You will be seeing a few of these knocking around Ashton very soon. 3 Megabus coaches are being based in Ashton as a result of the Preston bus issue. Not sure if present staff would move to our depot or if the company will advertise the positions but i wouldn't say no. I took this a few weeks ago whilst on my bike. The bus is huge. And had a trailer on the back. I doubt you will see this floating on the 216 on a Monday after lol. Lots of other talk still going on at the moment. It looks like we are getting more routes next month including the full time 169 and the 317. Will let you know as and when i find out.(I have removed the other part i orig wrote until more is announced)
Speedwell ? If it is , I hope they scrap all their buses !
ReplyDeleteWouldn't surprise me if it was speedwell but I hope it isn't. I really hope it isn't. I'm personally guessing bluebird or a company with a modern fleet.
ReplyDeleteIf i see one of them on the 216 then i'd be chuffed and wondering alot.
What is the Preston bus issue?
ReplyDeleteThe sale of Preston bus was deemed to be not allowed. So they are having to sell it off very quickly. This is where Megabus is run from for the northwest area.
ReplyDeleteDoubt very much its Speedwell as they seem to be doing quite well at the minute and there about to extend there operating licence which would mean they would be operating more buses, plus there about to embark on there new 'S48' service.
ReplyDeleteMy money is on Bluebird as well, they have been doing alot of registering and de-registering recently but would Stagecoach really want to operate in Firsts area?
I'll ignore the original bit though for now as its only part of the rumor mill. Remember Stagecoach have sold out its operations too (London & Huddersfield, now centrebus and an austrian bank owned).
ReplyDeleteHow can a sale be deemed illegal? was there a rivalry issue or history between them?
Speedwell extending their licence lol, after VOSA cut it !
ReplyDeleteChris, yes the Traffic Commisioner did cut there licence last July after Maintinance issues with there double deckers used for School Services in Glossop but at the hearing they were told that as long as they dealt the vehicle defects and used a good Maintinance programe they could apply to extend there 'O' licence after 6 Months [from the origional hearing date] which they now are.
ReplyDeleteThe newly registered S48 service will require 5 vehicles so unless they extend there licence how will they run it?
Drifting of topic here about megabus or preston...but how will it need 5 when the S50 needs 3? and by judging the timetable it will need 3?
ReplyDeleteThey were rated green which means a good quick response if i'm right.
Sorry William you caught me out there. They needed 5 when they ran the full route to Manchester, they now use 3. But with School commitments and they would still need an extension to there existing licence.
ReplyDeleteOn the Preston Bus subject, the Comptetition Commission see competition between bus firms a good thing as it keeps fares down for the Passengers, but with Stagecoach buying Preston Bus it was deemed as 'not in the passengers best interest' and deemed illegal.
Ah, now I understand. I also wiki'd it and Preston Bus was more than 100 years old so i'm not surprised if it was popular.
ReplyDeleteI also hate to be a bugger, but they used 6 buses on the pre S50. But yeah its 3 now and looks the same for the S48. Plus with any extra school routes they will need more buses, so bigger fleet.
It would be interesting too see what speedwell obtain as they so far have obtained plenty of mixed darts and 2 excels throughout the last couple of years, prefered to see double decks though
I've also had a sneaky peak and speedwell can now have up to 40 vehicles.
ReplyDeleteAs a joke i'd love to see a megabus coach on the 216, wouldn't be as pointless as putting an e400 on route 7 lol
Well then they have already extended there licence. It was reduced to 28 last year after the hearing. The good news William is Speedwell have already said they will be using a double decker on the S50 after easter.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure they used 6. I always thought it was 5. They tended to use 3 Marshall Darts and two excels. They used 6 when they split the S50 in two with 3 buses working between Ashton and Manchester and 3 between Mossley and Ashton.
I am sure about that because it was the 3 marshalls, 2 excels and an additonal pointer MPD. I have used that service since it started and it took 1 hour each way originally, so it ahd 3 buses running in each direction.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad about the double decks because some journeys are packed nowadays. I wonder what buses they will bring in though? *please no more plaxton beavers* no offence to Oldham100 lol
There only using a double decker for one journey in the morning and one in the afternoon, apparently its very busy at school times so keep your eyes peeled.
ReplyDeleteIll take your word on the S50, will be interesting to see if they increase the frequency of it seeing as its so busy - if they dont get bought out lol.
Speedwell are also bringing back a full service during the day on the 392 from Glossop Gamesley circular.
ReplyDeletethey seem rather busy then, I doubt they're getting taken over if there getting themselves expanded, companies wouldn't bother otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThe big question would be 'why would Stagecoach want to buy Speedwell?' Considering most of Speedwell's work is tendered and mini-bus operated i doubt Stagecoach would want them. Mayne's, Bullocks and Dennis's all had alot of commercial services which is worth the real money. Stagecoach could buy Speedwell then loose all the tenders over the following year. What would be the point?
ReplyDeleteI'm just hoping because I rely on the S branded services. But like I said before....rumour mill etc
ReplyDeleteThats good for gamesley. I believe we are taking off our couple of trips in the morning too so speedwell can do a full service. Not before time.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good picture
ReplyDeleteIs this a different camera from the one you took the next picture ?
Yes i took my Olympus camera out on a bike ride as the nokia phone one isnt as good.
ReplyDelete