Stagecoach East Scotland

[83G/84D]

the unbranded example at the SVBM was 13043 along with elitei X7 branded 54238

13045 (SJ15 PVN) parked up at Arbroath bus station at 10.15hrs,can anyone list the registrations and fleet numbers of the other examples please.Some were seen at the depot.

 

[mbonwick]

13041 sj15 puy
13042 sj15 pux
13043 hy14 bus
13044 sj15 pvl
13045 sj15 pvn
13046 sj15 pvf
13047 sj15 pvk
13048 sj15 pve
13049 sj15 pvo
13050 sa15 vml
13051 sa15 vtw
13052 sa15 vtu
13053 sa15 vty
13054 sa15 vtv
13055 sa15 vux
13056 sa15 vtx
13057 sa15 vtz
13058 sa15 vuy

 

[jamieintercity]

13045 (SJ15 PVN) parked up at Arbroath bus station at 10.15hrs,can anyone list the registrations and fleet numbers of the other examples please.Some were seen at the depot.

13045 was noted leaving arbroath bus station at 1400 displaying 'Alexander Dennis Ltd', mostly likely heading back to elliot depot

 

[83G/84D]

13041 sj15 puy
13042 sj15 pux
13043 hy14 bus
13044 sj15 pvl
13045 sj15 pvn
13046 sj15 pvf
13047 sj15 pvk
13048 sj15 pve
13049 sj15 pvo
13050 sa15 vml
13051 sa15 vtw
13052 sa15 vtu
13053 sa15 vty
13054 sa15 vtv
13055 sa15 vux
13056 sa15 vtx
13057 sa15 vtz
13058 sa15 vuy

Great,thank you.

 

[mbonwick]

No problem, sorry it went all lowercase - the forum seemed to auto-correct it from capitals for some reason!

 

[83G/84D]

The old order and new order for the service 73 at Arbroath bus station yesterday:-

 

[overthewater]

Where are the old buses from the no73 actually going? I know some have went south to Yorkshire.

 

[Stan Drews]

Where are the old buses from the no73 actually going? I know some have went south to Yorkshire.

They're all supposed to be going to Yorkshire for the tram replacement work.

 

[jamieintercity]

They're all supposed to be going to Yorkshire for the tram replacement work.

What about 19662/8? Are they going to join to the rest to Yorkshire or return to fife, most likely to aberhill depot.

Also, 22349/50 are back in East Scotland territory. I believe that they never left at all.

 

[TaysideTrainz]

What about 19662/8? Are they going to join to the rest to Yorkshire or return to fife, most likely to aberhill depot.

Also, 22349/50 are back in East Scotland territory. I believe that they never left at all.

Actually, they never left. And you should know that as Mr King told you that!

Can anyone on here confirm the following please

• Is the launch for the Hybrid buses 10am-4pm or 11am-4pm
• And will the new Hybrid buses go into service after the event on Monday 25th May or the following day/week/month?

 

[overthewater]

So that Cowdenbeath Depot going it seems: All because the School contracts are to operate for seven years.....

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/140-jobs-risk-stagecoach-east-5697490

A BUS depot in Fife is set to close putting 141 jobs at risk.

Stagecoach East Scotland has announced the planned closure of the Cowdenbeath bus depot following the loss of a number of school and local bus contracts in the West Fife area.

The announcement follows weeks of consultations regarding the school and local bus contracts awarded by Fife Council .

Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director, Stagecoach East Scotland said: “It is with deep regret I must formally announce the planned closure of that Cowdenbeath Depot in August.

“This has been a very difficult decision, and we have looked at a number of alternative options, however with such a reduction in the contracts we have been awarded, it is simply not affordable to continue running fewer services while facing the same operating costs. As such, we have unfortunately had to make this regrettable decision in the interests of the long-term future of our business.

“I would like to assure employees that we will be working to re-deploy staff to other local depots and find suitable alternative roles as far as possible.”

A total of 141 staff are based at the Cowdenbeath depot, including 111 drivers.

The company is consulting with trade union representatives over the potential impact on jobs.

Customers have been reassured that all of Stagecoach’s commercial services will continue to operate as normal, from the company’s other depots.

The planned closure is expected to take place at the end of operations on Sunday 16th August 2015.

http://www.alexrowley.org/what-future-for-cowdenbeath-bus-garage/

Workers from Cowdenbeath Bus Garage were on the streets of Cowdenbeath this week gathering signatures for their petition to stop the closure of the Cowdenbeath depot. Bus operator Stagecoach have said the future of the Cowdenbeath garage which has been a feature in the town since 1906 is under consideration and they are expected to make an announcement soon.

