Stagecoach Manchester

[joe_alker]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
Its still the fact they are actually being sighted on driver familiarisation duties that would indicate something more than the usual loans though

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(11/02/2016 20:10)Dentonian Wrote:  "Midis" does indeed mean Evolutions as well as Enviro200s (and any other old style Darts lingering on). Actually, all Evolutions were supposed to be withdrawn, so it looks like the plans haven't (yet) happened. As regards MANs, on my last few visits to Ashton (off-peak), the 345 has always been 22090, and I haven't seen any other MANs throughout the visits, so apart from the 183, I assume any 346/7 appearances are generally peak only.

So what's the plan for the 346 then? The evolutions became regulars on the 346 while MANs and Enviro400's were mainstay on the 347.
Presumsbly there replacing midi's with deckers??

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(11/02/2016 19:56)joe_alker Wrote:  Its still the fact they are actually being sighted on driver familiarisation duties that would indicate something more than the usual loans though

There not on DF as the drivers already know how to drive Enviro400's. It's a different engine the internal controls will be the same if not very very similar.
Ashton seems to have had an influx of new drivers again and the bus in question is being used to route learn these new drivers before they hit the road - notice how apart from the driver the rest of the guys on the bus are in there own clothes with stagecoach hi-viz's on.

Although it has been in service, AZ have obviously choosen not to use it in regular service if they can help it hence why it's mainly on taxi duties and driver training.

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(11/02/2016 20:45)Dentonian Wrote:  Probably wouldn't rule out MMCs being loaned in the long-term, but for now they seem to be very slow to enter service at Hyde Road. I was told at least twelve had been delivered by last weekend, but only 5 (possibly 6) have been sighted in service as of this morning.

Just to emphasise that at the moment, the Enviro400 allocation is stable as those being taken away from AZ for conversion to MagicBus, have been replaced one for one with 190xx s. Its "midis" that are (on paper) down by 5 buses.

Apart from the evolutions that will once again be withdrawn (not happened yet), where will the Enviro200's go?? Stockport to join the others in this batch or midd?

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(11/02/2016 21:21)Dentonian Wrote:  36421/2 to Stockport - these were reported on loan a week or so back, but presumably this is no permanent. This would allow two older ones (presumably 36109/10) to transfer to Middleton. What's interesting is that, with at least three ex East MANs and three repainted Tridents still to be allocated, MN seem to have been over compensated for the loss of their last X-reg MANs. I wonder if the three MANs will go to Ashton instead

A few extra MANs at AZ wouldn't be surprising as there a lot more universal than the Enviro200's espically at peak!

What I'm surprised at is the decision to withdraw the Evolutions. I'm told that since thier rejection from down south, they have obviously had bits and peices done up here but despite suggestions they were unreliable and a waste of time I don't think I've seen any broken down or 'recieving attention' while at AZ so I wonder why their being withdrawn and if this will be thier final outing for Manchester?

Then there's 28506/7 which have apparently been worked on when times allowed over the last few months. I'm sure I was told that both have been MOT'd yet no sign of them leaving the depot.

[M60lad]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
Interesting working this afternoon saw 16949 actually out in revenue earning service on 14:34 23 Trafford Centre-Stockport service.

Looked liked it was a day of odd workings on Stagecoach's Trafford Centre services as this morning HE had their corporate liveried dual-door Trident on 250s, I noticed it leaving Manchester at about 10:10.

[gilbert]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(08/02/2016 22:29)Dentonian Wrote:  I forget the full PVR for 141/2/3/5, but the running times are very slow and there are about 20 142/3s an hour at their peak. Hyde Road are getting 25 now (10463-87), with the last six delayed. They should be 10504-9 and will probably now appear in April

According to somebody on Facebook,the last bus in the 2015/16 order is 10503 and the first one in next years order is 10511!!

[gka472l]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(12/02/2016 14:09)gilbert Wrote:  According to somebody on Facebook,the last bus in the 2015/16 order is 10503 and the first one in next years order is 10511!!

Quite normal for the following years order to start at the next number ending with '1'. 10504-9 should be extras to replace 10457-62 which were diverted to Plymouth.

HTH

[SLTRegular]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
16949 was on the 23a the other day

I noted 19339 parked up at Wigan bus station didn't realise we still had it

[gilbert]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan
Just seen 10466 on the X57[unfortunately going the other way]. When my bus came [20 minutes late] it was back to normal 19098.