Bee Network Service/Route Discussion

[Tim33160]

168 Ashton - Droylsden - Gorton - Longsight - Levenshulme - Fallowfield - Chorlton from 27 Jan 2019, Service withdrawn.

New 150 from Hyde to Trafford Centre replaces the 168 between Gorton and Chorlton. Initially commercial by Stagecoach. M-S daytime ev30 mins Supported ESuPH hrly 30 October 2022: Deregistered and put out to tender: M-S daytime jnys will be run by Diamond with ESuPH by Stagecoach

New 230 from Manchester to Ashton replaced the 168 between Droylsden and Ashton. Commercial daytime ev30mins; supported ESu

Existing service 7 retimed with ESuPH journeys introduced between Ashton and Gorton partly replacing WITHDRAWN 168 between Gorton and Droylsden.

 

[geoffk]

All these are supported services

Of course, under franchising, all services are supported!

 

[StretfordEnd96]

I remember the 58 from Rochdale to the Trafford Centre via Oldham, Middleton and the M60. That's been gone for a while now, in fact there's no 58 at all. As dodecahedron67 says, the tram provides many of these links now.

Certainly the case of Shaw and Crompton - which the 58 also ran through - has had a huge reduction of services to Oldham and Manchester since the Metrolink was installed there. Before then Shaw had roughly a service every 10 minutes or better to both Oldham and Manchester - every 5 minutes in some cases (combining these services together) - but Metrolink appears to have massively reduced the Shaw bus scene and the town now only has 1 bus an hour to Manchester and every 30 minutes to Oldham.

 

[GusB]

Please remember that this is a discussion about current Bee Network services. Start a new thread if you want to reminisce about historic Manchester routes. Thanks.

 

[lincman]

Certainly the case of Shaw and Crompton - which the 58 also ran through - has had a huge reduction of services to Oldham and Manchester since the Metrolink was installed there. Before then Shaw had roughly a service every 10 minutes or better to both Oldham and Manchester - every 5 minutes in some cases (combining these services together) - but Metrolink appears to have massively reduced the Shaw bus scene and the town now only has 1 bus an hour to Manchester and every 30 minutes to Oldham.

Metrolink has decimated services in the Shaw area, and to be honest in both Royton and Chadderton. look at the advice given on journey planner mostly you spend your time walking to a tram stop. As former resident and now frequent visitor I find bus provision in general very poor.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Metrolink has decimated services in the Shaw area, and to be honest in both Royton and Chadderton. look at the advice given on journey planner mostly you spend your time walking to a tram stop. As former resident and now frequent visitor I find bus provision in general very poor.

There have been many postings on a different website over the years who see the Metrolink as the be-all and end-all method of public transport and begrudgingly give the buses a reprieve only if they are used as feeders to tram stops. Any mention of inconvenience to the travelling public is given short-shrift and walking inordinate distances as part of that aspiration is viewed as a minor inconvenience to be endured.

 

[geoffk]

There have been many postings on a different website over the years who see the Metrolink as the be-all and end-all method of public transport and begrudgingly give the buses a reprieve only if they are used as feeders to tram stops. Any mention of inconvenience to the travelling public is given short-shrift and walking inordinate distances as part of that aspiration is viewed as a minor inconvenience to be endured.

I read that trams are suspended today north of Oldham Mumps because of land subsidence, apparently. Tickets are valid on buses, but of course there are no longer any buses from Milnrow and Newhey to Oldham and only an infrequent service from Shaw. Reduction in buses in this area was presumably a commercial decision by First.

 

[MSO69]

Does anyone know of or have any information on the new 99 bee network service to Prestwich Tesco?
Any idea on when this will start?

 

[Class 466]

Does anyone know of or have any information on the new 99 bee network service to prestwich tesco?
Any idea on when this will start?

It’s less a new service and just a renumbering of the 98 stubs. Starts on 21 July

https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93idf4jq/65h4iA9MTEhY5FDgP64z05/b9eb5d18f0c16de1b5c144c7e607bae6/97_98_99_24-SC-0358.pdf

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It’s less a new service and just a renumbering of the 98 stubs. Starts on 21 July

https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93idf4jq/65h4iA9MTEhY5FDgP64z05/b9eb5d18f0c16de1b5c144c7e607bae6/97_98_99_24-SC-0358.pdf

Do you think that Bee Network will do the same if any unused service numbers are next to any other stub services?

