(11/01/2023 14:31)Citibus Wrote: [ -> ]The two Caetano Levante liverys are slightly different to each other. R77WES is blue rear and red front whilst it's the opposite with WSV487 (i think)
Does look strange like that. It looks like they're unzipping a new Mayne livery on a Go Goodwins coach when Goodwins acquired Mayne, not the other way around!
Has there been a ticket machine or registration swap? Bus times has been showing a Van Hool tracking on the 217 for the past week.
(03/02/2023 16:33)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]Has there been a ticket machine or registration swap? Bus times has been showing a Van Hool tracking on the 217 for the past week.
Yes they are moving registrations around again, several have been swapped with some buses returning to their standard registration.
Surprised to see 1956, the East lancs spyrite Dart still being used on TFGM contracts. It’s way over the age limit.
It’s now carrying one of the ex Maynes cherished registrations.
(10/02/2023 23:45)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]Surprised to see 1956, the East lancs spyrite Dart still being used on TFGM contracts. It’s way over the age limit.
What is the TfGM limit? Other than the Orions and the Metrocities, everything in their fleet seems to be over 10 years old, with the Wright Eclipse Gemini also over 15 years old.
The 391/392 contract also specified a 5 year age limit, which was why the MMCs were the regular vehicles. I do wonder who cares least about that one - the operator or the council. The MMCs have been sold and the temporary reduction in frequency 'due to driver shortages' has continued despite Little Gem taking on new TfGM contracts (including the 44 where the MMCs initially went).
Cheshire East do seem either turn blind eyes to contract breaches, unless they agree to changes to the contract after the contract has been awarded. The 26 seater Enviro 200s shouldn't be on the 88/89/188 runs as the tender went out for 2 x 35 seaters and 2 x 28 seaters. In the past Howards got away with using a 17 year old 28 seater Dart on the 289 contract which specified a 35 seater with a 5 year age limit. Apparently, they were ticked off when they tried a similar trick with the Cheshire West 48 contract.
(11/02/2023 11:47)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]What is the TfGM limit? Other than the Orions and the Metrocities, everything in their fleet seems to be over 10 years old, with the Wright Eclipse Gemini also over 15 years old.
The 391/392 contract also specified a 5 year age limit, which was why the MMCs were the regular vehicles. I do wonder who cares least about that one - the operator or the council. The MMCs have been sold and the temporary reduction in frequency 'due to driver shortages' has continued despite Little Gem taking on new TfGM contracts (including the 44 where the MMCs initially went).
Cheshire East do seem either turn blind eyes to contract breaches, unless they agree to changes to the contract after the contract has been awarded. The 26 seater Enviro 200s shouldn't be on the 88/89/188 runs as the tender went out for 2 x 35 seaters and 2 x 28 seaters. In the past Howards got away with using a 17 year old 28 seater Dart on the 289 contract which specified a 35 seater with a 5 year age limit. Apparently, they were ticked off when they tried a similar trick with the Cheshire West 48 contract.
TFGM age limit is 15 years, and they are normally keen on it. Part of bus station supervisors jobs is to monitor and report what is used on tendered work, infact I was booked last year for taking a bus over the age limit on a tendered journey.
It’s a contractural agreement that they use buses under a certain age they should be sticking to it.
(11/02/2023 22:47)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]TFGM age limit is 15 years, and they are normally keen on it. Part of bus station supervisors jobs is to monitor and report what is used on tendered work, infact I was booked last year for taking a bus over the age limit on a tendered journey.
1972 will also soon be too old then.
The supervisors at Altrincham seem to take an interest in the 08:15 to Manchester Airport. They know the vehicle being used is too small and would presumably get involved if people (especially teenagers) continued boarding after the driver decided the vehicle was full. I haven't noticed them paying close attention to any particular vehicle at other times.
With Little Gem switching number plates all the time it must be hard for the supervisors to keep track of how old vehicles are. I genuinely had no idea how old the MCV Evolutions were when they were introduced with private number plates.
The evolutions are actually 62 plates.