Manchester bus franchising

[CUL 73V]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(29/06/2023 23:50)Mrboo Wrote:  There always going to be the first buyer and most likely there was a good deal put on the table for being the first to order. 3 months is not really a big deal as they will just hire in buses if needs be and the warranty will pay for it. The LTs had issues in London when new. Metrobus in Crawley have just started to use their 20 Wright Hydroliner fleet and am sure they will have bugs in their buses.

Of course there is a first buyer. But, a demonstrator vehicle should have been extensively tested to see if it was actually up to the required standard. Clearly, it isn't.

In what world is it acceptable or "not a big deal" for a fleet of buses, especially one purchased with taxpayer money, to be delivered in a condition where they aren't ready to enter service for another three months? I think you'll find that is very much a big deal.

[Mrboo]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
With less than a month to go it has not been confirmed yet if staff get free travel. As it a bus company benefit and as the services are not inhouse anymore it upto TFGM if they will allow free travel.

[SF07]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Most of the services coming under the Bee Network later this month now have timetables available on the TfGM website, under the Bus Service Changes page.

The notable changes:

• 3/4: Monday-Saturday evening and Sunday daytime journeys increased with the last journey departing Wigan after midnight on service 4 (0040 Mon-Sat, 0015 Sun)
• 7 Wigan: Additional early morning and evening journeys with last departures after midnight (0015 Mon-Sat, 0017 Sun from Bolton; 0015 Sun, 0035 to Westhoughton Mon-Sat from Wigan)
• 8 Bolton: Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 12 minutes. Manchester terminus reverts back to Shudehill Interchange.
• 8 Wigan: Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 30 minutes. Additional early morning and evening journeys with last departure from Wigan after midnight (0035 Mon-Sat, 0010 to Hindley on Sundays)
• 9: Monday-Saturday evening frequency increased to every 30 minutes. Additional early morning and evening journeys with last departure from Wigan after midnight (0038 Mon-Sat, 0038 Sun)
• 10 Manchester: Additional early morning and evening journeys with last departure from Manchester at 2350.
• 10/10A Wigan: Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 12 minutes. Additional early morning and evening journeys with last departure from Wigan after midnight (Midnight to Leigh and 0035 to Ashton-in-Makerfield Mon-Sat, 0025 to Leigh on Sundays)
• 34/34A Manchester: All journeys re-numbered 35 (avoids confusion with Arriva Merseyside service 34 between Leigh and St Helens)
• 36/37: Both services increased to every 12 minutes weekday daytime (6 minutes combined) and every 20 minutes Sunday daytime (10 minutes combined).
• 163: Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 12 minutes.
• 362: Early morning journeys from Standish to Wigan introduced. Last departure from Wigan now after midnight (0035 to Standish Mon-Sat, 0015 to Standish Sundays)
• 471: Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 20 minutes. Additional late evening journeys with last departure from Bolton to Rochdale at midnight and last departure from Rochdale at 0100 Mon-Sat (midnight Sundays).
• 472/474: Additional early morning and evening journeys introduced with last departure from Bury after midnight (midnight 474 full route, 0020 472 full route, 0040 474 Bury-Ramsbottom only)
• 501: Monday-Saturday evening frequency increased to half-hourly.
• 524: Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 12 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 20 minutes. Evening journeys increased to every 30 minutes. Last departure from Bolton is now 2345 and from Bury at midnight.
• 534: Additional early morning journeys introduced. Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 30 minutes.
• 561/562: Additional early morning and evening journeys introduced with last departure from Bolton after midnight (0001 full circular)
• 575/576: Bolton-Wigan (575) and Bolton-Horwich (576) re-timed to run an balanced frequency between Bolton and Horwich (every 10 minutes Mon-Sat daytime, every 15 minutes Sunday daytime, every 30 minutes evenings). Last departure from Bolton now after midnight (0005 to Horwich)
• 582: Monday-Saturday daytime frequency increased to every 12 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency increased to every 20 minutes. Last departure from Bolton now at midnight.
• V1/V2/V4: Services V1/V2 are re-timed to every 15 minutes each Monday-Saturday daytime (7/8 minutes combined), every 30 minutes each Monday-Saturday evenings and Sunday daytime (every 15 minutes combined). Sunday evening journeys will run every 30 minutes between Leigh and MRI (V1) and Atherton and Tyldesley (V2). Service V4 is restored at peak times between Newearth and Manchester/MRI.
  

https://tfgm.com/public-transport/bus/service-changes

[MTL0201]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
TfGM have put the wrong 34 in, they've shown the Arriva 34 St Helens-Leigh which is not changing, & not Stagecoach 34 Bryn/Leigh-Manchester, which is changing, but do have the correct timetable link for the new 35

Also 575/576 the have the wrong ultimate destinations in the timetable, they've listed the 575 Bolton-Horwich & 576 Bolton-Wigan.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93idf4j...C-0524.pdf

[Mrboo]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
The Diesel generators have turned up to provide power to charge the buses up at Bolton. So very green buses for the locals. But they want them out on day 1 over waiting for the power supply to be installed.

