TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[Dfatcontroller]

What will happen with route training for these routes? It seems a bit odd that they will only be doing it for one night, it will be interesting to see what buses they use though! I am guessing a few of the drivers will already be very familiar with the Stagecoach routes anyway.

It may explain the presence of one of First's Welsh registered Wright Eclipse Driver Trainers being in Piccadilly Gardens last week!

 

[StagecoachBus1]

Is this relating to the night bus service on t


What will happen with route training for these routes? It seems a bit odd that they will only be doing it for one night, it will be interesting to see what buses they use though! I am guessing a few of the drivers will already be very familiar with the Stagecoach routes anyway.

The allocation for the 43, 142, 192, and 216/9 must be deckers. This is why First have brought back some B9s, which will be used alongside E400s. The other quieter routes will see Evoras, Streetlites and the odd decker, as the extra capacity isn’t required. As for route knowlege, most are not too challenging at all, being direct services, with the exception of the 103 around Wythenshawe and the 201 around Hattersley and Hyde, but other than that not too much learning to be done.

 

[Marcus Fryer]

As for route knowlege, most are not too challenging at all, being direct services, with the exception of the 103 around Wythenshawe and the 201 around Hattersley and Hyde, but other than that not too much learning to be done.

Don’t they need to learn where all the stops are as well as which roads to use?

 

[toms]

Got on a 69/20 plate Bee Network Stagecoach MMC earlier and I’ve got to say I’m impressed, audio announcements loud and clear enough for people to hear, lovely service. Only thing needing tweaking is the dot matrix looping continuously trying to show the next stop but great service

 

[mayneway]

The buses that they will use will more likely be E400s

It seems a number of the former Oldham cascaded B9’s have returned to Rochdale depot with some being used on the ethiad football shuttles today. Presumably these, despite their age, will be used.

 

[BlitzFan87]

The allocation for the 43, 142, 192, and 216/9 must be deckers. This is why First have brought back some B9s, which will be used alongside E400s. The other quieter routes will see Evoras, Streetlites and the odd decker, as the extra capacity isn’t required. As for route knowlege, most are not too challenging at all, being direct services, with the exception of the 103 around Wythenshawe and the 201 around Hattersley and Hyde, but other than that not too much learning to be done.

If you read my previous post they will also use e400s as well

 

[BlitzFan87]

Got on a 69/20 plate Bee Network Stagecoach MMC earlier and I’ve got to say I’m impressed, audio announcements loud and clear enough for people to hear, lovely service. Only thing needing tweaking is the dot matrix looping continuously trying to show the next stop but great service

The remaining 69 plate buses at Oldham should be at queens road by January meaning some of the b9s will transfer to metroline

 

[xitz2012@gmail]

It seems a number of the former Oldham cascaded B9’s have returned to Rochdale depot with some being used on the ethiad football shuttles today. Presumably these, despite their age, will be used.

Shouldn’t be a problem considering that B9s from the same batch are still in service on franchised routes out of Queens Road.

 

[mayneway]

Shouldn’t be a problem considering that B9s from the same batch are still in service on franchised routes out of Queens Road.

The Queens road batch are owned by TFGM who will no doubt be paying First handsomely to operate during the crossover.

 

[Class 466]

11824 suffered a failure on Christmas Day on the 43 and was reported as being towed away from Sharston Depot on 26/12. Believe it'll be repaired either at, or then sent to it's new home rather than go back to Sharston with just less than a week until it was due to depart there anyway.

Got on a 69/20 plate Bee Network Stagecoach MMC earlier and I’ve got to say I’m impressed, audio announcements loud and clear enough for people to hear, lovely service. Only thing needing tweaking is the dot matrix looping continuously trying to show the next stop but great service

Ah yes, the couple I’ve been on with working announcements all have the same issue with the dot matrix displays. Am sure it’s relatively straightforward to fix

 

[darylyates17]

11824 suffered a failure on Christmas Day on the 43 and was reported as being towed away from Sharston Depot on 26/12. Believe it'll be repaired either at, or then sent to it's new home rather than go back to Sharston with just less than a week until it was due to depart there anyway.


Ah yes, the couple I’ve been on with working announcements all have the same issue with the dot matrix displays. Am sure it’s relatively straightforward to fix

Was on one of the 69/20 plate examples on the 100 the other week, noticed that announcements were working on the bottom deck but not the top and the standard Stagecoach display on the top deck kept flicking.

 

[toms]

Was on one of the 69/20 plate examples on the 100 the other week, noticed that announcements were working on the bottom deck but not the top and the standard Stagecoach display on the top deck kept flicking.

Can the speaker volume on the buses be tweaked because I notice that other companies like GNWs MMCs aren’t even audible

 

[Leyland Bus]

There are only 2 apparently and they are going to Diamond, for use on service 280. The normal Mellor Stratas are too high for the very low bridge in Dunham Town, and so requires either a mini solo SR or a Fiat Orion Mellor, the 2 vehicle types Belle Vue used to use

Who are getting the ducato mellor orions? And what will their F/Ns be?

