Just coming in for my late shift in town and noticed a few new buses parked out the back. Not sure why they are here yet though. I'm hoping for an easy evening.
be a shame if 40660 goes. lot of history in it, being the corrie bus. plus, if im correct, the only manual bus left in stagecoach manchester's fleet. bit of a pig to drive in service compared to more modern buses with auto 'boxes, but still a shame!
Saying stotts will lose the 353/4 - Firstbus will have to bring in few more buses to the Ashton fleet - pretty sure First bus will do the same if the speedwell operated 343/4 happens to do the same.
First have started there assault on the tendered route market. They have 14 to 16 new drivers starting at Dukinfield depot depending on which stories you hear. They have a dedicated Stockport Rota although i dont know what they have won in that area? They also have the the 205 int he evening? which annoys me beacuse i dont like mixed operator services but good luck. I suppose it will be like the 220 they run at night. Stopping at every stop to say " no sorry we don't take mega riders"!! As for the 353 354 its a shame because once again, an operator who has ran the service well has been put to one side. Suppose its all about the cash!!!
First have also won the Sunday 168 tender from later this year as well, which alot of passnegers wont be happy about. As for Stott's, its a shame as they were doing very well. Stott's have also lost there Stockport 364 tender to Stagecoach which is apparently what the two Solos from Chorley are for, and im told 40660 isnt going anywhere!
Stagecoach only just extended the 168 because they lost the 169! Thats just silly. Obviousley the person who hands these contracts out doesn't have to use a megarider on a Sunday or in the evening.
Couldn't agree with you more, the 168 is only tendered up to Littlemoss and Stagecoach extended it to Ashton commercially when they lost the Sunday 169's[a tender they took over with Maynes], so it looks like First will conitinue to run the extra bit to Ashton commercially. Its crazy really and very poor planning, oh and im told the 168 will be run by Dukinfield too!
Benzo, Speedwell have re-gained the 343/4 for another 12 months im told so no changes there, although how they managed to hang on to it i dont know.
As for the Enviros on the 236/7, as a passneger i think there great in the evenings but during the day and on Saturdays there clearly too small, infact the MANs are often overcrowded too. Im told the group of councilors behind the 'save the 397' campaign are now launching a campaign for double deckers on the 236/7 during the day, there was an article in last weeks Glossop Cronicle about it.
41166 is for Ashton I think it is to replace 40660
ReplyDelete17301 not part of manchester fleet
41166 came from South Wales. Solos 47001/2 from North West, Chorley. Are the not first two bought by Stagecoach?
ReplyDeletebe a shame if 40660 goes. lot of history in it, being the corrie bus. plus, if im correct, the only manual bus left in stagecoach manchester's fleet. bit of a pig to drive in service compared to more modern buses with auto 'boxes, but still a shame!
ReplyDeletewhen on the 236/237.the other day did you get to drive one of the new single deckers if so how do they compare to the older Mans on those routes
ReplyDeletewell just been looking at Timetable changes and read that stotts lose the 353 /54 in 3 weeks and they will be run by firstbus
ReplyDeleteSaying stotts will lose the 353/4 - Firstbus will have to bring in few more buses to the Ashton fleet - pretty sure First bus will do the same if the speedwell operated 343/4 happens to do the same.
ReplyDeleteFirst have started there assault on the tendered route market. They have 14 to 16 new drivers starting at Dukinfield depot depending on which stories you hear. They have a dedicated Stockport Rota although i dont know what they have won in that area? They also have the the 205 int he evening? which annoys me beacuse i dont like mixed operator services but good luck. I suppose it will be like the 220 they run at night. Stopping at every stop to say " no sorry we don't take mega riders"!! As for the 353 354 its a shame because once again, an operator who has ran the service well has been put to one side. Suppose its all about the cash!!!
ReplyDeletei believe first have won the 380/381/386 from arriva in stockport
ReplyDeleteFirst have also won the Sunday 168 tender from later this year as well, which alot of passnegers wont be happy about.
ReplyDeleteAs for Stott's, its a shame as they were doing very well. Stott's have also lost there Stockport 364 tender to Stagecoach which is apparently what the two Solos from Chorley are for, and im told 40660 isnt going anywhere!
Stagecoach only just extended the 168 because they lost the 169! Thats just silly. Obviousley the person who hands these contracts out doesn't have to use a megarider on a Sunday or in the evening.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more, the 168 is only tendered up to Littlemoss and Stagecoach extended it to Ashton commercially when they lost the Sunday 169's[a tender they took over with Maynes], so it looks like First will conitinue to run the extra bit to Ashton commercially.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy really and very poor planning, oh and im told the 168 will be run by Dukinfield too!
Benzo, Speedwell have re-gained the 343/4 for another 12 months im told so no changes there, although how they managed to hang on to it i dont know.
As for the Enviros on the 236/7, as a passneger i think there great in the evenings but during the day and on Saturdays there clearly too small, infact the MANs are often overcrowded too.
Im told the group of councilors behind the 'save the 397' campaign are now launching a campaign for double deckers on the 236/7 during the day, there was an article in last weeks Glossop Cronicle about it.