 

[Class 466]

Do you think that Bee Network will do the same if any unused service numbers are next to any other stub services?

I know it does cause some confusion with people at the moment when they're turfed off at Prestwich Tesco thinking the bus goes through to Bury. My one hope is that the 42, 42A, 42B & 42C are given a better system of numbering... please!

 

[gnolife]

I know it does cause some confusion with people at the moment when they're turfed off at Prestwich Tesco thinking the bus goes through to Bury. My one hope is that the 42, 42A, 42B & 42C are given a better system of numbering... please!

What's the problem with the 42, 42A, 42B and 42C (plus 142) - it's very helpful for people heading to Didsbury Village and Parrs Wood to be able to just look for 42, and then it not mattering what's on the front or end

 

[Tim33160]

Service changes from 21 July across TfGM area are listed at https://tfgm.com/travel-updates/travel-alerts#bus – click “timetable changes”.

These are both Bee Network and non-franchised services by Stagecoach and Warrington’s own buses for summer

Looks to be work in progress at 1000 Thursday ...

 

[Bungle965]

How frequent are issues with the new Ticketer machines these days? Just boarded one off the old Oxford Volvo's and a 3/4 full bus went without any ticket check/sales as the machine wasn't loading.
They appear to be a lot better than the previous model mind now that they use are using a Samsung Tablet.


As it appears to be my favourite topic, Solo ended up on the Rochdale Road 11× services today.

48111 - YJ24 BNV

Optare Solo SR

bustimes.org

 

[M60lad]

It seems to be normal these days for Middleton Depot to send at least one of their SRs onto one of their Rochdale Road services, seems to be happening on a daily occurrence now from what I keep seeing in Manchester.

 

[mayneway]

How frequent are issues with the new Ticketer machines these days? Just boarded one off the old Oxford Volvo's and a 3/4 full bus went without any ticket check/sales as the machine wasn't loading.
They appear to be a lot better than the previous model mind now that they use are using a Samsung Tablet.


As it appears to be my favourite topic, Solo ended up on the Rochdale Road 11× services today.

48111 - YJ24 BNV

Optare Solo SR

bustimes.org

They are very hit and miss. Half the machine works on battery and rest (printer and scanner) work off the bus, problem is every time the bus is turned off half the machine closes down then refuses to power up when the engine is restarted so a full reboot is needed. Revenue and ticket machines are solely down to TFGM so companies will have no issues telling drivers to ‘free ride’ to save potential lost mileage.

It seems to be normal these days for Middleton Depot to send at least one of their SRs onto one of their Rochdale Road services, seems to be happening on a daily occurrence now from what I keep seeing in Manchester.

It will stop very soon. TFGM are now starting to get big on compliance and right vehicle type etc. Nothing in or out of Manchester on the main corridors should be anything other than double deckers.

 

[danbarjon]

How frequent are issues with the new Ticketer machines these days? Just boarded one off the old Oxford Volvo's and a 3/4 full bus went without any ticket check/sales as the machine wasn't loading.
They appear to be a lot better than the previous model mind now that they use are using a Samsung Tablet.


As it appears to be my favourite topic, Solo ended up on the Rochdale Road 11× services today.

48111 - YJ24 BNV

Optare Solo SR

bustimes.org

Go North East are still having issues to this day with POP cards as some machines just decide they don't want to play so I'd say it's hit and miss with about 20-30% of occasions I'm receiving a free bus journey.

 

[mayneway]

Go North East are still having issues to this day with POP cards as some machines just decide they don't want to play so I'd say it's hit and miss with about 20-30% of occasions I'm receiving a free bus journey.

Go Ahead use a slightly better version than the TFGM one. Although card payments are slightly slower it’s far more robust than the TFGM Version.

 

[Bungle965]

Go Ahead use a slightly better version than the TFGM one. Although card payments are slightly slower it’s far more robust than the TFGM Version.

How are they slightly better? I was lead to believe there was just the one model available (Being the New Generation machine)

 

[mayneway]

How are they slightly better? I was lead to believe there was just the one model available (Being the New Generation machine)

Go ahead use the older version which is slightly slower but more reliable.
The TFGM spec machine uses a Samsung tablet and has a different style printer. The main issue is that it’s part battery powered part bus powered. Every time you shut down the bus the printer and scanner shut off but the screen stays on. When you start the bus again the printer and scanner don’t always power back up then it’s a case of having to reboot the machine and wait…. And wait. Which normally leads to most drivers free riding.

