Stagecoach North West Discussion

[Gez.SCNW]

555s have been experiencing severe disruption due to roadworks in Carnforth. The 1620 was just a huge farce. 14252 finally arrived at 1657, and by Milnthorpe was 90mins late. Apparently the Trident failed on the way into Lancaster, made worse by the traffic.[/QUOTE]

It has been averaging 90 minutes to do a Carnforth all day, still like it when I got away around six.
Kendal rang to say it had expired at Levens, but were straight out to it so I left my usual 20 delay notice up, a nice bit if haulage for yer, obviously trying to blank Carnforth out of my mind, a full round trip on the 5s was also lost
One hopes it will not be happening again tomorrow:

 

[mbonwick]

Oh definitely Gez - I loved every minute of it!

It was rather amusing while myself & some friends were waiting for it - they saw the 20mins delay notice, and came to the conclusion that 1640 was a rough idea of time. I concluded that the 20mins was actually "standard delay [20min]" + 20min = 1700

I wasn't far wrong! :P

Seriously though, I do think Kendal's maintainence leaves a lot to be desired.

EDIT: Woah hang....Kendal actually told you the 555 had failed? Blimey, things are getting slightly more civil then. It used to be a very cold response if you mentioned Lancaster to a Kendal bloke!
Still, straight out to the stricken 555 would ahve taken about 20mins I guess, so a straight swap with the fitters staying with the Trident.

Any idea of which one it was that failed?

EDIT 2: Tomorrow will be just the same, kerb replacement works at the traffic lights in Carnforth.

 

[pickles]

>>>>>

 

[KendalKing]

Just come through Carnforth, there are roadworks outside the Red Luck chinese take away, with temporary traffic lights in operation. Its only a couple of weeks ago, since the last set of road works were there!!!!

 

[Dallamlad]

I used to love it when I got a Trident on the 555 back in the day

It would seem that the council like doing all their roadworks at the same time causing maximum disruption! But all needs doing at some point I suppose.

 

[KendalKing]

555s have been experiencing severe disruption due to roadworks in Carnforth. The 1620 was just a huge farce. 14252 finally arrived at 1657, and by Milnthorpe was 90mins late. Apparently the Trident failed on the way into Lancaster, made worse by the traffic.

So i guess, that another driver in breach of the Road Traffic Act (Driver hours Regulations).

I would like to make a suggestion if may Gez.SCNW, why don't increase the number of buses running between Lancaster and Kendal to run every half-hour, instead of hourly.

 

[Dallamlad]

I would guess that passenger usage doesn't make it viable plus it would mean more vehicles etc. I don't know but that would be my guess.

 

[mbonwick]

Well, my grandma was once told that the 555 is well into the black, and that cuts weren't going to happen. At peak times I could see 30mins working - it does in summer - but the real issue I suppose is depot space.

 

[KendalKing]

Whilst Kendal depot may be short of space, i understand that there is plenty of spare space at Morecambe.

 

[Dallamlad]

Indeed but with things like this it does come down to finance and passenger demand surely. It may be an idea as MBonwick suggests to run them at peak times and from Morecambe.

 

[cainebj]

47616 on 50.
47060 on 51.
20761 done the last run on the 51 for some unknown reason.
20962 was on annexe, with display partially "Sorry Not In Service" and partially "Maryport 31".
20764 was on annexe, then went onto 31.
33168, 33169 and 47062 on Harrington & Seaton.
47062 went onto Workington Town Evening Services.
47060 and 47616 on evening 30's.
20757 been on X4.
20761 on evening 301's.
33169 waiting for Cockermouth X5.

 

[mbonwick]

I was chatting to the driver coming home tonight, and the first thing he said was "Did you enjoy your run out on a Leyland last night?"
Well, what could I say apart from "Of course, no better bus to be stuck in traffic with!"

He went on to say that he was on the Dallam run yesterday - D6 I assume, which is booked into Heversham at 0840. It actually arrived at 1040....that's how bad the traffic was, although today was better as the squences have been altered.


Erm, nothing really special; 14196 on the 2.

Which of Lancaster's Volvo(s) are currently away being refurbed?

 

[darrenw29]

20435 STILL has the wrong number plate on the rear M435TDV

 

[jonesy3001]

I was chatting to the driver coming home tonight, and the first thing he said was "Did you enjoy your run out on a Leyland last night?"
Well, what could I say apart from "Of course, no better bus to be stuck in traffic with!"

