(24/04/2023 21:22)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Seems that Heywood Depot are operating 163s with most driver change overs in Middleton Bus Station from what I saw earlier today. It also seems that some drivers are travelling a far distance as I overheard one driver saying that he commutes from Skelmersdale.
It seems their having problems as I know at least one 163 was missing this morning as one came into Middleton Bus Station heading to Bury and driver got off and it turned out their wasn't a driver for it so it ended up being parked up on Layover in Middleton Bus Station.
Other news that after a while of being out of service Citaro 6206 has re-entered service today on 41s.
The Heywood drivers are supplied by an outside agency and drivers are working the contract from all over the country. Some are staying in accommodation supplied others are commuting from home.
6206 popped out last week but broke down after a couple of trips.
(25/04/2023 08:08)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]The Heywood drivers are supplied by an outside agency and drivers are working the contract from all over the country. Some are staying in accommodation supplied others are commuting from home.
6206 popped out last week but broke down after a couple of trips.
That is the issue with using an agency. you get a very high number of drivers who have been let go by go ahead still working on go-ahead routes. Some are ok people and ok drivers but have really bad timekeeping or not turning up for shifts.
I had a chat at the weekend with someone who works in the office of a depot. As we were waiting to restart the return shuttle service.
we chatted about sacked drivers still working on our jobs.
As I had about 12 agency drivers and she was like so long as they have not been sacked for fighting or bad driving sometimes the drivers are ok just a risk to be on our books but can do the job as we can get rid with a phone call. Snd that the thing most of the drivers are ok just not to our standard of driver.
Now if they are running the 163 with temp drivers it going to be hit or miss who racks up to drive a bus.
Nut it better than no service.
So there going to be lots of drop runs till everyone moves to Bolton.
Are the ex East Yorkshire B7TLs just for 163s or is it possible that they can turn up on any Go Northwest double deck service? I know that up-to now they've just stuck to 163s but I've noticed other buses that have come over have been swapped around and are turning up on various services.
(26/04/2023 05:36)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Are the ex East Yorkshire B7TLs just for 163s or is it possible that they can turn up on any Go Northwest double deck service? I know that up-to now they've just stuck to 163s but I've noticed other buses that have come over have been swapped around and are turning up on various services.
They are based at Heywood just for the 163, Initially 3262-3268 were also there but a couple have trickled back to queens road.
Does anybody know what's wrong with Solo's 5001 & 5051?
5001 doesnt seem to have been out since 5 April
5051 doesnt seem to have been out since 30 March
Are the above vehicles that unreliable and if so why aren't replacements sourced if its known they are going to be out of service for a long period?
(27/04/2023 07:33)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Does anybody know what's wrong with Solo's 5001 & 5051?
5001 doesnt seem to have been out since 5 April
5051 doesnt seem to have been out since 30 March
Are the above vehicles that unreliable and if so why aren't replacements sourced if its known they are going to be out of service for a long period?
None of the Solos are reliable. One day last week both buses on the 415/129 and even the 90 were all operated by Enviro200’s.
(27/04/2023 14:45)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]None of the Solos are reliable. One day last week both buses on the 415/129 and even the 90 were all operated by Enviro200’s.
if an Enviro200 can get around the routes what the point in having solos?
(27/04/2023 16:49)Mrboo Wrote: [ -> ]if an Enviro200 can get around the routes what the point in having solos?
Because both the 90 and 129 are extremely tight and are often subject to emergency route changes due to badly parked cars.
Not to sure about the 90 as never done the route but I know when First Manchester had 415 in the latter stages that changed the route so it avoided the low bridge on Foxdenton/Grimshaw Lane so they could use various vehicles (including deckers) on the route surely this is something Go Northwest could look at then they wouldn't have a problem with what vehicles they can use on the route should anything go wrong with the Solos.
To be honest I think the 415 should be run with Enviro200s rather than Solos as it seems to be Solos that give problems on the route to be honest and Enviro200s seem to be more reliable when used on the route as I know that's what other operators seem to have found when they've had 415 in the past.
Does anybody know what's happening with B7TL 3354? It doesn't seem to have entered service yet, even though the other B7s have been out for a few weeks now.