Stagecoach Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(23/10/2015 19:57)Dentonian Wrote:  Don't forget the 700 is run by Stockport, not Ashton - though Ashton would seem to make more sense mileage wise. I've just looked at the period 6 Allocation Sheet - hardly earth shattering, and it doesn't mention 33866 being re-instated. However, it does say 47559 has gone into reserve. Although, only 7 years old this Solo must have been the most unreliable bus ever operated by Stagecoach, and I think I've seen it twice in its entire life! Logically, 33866 is a (short-term?) replacement for 47559, but also I believe Darts (certainly MPDs like 33866) are far too small for the 700.

I've heard rumours for a while about the 700 switching to AZ given where it starts and finishes it would certainly make more sense to run it from Ashton, apparently there's a pool of just 3 drivers who work the 700 at ST.

47759 hasn't been seen outside if the depot for quite some months. I did ask a driver I know recently and he just laughed when I enquiried, so I don't see how 33866 can be a direct replacement. It would have perhaps made sense to use 33866 as the taxi bus like they have with previous darts but it was out in use today on the 346 while a MAN was in use as the taxi.
I just wonder why 47759 is so unreliable and why they haven't bitten the bullet and scrapped it, I'm sure it's had a replacement engine in the last few years.