Stagecoach North West Discussion

[cainebj]

14234 ended up working the delayed 1302 short 300 to Whitehaven, at 1320ish, after 2 B10M's broke down! on the way into Workington, the driver drove the B10M into the depot with passengers on due to some fault, then the replacement B10M packed up as well under a mile from the depot, resulting in 14234 being sent out.

20945, 35246 and 35249 on 30 and 31.
47006 and an 04 reg Solo (possibly 47060) been on Harrington.
20931 sounding rather ill, on Seaton 47's.
20436 as the 2nd bus on LL operated 600's.
20902 worked 1325 48.
20905 and a P reg (possibly 20129) flying around Staff Shuttle and SL Ltd Contract.

 

[j@r]

hello, apparently reays coaches have been training drivers on routes in whitehaven, 22 and 30 i was told, i dont know what reays are planning or if its true but thats what ive heard, they are starting to run services in competition with stagecoach in carlisle in october and sellafield which is where i work and where i heard all this, does anybody know anything about it ?

 

[Gez.SCNW]

Aperentley the 1210 From Morecambe-Preston is not even at morecambe yet Poor Drivers Prestons bad enough without that happening

The 1210 ex Morecambe termintaed at Lancaste on its way back
I got called in at 1600, first question boss asked "Are you in a pub", youd think I was an alcy the way they go on anyway I digress.
Landed at the bus station to be informed I was on the 1637 Preston, greta I thought a proper go on a Scania, not to be 14196, joined the southbound snail at Hampson Green roundabout and was a respectable 27 late at Garstang I passed the driver whose bus I was driving at Bowgreave he was 3 hours 2 minutes late at that point.
I was then passed the next five services between Catterall and Billborrow, with the 1700 ex Preston at Broughton I was 1 hour and 7 late by then the passing the one in front at the Withy Trees.
Deprted Preston 58 late and was at the Boot & Shoe 40 minutes later, only one red lightcomig out of Preston, It then took anothre 40 minutes to get down to the bus station, good old LCC Highways, relay a long stretch of main road, then have to dig all the manholes out again.
17020 17023 and 17024 are the ones down for staying at Lancaster

 

[Pricey2701@gma]

The 1210 ex Morecambe termintaed at Lancaste on its way back
I got called in at 1600, first question boss asked "Are you in a pub", youd think I was an alcy the way they go on anyway I digress.
Landed at the bus station to be informed I was on the 1637 Preston, greta I thought a proper go on a Scania, not to be 14196, joined the southbound snail at Hampson Green roundabout and was a respectable 27 late at Garstang I passed the driver whose bus I was driving at Bowgreave he was 3 hours 2 minutes late at that point.
I was then passed the next five services between Catterall and Billborrow, with the 1700 ex Preston at Broughton I was 1 hour and 7 late by then the passing the one in front at the Withy Trees.
Deprted Preston 58 late and was at the Boot & Shoe 40 minutes later, only one red lightcomig out of Preston, It then took anothre 40 minutes to get down to the bus station, good old LCC Highways, relay a long stretch of main road, then have to dig all the manholes out again.
17020 17023 and 17024 are the ones down for staying at Lancaster

Any news on if and which 2005 tridents are leaving

 

[Cumberland Lad]

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

 

[Dallamlad]

The 1210 ex Morecambe termintaed at Lancaste on its way back
I got called in at 1600, first question boss asked "Are you in a pub", youd think I was an alcy the way they go on anyway I digress.
Landed at the bus station to be informed I was on the 1637 Preston, greta I thought a proper go on a Scania, not to be 14196, joined the southbound snail at Hampson Green roundabout and was a respectable 27 late at Garstang I passed the driver whose bus I was driving at Bowgreave he was 3 hours 2 minutes late at that point.
I was then passed the next five services between Catterall and Billborrow, with the 1700 ex Preston at Broughton I was 1 hour and 7 late by then the passing the one in front at the Withy Trees.
Deprted Preston 58 late and was at the Boot & Shoe 40 minutes later, only one red lightcomig out of Preston, It then took anothre 40 minutes to get down to the bus station, good old LCC Highways, relay a long stretch of main road, then have to dig all the manholes out again.
17020 17023 and 17024 are the ones down for staying at Lancaster

What a mess! I guess keeping three S reg's is a good, although I'm sure they will be sent off somewhere else in the not so distant future, they seem to be handy for filling gaps...

