It was the X32 Sheffield to Leeds via Barnsley (along with X33 Sheffield - Barnsley - Wakefield - Dewsbury - Bradford)
That makes some sense as I did think it surprising given the evening service. I wouldn't say it puts on a par with the 200 - that is only surviving as some funds have been found for it to continue whereas the 500 is probably self-sustaining.
I've looked at it from the perspective of one route, many destinations. That and the marketing push which would show that you'd be able to bus it from Matlock to Leeds/ Leeds to Matlock, might sound mad but if Transdev can do it with the 36 and Coastliner then it why not Stagecoach even if they're going down the old Moir Lockhead route of zero locality branding?
The 36 and 843 are very longstanding routes and follow a natural route with clearly defined markets.
And the 840. It used to be a United/West Yorkshire joint as a 91. We caught it from Leeds to Goathland for a weeks holiday there in the early 1970's
Gone by 1977 and didn't return (except as a Summer Sunday Moorsbus and even then, only one journey to York) until early 1990s IIRC
Exactly my point about reliability. You would struggle with a service of that length.
Coastliner (transdev) are running Leeds-Whitby several times a day.
It’s actually quicker if travelling from Matlock to get off at Chesterfield and catch the train to Sheffield (just) and certainly much quicker if travelling to Meadowhall, Barnsley and Leeds
Yes. TheGrandWazoo noted the route returned in the 90s in the section you quoted.
The service went from hourly to half hourly about 2002 without any s106 funding. I think it later started running every 20 min - possibly with the funding? The reduction to hourly will be to do with general reduction of passenger carryings probably plus staffing issues.
Yes, I know, but there was a large gap (1977 to early 1990s) when there wasn't. In that period, you'd have to change from the 743/843 at Malton, usually onto a United LH running the 92 to Whitby
Thanks for that @RT4038 - I recalled it was every 20 mins (was it from 2011 when they got some new e200s?). Seem to recall that Stagecoach also upped the Chipping Norton service (which was less than hourly before) and also the Oxford service.
To be fair bus services from Banbury are much better now than in times past. Sure the occasional and shoppers services one day a week have all gone but compared to the 1970s we have:
A new FoxConnect on demand service already covers most parts of the X55 route: https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/public-transport/fox-connect/Arriva Midlands X55 (Leicester to Hinckley via Burbage, Sapcote and Thurlaston) is showing as being cancelled from 1st October.
Vehicle Operator Licensing - GOV.UK
www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk
I would like hope Grant Palmer will picking up this work as they have just bought the old United Counties depot in Biggleswade.
X59 was a City of Oxford and Midland Red joint route. Looking at my old timetables, it wasn't there in 1975 but was by 1981, when there were four through workings Mon-Sat and a couple of short ones.
They would seem the most likely to look at the service as anything other than a tender to win and half heartedly run.
Assume you're talking about the outstation at Langford Turn - the depot is long gone (Shortmead Street)
Stagecoach East might be one of the worst operating companies PERIOD. It seems to have been on an ever increasing spiral of chaos since Andy Campbell left. And that is saying something!
Given the issues with Stagecoach West and South West, that might be a tough accolade to win!
3 MDs in 4 years tells the story. Not even Stagecoach South West can claim that! Ironically one of the West MDs was the ex Engineering Director at East.
