First Manchester

[Brickmill]

RE: First Manchester

(25/12/2017 17:48)Solo40336 Wrote:  62231/6 are both withdrawn due to defects, been pulled earlier than planned for that reason but the rest aren't going to be around much longer.

37461 and an Enviro400 (can't remember the fleet number) are on loan from OM to BN.

First must be struggling for buses. Service wise, I don't think they reduced anything in October (a miracle in itself) and the temporary cuts to services around Moses Gate are presumably due to the increased running times needing to accomodated with exist PVR. Yet off the top of my head Bolton have withdrawn the 18 bendis; Enviro 300 (67406 to Ipswich) and now two of the five "Blobbies", with the only replacements being 6 B7RLEs (5 of which started life hereabouts); 1 B7L (66338) and two Geminis* (37278 & 37351) on "long-term loan". Elsewhere, Oldham have withdrawn a handful of Solos and a couple of Citaroes, whilst Rusholme have placed more Presidents in reserve, so presumably there isn't much capacity to loan vehicles from other depots. From what I know of January service changes, the only cut there is to the 42 along Wilmslow Road, which could save 3, maybe 4 buses, but rather than allow more Presidents to be withdrawn, it seems that this would equate to the five Blobbies, with BN taking replacements (directly or indirectly) from Rusholme.

* Two others from Scotland were also expected last Summer, but no one has confirmed they have entered service. Presumably, either the loan was cancelled or they have returned North after little or no operation here.....