Stagecoach North West Discussion

[Paul Mcgill]

Been told by someone that a decker was seen passing through Whitelund with Cartmel Races on the blinds. No idea what type if vehicle it was. I' assuming it was an old programming and not new...

It was me yesterday in 14196 spotters coice should have been 16666 lol
i used cartmal races running emty on wednesday night but in a mini bus

 

[Mattdw92]

47474 running moorclose 50!!

 

[cainebj]

47474 running moorclose 50!!

complete with Ribble Motor Services legal lettering! which is actually illegal in VOSA terms! other "illegal" buses are 20130, 20473 and 16647, all of which have Ribble Motor Services legal lettering, with no notice to say they're operating for Cumberland (like with the Preston Bus stuff, the Scania Esteems, some Tridents and some Solo's had Preston Bus Ltd legal lettering, with "On Hire to Ribble Motor Services"). does anyone know if the axle has actually been fixed? it had sat in Carlisle dead lanes for a very long time, then suddenly its in service at Lillyhall! i took a picture of it while it was sat on the annexe after arriving back to the bus station 10 mins late.

20918 done a catch up run on Moorclose Circular 50, with an updated display! "Moorclose Circular 50" is all on one line now, just like the LED's. the side and rear flip dots have been programmed up as well!!!
20195 and 34079 on 47 (20195's rear LED has cut off some of the info, due to it being smaller than the LED's in Solo's and Darts and E300's etc).
47059 on Harrington.
14234 on 30 and 31, complete with a fully working Bright Tech! been a long time since its bright tech last worked!
16733 on short 300.
20761 on full length 300, still with no legal lettering at all!
20436 was on annexe with a dead bright tech with "600" on a piece of paper, it then went onto the 1315 48.
20129 on Staff Shuttle.

road works on Station Road in Workington are getting a bit ridiculous now. car drivers are STILL refusing to take the advisory route around the town centre, despite it being quicker! queue's from the site of the roadworks have been going right up to the bus station this afternoon. as a result, the council has stepped in and made it a one way road, heading out of town centre. buses and emergency vehicles only can go up Station Road towards town centre. vehicles however, are instead going up Senhouse Street to get up towards the town centre, which is where Station Road (becoming Oxford Street) is 2-way traffic, making it hell for residents!!!

 

[Mattdw92]

complete with Ribble Motor Services legal lettering! which is actually illegal in VOSA terms! other "illegal" buses are 20130, 20473 and 16647, all of which have Ribble Motor Services legal lettering, with no notice to say they're operating for Cumberland (like with the Preston Bus stuff, the Scania Esteems, some Tridents and some Solo's had Preston Bus Ltd legal lettering, with "On Hire to Ribble Motor Services"). does anyone know if the axle has actually been fixed? it had sat in Carlisle dead lanes for a very long time, then suddenly its in service at Lillyhall! i took a picture of it while it was sat on the annexe after arriving back to the bus station 10 mins late.

as a result, the council has stepped in and made it a one way road, heading out of town centre. buses and emergency vehicles only can go up Station Road towards town centre. vehicles however, are instead going up Senhouse Street to get up towards the town centre, which is where Station Road (becoming Oxford Street) is 2-way traffic, making it hell for residents!!!

I noticed the lettering too and ye quite a few vehicles need also share the same problem, was on 47474 coming back from sixth form, a very smooth ride and rattle free ye surprised that its just appeared in service so quick. A difference to the rest of the solo's at LL is that the cab has a driver viewing window so that passengers can actually see the driver! (glass complete with the 'newer' optare logo - everywhere else cab and dash, older logo.

I hope they put some better signs up for station road - no one took notice until they got into the junction, but then it was too late

 

[K777DAO]

47474 running moorclose 50!!

Weyhey!

 

[Dallamlad]

Saw a first choice coach last night with a proper LED screen on it!

Very impressed 47474 was out so quickly!!!

 

[themaster985]

Not my photo, but here is a different [!!!] view of 47474

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=-3&id=1005713541&saved&success=1#!/photo.php?pid=30981325&id=1005713541

 

[Dallamlad]

Not my photo, but here is a different [!!!] view of 47474

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=-3&id=1005713541&saved&success=1#!/photo.php?pid=30981325&id=1005713541

Not looking to hot there lol!

 

[andy 37]

Penrith Gillwilly today

16337 - Service 103,91A
16338 - Morrisons
16393 - Service 78
20904 - Schools
20909 - Service 106
20943 - Schools and 106
24123 - Service 104
24124 - Service 104
42672 - Spare/ 104 shorts to oasis
47721 - Service 77A
47722 - Service 77

 

[KendalKing]

complete with Ribble Motor Services legal lettering! which is actually illegal in VOSA terms!

