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TfGM Bee Network - fleet discussion
- Thread starter Leyland Bus
- Start date
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This is a new thread for discussing fleet updates, repaints etc. for operators that are involved with the Transport for Greater Manchester "Bee Network".
If anyone wishes to discuss bus services that are operated by TfGM franchisees, but are not part of the Bee Network, please don't post here; you should either use an existing thread, or start a new one if necessary.
Thanks
If anyone wishes to discuss bus services that are operated by TfGM franchisees, but are not part of the Bee Network, please don't post here; you should either use an existing thread, or start a new one if necessary.
Thanks
Both of these are/were TfGM owned vehicles last with Tyrers of Farnworth
Leyland Bus
Member
Yeah, it was lettered Tuesday and returned to service... Thought I'd posted it but must have been distracted
Haha now worries.Yeah, it was lettered Tuesday and returned to service... Thought I'd posted it but must have been distracted
Has anything else gone out this week? Know you’re busy with Preston repaints.
Leyland Bus
Member
40707 has been swapped for 40704 that went last week.
kiewilk0970
Member
Saw it parked behind the Wrecker in the depot yesterday morning, looking all fresh and Yellow.Yeah, it was lettered Tuesday and returned to service... Thought I'd posted it but must have been distracted
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Leyland Bus
Member
Yeah, it wouldn't play ball on the road, so had to be assisted back to garage...
kiewilk0970
Member
978wta
Member
In regards to the Queens Road depot takeover by Stagecoach, will the fleet of buses also transfer to Stagecoach? I understand Go North West is buying a lot of ex-Diamond buses for the Bolton/Wigan services.
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Leyland Bus
Member
Nothing has yet been announced regarding buses for Queens and Oldham. To be fair, the announcement was only recent so I wouldn't expect anything for a couple of months or so.
In refurbishment news, Streetdeck 40731 has been sent to Thorntons to be fast tracked through refurb and repaint with a desire to have it back by the 29th August. Reason is currently unknown, anyone aware of anything happening around the end of August? It's also out of sync with the buses Rotala are keeping to add to the intrigue.
Interesting. I thought the ones Rotala were keeping up North were 40728-32 and 61 with its new roof! But then 40822/3 and have repainted which I thought were due to move to the midlands with 40825/8/33/40/3.
Leyland Bus
Member
40735 is the latest to return from paint with 40769 going the opposite way to Birmingham.
Just over 5 week til Bee-day...
Bolton Streetdeck 40707 has returned from paint at Blackburn with 40778 going in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile 40822 has returned from Thorntons following full interior refurbishment.
Another Streetdeck returned from Thorntons is 40728, returned in doubly quick time!
Bolton Paintshop has taken 33016 in for repaint into yellow (don't ask, the reason will bore you! Haha!) I'll post a couple of pics on Thursday but then I'm off til Wednesday, so I'll not see it finished as my oppo will complete it on Friday.
I don't know if anyone is actually reading any of these updates, as every message I write on this thread just gets merged into the last one and I can't seem to find a way round it?!
Anyway, if anyone is getting these, 40763 returned from Nottingham late yesterday afternoon, unsure what went in return, so will keep my eye out and see if I can find out.
Just over 5 week til Bee-day...
Bolton Streetdeck 40707 has returned from paint at Blackburn with 40778 going in the opposite direction.
Meanwhile 40822 has returned from Thorntons following full interior refurbishment.
Another Streetdeck returned from Thorntons is 40728, returned in doubly quick time!
Bolton Paintshop has taken 33016 in for repaint into yellow (don't ask, the reason will bore you! Haha!) I'll post a couple of pics on Thursday but then I'm off til Wednesday, so I'll not see it finished as my oppo will complete it on Friday.
I don't know if anyone is actually reading any of these updates, as every message I write on this thread just gets merged into the last one and I can't seem to find a way round it?!
Anyway, if anyone is getting these, 40763 returned from Nottingham late yesterday afternoon, unsure what went in return, so will keep my eye out and see if I can find out.
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Notchapple
Member
It still provides a notification that you have replied to the thread, it's a bit weird the posts are merging.
I did wonder why there hadn’t been any updates!
And I’m ready to be bored why 33016 is in for repaint
I’ve also read that more of the streetlites have arrived to be used until the new E200s turn up in January. Will these allow more buses go for repaint presuming there is capacity?
