TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[cnjb8]

Turns out what I have listed 20604 as is actually 20625 according to bustimes.org

20625 - YX73 PLN

ADL Enviro200 MMC

bustimes.org

20604 was already used for a Diamond vehicle in the past so it was renumbered to 20625

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Turns out what I have listed 20604 as is actually 20625 according to bustimes.org

20625 - YX73 PLN

ADL Enviro200 MMC

bustimes.org

Based on the fleet numbers "reserved" for the new batches - 20624 was to be the highest number in that batch.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The ones that are going through Mardens in Essex for full refurbishment? I always thought they were for Firsts Rochdale routes??

Believe they're going with RLEs for Rochdale

Thought the tranche 2 win was for 40 vehicles, of which 17 would be Merc/Mellor Stratas (before administration). A few surplus e300s, and it does seem that B7RLEs are the preferred option for First in Rochdale in any case.

As for stop gaps for the missing Mercs, I guess they could raid Cornwall and South Wales for some Solos, and backfill with older vehicles?

 

[WWH44L]

20604 was already used for a Diamond vehicle in the past so it was renumbered to 20625

Yes I checked with Simon Dunn regarding this and that was his answer. Still seems odd as many others in this range have been used before unless the current 20604 is still on fleet.

 

[Fin447]

Thought the tranche 2 win was for 40 vehicles, of which 17 would be Merc/Mellor Stratas (before administration). A few surplus e300s, and it does seem that B7RLEs are the preferred option for First in Rochdale in any case.

As for stop gaps for the missing Mercs, I guess they could raid Cornwall and South Wales for some Solos, and backfill with older vehicles?

Perhaps the 15/65 Plate StreetLites in Wales will go up, Would explain why they have been parked up rather than transferred elsewhere. Would probably be ideal since Rosso currently operate Lites

 

[Dallamlad]

Thought the tranche 2 win was for 40 vehicles, of which 17 would be Merc/Mellor Stratas (before administration). A few surplus e300s, and it does seem that B7RLEs are the preferred option for First in Rochdale in any case.

As for stop gaps for the missing Mercs, I guess they could raid Cornwall and South Wales for some Solos, and backfill with older vehicles?

Mellor’s parent company has been bought out of admin and seeing as trading continued through the process the order book should be delivered all being well.

Amphibious Bus debuts in Amsterdam - CBW

Netherlands The Floating Dutchman began service last month in Amsterdam employing amphibious coaches. The two hours and 45 minute tour travels from Schipol through the city centre and enters the river near the museum. The [...]

cbwmagazine.com

 

[tomoufc]

Does anyone know what's going on with Stagecoach? Most of the Stockport garage's fleet seem to be heading to the Northern tranch franchise area in March, to be replaced by new electric busses (which will presumably make Stagecoach an attractive franchisee for Tranche 3), but there seems to be little sign of the electric buses or associated infrastructure yet in Stockport.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2024 ==

If the Volvo double-deckers for Stockport are only being delivered in Summer, that will lead to a shortfall of buses for the new franchises. Originally the plan was to move most of the existing recent fleet from Stockport to Queens Road and Oldham Depots to replace the fleet at those depots, as very little at Queens Road would be suitable.

Indeed, if GoAhead are leaving any vehicles at all for Stagecoach, and at First Manchester at Oldham no double-deck vehicles are transfering at all to Stagecoach. So that might mean at least short term there will be a need to find extra vehicles, whether to place at Stockport or other depots. We still have no idea either about what cast off vehicles, from other Stagecoach fleets, might enter the new Manchester franchise, and the start is March 2024. So should be interesting to see what happens and what moves in, in the Spring and Summer.

The real problem is the number of deckers Stagecoach has at its Manchester fleets that are 58 and 09 plate, which will be too old to use on Franchise routes.

Is there an age limit to what franchisees can use?

 

[py_megapixel]

Does anyone know what's going on with Stagecoach? Most of the Stockport garage's fleet seem to be heading to the Northern tranch franchise area in March, to be replaced by new electric busses (which will presumably make Stagecoach an attractive franchisee for Tranche 3), but there seems to be little sign of the electric buses or associated infrastructure yet in Stockport.

I don't think the electric fleet is due for delivery until later in the year. Stockport's E400MMCs seem to be turning yellow but I think the majority of Stockport's fleet comprises rather elderly (hence the enormous replacement order) original-spec E400s and E200s which will presumably have to fill in for the MMCs for a few months. I hope there are enough spare!

 

[tomoufc]

I don't think the electric fleet is due for delivery until later in the year. Stockport's E400MMCs seem to be turning yellow but I think the majority of Stockport's fleet comprises rather elderly (hence the enormous replacement order) original-spec E400s and E200s which will presumably have to fill in for the MMCs for a few months. I hope there are enough spare!

I see. Yes, there seems to be a shortfall of new, higher quality busses, but it's not yet clear whether that would be felt in the Stockport depot, or in Stagecoach's Tranche 2 fleet (is that Queen's Road?).

