Stagecoach North West Discussion

[cainebj]

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!

Optare didn't come to West Cumbria
i've found 47059 to be the best of the 04's like. had it on the Cockermouth - Workington X5 via Broughton & Camerton one day, with a woman driver (won't say which one). it went flying up the hills! had no problems with speed! i actually thought the doors were going to fly off! they were rattling like hell!
also done that route in 47024 and 34079. 34079 was blooming awesome on the flat level straight roads! handled the speed extremely well, but as soon as it got onto a hill, it was crawling up!

 

[Dallamlad]

I imagine that there was a time many years ago where the 51 reg solos had a little more power then they do now lol.

Yes

Fantastic thanks I guess the options are:

2 New E200's
2 New Long Solos
2 New Versa's (do they do a short Versa?)
Transfers from somewhere else.

As usual I'm sure I'm wrong and I'll be surprised!!!

14195 on 941
16663 on 942
16659 (I think) on 504
18380 on 40
84 branded 07 solo on 89
25222 on 6a
Rear blind on 18381 is broken.

Also the work on Spring Garden Street has now been completed so buses have reverted back to using Common Garden Street.

Also just heard an inspector talking to a driver about the X12. He seemed to indicate some uncertainty about the routes future but said "There making the buses now, three air conditioned ones" so I reckon the fundings safe and the last government rushed it through before the election lol.

 

[cainebj]

34616 on 50.
47062 on 51.
34079 and 47007 on Seaton.
47005 and another Solo on Harrington.
20129 and 52628 on Staff Shuttle.
20777 and 20134 on annexe.

16647, 20918 and a 56 reg Dart on 30 and 31.
20910 was on short 300 this morning, 20945 is on now.
16652/3 on normal 300.
20994 has been on 600, now doing 48's.

47617 on 1.
35248 on 2.
47024 on 3.
47061 on 4.
20902 on 31A.
20763 been flying around as well, not sure what on though!

today, i've been unfortunate enough to have to travel on buses 'cos my car died. i had 22597 from Workington - Red Lonning, and it was rather awful! the driver put it into D in the bus station, and it started shaking!
22598 Red Lonning - Whitehaven, Lowther Street. it wasn't overly bad, but not as good as they once were.
20945 Whitehaven - Workington. it was bloody awesome!!! couldn't fault acceleration or ride comfort or its ability to handle speed! only annoying thing on it, was the drivers cab door! it doesn't shut securely, so moves around a bit when it is closed! it could do with a retrim as well, but it is surprisingly clean for an ex Merseyside bus! shame that there's loads of blanking plates inside where CCTV used to be!

 

[Mattdw92]

I imagine that there was a time many years ago where the 51 reg solos had a little more power then they do now lol

Hmm just a little

34616 on 50.
47062 on 51.
34079 and 47007 on Seaton.
47005 and another Solo on Harrington.
20129 and 52628 on Staff Shuttle.
20777 and 20134 on annexe.

16647, 20918 and a 56 reg Dart on 30 and 31.
20910 was on short 300 this morning, 20945 is on now.
16652/3 on normal 300.
20994 has been on 600, now doing 48's.

47617 on 1.
35248 on 2.
47024 on 3.
47061 on 4.
20902 on 31A.
20763 been flying around as well, not sure what on though!

47474 just gone past my window on 50 now (15:50), must have been hiding all day! - at the same time behind 47474 34616 went past on 50 too!! (originally on 50 today), both were not full hmm

 

[Chris26584]

Fantastic thanks I guess the options are:

2 New E200's
2 New Long Solos
2 New Versa's (do they do a short Versa?)
Transfers from somewhere else.

As usual I'm sure I'm wrong and I'll be surprised!!!

Word is they are meant to be getting some Enviro 200s, of which I understand are new. 2 of them, not sure what length or when they are arriving (sorry to have kept the guessing game going on so long... forgot)!

 

[mbonwick]

I can see there being more than 2 actually, give Preston a Dart upgrade.....

