TRANSPORT | General (Non Metrolink)

[Mwmbwls]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

I have been hearing murmurings of Northern exchanging some of its existing EMU's with London Midland to get a more unified fleet. Its currently got about 40 electric trains but in four different classes with the 321 and 322's in particular being micro fleets.

Coalescing microfleets makes sense in terms of rationalising the engineering logistics of ageing vehicles - centralised parts holdings, christmas tree parts etc. - hence why Northern operates so many Pacers. Are there any major compatability issuses between the West Yorkshire and the London Midland fleets.

[WatcherZero]

Commercial close terms on Thameslink contract with Siemens have just been agreed by both parties and are now being put in contract form, expected to be completed by this Friday. Then its off to the banks to get approval for financial close in the new year.

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Commercial close terms on Thameslink contract with Siemens have just been agreed by both parties and are now being put in contract form, expected to be completed by this Friday. Then its off to the banks to get approval for financial close in the new year.

Where's this coming from?

EDIT: just seen the Guardian report. Better reporting from them but still shows the unbalanced nature they've done in the past with a MP who attacks Government for not thinking in the national interest yet fails to see he'd ensure temporary reward for Bombardier and suffering long term to others. Selfish and quietly frankly attempting blackmail.

[WatcherZero]

Recieved my annual invite to the budget meeting.

(copy of invite letter)
http://www.transportforgreatermanche...3_january_2013

Always fun what questions certain local groups ask or rather opinions expressed. Any of you regulars going?

[WatcherZero]

Also, briefing by BTP.

http://www.transportforgreatermanche...3_january_2013

Of note their considering opening police stations in Manchester Victoria, Conway Park and Bolton.

This could lead to the funny possibility of the Southport line becoming BTP central, police stations in Southport, Wigan, Bolton, Man Vic :P

[Motortownman]

There's going to be some changes made to Stagecoach bues in Manchester in January, mainly to improve reliability.

Of interest is that there are to be more journeys to mediacity on the 50 during the morning peak. Presumably, it's just some of the short routes to Salford Central that are being extended.

I'm also trying to find out more about the Goodwins/263 thing. Although nobody seems to know anything, they also can't find out either what the large amount of brand new long single deckers are for.

[markydeedrop]

A joint venture between Hochtief and the Buckingham Group has bagged £25m worth of road improvements bundled up into the Western Gateway Infrastructure Scheme.

The civils works around Salford include realigning the existing A57, a mile-long new dual carriageway link to Trafford Way and a new lift bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Improvements to local roads and junctions are also involved in the project to improve access to the area and boost regeneration.

WGIS improvements are needed as part of developer Peel Group’s Port of Salford development (pictured below) to reduce traffic on local roads and relieve peak time congestions on the M60 Barton Bridge.

According to information specialist Glenigan the pairing beat Balfour Beatty, Bam Nuttall and Graham Construction to take the job.

One of the challenges of the job will be coping with many stakeholders in the Western gateway project which include the Highways Agency, Manchester Ship Canal Company, Salford City and Trafford Borough Councils, The Trafford Centre and Salford City Reds.

Work is due to start early next year.

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/...ord-roads-job/

[apologiesforthedelay]

Thousands of Mancunians trying to return north from London for Christmas could face a miserable homecoming as major engineering work takes place on the troubled West Coast Main Line.

The work near Milton Keynes will cause ‘significant’ alterations to services for passengers boarding trains between Euston and Manchester Piccadilly this Sunday and on Christmas Eve.

Those heading to Manchester will have to take a slower, hourly diesel train through the Chilterns to Nuneaton in Warwickshire.

Virgin Trains is warning people to check train times before they head north and to ensure they have reserved a seat – as those without reservations face a wait.

It says it has seen ‘exceptionally high’ bookings over the Christmas period and around 100 Virgin services are already fully booked or almost full – with 210,000 advance tickets sold.

Passengers with seat reservations will be given priority over those without them at Euston and it means those without reservations could have to wait for the next train.

A spokesman for Virgin said: “We will be operating boarding controls at London Euston and customers with seat reservations will be given priority.”

Trains will arrive and depart earlier from London Euston on Saturday – when many London-based Mancunians are expected to head home.

Virgin said this will be the busiest day on the rails, with 45,000 seats already reserved. No direct trains will run from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on Monday and Christmas Eve, with passengers diverted via Nuneaton.

The last trains from London Euston on Christmas Eve will depart much earlier than normal. The last train to Manchester Piccadilly will depart at 4.52pm and will see passengers change at Crewe.

No services will run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day – as is usual – and engineers will continue to work on the line until December 31, during which trains to Manchester will be diverted via Stoke-on-Trent.

Network Rail says it is part of a £125m re-signalling project that will make journeys faster and increase capacity on the line.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...as-train-chaos

Nice sensationalised piece from the MEN.

