Stagecoach Manchester discussion

[jimbob185]

57 wouldn't be enough if it's all the ALX400s and 19001-19130 series of Enviro 400s that are due for replacement (as quoted elsewhere). East Midlands have 29 and 50 respectively, so 79 vehicles would be needed to replace them all.
I guess we'll see, either way it should be an interesting few months ahead!

East Midlands are due 32 Enviro400EVs at some point next year so some of the earlier Enviro 400s might stay around till they arrive.

 

[CN12 AWU]

57 wouldn't be enough if it's all the ALX400s and 19001-19130 series of Enviro 400s that are due for replacement (as quoted elsewhere). East Midlands have 29 and 50 respectively, so 79 vehicles would be needed to replace them all.
I guess we'll see, either way it should be an interesting few months ahead!

I believe Grimsby are getting MMCs and everyone else E400's but apparently Grimsby and Hull are getting the biggest share

 

[JD2168]

I believe Grimsby are getting MMCs and everyone else E400's but apparently Grimsby and Hull are getting the biggest share

That would be a large decker upgrade for Grimsby, going from the oldest E400’s to E400 MMC’s.

 

[CN12 AWU]

That would be a large decker upgrade for Grimsby, going from the oldest E400’s to E400 MMC’s.

I may be wrong but that's what I have been told from people I know at East Midlands

 

[mayneway]

Another two scania’s passed to Metroline yesterday (Wednesday).
15384 and 15388.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

I've just seen a Stagecoach Enviro 400 in the yard of Belle Vue. I'm guessing it's on loan for school contracts. Does anyone know its identity, please? It was too far away to ID, I only saw it was in beachball livery

 

[darylyates17]

What’s the plan with the B9TLs that are not going to Metroline are they to be replaced any time soon?

 

[Leyland Bus]

I've just seen a Stagecoach Enviro 400 in the yard of Belle Vue. I'm guessing it's on loan for school contracts. Does anyone know its identity, please? It was too far away to ID, I only saw it was in beachball livery

Might not necessarily be anything loaned to Belle Vue, Metroline are using Belle Vues premises to inspect and brake test their vehicles until Jan 5th, so could be a B5 that's being used for training??

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

What’s the plan with the B9TLs that are not going to Metroline are they to be replaced any time soon?

They will be gone by Jan 5th, replaced by 24 plate MMCs from south Manchester.

 

[toms]

They will be gone by Jan 5th, replaced by 24 plate MMCs from south Manchester.

Thank god, sorry to anyone who has an eye for the b9s but I hate them poor old things are knackered!

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Might not necessarily be anything loaned to Belle Vue, Metroline are using Belle Vues premises to inspect and brake test their vehicles until Jan 5th, so could be a B5 that's being used for training??

It was definitely an older style E400, not one of the B5s, but possibly it was there for that reason. It had gone when I passed again about an hour later

 

[darylyates17]

Thank god, sorry to anyone who has an eye for the b9s but I hate them poor old things are knackered!

I personally quite like those B9s but they are indeed knackered now, Queens Road have done well out of them and lasted a couple of years longer than they would have done if Bee Network didn’t happen.

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

I personally quite like those B9s but they are indeed knackered now, Queens Road have done well out of them and lasted a couple of years longer than they would have done if Bee Network didn’t happen.

Yeah, I like those B9s and B9s as a whole, but those 58 plates are definitely past their best now after 16 years and 3 different operators! Will be a shame when they’re all gone though as once the ex London examples at Heywood go we won’t have any B9s in passenger use in Manchester at all.

 

[darylyates17]

Yeah, I like those B9s and B9s as a whole, but those 58 plates are definitely past their best now after 16 years and 3 different operators! Will be a shame when they’re all gone though as once the ex London examples at Heywood go we won’t have any B9s in passenger use in Manchester at all.

The Metroline examples will also be the last First barbie spec vehicles ordered for Manchester still in service in Manchester.

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

The Metroline examples will also be the last First barbie spec vehicles ordered for Manchester still in service in Manchester.

Shame it's the updated barbie spec interior and not the original with the purple/green seat pattern.

 

[toms]

I personally quite like those B9s but they are indeed knackered now, Queens Road have done well out of them and lasted a couple of years longer than they would have done if Bee Network didn’t happen.

Don’t get me wrong they have there pros and cons. For instance I love the interior sound and just the vibe they give, especially after a long day. But they’re so knackered and so loud. To be fair they’re quite comfy other than that

 

[mayneway]

They will be gone by Jan 5th, replaced by 24 plate MMCs from south Manchester.

No they won’t! Only 5 of the first batch of 15 listed as going to Metroline have so far been withdrawn, been inspected by Metroline, had any defects rectified by Stagecoach and moved onto storage so it’s going to be a long slog getting the rest done in the next fortnight!

The focus at the moment is getting the 20 Scania’s and 15 B9’s moved over for Jan 5th.
We have been told that the remaining B9’s *should* be withdrawn and replaced by the end of January to coincide with the big planned re-write.

The movement of MMC’s from Oldham to Queens road is on hold due to issues with the charging equipment at oldham.

Yeah, I like those B9s and B9s as a whole, but those 58 plates are definitely past their best now after 16 years and 3 different operators! Will be a shame when they’re all gone though as once the ex London examples at Heywood go we won’t have any B9s in passenger use in Manchester at all.

