Stagecoach Manchester

[gilbert]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(29/01/2016 17:05)Dentonian Wrote:  Misallocated insofaras the branding leads to confusion for passengers. As regards customers getting their fair share of better buses, you are right. However, the argument could go further and say that fares should also be uniform. Unfortunately, we have a situation where those paying the highest fares get the worst service in terms of not only passenger comfort, but punctuality.

Yes my back and backside suffer as much as everybody elses. Punctuality seems to be a lottery from day to day,from bus to bus even. I've never been a fan of branding-don't see why the lettering and numbers are so big either.

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(29/01/2016 16:26)Dentonian Wrote:  Is this source suggesting they will be branded, then?

No I'm making the point that even though a batch of vehiches might be earmarked for one particular service they often appear on everything else anyway!

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(29/01/2016 16:56)gilbert Wrote:  ''Misallocated?'' In your opinion.
In mine,all customers [on whatever route]should be entitled to travel on their fair share of the better buses

I completly agree with you. Up till recently I was a regular user of both the 168/169 and many AZ services. The 168/169 had just about the oldest vehicles in the Manchester fleet thrown on them because they don't run into the city centre, and to be honest the majority of AZ vehiches bar the Hybrids are knackered or not fit for purpose (Enviro200's) anyway.

When you consider that both Middleton and Wigan were acquired at round about the same time give or take a month, Middleton seems to have been completly forgotten about when you weigh up the investment stagecoach have made at Wigan since takeover.

[mbonwick]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(29/01/2016 23:35)Mayneway Wrote:  When you consider that both Middleton and Wigan were acquired at round about the same time give or take a month, Middleton seems to have been completly forgotten about when you weigh up the investment stagecoach have made at Wigan since takeover.

That would be because Wigan makes good money, while the services operated/profits generated at Middleton fall far short of the level for new stock.
If anything, Wigan was undervalued by First - they were using it as a cash cow with no new vehicles for a good while before it was sold to Stagecoach.

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(30/01/2016 12:04)mbonwick Wrote:  That would be because Wigan makes good money, while the services operated/profits generated at Middleton fall far short of the level for new stock.
If anything, Wigan was undervalued by First - they were using it as a cash cow with no new vehicles for a good while before it was sold to Stagecoach.

I absolutely understand that and agree but could it not be questioned then why Stagecoach even acquired Bluebird. There was a lot of fuss made when the takeover was first announced and the feeling was that Stagecoach were buying a ticket directly into first territory to take them on when in actual fact it does seem like they have taken a step back. Perhaps with some development and maybe a direct assault on First would make the depot more profitable.

Middleton seems to be the black sheep of the Stagecoach Manchester empire. Older vehicles and drivers paid somewhat less than drivers at all other Manchester depots yet there is a constant shortage of drivers there, with drivers from other depots often having to fill the gap. A mate of mine has just started at Hyde road and been told overtime is often available working out of Middleton but if he agrees to it he will still be on Hyde road hourly rate not Middletons - I'm thinking morale at Midd isn't that good lol.

[joe_alker]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(29/01/2016 23:35)Mayneway Wrote:  I completly agree with you. Up till recently I was a regular user of both the 168/169 and many AZ services. The 168/169 had just about the oldest vehicles in the Manchester fleet thrown on them because they don't run into the city centre, and to be honest the majority of AZ vehiches bar the Hybrids are knackered or not fit for purpose (Enviro200's) anyway.

This is kind of exactly why I switched from the 231 to the 168/9 as a means of getting to college. The Enviros at AZ are on their last legs tbh (more to do with the build quality I reckon rather than maintenance), although the same applies to those at HE and other depots. The Tridents in use for the 168/9 are much comfier and seem to be in better shape all round, plus from an enthusiast standpoint it's much more interesting as you never know whats going to turn up. A case in point is rejecting a full Enviro400 coming out of ashton for an empty 17698.

It'll be interesting to see the MMCs when they inevitably appear on the 168/9

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
The MMC's have entered service. Two were on the 203 today including 10464

[mbonwick]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
Dentonian has summed it up pretty well: Bluebird wanted to sell to Stagecoach - and it was they who approached Stagecoach, not the other way around.

Bluebird was an attractive addition for Stagecoach anyway - although it was experiencing financial difficulties at the time it was fundamentally profitable, and provided a base closer to First territory.

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(30/01/2016 18:09)mbonwick Wrote:  Dentonian has summed it up pretty well: Bluebird wanted to sell to Stagecoach - and it was they who approached Stagecoach, not the other way around.

Bluebird was an attractive addition for Stagecoach anyway - although it was experiencing financial difficulties at the time it was fundamentally profitable, and provided a base closer to First territory.

I wonder if the former Bluebird owner now regrets that decision. Apparently he recently criticised Stagecoach management himself for their lack of investment and 'enthusiasm' for the Middleton base, and as for it being slap bang in First territory, yes your right it is but they have hardly been threatening towards First.

As for conditions at Middleton, course there not that bad and if anything at least the drivers have security sbd a garrenteed wage every week - something that was debatable under Bluebird/JPT, but I'm told it's the only Manchester depot that has a constant shortage of drivers, and many of the drivers that are there on lists to transfer to other depots. I think 5 or 6 former Middleton drivers are working out of Ashton now.

[gilbert]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
How long has 19084 been at Hyde Rd? It was on the X57 this morning.