First Manchester

[YSV-205]

RE: First Manchester
Further variety with the 816 this morning. At 0750, about to turn onto Councillor Lane, today's offering was 53147...I have seen plenty of different buses on this route over the last few months but can't recall seeing any bus as small as a solo doing it.

[Polo Mint]

RE: First Manchester
Saw a Citaro on the 180 yesterday afternoon.

How many Citaro's do Oldham have now? 9? How come Bury was getting rid of some? As far as I'm aware the 93, 94, 98, 469, 472, 474 still use the Citaro. Did Bury have a lot spare?

Speaking of Bury I have seen quite a few Geminis on the 135 recently, theres usually an occasional one but now I see them often.

[BY37393]

RE: First Manchester

(12/12/2012 11:40)Polo Mint Wrote:  Saw a Citaro on the 180 yesterday afternoon.

How many Citaro's do Oldham have now? 9? How come Bury was getting rid of some? As far as I'm aware the 93, 94, 98, 469, 472, 474 still use the Citaro. Did Bury have a lot spare?

Speaking of Bury I have seen quite a few Geminis on the 135 recently, theres usually an occasional one but now I see them often.

The official rule on the citaros that left Bury, told to me by a Bury driver, was that with Bury, only having a small operating budget, they are very expensive to repair, in addition Bury has a lot of Gemini B9s now due to the arrival of the enviros at Bolton and Oldham Depots, this summer. In addition oldham lost its darts, and they are supposed to be at Oldham first because it has a bigger operating budget, and of course to replace some darts. Bury have ended up with 30 odd geminis mostly from Bolton but 4 ex Oldham ones.


Geminis have been more frequently seen on the 135s due to the re starting of the bendi buses, they are acting as cover. However First Bury are reported to be swithching the 135s to B9s in February next year, and the 18 bendi's are going full time on 471S, as its said they are more efficent on the 471s than the 135S, again told to me by two drivers.


472/4 allocation is mixed consisting of B7s B9s and citaros. More B7s these days than ever same applies for 524,92,93,94 also

[Benzo]

RE: First Manchester
Seen the 425's being mixed up of R-Reg Darts, Citaros and B7's quite lately.
Speaking of that one of the citaros was 60240. Another Citaro transferred from Bury to Oldham, not sure how long ago though.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(12/12/2012 08:33)YSV-205 Wrote:  Further variety with the 816 this morning. At 0750, about to turn onto Councillor Lane, today's offering was 53147...I have seen plenty of different buses on this route over the last few months but can't recall seeing any bus as small as a solo doing it.

I noticed a Pioneer Solo on a school service in Ashton one afternoon last week and was quite surprised by it, when at the same time an Arrow was in the bus station on a 333. Yet more crazy allocating from First.

[Polo Mint]

RE: First Manchester
I have also noticed some funny route allocations, I saw a few B7/B8 operate routes 88 and 89 today. I also saw two 33 buses passing each other, one a dart and the other a Gemini.

(12/12/2012 18:43)BY37393 Wrote:  The official rule on the citaros that left Bury, told to me by a Bury driver, was that with Bury, only having a small operating budget, they are very expensive to repair, in addition Bury has a lot of Gemini B9s now due to the arrival of the enviros at Bolton and Oldham Depots, this summer. In addition oldham lost its darts, and they are supposed to be at Oldham first because it has a bigger operating budget, and of course to replace some darts. Bury have ended up with 30 odd geminis mostly from Bolton but 4 ex Oldham ones.


Geminis have been more frequently seen on the 135s due to the re starting of the bendi buses, they are acting as cover. However First Bury are reported to be swithching the 135s to B9s in February next year, and the 18 bendi's are going full time on 471S, as its said they are more efficent on the 471s than the 135S, again told to me by two drivers.


472/4 allocation is mixed consisting of B7s B9s and citaros. More B7s these days than ever same applies for 524,92,93,94 also

Thanks for your detailed post, I initially thought Bury gained the Geminis from Queens Road. The timing seemed to co-incide and I am sure Bury gained the Geminis before the Enviro400's came, but a few months back I noticed part of what appeared to be route 36's branding (little turqoise clock on destination screen) so realised at least a few were ex-Bolton.

Interesting about the 135, one of the only bendy bus routes in Manchester has made it into a bit of an icon. I wonder why it is more efficient on the 471.

Speaking of the Enviro's, have they all arrived yet as I am sure I have seen quite a few on route 8 recently. I know they are already on 36,37, 180 & 409

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester
I can imagine First taking London's examples and removing bendy buses from the city centre streets. The B9s will take a similar number of passengers to the bendies.

I believe all the Enviros are now in service, mainly on the 8, 36/37, 83, 180/184 and 409. Will occasionally appear on some other Oldham services from time to time. X84 is definitely one, as they interwork with the 83 at Manchester.

[BY37393]

RE: First Manchester

(13/12/2012 22:25)Polo Mint Wrote:  I have also noticed some funny route allocations, I saw a few B7/B8 operate routes 88 and 89 today. I also saw two 33 buses passing each other, one a dart and the other a Gemini.

(12/12/2012 18:43)BY37393 Wrote:  The official rule on the citaros that left Bury, told to me by a Bury driver, was that with Bury, only having a small operating budget, they are very expensive to repair, in addition Bury has a lot of Gemini B9s now due to the arrival of the enviros at Bolton and Oldham Depots, this summer. In addition oldham lost its darts, and they are supposed to be at Oldham first because it has a bigger operating budget, and of course to replace some darts. Bury have ended up with 30 odd geminis mostly from Bolton but 4 ex Oldham ones.


Geminis have been more frequently seen on the 135s due to the re starting of the bendi buses, they are acting as cover. However First Bury are reported to be swithching the 135s to B9s in February next year, and the 18 bendi's are going full time on 471S, as its said they are more efficent on the 471s than the 135S, again told to me by two drivers.


472/4 allocation is mixed consisting of B7s B9s and citaros. More B7s these days than ever same applies for 524,92,93,94 also

Thanks for your detailed post, I initially thought Bury gained the Geminis from Queens Road. The timing seemed to co-incide and I am sure Bury gained the Geminis before the Enviro400's came, but a few months back I noticed part of what appeared to be route 36's branding (little turqoise clock on destination screen) so realised at least a few were ex-Bolton.

Interesting about the 135, one of the only bendy bus routes in Manchester has made it into a bit of an icon. I wonder why it is more efficient on the 471.

Speaking of the Enviro's, have they all arrived yet as I am sure I have seen quite a few on route 8 recently. I know they are already on 36,37, 180 & 409

The Enviros are all over different routes in Bolton 519,571,572,501,as you say the 8s 575 etc


A further note on Bury Geminis, yes the first batch from 12 months ago arrived from Queens Road in exchange for B7s to Queens Road


37291 through to 37302 from Queens Road to Bury

37391/2/3 Oldham to Bury

Most recently

4 from Oldham 37456/62 37551/37554

Bolton 37398/9/00/01/03/04/
37417/31

Thats pretty much it

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester
37391-3 were Boltons.

Also I just noticed a purple sticker on 66859 saying 'Working in quality in partnership' or something along those lines... I thought it quite odd actually! Can anyone shed some light?

[Nicholas]

RE: First Manchester

(15/12/2012 13:25)P528LND Wrote:  Also I just noticed a purple sticker on 66859 saying 'Working in quality in partnership' or something along those lines... I thought it quite odd actually! Can anyone shed some light?

That will be advertising the voluntary Quality Bus Partnership, with operators who have signed the Code of Conduct wearing them. They can also be found on Jim Stones Coaches and Stagecoach vechicles