Stagecoach East Scotland

[ajrm]

Probably a silly question, can the buses be modified back to normal non-driverless ones? As I understand they took quite some time in getting converted to work driverless.

Judging from some recent posts on Facebook, at least one of the buses has gone back to ADL at Anston for removal of the driverless equipment. Presumably it will take much less time to remove than it did to fit!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Judging from some recent posts on Facebook, at least one of the buses has gone back to ADL at Anston for removal of the driverless equipment. Presumably it will take much less time to remove than it did to fit!

What I think will be equally as interesting is what happens to them next. The 5 dealer spec examples if I remember correctly were acquired to allow these 5 to be used for this trial autonomous bus operation. In an ideal world the 5 will stay with older examples of E300’s moved on.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

What I think will be equally as interesting is what happens to them next. The 5 dealer spec examples if I remember correctly were acquired to allow these 5 to be used for this trial autonomous bus operation. In an ideal world the 5 will stay with older examples of E300’s moved on.

As far as I'm away they will be converted back to normal diesels, what depot they will go is anyone's guess

 

[LothianBusesPh]

As far as I'm away they will be converted back to normal diesels, what depot they will go is anyone's guess

I doubt they’re going back to Fife.

 

[Buzby]

The press release waffles on about the invaluable experience the trial has given, however the choice of route for AB1 seemed designed to discourage travel - borne out by the lack of patronage and the report that each service sports not one but TWO drivers. It’s almost as if the scheme was top-loaded to fail.

Does any part of the UK run a fully autonomous passenger service without staff on board?

 

[N1]

The press release waffles on about the invaluable experience the trial has given, however the choice of route for AB1 seemed designed to discourage travel - borne out by the lack of patronage and the report that each service sports not one but TWO drivers. It’s almost as if the scheme was top-loaded to fail.

The route was chosen for its road profile, mostly segregated bus lanes and motorways, to test the autonomous driving tech. It was never intended to be a useful link, and was funded by research grants to March 2025. CAVForth2 was supposed to extend the route to Dunfermline city centre, again based on additional funding to further test the technology. This appears to have been abandoned, perhaps in favour of Cambridge Connector.

It being a funded research project, I was surprised when boarding at Queensferry to travel to Edinburgh Park to be charged over £5 for a single. Perhaps that was the purpose of the second member of staff, tickets were only sold once we were seated and underway.

Does any part of the UK run a fully autonomous passenger service without staff on board?

No, it is a legal requirement for someone to be onboard to take control of the vehicle. I believe this is being revised as part of the Automated Vehicle Acts 2024

 

[Metal Mickey]

I believe that there's still a lot of demand for it if they were to extend it even slightly on both ends, however maybe it's best just to forget it and run a more conventional service instead if they do want to provide a link between Fife and West Edinburgh

A number of Fife Rail Stations already have trains operating quite regularly to Edinburgh Gateway. The bus is unlikely to win in these circumstances.

 

[Hyebone]

It being a funded research project, I was surprised when boarding at Queensferry to travel to Edinburgh Park to be charged over £5 for a single. Perhaps that was the purpose of the second member of staff, tickets were only sold once we were seated and underway.

An autonomous bus that requires double the amount of staffing to operate than a regular bus...

 

[Buzby]

Offering tea and biscuits would have been a good compromise….

 

[N1]

An autonomous bus that requires double the amount of staffing to operate than a regular bus...

I think having both was also for research purposes. When we arrived at Edniburgh Park we were given questionnaires by Napier Uni students. There were questions about what staffing levels you would want on a self-driving bus e.g. none, safety driver, conductor, both.

Offering tea and biscuits would have been a good compromise….

Haha, would have been nice.

 

[Hyebone]

I think having both was also for research purposes. When we arrived at Edniburgh Park we were given questionnaires by Napier Uni students. There were questions about what staffing levels you would want on a self-driving bus e.g. none, safety driver, conductor, both.

Having a conductor on all buses would be nice... We know how realistic that is though...

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Looks as if the first of several buses from Manchester are arriving in Scotland today. No less than 2 Enviro 400’s and 14 Enviro400mmc’s are expected in this move. Does anyone have any idea where the buses will end up? I’d imagine Arbroath are due some.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Looks as if the first of several buses from Manchester are arriving in Scotland today. No less than 2 Enviro 400’s and 14 Enviro400mmc’s are expected in this move. Does anyone have any idea where the buses will end up? I’d imagine Arbroath are due some.