He went on to say that he was on the Dallam run yesterday - D6 I assume, which is booked into Heversham at 0840. It actually arrived at 1040....that's how bad the traffic was, although today was better as the squences have been altered.


Erm, nothing really special; 14196 on the 2.

Which of Lancaster's Volvo(s) are currently away being refurbed?

16657 (R257 NBV) is next to go up for chassis refurb and repaint(needs one) and the only one left to do is 16662.

 

[Dallamlad]

What about 16664?

 

[Gez.SCNW]

So i guess, that another driver in breach of the Road Traffic Act (Driver hours Regulations).
Thats a bit of a sweeping statement, cant see how you draw that conclusion
Kendal to Lancaster 1 hour, Lancaster to Kendal 1 hour add a 90 min delay back at Kendal and you have 3 hours and 30 minutes. No sure which breach that would be?

 

[jonesy3001]

What about 16664?

16657 will be the last one for chassis refurb and 16664 and 16665 are to be transferred out to either chorley or liverpool (been told two different stories) in return for two high-heighted volvo deckers.

 

[Dallamlad]

I hate the way they just pluck two out of the middle of the number sequence. Wish they would take them from the beginning or the end like they did with the open top Tridents. May all be down to the quality of the vehicle I suppose.

 

[TheHovisKid]

I hate the way they just pluck two out of the middle of the number sequence.

Glad it's not just me. It's so untidy!

 

[mbonwick]

18372 back out and about, 1620 555 off Lancaster this evening.

With a little guesswork, it's possible to assume that when 16664/5 leave, we'll be getting 16877. OH joy.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and am I being thick here, but I thought low height deckers had gone out of fashion and all post-1980 (or summat like that) were built to a standard height?

I always thought low height was 2+2 seating downstairs with a sunken, offset gangway upstairs giving 0+4 seating.

 

[cainebj]

Alexander RL's are "low height". the NC bodied ones are a bit taller (16634 and 16877), along with the Alexander RH's :-P

 

[KendalKing]

[Thats a bit of a sweeping statement, cant see how you draw that conclusion
Kendal to Lancaster 1 hour, Lancaster to Kendal 1 hour add a 90 min delay back at Kendal and you have 3 hours and 30 minutes. No sure which breach that would be?

It might have some thing to do with, having checked the former Stagecoach drivers digital tachograph cards.:roll:

Also that the drivers are regularly coming off town services, and straight onto the 555.

 

[driver9000]

22825 on the N1 last night
14204 on the 42
17017 on the 41
20894 on short working 2A University-City. Is it restricted onto this service?

I also saw 18372 on the 555 this afternoon.


The term 'Low height' tends to be added to any double deck under 13' 10" with 'standard height/high bridge' being 14' 6" upwards. Original lowbridge buses were as you said a sunken gangway as this was the only way to get the height down, but after drop centre axles were developed a more traditional central aisle became standard again. I think the drop centre axle was first seen on the Mk1 VRTs.

Is there a particular reason why Lancaster is trading long term residents for High bridge bodied buses?

 

[pickles]

~~~~~

 

[Paul Mcgill]

Does anyone know whether 20994 ever came to Barrow. I cannot believe that I have managed to miss seeing it for a fortnight - especially given the way it looks.

Yes it did get to barrow with 20894 both been off road since they got thru.

 

[Ado 16]

Hello.

Have been working my way through this thread for ages! Don't think I'll ever get to the end! Fascinating stuff! Thought I'd lend a tale - Going up to Kendal today on the 12:20 from Lancaster - 18354 "Peter Rabbit" and it disgraced itself by leaking all the air out of the braking system by Carnforth! (The alarm came on at around Tescos and we pulled up by the station) From a passenger point of view; Thank Gawd the 755 from Morecambe wasn't far behind! I almost took a photo - but thought it might be insensitive.

 

[pickles]

>>>>>

 

[driver9000]

This presumably means the Lancaster people are free of 20894 (much to their pleasure no doubt!)

20894 was still in Lancaster this afternoon.

 

[pickles]

>>>>>

 

[jonesy3001]

20894 was still in Lancaster this afternoon.

It goes back to workington when the roadworks have finished in lancaster.