The Trade Union Unite is appealing to management at Stagecoach to enter into dialogue and find a way forward that keeps the facility in Cowdenbeath. The union members were also joined by local MSP Alex Rowley who has written to the company and is speaking with Fife Council about the issue. Mr Rowley said that the Cowdenbeath Depot was very successful in maintaining contracts and running a very efficient operation providing quality local services to the area. He said; “My concern is that a closure of this depot which employs a lot of local people will lead to job losses and a reduction in services particularly on those routes that are less profitable in the evenings and weekends. We could also see work that is currently carried out from this depot being transferred to other parts of the stagecoach business where their costs are cheaper mainly though paying lower wages. My own experience of Stagecoach is that they are not known for listening to local people when it comes to their operations but we need to make the case”.

It is understood that a meeting of the workforce will take place this week where the company are expected to give staff an update on their thinking for the future of the Cowdenbeath Garage.

And all because it lost school contracts, to First, Bay Travel, Festival Travel and Prentice Westwood

remember Stagecoach has lost very little Non school work:

* Stagecoach has won: 28, 71 81, 83, 87, 88 Evening and Sunday Town services
* Bay Travel has won: 17A, 17B, 20, 89
* First has won the No6 evening and Sunday service.

Ie Stagecoach has lost 4 buses with of council work. What makes this even worse is, the contracts appear to be the exact same as there are now.
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY208377&catID=

What was the point? At least the other part of Fife resulted in most of the council services having there school day variations taken out.

 

[J Burns]

Business strategy to cut operating costs?
Seems strange does it not to lose some school work and close a depot on the back of it.
Is this similar rationale to the closure of Stagecoach Cumnock?
No doubt more news will follow!

 

[mbonwick]

Cumnock is more a case of needing (relatively) large sums of money spent on the depot infrastructure that will never be recouped.

It also must be remembered that Cowdenbeath has been one of the 'weaker' depots in Fife for some time, propped up by the allocation of more profitable work there, and the general lack of space at other depots.

Unfortunately the loss of work means that the shortcomings of the depot have become more obvious, along with the means to 'solve' the problem.

 

[Liam]

It's an opportunity for Stagecoach to blame the council for the closure of the depot. It was always going to close, but now there is the chance to make someone else look like the bad guys.

 

[overthewater]

How on earth can Cowdenbeath be a weaker depot, it has the most profitable route in the company.

Propped up by what other profitable work? K3, 33 34: Dead duck route there, which were all transfered in from Kirkcaldy when that shut (well two duties on the 32/33/34 which where worked from Kirkcaldy, K3 was moved to Glenrothes a couple years after that)

747 was given to Cowdenbeath when Dunfermline took full control of the Kelty - Dunfermline and Edinburgh routes. Ie was a swap. Cowdenbeath still has one peak working into Edinburgh ( used to be two until May) A few years ago sums of money were spent on the Cowdenbeath depot infrastructure and offices, I doubt the company had plans to waste all that money on depot it was planning close.

The real problem is Stagecoach Fife has lost a large amount of school contracts over the past 2 years. Stagecoach used to have around 18 buses operating the Bell Baxter high school runs in Cupar, its now 0. Stagecoach lost all its contracts for Madras College, expect for a strange 5pm run.

The only saving grace for the Aberhill/Glenrothes depot were both managed to win a load of contacts off Moffet&Williamsons while loses most of the existing work in Kirkcaldy. Plus most of the council contracts had their school day gaps filled meaning the buses had something else to do.

It would have been alright if the contracts were every four years like in the past, but now its seven years, add in the fact Stagecoach also has the Rennies bus depot which is on a 99 year lease. The amount of free space is growing, and there is nothing to really fill the gaps. Even with increase work loads on the Edinburgh routes or brand new estate being built in Dunfermline or Kirkcaldy will not result in 50 extra buses being needed.

Big question will be, if the depot is mothballed or actually sold off, since it would need to get planning permission etc to change it use etc Maybe Stagecoach will hold off to wait and see if it can regain the Kirkcaldy contracts in 2020?

Its an sad state of affair but what can you do? Look at First Scotland East the same happened, to much free space thus Linlithgow was closed and everything transferred. Larbert is still hooving up school work, and has increase its Fife school bus to 14 duties.

 

[Stan Drews]

How on earth can Cowdenbeath be a weaker depot, it has the most profitable route in the company.

Do you have access to detailed financial information regarding the company's operations, to make such a statement, or is this just more of your random speculation, when you actually haven't got a clue!

 

[overthewater]

Do you have access to detailed financial information regarding the company's operations, to make such a statement, or is this just more of your random speculation, when you actually haven't got a clue!

It was a Statement, question, So is route No19 no longer the most profitable route in Fife? If not then im surprised its still every 10mins if its no longer making that type of money?

What makes even less scene is the fact Cowdenbeath managed to retain nearly all its School contacts: ie

* Lochgelly High school retain all 9,
* Beath High school retain 5 contract only losing three to Bay travel.
* Let just say bay travel won three of the five Catholic school run, Stagecoach managed to keep the other two, ( the ones lost were Rennies)

So Cowdenbeath has lost 3 runs, but its weaker depot so it has to close, because it lost three runs? compared to the other two depots which have lost half of the current contact the depots operate

 

[mbonwick]

Not all contracts make the same amount of profit...some are very marginal, others not so.

