TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[mayneway]

Regarding Middleton electrification, I was told by our senior management that the survey of the site in readiness for the works was either misjudged or done badly as apparently there's an awful lot more work needed than first thought, to the point that we've been storing two huge transformer boxes for Middleton at Bolton for what must be getting on 12months now (they were obviously meant to be installed on site upon delivery so goodness knows what they found to cause such a delay!)

It must be something big as TFGM have been renting a large yard in Hollinwood since last autumn for Middleton to run out of while the final phases of electrification are completed - what a waste of money!

It also seems that the early work on electrifying Queens road has also stalled after it was decided the Roof was too weak to hold cables and gantry’s for the chargers so it’s unlikely to go ahead any time soon.
Since acquiring the depot TFGM constantly switch from replacing the whole depot roof to not having the funds to do it. The cost supposedly runs into millions of pounds.

 

[Leyland Bus]

It must be something big as TFGM have been renting a large yard in Hollinwood since last autumn for Middleton to run out of while the final phases of electrification are completed - what a waste of money!

It also seems that the early work on electrifying Queens road has also stalled after it was decided the Roof was too weak to hold cables and gantry’s for the chargers so it’s unlikely to go ahead any time soon.
Since acquiring the depot TFGM constantly switch from replacing the whole depot roof to not having the funds to do it. The cost supposedly runs into millions of pounds.

The roof at Queens was "being replaced" 20 year ago when I started, then First wanted to remove the roof ala Todmorden and ever since its just gotten worse and worse... I'm pretty sure it could be done in stages to spread the cost but remember, in council ownership days a new roof was the death knell of a garage, see Swinton and IIRC Rochdale for that!!

 

[M60lad]

1> Is the roof at Queens Road Depot in a worse state than the roof at Oldham Depot was as I know Oldham Depot's roof when under First was in a bad enough state that it whenever it rained it was like a heavy downpour inside the depot at times?

2> Regarding the BZLs for Stagecoach instead of just leaving them sat around in storage couldn't they temporarily use them in service at Oldham Depot which is electrified already and replace some of the diesel fleet?

 

[Charles Street]

On bustimes.org WDS226 and 26334 have apparently been moved to Stagecoach/metroline, but why are they moving

Purely speculation but could WDS 226 be anything to do with 18923 at Stockport being sidelined with front end damage?

 

[Class 466]

Purely speculation but could WDS 226 be anything to do with 18923 at Stockport being sidelined with front end damage?

Nope, it’s a permanent swap as Metroline were short on long E200s - just means another streetdeck on the 330

 

[mayneway]

1> Is the roof at Queens Road Depot in a worse state than the roof at Oldham Depot was as I know Oldham Depot's roof when under First was in a bad enough state that it whenever it rained it was like a heavy downpour inside the depot at times?

Didn’t say it was in a bad state I just said it’s too weak to hold the cables and gantry’s for the chargers. It will do the job but the likely hood is electrics won’t be coming any time soon.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I’ve noticed that while Metroline and Stagecoach services helpfully have “Piccadilly” or “Shudehill” displayed on the front, Go North West services simply read “Manchester,” which is unhelpfully vague for a rather big city with multiple destinations. They also don’t have scrolling via points underneath, unlike Metroline and Stagecoach. They have the same bus types as the other operators. Time for an update perhaps?

 

[MCRTransitYT]

I’ve noticed that while Metroline and Stagecoach services helpfully have “Piccadilly” or “Shudehill” displayed on the front, Go North West services simply read “Manchester,” which is unhelpfully vague for a rather big city with multiple destinations. They also don’t have scrolling via points underneath, unlike Metroline and Stagecoach. They have the same bus types as the other operators. Time for an update perhaps?

But on GNW's blinds, on the bottom line, it switches between the routes vias and Shudehill Interchange/Piccadilly Gardens

 

[toms]

I’ve noticed that while Metroline and Stagecoach services helpfully have “Piccadilly” or “Shudehill” displayed on the front, Go North West services simply read “Manchester,” which is unhelpfully vague for a rather big city with multiple destinations. They also don’t have scrolling via points underneath, unlike Metroline and Stagecoach. They have the same bus types as the other operators. Time for an update perhaps?

