First Manchester

[gilesbus1]

RE: First Manchester
I think bringing in ex London stuff wouldn't help much as they would immediately need to be converted to Euro 6 regs if they are staying long term, the stuff coming out of London is 06-12 reg so nothing that is post the 2012 deadline. Whats likely but not until 2020 are brand new buses, what these will be and how many there will be obviously needs to be decided, tests of various demonstrators may take place as I understand that in GoAhead each fleet has its own independent buying policy hence why there is no group standard, and batches can gravitate between one manufacturer and another based on what the fleet believes is best at a particular time.

I would expect any demonstrations of vehicles to take place after the take-over over the Summer and Autumn months with delivery from Spring/Summer 2020 onwards. Suspect they will include both saloons and deckers, as to cascade Gemini deckers to North East and East Yorkshire is probably very likely as they fit in well into those fleets and both those decker fleets need upgrading.

Old B7RLE's will probably head for the secondhand market or the scrap mans torch, each being on a case by case basis based on the state of the vehicle.

Dealer stock is of course another option Go Ahead may try to use, e.g. purchased new ready made buses quickly from ready built stock, but again that would be up to local management if whats on offer is acceptable. Of course a fleet may also be needed while the Volvo B5LH vehicles undergo their refurbishments internally and also upgrading of engines, these are so I understand the first vehicles to be so treated and if the refurbishments of the East Yorkshire ones is anything to go by they will be to near Vantage specification with WiFi connectivity and tables on the upper deck.