TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion

[GCH100]

Back in service this week and operating from Go Northwest's Bolton Depot is Evoseti 3064 which I saw in Piccadilly Gardens on a 36 service to Bolton on Wednesday afternoon.

3062-3064, and 3070 have all returned to service at Bolton, 3062/3 operated on Vantage on Friday, further examples may enter service this week.

 

[Busoccultation]

Meanwhile from London, Metroline is starting to withdraw the 14 reg VWH's at Potters Bar that will be going to Manchester for their Tranche 3 operations with VWH2010 & VWH2011 both withdrawn from TfL service with more due to be withdrawn in the coming weeks.

 

[mayneway]

3062-3064, and 3070 have all returned to service at Bolton, 3062/3 operated on Vantage on Friday, further examples may enter service this week.

At least one of Heywood’s Evosettis is also been out on163’s on Saturday evening.

 

[Class 466]

Meanwhile from London, Metroline is starting to withdraw the 14 reg VWH's at Potters Bar that will be going to Manchester for their Tranche 3 operations with VWH2010 & VWH2011 both withdrawn from TfL service with more due to be withdrawn in the coming weeks.

I’m glad to Metroline are cascading these. Decent vehicles those Gemini 3s. Wonder what else they’ll cascade!

 

[Notchapple]

126 Diesel Wright StreetDecks are on order for Manchester. https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/on-the-buses-for-hydrogen-revolution

...only 12 per cent will be conventional diesel, a legacy order for 126 buses for Manches-ter.

 

[KendalKing]

Meanwhile from London, Metroline is starting to withdraw the 14 reg VWH's at Potters Bar that will be going to Manchester for their Tranche 3 operations with VWH2010 & VWH2011 both withdrawn from TfL service with more due to be withdrawn in the coming weeks.

A bit early, not needed until January. I take it that they are being refurbished first, before heading to Manchester.

 

[Leyland Bus]

A bit early, not needed until January. I take it that they are being refurbished first, before heading to Manchester.

They've got 8 months to source, paint and refurbish goodness how many buses, this isn't early by any stretch!

 

[Greybeard33]

126 Wright StreetDecks are on order for Manchester. https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/on-the-buses-for-hydrogen-revolution

To be clear, the linked article says that the 126 diesel buses on order for Manchester amount to 12% of Wright's total 2024 production and are the only diesels it is still making. The rest of this year's production comprises 78% battery and 10% hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

AFAIK no hydrogen buses have been ordered for Manchester.

 

[47550]

To be clear, the linked article says that the 126 diesel buses on order for Manchester amount to 12% of Wright's total 2024 production and are the only diesels it is still making. The rest of this year's production comprises 78% battery and 10% hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

AFAIK no hydrogen buses have been ordered for Manchester.

I dont think there's any suggestion there are hydrogen buses coming to Manchester...must be just the 126 diesel buses. Though if they are for Metroline then the order would only recently be able to be confirmed.

If I've done my sums correctly then Metroline must have around 235 new deckers on order for London...for routes 4 / 83 / 90 / 98 / 113 / 210 / 245 / 263 / 297 / U4 / W7 / W8 (require total PVR of 208). They have around 100 Enviro 400s that are aged 2011 and older which presumably would be too old to cascade to Manchester but that would still leave around 135 potentially available to come north.

All info taken from https://bus-routes-in-london.fandom.com/wiki/Upcoming_changes

 

[Notchapple]

I dont think there's any suggestion there are hydrogen buses coming to Manchester...must be just the 126 diesel buses. Though if they are for Metroline then the order would only recently be able to be confirmed.

If I've done my sums correctly then Metroline must have around 235 new deckers on order for London...for routes 4 / 83 / 90 / 98 / 113 / 210 / 245 / 263 / 297 / U4 / W7 / W8 (require total PVR of 208). They have around 100 Enviro 400s that are aged 2011 and older which presumably would be too old to cascade to Manchester but that would still leave around 135 potentially available to come north.

All info taken from https://bus-routes-in-london.fandom.com/wiki/Upcoming_changes

Exact numbers regarding their older fleet
14x Enviro400Hs built in 2011 or prior
23x Enviro400s built in 2011 or prior
80x Volvo B9TLs built in 2011 or prior
8 of the above haven't been used this month but another few are indirectly covering for late electric infrastructure for single decker routes

 

[jonesy3001]

Will the streetdecks be volvo or daimler engines?

 

[GCH100]

Will the streetdecks be volvo or daimler engines?

