(25 May 2016, 6:46 pm)Tamesider wrote I think there is some confusion over the registrations for Manchester's latest batch - over and above a late change in plans regarding the allocations! 10578/9/80 are SN16 OTS/U/V, not as listed above. Additionally, that list would mean 'OTY being 10584. However, at virtually the same time as this sighting of the bus still at the factory, "10584" was reported in service on the Wilmslow Road corridor.

A further update. The person reporting 10584 in service has since corrected their report. The sighting was 10582. This was on the 201 service yesterday evening (the first sighting of a '16 reg away from Wilmslow Road corridor services), and I can confirm it is registered SN16 OTX (not 'OTV which is 10580). It now seems certain that the ones used at Hyde Road (10578/80/2) are only on loan, whilst some of their own buses are at Wentworth, Exeter and will then be needed for the Parklife festival on 11/12th June. They will then become Ashton buses, where its reported they are intended to run 216 (in competition with Metrolink) and 330 (Ashton-Hyde-Stockport) which overall will require around 20 buses. 10579 is the only other of the batch confirmed delivered, but it is believed at least 4 more were due this weekend.