As already posted above, there are Two of them and both are for Diamond for the 280. I'm sure fleernumbers will be known in due course.

 

[cnjb8]

As already posted above, there are Two of them and both are for Diamond for the 280. I'm sure fleernumbers will be known in due course.

21241/42

 

[Leyland Bus]

21241/42

There you go... like clockwork


Given all the frantic nail biting and sleepless nights being had over which E400s are going where on the Stagecoach Manchester thread, I thought I'd post some pics of the Volvo "Bee"ZLs coming through Bolton for recharging whilst on their way to new homes as a sort of cleanser..!

Pics show a line of 3 Bee Network liveried electric Volvo BZL deckers on the charging lanes at Bolton Garage.

 

[cnjb8]

There you go... like clockwork


Given all the frantic nail biting and sleepless nights being had over which E400s are going where on the Stagecoach Manchester thread, I thought I'd post some pics of the Volvo "Bee"ZLs coming through Bolton for recharging whilst on their way to new homes as a sort of cleanser..!

Pics show a line of 3 Bee Network liveried electric Volvo BZL deckers on the charging lanes at Bolton Garage.

That third picture is interesting, some of the StreetDecks have Hyde Road as the address unless they have been changed

 

[Goldfish62]

That third picture is interesting, some of the StreetDecks have Hyde Road as the address unless they have been changed

Both the registered company address on Companies House and the Operator Licence address are shown as Cricklewood.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Both the registered company address on Companies House and the Operator Licence address are shown as Cricklewood.

Weirdly, the legal address doesn’t have to be either (though it can be!).

 

[mayneway]

Both the registered company address on Companies House and the Operator Licence address are shown as Cricklewood.

The legal address and Manchester head office will be Hyde road from Jan 5th, all legals will be changed on the Saturday night ready for service Sunday!
Like wise Stagecoach’s legals will change to Queens road from the same date.

 

[M60lad]

Interesting that all Bee Network Stagecoach vehicles will have Queens Road as the legal address from Sunday as depending who you speak to thought it would have been Oldham that would have been Head Office considering all the new vehicles that they have been getting lately, it does seem to have replaced Hyde Road as Stagecoach's pet Depot recently.

 

[Goldfish62]

The legal address and Manchester head office will be Hyde road from Jan 5th, all legals will be changed on the Saturday night ready for service Sunday!
Like wise Stagecoach’s legals will change to Queens road from the same date.

Thanks.

 

[Class 466]

Interesting that all Bee Network Stagecoach vehicles will have Queens Road as the legal address from Sunday as depending who you speak to thought it would have been Oldham that would have been Head Office considering all the new vehicles that they have been getting lately, it does seem to have replaced Hyde Road as Stagecoach's pet Depot recently.

New vehicles going there has nothing to do with where is becoming head office - Oldham has EV charging capabilities, Queens Road does not.

 

[mayneway]

Interesting that all Bee Network Stagecoach vehicles will have Queens Road as the legal address from Sunday as depending who you speak to thought it would have been Oldham that would have been Head Office considering all the new vehicles that they have been getting lately, it does seem to have replaced Hyde Road as Stagecoach's pet Depot recently.

Queens road will be the new head office though! Most senior management have moved over.
The original plan was to use Oldham as there’s a separate office block - used as Firsts head office, however TFGM want to let that out as a separate entity in typical TFGM style.

 

[978wta]

Does anyone know if the 16 plate Enviro 400s at Oldham will receive the Bee Network refurb?

 

[Class 466]

Does anyone know if the 16 plate Enviro 400s at Oldham will receive the Bee Network refurb?

Yes, they’re due to start soon.

 

[BlitzFan87]

Does anyone know if the 16 plate Enviro 400s at Oldham will receive the Bee Network refurb?

Most likely it will be a no at the moment

 

[Park47515]

Yes, they’re due to start soon.

What is the age limit for Bee Network eventually?

 

[JasonL]

What is the age limit for Bee Network eventually?

I think it's 15 years?

 

[Simon75]

I've noticed that unlike London, the only way to know the operator now, is via its legals

 

[mayneway]

Does anyone know if the 16 plate Enviro 400s at Oldham will receive the Bee Network refurb?

Once the E300’s have been done we should start to see more deckers going for the paint and conversion.
There’s 2 E300’s from Oldham and Queens away at anyone time (1 each at Anston for conversion and retrim, 1 each at Birkenhead for paint).

What is the age limit for Bee Network eventually?

Overall 15 years but there’s some boards/services that require the vehicles used to be under 7 years.
There’s also dispensation for example at Queens road, and presumably Hyde road from next week because TFGM have supplied some older vehicles.