Stagecoach South & South East

[fgwrich]

Has there been a recent swap between Chichester / Guildford & Andover?

Bus Times has Ex Gold / South Downs SN63YPU / 27918 and GX11AKY / 27755 both working in the Andover area today - 27918 was recently working the Guildford - Woking corridor.

​

 

[Surreyman]

Has there been a recent swap between Chichester / Guildford & Andover?

Bus Times has Ex Gold / South Downs SN63YPU / 27918 and GX11AKY / 27755 both working in the Andover area today - 27918 was recently working the Guildford - Woking corridor.

​

There has been a small influx of E300s into Guildford from other south depots, they still show their original depot on bustimes, (presumably their ticket machines are flagged with original depot?) hard to know what's permanent and whats temp', a coastliner E400 MMC has also been operating on guildford local routes in the last few days (not the first time this has happened).
With reduced schedules and driver shortages, it is hard to see the full picture.

 

[AB93]

I believe 27918 has indeed left Guildford again, something about keeping the E300s with Gold interiors together. With emergency reduced schedules in place, the vehicle requirement must have dropped from the initial couple of weeks in December anyway.

a coastliner E400 MMC has also been operating on guildford local routes in the last few days (not the first time this has happened).
With reduced schedules and driver shortages, it is hard to see the full picture.

Worth clarifying that it's just the ticket machine with the wrong fleet number on, not the actual bus, as per posts above. There was also a standard E200 going round mascaraing as an electric Park & Ride bus for a while.

That said, yesterday (12th Jan), electric bus 29104 did manage a 53 to Ewhurst and back, which is the first time one of them has escaped beyond Guildford town or their regular 715 jaunts.

 

[Class450/4DES]

I believe 27918 has indeed left Guildford again, something about keeping the E300s with Gold interiors together. With emergency reduced schedules in place, the vehicle requirement must have dropped from the initial couple of weeks in December anyway.


Worth clarifying that it's just the ticket machine with the wrong fleet number on, not the actual bus, as per posts above. There was also a standard E200 going round mascaraing as an electric Park & Ride bus for a while.

That said, yesterday (12th Jan), electric bus 29104 did manage a 53 to Ewhurst and back, which is the first time one of them has escaped beyond Guildford town or their regular 715 jaunts.

I've seen an E200EEV on the 65 on bustimes, but this might be wrong. Also, Basingstoke's E200MMC fleet are working from Andover, Winchester & Portsmouth from time to time.

 

[Flange Squeal]

That said, yesterday (12th Jan), electric bus 29104 did manage a 53 to Ewhurst and back, which is the first time one of them has escaped beyond Guildford town or their regular 715 jaunts.

I've seen an E200EEV on the 65 on bustimes, but this might be wrong. Also, Basingstoke's E200MMC fleet are working from Andover, Winchester & Portsmouth from time to time.

Since at least September last year, the electrics have also appeared fairly regularly on route 71, working a school duplicate of the 1525 Woolmer Hill School to Guildford journey as far as Chiddingfold. It is operated as part of a board with route 715 on it, so it can also often throw up Euro VI diesels (or others if for some reason there's a vehicle change at the depot en route which does occur). LJ68 CZA did the honours today.

 

[Class450/4DES]

Any news on the Stagecoach South fleet?

 

[cnjb8]

Any news on the Stagecoach South fleet?

Check https://fleetreport.co.uk/latest-news among other websites for news

 

[LUYMun]

Thanks for the link, looks like Aldershot's MAN/E200s are becoming reserves rather than scrapped.

 

[Surreyman]

Thanks for the link, looks like Aldershot's MAN/E200s are becoming reserves rather than scrapped.

I think the operational staff would have happily sent them to the scrap yard years ago but the bean counters won't let them!
Breakdowns waiting to happen ... surely not???

 

[Class450/4DES]

Check https://fleetreport.co.uk/latest-news among other websites for news

I do read that but there has not been a lot of news on Stagecoach South, especially the three E300s that are supposed to arrive from Scotland.

 

[gka472l]

I do read that but there has not been a lot of news on Stagecoach South, especially the three E300s that are supposed to arrive from Scotland.

One of those three, 27524, was parked in Dunfermline depot on 25 January, so whether it's still supposed to head south, I've no idea.

 

[Class450/4DES]

anuary, so whether it's still supposed to head sou

Ah okay then.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Feb 2022 ==

36256 is working for Guildford now for some reason.

 

[LUYMun]

As Storm Eunice gathers pace, Stagecoach South buses are suspended until 3pm at the latest.

 

[Typhoon]

As Storm Eunice gathers pace, Stagecoach South buses are suspended until 3pm at the latest.

Likewise South East - until 14:00 but I would reckon that might be optimistic.

 

[Class450/4DES]

As Storm Eunice gathers pace, Stagecoach South buses are suspended until 3pm at the latest.

