Mixed day.

Been in Ashton today but yesterday in Piccadilly was a little damp at times. I took this picture about 4pm as tin clouds started to turn the city to darkness. Luckily i took my waterproofs! Back to Ashton tomorrow then a couple of late shifts before three welcomed days off.

More on the way

Friday will see these new Enviro 200s entering service in Ashton. There is a ceremony at Ashton depot with the mayor cutting the tape on the release of new buses in the Tameside area. Following that all 12 are being sent out to finish the day off in service. They are expected to be out on the 346 and 347 service.

New arrivals

These two ex London buses have turned up in the yard at hyde road. Not sure where they are going yet. Have heard that they are going to merseyside but also they are for Wilmslow road in magic colours. Will have to wait and see. It would be interesting if they left both doors on. It would certainly increase unloading speeds on the 142 service. On a long stint at the moment with my next day off not coming around until Saturday. Today i'm in town with a trip to Old Trafford for kicking out time when the match against Chelsea finishes.

Simple?

I took this earlier today. It was a little rushed as I was at Owens park in
Fallowfield working so the picture is a bit rubbish. This 44 run by Haytons
seems to have caught the stupid spelling bug that the Stotts bus had in
Ashton. Unless 'Piccadilly' has changed the way it's spelt. I'm not the best
at grammar as my blog shows but this sort of thing should be spot on I
think.

Where am i?

Had a day doing a survey today. But where is this? Back in Piccadilly tomorrow morning very early so another night for me. I believe the new buses have started to arrive at Ashton so it won't be long until they are out in service.

It was of course Stretford Road looking towards the Arch which leads to the City. I think i am going to have to go to some very obscure places to fool you lot!

Annoying!

I have been off for a couple of days so thought i would have a little ride into manchester today to soak up the rays and was met by this sign! I could think of better times of the year to be doing work in piccadilly gardens. It's very busy down here today and all the grass is fenced off. Back to work tomorrow. On early shifts for the next three days which are not the best thing for me but gotta take the rough with the smooth.

Broken bus

Just walking in town and this beast is in piccadilly picking up a broken down finglands bus. Unlucky lol.

Paint shop

There is only the one e200 in the yard although i heard 4 were delivered so nothing else to snap at the moment apart from this single deck scania. Looking nice in a new coat of paint. I like driving these. Very comfy buses.

Sneaky Look

This is one of the new E200s that Ashton are getting.(yes for sure this
time)

I read that they are going on the 347 and 346 services very soon. Although I
hope the frequency on the 347 is increased because it's busy enough now with
buses that can hold 70 people.

This picture I found on facebook but I'm at Hyde Road later so will go get
some better ones and post them later. On a late today in Manchester so not
in work until 3pm.

All quiet

In town at the moment in piccadilly. It's been a pretty quiet morning so far although i bet the public will be out once the royal wedding has finished. Am working all weekend but can't complain, i had last weekend off.

New colours

I'm working in piccadilly today and noticed this volvo in new magic colours. I thought most of these were heading down south but obviously not. Lots of kids still off school at the moment so it's quiet busy down here. Still sunny out so topping up the tan nicely.

Not so good day before friday.

Just finished my shift at Ashton bus station. Took this earlier. This bmw didn't fair too well. I didn't get chance to see what it hit as it had moved before i saw anything. I'm off for 5 days now so going to relax for a few days. Been a very busy four days this week. Especially today with traffic problems everywhere. Lots happening at the moment especially with service changes at the end of the month. Too many to go into on here but a few too many services being run by different operators in the evening and sundays because of tenders being lost which i find a bit frustrating for the passengers. Hard to tell people 11.50 is good value when you can only use it Monday to saturday daytime. Sorry i have not had chance to blog much. This job is just too time consuming. Miss driving loads at the moment. Anyway off to have a bbq and to start my easter break.

Week Off

I'm off for 9 days and thought I would have a look around some old stuff I
have since the weather cannot decide what to do with itself.