There has never been a Volvo engined streetdeck, you are confussing it with Volvo B5 models that had Wright Gemini 3 bodies to Streetdeck design, and these are no longer made, therefore its almost certain they will have Daimler-Benz engines.

 

[M60lad]

Not to sure if this is the right place to ask or put this but is Middleton Depot short of vehicles at the moment?

I only ask as yesterday for some reason one duty on 415s was being operated with one of the ex Newcastle E400Hs, first time in ages I've actually witnessed a decker on 415.

 

[mayneway]

Not to sure if this is the right place to ask or put this but is Middleton Depot short of vehicles at the moment?

I only ask as yesterday for some reason one duty on 415s was being operated with one of the ex Newcastle E400Hs, first time in ages I've actually witnessed a decker on 415.

All 3 of the Tranche 2 depots are struggling bus wise. Can’t comment on Oldham but Queens and Middleton are short of single deckers.

 

[47550]

All 3 of the Tranche 2 depots are struggling bus wise. Can’t comment on Oldham but Queens and Middleton are short of single deckers.

There seem to be quite a few of the new Enviro 400MMCs knocking round Stockport at the moment - I thought they were all destined for the Tranche 2 depots. Haven't noticed any of the loan buses for a while though so maybe they are replacements for them.

 

[978wta]

There seem to be quite a few of the new Enviro 400MMCs knocking round Stockport at the moment - I thought they were all destined for the Tranche 2 depots. Haven't noticed any of the loan buses for a while though so maybe they are replacements for them.

I’ve noticed the same. Checking bustimes.org some services are running 17/18 to Manchester then switching to the 192.

 

[goldisgood]

I’ve noticed the same. Checking bustimes.org some service’s are running 17/18 to Manchester then switching to the 192.

Looking at this it appears to be a tracking error, with two buses tracking as the same fleet number?

 

[Andyh82]

There seem to be quite a few of the new Enviro 400MMCs knocking round Stockport at the moment - I thought they were all destined for the Tranche 2 depots. Haven't noticed any of the loan buses for a while though so maybe they are replacements for them.

I think that is exactly the explanation. These buses currently allocated to Stockport seem to be new arrivals

 

[978wta]

Looking at this it appears to be a tracking error, with two buses tracking as the same fleet number?

Yes, makes sense now!

I think that is exactly the explanation. These buses currently allocated to Stockport seem to be new arrivals

You’d think they would be swapped with the stagecoach liveried MMCs currently at Oldham and Qeens RD.

 

[mic]

Yes, makes sense now!


You’d think they would be swapped with the stagecoach liveried MMCs currently at Oldham and Qeens RD.

i think thats what should have been done

 

[WWH44L]

Noticed that the ‘extra’ Go North West fleet have started to enter service at Bolton recently, notably some of the repainted B7RLEs.

Repainted 6151/3/7 and 6156 (has this been repainted?) and 6162.

Still to enter service are 6154/55 which are away for repaint, 6160 which @Leyland Bus reported in for repaint and 6158/9 which are still in previous livery but with Bee Network stickers. Do we know the status of 6152?

Evosetis 3062/3/4//7 are also out and about leaving 3065/6/8 to enter service.

 

[mayneway]

Noticed that the ‘extra’ Go North West fleet have started to enter service at Bolton recently, notably some of the repainted B7RLEs.

Repainted 6151/3/7 and 6156 (has this been repainted?) and 6162.

Still to enter service are 6154/55 which are away for repaint, 6160 which @Leyland Bus reported in for repaint and 6158/9 which are still in previous livery but with Bee Network stickers. Do we know the status of 6152?

Evosetis 3062/3/4//7 are also out and about leaving 3065/6/8 to enter service.

One of the Orbit B7’s was long term VOR at Queens road and spent a while sat outside engineering looking rather sad for itself. The same vehicle was towed out by FAM days before the handover so quite possibly 6152. Having said that 5002 and 5003 were also in a sorry state and have quickly been put back on the road by new owner Howard’s so could be minor.

Very surprised GNW didn’t retain any of the E200’s from Queens road with talk of vehicle shortages at Bolton.

 

[BeeBus]

Some more Optare Solos have arrived at Oldham. I saw 48108 (YJ24 BNN) at work on the 180 today, although it was masquerading on Bustimes as Enviro 200 36789. There's been another one running with a spare ticket machine, although it may have been the same one as it was only a very distant sighting.

Regarding the Enviro 200s I note that none of them carries Bee Network livery. Are they due to be replaced?

