(20 Feb 2019, 8:56 am)Kuyoyo wrote For anyone wonder, here's the most up-to-date Fleetlist for First Manchester I can find - in the drop-down box, select 'Manchester' for Queens Road's allocation
http://www.quack77.uk/fleetlists/fleet.php?ownerid=8

This list is good enough to assess the age profile, but it shows yet a third version of where the E400s transferred from Rusholme ended up - simply all the even numbers (33842/4/6/8) have now been quoted at both Bolton and Oldham.  Slightly more significant is that the closure of Rusholme should have seen a net increase in Queens Road PVR of about  16 to work the 53 and Manchester-Sale section of the 41. However, only about 8 buses have been reported coming in from Oldham (who received the 10 Streetlites as well as 4 or 5 E400s, and nothing from Bolton. This suggests a works swap from Queens to both those depots back on 27th January, despite reports that Bolton depot is seriously short of drivers!

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(19 Feb 2019, 9:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote I believe First took over the lease from Finglands. So presumably another party owns the site.

Its been mentioned locally that the Rusholme site has been or is being disposed of for Redevelopment. Student Flats was mentioned, but that might just be a logical guess given the location.

(21 Feb 2019, 5:40 pm)Tamesider wrote This list is good enough to assess the age profile, but it shows yet a third version of where the E400s transferred from Rusholme ended up - simply all the even numbers (33842/4/6/8) have now been quoted at both Bolton and Oldham.  Slightly more significant is that the closure of Rusholme should have seen a net increase in Queens Road PVR of about  16 to work the 53 and Manchester-Sale section of the 41. However, only about 8 buses have been reported coming in from Oldham (who received the 10 Streetlites as well as 4 or 5 E400s, and nothing from Bolton. This suggests a works swap from Queens to both those depots back on 27th January, despite reports that Bolton depot is seriously short of drivers!

---

 
Its been mentioned locally that the Rusholme site has been or is being disposed of for Redevelopment. Student Flats was mentioned, but that might just be a logical guess given the location. 

I think the original plan was to sell Rusholme and move to Queens Road. 
Sure there were union consultations about it last year. 
Guessing this is all off now, following the takeover deal.

Afternoon all,

I'm one of these drivers caught up in the First Manchester carve-up (and a North Easterner born and bred, which has led me to here!)

I'm not at Queens Road, but knowing of the sterling work that GNE have done over the years I'm contemplating a transfer to QS in time for the Go Ahead to take over. It's a horrible feeling across all the depots at the moment and morale is so low you'll need to dig for it! First have unfortunately neglected to invest in anything which as someone quite rightly said, has created a 'toxic' brand. When I come back to visit family and friends, I really get 'bus evny', even a knackered 2006 plate ALX300 Stagecoach are still trundling around are in better nick than First's kit!

Anyway, onto my question - do Go Ahead staff (and spouse) passes get you on all Go Ahead services or just ones in your local OpCo? I know Go Ahead allow for a lot of autonomy within their OpCos, just interested if that goes for their Staff Passes.

Cheers, and feel free to ask me anything from this absolute mess in the North West!

GB

(22 Feb 2019, 3:36 pm)geordiebri wrote Afternoon all,

I'm one of these drivers caught up in the First Manchester carve-up (and a North Easterner born and bred, which has led me to here!)

I'm not at Queens Road, but knowing of the sterling work that GNE have done over the years I'm contemplating a transfer to QS in time for the Go Ahead to take over. It's a horrible feeling across all the depots at the moment and morale is so low you'll need to dig for it! First have unfortunately neglected to invest in anything which as someone quite rightly said, has created a 'toxic' brand. When I come back to visit family and friends, I really get 'bus evny', even a knackered 2006 plate ALX300 Stagecoach are still trundling around are in better nick than First's kit!

Anyway, onto my question - do Go Ahead staff (and spouse) passes get you on all Go Ahead services or just ones in your local OpCo? I know Go Ahead allow for a lot of autonomy within their OpCos, just interested if that goes for their Staff Passes.

Cheers, and feel free to ask me anything from this absolute mess in the North West!

GB

Go-Ahead staff passes are valid on all operating companies outside of London.

Welcome to the family...maybe!

