Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3

[KXW212]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3
One for the Night Owls.
On T3 changeover night 4/5 Jan 25 only, the designated 'night journeys' that Stagecoach operate on routes 42, 142, 192 etc are being operated by First.
Times are already in the First Manchester section of bustimes.org.
As to what actual buses are to be used though, I don't know.
A very rough estimate is that it requires 23 buses.

[KX03 KYY]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3

(23/12/2024 11:35)KXW212 Wrote:  One for the Night Owls.
On T3 changeover night 4/5 Jan 25 only, the designated 'night journeys' that Stagecoach operate on routes 42, 142, 192 etc are being operated by First.
Times are already in the First Manchester section of bustimes.org.
As to what actual buses are to be used though, I don't know.
A very rough estimate is that it requires 23 buses.

Thought Metroline had gained them routes?

[KXW212]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3

(23/12/2024 15:58)KX03 KYY Wrote:  Thought Metroline had gained them routes?

Most of them, yes. 192 stays with SC.

This is one night only.

No doubt helps to release staff to assist with the huge number of vehicle movements that night.

[M60lad]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3
I've asked this question myself on Social Media and from what I can gather it might not actually be First Manchester actually operating these services but First Transport Solutions which operate the Rail Replacement Services with vehicles and drivers coming from various divisions to operate the night services, similar to what happened a couple of months back when a couple of First Leeds vehicles were seen operating a Park & Ride service due to a big concert at Manchester's Co-Op arena.

The other thing is that only this past week a number of deckers have just left First Manchester's fleet after the Schools have broken up for Christmas.

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3
I thought the idea was all franchised services will be operated by a yellow bus with Bee Network branding. I don't know how that would fit with a different First Bus division operating night buses. Unless they're just providing the drivers for night services.

[Jack]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3
Whether its First Manchester or Transport solutions It's for one night only while the changeover is happening with other operators. After that Metroline/Stagecoach will run these services with yellow Bee Network buses

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Franchising Tranche 3
Seems the 280 route has been handed over from Belle Vue to Diamond before the official start of T3. The bus is YJ16 DXK not YJ16 DXX like the post says.
https://x.com/WC2512/status/1871296130434412661