First Manchester

[thomasl1231]

RE: First Manchester
I don't know if this has been mentioned before, however the Tameside route business contains lots of inter-working now...31929 earlier went from being on a 346 to a 333, then on a 331 to a 389 (to Hyde and back) and then back onto the 346! The drivers seem to be doing short times on them too, with one driver changing before the 331 then changing again to another guy when it got to the 389 stand! :P

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(03/01/2013 09:08)P528LND Wrote:  [quote='SF07' pid='25495' dateline='1357150317']
[quote='FirstGroup' pid='25482' dateline='1357139841']

I would also like to point out that First have a year to find suitable midibuses for the 415 - the PVR of this route is about 7 or 8 now though it could be 6. I have considered the Optare Solo M950s from the Pioneer Depot though I highly doubt this as they are an asset to that fleet and I don't think the depot manager would see them leave any time soon, though needs must be.

the m950`s wont leave duki anytime soon they are perm allocated officially to 387*2 and 331/333/346/389/393*6 along with an arrow and 2 darts but darts/m950`s can swap on to ther routes such as peak 348/350 that come off school duties and normal serv such as 38/39 353/4

Mayneway Wrote:
Pioneer were using Solo's on the 348/350 last night. I was in Ashton for about 45 minutes and didn't see one B9.
I noticed an elderly lady struggling off an Arrow yesterday in Ashton which was on the 346, there was also an Olympian out but didn't catch what it was working, but given that the schools are off, surly Dukinfield has enough low floor vehicles so that the older vehicles don't have to be used?

the arrows as far as im aware at the moment on paper are here til end of school year then will be replaced with another pair of deckers we dont know the full details as this is 7 months away.as they use at least one on the runarounds (346/333/331/389) to provide capacity at school time for all saints/ astley high the other goes on any run but again is used where allocator sees fit (but can guarentee 99% of time one is on the runarounds (m-f))

the b9 werent in service the other day as they were all having something done to them but dont know full details

Posted by thomasl1231 - Today 19:03
I don't know if this has been mentioned before, however the Tameside route business contains lots of inter-working now...31929 earlier went from being on a 346 to a 333, then on a 331 to a 389 (to Hyde and back) and then back onto the 346! The drivers seem to be doing short times on them too, with one driver changing before the 331 then changing again to another guy when it got to the 389 stand!
the last duty rewrite saw some unusual changes it seems on some buses mostly about dinnertime changeover the driver has his break and jumps back on same route this happens regualry on runarounds 38/39 m-f does 6-10 10-12 12-2 then 2-6 346/333/331/389 often do one/two trips at dinner and change again. this is i think a trial the dm isdoing to try to improve running times at peak hour but i think this will change back after the rewrite at end of this month thats when im back out on the prowl for him

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester
A permanent allocation can always change, don't forget. It could only happen if something was drafted to replace them anyway.

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(03/01/2013 23:02)P528LND Wrote:  A permanent allocation can always change, don't forget. It could only happen if something was drafted to replace them anyway.

They can only upgrade thse at the moment with pass surveys done onpioneer routes pass numbers and satisfaction is up greatly on 346 389 331/3 esp with 346 with some ppl prefering firsts service to stg seeing as they run together

[M60lad]

RE: First Manchester
Interesting working last night saw Tameside Arrow 31929 operate 20:05 Ashton-Hazelhurst Circular service

[WWH44L]

RE: First Manchester
Seen a pic of 60361 (R571YNC) at Rotherham after conversation into a trainer. It's painted in the lighter lilac used in the new livery. Do we know if this and the other B10BLEs are coming back to replace the older trainers?

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(03/01/2013 23:15)james Wrote:  

(03/01/2013 23:02)P528LND Wrote:  A permanent allocation can always change, don't forget. It could only happen if something was drafted to replace them anyway.

They can only upgrade thse at the moment with pass surveys done onpioneer routes pass numbers and satisfaction is up greatly on 346 389 331/3 esp with 346 with some ppl prefering firsts service to stg seeing as they run together

I would have thought it was the other way round. A choice of a draughty old arrow or cramped Solo or nice modern Enviro200's from Stagecoach, not to mention the fact the First 346's always seem to be late compared to Stagecoach!

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(04/01/2013 11:55)Mayneway Wrote:  

(03/01/2013 23:15)james Wrote:  

(03/01/2013 23:02)P528LND Wrote:  A permanent allocation can always change, don't forget. It could only happen if something was drafted to replace them anyway.

They can only upgrade thse at the moment with pass surveys done onpioneer routes pass numbers and satisfaction is up greatly on 346 389 331/3 esp with 346 with some ppl prefering firsts service to stg seeing as they run together

I would have thought it was the other way round. A choice of a draughty old arrow or cramped Solo or nice modern Enviro200's from Stagecoach, not to mention the fact the First 346's always seem to be late compared to Stagecoach!

answer is most of the survey was old fogies/ppl on their own (lol) they prefer the m950 to stagecoach as they as a "nicer ride" and the first buses dont stop and wait time at newton and duki as stagecoach have too much running time. first often over take stagecoach half way along the route if not before. the most used comment was get more of the new buses like the b9s and new solos and get rid of the last few darts. wich the dm is trying to do

[james]

RE: First Manchester

(04/01/2013 07:12)M60lad Wrote:  Interesting working last night saw Tameside Arrow 31929 operate 20:05 Ashton-Hazelhurst Circular service

answer = driver was late off his afternoon duty so had his break at ashton rather than depot his bus was brought to him at 20.35/345 with 53148 and swapped

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester

(04/01/2013 12:49)james Wrote:  

(04/01/2013 11:55)Mayneway Wrote:  

(03/01/2013 23:15)james Wrote:  They can only upgrade thse at the moment with pass surveys done onpioneer routes pass numbers and satisfaction is up greatly on 346 389 331/3 esp with 346 with some ppl prefering firsts service to stg seeing as they run together

I would have thought it was the other way round. A choice of a draughty old arrow or cramped Solo or nice modern Enviro200's from Stagecoach, not to mention the fact the First 346's always seem to be late compared to Stagecoach!

answer is most of the survey was old fogies/ppl on their own (lol) they prefer the m950 to stagecoach as they as a "nicer ride" and the first buses dont stop and wait time at newton and duki as stagecoach have too much running time. first often over take stagecoach half way along the route if not before. the most used comment was get more of the new buses like the b9s and new solos and get rid of the last few darts. wich the dm is trying to do

Can I ask where do you source this information? It's just that you could be making it all up off the top of your head, and since most of what you are saying is in defense of First which I must say is very rare for any individual...