17:30 now.

 

[alex397]

Likewise South East - until 14:00 but I would reckon that might be optimistic.

Yes this was later changed to after 5pm, but not all routes/journeys returned to service.

 

[fgwrich]

One swap of Enviro 200 MMCs seems to have occurred between Portsmouth and Basingstoke: Former Basingstoke branded 26295 for former Route 23 Branded E200 MMC 26150. I'm not sure there is much in those vehicles personally (other than 2 years) but at least it's still a fairly smart and new-ish MMC.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2022 ==

Also ion the repaint updates list, former Winchester P&R turned Basingstoke E300 GX10HCD has now been repainted into the Stagecoach local "Googlebus" scheme. It is the first such single deck vehicle for Basingstoke in the scheme (the terrible twosome E200's previously repainted were since transferred to Guildford).

Not my photo.

27616 GX10HCD STAGECOACH the first of the batch 27616 to 27622 to be painted in the new livery

Basingstoke Chapel Hill

www.flickr.com

 

[Class450/4DES]

One swap of Enviro 200 MMCs seems to have occurred between Portsmouth and Basingstoke: Former Basingstoke branded 26295 for former Route 23 Branded E200 MMC 26150. I'm not sure there is much in those vehicles personally (other than 2 years) but at least it's still a fairly smart and new-ish MMC.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Feb 2022 ==

Also ion the repaint updates list, former Winchester P&R turned Basingstoke E300 GX10HCD has now been repainted into the Stagecoach local "Googlebus" scheme. It is the first such single deck vehicle for Basingstoke in the scheme (the terrible twosome E200's previously repainted were since transferred to Guildford).

Not my photo.

27616 GX10HCD STAGECOACH the first of the batch 27616 to 27622 to be painted in the new livery

Basingstoke Chapel Hill

www.flickr.com

15982 is in a special livery at Guildford too.
Here is a photo of it I found on flickr.

15982 YN64XSJ

Commercial Road, Guildford. Route: 2.

www.flickr.com

 

[duncombec]

Stagecoach Guildford have registered an Operating Centre for 30 vehicles at Leas Road Guildford, according to this week's N&P.

I will add a link to a source once the PDF version is uploaded to the gov.uk website later today: I'm on their mailing list, so I get it as a Word document on the stroke of midnight. Here's the except in the meantime:

Section 2.4 – Variation Applications Granted​

PK0002571 SN	STAGECOACH (SOUTH) LIMITED Director(s): EDWARD HODGSON, Bruce Maxwell Dingwall, CARLA LUCY STOCKTON-JONES, RUPERT MILES COX
BUS STATION, SOUTHGATE, CHICHESTER, PO19 8DG New operating centre: STAGECOACH GUILDFORD, LEAS ROAD, GUILDFORD, GU1 4QT New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 30 vehicle(s)

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Stagecoach Guildford have registered an Operating Centre for 30 vehicles at Leas Road Guildford, according to this week's N&P.

I will add a link to a source once the PDF version is uploaded to the gov.uk website later today: I'm on their mailing list, so I get it as a Word document on the stroke of midnight. Here's the except in the meantime:

Section 2.4 – Variation Applications Granted​

PK0002571 SN	STAGECOACH (SOUTH) LIMITED Director(s): EDWARD HODGSON, Bruce Maxwell Dingwall, CARLA LUCY STOCKTON-JONES, RUPERT MILES COX
BUS STATION, SOUTHGATE, CHICHESTER, PO19 8DG New operating centre: STAGECOACH GUILDFORD, LEAS ROAD, GUILDFORD, GU1 4QT New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 30 vehicle(s)

Temporary parking area pending the securing of a permanent solution/redevelopment of the site?

 

[duncombec]

Temporary parking area pending the securing of a permanent solution/redevelopment of the site?

I presumed so (but obviously don't know so) - there is perhaps also a desire to remove the overflow parking at Artington Park & Ride site. It could logically also be of benefit to the current owners of Leas Road if their redevelopment plans are on hold for any reason (such as shortage of builders still working on other projects that should now be complete).

 

[Surreyman]

I presumed so (but obviously don't know so) - there is perhaps also a desire to remove the overflow parking at Artington Park & Ride site. It could logically also be of benefit to the current owners of Leas Road if their redevelopment plans are on hold for any reason (such as shortage of builders still working on other projects that should now be complete).

Artington parking ceased some time ago, probably down to the reduced schedules/driver shortages, parking at Peasmarsh has certainly been tight, some vehicles parked on opposite side of estate and along approach road, prior to reversing in to main parking area.
I assume that Leas road is a short term fix, as another poster mentioned, Leas Rd is reported sold for redevelopment.
Arriva used to have an 'Ops' licence for 7 vehicles at the Friary bus stn, probably not practical for overnight storage for security reasons.