I found this old fare table for the 236 and thought I would compare it with
the recently released set of fare tables on the Stagecoach website. The
older one is from August 1980. There is certainly a lot of difference
between the two. I don't think the recent fare rise was such a surprise
although there is some confusion over the cross boundary fares for children
into Glossop.

It seems that the best option is for all under 16s in Glossop is to buy a
megarider as the child easyrider is no longer valid past the boundary.

Not sure what to do with myself this week. The bike has been serviced and
polished and ready to go but the weather has looked so upside down today
will see what happens later in the week. The weekend was very nice though
but I chose to spend it with family and friends who I have not seen for a
while.

Will post if I get anywhere special on my bike anyway.

Interesting stuff

Noticed a bit of history being restored at hyde road last week. Looks like an old bee line bus is being done up in an engineers spare time. This moorland bus has kindly given up it's engine to the old yellow minibus. I think from memory they were iveco buses although i might be getting mixed up with some of the little gems that were running at a similar time. Anyway looked like the body was finished and the interior needed some tlc but i'm sure it won't be long until this little yellow bus will be out and about at the rallies.

Where?

Just spotted this stotts 353 in the bus station. It seems there blind programmer might need a little advice on place names. The front destination was ok but the side is spelt wrong. Unless they have changed it. Been a toughy today with all the new fare changes but it looks like people are taking to it. Most buses are loading quicker than last week although there are a lot of passes that still won't scan. Wonder if they have this problem in london?

Pricey

As we all know, the fares go out slightly on Sunday. First bus have gone
that bit further. They are hitting the customers with another £1 on the
already overpriced weekly ticket. I think £17 is way too much to be honest
and I'm not just saying that because I work for Stagecoach. Even the drivers
are a little surprised at the increase.

I'm sure they are in for a tough time Monday morning, and I still cannot
understand why you would have a fare that's more expensive than the day
ticket?

We started swiping the concession passes this week. It caused a little
confusion on Monday and some frustration but in time it will work well. I
had 4 drivers approach me this week who had taken out of date passes because
the machine had picked it up.

I'm on a late today on Wilmslow road so I won't finish until midnight and
off tomorrow which is always nice.

Such a change

Been at chorlton since 7am this morning. It's the first time i have been here. It's a bit far from home but very enjoyable. So many buses passing through here it's been hard to keep up at some times lol. Managed though. Also got a couple of pics of people thinking they could use the yellow box as a parking space till the lights further down changed. Off to fallowfield next for the rest of the day.

Not too bad

Had a week in Ashton bus station today. Been pretty good actually. I think the roadworks are easing off a little at the moment. Today was the busiest for me but Fridays are normally different than the rest of the week as some people still finish work early. Found out the details of the new fares today. All tickets are going up from the 3rd april. However the rises are very minimal with just 50p on mega riders and the introduction of a child day ticket once more. But suprisingly the easy rider has dropped to bring it in line with the new half fare policy which is being introduced on the same day. So much going on at the moment which will take an age to explain yet everyone should be pretty educated after just a few days. The new ticket machines start to use the swipe feature on pte chipped cards although i'd rather see the satnav feature first but who am i to say lol. The pic by the way is first at oldham. Just picking a mate up thought i would have a quick snap.

Nothing doing.

I'm off today and the glorious weather has brought me out to the airport on the bike. It's the first run out of the year. Been so busy with work have let myself go a little so time to get my act together and get some exercise. Although not much going on here. I have been at the end of the runway for about 30 minutes and not seen a thing. Gonna head into town and back up the metrolink trail to ashton to see how thats going.

Something different

I'm at southern cemetery this morning. It's a glorious day so i'm catching the sun whilst sorting out where to put the buses which are parked up on meal breaks. It's a bit like valet parking at the moment. I believe the sharston move went well but like most new things it's takes some people longer than others to get use to the changes. It's certainly keeping me busy today though.

No need.