[WatcherZero]

It is pretty bad series of works this year in our region, even worse if you want to travel to Preston or further. I still think they should have Boxing day services my family travels a lot at christmas and theres no rail services to use

[Nathan Dawz]

Originally Posted by apologiesforthedelay

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereven...as-train-chaos

Nice sensationalised piece from the MEN.

Have you ever travelled up from London to Manchester in the run up to Xmas?! If anything the MEN played it down!

[link_road_17/7]

It'll be even worse when the Milton Keynes blockade overruns into the first two weeks of January.

[Motortownman]

The first of 40 new green electric hybrids for the revamped 192 service have started to arrive and are being branded. At best there are to be 18 buses an hour between Stockport and Manchester and the Levenshulme services extended. Many journeys have higher journey times which should make them more reliable. More frequent services in the evenings too.

And there is WIFI fitted to the buses.

[DiscoSteve]

Originally Posted by Nathan Dawz

Have you ever travelled up from London to Manchester in the run up to Xmas?! If anything the MEN played it down!

yup many times - its bearable at the Full Fat Peak Price periods though
outside of that I swear I'd been transported to India but for the fact there's no one sat on the roof and I can't see any chickens....

[Futurelink]

Unsurprisingly, First drivers seem to have no knowledge of the existence of the FirstDayM60 savers. Been told it doesn't exist three times as of today.

[iheartthenew]

I've had the odd confused look at first but not had a problem like that yet. Must be popular on the 36/8 which I normally get. What bus do you normally get?

[Futurelink]

Originally Posted by iheartthenew

I've had the odd confused look at first but not had a problem like that yet. Must be popular on the 36/8 which I normally get. What bus do you normally get?

67 or 100. Usually told to take a seat whilst the driver tries to find it on his screen.

[pixiepie]

Originally Posted by Futurelink

Unsurprisingly, First drivers seem to have no knowledge of the existence of the FirstDayM60 savers. Been told it doesn't exist three times as of today.

I've had to submit a complaint about this, suggest you do the same. I boarded to bus the other day (around 9am) and tried to buy an M60 Firstday. The driver told me his machine wouldn't issue one so "there must be some sort of restriction on that ticket". I pointed out the only restriction was the M60 boundary and we were well inside it and that there was no time restriction. His response was "I just drive the buses, you'll have to talk to First about it". So I had the choice of buying a full fat Firstday or getting off the bus. Brilliant.

Let's see if they bother to respond to my complaint/ educate their drivers/ fix their machines/ refund my 60p.

Oh and this happened on a 36.

[WatcherZero]

Commercial close on Thameslink completed, Government has also confirmed the Southern orders to Bombardier and potential orders (which would be written to give them almost guarenteed win) totalling 256 units would initially be used on Thameslink but are destined for London Midland and TPE North (116 to be tendered with option for another 140, was initially announced as an option for 100 expanded to 140 today as the 40 options recently excercised were originally supposed to be for the cascade but now Southern will keep them).

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by WatcherZero

Commercial close on Thameslink completed, Government has also confirmed the Southern orders to Bombardier and potential orders (which would be written to give them almost guarenteed win) totalling 256 units would initially be used on Thameslink but are destined for London Midland and TPE North (116 to be tendered with option for another 140, was initially announced as an option for 100 expanded to 140 today as the 40 options recently excercised were originally supposed to be for the cascade but now Southern will keep them).

Great news Watcher.

[Mwmbwls]

Originally Posted by Motortownman

i see they have renumbered all the buses into the Stagecoach numbering system. 1XXXX for double deckers and 2 and 3XXXX for singles. 16xxx being the Volvos. Presumably the radio will be able to recognise the new numbers when the drivers call up.
My mate reckons the big difference will be in January when all the buses that are parked up at Hyde Road appear with the new ticket machines et all fitted and of course all rebranded but maybe all not repainted. That should have been enough time to install and train the drivers on the new machines.

http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage....8&categoryid=0

quote

Within weeks of taking over First's Wigan operations Stagecoach will this month replace a quarter of the fleet with 31 new buses valued at £3,9million. And in January it will introduce to Wigan its £12 weekly Manchester area Megarider ticket, which compares with £16 charged by First for its FirstWeek equivalent. A Wigan weekly Megarider will follow, priced at £9.

Stagecoach Manchester managing director Christopher Bowles says: “We are committed to improving services for our passengers in Wigan and this is the first step towards that. We’re also pleased to be providing our customers in Wigan with the same good value fares that Stagecoach passengers benefit from across Manchester and we look forward to attracting even more people on to our greener, smarter bus services.”

Along with the 31 new buses – 20 ADL Enviro200s and 11 Enviro300s – the company is redeploying another 30 mid-life buses from its existing fleet

unquote