Presumably, Stagecoach are big enough to be able to draft-in short term loans, much as Go Ahead have done in Tranche 1 (leading to a bus spotter's paradise of liveries and styles!).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Mellor’s parent company has been bought out of admin and seeing as trading continued through the process the order book should be delivered all being well.

Amphibious Bus debuts in Amsterdam - CBW

Netherlands The Floating Dutchman began service last month in Amsterdam employing amphibious coaches. The two hours and 45 minute tour travels from Schipol through the city centre and enters the river near the museum. The [...]

cbwmagazine.com

Apologies - I meant that the delivery dates may be put back, hence reference to stop gap rather than replacement for

Perhaps the 15/65 Plate StreetLites in Wales will go up, Would explain why they have been parked up rather than transferred elsewhere. Would probably be ideal since Rosso currently operate Lites

Possibly. Don't know how many of the upcoming Rochdale routes will demand something near Merc size than an e200/Streetlite?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Jan 2024 ==

I see. Yes, there seems to be a shortfall of new, higher quality busses, but it's not yet clear whether that would be felt in the Stockport depot, or in Stagecoach's Tranche 2 fleet (is that Queen's Road?).

Presumably, Stagecoach are big enough to be able to draft-in short term loans, much as Go Ahead have done in Tranche 1 (leading to a bus spotter's paradise of liveries and styles!).

And much as they did for Commonwealth Games

 

[kiewilk0970]

Diamond don't seem to be in any rush to apply fleet numbers to the vehicles themselves (this being one with none at all) so it's hard to tell if it's even tracking with the right machine or one originally intended for a later vehicle.

We are waiting for white fleet numbers to arrive I believe and each bus has I plaque with Registration and fleet number in the Cab

 

[JD2168]

I don't think the electric fleet is due for delivery until later in the year. Stockport's E400MMCs seem to be turning yellow but I think the majority of Stockport's fleet comprises rather elderly (hence the enormous replacement order) original-spec E400s and E200s which will presumably have to fill in for the MMCs for a few months. I hope there are enough spare!

If the older Enviro 400’s are to be replaced I can think of many areas where ALX400’s need replacing.

 

[py_megapixel]

If the older Enviro 400’s are to be replaced I can think of many areas where ALX400’s need replacing.

That's probably where they'll go eventually (Stagecoach seems to have form for this sort of cascade) but until the Volvo electrics arrive I imagine they'll need everything they can get in Stockport.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Rejoice! Enviro 200 4031 is currently in the paintshop for repaint into yellow...

Photo attached shows 4031, prepped and being washed off in the bus wash...

 

[MasterSpenny]

The next new listings, courtesy of buslistsontheweb.co.uk are as follows:

Fleet Number	Registration
20602	YX73PLF
20603	YX73PLJ
20604	YX73PLN
20605	YX73PLO

buslistsontheweb.co.uk has now confirmed what I believe is the full list, of which the remainder of the batch is the following:

Fleet Number	Registration
20607	YY73OXR
20608	YY73OXS
20609	YY73OXT
20610	YY73OXU
20611	YY73OXV
20612	YY73OXW
20613	YY73OXZ
20614	YY73OYA
20615	YY73OYB
20616	YY73OYC
20617	YY73OYE
20618	YY73OYF
20619	YY73OYG
20620	YY73OYH
20621	YY73OYJ
20622	YY73OYK
20623	YY73OYL
20624	YY73OYM

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

Looks like Stagecoach Enviro400 19481 MX09AOV has been repainted into Bee Network livery. Didn’t think they’d be allowed to use these, but it’s a welcome surprise.

 

[90sWereBetter]

Looks like Stagecoach Enviro400 19481 MX09AOV has been repainted into Bee Network livery. Didn’t think they’d be allowed to use these, but it’s a welcome surprise.

I believe most of the 08/58/09 reg Enviro400s at Stagecoach are Euro6 compliant, so while they're getting up there in years they're probably still acceptable for Bee Network. There's a reason why Stagecoach are hanging onto these batches while thinning out the ranks of the Enviro400H which, while newer, require expensive new batteries.

That being said it is a surprise, the only old-shape Enviros in the fleet I expected to see retained and repainted were 10042-51 on account of them being 12-plates.

 

[jeffery9098]

I see. Yes, there seems to be a shortfall of new, higher quality busses, but it's not yet clear whether that would be felt in the Stockport depot, or in Stagecoach's Tranche 2 fleet (is that Queen's Road?).

Presumably, Stagecoach are big enough to be able to draft-in short term loans, much as Go Ahead have done in Tranche 1 (leading to a bus spotter's paradise of liveries and styles!).

What buses would you recommend they should be loaning and how many?

