First Manchester

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(27/01/2014 19:39)SF07 Wrote:  Streetlite 63104 out in service on the 527 today (credit to photographer)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25878623@N02/12174708995/

Does this mean all those other "stored" Streetlites may, at last, get used in revenue earning service?
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In stark contrast, I saw route 527 covered this afternoon by an Enviro400!

(28/01/2014 19:29)SF07 Wrote:  Confirmation on First's website about the cleared takeover of Finglands. They will announce soon plans about 'additional fleet investment', along with plans for tickets. Finglands current range of tickets will still be available along with FirstDay and FirstWeek tickets.

I wonder whether some of the newer vehicles with FM, such as this Streetlite and the 13-reg Eclipses, are just being run in prior to being diverted for Finglands routes?

I was incidentally shocked to see some of these Eclipses on routes 135 and 471 this afternoon.

(29/01/2014 15:30)Polo Mint Wrote:  I am not sure how First will go about operating on Oxford Road.

On one hand if Stagecoach flood the market then First may be able to hit back on the ex-Bluebird routes, however Stagecoach have more of a niche as opposed to Finglands duplicated services.

I'd personally like to see services 41 and 42 both every 10 minutes, with a 5 minute headway to Piccadilly, perhaps with them extending from Piccadilly to Shudehill to connect with the network. This may rile Stagecoach up a bit though.

I wouldn't mind seeing cross city route down Oxford Rd, but I am not sure of which services and whether it could be juggled about by the depots, perhaps some 135 services extended to Sale as 41 replacement. I am getting a bit carried away, but maybe over time.

I hope this doesn't mean that route 18 will be curtailed at Shudehill, the route seems to be a fair bit busier these days, and often gets very crowded at rush hour.

In the medium-term I can see 50% of 18s extended to East Didsbury, and the other 50% renumbered 18a and extended to Sale/ Altrincham. This would replace their initial operations on routes 41 and 42.