Stagecoach Manchester

[Metroline1511]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(31/08/2014 18:09)mbonwick Wrote:  The first time round, Stagecoach bought all their vehicles for London.

However, during Macquarie ownership, the newer vehicles were sold and leased back in a bid to reduce cost. It is these vehicles that Stagecoach could buy back, as has happened in the case of 18210-20. Anything before 03 plates was always owned outright. Most vehicles bought by Macquarie are also leased.

The retention of centre doors is not to do with lease commitments (they're owned), but time constraints.

I can believe this. Some 17700 Tridents may be a case in point, as these were returned off lease (to Caetano Leasing IIRC) in early 2010 when routes 48 and 56 received new Scania OmniCity deckers.

(09/09/2014 09:33)Dentonian Wrote:  Note that the registration for this route has yet to appear on VOSA as accepted, and the PVR will not enough to warrant 18 buses. And a gentle reminder (as its a new location), the new campus replacing Didsbury and Gaskell is called Birley Fields.

On a seperate note, all 21 E20Ds are now confirmed in service at Stockport, but no sign of the MMCs for Sharston being registered or completed yet.

I have seen some not just on familiar Enviro200 routes 11/11a but also routes 314, 317, 374 and off-peak routes 322/27. Conversely, route 325 has mainly returned to MAN operation. I have seen MAN 22132 still in service this week, on route 22 for example.

Talking of route 22, I have seen some E40Hs off route 192 as well as E40Ds on this route on Saturdays recently. They tend to be just E40Hs on Sundays but MANs on Mon-Fri.

(09/09/2014 20:01)Dentonian Wrote:  36097-36108 inclusive are at Middleton, although '108 may only be on loan. For the same rea

141 is a normal registered service, so is open to the "public". I don't know why it was kept a secret until late August, but MMU were closely involved with it. They are "part funding" it, and I understand are discounting student fares, even beyond normal MagicBus rates. As is usual with MMU (in contrast to UoM & CMHT) there is no financial incentive for staff to use the bus.

The service is clearly aimed at Students getting from Halls of Residence to the new site. Piccadilly is served by the 86, which is high frequency, but has lost business to Metrolink in recent months, so spare capacity is likely to exist. Similarly, there is no need for Evening, weekend, Night or Holiday 141s. The Halls of Residence haven't changed, so 142/3 and all the other Oxford Road services will continue to cater for Students travelling to Rusholme or the city centre.

With Middleton having gained 12 E20Ds from Stockport, I suppose they must have ousted some ex-JPT stock. Does anyone know what they have replaced?