Having driven the 07 reg B9’s that transferred to GNE then briefly returned to GNW earlier this year after major refurb in the North East I can honestly say had the 58 plates been looked after slightly better and hadn’t had the bodged Euro 6 conversion they would still be cracking motors.
GNW were not daft transferring the older ones out but dumping the newer ones on TFGM.

 

[CN12 AWU]

I believe some B9's still with Stagecoach will be transferred within group in January some may also go with the E400/E400MMCs transferring to Yorkshire and East Midlands but I don't know if that is true

 

[M60lad]

Regarding the problems with the charging points at Oldham I wonder if this relates to the recent increased use of standard diesels/hybrids on Oldham Road corridor routes and 59s the past week or so, in fact yesterday I noticed E300 27947 starting a 83 trip to Oldham yesterday evening at Miles Platting/Queens Road at about 18:25.

 

[Class 466]

No they won’t! Only 5 of the first batch of 15 listed as going to Metroline have so far been withdrawn, been inspected by Metroline, had any defects rectified by Stagecoach and moved onto storage so it’s going to be a long slog getting the rest done in the next fortnight!

The focus at the moment is getting the 20 Scania’s and 15 B9’s moved over for Jan 5th.
We have been told that the remaining B9’s *should* be withdrawn and replaced by the end of January to coincide with the big planned re-write.

The movement of MMC’s from Oldham to Queens road is on hold due to issues with the charging equipment at oldham.


Having driven the 07 reg B9’s that transferred to GNE then briefly returned to GNW earlier this year after major refurb in the North East I can honestly say had the 58 plates been looked after slightly better and hadn’t had the bodged Euro 6 conversion they would still be cracking motors.
GNW were not daft transferring the older ones out but dumping the newer ones on TFGM.

The 24 plates are available from 4th Jan - they won’t exactly hang about keeping the B9s with replacements there and waiting.

 

[mayneway]

I believe some B9's still with Stagecoach will be transferred within group in January some may also go with the E400/E400MMCs transferring to Yorkshire and East Midlands but I don't know if that is true

How can they transfer out when they belong to TFGM?
Not sure what they will do with them but they won’t stay with Stagecoach.

The 24 plates are available from 4th Jan - they won’t exactly hang about keeping the B9s with replacements there and waiting.

I get the assumption that on changeover day 4/5th Jan there will be a mass switch to MMC’s, however we have been told they will start to move out during January and the fleet will be 100% MMC by the end of January.

As I’ve said every B9 needs to be inspected, and returned to TFGM defect free, hence why the Scania’s are still knocking about - well one anyway!

Remember Stagecoach don’t decide what vehicles are used at a depot TFGM do.

15389 and 16807 left Queens for Metroline yesterday!

 

[Fox192]

How can they transfer out when they belong to TFGM?
Not sure what they will do with them but they won’t stay with Stagecoach.


I get the assumption that on changeover day 4/5th Jan there will be a mass switch to MMC’s, however we have been told they will start to move out during January and the fleet will be 100% MMC by the end of January.

As I’ve said every B9 needs to be inspected, and returned to TFGM defect free, hence why the Scania’s are still knocking about - well one anyway!

Remember Stagecoach don’t decide what vehicles are used at a depot TFGM do.

15389 and 16807 left Queens for Metroline yesterday!

Added to the fact b9s are not really a stagecoach standard fleet, I’m sure they don’t want them, I understand they have some in East Midlands already but I’m sure they don’t want more

 

[mayneway]

I’ve driven the B9’s for many years and love them but it’s fair to say they are tired and need a lot of money spending on them. I suspect TFGM will try and sell them on but what they think they are worth and what they actually sell for a two very different things!

 

[darylyates17]

Added to the fact b9s are not really a stagecoach standard fleet, I’m sure they don’t want them, I understand they have some in East Midlands already but I’m sure they don’t want more

The only other B9s left within Stagecoach are the final handful of ex Tower Transit and 2 ex Wigan open top examples for the Chester City Sightseeing. The 2 open top Geminis at Skegness are B7s that dont have long left.

 

[Fox192]

The only other B9s left within Stagecoach are the final handful of ex Tower Transit and 2 ex Wigan open top examples for the Chester City Sightseeing. The 2 open top Geminis at Skegness are B7s that dont have long left.

That’s what I mean sorry, but like I mean I’m sure stagecoach don’t want to take b9s on because they like adl

 

[Class 466]

We have been told that the remaining B9’s *should* be withdrawn and replaced by the end of January to coincide with the big planned re-write.

Am I right in thinking this is the rewrite to put more vehicles on some routes to improve reliability?

Large number of departures this weekend from South Manchester to their new homes across the UK...

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

Am I right in thinking this is the rewrite to put more vehicles on some routes to improve reliability?

Large number of departures this weekend from South Manchester to their new homes across the UK...

Let’s hope so! 2 and a half hour wait for a 98 from Shudehill earlier!

 

[mayneway]

Am I right in thinking this is the rewrite to put more vehicles on some routes to improve reliability?

Large number of departures this weekend from South Manchester to their new homes across the UK...

Mixture of both. Better running times and some increases in frequency.

Let’s hope so! 2 and a half hour wait for a 98 from Shudehill earlier!

You expect a good reliable service on the busiest Friday of the year?? Town is carnage.

 

[444]

anyone knows which models of buses are going to specific depots for metroline

 

[317 forever]

I wonder whether any Volvo BZLs will enter service at Middleton or at any garages adopted by Metroline on January 5th.