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(13/01/2015 22:07)SLTRegular Wrote: [ -> ]I saw a Stagecoach Manchester/Wigan Van Going past Alexander Dennis in Skelmersdale on Monday approx 11am any ideas?

It will have been picking up parts covered by warranty :-)

(14/01/2015 10:21)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]Looking at the timetable, there is in built stand time on 168s going towards Ashton, but nothing else. It largely depends on how many people cross Belle Vue, as it could be frustrating sitting on the bus for five minutes when there isn't a crew relief, and you want to get off at Gorton District Centre (as MCC insist it is called), 400 metres after Belle Vue. That said, both have excess stand time at their southern/western termini, with off-peak 168s having 17 minutes at Chorlton, so plenty of oppurtunity to put a couple of minutes in at Belle Vue on 168s westbound, and 169s both ways.

Clearly not enough stand time though this morning proving just that. 169 rumbled past my house at 10.05 so near enough on time (think it's due at ##.02), then the 168 that was due at 10.12 didn't show up till 10.24 so over 10 minutes late, it does seem to effect the 168's more than 169's.

(14/01/2015 14:27)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]You don't mention exactly where on the route - or even more importantly - which way these buses were travelling. It might be a combination of factors needed to address the running time problems. However, it seems that the even more fundamental problem is the ticket machine system. Its absolutely ridiculous that having employed a system allowing drivers to effect crew reliefs in a matter of seconds for probably over a decade, that it now takes 3-5 minutes.

Coincidentally, I have just had a report exemplifying this problem and another habitual issue;
The outbound 203 due at the Bulls Head at 1053 this morning, apparently came at c.1100 - again, a combination of knock on effects of the morning rush hour and inefficient crew relief, no doubt. Also, the 7 had gone just in front and on time. However, no intending passengers wanted this bus even though it is currently the identical route into Stockport. I've noticed this before when a convoy of 7, 317, 374 (pick any two from three) run into Stockport with a 203. Bus passengers on traditional high demand routes do NOT like single-deckers. Doesn't matter if its got a '64 plate on the front and is half empty, they still prefer a middle-aged, nearly full 'decker.

I catch it just after Daisy nook heading towards Ashton but obviously it will effect the next journey out of Ashton too.
Incidentally another problem I noticed today while heading into Ashton was a women and a child boarded the bus one stop after me. The women had a mega rider bu she was obviously paying a child's single fare for the child. It took the driver a good 5 minutes to work out the fare pressing various buttons on the ticket machine to no avail.
I've noticed this in the past on my journeys to work on the 236 but obviously that's got a lot more leway, but it does seem to take drivers an age to work out child single fares, and if you get 5 or 6 kids all getting off at different stops it's a good 10 minutes sat at a bus stop, and if the bus is already late it dosen't help.

Solo 47476 broken down on Northenden Road in Sale around 16:30 waiting to be hitched up to a Mansfield Tow Truck.

(13/01/2015 22:38)mbonwick Wrote: [ -> ]E200MMC is replacing Enviro300 (or that's how things appear) given the expansion in max length of an Enviro200 to 11.8m (the same size as an Enviro300).

Enviro300 is believed to be being retained solely as a body for 3rd party chassis.

Wouldn't the Enviro300 still be restyled however to fit in with the family look for those 3rd party chassis. But then again an Enviro300MMC would surely be the same as a max length Enviro200MMC. We'll have to wait and see.

As I've said a couple of times before regarding 168/9s one of the main places the 168 loses time is especially round Longsight and Levenshulme and in both directions depending on the time of day, 169 doesn't go through Longsight so tends to very much keep to time as far as I know and the only reason why a 169 should be late is sometimes coming out of Ashton as most journies interwork with each other in Ashton, for example an incoming 168 goes out as a 169 and vice versa.

The 168 I think was ok going back quite a few years when all journies used to operate by what is today's evening route via Kirkmanshulme Lane and Stanley Grove, I've been on quite a few 168s during the day that have had trouble going down Matthews Lane and Northmoor Road either due to talibacks of traffic at the lights at the end of Matthews Lane or badly back vehices either at the junction of Matthews Lane/Stovell Avenue or actually on Stovell Avenue itself.

17006 on a 38 in Farnworth this am.

17612 on X57 yesterday and 18110 on same route today.

Had a Ride Through Wigan depot before and theres a quite an eclectic mix of Magicbus's stored there along with a few cannibalized x Plate and T Plate buses and two Bluebird Buses including one which has been rubbed down the other was **02blu

What state was 33861 MD02BLU in please?