecoach Manchester despite being closer to Chorley and Gillmoss depots. I can see why Wigan will be taken over by Stagecoach Manchester as it will make managing the TfGM relationship easier. But geographically it would make more sense for it to be under the same control as Chorley and Preston
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Oct 31, 2012 22:17:23 GMT 1
It'll be interesting to see what moves Stagecoach will take once the takeover is completed in December. Could be potential to expand across the Wigan/Leigh areas and also move further towards Bolton and Salford. Would help if they could get a link between Wigan and the the rest of the Stagecoach Manchester network. Still, a £3.90 DayRider and £12 MegaRider will be cheaper than First's tickets, so that'll be good news for Wiganers.
Another move is to link up with services in neighbouring Merseyside and Lancashire. Might put Arriva on the their toes if Stagecoach start running towards St Helens and Chorley.
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Post by sconehead85 on Nov 1, 2012 2:12:47 GMT 1
Stagecoach are more likely to consolidate on what they have already as they would not be allowed to monopolise Greater Manchester. In Liverpool when they took over the not-missed Glenvale at Gillmoss they retrenched.
I have taken from the "Fleetlists- North West Buses" site an estimation of how many and which buses are likely to pass to Stagecoach. SUB means other existing Stagecoach vehicles may come instead.
They are 9 Dennis Arrows (SUB), 9 Volvo Olympians (SUB), 10 Volvo B9TL (Double Deck)
14 Dennis Dart SLF, 20 Optare Excel (SUB), 4 Optare Versa, 20 Volvo B10BLE, 15 Volvo B7RLE, 16 Iveco Scolabus, 2 BMC Schoolbuses.
Apart from the Volvo B7/B9 and Optare Versas most of the fleet is middle aged.
This is subject to correction as changes are going on with First.
sconehead85
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mic
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Post by mic on Nov 1, 2012 16:57:34 GMT 1
darts 40418, 40871 and 40878 at a scarp yard in Newcastle upon tyne
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77syk7
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Post by 77syk7 on Nov 1, 2012 20:15:54 GMT 1
I am sure a Liverpool - Wigan service with suitable promotion and branding would be a useful addition to the network
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Post by sconehead85 on Nov 1, 2012 23:46:23 GMT 1
Sorry 77syk7 that link is unlikely as there is a rail service from Liverpool to Wigan. The route you might be thinking of is the 320 service which used to link ther two places but only runs from Wigan to St Helens (Arriva), and Arriva does the 10 route that runs from St Helens via A58/57 to Liverpool.
Stagecoach runs the 10A from St Helens to Liverpool via Rainhill and the A57, and this is joint with Arriva. 10/10A are also QBCs
St Helens to Chorley is a no-no as competition on the equivalent services has been tried and failed. The 352 route has to cross the A580 East Lancs Rd, which was/is a pre-motorway which is prone to congestion. A previous route was conjoined but had to be split because of unreliability.
I have amended the list of vehicles likely to pass to Stagecoach.
sconehead85
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Nov 2, 2012 19:54:08 GMT 1
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Post by driver6540 on Nov 2, 2012 21:18:37 GMT 1
Saw "Old friend", 37289 at Trafford Centre Bus.stn this aft. Working a 100 to Warrington??. Still has "We Believe" on sides.
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cs1
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Post by cs1 on Nov 2, 2012 21:30:21 GMT 1
There has been a detailed memo going around First internally for a few days.
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mic
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Post by mic on Nov 2, 2012 22:04:02 GMT 1
Saw "Old friend", 37289 at Trafford Centre Bus.stn this aft. Working a 100 to Warrington??. Still has "We Believe" on sides. they are both back at Queens Rd where they where in service from new
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SF07
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Post by SF07 on Nov 3, 2012 14:09:53 GMT 1
I imagine 37288/89 will find their new home on the 67/100 or the 17/18 routes, with the latter been using a mixture of the B9s and B5 hybrids following the 18 extension to Rusholme.
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