 

[Bungle965]

Go ahead use the older version which is slightly slower but more reliable.
The TFGM spec machine uses a Samsung tablet and has a different style printer. The main issue is that it’s part battery powered part bus powered. Every time you shut down the bus the printer and scanner shut off but the screen stays on. When you start the bus again the printer and scanner don’t always power back up then it’s a case of having to reboot the machine and wait…. And wait. Which normally leads to most drivers free riding.

Interesting, that was probably what I saw when travelling the other day.
I wonder if any operator has fed this back to Ticketer, I imagine they will have.

 

[danbarjon]

Go ahead use the older version which is slightly slower but more reliable.
The TFGM spec machine uses a Samsung tablet and has a different style printer. The main issue is that it’s part battery powered part bus powered. Every time you shut down the bus the printer and scanner shut off but the screen stays on. When you start the bus again the printer and scanner don’t always power back up then it’s a case of having to reboot the machine and wait…. And wait. Which normally leads to most drivers free riding.

Go North East use the new tablet ones unless there is an older version of the tablets your on about

 

[WibbleWobble]

Go ahead use the older version which is slightly slower but more reliable.

Definitely incorrect, Go South Coast have rolled out the newer tablet version.

However, the system is modular, so it is possible to upgrade parts of the machine (tablet, printer, scanner) without replacing other components.

 

[mayneway]

Definitely incorrect, Go South Coast have rolled out the newer tablet version.

However, the system is modular, so it is possible to upgrade parts of the machine (tablet, printer, scanner) without replacing other components.

Arh I stand corrected. GNW were using the old style machines up till bee network takeover and they were much better.

 

[StagecoachBus1]

Just curious having seen the TfGM school contracts next year, and wondered how Stagecoach are going to carry out their extensive range of Sharston school services after Christmas, when the depot transfers to Metroline. Can't see them going to Stockport, as many of them are based further away, and also Stockport will have unsuitable vehicles for the routes. Little Hulton?

 

[mangad]

Just curious having seen the TfGM school contracts next year, and wondered how Stagecoach are going to carry out their extensive range of Sharston school services after Christmas, when the depot transfers to Metroline. Can't see them going to Stockport, as many of them are based further away, and also Stockport will have unsuitable vehicles for the routes. Little Hulton?

Presumably by that point all TfGM school buses will be Bee Network franchises - IIRC the third tranche of school bus franchises has yet to be announced but Stagecoach already have submitted cancellations for a host of school routes from 31 August.

PC0003681 – GREATER MANCHESTER BUSES SOUTH LTD – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

 

[Class 466]

Presumably by that point all TfGM school buses will be Bee Network franchises - IIRC the third tranche of school bus franchises has yet to be announced but Stagecoach already have submitted cancellations for a host of school routes from 31 August.

PC0003681 – GREATER MANCHESTER BUSES SOUTH LTD – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

These would’ve been cancelled regardless of whether stagecoach keep them or not as any they continue to operate will be re-registered under their Bee Network operator. Same happened with all the Middleton public routes back in March despite the fact there was no change in operator in reality.

 

[mangad]

These would’ve been cancelled regardless of whether stagecoach keep them or not as any they continue to operate will be re-registered under their Bee Network operator. Same happened with all the Middleton public routes back in March despite the fact there was no change in operator in reality.

Either way, Stagecoach aren't going to end up with a load of Sharston based school bus routes they can't service come Tranche 3 in January - it will have been sorted by then. A good indicator of this being the case can be found in Stotts. This school bus, for example, is registered as ending 4 January 2025.

PC0001909/150 – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

 

[StagecoachBus1]

Either way, Stagecoach aren't going to end up with a load of Sharston based school bus routes they can't service come Tranche 3 in January - it will have been sorted by then. A good indicator of this being the case can be found in Stotts. This school bus, for example, is registered as ending 4 January 2025.

PC0001909/150 – bustimes.org

bustimes.org

That makes sense, explains why virtually all routes I've seen have retained their operator between this and next year - usually much more change.

 

[WibbleWobble]

These would’ve been cancelled regardless of whether stagecoach keep them or not as any they continue to operate will be re-registered under their Bee Network operator. Same happened with all the Middleton public routes back in March despite the fact there was no change in operator in reality.

They might be cancelled as they no longer need to be registered with the Traffic Commissioner. As they operate entirely within Greater Manchester, Transport for Greater Manchester is the registering authority.