Stagecoach East Scotland

[overthewater]

It seems Service M91 will be taken out of Dunfermline AND Ferrytoll, and will only operate via Halbeath. Alot of Kinross passengers will not be happy.....

 

[Liam]

Not really surprised. I suspect MB have been looking for a way to pull out of Dunfermline for some time. Takes far too long to get from the motorway to the bus station and back.

 

[overthewater]

Not really surprised. I suspect MB have been looking for a way to pull out of Dunfermline for some time. Takes far too long to get from the motorway to the bus station and back.

You can still get a good number of passengers from Dunfermline up North, Could Halbeath even with a link to faster coaches keep passengers happy?

 

[Liam]

You can still get a good number of passengers from Dunfermline up North, Could Halbeath even with a link to faster coaches keep passengers happy?

You lose the Perth/Kinross-Dunfermline town service, but for those joining at Dunfermline to go to Inverness, Dundee, Aberdeen many of them will have got a bus to the bus station anyway, so wont make much difference whether its a bus to the bus station, or a bus to halbeath. Folk going to college might be annoyed, but the 19 goes every few minutes anyway.

 

[overthewater]

You lose the Perth/Kinross-Dunfermline town service, but for those joining at Dunfermline to go to Inverness, Dundee, Aberdeen many of them will have got a bus to the bus station anyway, so wont make much difference whether its a bus to the bus station, or a bus to halbeath. Folk going to college might be annoyed, but the 19 goes every few minutes anyway.

Stagecoach could always start a direct Dunfermline - kinross service every hour to connect with the M91 etc at kinross?

I still wonder about the demand for the Zoo and Drum Brae? Zoo will get passengers just not all the time.

Would the X52 be better off going Via Belford road and Douglas Gardens?

 

[Stan Drews]

https://twitter.com/StagecoachEScot/status/375578716279427072

https://twitter.com/StagecoachEScot/status/375599611429531648

So are folk required to use First services between Tillicoultry and Stirling? I think its £3.40 single.

First, Stagecoach and Stirling Council were working together to get people where they wanted to get to, despite what sadly turned out to be a fatal accident. Passengers weren't having to pay any more than their normal fares.

Despite what some people would have you believe, First and Stagecoach have always had a good working relationship at depot level, at least in the East Scotland area anyway!

 

[tbtc]

It seems Service M91 will be taken out of Dunfermline AND Ferrytoll, and will only operate via Halbeath. Alot of Kinross passengers will not be happy.....

Not really surprised. I suspect MB have been looking for a way to pull out of Dunfermline for some time. Takes far too long to get from the motorway to the bus station and back.

Surprises me that the X54 still runs from Ferrytoll to Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes via Dunfermline - it's a huge time penalty for longer distance passengers

 

[robertclark125]

Surprises me that the X54 still runs from Ferrytoll to Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes via Dunfermline - it's a huge time penalty for longer distance passengers

It serves southern Cowdenbeath, and Crossgates, giving them a direct link to Edinburgh. If you lived in southern Cowdenbeath, you'd have to go back into Cowdenbeath town centre, to get a train.

 

[overthewater]

Surprises me that the X54 still runs from Ferrytoll to Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes via Dunfermline - it's a huge time penalty for longer distance passengers

It serves southern Cowdenbeath, and Crossgates, giving them a direct link to Edinburgh. If you lived in southern Cowdenbeath, you'd have to go back into Cowdenbeath town centre, to get a train.

It also grabs a good number (at times) of Cowdenbeath to Glenrothes passengers. Of course the train goes via Dunfermline aswell. You have to wonder if maybe in years to come the x54 will just get merged into the X52? and miss out Dunfermline?

 

[Stan Drews]

Surprises me that the X54 still runs from Ferrytoll to Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes via Dunfermline - it's a huge time penalty for longer distance passengers

I don't think the X54 is aimed at those longer distance passengers.

 

[tbtc]

I don't think the X54 is aimed at those longer distance passengers.