Not quite true, its not the legel lettering, but the operator disc which counts.

Under operator licencing rules, an operator can operate a bus belonging to another operator with that other operator disc still on display for a maximum of 14 days. After which they must then use one of they own disc, if they wish to continuing using that other operator vehicle.

 

[Mattdw92]

47474 is out on the workington evening service

 

[richw]

Not my photo, but here is a different [!!!] view of 47474

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=-3&id=1005713541&saved&success=1#!/photo.php?pid=30981325&id=1005713541

i get the following message when clicking on this link

This content is currently unavailable
The page you requested cannot be displayed at the moment. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

 

[cainebj]

i get the following message when clicking on this link

This content is currently unavailable
The page you requested cannot be displayed at the moment. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...84453603797_1005713541_30981325_7244478_n.jpg

^^^the same image^^^

 

[Mattdw92]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...84453603797_1005713541_30981325_7244478_n.jpg

^^^the same image^^^

wow that is pretty bad, no wonder its being out of service for a while

I also have seen people asking why 47474 is in reserve, this was involved in an RTA where it ended up colliding with a tree and the tree won with the bus having severe front end damage and the driver a broken leg in several places. The bus with its twisted front axle was sent back to Optares to be repaired, but is still causing problems hence its withdrawal.

think we hope these 'problems' have been fixed and hope the driver made a full recovery, its out of Moorclose 51 this morning

 

[richw]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...84453603797_1005713541_30981325_7244478_n.jpg

^^^the same image^^^

Ouch, that didnt look good, surprised that got back on the road!

 

[Dave The Bus]

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...84453603797_1005713541_30981325_7244478_n.jpg

^^^the same image^^^

Thanks, as one of a rare breed who does not have a facebook account, i thank you for an alternative link..

As for the boundary changes, its about time they got publicised properly, and im glad they extended them officially to Matrix and over the bridge the other way, it will calm a lot of little niggles will that..

The Camelot one surprised me though, but again it will probably be welcome by Camelot itself, 1. Cheaper for staff and 2. Local people who don't have to fork out for Lancashire dayriders anymore and may be encouraged to go given the cheaper travel.

 

[cainebj]

Thanks, as one of a rare breed who does not have a facebook account, i thank you for an alternative link..

no probs! i'm actually surprised it wasn't written off with it being like that!

34079 is doing the rounds on Seaton 47 yet again today.

 

[Dallamlad]

Currently SC In Manchester have the following in reserve:

B10's:

20674 R674HCD
20982c R982XVM
20983c R983XVM
20995 R995XVM

MAN ALX300's

22107 S107TRJ
22168c T168MVM
22180 T180MVM
22181 T181MVM
22182 T182MVM
22183 T183MVM
22185 T185MVM
22187 T187MVM
22188 T188MVM
22241c X241ATD

They also have the following on disposals:

Volvo Olys

16004 P804GMU ( NC Body)
16005 P805GMU ( NC Body)
16006 P806GMU ( NC Body)
16007 P807GMU ( NC Body)
16124 R124EVX ( RL Body)
16183 P483HBA ( NC Body)
16187 S957URJ (Newer Palatine II NC Body)
16188 S958URJ (Newer Palatine II NC body)

B10's

20882 P882MNE
20916 R916XVM
20920 R920XVM
20922 R922XVM
20925 R925XVM
20926 R926XVM
20927 R927XVM
20929 R929XVM
20938c R938XVM
20939 R939XVM
20946c R946XVM
20950 R950XVM
20961c R961XVM
20963c R963XVM
20974 R974XVM
20975 R975XVM
20976 R976XVM
20985 R985XVM
20986 R986XVM

I know all this has been mentioned before but I can't understand why all these perfectly good vehicles are sitting around when parts of the NW and indeed the country are still operating ageing Leylands. There are still K reg B10's to be replaced and all those R reg's ones are just lying around! Can anyone suggest a reason why Manc are holding on to all these vehicles?

There are also some Dragons and East Lanc Bodied Scanias on both lists but these are not really relevant.

 

[robertclark125]

When you show disposal, that could also mean available for other subsidiaries to take over. Entirely up to these subsidiaries to transfer the vehicles in if they want them.

 

[K777DAO]

I know all this has been mentioned before but I can't understand why all these perfectly good vehicles are sitting around when parts of the NW and indeed the country are still operating ageing Leylands. There are still K reg B10's to be replaced and all those R reg's ones are just lying around! Can anyone suggest a reason why Manc are holding on to all these vehicles?

There are also some Dragons and East Lanc Bodied Scanias on both lists but these are not really relevant.

