Stagecoach South & South East

[RogerOut]

Stagecoach Wales, Stagecoach South, Stagecoach Bristol and Stagecoach Midlands all have Sunday premiums.

Maybe so but when I was at Stagecoach SE recently, as a driver we didn’t get Sunday premium! Nor did we in the four years I was there ! Stagecoach is a national company made up of regional companies. All have their own union agreements and pay structures.

The bottom line is Stagecoach are a business and won’t run routes that don’t make money. Kent Council council is skint and that’s why routes across Kent have been savaged!

East Sussex won their bid for UK bus service improvements, hence the additional bus services. East Sussex council has been awarded the grant. Kent -I’m guessing didn’t .

Look at the difference between service changes with Kent and East Sussex.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2023 ==

Is it true that Port Lympne isn’t getting a bus service at all ? And that’s a big tourist attraction. If so that’s very disappointing

 

[Peter Philips]

Are you speaking area specific as I know for a FACT they do pay more on Sundays in almost all areas and there are many on this forum who would back that up.

Evenings the costs is generally the cost between evening peak and last busy buses, ths time between makes too much of a loss and is not viable. Plus dead mileage as the evening demand is generally town/city to home.

Stagecoach South West don't pay more for Sundays and Stagecoach South East didn't either when I worked there.

 

[duncombec]

Ashford generally seems to be quite s strange town. It is traditionally the weakest area in the Stagecoach South East portfolio, and has been for quite some time (note it was the last area to be upgraded in the triangle/loop/stars/hearts days). Although from somewhere else in Kent rather than Ashford directly, it seems to have never managed to successfully mesh the old, traditional areas of town, and the Nepalese community, who perhaps look towards the town centre, with the newer housing estates, which seem to look more to ASDA and the outlet centre. Many town centres are hollowing out but have refreshed themselves as being meeting places - Ashford has not done that and everything seems to be sliding towards the Outlet. In fact, I thin the most frequent corridor in Ashford is between the town centre and the outlet, and that's years after the dedicated shuttle was withdrawn.

Not all of the new housing is necessarily massively BMW-driving, driveways-galore either: some "new" areas of town have their fair share of temporary service withdrawals to protect drivers and passengers from missiles being lobbed at bus windows.

Ashford sits perfectly placed on the rail network, with lines heading off in six different directions - perhaps the only direction missing being directly through the Downs towards Faversham). To take the journey to Canterbury as an example, yes, the bus fare is currently £4, but takes 54 minutes with some sizeable gaps in the timetable, and a very early last northbound bus. The train may cost £9.70 but takes 14 or 21 minutes depending on stopping pattern, every half hour day in, day out. The new timetable actually offers some improvements in that respect.

I've never been to Ashford in the evenings or on Sundays, but I wonder how much use the buses actually get at those times of the day, in comparison with other areas. Stagecoach East Kent is not known for arbitrary finishes when it suits them (see how late buses run in Thanet, for example).

A small update has now been posted on the Stagecoach website (https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-east/changes-to-folkestone-bus-operations) in relation to services 16B, 73 and 74, although it was available earlier via Kent County Council:

**UPDATE**

Following discussion with Kent County Council about the future of these loss-making services, the following routes will continue to operate:

73/74 - These bus routes will continue on Mondays to Fridays only.

16B - This school-time afternoon bus will be renumber route 974

 

[Paul55]

Maybe so but when I was at Stagecoach SE recently, as a driver we didn’t get Sunday premium! Nor did we in the four years I was there ! Stagecoach is a national company made up of regional companies. All have their own union agreements and pay structures.

The bottom line is Stagecoach are a business and won’t run routes that don’t make money. Kent Council council is skint and that’s why routes across Kent have been savaged!

East Sussex won their bid for UK bus service improvements, hence the additional bus services. East Sussex council has been awarded the grant. Kent -I’m guessing didn’t .

