Public bus routes that are currently worked by coaches

[Martin1988]

Does anyone know of any public bus routes in the UK are currently worked by coaches?

Two current examples here in the Bristol area are 462 from Lyde Green to Bristol and 680 from UWE to SGS Filton College. Also remember Coachstyle using them on some once a week services in Bath/Chippenham at one time but not sure if they still do.

 

[Volvodart]

Stagecoach Bluebird regularly put coaches on routes in the Aberdeen that have had low floor buses for years, particularly Stonehaven and Insch depots who only seem to have coaches or Solos when a low floor Enviro300 is not available.

 

[Welshman]

Whilst I'm not certain, I suspect that Llew Jones' 0632 Service 6 Llanrwst-Bangor service uses one of their Caetano Levante coaches in National Express livery, to place it for the 0810 Nat.Express 375 to Great Yarmouth.

Otherwise, it seems an odd, unbalanced service!

 

[AWK]

Stagecoach Yorkshire X10 (Barnsley - Leeds) and Trentbarton Red Arrow (Nottingham - Derby) instantly spring to mind

AWK

 

[Robertj21a]

If it's a bus service open to the public it will have to be a DDA bus, or coach with disabled access facilities.
Stagecoach X5 from Oxford to Cambridge may fit your definition.

 

[Ianno87]

A number of Stageocach routes into Glasgow/Edinburgh are (e.g. X77 Ayr-Glasgow)

Oxford Tube/X90 Airline/Birmingham Airline too.

 

[backontrack]

The X99 from Inverness to Scrabster, and the 7 from Stromness to Kirkwall via Birsay and Dounby, both fit your description.

 

[Martin1988]

Thanks to those have responded.

I must admit I thought the DDA rule didn't come into effect until 2020

 

[richw]

If it's a bus service open to the public it will have to be a DDA bus, or coach with disabled access facilities.

Incorrect on the coach element, DDA doesn’t apply to coaches operating public service routes until 1/1/20.

First Kernow occasionally use their Cheetahs on service.
Stagecoach southwest falcon is now a registered service.

 

[GusB]

Stagecoach Bluebird regularly put coaches on routes in the Aberdeen that have had low floor buses for years, particularly Stonehaven and Insch depots who only seem to have coaches or Solos when a low floor Enviro300 is not available.

I'm fairly sure that Bluebird service 35 Elgin - Aberdeen via the coast is technically a bus route, usually operated by coaches. Service 10 Inverness - Aberdeen used to be run as an express service (Citylink 960/560), but I think it's just classed as a bus service these days, although I'm not 100% certain.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Does anyone know of any public bus routes in the UK are currently worked by coaches?

Two current examples here in the Bristol area are 462 from Lyde Green to Bristol and 680 from UWE to SGS Filton College. Also remember Coachstyle using them on some once a week services in Bath/Chippenham at one time but not sure if they still do.

More surprised that you haven't listed the SW Falcon from Bristol.......

Moreover, there a lots of National Express services that run as local bus services etc and are registered as such to claim BSOG

 

[theageofthetra]

Out of interest what will coaches operators need to do to make their vehicles compliant with 2020 DDA?. It's always seemed odd to me (having worked with seniors tour groups) how difficult access can be for many.

 

[richw]

Out of interest what will coaches operators need to do to make their vehicles compliant with 2020 DDA?. It's always seemed odd to me (having worked with seniors tour groups) how difficult access can be for many.

Many newer coaches have wheelchair lifts, the legislation isn’t applicable to private hires and tours, so many won’t be impacted.

 

[Robertj21a]

Thanks to those have responded.

I must admit I thought the DDA rule didn't come into effect until 2020

Perhaps I've misunderstood what you're looking for. The majority of bus services available to the public should normally be operated by a DDA bus - or DDA coach (numerous coaches, with DDA, used on bus services, have been highlighted above).
It seems that you are trying to identify non-DDA coaches still used, routinely, on bus services prior to the DDA deadline in 2020 ??
There will also still be the odd anomaly with those old 'coach' Mercedes minis on bus routes, until 2020.

It may be that I still don't understand what you're trying to achieve !

 

[W-on-Sea]

Stagecoach Oxfordshire also have a limited number of early morning journeys on route S5 (Bicester - Oxford) and S8 (outbound) and X9 (inbound) (Oxford-Wantage) that are operated by Oxford Tube coaches

 

[Martin1988]

Perhaps I've misunderstood what you're looking for. The majority of bus services available to the public should normally be operated by a DDA bus - or DDA coach (numerous coaches, with DDA, used on bus services, have been highlighted above).
It seems that you are trying to identify non-DDA coaches still used, routinely, on bus services prior to the DDA deadline in 2020 ??
There will also still be the odd anomaly with those old 'coach' Mercedes minis on bus routes, until 2020.

It may be that I still don't understand what you're trying to achieve !

The purpose of this thread was to enquire about local bus routes which are still regularly worked by coaches.

However I've heard a few different things about DDA compliant vehicles. I'm aware 1st january 2020 is the deadline for vehicles to be compliant but I recently had it suggested that all newly registered services now have to be DDA compliant.

Sorry if I caused any confusion

 

[overthewater]

Just look at the Stagecoach network in scotland your find plenty of routes including the express network which " operate as local bus services"

Ie X59 Edinburgh - St Andrews: Its All stops from Glenrothes - Cupar - St Andrews.

