Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Back to normal!

Been a bit busy today so this is the only chance i got to take a picture of a Bluebird bus. Nice to get back to work after such a long break. Felt very refreshed. Even took time out to reclaim a television that some scroat decided to walk out of Argos with. He was never going to get far with it lol.
Looks like all the replacement Speedwell services are going well and i even heard reports that the 343 was being well accepted by it's passengers. Thats probably the only one i would like to keep but the problem, as with a lot of these tendered services is that they are shared and i have made it clear previously that this not how services should be run. It's unfair on the passengers. Makes me wonder if the aim is ensure more System 1 weekly passes are purchased rather than operators own weekly tickets.
Sunday  and Monday are going to be very trying days in the town centre as the new By-pass opens and Penny Meadow is shut. from what i read today the diversion is a little complicated and will be done in stages over the next few weeks to ensure buses get as close to the market as possible. Personally i would just bring them in the back way and alight everyone in the bus station but thats not to be.
Apart from that not much else going on. everything just where i left it before i started my holidays.
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22 comments:

  1. Mic25/1/12 21:10

    hope you do keep the 343 a good bus firm

    the 5 buses at AZ to replace speedwell are 16771/73 22105/20/49

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  2. Oldham 10025/1/12 21:11

    34080 34081 22100 all appeared too. nice to see the Olympians knocking about. Great buses.

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  3. Mic25/1/12 21:52

    I know 22100 is on loan from Sharston not sure about the other 2

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  4. Felix25/1/12 23:01

    Noticed the signs in the bus station advising of traffic issues over next 3 weeks, read it 3 times and still didn't get it.
    Nice also to see another former speedwell driver now working for bluebird.

    The problem with tendered services is that they are paid for with tax payers money so strict rules have to
    be followed. I think in terms of ease it would work out better if First got the daytime 343 as it would make things a little simpler but chances are it will go to a completely different company. Certainly complicated from the passengers point of view.

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  5. smoke break26/1/12 11:44

    Felix is right about tendered services, they have to be run. Working for First, we have to transfer a bus from a frequent service (such as the 83 or 81) if a bus breaks down on a tendered service (such as the 149). It does cause a few problems, especially if you're driving the next 83 that has to pick up twice as many passengers :-(

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  6. Allan26/1/12 14:41

    new timetables start this weekend is AZ to get any extra duties?

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  7. Benzo26/1/12 21:14

    Found first bus arrow 31939 on Roe cross with severe engine smoke along with a mechanics van attempting to repair it.
    Seen it there about 19:00 on my way to Ashton and seen it again at 20:50 on my way back to Hadfield, it could be there all night?

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  8. Mic26/1/12 21:42

    31939 is one of 2 at Oldham depot other been 31948

    smoke break

    are there any more of the 34088-107 batch due at Oldham I ask as I have seen 34101 at Bradford depot and 34107 at Halifax

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    Replies
    1. smoke break26/1/12 22:21

      Not too sure to be honest Mic. I'm off work for over a week at the moment. I'll see if I can spot any of the batch when I'm back at Oldham.

      Delete
  9. Benzo26/1/12 21:59

    Im not sure whats going on with the rest of the batch at all at the moment.

    22100 doesn't quite seem to be a loan, it seems to have really setted in to the Ashton tenders. I could be wrong.
    19103 was seen on the Ashton routes lastweek, that could be a new comer for Ashton's fleet of Enviros.
    Think 22183 is at Hyde Rd for a MOT/Repaint at the moment.

    Users of the 395/6 are already benefiting for an improved quality service like someone else mentioned, newer low floor buses and fair fares. As speedwell used their non low floor ex-stagecoach beavers.

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  10. Mic26/1/12 22:19

    Benzo my news bullten said 22100 was a loan and until everything new comes along thats how I see it

    as in First still no sign of 40324/40403

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  11. Mic26/1/12 22:48

    thanks smoke break I use the 350 every day and there as been a few of them on it good buses and also seen a lot of loans to the Pioneer fleet

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    Replies
    1. smoke break27/1/12 12:15

      I agree the Olympians do tend to have decent engines, most of the ones I've driven pull like trains. But from a drivers point of view for comfort I prefer the Dennis Darts, the driver's seats are a lot more comfortable than the new B9's. If I could find a Dart that had brakes, suspension and heating as good as a B9, I'd be in heaven ...lol...

      Delete
    2. Mic27/1/12 15:53

      when it snowed before Christmas I got the 184 to Marsden which was a B7 from Huddersfield 32515 I like them they differ quite a bit from the B9s

      Delete
    3. smoke break27/1/12 17:12

      We've got a couple of the '09 plate B7's which are a really nice drive, whereas some of the older '05 plate B7's are really harsh on the brakes and gearchanges. At Oldham we do a few of the 184's over to Huddersfield too, in fact the last time I did the Huddersfield route was on a B7 - 15mph over the tops due to the fog :-( I enjoy this route, when I can see the scenery.

      Delete
  12. Felix27/1/12 02:16

    Benzo the Arrow at Roe Cross was recovered at about 23:00 by a large tow truck and looked like it was being towed to Oldham and not Dukinfield!
    On the subject of Arrows, when are first going to sort out the destination displays on them, theres been one that's been broke since before Christmas, and now I notice a second tonight that was also broken.

    22100 is very great, it has no problems getting up mottram road, unlike most of the older sheds at AZ, these newer ones should never have gone in my opinion, decent seats, clean and more importantly a bit of power in the engine!!

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    Replies
    1. Mic27/1/12 13:12

      31939 is an Oldham based bus

      the display on 31943 had been fixed but now broke again

      Delete
  13. Oldham 10027/1/12 05:35

    Any bus on loan is probably going to be at Ashton until late April although how a bus looks settled is beyond me lol.

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  14. Mic27/1/12 13:10

    just to clear up any thoughts of firstbus 40001 having moved to Bolton it has not I saw it on the 350 today and it still is a Pioneer bus

    seen 16781 in Ashton today aswell was recorded last week as been withdrawn

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  15. Benzo27/1/12 17:09

    40403 was back a week ago too from possible MOT, still no sign of 40324, my thoughts that it could have gone Oldham along with 40315/6/7.

    Mic, saying that 31939/48 are the only arrows at Oldham, what about 31952?

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  16. smoke break27/1/12 17:17

    Benzo, the fleet list I've got shows 31952 at Oldham too and in service. Not sure what route it's on though. Hope that helps.

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  17. Mic27/1/12 17:43

    no report on 40324 as yet 31952 is still on loan to Ashton but an Oldham bus on paper got told it is a spare at Dukinfield if 3 or more at in works

    I think 40312/13/14 could be going to Oldham this weekend for the 402/6 services

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