Look at the difference between service changes with Kent and East Sussex.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Aug 2023 ==

Is it true that Port Lympne isn’t getting a bus service at all ? And that’s a big tourist attraction. If so that’s very disappointing

In April 2022 East Sussex received indicative funding of £41.4m for its BSIP, the full amount being awarded in September. Kent received indicative funding of £35.1m in April last year but this was not fully confirmed until June this year. Also in June, Kent received a £2.3m BSIP Plus allocation to support services. Info from Dept For Transport see link below:

Bus service improvement plans: local transport authority final allocations

East Sussex hit the gound running, introducing operator based £5 adult day tickets in time for the 2022 school summer holidays. By April this year it became a multi-operator ticket. Compare this with offering in East Kent where Stagecoach's Southeast adult Dayrider is pitched at £8.70 & the Discovery ticket is £10.
East Sussex & Stagecoach also carried out network restructuring in October 2022, which avoided the scale of cuts now being experienced in Kent. Meanwhile, Kent County Council ratified budget cuts of £2.2m to its Supported Bus Services which commenced in February this year.
In addition several rounds of cuts to commercial services have been announced by the County's major operators.
Two counties side by side, one embarking on a proactive approach & improving services, the other reacting to cuts which are destabilising the local bus network.

 

[RogerOut]

Regarding Ashford. Yes it’s been built up a lot over recent years. But mainly I’m guessing young families who can’t afford London prices.
The question is , are these people likely to use the bus in the first place ? I’m guessing most of the drive.

Most people who own a car, are unlikely to use a bus service on a regular basis. Especially in places like Ashford , where everything is spread out quite a bit. Whilst Ashfords population is getting bigger it doesn’t mean more bus usage.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Aug 2023 ==

I’ve noticed the Brighton and Hove running a 28 bus route through Eastbourne and Hailsham.
Is this a new route ? Only just seen this service in the last week or so.

Wouldn’t this take passengers from Stagecoach, who travel between Hailsham and Eastbourne? Obviously it’s welcome news for passengers who are getting more of a service. But was it necessary for B&H to extend this service?

 

[RDP]

The first of the new E400 MMCs 11603/4/6 are now in service at Folkestone.

 

[Man of Kent]

I’ve noticed the Brighton and Hove running a 28 bus route through Eastbourne and Hailsham.
Is this a new route ? Only just seen this service in the last week or so.

Wouldn’t this take passengers from Stagecoach, who travel between Hailsham and Eastbourne? Obviously it’s welcome news for passengers who are getting more of a service. But was it necessary for B&H to extend this service?

It's an East Sussex tender, extending the service from Ringmer to Hailsham and Eastbourne. East Sussex have had a long held ambition for 6 buses an hour between Hailsham and Eastbourne, to which this route contributes.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Having been suspended since the pandemic, Stagecoach will restore the Guildford to Onslow park and ride service from 4 September. It will be renumbered from 400 to 100, presumably confirming the Spectrum 100 won't be returning.

Customer notice - Onslow P&R service10 Aug 2023 to 30 Sep 2023​

We're pleased to announce that the Park & Ride service between Guildford Bus Station and Onslow will be reintroduced from Monday 4th September 2023.

The bus will now be numbered 100. Buses will run limited-stop between Guildford Bus Station and the Onslow Park & Ride site, but will additionally call at the stops near the rear entrance to Guildford Rail Station. Towards Onslow, buses will call at Guildford Park Road (stop D) to pick up only. Towards Guildford, buses will call at Guildford Park Road (stop C) to drop off only.

Buses will run every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday, increasing to every 20 minutes during weekday peak times (approximately 0700-0920 and 1600-1800).

The first bus will leave Onslow at 06.30. The last bus back from Guildford Bus Station will be at 19.00.

The timetable will be added to this page shortly.

We look forward to welcoming back customers to Onslow Park & Ride after the service was suspended in 2020, and to welcoming new users to the service.

General Surrey and Kingston Updated 10 Aug 2023, 10:08

Source: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-10/08/2023-09:54:54:319

 

[DelW]

Having been suspended since the pandemic, Stagecoach will restore the Guildford to Onslow park and ride service from 4 September. It will be renumbered from 400 to 100, presumably confirming the Spectrum 100 won't be returning.


