First Manchester

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(09/09/2014 20:08)Dentonian Wrote:  That suggests either a continuing punctuality issue with 419, or the 41 driver trying to get on stand too early. Loading is limited to 5 minutes. Having said that, it is not ideal having the 41 & 419 on the same stands as the numbers are similar; in the past both served Crowhill, but now they go in opposite directions from Ashton. Both are tendered services, so unless the punctuality issue is identified, neither will be changing at the October change date, and AFAIK, no commercial changes have been registered involving Ashton.

the 41 / 419 dont have any issues with punct. the only issue is the 41 arr to offload at the same time the 419 is due out. drivers have been adv to alight on other stands to alievieate this problem.
the only stand problem atm is n stands departures bunching up with
335 **05
339 **10
395 **15
317 **30
339 **40
396 **45
345 **49
so there is often bunching of 335 (if driver changing) 339 395 05,10,15 then again half hour later with 40,45,49 hopefully the 395/6 will get relocated to maybe c stand (this being the quietest)

[james]

RE: First Manchester
one issue i noticed yesterday during my afternoon session in ashton i noticed how much this rewrite has messed up 331,346,387,389 now interworking with each other

a few pattetns seem to happen now there are 11 buses interworking these 4 routes with buses changing serv at hyde to during eve peak hours

331/40 389/03 331/10 389/33

346/38 387/50 389/03 387/50

389/33 346/18 389/33 ?

346/58 331/10 346/38 387/50 346/58

gen obs were the 387 generally ran 10mins late leaving ashton

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(10/09/2014 18:24)Dentonian Wrote:  iI think it was just before the July (Summer) rewrite I caught a 335 to Ashton - about 10 mins late at Crown Point mid-morning, so par for the course! - and I'm sure it changed to something else on arrival. In fact, I remember seeing the next 335 coming out of Ashton as we arrived. Maybe, the five minute stand timehas been waived, but the bunching you mention suggests it shouldn't have been.

afaik the 335 has stayed as one bus for the last 12months (28/10/13 rerouting + rewrite) and longer prob since we took it back over.
it was often swapped earlier in the year as they kept putting 40312/40324+5 often swapped with a 41 or a 39 duty when they had acceleration issues (not helped by c.p nth more often swapped for a 53*** solo which is what it really needed on that route the hybrid on it yesterday seemed to be ok left o/t and arr o/t

with regards to the bunching 5 min rule is still in place but the driver that took over at 1505(335) took ten mins to changeover,check bus + load so left at 15 the 339 couldnt get out because he was to close to the 335 and the 395 was blocking the xing and 2*409 buses getting in (thank god it wasnt a first bus blocking xing would have been paperwork for me lol)

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester
It appears that some of the Streetlites that have remained at Rusholme depot that were previously branded for the 42 Cross Connect service have been re-branded for the 41 cross-city service.

63155 being one of them:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doncasterb...5029869380

[jimbo]

RE: First Manchester
I wonder when first will realise that running empty brand new buses months on end isn't likely to be sustainable...

[M60lad]

RE: First Manchester
Not sure why but according to a friend of mine on Oldham's 425 roster and from what I saw yesterday it seems that proper route training for 408 service doesn't seem to have taken place as apparently some drivers at both Oldham and Tameside Depot are still running via Alt in both directions and also some drivers are also missing out the evening tendered Glowick Road, Waterloo Street, Woodstock Street diversion and then the drivers wonder why their running late all the time and passengers are getting confused as one evening the bus goes one way and the next day the bus goes another way with another driver

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(13/09/2014 06:36)M60lad Wrote:  Not sure why but according to a friend of mine on Oldham's 425 roster and from what I saw yesterday it seems that proper route training for 408 service doesn't seem to have taken place as apparently some drivers at both Oldham and Tameside Depot are still running via Alt in both directions and also some drivers are also missing out the evening tendered Glowick Road, Waterloo Street, Woodstock Street diversion and then the drivers wonder why their running late all the time and passengers are getting confused as one evening the bus goes one way and the next day the bus goes another way with another driver

pr certainly havent they just put a memo in the depot

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(03/09/2014 19:27)SF07 Wrote:  Only caught quick glimpses of these but noticed a 180/184 branded Enviro400 on the 41 this afternoon heading to Sale, while a Enviro300 was on one of the afternoon workings of the X84.

I wonder whether this Enviro400 was on loan to Rusholme, or whether Oldham will get some new ones to displace some 12-reg examples to Rusholme.

(09/09/2014 16:38)Polo Mint Wrote:  Seen the Streetlites on a range of routes including 33, 53, 88 and 89.

Which services are they supposed to operate? The 33 sees Volvo B10, Geminis and Streetlites and the 53 sees B10's, B7's and also seen a Streetlite on it.

I imagine the 88 and 89, as these often had B10BLEs on them. Mind you, on Tuesday evening I saw a Streetlite on route 18!

(12/09/2014 18:29)SF07 Wrote:  It appears that some of the Streetlites that have remained at Rusholme depot that were previously branded for the 42 Cross Connect service have been re-branded for the 41 cross-city service.

63155 being one of them:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/doncasterb...5029869380

This is a pity, as I was hoping to ride an E40D on route 41 to Eccles, probably when I ride the forthcoming Metrolink Airport service.

[M60lad]

RE: First Manchester
I'm surprised this hasn't been reported but apparently yesterday one working on 27 was operated using YJ60KCO one of the spare grey Manchester Metroshuttle Solo SR's.

Also I've heard from a friend at Oldham Depot that the remaining Wright Crusader Dart 40416 departed for pastors new on Friday evening and has since been reported at PVS(Barnsley)

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester

(13/09/2014 21:21)Metroline1511 Wrote:  I wonder whether this Enviro400 was on loan to Rusholme, or whether Oldham will get some new ones to displace some 12-reg examples to Rusholme.


I imagine the 88 and 89, as these often had B10BLEs on them. Mind you, on Tuesday evening I saw a Streetlite on route 18!


This is a pity, as I was hoping to ride an E40D on route 41 to Eccles, probably when I ride the forthcoming Metrolink Airport service.

I think some of the 12-plate Enviro400s from Oldham are re-allocated to Rusholme. Two of which have been de-branded of the 180/184 service (33656/33669). Oldham depot has received some of the B7TLs that were originally brought in at Rusholme depot following the takeover of Finglands.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81788292@N07/15029333307
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ingythewingy/15047478538

The 41 and 42 are operating with a mixture of Streetlites and Enviro400s at the moment but I imagine that the 42 will see the majority of the Enviro400s.

As for the Streetlites at Queens Road, the majority are operating on the 88/89 plus the short workings on the 81 between Manchester and White Moss.