Stagecoach Manchester

[Bevan Price]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(27/10/2015 21:36)joe_alker Wrote:  Its competition. Besides its not like they're undercutting an independent this time, they are competing with First by providing a more frequent service with brand new high spec buses. Which they are perfectly entitled to do. Running other companies off the road is a little bit taking it too far.

Stagecoach 34 is more frequent - but slower than First X34 from Leigh to Manchester. .

[Jack]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
The 34 follows more of First's 25 service though rather than the X34, but still more frequent than that.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
I think Stagecoach's 34 will take of with it being a 20 min Service, has WI-FI and USB Charger Ports, Plus Stagecoach are known for being a little cheaper than First as well

[Wright Eclipse]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(27/10/2015 23:36)Bevan Price Wrote:  Stagecoach 34 is more frequent - but slower than First X34 from Leigh to Manchester. .

Stagecoach still have a few journeys on X34,plus Service 34 is only takes around 15 mins longer (at peak times I think they will probably take about similar amount of time) plus stagecoach now adding the likes of WIFI & Charging ports could swing it,plus the fact stagecoach offer cheaper fares & a far stronger network around Leigh & Wigan.I Wonder if first will offer a cheaper weekly ticket on X34 like they did on 36/37 when stagecoach came along with the 38. Plus its nice to see Stagecoach once again invest in Wigan depot,look at how often First did,apart from some B9TLs the last new to wigan buses was the renown`s (or was some of the Eclipses New To Wigan?)

[Jack]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
I don't think the Eclipses were new to Wigan, I remember them coming in to replace Renowns on the 600 but they weren't brand new at the time.

[St Helens Rider]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
as I say, I think it's Stagecoach striking the Leigh - Manchester market before First start services on the Guided Busway. Be interesting to see how this corridor develops when the Busway opens.

[M60lad]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
Not sure why but as usual with these things the MMC400 I was on yesterday on 34 didn't have any working Wi-Fi, so it looks like some of them haven't got it activiated yet, guessing it takes time to have it installed at working

[gilbert]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(28/10/2015 20:19)Dentonian Wrote:  I notice that the difference between Stagecoach 34 and First X34 running times off-peak is just 4 minutes outbound, but 13 minutes inbound, largely du to Stagecoach giving the 34 a whopping 24 minutes from Pendleton Church. Whilst this is probably due to various roadworks in the city centre, I suspect that its actually too generous. I've had to catch First 41s from Salford Royal a few times recently, and despite being given a slightly tighter 23 minutes from the Precinct, have found them arriving in Piccadilly way ahead of schedule. Indeed, when I wandered up to Piccadilly on Monday lunch time, the 34 due in at 1243 (10446 iirc) arrived just ahead of schedule, but by the time I'd nipped in and out of Tesco and walked back to Portland Street, the next 34 (10444) was arriving. Based on my arrival time back at work, I would estimate 10444 was about 10 minutes early. My guess is that once Stagecoach are confident of roadworks easing, they will reduce the inbound running times, which will allow an off-peak bus to be saved - Remember stand time is excessive, meaning drivers have to disappear round Chorlton Street for a few minutes, which is far from ideal for anyone.

Worst case scenario scheduling by Stagecoach yet again. Not fun when you're on a bus constantly wasting time at stops with nobody getting on or off.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
I know there was Football in Manchester today but i got the 5:15 X41 Service from Altrincham for Manchester, it was 7:50 when we finally arrived, Event with match day traffic you have to admit it was a joke, The X41s where even getting swapped in Manchester as i saw a Magic Bus Trident, followed by a Hybrid Enviro 400, followed by an MMC Enviro 400 pass going toward Alty.

[djb]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(28/10/2015 20:44)gilbert Wrote:  Worst case scenario scheduling by Stagecoach yet again. Not fun when you're on a bus constantly wasting time at stops with nobody getting on or off.

This unfortunately is the only way to guarantee timing compliance. Unlike trains, the regulations prohibit sticking a load of extra time at the end of the route, so it has to be spread out. As others have alluded, traffic is getting more and more unpredictable, so these kind of journeys aren't gonna go away especially on longer routes.

The sooner stagecoach introduce mobile bus tracking the better. Firsts version may not be without its flaws but it's a damn site better than being in the dark, mid route on an infrequent longer service.