(27/02/2016 17:39)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]As regards the investment, this comes just as its reported elsewhere that the six MMCs diverted to Devon, will NOT be replaced after all, although I doubt Councillor Fender would know that specific detail.
Careful with what you are saying there - all that has been reported is that the 2015/6 order has not been increased by a further 6 vehicles. That's hardly surprising as such a small number is unlikely to get an attractive deal from ADL.
We're just 8 weeks or so away from the commencement of the new 2016/7 financial year, and it's new order book....and I'm sure the 6 "lost" Enviro400s will be more than made up for.
(27/02/2016 21:28)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]> The only thing I would say on that is that you shouldn't go simply off age. The '08 Enviro400s are in desperate need of a re-trim, and a mate of mine who has recently retired from AZ told me that they preferred the Euro 3s ('06/56/07 regs) as they were quicker off the mark.
From the passengers point if view there shocking. Noisey, drab and falling apart. They lack any form of heating and are just not nice buses to travel on - there past there best!
Yes the 08 ones might be thread bare but there a lot nicer, quieter and a dam sight warmer.
(27/02/2016 20:14)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]And as for the bigger operators retracting from the suberbs, that's nothing new. Look at Glossop in 2001/2002 with all the mini bus circular services Stagecoach operated from the Glossop depot compared to what they operate up there now, or even Ashton or Hyde. It's frightening to think of the number of services that have completly gone or been cut short so god knows what things will be like this time in 20 years.
Perhaps bus franchising is the future!
I remember I had a booklet about Stagecoach services in Glossop from circa 2001 and from having the whole network they only have the 236/7. They even ran a bus every 15 minutes between Gamesley and Glossop and the 201 to Manchester.
(27/02/2016 22:14)Redmikey Wrote: [ -> ]I remember I had a booklet about Stagecoach services in Glossop from circa 2001 and from having the whole network they only have the 236/7. They even ran a bus every 15 minutes between Gamesley and Glossop and the 201 to Manchester.
I don't think the 201 ever ran into Glossop, im told some peak journeys ran to Hollingworth but it did for a while run to/through Ashton.
But yes there were quite a few 'minibus' services that the then Glossop depot ran not to mention the 236/237 that back then ran into Manchester city centre all day every day!
Then they were seen to do the dirty on Glossop and withdrew virtually all the services - part of a bigger plan to close the depot I think but it obviously opened the window for a glossop depot driver to launch his own company running several of the former stagecoach minibus services successfully for several years.
But the same could be said for First in Ashton. I remember a few Oldham depot operated services that ran into Ashton - the 424 being one but I'm sure there were others.
Look at Maynes and the stagecoach takeover, stagecoach effectively left large parts of stalybridge and Mossley high and dry not long after the ink had dried on the cheque.
(27/02/2016 23:22)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think the 201 ever ran into Glossop, im told some peak journeys ran to Hollingworth but it did for a while run to/through Ashton.
But yes there were quite a few 'minibus' services that the then Glossop depot ran not to mention the 236/237 that back then ran into Manchester city centre all day every day!
Then they were seen to do the dirty on Glossop and withdrew virtually all the services - part of a bigger plan to close the depot I think but it obviously opened the window for a glossop depot driver to launch his own company running several of the former stagecoach minibus services successfully for several years.
But the same could be said for First in Ashton. I remember a few Oldham depot operated services that ran into Ashton - the 424 being one but I'm sure there were others.
Look at Maynes and the stagecoach takeover, stagecoach effectively left large parts of stalybridge and Mossley high and dry not long after the ink had dried on the cheque.
There was a short lived 201 to glossop via broadbottom, I remember the publicity. But I'd have put it starting more around the mid2000s. And I don't remember it lasting long.
They also ran the 394 to Stepping Hill at that time which is now under threat.
(27/02/2016 11:35)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]As regards extending the 34, Stagecoach already have the 658 (and to a lesser extent 598) running a combined 9 times per hour between the towns, even before you consider the 600, so they won't see any argument for additional resources.
The reason I only mentioned the 600 and not the other two was that certain 34 positioning journeys follow the 600 route to Bryn so if it was to be extended it would likely be that route.
(29/02/2016 20:39)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]I can't answer this one directly, but you (and many others) might be interested to know that the 2016/7 Budget details are on the TFGMC home page (linked to the main TFGM website). It includes a bit of a hint regarding such revenues.......
It's a question no one either knows or dosen't wish to comment which I find strange. The amount of money Tameside council rake in just through people driving along them over the Christmas period is a vast sum certainly enough to sustain a subsidised bus service or two!
But I surpose it's the same with hospital parking and the amount they make.
(29/02/2016 20:33)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]Had the 600 been able to maintain a 10 minute service, I suppose it would have been an option to run alternate journeys through to Manchester beyond Leigh. However, the 600 has recently been reduced to a basic 12 min (15 on Sat) service, so its incompatible with the 20 minute 34.
Unless the 600 was further reduced to cater for the 34, maintaining the same level of service between Wigan, Ashton, Golborne and Leigh. Very unlikely though.
Can anyone give an update as to whether or not all of the new Hyde Road double deckkers are in service yet?
I've not noticed an updated posting recently. Thanks.