Dave The Bus
Member
- Joined
- 13 May 2009
- Messages
- 152
I don't know about 40731, but 40732 had gained a radio, right in front of the cctv....... seems to be linked to GNW as its showing no service but crackled in a Group 900 Out of Fleet message which had 'GO' in the top corner...
Does also say TfGM so maybe it's multi operator, like GNW can group call Diamond buses as well possibly?...
Does also say TfGM so maybe it's multi operator, like GNW can group call Diamond buses as well possibly?...
Leyland Bus
Member
Yes, ticket machines and indeed radios are being adapted and installed to link everything together in a sort of "MetroComms" revival...
*In GMT days, all buses had radios that linked up to Hyde Road and was called "MetroComms"
winston270twm
Established Member
- Joined
- 26 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 1,899
That's still the case regarding 40728-32 & 40761, those have since been supplemented by 40822/23, as the Rotala Tranche 1 small franchises require 8 double deckers I understand - all should be refurbished with Bee Network interiors too.
40825/28/33/40/43 I believe are staying at Diamond North West to act as cover until new the 60 x Bee Network ADL E200MMC's arrive from January 2024 onwards - whether they are still due to transfer to Diamond West Midlands after they become surplus I'm not now sure. There will also be additional cover vehicles from around group covering until the above new fleet arrive.
Had a ride out on SM13NBL which appeared freshly painted in Diamond Blue, but with a quite fresh First Pink/Blue interior. Will it be staying with Diamond and not become a TFGM operated vehicle?
Seemed quite a nice vehicle for a 10year old albeit a bit small for the 471 it was operating. I think it has acquired 32283 as a fleet number, though still displays a 63xxx plate inside.
Seemed quite a nice vehicle for a 10year old albeit a bit small for the 471 it was operating. I think it has acquired 32283 as a fleet number, though still displays a 63xxx plate inside.
Anyone confirm if 40727/80/81 have actually been repainted into Bee Network? Been changed on bus times but with no evidence.
40781 hasn’t tracked since March so not sure if someone has ‘presumed’ it’s been repainted. Really wish people would post a link or photo.
40781 hasn’t tracked since March so not sure if someone has ‘presumed’ it’s been repainted. Really wish people would post a link or photo.
Leyland Bus
Member
I'm pretty sure they are all still blue. 40781 is long term demic with a poorly engine and is as such stuck in the garage, although it's now being fast tracked to be repaired for obvious reasons...
I have attached a list of the Streetlamps that are due (all bar three I believe are now here or at Tividale (prior to paint) after they were sent to EnsignBus in error)...
32270 SM13 NEJ
32271 SK63 KHH
32272 SK63 KHJ
32273 SK63 KHM
32274 SK63 KHR
32275 SM13 NAO
32276 SM13 NAE
32277 SM13 NBD
32278 SM13 NBE
32279 SM13 NBF
32280 SM13 NBG
32281 SM13 NBJ
32282 SM13 NBK
32283 SM13 NBL
N.B. Picture attached is a physical list of the above.
Also, as promised, a couple of shots of 33016 nearing completion of its repaint into Bee Network yellow...
Attachments
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kiewilk0970
Member
Leyland Bus
Member
Great shot!!!
Class 466
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Mar 2010
- Messages
- 1,426
It’s made a nice change getting the recently transferred ex Go Ahead London B9TL Gemini 2s on the same circuit every day on the 135 lately - I presume that come next month that’ll switch back to the existing fleet with all these yellow B9s shipped off to one of the new GNW contracts.
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I've not really been keeping up with what's going on in Manchester, but, Stagecoach have always been the dominant operator it would appear, would they receive any compensation from TFGM should they loose out on a large scale here, given TFGM would be taking a hammer to what is a commercial operation?
johncrossley
Established Member
If you look in the other thread (mods transfer if necessary)
this was discussed at length years ago. Stagecoach won the second tranche covering the north and north east so should be happy enough.
Anything in for repaint this week?
On another note, been a few route learning vehicles going up past my house in Bromley Cross Bolton this week, yesterday was a Bee Citaro, only caught the back end so presumed it was Diamond 33028 but today a Stagecoach E200 trundled past. Odd as both the 533/541 routes will be run by Diamond come September.
On another note, been a few route learning vehicles going up past my house in Bromley Cross Bolton this week, yesterday was a Bee Citaro, only caught the back end so presumed it was Diamond 33028 but today a Stagecoach E200 trundled past. Odd as both the 533/541 routes will be run by Diamond come September.