 

[rosswatson]

20910 made its debut on the X4 service today!

 

[Gez.SCNW]

Also just heard an inspector talking to a driver about the X12. He seemed to indicate some uncertainty about the routes future but said "There making the buses now, three air conditioned ones" so I reckon the fundings safe and the last government rushed it through before the election lol.[/QUOTE]

ALL Kick Start funding has been withdrawn,
The service is in very serious doubt, although we have the buses ordered, they may well now be delivered elsewhere.
It is all very much up in the air at the moment
You'll here it here first

 

[Dallamlad]

Also just heard an inspector talking to a driver about the X12. He seemed to indicate some uncertainty about the routes future but said "There making the buses now, three air conditioned ones" so I reckon the fundings safe and the last government rushed it through before the election lol.

ALL Kick Start funding has been withdrawn,
The service is in very serious doubt, although we have the buses ordered, they may well now be delivered elsewhere.
It is all very much up in the air at the moment
You'll here it here first[/QUOTE]

For f**ks sake yet another reason not to vote Tory. I hope SC go ahead with the route anyway IF they think it is profitable. I know the X2 ran a similar route twice a day and was withdrawn due to poor usage but I think the X12 would be very profitable especially at peak times!

Mbonwick makes a good point maybe the Preston citi routes are due an upgrade...?

Can't believe it about the X12! Thanks for keeping us updated Gez greatly appreciated.

 

[cainebj]

For f**ks sake yet another reason not to vote Tory. I hope SC go ahead with the route anyway IF they think it is profitable. I know the X2 ran a similar route twice a day and was withdrawn due to poor usage but I think the X12 would be very profitable especially at peak times!


Can't believe it about the X12! Thanks for keeping us updated Gez greatly appreciated.

already 14 buses an hour running between Morecambe & Lancaster, is any more really needed?

 

[KendalKing]

Noted on the VOSA website:-

PC0000043/287 - RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES LTD T/A STAGECOACH IN LANCASHIRE, STAGECOACH NORTH WEST, T/A RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES, BROADACRE HOUSE, 16 - 20 LOWTHER STREET, CARLISLE, CA3 8DA
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blackburn and Chorley given service number 124 effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

 

[Paul Mcgill]

already 14 buses an hour running between Morecambe & Lancaster, is any more really needed?

Yer there is only buses at peak time in morning from the Battery to Lancaster there a bus about every 3-5 mins or used to be

 

[driver9000]

Yer there is only buses at peak time in morning from the Battery to Lancaster there a bus about every 3-5 mins or used to be

At one time there was a bus every 2-3mins between Lancaster and the University not to mention the unscheduled extras that often ran.

 

[mbonwick]

Oh, hello driver9000! Haven't seen you on here in a while...

 

[driver9000]

Oh, hello driver9000! Haven't seen you on here in a while...

Bonjour! I've been really busy recently left little time for hobby indulging - facebook movements have generally been off my phone

 

[TheHovisKid]

I know the X2 ran a similar route twice a day and was withdrawn due to poor usage

I used to use that, and it was really quite handy, it's just the only people who knew about it were the people that used it.
The timekeeping didn't help, or the fact that they took it off just before the bus lane was extended down past Scale Hall. The morning journey in often had an ex-Heysham Travel Metrobus with packed to the roof, but I always thought the service would have done better with advertising.
The service that got in to Lancaster about 8.30 used to become a, or rather the 1B (Uni via Bowerham-Barton Road) which was good for 9.AM lectures, but it was so late it was a spare bus more often then not, sometimes a freebie trip with an inspector driving.
The 17:10 off Lancaster had a habit of not appearing because of traffic (not helped at all by the bus station being rebuilt at the time- it started from Queen Square but i don't know what the inbound working was) and was usually worked by whatever was actually the 17:30, oddly enough at around 17:30.
Mind you, used to get some less usual (for town services) stuff on those, quite a few VRT rides, of 135-137 (27035-7) which went like, well, you know... off a shovel.