 

[Mattdw92]

Came back from town on Workington Town Evening Service 50B 47059 tonight.... and its adopted its lawnmower growl again!
47062 on Maryport Evening 30
47616 on Keswick Evening X5
--- old post above --- new post below ---
47062 on Moorclose with 47059 this morning. 47059 doesn't seem to be mumbling this morning!

>> anddd as notified by cainebj, (one of Lillyhall's) new Stagecoach NW Scania E400 (15686) has been on the annex today! fully branded in West Coast Connect, rather smart looking - bring on the 1st September

--------------​

SERVICE CHANGES IN THE PRESTON, FYLDE, WEST LANCS AND MERSEYSIDE AREAS FROM 5TH SEPTEMBER 2010 - TIMETABLE CHANGES
CHANGES AS FOLLOWS:
1 Preston - Longridge
Revised evening and Sunday timetable, but buses still run every 30 minutes and our ever popular 24 hour service at weekends remains unchanged.

2/2A Preston - Southport or Ormskirk
Revised timetable to improve reliability.

2B Preston - Ormskirk
This service will follow the same route as service 2A between Tarleton and Ormskirk, making things much more consistent at all times of day and on each day of the week.

4C Preston Bus Station - Moor Park Gates - Preston College campus
This new service will operate on Preston College days only, providing a regular link for students to and from Preston city centre. Buses will run every 20 minutes.

61 Preston - Blackpool
This service will have a revised timetable, to improve reliability. There will also be additional journeys to/from Preston College, replacing the previous contract buses.

68 Preston - Blackpool
This service will have a revised timetable, to improve reliability. There will also be additional journeys to/from Preston College, replacing the previous contract buses.

125 Preston - Bolton
Additional journeys will operate on college days to/from Preston College, replacing the contract buses.

X2 Preston - Liverpool
This service will have a revised timetable, in an effort to further improve reliability. The route in Seaforth will be changed to operate via Princess Way, Seaforth & Litherland Station and Linacre Road, instead of Knowsley Road.

X59 Preston - Blackburn
This service will be renumbered to 59 and will have a revised timetable, although buses will still operate generally once per hour, Monday to Saturday. On Monday to Friday, peak time journeys will extend beyond Blackburn to serve Accrington, Great Harwood and Rishton. Some journeys will also extend to/from Preston College, replacing the previous contract buses. The new extensions beyond Accrington are mainly to cater for Preston College students, but are of course open to all customers and we hope they prove a useful link through to Preston for commuters too.

POSTED ON STAGECOACH WEBSITE : 20 AUGUST 2010 12:16
SERVICE X61 (Manchester - Chorley - Preston - Blackpool) - WINTER TIMETABLE FROM 29TH OCTOBER 2010 - TIMETABLE CHANGES

While we have been reviewing the financial performance of service X61 for the winter period, there have been numerous rumours to the effect that the service will be withdrawn from the end of October 2010.

We wish to confirm that this is NOT the case and service X61 will continue, with some minor timetable revisions, as in previous years. A new winter timetable will be released in a few weeks; but the key changes will be as follows:

• Service will observe all stops between Horwich Crown and Horwich Beehive, following customer requests.
• The last journey from Preston to Manchester (and return) will operate up to one hour earlier.
• Some single and return fares will be reviewed, but the great value weekly Routerider will still remain in place.
• There will be no changes to the Sunday service, or the route taken.

In addition: Barrow Job Cuts
"BUS driver jobs could be axed after Stagecoach lost 11 vital contracts. The company was undercut on tenders by rival firms in Barrow, Ulverston and Haverthwaite. Stagecoach boss Phil Smith said no decisions would be made until next week... The county council confirmed Stagecoach had lost 11 contracts in the Barrow area – eight home-to-school or college and three passenger transport contracts. Of the eight home-to-school or college contracts, two of the routes were under-subscribed and not carrying enough children to make them worth running. - Lecks Travel, Travellers Choice and Blueworks are among the companies that have been awarded Barrow contracts.”