[EDB325]

RE: Manchester bus franchtising

(05/09/2023 17:23)Mrboo Wrote:  The Diesel generators have turned up to provide power to charge the buses up at Bolton. So very green buses for the locals. But they want them out on day 1 over waiting for the power supply to be installed.

It's Harrogate all over again, but on a considerably larger scale.

[Scania3379man]

RE: Manchester bus franchising
Route 1/2 and 5/6, and 132, is missing as well as i don't know why, any idea?

thanks
Martyn

(05/09/2023 03:53)MTL0201 Wrote:  TfGM have put the wrong 34 in, they've shown the Arriva 34 St Helens-Leigh which is not changing, & not Stagecoach 34 Bryn/Leigh-Manchester, which is changing, but do have the correct timetable link for the new 35

Also 575/576 the have the wrong ultimate destinations in the timetable, they've listed the 575 Bolton-Horwich & 576 Bolton-Wigan.

https://assets.ctfassets.net/nv7y93idf4j...C-0524.pdf

[GMBuses North]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(05/09/2023 17:23)Mrboo Wrote:  The Diesel generators have turned up to provide power to charge the buses up at Bolton. So very green buses for the locals. But they want them out on day 1 over waiting for the power supply to be installed.

That's not quite the full story but that clearly doesn't matter with your "anti-franchise" views...

They are firstly oil powered, rather than specifically diesel (but that's a minor oversight) they are also here for test purposes and to provide backup for two very good reasons.

One: As its all new build equipment, faults can occur early on.
Two: Thanks to the incumbent operator making an absolute hatchet job of things, the whole project is seriously behind schedule. The PVR for takeover week includes the new electric Enviro400s. Do you suppose GNW just pull 50 buses out of thin air or drop many journeys (which you'd no doubt love) "over waiting for the power supply"..?

Why not just see how the next 5 years pan out before passing judgement eh?

[Barney]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(06/09/2023 11:52)GMBuses North Wrote:  That's not quite the full story but that clearly doesn't matter with your "anti-franchise" views...

They are firstly oil powered, rather than specifically diesel (but that's a minor oversight) they are also here for test purposes and to provide backup for two very good reasons.

One: As its all new build equipment, faults can occur early on.
Two: Thanks to the incumbent operator making an absolute hatchet job of things, the whole project is seriously behind schedule. The PVR for takeover week includes the new electric Enviro400s. Do you suppose GNW just pull 50 buses out of thin air or drop many journeys (which you'd no doubt love) "over waiting for the power supply"..?

Why not just see how the next 5 years pan out before passing judgement eh?

I agree. For those of us with long memories we remember the total chaos that ensued following deregulation.

Operators intent on making a fast buck came and went overnight whilst journeys were dropped without notice (the internet and smart phones only existed in episodes of Star Trek in the 1980s) and routes and timetables changed constantly to the point that printed timetables were often obsolete before the proposed service ever ran.

Franchising is a massive step - some may even say that it is massive gamble - but it needs a reasonable timeframe, possibly as much as five years, before the doubters can say: "I told you so."

[Mrboo]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(06/09/2023 11:52)GMBuses North Wrote:  That's not quite the full story but that clearly doesn't matter with your "anti-franchise" views...

They are firstly oil powered, rather than specifically diesel (but that's a minor oversight) they are also here for test purposes and to provide backup for two very good reasons.

One: As its all new build equipment, faults can occur early on.
Two: Thanks to the incumbent operator making an absolute hatchet job of things, the whole project is seriously behind schedule. The PVR for takeover week includes the new electric Enviro400s. Do you suppose GNW just pull 50 buses out of thin air or drop many journeys (which you'd no doubt love) "over waiting for the power supply"..?

Why not just see how the next 5 years pan out before passing judgement eh?

Oil is just Bi Diesel. and who says I am Anti franchise? and the 50 buses should never of been planned to be needed from day 1. and we was able to get the buses for Bournemouth so GNW could get 50 buses from other units if needed for short term. We dont have backups at our depots. and you would think they order buses and order the power supply at same time. it takes longer to tender and order 50 buses and have the, delivered.