Contracts at other depots make up a smaller proportion of their turnover, so losing them is not as big of a deal.

 

[robertclark125]

Another consideration is the rates being paid at the depots, i.e. the council tax. It may be more at Cowdenbeath than Wellwood.

 

[TaysideTrainz]

I heard just recently that brand new Volvo Hybrid 13043 is at Stagecoach Western for service 11 - is that true?

 

[robertclark125]

Could just be there on loan Tayside, possibly to try the type out, for a future order.

For those wondering why the new Hybrids for the 73 have normal Stagecoach colours, with a green strip at the front, simply, the Nat Ex Dundee Hybrids are all green, and the route they're used on partly paralells the 73. Stagecoach opted for standard colours to avoid customer confusion.

 

[KendalKing]

Stagecoach opted for standard colours to avoid customer confusion.

Since when have Stagecoach been bothered about that ?

When I worked for Fylde Transport (Blue Buses), stagecoach where using buses which were painted Blue & White indirect competition.

 

[Sandy Drew]

Since when have Stagecoach been bothered about that ?

When I worked for Fylde Transport (Blue Buses), stagecoach where using buses which were painted Blue & White indirect competition.

Please would you be kind enough to elaborate on this? My memory must be failing me as I only recall the handful of ex Lancaster Atlanteans operating out of Preston over to the fylde Coast, (in as-acquired Lancaster livery) for a very short period. With Ribble buses fleet names of course. Many thanks

And apologies for the straying off topic.

 

[jamieintercity]

Branded new hybrids 13046 and 13048 are in service today on the 73. 13057 is on display in dundee.

 

[TaysideTrainz]

As Jamie has already quoted, 13046 and 13048 are in service on the 73 today. It also appears that many more entered on the 73 'mid-shift' later on in the day.

Many thanks to Jamie for the tip-off on a local bus forum; and Jamie the bus driver for the acknowledgement.

See attached for my efforts of 13048 at Monifieth High Street whilst operating the 13:34 to Ninewells Hospital.

You can also view these on my flickr page at www.flickr.com/taysidetrainz

 

[overthewater]

Nice pics.

For anyone for interested, here is the full details as to who has won what.
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY208977&catID=

Stagecoach has lost two of its biggest school contracts.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Nice pics.

For anyone for interested, here is the full details as to who has won what.
http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY208977&catID=

Stagecoach has lost two of its biggest school contracts.

Given the size of losses and spare capacity amongst its Fife depots, it's not surprising one would close. Without knowing the facts, it may well be that Cowdenbeath had the biggest overheads, was requiring remedial works (it is an old depot) or was geographically easier to replace.

 

[overthewater]

Given the size of losses and spare capacity amongst its Fife depots, it's not surprising one would close. Without knowing the facts, it may well be that Cowdenbeath had the biggest overheads, was requiring remedial works (it is an old depot) or was geographically easier to replace.

A few points;

* Each of the new contracts equals one bus, the old contracts where for routes with x amount of buses. EG: Beath High - Kelty had three buses in the one contract. Now its BE1, BE2, BE3 I think.

* The two biggest contracts have gone to First Group and Festival travel. First has managed to retain its biggest route aswell.

* Most of the new contacts by First should be coming from Larbert Depot, Saying that Larbert is full to busting with work. I would not rule out Livingston depot but I dont think it has any School work, but has plenty of room. The one problem is the Forth Bridge. Were have to wait and see as 7 School contracts are also up for grabs in the Falkirk area. Maybe Stagecoach could go after them Hopeful there be sorted before the end of June.

* Fife Council has been pushing for alot of new operators to bid for the school work, and have gone out of their way to do so. Before ANYONE ASKS... If you Google you will find stuff which clearly highlights Fife councils wishes.

That all by in by, I just get the feeling its robbing Paul to prop up Peter, and its pretty clear its the school contacts which was keeping certain depots open. The routes are no longer as busy as there once were, and you don't have to go back that much in time to find busy routes.

 

[mbonwick]

Oh for goodness sake...
Of course it's in Fife Council's interest to get more people bidding...it brings the prices down, and given that the tenders were let on the basis of "least cost", its obvious money is the name of the game.

School contracts will not be keeping depots open...while they're a good stable source of income (for the life of the contract), you're never going to make much money out of them. It's much more complex than you make out.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some of these 'losses' staying with Stagecoach, if the new operators can't source vehicles/drivers....I'm sure that's happened before?

 

[Stan Drews]

A few points;

* Each of the new contracts equals one bus, the old contracts where for routes with x amount of buses. EG: Beath High - Kelty had three buses in the one contract. Now its BE1, BE2, BE3 I think.

* The two biggest contracts have gone to First Group and Festival travel. First has managed to retain its biggest route aswell.

I'm not sure I understand your logic. If the new contracts are now for one bus each, how are you defining the biggest routes?