I was told yesterday that Arbroath were expecting 6 20-plates to replace the (seatbelted) 19-plates imminently, and the information above combined with fleet numbers quoted elsewhere today would corroborate with that

Wouldn't expect much more at Arbroath given the E400EVs are due in the Spring

 

[PG]

2 Enviro 400’s and 14 Enviro400mmc’s are expected in this move. Does anyone have any idea where the buses will end up?

Depends if any self combust on the way up...

 

[Strathtay 260]

quoted elsewhere today

Where was it quoted?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Dec 2024 ==

Aha. I've found the buses in question on bustimes. But which 6 are Arbroath getting, and where will Arbroath's 19 plates move to?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Dec 2024 ==

(You can track 11533 and 11540's journeys up to Scotland - they are tracking at the moment!)

 

[overthewater]

Where was it quoted?

Aha. I've found the buses in question on bustimes. But which 6 are Arbroath getting, and where will Arbroath's 19 plates move to?

(You can track 11533 and 11540's journeys up to Scotland - they are tracking at the moment!)

I believe there all staying at Arbroath until the new electric turn up, then they will be sent else where around East Scotland empire to remove more older stock. Isn't the 19 plate just going to replace the rest of the older stock?

Edit:
6 more E400mmc are still due to appear, along with 16 older E400

So who is getting the 19 E200MMC ?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I believe there all staying at Arbroath until the new electric turn up, then they will be sent else where around East Scotland empire to remove more older stock. Isn't the 19 plate just going to replace the rest of the older stock?

Why would Arbroath need another 11 MMCs?

 

[overthewater]

Why would Arbroath need another 11 MMCs?

I thought we were only talking about 6 currently coming up from Manchester? Doesn't Arbroath still have some Volvo B5LH? which this lot could help replace.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I thought we were only talking about 6 currently coming up from Manchester? Doesn't Arbroath still have some Volvo B5LH? which this lot could help replace.

It's already been said upthread that 6 20-plates are supposedly going to Arbroath allowing the 19-plates to go to a depot which has contracts with seatbelt requirements. Once the EVs arrive, Arbroath will still need diesel buses for Forfar outstation, which I'd assume will be these

 

[overthewater]

Just to ask is this part of the original plan fleet movement or is this on top of what was said before? Its going to be busy few months with all this fleet movement happing, It'll be hard to keep track.

 

[Strathtay 260]

EV deckers arrive for Forfar depot

What about Arbroath? Are they not getting EVs?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

What about Arbroath? Are they not getting EVs?

Sorry, I should've worded that better - Arbroath will still need diesel vehicles for Forfar, once the EVs arrive. I have edited my post to suit

 

[computerSaysNo]

I've been looking on Bustimes and it appears that the vehicle coming north which should be forming the 1405 X7 from Aberdeen to Dundee has broken down somewhere. Does Aberdeen usually provide a replacement vehicle (and driver?) to make sure the journey isn't missed, or does it usually just get cancelled?
The Stagecoach website is currently reporting that that journey is still due to operate.

 

[Volvodart]

I've been looking on Bustimes and it appears that the vehicle coming north which should be forming the 1405 X7 from Aberdeen to Dundee has broken down somewhere. Does Aberdeen usually provide a replacement vehicle (and driver?) to make sure the journey isn't missed, or does it usually just get cancelled?
The Stagecoach website is currently reporting that that journey is still due to operate.

The only time I have seen Bluebird provide a replacement bus is the last service of the day from Aberdeen.

 

[computerSaysNo]

The only time I have seen Bluebird provide a replacement bus is the last service of the day from Aberdeen.

Ah, thanks.
I did see an Elite i operating the 1405 X7 as I was leaving the bus station so they must have found a replacement from somewhere. The original vehicle appears to have gone out of service straight down the A90 (https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scfi-54237).

 

[route101]

Are the Volvo coaches still due for the Fife express routes?

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Are the Volvo coaches still due for the Fife express routes?

Yes, I think the first 2 are delivered and have had vinyls applied, but the rest are yet to be delivered

Should also see a few new Solo SRs for Arbroath in the coming weeks

 

[Blindtraveler]

There's quite a few of the new solos around the country now, what is the build quality and other factors like for these new ones

 

[W176 XMA]

There's quite a few of the new solos around the country now, what is the build quality and other factors like for these new ones

The ones in Manchester aren't too bad especially compared to earlier models, they are still new though so time will be a deciding factor, I think the Cummins engine is a good match for them personally

 

[Blindtraveler]

Good to hear. I think it's very wise of the manufacturer to recommence production of these, particularly the slimline model and contrary to popular opinion. It does seem that other people are ordering them as well as Stagecoach