 

[mbonwick]

27035-7...ah, happy memories! They should never have been sold for scrap!

 

[TheHovisKid]

27035-7...ah, happy memories! They should never have been sold for scrap!

63 seats and 5 million standing, shifted more students back from uni at tea time than a J-reg Olly!

"You up there, can you touch the back window?"
"No"
"Move up then! Hope no one wants off before the RLI........."
Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooosh!

Oh look, even these have got LEDs! One of the Volvos as (or had) an emergency door from one of these...

 

[driver9000]

The first incarnation of the X2 (Battery-Lancaster via Heysham) began as an hourly service numbered 13 which also served Heysham Village. The service wasn't the greatest success it could have been as it was far quicker than travelling on the 2 to Lancaster. The peak hour X2 survived until the big service revision in 2001 which saw the 2A become an all day service along with the 2 retimed to give a 10 minute headway. The buses tended to be single deckers mostly Nationals or B10s along with Tiger No.900 turned up almost daily. Javelins were definitely most welcome sights too

I have a feeling the 17:10 used to come off a 49 or 55/55A but the memory has faded a bit since then.

Another little used service was the Thursdays only service 33 which made one return trip between Overton and Lancaster via Oxcliffe Road mid morning/early afternoon using a Mercedes.


Hurtling along towards Silverdale over the switchbacks after Yealand was always great fun in a Javelin - the school kids loved it and would all sit at the back!

Re buses on the perimeter roads - the 3 and 4 used to swap over while travelling around the perimeter, an incoming 3 became a 4 and vice versa. At the time the SW campus didn't exist the small access gate was permanently locked up. Buses stopped using the Northern end (always the quieter end) after the roads were made suitable for buses in the SW campus site which used a minibus shuttle for a time as 'big' buses couldn't get round safely. As far as a I can remember the 3 and 4 stopped going round the Northern perimeter in 2004 after which they served the SW campus along with the X2 as it was envisaged this is where the students would have all their accommodation.

 

[TheHovisKid]

A 55/55A or 49 would fit, as they used to work those a lot, more the 55s though, 49s were more a B10 job.

13? Wasn't in Morecambe ever then, so never saw that, but does that mean there has been a No.12 before?

900 had the same formica as my Gran's kitchen table! LCT used to have 3 of those with a Leyland chassis, but I never managed to get on one- we used to have LCT for the games contract as school, Barton Road, here we come.
LCT.... Oops, feel old now....

Ex Heysham Travel Nationals- one word: Tractor!

 

[driver9000]

I have fond memories of LCT, despite being 13 when they ended.

Service 13 would have begun around 1995/96 before becoming the X2. I used to use it in preference to my school bus. Despite what logic would tell you there wasn't a 12 - there are huge gaps in the numbering sequence. There used to be services 16 and 17, seasonal services serving Ocean Edge park with the 16 going to Morecambe and the 17 going to Lancaster. Of these the 17 lasted longest running until 2002 as a single trip on a Sunday.

A lot of Heysham Travels Nationals were ex-Ribble examples and I still miss Heysham Travel along with their eclectic fleet

 

[Chris26584]

I can see there being more than 2 actually, give Preston a Dart upgrade.....

Not sure if we're due anything, but ears will be kept firmly to the ground. Doubt we'll get anything until the Preston Bus episode is put to bed.
Possibly upgrades for the 3 (which seems to have adopted the MANs) or 9 (Which have adopted most of the Darts)... if they got used on the 9s they'd be soon wrecked! Alsodepends on the next movements of the 33*** series, which will set the benchmark for their futures within the company. No doubt anyway the 2 for Fleetwood will creap into service when they come down for maintenance... presuming we'll have to send something of a simular size back over to Fleetwood.
33143 is confirmed to have joined 33144 up at Lillyhall in store and is struck off fleet strength at Preston. Still no sign of 16328 in service as yet