Another observation relates to the 184. The last two trips in the evening that run to Marsden and Diggle used to be run by Nexus Move with minibuses which provided more than sufficient capacity but since the Bee Network took over they seem to have been consistently worked by double-deckers. This doesn't seem to make sense but may be due to vehicle shortage?

 

[mangad]

Some more Optare Solos have arrived at Oldham. I saw 48108 (YJ24 BNN) at work on the 180 today, although it was masquerading on Bustimes as Enviro 200 36789. There's been another one running with a spare ticket machine, although it may have been the same one as it was only a very distant sighting.

Regarding the Enviro 200s I note that none of them carries Bee Network livery. Are they due to be replaced?

Another observation relates to the 184. The last two trips in the evening that run to Marsden and Diggle used to be run by Nexus Move with minibuses which provided more than sufficient capacity but since the Bee Network took over they seem to have been consistently worked by double-deckers. This doesn't seem to make sense but may be due to vehicle shortage?

I doubt it's vehicle shortages and either its specified to always be a double decker, or it's just easier to always be a double decker.

In Stockport Stagecoach run the 374 and 375 evening services with a double decker even though the routes could get away with a small minibus. They will have their reasons for this. Perhaps because they don't have loads of random small minibus floating around that wouldn't be much use during the day.

 

[Andyh82]

Some more Optare Solos have arrived at Oldham. I saw 48108 (YJ24 BNN) at work on the 180 today, although it was masquerading on Bustimes as Enviro 200 36789. There's been another one running with a spare ticket machine, although it may have been the same one as it was only a very distant sighting.

Regarding the Enviro 200s I note that none of them carries Bee Network livery. Are they due to be replaced?

Another observation relates to the 184. The last two trips in the evening that run to Marsden and Diggle used to be run by Nexus Move with minibuses which provided more than sufficient capacity but since the Bee Network took over they seem to have been consistently worked by double-deckers. This doesn't seem to make sense but may be due to vehicle shortage?

It was a separate tender before, awarded to Nexus Move who only run minibuses

Now those journeys are just part of the main service like any other trip on the 184 so are run with double deckers that will be on there all day

 

[WWH44L]

Noticed that the ‘extra’ Go North West fleet have started to enter service at Bolton recently, notably some of the repainted B7RLEs.

Repainted 6151/3/7 and 6156 (has this been repainted?) and 6162.

Still to enter service are 6154/55 which are away for repaint, 6160 which @Leyland Bus reported in for repaint and 6158/9 which are still in previous livery but with Bee Network stickers. Do we know the status of 6152?

Evosetis 3062/3/4//7 are also out and about leaving 3065/6/8 to enter service.

Looks like there have been a bit of reshuffling between Wigan and Bolton.

4029/32/3/4/36/37 - Bolton to Wigan
4120-24 - Wigan to Bolton
3478-82 - Bolton to Wigan
6151-60/2 to Bolton
3062-67 to Bolton
6172/3, 6230/1 to Bolton (taxi/route learners)

Out of the above 6155 I believe is still away for repaint as is 6173.

Anyone know the whereabouts of 3068 as according to BusTimes, it’s not tracked since last August.

 

[Class 466]

Looks like there have been a bit of reshuffling between Wigan and Bolton.

4029/32/3/4/36/37 - Bolton to Wigan
4120-24 - Wigan to Bolton
3478-82 - Bolton to Wigan
6151-60/2 to Bolton
3062-67 to Bolton
6172/3, 6230/1 to Bolton (taxi/route learners)

Out of the above 6155 I believe is still away for repaint as is 6173.

Anyone know the whereabouts of 3068 as according to BusTimes, it’s not tracked since last August.

Just be glad 3068 is not another one ruining the Vantage experience. I know there have been a number of complaints about the Evoseti’s on that route with their solid seats etc.

 

[MasterSpenny]

It seems like Stagecoach’s new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters for the Bee Network have commenced delivery - the first one, plated LV24ROU has been delivered. I do not know the fleet number it has been allocated as of yet. Photo (not mine) linked below.

Stagecoach Manchester (LV24ROU)

Mercedes Benz Sprinter Strata Seen at Queens rd, thank you to a good friend for getting me some pics

www.flickr.com

 

[Fox192]

What are the mellors going to be used for, they seem overly small

 

[DaveLondon]

Meanwhile from London, Metroline is starting to withdraw the 14 reg VWH's at Potters Bar that will be going to Manchester for their Tranche 3 operations with VWH2010 & VWH2011 both withdrawn from TfL service with more due to be withdrawn in the coming weeks.

This seems to be incorrect information as both have been in service today. (LVF)