Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

[gilesbus1]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester
Apparently they are none leaset cascvades from London due early next year. THe 06 and 56 reg Enviro400's are listed for cascade already in the main so little chance of any coming to Wigan we are talking schools work here not something that needs 06 reg buses. THe Magics will then cascade the highbridge Native stock inhgerited from Independents to Wigan for schools as Stagecoach is keen to see it remain in Manchester as the heights are too high for rural cascading. So we arte talking the Ex-Dennis, Mayne's, and Bullocks numbers in all probability, which considering Wigans work on Arrows shouldn't be that much different, There is little point now in moving around Olympians as they are time expired in all essense anyway with more closurer to age line than anything.

Also note that many routes using Arrows that are not on the school rosta could in effect be worked by smaller vehicles.

As for bringing in vehicles from other fleets that depends really on whats required and whats in PTE spec remember its unlikely any of those B10BLE's at Gillmoss would be to PTE spec so therefore unable to be used on tenders and therefore not that useful.

What might be an early option would be new Volvo B7RLE;s for the Leigh Guided Busway and therefore it is likelyt that any slaoons in the interim would come out of Manchester, eg MAN 12.220's etc or maybe ex native ones brought back in from where they've been scattered eg Scotland or wherever.

As for the First Manchester fleet it is thought to be now frozen at Wigan as that gives an asset value so FirstGroup unles sthey have removed from the sale prospectous cannot swap buses around, it maybe that some could be removed now or at a later stage but this would seem unlikely given the purchase price.

A lot of what can be cascaded in depends on TfGM specificatiosn being fitted, especially if there is any intentions to use it on Schools, Evenings or Sunday Routes which at Wigan account for a fair amount of stuff.