(29/03/2017 21:27)WhiteVanMan Wrote: [ -> ]I am very surprised that Stagecoach Manchester as come bottom!, So what gone wrong?, for them to come bottom out of 53 operators!
I'm not surprised tbh. One way First seem to have propelled forward is with customer service. Drivers for one seem a lot presenter and happier Infact a very good friend of mine has just left Stagecoach and is going to First as several of his colleagues have done already.
Also worth mentioning that unlike Stagecoach First have simply pulled up their sleeves and dealt with the congestion problems rather than going to the press and crying about it.
Magic Bus 19264 was on route 203 yesterday.
I saw a 17-reg Enviro 400-MMC without logos or even a fleetnumber driven into Hyde Road garage a couple of weeks ago. Maybe they will enter service at Middleton with the April 23rd route changes?
(01/04/2017 10:01)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Magic Bus 19264 was on route 203 yesterday.
I saw a 17-reg Enviro 400-MMC without logos or even a fleetnumber driven into Hyde Road garage a couple of weeks ago. Maybe they will enter service at Middleton with the April 23rd route changes?
Middleton already has some in service from about 2 weeks ago on the 112,114 and 118.
(01/04/2017 10:28)acocker96 Wrote: [ -> ]Middleton already has some in service from about 2 weeks ago on the 112,114 and 118.
I'm glad that some are already in service. Hopefully the full allocation on these routes will be upgraded to Enviro400-MMCs.
I have just seen some on flickr, including 10849 on route 156, maybe just an evening working.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128561752@...1sU-yqoK4s
There is only a couple of Middletons MMC's left to enter service as of yesterday, can't remember the numbers but they've been regularly appearing on the 112/4/8, 156, 56/57 and 42/149's since they were introduced.
Also of note, FM30 has now left Middleton returning home to Scotland.
(01/04/2017 11:16)Solo40336 Wrote: [ -> ]There is only a couple of Middletons MMC's left to enter service as of yesterday, can't remember the numbers but they've been regularly appearing on the 112/4/8, 156, 56/57 and 42/149's since they were introduced.
Saw 10845/46/48/49/50/52/62/64 working today (1 April) and passed several others that I failed to identify during a trip between Manchester & Harpur Hey.
(29/03/2017 22:57)Mayneway Wrote: [ -> ]I'm not surprised tbh. One way First seem to have propelled forward is with customer service. Drivers for one seem a lot presenter and happier Infact a very good friend of mine has just left Stagecoach and is going to First as several of his colleagues have done already.
Also worth mentioning that unlike Stagecoach First have simply pulled up their sleeves and dealt with the congestion problems rather than going to the press and crying about it.
Definitely agree. Maybe surprised they're at the bottom mind.
I'm served locally by first and Stagecoach (amongst others). Recently Stagecoach have been terrible; unexplainable late running, drivers trundling despite running late, and buses missing sections of route. All this suggests poor morale indicative of a problem higher up the food chain. Any complaints are returned with stock answers suggesting the person dealing with them either doesnt understand/give a *^%& either.
I'm beginning to wonder whether they have been resting on the laurels of a successful network for too long, and as it becomes unstuck due to changes in traffic and habits, they aren't capable of innovating/rectifying it.
(02/04/2017 11:17)djb Wrote: [ -> ]Definitely agree. Maybe surprised they're at the bottom mind.
I'm served locally by first and Stagecoach (amongst others). Recently Stagecoach have been terrible; unexplainable late running, drivers trundling despite running late, and buses missing sections of route. All this suggests poor morale indicative of a problem higher up the food chain. Any complaints are returned with stock answers suggesting the person dealing with them either doesnt understand/give a *^%& either.
I'm beginning to wonder whether they have been resting on the laurels of a successful network for too long, and as it becomes unstuck due to changes in traffic and habits, they aren't capable of innovating/rectifying it.
Think you may be right tbh. I've spent over 10 years travelling daily with Stagecoach and in that time I've complained several times about serious things and I've always received personal responses and when I brought up the subject of buses alighting outside Ashton bus station rather than in it about 3 years ago I got a personal call from the depot manager of Stagecoach who dealt with it overnight rather than the stock 'couldn't be bothered' reply but things seemed to have changed lately with every issue being blaimed on 'operational difficulties with congestion'.
I have a friend who's recently started working on Oxford Road, he actually prefers to use the First services rather than Magic service. He reckons buses are a lot cleaner and drivers are a lot friendlier.
Interesting allocation of vehicles yesterday afternoon/evening with the following noticed by myself and other friends of mine:
Magicbus Enviro400s: 19190 on 15, 19187 on 255, 19167 on 204 and also a Magicbus out on 250s at about 15:40 heading towards Trafford Centre at EventCity.
Also on Sunday Ashton Depot 330 branded 10581 was seen in Oldham by a friend of mine in Oldham operating the tendered 408 Shaw-Stalybridge service.
(04/04/2017 07:03)M60lad Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting allocation of vehicles yesterday afternoon/evening with the following noticed by myself and other friends of mine:
Magicbus Enviro400s: 19190 on 15, 19187 on 255, 19167 on 204 and also a Magicbus out on 250s at about 15:40 heading towards Trafford Centre at EventCity.
Also on Sunday Ashton Depot 330 branded 10581 was seen in Oldham by a friend of mine in Oldham operating the tendered 408 Shaw-Stalybridge service.
Ashton seem to be swinging towards 100 % double deck operation on a Sunday again. Seen Enviro400's on the 408 a few times of late.