It used to be the fastest way of getting from Glenrothes to Edinburgh (back when the X59 ran via Kirkcaldy), but I wonder whether there's any better use of the same resources (e.g. if you accept that its not competitive from Edinburgh to Glenrothes then would it work as an Edinburgh - Dunfermline - Steelend/ Blairhall/ Valleyfield/ Alloa service and a Dunfermline - Dundee service which wouldn't be delayed by traffic over the Forth Bridge)

It serves southern Cowdenbeath, and Crossgates, giving them a direct link to Edinburgh. If you lived in southern Cowdenbeath, you'd have to go back into Cowdenbeath town centre, to get a train.

Its going to be a lot slower for such passengers than changing at Halbeath in future though - if you can do Halbeath - Edinburgh every twenty minutes

 

[Stan Drews]

It used to be the fastest way of getting from Glenrothes to Edinburgh (back when the X59 ran via Kirkcaldy), but I wonder whether there's any better use of the same resources (e.g. if you accept that its not competitive from Edinburgh to Glenrothes then would it work as an Edinburgh - Dunfermline - Steelend/ Blairhall/ Valleyfield/ Alloa service and a Dunfermline - Dundee service which wouldn't be delayed by traffic over the Forth Bridge)



Its going to be a lot slower for such passengers than changing at Halbeath in future though - if you can do Halbeath - Edinburgh every twenty minutes

But surely it isn't intended to be "competitive" from Edinburgh to Glenrothes. That is more than capably catered for by the X59. However it still fulfills a number of important links at various different points along its route.

 

[tbtc]

But surely it isn't intended to be "competitive" from Edinburgh to Glenrothes. That is more than capably catered for by the X59. However it still fulfills a number of important links at various different points along its route.

As I said, it was the fastest route to Glenrothes a few years ago (was never the fastest from Edinburgh to Dundee).

But, with the opening of Halbeath (with regular services to Edinburgh/ Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes etc), there's not going to be many people using the X54 from one side of Dunfermline to the other.

 

[Stan Drews]

It seems Service M91 will be taken out of Dunfermline AND Ferrytoll, and will only operate via Halbeath. Alot of Kinross passengers will not be happy.....

Has this little nugget of information come from a reliable source?

 

[overthewater]

As I said, it was the fastest route to Glenrothes a few years ago (was never the fastest from Edinburgh to Dundee).

But, with the opening of Halbeath (with regular services to Edinburgh/ Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes etc), there's not going to be many people using the X54 from one side of Dunfermline to the other.

But thats the thing, its like 27/28 in West Lothian, or 4 in Ayrshire, no one really travels the whole route. I agree once Halbeath opens it will need to be kept an eye on, but it takes passengers from
* Edinburgh - Dunfermline
* Dunfermline/Cowdenbeath - Glenrothes Or Dundee

which will not change once Halbeath opens

Has this little nugget of information come from a reliable source?

Thankful I did put in the word "It seems"

The drivers etc are all saying this, for some unknow reason I cant really believe it since it would pee off the kinross passengers.

 

[Liam]

Surprises me that the X54 still runs from Ferrytoll to Cowdenbeath/ Glenrothes via Dunfermline - it's a huge time penalty for longer distance passengers

Think of the X54 like the 64 as 2 or 3 services knocked into one. It's no coincidence that the X54 and X59 leave Glenrothes at the same time. Look at it as Edinburgh-Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline/Cowdenbeath to Glenrothes and Dundee. Still, I wouldn't be shocked if it was cut back to Dunfermline-Dundee.

First, Stagecoach and Stirling Council were working together to get people where they wanted to get to, despite what sadly turned out to be a fatal accident. Passengers weren't having to pay any more than their normal fares.

Despite what some people would have you believe, First and Stagecoach have always had a good working relationship at depot level, at least in the East Scotland area anyway!

That's good to hear. I remember when First and Fife Scottish shared the 14 and 23's.

 

[Stan Drews]

Thankful I did put in the word "It seems"

The drivers etc are all saying this, for some unknow reason I cant really believe it since it would pee off the kinross passengers.