Full story in the North West Evening Mail: http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/bus-driver-fears-as-11-contracts-are-lost-1.748864?referrerPath=news/

 

[cainebj]

15686 was indeed on the annexe this afternoon. the driver who took it down from the depot said it was "very sluggish". must add, mainly for the benefit of people who aren't from the area, that the route from Lillyhall to Workington Bus Station is mainly downhill! when it left to go back to the depot, it seemed to run through the gears very quickly, but did sound very smooth.
the back seats on lower deck aren't leather covered like Morecambe's are!

Pictures of 15686

20902 and 20918 on Seaton.
47007 and 47616 on Harrington.
20436 and 20910 on 600.
14258, 20129, 20130, 20905 and 35247 on 30 and 31. missing E300's were 22598 (later out on Staff Shuttle, but wasn't swapped with a B10M on 30 and 31), 22600 and 22610.
20129 done the 1305 31, 20130 on 1320 30, and 20905 on 1335 31. not a good situation if a wheelchair passenger did want on!

53338's LED's have packed up again. no destination board in windscreen.
16447, 16652, 16653 and 16734 on 300.
20903 on short 300.
20962 on 48's this morning.
20921 flying around Staff Shuttle and SL Ltd.
20994 done the last 48 of the afternoon.

 

[mbonwick]

I'm hearing rumours here at work that the builders of Morecambe FCs new stadium,and sponsors, have gone bust.

Also gone bust today is Phil Rogerson plumbing and heating.

18363 may need rebranding soon if rumours are true....

 

[Pricey2701@gma]

15686 was indeed on the annexe this afternoon. the driver who took it down from the depot said it was "very sluggish". must add, mainly for the benefit of people who aren't from the area, that the route from Lillyhall to Workington Bus Station is mainly downhill! when it left to go back to the depot, it seemed to run through the gears very quickly, but did sound very smooth.
the back seats on lower deck aren't leather covered like Morecambe's are!

Pictures of 15686

20902 and 20918 on Seaton.
47007 and 47616 on Harrington.
20436 and 20910 on 600.
14258, 20129, 20130, 20905 and 35247 on 30 and 31. missing E300's were 22598 (later out on Staff Shuttle, but wasn't swapped with a B10M on 30 and 31), 22600 and 22610.
20129 done the 1305 31, 20130 on 1320 30, and 20905 on 1335 31. not a good situation if a wheelchair passenger did want on!

53338's LED's have packed up again. no destination board in windscreen.
16447, 16652, 16653 and 16734 on 300.
20903 on short 300.
20962 on 48's this morning.
20921 flying around Staff Shuttle and SL Ltd.
20994 done the last 48 of the afternoon.

Looking very smart indeed its a shame the back arnt leather it makes it very confortable

 

[Mattdw92]

they really do look quite the part! (well, minor scratch on the front bumper!) Pffft, 'very sluggish' :roll:

 

[Cumberland Lad]

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

 

[Dallamlad]

I think driving a vehicle from Lillyhall to Workington, then branding it "very sluggish" is a wee bit quick to judge, let's give them a chance to get out into service before we start moaning about them. :roll:

More pics of the Scania's at- http://cumbrianbuses.fotopic.net/c1881481.html

The "in Cumbria" under stagecoach looks very small!!! They look great! I think its a love or hate thing with the Scans in terms of how they drive. Some drivers I've spoken to really don't like them and some do just like anything else

Had a very quick 17020 on the 2a just now.

I'm hoping the company building the stadium haven't gone bust! What a disaster!!!

 

[Ado 16]

I noticed, sitting upstairs front on the Scania can feel quite jiggly compared to others - That long front overhang I expect.

 

[mbonwick]

I'm hoping the company building the stadium haven't gone bust! What a disaster!!!

Best bit is, Globe were valued the same as my company - £17m and only got chosen because they had a higher turnover

 

[Mattdw92]

47059 definately going the way of 47062 trumpetty/awfull drilling noise. The growling is getting worse, you cant tell so much outside, but when your riding it growls! Idle, and accelerating through 1st and 2nd gears it dont sound well!

