(02 Nov 2022, 3:09 pm)toward6931 wrote although let's not forget that stagecoach GREATER MANCHESTER as a division is probably around 4-5 times larger than SNE, the stagecoach Manchester subdivision (if memory serves me correct is alone 2-3 times bigger than SNE) has the electrics and a lot of MMCs, i believe the 250 plus 2008 E400s are in the wigan, Salford and Oldham subdivisions which aren't as profitable and aren't as busy.Greater Manchester's new look buses revealed | News - Hits Radio (Manchester) (planetradio.co.uk) looks like wigan and Bolton are the first areas for the franchised services with new buses revealed by (I believe the local authority own the buses with operators driving them), potentially some of the 2008 E400s will be cascaded.
Manchester as a whole is going the way of london where gradually everything is controlled by a local authority PTE so some routes may be retendered
https://www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.u...ty-region/
liverpool also getting hydrogen buses "It is planned that the buses will initially serve the region’s busiest route – the 10A between St Helens and Liverpool city centre, jointly operated by operators Arriva and Stagecoach."