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

(22 Feb 2019, 6:28 pm)Dan wrote Go-Ahead staff passes are valid on all operating companies outside of London.

Welcome to the family...maybe!

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Cheers Dan, similar to what First do by the sounds of it. I'm also thinking about the long game if I make a more permanent return to the homeland - it'll be a lot easier to get a transfer than go in as a newbie!

GB

(21 Feb 2019, 9:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote I think the original plan was to sell Rusholme and move to Queens Road. 
Sure there were union consultations about it last year. 
Guessing this is all off now, following the takeover deal.

Possibly talking at cross purposes here. First *did* vacate Rusholme on 28 January with all remaining work (basically revised 41 from Middleton/NMGH through Manchester, down Wilmslow Road to Sale) and 53 (run by Queens exclusively between 1991 - or earlier - and 2014). There has been no suggestion locally that Rusholme will be resurrected  as a First or rather GA depot, although one rumour is that an existing independant might move in.

The fleet details query was simply that the figures don't add up, following the vacation of Rusholme.

(22 Feb 2019, 8:39 pm)Tamesider wrote Possibly talking at cross purposes here. First *did* vacate Rusholme on 28 January with all remaining work (basically revised 41 from Middleton/NMGH through Manchester, down Wilmslow Road to Sale) and 53 (run by Queens exclusively between 1991 - or earlier - and 2014). There has been no suggestion locally that Rusholme will be resurrected  as a First or rather GA depot, although one rumour is that an existing independant might move in. 

The fleet details query was simply that the figures don't add up, following the vacation of Rusholme.

Yes, the end of Jan was always the date discussed. However Queens Road was mooted as a replacement (full or part) for Rusholme.

(26 Feb 2019, 10:38 am)Andreos1 wrote Yes, the end of Jan was always the date discussed. However Queens Road was mooted as a replacement (full or part) for Rusholme.

To further clarify - as I put the brackets in the wrong places - Queens took over both 41 & 53, Rusholme's only remaining work, with a PVR of 16 buses (joining up 41/42 effectively reduced PVR by 1). For this work, 4 B9TLs and (from memory) 9 B7RLEs have come from Oldham, thus leaving Queens about 4 buses short. In return Oldham received all 10 Streetlites and 4 or 5 E400s, with the remaining 4 E400s going to Bolton. Its not clear why Bolton have these extra buses, as they reportedly have a severe driver shortage and their January service changes resulted in a "break even" or 1 bus reduction in PVR.

Arriva North West are the first division to receive new-style next stop display screens on the Sapphire services. Photo courtesy of Kieron Jones.

Go North West's Twitter account has now been set up, along with their website
https://twitter.com/gnwbus/
http://www.gonorthwest.co.uk/

Appears to follow the general style of Go North East with an altered colour scheme.

(10 May 2019, 4:05 pm)S813 FVK wrote Go North West's Twitter account has now been set up, along with their website
https://twitter.com/gnwbus/
http://www.gonorthwest.co.uk/

Appears to follow the general style of Go North East with an altered colour scheme.

New livery on an ex First Manchester vehicles

https://twitter.com/gnwbus/status/1135063494699565058

(02 Jun 2019, 8:33 am)citaro5284 wrote

New livery on an ex First Manchester vehicles

https://twitter.com/gnwbus/status/1135063494699565058

Is there any plans for new vehicles for Go North West?

(09 Jun 2019, 12:12 pm)Malarkey wrote Is there any plans for new vehicles for Go North West?

Info from a Go North West Facebook group:

Fleet Update:

All 14 Volvo B5 Hybrids 39207 - 39220 are to be fully refurbished internally & externally the first (39219) left Queens Road on 4th June.

7 Enviro 200’s have been purchased from the London operations and are currently at Plaxton for livery application and partial refurbishment. All of which are also having a front suspension modification carried out in line with DVSAs recommendation.

Both the B5LH & 7 Enviro 200’s are due back at Queens Road by June 30th (Latest)

Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 33841 (SN14TTE) is the first bus repainted and refreshed internally, due to hit the road imminently.

Also some Eclipse 2s earmarked to transfer up from Plymouth Citybus when they receive new buses later in the year

The B5LH refurbishments are being done by Thorntons, so might not necessarily need to go all the way to Manchester to catch those.

