(10/10/2014 22:40)Mayneway Wrote:  I'm the same I much prefer the older vehicles myself but since the Finglands/First takeover the magic bus concept has been blown out of the water somewhat. Both Magic bus and First are offering £1 flat fares on the student routes the only difference being First are using brand new buses where as the youngest Magic bus is 2002 (2004 on the 141).

I've said before but there's no reason why magic tickets carnt still be sold on certain services but is the actual blue exterior branding actually needed?

(10/10/2014 23:08)Wright Eclipse Wrote:  I Wonder if Stagecoach might look into maybe,instead of a full blue livery for Magic Bus,branding similar to 38/76 branding on normal livery,maybe use newer Tridents or Early Enviro 400s fitted with WIFI (also i thought the youngest Magic Buses altogether was the 2003 Presidents)

one thing,at Peak times Stagecoach seem to provide a more frequent service to firstbus (it seems you`ll see a 142 to Parrs Wood every 2 Min then you`ll see a Short Working 142 less than a minute after a Parrs Wood Working,then 143 seems to be also every 5 min or less - Seriously what is ment to be the frequency of these routes?!) while firstbus seems to only be around every 10 mins (in pairs) so im guessing that will work more to Stagecoach`s Advantage.

another thing ive been wondering is,once this £1 offer finishes,what will be the standard firstbus single be? i`d put money on it being higher than Magic bus to help pay for all them nice new buses.

(11/10/2014 09:09)Dentonian Wrote:  I think the 142/143 is nominally every 5 minutes each for most of the day. The newest "141" bus is a 52 reg - or will be when it gets off the pits at Daw Bank - so early 2003 at the latest.

The longer the £1 flat fare continues with the level of operational cost put in by both operators. We know in theory that cross-subsidisation is illegal (I think "evil" was the word Ridley/Thatcher used), but I can't help feeling that it will lead to higher fares on "standard" routes, where the vast majority of journeys are at least £2.30.

I'm no expert on pollution, but the improvements in emissions from bus engines/exhausts have gone very much under the radar in recent decades, so I would be surprised if an '07 registration Enviro400 isn't quite a lot "greener" than a 1999 Trident.

However, I think "B10M's" definition of "style" is different to mine - although at least he/she didn't use the word "comfort". There is nothing comfortable about modern buses, with their hard plastic seats thinly disguised by a millimetre of moquette or "e-leather".

(11/10/2014 06:22)M60lad Wrote:  Interesting/odd working last night was the sight of a MAN heading through Rusholme at about 20:05 on a 42 to Stockport with a Hybrid not far behind on 42 turnback to East Didsbury.

Also 17499,17500 and what I think is both of the Spectra's were out on Magic 142s last night as well.

Another odd working seemed to be 10031 doing 19:00 33 Wigan-Manchester and 20:25 33 Manchester-Wigan, these days 33s seems to be wall to wall Enviro200 or Enviro300s.

Something to look out for shortly is a FM31 a Wright Meridian MAN from Ferrymill Motors which is currently parked up in the yard at HE complete with assault screen and ticket machine according to a friend of mine apparently covering for a vehicle that's away for accident repair (not to sure which one though)

(11/10/2014 10:48)james Wrote:  fm 31 will 99% go to middleton to cover 17006 at a guess. i have seen a pic at back of he depot with 78 oldham (op by mn) and 17006 had its unfortunate greeting with a jcb arm a few weeks back that is the only accident one i know of

(11/10/2014 11:49)Mayneway Wrote:  17006 has been in service since the accident. Looking at the photos on the MEN website it looked like nothing more than a smashed window. I'm sure I've seen it on Hyde road services this week.

Is the MAN that crashed into shops in Glossop back and in service yet?

(11/10/2014 13:28)joe_alker Wrote:  Dunno about the MAN but I've travelled on 17006 last week.

(11/10/2014 16:09)Mayneway Wrote:  Was it on Hyde road services Joe? I'm sure I travelled on 17006 on the 169 during the week.

(11/10/2014 09:09)Dentonian Wrote:  I think "B10M's" definition of "style" is different to mine - although at least he/she didn't use the word "comfort". There is nothing comfortable about modern buses, with their hard plastic seats thinly disguised by a millimetre of moquette or "e-leather".