First Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(25/10/2020 15:43)Raawwwrrr! Wrote:  There’s absolutely no requirement for any service to call or stop at Stevenson Square. The location itself is far from central and is tucked away in a maze on one way streets in an area of restaurants and nightclubs. When the V1/2 called here in their early introduction, it was VERY poorly patronised with most passengers boarding at Piccadilly Gardens.

Problem is whenever there’s an incident either in Piccadilly gardens or in the vicinity TFGM always fall back on using Stevenson square as a temporary solution.
You could argue that the the decades of bus use in the square have made such modern day trendy eateries such as the koffee pot the successes they are. Doesn’t solve the problem of where buses layover though.

[Mrboo]

RE: First Manchester

(25/10/2020 22:59)Mayneway Wrote:  Problem is whenever there’s an incident either in Piccadilly gardens or in the vicinity TFGM always fall back on using Stevenson square as a temporary solution.
You could argue that the the decades of bus use in the square have made such modern day trendy eateries such as the koffee pot the successes they are. Doesn’t solve the problem of where buses layover though.

But like I posted in mid 90s when they closed the Bus Station bus firms was told that there was 5 mins stand time only in.city centre so they should be drop and load with buses having breaks at the other end of route. Reason they took away the staff break areas. If they did the timetables right buses don`t need to have lay over time so long as the buses wait at timing point before city entre and roll in on time. They could even do a city centre loop of down Oldham street turn onto church street then onto High street and back out Rochdale road.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(26/10/2020 00:07)Mrboo Wrote:  But like I posted in mid 90s when they closed the Bus Station bus firms was told that there was 5 mins stand time only in.city centre so they should be drop and load with buses having breaks at the other end of route. Reason they took away the staff break areas. If they did the timetables right buses don`t need to have lay over time so long as the buses wait at timing point before city entre and roll in on time. They could even do a city centre loop of down Oldham street turn onto church street then onto High street and back out Rochdale road.

We’re not in the 90’s though and the big issue is traffic. Bus could arrive and leave last timing point on time then get held up and end up being 30 mins late, driver then requires a break or or is over their driving hours where do they park?
It’s like building a bus station with no layover bays, would be a schedulers worse nightmare.

[Mrboo]

RE: First Manchester

(26/10/2020 11:31)Mayneway Wrote:  We’re not in the 90’s though and the big issue is traffic. Bus could arrive and leave last timing point on time then get held up and end up being 30 mins late, driver then requires a break or or is over their driving hours where do they park?
It’s like building a bus station with no layover bays, would be a schedulers worse nightmare.

it not a schedulers nightmare as you just don`t plan any layover there or you hot swap drivers.

you can also just carry on if you run out of driver time under special rule. I used to run coaches from London to Cambridge knowing drivers would run out of time ( no motorway services) so cant break as passengers have to have a safe place away from driver. so long as they started on paper in good time driver would be ok and it does not happen often. if so you plan for it or you drop a run or turn short like they do in London.

Some Arriva routes in Leeds do same they run the loop and head back out. if you see Manchester as mid route not the end your fine you don't need to end the trip with a driver break or layover or you keep a spare bus in centre.

Most TFGM Stations have little layover as they like buses to break other end of routes.

[wirralbus]

RE: First Manchester

(26/10/2020 13:59)Mrboo Wrote:  it not a schedulers nightmare as you just don`t plan any layover there or you hot swap drivers.

you can also just carry on if you run out of driver time under special rule. I used to run coaches from London to Cambridge knowing drivers would run out of time ( no motorway services) so cant break as passengers have to have a safe place away from driver. so long as they started on paper in good time driver would be ok and it does not happen often. if so you plan for it or you drop a run or turn short like they do in London.

Some Arriva routes in Leeds do same they run the loop and head back out. if you see Manchester as mid route not the end your fine you don't need to end the trip with a driver break or layover or you keep a spare bus in centre.

Most TFGM Stations have little layover as they like buses to break other end of routes.

No here comes the sticky point if they want the buses to use the other end of the route as layover what happens if the bus goes from TfGm Bus Station to another TfGM bus station which also doesnt have much layover space either.

[Mrboo]

RE: First Manchester

(26/10/2020 14:29)wirralbus Wrote:  No here comes the sticky point if they want the buses to use the other end of the route as layover what happens if the bus goes from TfGm Bus Station to another TfGM bus station which also doesnt have much layover space either.

Some do have layover. but limited.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(26/10/2020 14:29)wirralbus Wrote:  No here comes the sticky point if they want the buses to use the other end of the route as layover what happens if the bus goes from TfGm Bus Station to another TfGM bus station which also doesnt have much layover space either.

Or if your doing a TFGM tender, they set the times with layover at each end.

[Mikeonthebuses]

RE: First Manchester
First Oldham 69171 MX06 VNF Has been photographed today from Facebook operating the V1 MRI to Leigh Service via the Guided Busway only problem this vehicle is a non guide wheel fitted bus.

69171 Must of fancied a stretch of it wheels today or there is a shortage with Vantage Buses

[Solo40336]

RE: First Manchester
Whatever happened to 66338? The B7L that got moved to Bolton around 2017/18, spent a long time in the garage before entering service, cant say I've seen it or heard of it for a long time.

[AlexBus12]

RE: First Manchester

(22/11/2020 02:29)Solo40336 Wrote:  Whatever happened to 66338? The B7L that got moved to Bolton around 2017/18, spent a long time in the garage before entering service, cant say I've seen it or heard of it for a long time.

From a fleet update i have, it went to scrap in July 2019