I know that for some reason Stagecoach’s south Manchester services will have the actual destination on the top line of text (eg. “Piccadilly”) but north Manchester will have “Manchester” then “Piccadilly Gardens via Whitefield - Heaton Park - Cheetham Hill.” In a scrolling fashion. I know that in terms of AVA systems, any route that starts off with showing Manchester on the screens will automatically update once the bus reaches a certain point to its actual final destination.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I know that in terms of AVA systems, any route that starts off with showing Manchester on the screens will automatically update once the bus reaches a certain point to its actual final destination.

Go North East definitely don’t, though I assume you meant any Stagecoach route.

 

[Leedsbusman]

I’ve noticed that while Metroline and Stagecoach services helpfully have “Piccadilly” or “Shudehill” displayed on the front, Go North West services simply read “Manchester,” which is unhelpfully vague for a rather big city with multiple destinations. They also don’t have scrolling via points underneath, unlike Metroline and Stagecoach. They have the same bus types as the other operators. Time for an update perhaps?

Perhaps that’s because many GNW services start outside Manchester and only enter it close to the terminus whereas Metroline and Stagecoach ones serve much more of Manchester.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Noticed that the areas the destinations are in on Metroline buses are still wrong. According to Bustimes.org the ticket data is showing many stops as being in Whalley Range when they are very much in Chorlton. This might cause some confusion, it seems that the destinations are programmed into the ticket machines, hence the data is showing up on Bustimes.org.

 

[toms]

Go North East definitely don’t, though I assume you meant any Stagecoach route.

I’m talking about the interior next stop screens and announcements, only on the E400EVs and most E200MMCs as they are Hanover systems, anything else will not do it because the Mobitec system hasn’t been updated yet. I think it’s only on Manchester routes too like the 36 but I could be wrong and they might not do it. I know they did way back at the start of last year.

Perhaps that’s because many GNW services start outside Manchester and only enter it close to the terminus whereas Metroline and Stagecoach ones serve much more of Manchester.

From what I have seen the destination code is not updated mid route. If I am correct the blind will alternate so it will have “Manchester” in bold at the top and will alternate between “Piccadilly Gardens” “via Pendlebury” and so on on the bottom line of text

I’m talking about the interior next stop screens and announcements, only on the E400EVs and most E200MMCs as they are Hanover systems, anything else will not do it because the Mobitec system hasn’t been updated yet. I think it’s only on Manchester routes too like the 36 but I could be wrong and they might not do it. I know they did way back at the start of last year.


From what I have seen the destination code is not updated mid route. If I am correct the blind will alternate so it will have “Manchester” in bold at the top and will alternate between “Piccadilly Gardens” “via Pendlebury” and so on on the bottom line of text

Boltons Hanover buses, if the destination doesn’t actually change on some routes they definetely change on 471 and 524 as I’ve seen. As it approaches Bury interchange, the announcement string and screen changes to Rochdale

 

[mayneway]

I’ve noticed that while Metroline and Stagecoach services helpfully have “Piccadilly” or “Shudehill” displayed on the front, Go North West services simply read “Manchester,” which is unhelpfully vague for a rather big city with multiple destinations. They also don’t have scrolling via points underneath, unlike Metroline and Stagecoach. They have the same bus types as the other operators. Time for an update perhaps?

GNW have always used ‘Manchester’ as the main destination with the actual stopping point flashing up with the via points below.

To be perfectly honest I think out of all the operators I find GNW’s destinations the clearest and most informative, and it’s obviously not an issue as they have not been asked to change them by TFGM.

 

[W176 XMA]

13181 and 10852 now repainted at Queens Road, 13179 is currently away for repaint

 

[Redmike]

Are Diamond short of vehicles? The 309/310 were always operated by a new Mellor strata or occasionally a Fiat Ducato until recently. Now there are some rather tired looking Diamond liveried Mellor Stratas and an occasional Optare Solo.

 

[Charles Street]

Are Diamond short of vehicles? The 309/310 were always operated by a new Mellor strata or occasionally a Fiat Ducato until recently. Now there are some rather tired looking Diamond liveried Mellor Stratas and an occasional Optare Solo.

They appear to have stopped using the two Fiat Ducatos for some reason and have brought in the two Diamond liveried Mellors. The two white Enviro 200s 20639/40 have gone to Preston.