 

[Mattdw92]

20790 on seaton before noon (while 47474 was parked bathing in the sun on the annex! with 20130 and 20777 around 1245)
22596 and another E300 needed the hosepipe treatment in the bus station, overheating
47005 on 51
47062 on 50

in whitehaven today:
47617 on 1
20910 on 2 (later replaced by 35249)
47024 on 3
47061 on 4
20918 on 22

47474 did have a run into whitehaven this afternoon after being on the annex most of the morning, dropped staff off, then back out towards workington! "Sorry Not In Service"

 

[Dave The Bus]

Noted on the VOSA website:-

PC0000043/287 - RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES LTD T/A STAGECOACH IN LANCASHIRE, STAGECOACH NORTH WEST, T/A RIBBLE MOTOR SERVICES, BROADACRE HOUSE, 16 - 20 LOWTHER STREET, CARLISLE, CA3 8DA
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blackburn and Chorley given service number 124 effective from 25-Jul-2010. To amend Route and Timetable.

Meant to mention about that, going back to the old route during tendered journeys to give Wheelton-Knowley-Chorley a link during Evenings and Sundays, as the hospital end is served well enough during those times.

 

[lui9795]

Hi chaps, I'm new here and hopefully I'm doing this right?

I've been watching for a while and I think it's an excellent forum, lively and informative. Having lived "up north" for some time as well, it's deeply interesting and helps aid my homesickness.

I've noticed how unpopular the Solos seem to be on here. The bulk of our fleet consists of the type, we have around 25 varying in age from S-reg through to 04-reg and I have to say I think they're excellent. Radical really for a bus and odd to drive for that reason, but flexible, reliable and economical.

Keep up the excellent posts,
Jack.

 

[Dallamlad]

Not sure if we're due anything, but ears will be kept firmly to the ground. Doubt we'll get anything until the Preston Bus episode is put to bed.
Possibly upgrades for the 3 (which seems to have adopted the MANs) or 9 (Which have adopted most of the Darts)... if they got used on the 9s they'd be soon wrecked! Alsodepends on the next movements of the 33*** series, which will set the benchmark for their futures within the company. No doubt anyway the 2 for Fleetwood will creap into service when they come down for maintenance... presuming we'll have to send something of a simular size back over to Fleetwood.
33143 is confirmed to have joined 33144 up at Lillyhall in store and is struck off fleet strength at Preston. Still no sign of 16328 in service as yet

Sorry I'm a little lost lol. So Fleetwood are getting something from another depot?

Also welcome Lui9795

 

[lui9795]

Hi caniebj,

Sorry to venture off-topic slightly.

Having watched the forum for a while, I've noticed you often have screenshots of various different electronic display units which I assume you've generated yourself. I have an ex-Reading Optare Solo in my fleet with a Brightech unit (who are now defunct) and it needs updating.

Have you by any chance got the text-generating software for it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[rosswatson]

20910 on the X4 again today, pictures to follow
47474 in Maryport today, possibly on the 58!
16393 on Seatoller.

 

[Mattdw92]

welcome Lui9795, lillyhall's solos are 51, 04, 07 and 08 reg - the 51's are lacking in the power department, and as far as reliable goes, lillyhalls 51's are iffy! the S-reg must be a joy!
07/8 tick the boxes better

47474 getting around today then

 

[lui9795]

welcome Lui9795, lillyhall's solos are 51, 04, 07 and 08 reg - the 51's are lacking in the power department, and as far as reliable goes, lillyhalls 51's are iffy! the S-reg must be a joy!
07/8 tick the boxes better

Ironically, I'd say ex-Reading S102 LBL is about the best.

I haven't got round to a recent assessment, but for February 2010 with a fleet of 58 vehicles (22 Solo, 2 Excel and 34 Dart) with the Solos covering 60% of our mileage, attended roadcalls relating to issues with Solos were 14% overall. That can't be bad!