I was hoping something new was on order as I am sure they have some 05/55 reg B7RLE's of a similar age to the ones Go North East have sold to them for Driver Training

(09 Jun 2019, 1:22 pm)Malarkey wrote I was hoping something new was on order as I am sure they have some 05/55 reg B7RLE's of a similar age to the ones Go North East have sold to them for Driver Training

Quite a few

http://www.ukbuses.co.uk/fleet/gnw.pdf

(09 Jun 2019, 1:48 pm)NewcastleOne wrote

Quite a few

http://www.ukbuses.co.uk/fleet/gnw.pdf

Quite an ageing fleet of buses right there.

(09 Jun 2019, 4:19 pm)Malarkey wrote

Quite an ageing fleet of buses right there.

Agreed with the Urbans many will soon need to leave. I expect the Gemini’s 07/58s to be around for while longer. GNW by the sounds have already enquired 16 Single Deckers to Replace(?) some of the oldest urbans. Time will tell.

First set of Go North West changes have appeared:

PC2021320/13 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Manchester to Bury via Cheetham Hill, Whitefield
Service number: 135 (135)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/11 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Manchester to Bury via Lower Broughton, Whitefield, Radcliffe
Service number: 98 (98)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/9 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Bury to Salford Shopping Centre via Unsworth, Prestwich, Carr Clough
Service number: 95 (95)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/6 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Cheetham Hill to Salford
Service number: 53 (53)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/5 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Failsworth to intu Trafford Centre via Cheetham Hill, Salford Shopping Ctr, Eccles
Service number: 52 (52)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/1 Variation
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Rochdale to Manchester via Middleton
Service number: 17 17A (17, 17A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

(12 Jun 2019, 5:39 pm)Michael wrote First set of Go North West changes have appeared:

PC2021320/13 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Manchester to Bury via Cheetham Hill, Whitefield
Service number: 135 (135)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/11 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Manchester to Bury via Lower Broughton, Whitefield, Radcliffe
Service number: 98 (98)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/9 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Bury to Salford Shopping Centre via Unsworth, Prestwich, Carr Clough
Service number: 95 (95)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/6 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Cheetham Hill to Salford
Service number: 53 (53)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/5 Registered
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Failsworth to intu Trafford Centre via Cheetham Hill, Salford Shopping Ctr, Eccles
Service number: 52 (52)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

PC2021320/1 Variation
GO NORTH WEST LIMITED
Route: Rochdale to Manchester via Middleton
Service number: 17 17A (17, 17A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 21 Jul 2019

These will be Summer period timetables when congestion is less in the city and buses generally leave the terminals on time but have quicker journey times to get to their destination.

First and Stagecoach have done this in Greater Manchester for some years now.

Go North West have increased their VA by 20:


GO NORTH WEST LIMITED

Director(s): DAVID ALLEN BROWN, ELODIE BRIAN  4 MATTHEW PARKER STREET, Go-Ahead Group PLC, LONDON, SW1H 9NP

Increase at existing operating centre: QUEENS ROAD DEPOT, QUEENS ROAD, MANCHESTER, M8 8UT

New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 185 vehicle(s) 

GNW bought 163 buses from First as part of the deal plus a number of TfGM owned YSB and city centre FreeBuses so this increase was expected.

Still no sight of a full list of what has been taken over.   One list circulating shows ex First trainers still at QS - plus a bus in Oldham Corporation livery - this was repainted over two years ago back into First livery

(14 Jun 2019, 6:53 am)Tim33160 wrote

Still no sight of a full list of what has been taken over.   One list circulating shows ex First trainers still at QS - plus a bus in Oldham Corporation livery - this was repainted over two years ago back into First livery

Here's a full, confirmed, list.