Working in Ashton today. Can never understand why first and speedwell drivers let people off on wellington road instead of inside the bus stations like they are supposed too. I would be a bit miffed if it was raining and i had to walk all the way around to catch my next bus. Anyway. Quiet upto now but fridays normally throw in little suprises. We will see.

March on!

Seems that there are a lot of people with lots to say at the moment. In manchester yesterday and these was a large amount of people protesting council but backs and today theretir a group protesting about the lybian government? What use that does i have no idea. I'm on a late tonight at Owens park. First part was on the 216 stand in town though which was very uneventful indeed. Day off tomorrow which i need. Back on Tuesday to another late shift.

Different

Just seen this on the 219 service thought i'd share it. Must take some effort covering a full bus side like this. Sure looks different though.

Why bother?

This little thing turned up on the 409 yesterday afternoon in ashton. It left very very full around 330ish. Not a big bus in sight for about 15 minutes after it either. Been in Ashton for three days this week. I believe speedwell have stopped the s48 and s49s not good going at the moment for them. Much easier week in contrast to last week for me. Hope it carries on this afternoon.

From the old

Thought i would come have a look at the new depot at sharston. I was expecting something like Ashton. Hardly! It's bigger than i thought and looks pretty nice. As new buildings go. They move on the 12th i believe so will have to come for a look after then as the gates are locked at the moment.

A bit odd

After a gruelling couple of days including someone trashing there car on the m67 and someone else bringing the city to a standstill by threatening to jump off the mancunian way. This made me chuckle a little bit. I have been in ashton today which has been relatively quiet. The crowd pictures are the greek fans on the way to eastlands last night at 530pm. Not what the 192 stop normally looks like anyway. Three days driving now so i'm looking forward to this. The bury metrolink is a great route to drive so 2 days on that and 1 day driving out of ashton will be a nice change.

It's here

Stood in piccadilly at the moment covering lunchbreak on the ever so popular 192. It's the first day since i started this job that i have been able to unzip my coat. I seen minus 9 on the plaza a few months ago and now i'm stood in the sun. Just hope it lasts.

Everyday is different.

I'm just on the bus on the way to town. It's nice sometimes leaving the car at home and having a chilled paper reading session on the bus. Especially after yesterdays events. Every bus that went within a 5 mile radius of Denton roundabout was caught up in the chaos due to an accident at midday. I was so Ashton bus station and it was a very very busy day for me. It was only a matter of time it was going to happen on my shift but we managed pretty well. Journey times were doubled but most passengers where very understanding. Although you can't please everyone. It shows everyday really can be a challenge doing this job. And it's not just about checking tickets and ticking boxes. On piccadilly today on the 200s bus stop. Should be ok as the kids are off this week so should have a clean sheet at the end of the day. Back in Ashton tomorrow followed by 3 of my 4 days off spent driving. Saturday and sunday is metrolink work on the bury line. Monday is a nice 1 - 9 duty at Ashton depot. If i can remember the routes lol.

Helping hand

This has been a familiar sight around Ashton for the past couple of months. We currently have 4 extra buses working on Ashton new road each day to help with the problems we have due to metrolink works. They are sent from Princess road depot and run for 12 hours each day. It's not hard from my point of view to see they are such a help. Especially at busy times. So expect to see a magic bus in Ashton for a while longer. Been very quiet in Ashton bus station today, which is where i have been. Nothing spectacular to report. Two days of lates coming up in Piccadilly so i think the thermals will be out tomorrow.

A different look!

These are two of the new Stockport free buses. I believe stagecoach are taking over the service from April. As most will know these buses came from Preston and were painted at Hyde road. Not sure why they are white. I can only assume it's a requirement of the contract to have no branding on the bus? Been a very cold very busy couple of months since my last post. I do miss sharing what i do so thought i would try again. I might not be able to share as much but will see how it goes. Thanks for all the kind messages on the last post. Didn't realised so many read this lol.