Stagecoach Manchester

[P528LND]

RE: Stagecoach Manchester

(17/07/2012 05:21)ace Wrote:  

(17/07/2012 04:26)P528LND Wrote:  

(16/07/2012 21:50)ace Wrote:  And after the Olympics Stagecoach will be putting 10 brand new buses on the route. Now let's see First follow suit on that one!

Ahem, erm, Oldham depot are to recieve 50 new deckers after the Olympics, and I think most are earmarked for the 83/180/184...

As for this Route 50 - Will this be the end of the Route 9? Last I heard it was a TfGM tender, however if the route is followed identically by a commercial operation, there will be no need for it will there?

So we can assume then that 40 of these will be State of the Art Hybrids worth over £250k each can we? And that they will compliment their existing stock of 50 hybrids, oh sorry, First don't have any Hybrids yet do they? Oh dear, lol.
Well at least they can console themselves knowing they match Stagecoach in every area with new buses, a fleet of over 400 Enviro's built over 6 years, oh, maybe not that many for First, oh dear!
And what are all those R, S and T reg's still on the road? Most of Stagecoach's left service years ago, and are now only in temporary service during the Olympics.
Still, look on the bright side. First will have a healthy looking museum when the Olympics are over, lol.

From what I've heard it will see off most, if not all P-T reg vehicles in Manchester. And yes, they may not be Hybrids, (that's a different argument altogether anyway) but nevertheless they are still new buses.

First do have the 14 hybrids at Queens Road, but I admit they don't come close to those Stagecoach are operating. However that all boils down to an operator's preference - if First don't want to buy Hybrids, they are completely in their right not to do so!

(No, I am not a First 'fanboy' however someone has to defend them where needed, don't they...)

Meanwhile FirstGroup provide a diabolical service, charge extautionate fares, and you can guarantee that at least one bus allocated to your route is over 10 years old. All in all, I do agree that they do not come close to the likes of Stagecoach when providing astounding passenger services at decent prices.