68x Volvo B9TL 

37279 - 37290

37297

37301/03/04

37367 - 37382

37386/89

37390 - 37395

37397 - 37402

37404/09/11/13/14

37420/21/23/24/33/36/38/39

37440 - 37442

37452

37462 - 37466

14x Volvo B5 Hybrid

39207 - 39220

12x Optare Versa Hybrid

49101/2

49106 - 49112

49921 - 49923

3x Optare Versa (schools)

49230 - 49232

1x Optare Solo

59001

9x ADL Enviro400

33841/44/46/47/48/50/51/53/55

10x Streetlite

63147 - 63156

60x Volvo B7RLE

66831 - 66836

66844

66853 - 66859

66862

66866 - 66869

66871/74/75/76

66890/91/93/96/97/98

66902/08

66910 - 66913

66915

66920/22/23/28/29

66931/33

69176/77/79/85/95/96/97/99

69200/03/04/05

69325/26/27/28

69420

2x Training Volvo B7RLE

4979

4982

1x Reserve/Scrap

30962

(14 Jun 2019, 7:08 am)Dan wrote

Here's a full, confirmed, list.

68x Volvo B9TL 

37279 - 37290

37297

37301/03/04

37367 - 37382

37386/89

37390 - 37395

37397 - 37402

37404/09/11/13/14

37420/21/23/24/33/36/38/39

37440 - 37442

37452

37462 - 37466

14x Volvo B5 Hybrid

39207 - 39220

12x Optare Versa Hybrid

49101/2

49106 - 49112

49921 - 49923

3x Optare Versa (schools)

49230 - 49232

1x Optare Solo

59001

9x ADL Enviro400

33841/44/46/47/48/50/51/53/55

10x Streetlite

63147 - 63156

60x Volvo B7RLE

66831 - 66836

66844

66853 - 66859

66862

66866 - 66869

66871/74/75/76

66890/91/93/96/97/98

66902/08

66910 - 66913

66915

66920/22/23/28/29

66931/33

69176/77/79/85/95/96/97/99

69200/03/04/05

69325/26/27/28

69420

2x Training Volvo B7RLE

4979

4982

1x Reserve/Scrap

30962

Cheers!

Developments in Manchester...

Greater Manchester mayor's plan to take control of buses
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma...r-48744234

(24 Jun 2019, 4:45 pm)Adrian wrote Developments in Manchester...

Greater Manchester mayor's plan to take control of buses
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma...r-48744234

https://t.co/GoYTjUT5uy?amp=1

More on it here.

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidla...cquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

(27 Jun 2019, 8:18 am)RBZ 5459 wrote

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidla...cquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

I imagine First will use the generally mid-life former Bolton fleet as a bank of vehicles for fleet replacement across their nationwide operations for the next couple of years, excusing them from major investment during their detachment of UK bus.

The further fracturing of the GM network into more operators will likely play into the hands of those in favour of bus franchising in Manchester.

Is it more operators though? Rotala already operate a sizeable operation across north Manchester

(28 Jun 2019, 10:27 am)tyresmoke wrote Is it more operators though? Rotala already operate a sizeable operation across north Manchester

I’d say so. 5 years ago the operator split of GM was straightforward, First in the north and Stagecoach in the south. Working east from Wigan we now have Stagecoach, Rotala, Transdev Rosso, Go North West and First networks interweaving.

First had created a hub and spoke network with local services feeding into the towns where mainline services would take passengers between towns or into Manchester. We’re now in the situation where the town network and the mainline route are ran by different operators. Naturally each new operator will now evolve their network focused on their local operation, rather than the regional scale First once had.

In GM I think things will get worse for the passenger before they get better. Stand around Piccadilly in a few months and you’ll see E400s all looking the same in Olympia livery but you’ll have to look harder to spot a logo to see whether it’s a First, GNW or DBNW bus.

(27 Jun 2019, 8:18 am)RBZ 5459 wrote

Bolton Depot purchased by Rotala: http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidla...cquisition

Interestingly from Rotala's press release the vehicles will only be leased for two years, being replaced and returned to First by end of June 2021.

Which buses have they leased from First?, don't really know the company so not sure what Rotala has leased.

(28 Jun 2019, 6:32 pm)Michael wrote Which buses have they leased from First?, don't really know the company so not sure what Rotala has leased.

Bolton has most of the B7RLEs left at FGM not all Urbans but all Urban 2s are based there. They also have a mix of 12/14 reg E400s with most of the 14 Regs. Along with some B9TLs, 1 57,lots of 58/09 Regs and the 2 12 Reg Gemini 2s.

They also have based the Vantage Gemini 3s but are not Included in the sale.

That’s just the allocation at the moment so it could change depending on what they are leasing.