 

[Man of Kent]

I presumed so (but obviously don't know so) - there is perhaps also a desire to remove the overflow parking at Artington Park & Ride site. It could logically also be of benefit to the current owners of Leas Road if their redevelopment plans are on hold for any reason (such as shortage of builders still working on other projects that should now be complete).

There is no planning application shown on Guildford BC's website for any redevelopment of the site.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There is no planning application shown on Guildford BC's website for any redevelopment of the site.

I had a check too. I suspect that there's gonna be some considerable delay in the redevelopment of the Leas Road site so for the developers, it probably brings in a bit of revenue and saves them on security.

 

[duncombec]

Artington parking ceased some time ago, probably down to the reduced schedules/driver shortages, parking at Peasmarsh has certainly been tight, some vehicles parked on opposite side of estate and along approach road, prior to reversing in to main parking area.

Thanks - I hadn't realised that.

I assume that Leas road is a short term fix, as another poster mentioned, Leas Rd is reported sold for redevelopment.

There is no planning application shown on Guildford BC's website for any redevelopment of the site.

I had a check too. I suspect that there's gonna be some considerable delay in the redevelopment of the Leas Road site so for the developers, it probably brings in a bit of revenue and saves them on security.

Indeed - I thought I had seen suggestions that Arriva had done a "sale and lease back" on the site some years ago with the eventual aim of it being for, residential redevelopment), but can't track anything to suit that now**, including my own search of the Guildford BC website. However, whilst searching for that, I eventually came across the following detail from a London property auctioneer (bolding in original):

Lot Overview

auctions.allsop.co.uk

• Currently comprises a Former Bus Depot
• Possible Potential for Redevelopment and/or Change of Use, subject to consents
• The Seller has Agreed Terms to Lease the site to Stagecoach for a term of 3 years (with a Landlord's Break Option after 2 years) at a rent of £120,000 per annum. The Lease is due to be signed prior to the auction date

The auction was apparently on 17th February, but I can't find whether it was actually sold then or not.

(N&P link: https://assets.publishing.service.g...t_data/file/1059224/np_2644_07_March_2022.pdf, page 8 of the PDF. Excerpt exactly as that from the Word doc in my earlier post).

** Edit: The site was sold for £1,458,773 in December 2016 (https://themovemarket.com/tools/propertyprices/arriva-guildford-leas-road-guildford-gu1-4qt). It appears residentiality was rumoured, as is often the case with such locations - and after all, it is in the middle of a housing estate!)

 

[Drogba11CFC]

The "shortage of double deckers" means that single deckers are once again being imposed on the people who travel Route 64. The 7:38 from Alton, which I take to work, has been rammed solid after Medstead four days running.

 

[Surreyman]

The "shortage of double deckers" means that single deckers are once again being imposed on the people who travel Route 64. The 7:38 from Alton, which I take to work, has been rammed solid after Medstead four days running.

The irony is that the 65 (Alton - Guildford) which was officially converted to Single Deck operation, continues to see regular Double Deck operation.

 

[baza585]

The "shortage of double deckers" means that single deckers are once again being imposed on the people who travel Route 64. The 7:38 from Alton, which I take to work, has been rammed solid after Medstead four days running.

A number of buses and drivers at Cheltenham this week.

Cancellations from most depots this week due to lack of drivers and/or buses.

Appalling and I really hope the TCs are watching. Pure corporate greed.

 

[duncombec]

A number of buses and drivers at Cheltenham this week.

Cancellations from most depots this week due to lack of drivers and/or buses.

Appalling and I really hope the TCs are watching. Pure corporate greed.

I would suggest it has more to do with contract fulfilment (and presumable penalties for lack thereof).

Obviously none of us will know the contract terms, but it wouldn't surprise me if the penalties for non-fulfillment were quite up there with the expected 'profit' from the event, so rather less "corporate greed" and more "sensible actuarial behaviour".

 

[baza585]

I would suggest it has more to do with contract fulfilment (and presumable penalties for lack thereof).

Obviously none of us will know the contract terms, but it wouldn't surprise me if the penalties for non-fulfillment were quite up there with the expected 'profit' from the event, so rather less "corporate greed" and more "sensible actuarial behaviour".

No doubt they have a contract to fulfil and there are possible penalty clauses.

Stagecoach could have hired in buses and drivers for Cheltenham. This would of course have reduced the expected profit.

They have chosen not to do this and have stripped drivers and buses from their depots around the country, leading to cancellations in many parts of the country, including West itself, in default of their obligations to councils and the traffic commissioner.

Not sure how actuarial comes into it. From a risk management perspective, I would have thought the risk of adverse TC action would have outweighed the profit from Cheltenham.

Trying to impress their prospective new private equity owners possibly........