 

[darylyates17]

I believe most of the 08/58/09 reg Enviro400s at Stagecoach are Euro6 compliant, so while they're getting up there in years they're probably still acceptable for Bee Network. There's a reason why Stagecoach are hanging onto these batches while thinning out the ranks of the Enviro400H which, while newer, require expensive new batteries.

That being said it is a surprise, the only old-shape Enviros in the fleet I expected to see retained and repainted were 10042-51 on account of them being 12-plates.

Is it possible that they are stop gaps and TfGM have given Stagecoach an age exemption untill newer vehicles replace them.

 

[Mollman]

Looks like Stagecoach Enviro400 19481 MX09AOV has been repainted into Bee Network livery. Didn’t think they’d be allowed to use these, but it’s a welcome surprise.

Don't forget Go-Ahead are using Bee Networked 09&59 reg Scania Omnicity deckers

 

[py_megapixel]

Is it possible that they are stop gaps and TfGM have given Stagecoach an age exemption untill newer vehicles replace them.

If so then completely repainting them rather than just using stickers is an interesting choice.

The MMCs are relatively new and I could imagine them running around for quite a while. But those old Enviros seem to have been absolutely hammered and are looking very tired now, especially internally, so it seems implausible that they are a permanent solution unless some major works are planned.

 

[MasterSpenny]

Don't forget Go-Ahead are using Bee Networked 09&59 reg Scania Omnicity deckers

As well as E400 3119, which I gather was prior to reregistration was a 59 plate according to bustines.org.

3119 - Y7 THG

ADL Enviro400

bustimes.org

3119 Y7 THG​

Bee Network
TypeADL Enviro400
Previous regSN59 AVY

 

[Leyland Bus]

In other fleetnews at Bolton, Enviro200MMC 4140 has gone back to ADL for body structural defects to be sorted...

 

[WWH44L]

In other fleetnews at Bolton, Enviro200MMC 4140 has gone back to ADL for body structural defects to be sorted...

Thanks for the update. Also seen a photo of 4141 at Bus & coach world with front end damage.

Also, is there an issues with the 36** Scanias at Heywood? Noticed a lot have not tracked for some time with only 7 of the 20 out today. Looks like B9TLs from Bolton have moved to cover the 163 with the Citaros working on Bolton routes.

 

[Class 466]

Thanks for the update. Also seen a photo of 4141 at Bus & coach world with front end damage.

Also, is there an issues with the 36** Scanias at Heywood? Noticed a lot have not tracked for some time with only 7 of the 20 out today. Looks like B9TLs from Bolton have moved to cover the 163 with the Citaros working on Bolton routes.

Reliability seems to be an issue with those OmniCitys

 

[Leyland Bus]

Thanks for the update. Also seen a photo of 4141 at Bus & coach world with front end damage.

Also, is there an issues with the 36** Scanias at Heywood? Noticed a lot have not tracked for some time with only 7 of the 20 out today. Looks like B9TLs from Bolton have moved to cover the 163 with the Citaros working on Bolton routes.

4141 was actually a rather severe nearside impact that moved several rows of seats inwards... There is a Streetdeck currently off for exactly the same, that'll be sent away and refurbished at the same time but the number escapes me...

I'll do some digging on the Scanias as we've afew here laid up and not quite sure why.

In more positive news, we've had 1 bus wash completely overhauled, new brushes, motors etc etc and the second one will be ripped out and replaced completely once the new chassis wash has been installed, work for which is moving along at quite a pace!

 

[WWH44L]

4141 was actually a rather severe nearside impact that moved several rows of seats inwards... There is a Streetdeck currently off for exactly the same, that'll be sent away and refurbished at the same time but the number escapes me...

I'll do some digging on the Scanias as we've afew here laid up and not quite sure why.

In more positive news, we've had 1 bus wash completely overhauled, new brushes, motors etc etc and the second one will be ripped out and replaced completely once the new chassis wash has been installed, work for which is moving along at quite a pace!

Great news about the wash - question is have you got your scaffold for decker painting?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Great news about the wash - question is have you got your scaffold for decker painting?

In a word... no! Due any week now is the suppliers line... one can only assume they're delivering it on foot from Cornwall! LOL!

 

[WWH44L]

In a word... no! Due any week now is the suppliers line... one can only assume they're delivering it on foot from Cornwall! LOL!

Dear lord! Think you might be right!

 

[GCH100]

Looks like Stagecoach Enviro400 19481 MX09AOV has been repainted into Bee Network livery. Didn’t think they’d be allowed to use these, but it’s a welcome surprise.

It may be a number of possibilities, as follows:-

1. It may have been painted into Bee Network livery in error. We will know if more similar ones appear that it isn't an error.
2. It may be that it is allowed for restricted duties, such as schools and peak hour extra's.
3. It may be that if they have been converted to Euro 6 spec, they may have a five year extension in usage.

On another subject I haave heard that the 163 is to move to Queens Road with the next trache of franchising, and that the 58 plate 09 plate Scania OmniCity Deckers will be withdrawn, not sure though how true this is.