Ah, I see, it's just the usual bothy waffle from drivers, so almost certain to be complete b******s.

 

[david16]

Think of the X54 like the 64 as 2 or 3 services knocked into one. It's no coincidence that the X54 and X59 leave Glenrothes at the same time. Look at it as Edinburgh-Cowdenbeath, Dunfermline/Cowdenbeath to Glenrothes and Dundee. Still, I wouldn't be shocked if it was cut back to Dunfermline-Dundee.

Will they ever officially split the X54 into 3 route numbers and force passengers to change buses twice?

There would be only a small number of passegers who straddle 2 sections of the X54 route let alone 3 per the current split timetable.

 

[Liam]

Will they ever officially split the X54 into 3 route numbers and force passengers to change buses twice?

There would be only a small number of passegers who straddle 2 sections of the X54 route let alone 3 per the current split timetable.

Why would they? Don't see what advantage Stagecoach would get by doing that. Would annoy the folk who use it from Cowdenbeath/Crossgates to Edinburgh, probably a handful use it for Dundee too. A few Ladybank-Dunfermline folk aswell.

I think extending the X52 from Halbeath to Cowdenbeath is a decent idea, Broad Street, High Street, one way loop round Leuchatsbeath maybe.

 

[jamieintercity]

Is arbroath based pyroneer 16811 now with McColls or is it still kicking about arbroath? I only noticed this on a photo on flickr showing a similar pyroneer at one of the McColls depot. Does anyone know if this is true, does that mean there are no more pyroneers allocated to arbroath? (The remaining four are allocated to blairgowrie)

 

[Jamester]

Is arbroath based pyroneer 16811 now with McColls or is it still kicking about arbroath? I only noticed this on a photo on flickr showing a similar pyroneer at one of the McColls depot. Does anyone know if this is true, does that mean there are no more pyroneers allocated to arbroath? (The remaining four are allocated to blairgowrie)

Yes, it is. Many Volvo Olympians have been recently sold to McColls and Horsburgh.

All 7 new Solos are now in service at Aberhill. 47167/68 and 47228 look like they will remain. Not sure where the displaced ones are going.

Also, been hearing increasing rumours that new B9 coaches are coming for X58/X60 routes.

 

[Blindtraveler]

theyl struggle to find uses for the B7s I'd have thought? Can also confirm a load of olies have gone to Horsburgh, who seam to like 2nd hand olies!

 

[overthewater]

What a waste of money if B9 are bought, it would be better if the money was spent on new single deckers.

B7 are suppose to be going on to the extra x59 and x52, would not rule out school work or Glasgow depot.

 

[Stan Drews]

All 7 new Solos are now in service at Aberhill. 47167/68 and 47228 look like they will remain. Not sure where the displaced ones are going.

Also, been hearing increasing rumours that new B9 coaches are coming for X58/X60 routes.

The four slimline Solos from Aberhill are thought to be going to Blairgowrie, to replace the last Varios, once they have been fitted with seatbelt equipped seats.

There are 8 B13 Elites due in the autumn to complete the "upgrade" of the Fife - Glasgow X24/X26/X27 services.

 

[overthewater]

Is anything else due for fife?

So even with the new timetable one spare bus will be at aberhill.

 

[Stan Drews]

Is anything else due for fife?

Assuming you mean new, then not that I know of.

 

[KendalKing]

The four slimline Solos from Aberhill are thought to be going to Blairgowrie, to replace the last Varios, once they have been fitted with seatbelt equipped seats.

Oh brillant!!!, I really looking forward to my holiday in Blairgowrie in November.

 

[Jamester]

I've heard that 47227 is going to St.Andrews. Perhaps to replace 47003?

 

[Stan Drews]

I've heard that 47227 is going to St.Andrews. Perhaps to replace 47003?

Yep, it arrived today, and has indeed replaced 47003.

 

[mbonwick]

52647 possibly transferring from SC Western for use as a trainer.