Source: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-10/08/2023-09:54:54:319

It's good to hear that it's coming back into use, but a 30 minute interval off-peak service isn't really turn up and go, so drivers will have to plan arrival times. I suppose regulars will soon get used to the times though.

I think Artington is still 30 minute intervals off-peak for the dedicated service, but it does still get extra calls from the 70 / 71 / 72 routes as well.

 

[RDP]

New E400 11605 is now in service at Folkestone.

 

[Blindtraveler]

New E400 11605 is now in service at Folkestone.

There are several of these due I think from memory. What route are they likely to be allocated to, generally?

 

[duncombec]

There are several of these due I think from memory. What route are they likely to be allocated to, generally?

4 are due in an initial batch, with more to follow. They are intended to be used on service 16 (replacing former Gold vehicles).

 

[Trainguy34]

4 are due in an initial batch, with more to follow. They are intended to be used on service 16 (replacing former Gold vehicles).

From what I've saw, they have next stop, but only on the 16.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Do please keep us posted as to when they are all in service, I did an end to end run on the 16 back in Easter time and would be keen to compare old with new particularly in terms of performance and noise levels on the faster sections

 

[alex397]

From what I've saw, they have next stop, but only on the 16.

Yes, they do. It will be interesting to see if it is reliable or not. South East also have next stop announcements on the Canterbury P&R and the Thanet Loop. It’s very random on those routes, not working all of the time, meaning it’s almost pointless.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I've recently begun to use the Thanet loop e400 MMC on a semi regular basis and find that the next stop works fine and until there is a driver change at which point the system seems to cut out until restarted by the replacement driver

 

[RogerOut]

Am I correct in thinking that audio bus stop announcements , or possibly visual bus displays, will be in service for most buses in the next ten years because of people with disabilities?

I know Brighton and Hove have next stop announcements but I’ve experienced nothing on par with London’s system.

London have had it since about 2009 I think, when Ibus came into service.

 

[MotCO]

Am I correct in thinking that audio bus stop announcements , or possibly visual bus displays, will be in service for most buses in the next ten years because of people with disabilities?

I know Brighton and Hove have next stop announcements but I’ve experienced nothing on par with London’s system.

London have had it since about 2009 I think, when Ibus came into service.

Southdown PSV have them as well - audio and visual announcements.

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Southdown PSV have them as well - audio and visual announcements.

Stagecoach in Guildford have also had audio and visual announcements for quite a while, but they are very rarely used. I've only ever experienced them a handful of times. Nine times out of ten, the announcements aren't playing and the next stop information board just displays "Welcome Aboard".

 

[LUYMun]

Chichester's 10008 and 19034 and Portsmouth's 27862 and 37279 have been placed on loan to Aldershot until Sunday in correlation with the company offering shuttle buses at the Farnborough International Exhibition for the British Motor Show.

 

[RDP]

Bus Times

Bus timetables, maps and tracking

bustimes.org

New Folkestone area timetable from 3rd September are now on Bus Times although yet to appear on the Stagecoach website. In addition to the already mentioned alterations which see the withdrawal of the 70 and 75 and the Sunday service on the 10 and the Folkestone-Hythe section of the 16 and the reduction of the 73 and 74 to an hourly M-F off peak service the biggest alterations are to the 102 where the standard daytime frequency is every 15 minutes Dover-Hythe, Red Lion Square, with two buses per hour continuing to New Romney where one follows the existing route to Lydd on Sea, Pilot while the other one follows the former 103 route to terminate at Lydd Camp. The section between Lydd and Rye is covered by an extension of the 100 from Rye to New Romney, Collins Road restoring a direct service between New Romney and Lydd with these two towns once again having a direct service to Hastings but at the expense of Dover, Folkestone and Hythe losing their through service to Rye.

