Stagecoach Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan

(18/12/2015 12:43)stait.john@hotmail.co.uk Wrote:  It is a far cry from the Stagecoach Manchester I left in 2011, and I honestly think the Management team now is weaker than it was then. Chris Bowles is a well respected figure in the bus world and although I've not worked under him, I imagine he's a good MD, but when Mark Threapleton and Darren Roe left for London, it was like when Sir Alex left Old Trafford! My personal opinion!

New vehicles have still entered the fleet and there's been an amount of fleet replacement, and apart from the Magic fleet (which is slowly being upgraded) and Middleton, it's still a modern fleet.

The Council and TfGM have to take some responsibility for the works being carried out and their timing, but nobody could foresee the sinkholes that have appeared (apart from the fact that there are probably too many buses on certain stretches of City roads - but that could be said for many Cities now) A very difficult situation for them, and I assume First have seen a downturn in their performance too.

John

Are Stagecoach trying to create a smokescreen or is it soley down to congestion.

What I will say is as a regular user of Stagecoach services since high school in 1997 I would agree that over the last couple of years I do feel that standards have seriously dropped - and thats using services that don't run into the city centre.
Im sure Mr Bowles gave an interview to one of the trade press around this time last year after winning an award claiming it had been a difficult 12 months with congestion a real issue - this was long before the sinkholes.

Congestion has always been an issue it's never going to change. Yes TFGM and local councils do have a lot to answer for but this is surly down to good planning and communication .