First Manchester

[Owl]

RE: First Manchester

(28/10/2014 23:12)M60lad Wrote:  I think tonights problems leaving Manchester up Oldham Road towards Newton Heath were the exception rather than the rule tonight as the main problem tonight was a major RTC which closed Princess Road near Mancunian Way, this had a knock on affect on the whole of the Manchester Inner Ringroad with traffic tailing back off Mancunian Way in both directions to Great Ancoats Street and beyond, no matter which direction tonight you chose to leave Manchester at rush hour tonight you were going to hit standing/slow moving traffic.

There have been problems on Olham Road in Newton Heath back to the weekend at least, as I was caught up in them on Sunday going to the tip. I saw a 24 on Lightbowne Road on Monday, so I suspect the delays will be with us for a little while yet.

[VolvoB10M]

RE: First Manchester
I have finally seen 12004. I hadn't seen it in nearly 2 years and presumed it had been scrapped until I saw it yesterday on 135 whilst I was passing through Bury interchange on my way to catching the 474. However I haven't seen 12002 since early August.

Has anyone heard 12009 recently? It doesn't sound healthy.

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester
Bit of a confusion going on tonight on the Oldham Road services.

First posted on their website and on Twitter that diversions would be put in place on the 83, 180, 184, X80 and X84 services between 1400 and 1900 with the 83 being split into two sections, both terminating at Oldham bus station, while the 180/184, X80 and X84 would be diverted via Thorp Road, Nuthurst Road and Broadway, having also considered splitting the service at Hollinwood.

However, travelling home tonight, the 83s were running to Sholver and the 184, X80 and X84 were running normal routes, although did see a B7RLE travelling down Hollins Road from Oldham operating on a 184 to Hollinwood.

Probably a case of First coming up with back-up plan in case the traffic was as bad as last night, although doesn't help passengers if they keep tweeting about a diversion that isn't in place.

From First's website:

Quote:We are sorry that our services along the Oldham Road corridor suffered extreme delays yesterday evening, which were due in part to ongoing road works on Oldham Road as well as increased traffic coming in and out of the City Centre.

To avoid a situation like yesterday, we feel we have no option but to take the following action between 1400 and 1900 today:

83 " The service will be split from Manchester to Oldham Bus Station, and from Oldham Bus Station to Sholver, and the same going Oldham to Manchester/Sholver to Oldham.

184/180/X80/X84 " diverted off Oldham Road.
Services will operate from Manchester via Thorp Road, right onto Lightbowne Road, right on to Nuthurst Road, right on to Broadway and then left back on to Oldham Road and normal route, doing the reverse going into Manchester.

We had considered splitting these services at Hollins but taking the diversion should mean delays are kept to a minimum to Mumps, where we can split services if necessary and keep drivers on stand-by if delays are bad.

Although this will mean the 184/180/X84/X80 services missing a large number of stops, the 83 will still serve those stops. We understand this will cause inconvenience to some of our customers, and we are sorry about this. We feel we have no choice but to implement the above plans in order to operate the services as reliably as we possibly can under the circumstances.

All drivers will be briefed and we will have staff on the ground throughout, coordinating services.

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/greater_...851&conf=1

[Owl]

RE: First Manchester

(29/10/2014 19:15)SF07 Wrote:  Bit of a confusion going on tonight on the Oldham Road services.

First posted on their website and on Twitter that diversions would be put in place on the 83, 180, 184, X80 and X84 services between 1400 and 1900 with the 83 being split into two sections, both terminating at Oldham bus station, while the 180/184, X80 and X84 would be diverted via Thorp Road, Nuthurst Road and Broadway, having also considered splitting the service at Hollinwood.

However, travelling home tonight, the 83s were running to Sholver and the 184, X80 and X84 were running normal routes, although did see a B7RLE travelling down Hollins Road from Oldham operating on a 184 to Hollinwood.

Probably a case of First coming up with back-up plan in case the traffic was as bad as last night, although doesn't help passengers if they keep tweeting about a diversion that isn't in place.

From First's website:


http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/greater_...851&conf=1

The traffic last night was nowhere near as bad as the night before, even though City were at home. I didn't see any of the services using the alternative route, so perhaps a late decison was made to stick to the original routes.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester
Seemed like chaos in Ashton this lunchtime as far as First were concerned. 350's seemed to come into Ashton in pairs with the Pioneer Micklehurst vehicles using the stand while Streetlite 47470, now apparently working out of Oldham depot used the 346 stand to the annoyance of many passengers it seemed. 47470 still carried Pioneer legals but displayed a 'on hire to First Manchester' sticker in the window next to the door (similar to what the Finglands buses carried after takeover). I'm pressuming the Streetlites that have moved to OM are used on other OM services hence the on hire notices.

At least one of the Rusholme President Tridents is being used by Pioneer (I think) on the 348 with First Manchester legals yet carrying a paper notice saying 'on hire to First Pioneer'. No working Blinds just bits of paper with '348' in the window. Confused? I am

Is it just me or do First seem to be going backwards at the moment?

[R557 ABA]

RE: First Manchester
Articulated OmniCity 12005 is sporting makeshift blinds and an LED display at the minute due to the LED display being a bit temperamental, has it been like that for long?

Here's a photo... http://www.facebook.com/tnwbb/photos/a.2...304574958/

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(22/10/2014 19:42)M60lad Wrote:  Yes First Manchester's operational fleet should now be 100% low-floor as the last Olympian at Ashton was apparently withdrawn after service yesterday

Also newer minibuses are apparently on the way as a Christmas Present to replace some of the older Solos in the fleet according to the Tweet the Manager session this afternoon

For historic reasons I am now glad I rode a Pioneer Olympian in July, as this will have been the last summer we could ride one.

Yesterday, just before 8pm, I saw an E40D just south of Manchester on route 41 heading for West Didsbury. I therefore wonder whether some or many West Didsbury - Eccles journeys are covered by E40Ds rather than Streetlites?

[VolvoB10M]

RE: First Manchester

(01/11/2014 20:47)R557 ABA Wrote:  Articulated OmniCity 12005 is sporting makeshift blinds and an LED display at the minute due to the LED display being a bit temperamental, has it been like that for long?

Here's a photo... http://www.facebook.com/tnwbb/photos/a.2...304574958/

That looks hilarious.

[M60lad]

RE: First Manchester
Not sure if its been reported but 40403 is back in service at Ashton Depot and has been on variou services this week including an afternoon duty on 350 to Oldham and back.

Also today Oldham's output on 350 seemed to be a mixture of Enviro300s, Streetlites and Gemini B9s.

58s seemed to be a mixture as well today with Enviro300, B9s & B7s all noted in service

Due to Enviro300s being on odd routes today a couple of 81/81As had more deckers than normal allocated today

[VolvoB10M]

RE: First Manchester

(01/11/2014 22:54)M60lad Wrote:  Not sure if its been reported but 40403 is back in service at Ashton Depot and has been on variou services this week including an afternoon duty on 350 to Oldham and back.

It can never die. Is it the last one standing?