TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[mayneway]

At least there’s an attempt to rehome them and not just leave them to rot away completely then pay for someone to drag them off for scrap

True but considering what TFGM actually got out of them compared to the B9’s many would ask was it really worth buying them.

 

[Darren Hayward]

What about the GNW Ex Diamond Mercedes Citaro single decker 12-14 registered I would not be surprised to see them being sold as they really have only 2 years service left some of them are still in Diamond Blue

 

[M60lad]

I may have asked this before but considering other operators operate similar vehicles what's actually wrong with Bee Network Omnicities? Also why did Metroline actually reject them?

 

[MCRTransitYT]

I may have asked this before but considering other operators operate similar vehicles what's actually wrong with Bee Network Omnicities? Also why did Metroline actually reject them?

Reliability. Well the lack of it. They'd often break down or fail to start.

 

[mayneway]

I may have asked this before but considering other operators operate similar vehicles what's actually wrong with Bee Network Omnicities? Also why did Metroline actually reject them?

All but probably 4 or 5 had major issues mainly around their Euro 6 conversions which would throw them into limp mode. One of them was completely rebuilt at Bolton before moving to stagecoach and wouldn’t last an hour on the road before the gearbox would overheat, constant alarms going off.
The boots and boot struts on most of them were rotten meaning the boot wouldn’t close properly giving a constant alarm.
I could go on but you get the idea, they are sheds!

 

[Goldfish62]

All but probably 4 or 5 had major issues mainly around their Euro 6 conversions which would throw them into limp mode. One of them was completely rebuilt at Bolton before moving to stagecoach and wouldn’t last an hour on the road before the gearbox would overheat, constant alarms going off.
The boots and boot struts on most of them were rotten meaning the boot wouldn’t close properly giving a constant alarm.
I could go on but you get the idea, they are sheds!

The last time I travelled on one when still with RATP in Hounslow I sat at the back on the lower. The whole rear section seemed to be moving independently of the rest of the bus. It made for a very odd travelling sensation.

 

[Darren Hayward]

I may have asked this before but considering other operators operate similar vehicles what's actually wrong with Bee Network Omnicities? Also why did Metroline actually reject them?

The ones I'm referring to are the older ones inherited from Diamond who got them from Yourbus

 

[Leyland Bus]

The ones I'm referring to are the older ones inherited from Diamond who got them from Yourbus

I think you kind of answered your own question really, they've atleast two years running left... Actually, they've 4 years as they can run til they're 15 currently (11 yr old at present). Given some have had new engines in the last year, that's more likely.

What about the GNW Ex Diamond Mercedes Citaro single decker 12-14 registered I would not be surprised to see them being sold as they really have only 2 years service left some of them are still in Diamond Blue

 

[darylyates17]

I think you kind of answered your own question really, they've atleast two years running left... Actually, they've 4 years as they can run til they're 15 currently (11 yr old at present). Given some have had new engines in the last year, that's more likely.

Good chance the 0295s will be refurbed since ones already been done but the 0530s will stay as they are I think.

 

[RHolmes]

Good chance the 0295s will be refurbed since ones already been done but the 0530s will stay as they are I think.

Based on their chronic unreliability I wouldn’t personally.

 

[scosutsut]

The boots and boot struts on most of them were rotten meaning the boot wouldn’t close properly giving a constant alarm.

The irony of Scania forgetting this lesson after roughly 40 years with the Metropolitans... Not lost!

 

[Kianlewis48]

Lots of the TE’s have already been returned, I know a load were moved over the weekend back to Stagecoach.


Are these part of the initial order or an extra order?
Stagecoach waited ages for their final Evora 21426 to arrive. It developed a fault while being driven onto the ship, something to do with the power steering and was returned to the factory.

These are a new order, with more also being ordered then the initial two.

63371 (SL16RBF) has left Rochdale today for Adderley Green Paintshop, and will be the first 63xxx streetlite to be repainted into Bee Network Yellow, with more to follow and whole fleet to be completed before the end of this year.

 

[darylyates17]

These are a new order, with more also being ordered then the initial two.

63371 (SL16RBF) has left Rochdale today for Adderley Green Paintshop, and will be the first 63xxx streetlite to be repainted into Bee Network Yellow, with more to follow and whole fleet to be completed before the end of this year.

More Evoras for just Rochdale or other parts of FirstGroup?

 

[Kianlewis48]

More Evoras for just Rochdale or other parts of FirstGroup?

Just for Rochdale, they are going to be the standard fleet for us, they are also looking at the possibility of transferring out some Mellor strata’s to another bee network operator, so they would be replaced with the evora.

 

[darylyates17]

Just for Rochdale, they are going to be the standard fleet for us, they are also looking at the possibility of transferring out some Mellor strata’s to another bee network operator, so they would be replaced with the evora.

Don’t blame them for ordering more of them best vehicle on the market right now, the Mellors are good for very quiet routes but way too small for Rochdale and unreliable but Diamond could probably do with some to replace the final few Solos and 2 white MMCs even though the Stagecoach examples will move over once the E100EVs turn up. Would guess the 2 Eclipses will go as well.