 

[RogerOut]

So the 100 now runs from Hastings/ Conquests Hospital to New Romney ( via Rye) ?
As for the 70 route is was a college bus and not needed now the 100 covers that section.

 

[RDP]

As for the 70 route is was a college bus and not needed now the 100 covers that section.

Wrong service 70. The one being withdrawn is a Folkestone town service[

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2023 ==

Changes to bus services in and around Folkestone from 3 September 2023

www.stagecoachbus.com

New Folkestone area timetables now on the Stagecoach website.

Changes to bus services in Dover Deal and Sandwich from 3 September 2023

www.stagecoachbus.com

Also changes in the Dover area.

 

[LUYMun]

Stagecoach South's route 9 in Guildford is to be withdrawn after Friday 27 October following the route running at a loss since its introduction earlier this year.

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

Withdrawal of Service 9​

We're sorry to announce that Service 9 between Stoughton, the Hospital and University, will no longer run after service on Friday 27th October.
This difficult decision is a consequence of service 9 running at a significant financial loss, approaching £90,000 this year. This loss is unsustainable, and we need to now make changes to help secure our wider local bus network.
For most customers using service 9, alternative trips can be made using other stops on our existing services 1, 2 or 20 with a change of bus at Guildford bus station.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Stagecoach South's route 9 in Guildford is to be withdrawn after Friday 27 October following the route running at a loss since its introduction earlier this year.

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

I can’t say I’m surprised. Cutting the short unique section of route in Rydes Hill from having a direct link to Guildford town centre will have naturally pushed those who can walk to the 20 one way or 2/28 the other way. The only real people left using it were probably a few concessions that can’t manage a walk and some students from Hazel Farm student accommodation travelling to the main Uni campus. Perhaps for the former, the new West Guildford ‘Surrey Connect’ DRT could be extended to the soon to be unserved Rydes Hill residential roads? The latter I guess may just go for the 2 then 1, if not already doing that based on frequency and hours of operation already.

 

[nw1]

I can’t say I’m surprised. Cutting the short unique section of route in Rydes Hill from having a direct link to Guildford town centre will have naturally pushed those who can walk to the 20 one way or 2/28 the other way. The only real people left using it were probably a few concessions that can’t manage a walk and some students from Hazel Farm student accommodation travelling to the main Uni campus. Perhaps for the former, the new West Guildford ‘Surrey Connect’ DRT could be extended to the soon to be unserved Rydes Hill residential roads? The latter I guess may just go for the 2 then 1, if not already doing that based on frequency and hours of operation already.

Why did they not just run the 9 to the town centre? Presumably it would have got more passengers that way.

 

[RDP]

Some Stagecoach South East observations.

11658 is now in service at Dover but tracking as 34653.

11604 has since late August been tracking as 34792. The only darts still in the main fleet apart from 34442 and 34845 at Hastings are all now at Thanet.

 

[LUYMun]

Recently-transferred 19900, an E400 based at Guildford, is currently being vinyled into the Uni of Surrey livery previously carried by 15982.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Some Stagecoach South East observations.

11658 is now in service at Dover but tracking as 34653.

11604 has since late August been tracking as 34792. The only darts still in the main fleet apart from 34442 and 34845 at Hastings are all now at Thanet.

Sadly the service in the Folkestone area remains an utter shambles since the closure of the local depot.

Cancellations remain rife on the prime 102 route down the coast, leaving large gaps in service and a lot of very unhappy passengers. Sadly the longer this continues, the more that prospective passengers will simply find other ways of travelling.

One of the particularly stupid service cuts was the loss of the last 102 at about 2300 from Folkestone to New Romney (which has historically been relatively busy, but ran off the 2215 16 from Canterbury). So now if I want a night out in Folkestone (I live in Hythe), I'll drive.

 

[RDP]

It appears that a lot of the Folkestone area problems are being caused by the higher than expected number of staff at Folkestone who opted for redundancy rather than transfer to Dover leaving the depot short of drivers.

The loss of the late 102 is somewhat surprising as some of these operate from the outstation at Old Romney.