47060 on evening X5

 

[jonesy3001]

20128 turned up at dinner with 14256 going back to kendal,14199 and 20712 only ones left to go back.
Stored olympian 14193 was in the garage earlier for some unknown reason.

 

[mbonwick]

193 being prepped to go perhaps? (Even though it itsn't for disposal)

By rights 14199 shouldn't be going back as it's a J---HFR and has theoretically been replaced by 14245.

 

[jonesy3001]

Bit weird replacing the J-regs with buses that are a year younger. :roll:

 

[Dallamlad]

20128 turned up at dinner with 14256 going back to kendal,14199 and 20712 only ones left to go back.
Stored olympian 14193 was in the garage earlier for some unknown reason.

Not sending 14193 to Preston are they? haha

I'm hoping some more Volvo's turn up at KL to see off Leylands. We'll see if any become spare 14248 and 14199 should by rights be withdrawn ASAP and even the school runners could go if they are no longer needed capacity wise.

 

[mbonwick]

Bit weird replacing the J-regs with buses that are a year younger. :roll:

14245 is F805 FAO, so it's actually older.

Reason the J regs are being replaced first is because they're ex-Burnley & Pendle, ex-Chorley 125 so are extremely high mileage!

 

[Lilly Hall]

Shots of the Lillyhall Enviros here; http://gallerynorth.fotopic.net/

 

[rosswatson]

Shots of the Lillyhall Enviros here; http://gallerynorth.fotopic.net/

We look forward to seeing them in service

I've uploaded some pics of the 15686 to my flickr,

 

[cainebj]

not directly Stagecoach North West, but Reays are going to be running a Carlisle United Express bus for Saturday home matches at Brunton Park, of which will also be open to shoppers. the service starts in Egremont, and runs via Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton and Thursby. prices are between £4 and £8 return, arriving to Carlisle at approx. 12:30, leaving Carlisle at approx. 17:15. the service will be using "luxury" coaches.

 

[rosswatson]

not directly Stagecoach North West, but Reays are going to be running a Carlisle United Express bus for Saturday home matches at Brunton Park, of which will also be open to shoppers. the service starts in Egremont, and runs via Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Aspatria, Wigton and Thursby. prices are between £4 and £8 return, arriving to Carlisle at approx. 12:30, leaving Carlisle at approx. 17:15. the service will be using "luxury" coaches.

Reays have gone Express mad

Sellafield Express
Shoppers Express
Carlisle United Express

 

[Dallamlad]

Bit of news about SC's Princess Road Depot:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...travels_to_new_stop_as_centuryold_depot_shuts

Also welcome Lilly Hall

 

[Mattdw92]

Reays have gone Express mad

Sellafield Express
Shoppers Express
Carlisle United Express

I think Reays are getting a bit greedy!! One of my mates dads works as a driver, he said that they are taking rather a lot on, too much!

20923 and 20130 on Moorclose...
20130 brite tech display not working, got boards up for 50

 

[mbonwick]

Old news about Princess Rd, I've known it was to be shut and relocated for about a year...:P

 

[cainebj]

I think Reays are getting a bit greedy!! One of my mates dads works as a driver, he said that they are taking rather a lot on, too much!

more work than they have space for in their yards for the extra buses, more work than they have the drivers for (they are getting rather desperate now! been advertising for new drivers for a number of months now. 2 Stagecoach drivers went to work for them, both have now left!), more work than they can really afford to operate (their Private Hire charges are a joke! £200 from Stainburn School to Dunmail Park for a standard 53 seat coach. Pickthall done the same job for £85). they offer cheap fares on their new West Cumbria School Work, and Sellafield Express, to attempt making up the difference on their private hires.
worth pointing out that Dawlish Coaches from Devon area, recently had to go into liquidation. it seems their finance payments (coach fleet heavilly financed with Hansar Finance) were getting larger than their monthly income! how long will it be until Reays go the same way?

 

[Gez.SCNW]

Any news on if and which 2005 tridents are leaving

Didn't know any were