 

[PeterC]

If it's a bus service open to the public it will have to be a DDA bus, or coach with disabled access facilities.
Stagecoach X5 from Oxford to Cambridge may fit your definition.

Traveline classes the X5 a a coach.

The Swanbrook service 853 betwen Oxford and Cheltenham on the other hand is classed as a bus but I have only ever seen coaches working the route.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Stagecoach Bluebird (Technically Stagecoach North Scotland now) have a number of routes as mentioned.

In terms of Non-DDA compliant coaches. Volvo B7R 53220 (SV54ENC) works out of Stonehaven, Volvo B10M 52362 (P569MSX) still works out of Aviemore over 21 years old! and Volvo B10M 52621(S901CCD) which is a part time trainer although still a regular in service rotates between Aberdeen and Elgin. There's also a few more of those SV54 plate B7Rs but i can't recall where all of them are and they're in decline.

Spoiler: In terms of in the Aberdeen area you'll see coaches on...

X6: Aberdeen > Stonehaven (Short working X7)
X7: Aberdeen > Dundee > Perth (Limited stop for parts of the route but a local service and main hospital link for a number of areas)
7/7B: Aberdeen > Stonehaven (Coaches are more common on the 7B than the 7)
10: Aberdeen > Inverness (Limited stop Aberdeen to Inverurie but full stopper the rest of the route)
35: Aberdeen > Banff > Elgin (Local Service)
37/X37: Aberdeen > Inverurie (Local Service)
X20/420: Aberdeen > Kemnay/Alford
60/61: Aberdeen > Ellon > Peterhead
62:Aberdeen > Ellon
63: Aberdeen > Newburgh > Peterhead
67/68: Aberdeen > Ellon > Fraserburgh
201/202/203: Aberdeen > Braemar

Although the 60/61/63/67/68 are branded as the "Buchan Xpress" that are in fact full stopping services, in addition there are other routes that can and do use coaches but those are the main ones for the Aberdeen area.

 

[Bwsbro]

Whilst I'm not certain, I suspect that Llew Jones' 0632 Service 6 Llanrwst-Bangor service uses one of their Caetano Levante coaches in National Express livery, to place it for the 0810 Nat.Express 375 to Great Yarmouth.

Otherwise, it seems an odd, unbalanced service!

The Morning 6B is operated by one of their Caetano Levante Coaches. With the evening service operated by a Optare solo from the 6/6A allocation

 

[theageofthetra]

Many newer coaches have wheelchair lifts, the legislation isn’t applicable to private hires and tours, so many won’t be impacted.

Does seem a huge hole in the legislation- particularly given the age profile of many coach tour companies clients .

 

[richw]

Does seem a huge hole in the legislation- particularly given the age profile of many coach tour companies clients .

Most have nearly brand new accesibile vehicles anyway that I see here in cornwall touring.

 

[enrag2000]

Reays of Wigton use ex-Stagecoach B10Ms certified as coaches on several shoppers services in the Carlisle area.

 

[route101]

Best example ive had is First Glasgow using a panther on services 18 and 267 ! Was around 7 years ago .

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Going back a good eight years, the Godsons 820 between Leeds and Richmond (Dalesbus) was worked by a coach when one of the former Preston Bus Leyland Lynxs were unavailable.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Does seem a huge hole in the legislation- particularly given the age profile of many coach tour companies clients .

one thing that the legislation does seem to ignore is the bloody mindedness of less able people... I used to drive a long distance bus service that ran using coaches without lifts... and I left at the same time as a rival's service using a low floor bus... operating along the same route.. it always amazed me how many older folks, including those using sticks and/ or frames, would wave the low floor bus on and then haul themselves up the steps.... strangely the passenger group that seems to prefer a good view over ease of access is one of those that low floor buses were specifically designed to make life easier for... oh and more than once I had a wheelchair user get out of their chair and clamber up the steps on all fours!

 

[Cesarcollie]

Perhaps I've misunderstood what you're looking for. The majority of bus services available to the public should normally be operated by a DDA bus - or DDA coach (numerous coaches, with DDA, used on bus services, have been highlighted above).
It seems that you are trying to identify non-DDA coaches still used, routinely, on bus services prior to the DDA deadline in 2020 ??
There will also still be the odd anomaly with those old 'coach' Mercedes minis on bus routes, until 2020.

It may be that I still don't understand what you're trying to achieve !

The PSVAR rules apply only to vehicles used on scheduled or local services. The deadlines for ANY single deck or double deck bus used on such work have now passed. However, if coaches are used they do not need to be compliant until 2020 UNLESS they were registered after January 2005 - in which case they must be compliant now ( this essentially means destination equipment, wheelchair access, handrails etc).

 

[pitdiver]

I thought that National Express had de registered their coach services as they were having to carry free bus pass holders.
Can confirm that Oxford to Cambridge X5 is a Bus as I use my free bus pass on it

 

[overthewater]

I thought that National Express had de registered their coach services as they were having to carry free bus pass holders.
Can confirm that Oxford to Cambridge X5 is a Bus as I use my free bus pass on it

The X5 is registered and has to comply with a strict timetable but means it can get fuel rebate etc. Many national express routes in England are not. Oddity is I believe the scottish routes are and long with Megabus/citylink routes which can take the passes. Also get fuel rebate on certain sections.

 

[philthetube]

Virtually all services operated around Thurso are operated by non DDA equipped coaches.