Myself and 'Cainebj' have had Many rants and conversations about this same subject! Especially the subject of the MAN ALX300s, which would come in very handy for Lillyhall's extreme shortage of Low Floor vehicles. Maybe not a permanent fix, but they would certainly do!!!

 

[Chris26584]

Myself and 'Cainebj' have had Many rants and conversations about this same subject! Especially the subject of the MAN ALX300s, which would come in very handy for Lillyhall's extreme shortage of Low Floor vehicles. Maybe not a permanent fix, but they would certainly do!!!

Im sure the drivers would have something to say about the MANs! They are not the most reliable of beasts, one of ours (Frenchwood) spent 2 and a half months off the road being fixed, so it depends how road worthy these are. Im sure West Cumbria has enough on its plate having to put up with our old sheds!

 

[Cumberland Lad]

....................

 

[Chris26584]

Indeed, 47023/4, 47005/6/7, 34616, 16714, 16733/4, all of these "sheds" came from Preston, to make matters worse, we send decent buses to Preston, eg, 25225, 52629. :-x

Never mind though, our fleet is improving, 47474 is now in service and seems pretty decent and all the Merc 814's and bouncy darts have now gone, most of the K reg B10's have been replaced by R reg's, plus there's the new Scania's coming shortly which should see the withdrawal of the old Leyland oly's too.

The irony of 47474 being ex Preston too... although of course it having a major rebuild and doing less millage than the other 24 examples will of helped it no end. Scary to think all that damage was done by a tree, luckily the driver is on the road slowly to recovery.
I've experienced all those vehicles and can safely say most come under the above category... i'll reserve judgement on 47023/4 as they were ex Fleetwood. Memories of having to take 47005-7 down the M6 to Wrightington Bar early in the mornings to take up service on the 113 are ones I won't want to repeat anytime soon! The cab door on 16733/4 (whichever one has the black drivers seat) almost took my thumb off one day, so I was never friends with it - the brakes on its when it arrived were also terrible.
The Scania's are very nice buses to drive and should be a quality ride for the passenger (give the drivers a while to get used to them).

 

[cainebj]

Indeed, 47023/4, 47005/6/7, 34616, 16714, 16733/4, all of these "sheds" came from Preston, to make matters worse, we send decent buses to Preston, eg, 25225, 52629. :-x

Never mind though, our fleet is improving, 47474 is now in service and seems pretty decent and all the Merc 814's and bouncy darts have now gone, most of the K reg B10's have been replaced by R reg's, plus there's the new Scania's coming shortly which should see the withdrawal of the old Leyland oly's too.

47059 & 47060/1/2 are rather poor these days! wern't too bad when they first came up, but they're rather bad now! i'd say 47059 is the best of the 4 to travel on comfort-wise. 47061 and 47062 were both rather poor. 47060 isn't overly bad, but it isn't exactly great either!

 

[Dallamlad]

Route changes at the University:

From the end of this month (beginning of next) when the underpass closes services 2/2a and X1 will serve North Campus with the 3/4 continuing to serve South Campus as usual. The 2/2a will revert back to its original route once the underpass is opened again (Around October time) but the X1 will carry on serving North campus on a trial basis for one academic year. At the end of the academic year it will be reviewed to see if serving North campus is cost effective.

The reason for the change is students have signed a petition requesting Stagecoach serve north campus like they did several years ago. The amount of accommodation in county collage (north campus)has risen sharply and so there may be a high demand for a bus service.

Stephie Barber explained that "buses went around the northern perimeter road until seven or eight years ago, when resources were moved to provide for south west. following the development of the accommodation in the northern part of campus, I have committed to having the X1 revert back to this route to see if we can build up a market for it. If it is a success then these services will most definitely continue"

 

[Cumberland Lad]

................

 

[rosswatson]

Nah, nowt wrong with the 04 plate's, they could do with a tart up internally but other than that they are ok, 47061 is exceptionally good and very quick!

I'm not sure that the words "exceptionally good" and "Optare Solo" are supposed to go together! :roll:

 

[Dallamlad]

7 days till the 86/89 contract kicks in so is something going to appear that has the required capacity?

 

[Gez.SCNW]

7 days till the 86/89 contract kicks in so is something going to appear that has the required capacity?

Yes

 

[Mattdw92]

Nah, nowt wrong with the 04 plate's, they could do with a tart up internally but other than that they are ok, 47061 is exceptionally good and very quick!

The 04's are ok, they do sometimes struggle going up the steeper hills of the town services. First gear is a struggle at these parts, but once they get up the gears, their away while with the 51 reg's crawl up the hills making more sound than progress! When optare first set out making solos they really didnt look into the power vs hill problem very well!