 

[toms]

These are a new order, with more also being ordered then the initial two.

63371 (SL16RBF) has left Rochdale today for Adderley Green Paintshop, and will be the first 63xxx streetlite to be repainted into Bee Network Yellow, with more to follow and whole fleet to be completed before the end of this year.

The school fleet are being painted yellow aswell? Or the the whole public fleet

 

[Kianlewis48]

The school fleet are being painted yellow aswell? Or the the whole public fleet

It will be the whole fleet that will be painted yellow, we don’t have a school fleet as such as some schools work off local Rochdale service work such as the 406, the only dedicated fleet we have is 63351,353,354 and 63376 which is for the Amazon contract at the airport.

 

[mayneway]

It will be the whole fleet that will be painted yellow, we don’t have a school fleet as such as some schools work off local Rochdale service work such as the 406, the only dedicated fleet we have is 63351,353,354 and 63376 which is for the Amazon contract at the airport.

With the loss of the MCFC football shuttles to GNW what’s happening with the B9’s that came back to Rochdale?

 

[Kianlewis48]

With the loss of the MCFC football shuttles to GNW what’s happening with the B9’s that came back to Rochdale?

These are sat at the back of the depot at the moment with all operating licences removed, and are waiting for transfer to Stoke, where the fate of them while await, however I’m lead to believe some may be heading over to Cornwall at some point, but at the moment they are still at Rochdale awaiting removal.

 

[mayneway]

Optare Solos 48105,48111 and 48112 have seemingly transferred to Queens road over the weekend, 36780 is working out of Middleton - not sure if these are temporary or permanent moves.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Will be temp probably to cover the mellors

Optare Solos 48105,48111 and 48112 have seemingly transferred to Queens road over the weekend, 36780 is working out of Middleton - not sure if these are temporary or permanent moves.

 

[Class 466]

Will be temp probably to cover the mellors

Doesn’t entirely make sense when the Mellors were out in use at the same time on Saturday.

 

[py_megapixel]

Have any of Metroline's older fleet (the E400 hybrids or the Geminis) been painted yellow or given the TfGM spec interior yet? If not does anyone know when they might be?

 

[mayneway]

Doesn’t entirely make sense when the Mellors were out in use at the same time on Saturday.

Agree!
One maybe two mellors off the road would see maybe one Solo borrowed from elsewhere but to have 3 Solos and Mellors out over the weekend confuses things even more.

Have any of Metroline's older fleet (the E400 hybrids or the Geminis) been painted yellow or given the TfGM spec interior yet? If not does anyone know when they might be?

Doubt the Geminis will see paint but I know at least one E400 hybrid has already been painted into yellow.

 

[toms]

Have any of Metroline's older fleet (the E400 hybrids or the Geminis) been painted yellow or given the TfGM spec interior yet? If not does anyone know when they might be?

Adding to what Mayne said, apparently the TEH E400H at Metroline which as been painted yellow has not got the bee network interior which puzzles me, might probably be done at a later time

 

[Class 466]

Agree!
One maybe two mellors off the road would see maybe one Solo borrowed from elsewhere but to have 3 Solos and Mellors out over the weekend confuses things even more.


Doubt the Geminis will see paint but I know at least one E400 hybrid has already been painted into yellow.

I note one of the 17 plate MMCs (10851 I think) has gone to Middleton as well

 

[TheSmiths82]

Adding to what Mayne said, apparently the TEH E400H at Metroline which as been painted yellow has not got the bee network interior which puzzles me, might probably be done at a later time

Would they be allowed to not replace the interior of some of the older buses that may only be in service for another couple of years but still need painting?

 

[mayneway]

Adding to what Mayne said, apparently the TEH E400H at Metroline which as been painted yellow has not got the bee network interior which puzzles me, might probably be done at a later time

This is a comment that pops up a lot, but unless the buses go to somewhere like Thorntons the likely hood is these are painted at an external contractors then will go to Anston for interior conversion.

This has been the the system at Stagecoach with Rockferry and chesterfield doing the paint then Anston doing the interior at a later date.

Would they be allowed to not replace the interior of some of the older buses that may only be in service for another couple of years but still need painting?

If they have been painted they will have interior conversion.

 

[MCRTransitYT]

Would they be allowed to not replace the interior of some of the older buses that may only be in service for another couple of years but still need painting?

GNW 6251 has a Bee network interior but is diamond livery (although now VOR as its being painted yellow https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10227975413036037&vanity=1394070862)

 

[py_megapixel]

The newest TEHs are 63 registrations, so presumably based on the 15 year limit we can expect them to be replaced in 2028. That means at the very least they will need the auto announcer screens and speakers installed and working, as that becomes legally required from October 2026.

There's a small newer batch of hybrids, E400 bodies on a Volvo B5LH chassis. Those are 15 registrations so could stay in service even longer, unless there is a desire to replace them for being nonstandard.