First Manchester

[Solo40336]

RE: First Manchester

(25/12/2017 21:10)Brickmill Wrote:  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 Yet off the top of my head Bolton have withdrawn the 18 bendis; Enviro 300 (67406 to Ipswich) and now two of the five "Blobbies", with the only replacements being 6 B7RLEs (5 of which started life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 Elsewhere, Oldham have withdrawn a handful of Solos and a couple of Citaroes, whilst Rusholme have placed more Presidents in reserve, so presumably there isn't much capacity to loan vehicles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there is to the 42 along Wilmslow Road, which could save 3, maybe 4 buses, but rather than allow more Presidents to be withdrawn, it seems that this would equate to the five Blobbies, with BN taking replacements (directly or indirectly) from Rusholme.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.....

33831 also came over from Rusholme, while one of the other Scottish buses entered service the same time as 37278 (being 37743), 32671 also came down at the same time but hasn't been on the road since it arrived.