High Peak Discussion

[ALEMASTER]

Is there another reason Stagecoach register the 66 then? From what I can gather it doesn't have regular passengers, just the odd person who wants some rare mileage. I can't see them running it unless there was some financial gain to be made over just running dead.

As an aside, have High Peak announced what they are planning to do this coming week with the road closure at Hope?

The 65/66 operates with split registration at Tideswell. The 66/X66 operates to Chesterfield instead of Sheffield for operational convenience as the depot is there to keep the drivers hours manageable. In the case of the 66 it runs as a 65 from Buxton to Tideswell then turns into a 66 which runs the same way as the 65 as for as Calver then goes to Chesterfield via Baslow. At Baslow it connects with the 218 to Sheffield. That 66 plays a role in the 65 service provision Buxton to Calver, otherwise the last bus from Buxton (and Tideswell) would be rather early. It might not have regular passengers into Chesterfield but it is an important part of the service provision elsewhere. The X66 is more of an oddity, going via Dove Holes and Peak Forest then sticking to the main road rather than venturing into the villages, however it does have a role of providing an evening service at Tideswell crossroads, Wardlow Mires, Stoney Middleton, Calver and Baslow. I assume the morning trip has a similar benefit providing an early morning link for those that need it, however either way better picking up fare paying passengers than running out of service long distances if it fits within the driver hours!

 

[Trainman40083]

And much better shape in terms of build quality. Blackpool would have looked after them, too. They will be popular with both drivers and customers.

Certainly the passengers. But will they climb hills? (LOL) Blackpool is rather flat. I can only remember catching the Transpeak 3 times, in recent times. Once was an Optare Excel. The other two times, a Citaro.. Makes you think I only caught it because of the bus type

 

[YX73OUB]

Certainly the passengers. But will they climb hills? (LOL) Blackpool is rather flat. I can only remember catching the Transpeak 3 times, in recent times. Once was an Optare Excel. The other two times, a Citaro.. Makes you think I only caught it because of the bus type

They're responsive on hills once they get through pulling off, in much the same way as a B8 is compared to a B7, it's all about emissions on initial acceleration- but they are a great drive (compared to most other things, but that's a personal preference!)

 

[BusLink61]

And much better shape in terms of build quality. Blackpool would have looked after them, too. They will be popular with both drivers and customers.

Agreed, for a start they don’t seem to squeak/rattle which is good.

They're responsive on hills once they get through pulling off, in much the same way as a B8 is compared to a B7, it's all about emissions on initial acceleration- but they are a great drive (compared to most other things, but that's a personal preference!)

Some of the Citaros seem to have really good kickdowns, although I wouldn’t know if this varies with certain batches?

It will do them good on the Transpeak to get up to speed having done town work all their lives!

 

[Ryry]

Seen a post staying that the versas are coming off the sixes (trent barton) and the e200s from transpeak. (Which ive noticed has already been stated.
Any confirmation on the sixes

 

[m79900]

Seen a post staying that the versas are coming off the sixes (trent barton) and the e200s from transpeak. (Which ive noticed has already been stated.
Any confirmation on the sixes

Sixes Versas are being replaced with 65 plate Volvos off the Two.

 

[BusLink61]

Seen a post staying that the versas are coming off the sixes (trent barton) and the e200s from transpeak. (Which ive noticed has already been stated.
Any confirmation on the sixes

Interesting that both services are receiving new buses for next year. I like the thought of newer B8 Volvos and O295 Citaros running on the A6. I often pass the Sixes Versas/ Transpeak E200’s and think that they’ve been on the route for ages!

Correcting myself on that though as the Versas really haven’t lasted long on the Sixes, late 2020/early 2021 when they started on there if I’m not mistaken? I remember they weren’t all put into use on the same day which is odd.

I suspect the Citaros on the Transpeak will enter service before the Volvos for the Sixes do - if the Citaros are only spending a month at D&G…

 

[cnjb8]

Interesting that both services are receiving new buses for next year. I like the thought of newer B8 Volvos and O295 Citaros running on the A6. I often pass the Sixes Versas/ Transpeak E200’s and think that they’ve been on the route for ages!

Correcting myself on that though as the Versas really haven’t lasted long on the Sixes, late 2020/early 2021 when they started on there if I’m not mistaken? I remember they weren’t all put into use on the same day which is odd.

I suspect the Citaros on the Transpeak will enter service before the Volvos for the Sixes do - if the Citaros are only spending a month at D&G…

I imagine the Versas were put straight into service when they were ready due to the covid restrictions limiting the ability to do a big launch

 

[YX73OUB]

Interesting that both services are receiving new buses for next year. I like the thought of newer B8 Volvos and O295 Citaros running on the A6. I often pass the Sixes Versas/ Transpeak E200’s and think that they’ve been on the route for ages!

Correcting myself on that though as the Versas really haven’t lasted long on the Sixes, late 2020/early 2021 when they started on there if I’m not mistaken? I remember they weren’t all put into use on the same day which is odd.

I suspect the Citaros on the Transpeak will enter service before the Volvos for the Sixes do - if the Citaros are only spending a month at D&G…

At the time the company were struggling for resource and buses so it was a case of getting one on one off, sometimes it happens that way. It was the same situation when the threes were replaced because the Versas were... Versas they literally were replaced one by one as a soft relaunch followed by getting back in the community (for the first time since 2020), many sleepless nights and long working days spent working on that project.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2025 ==

Agreed, for a start they don’t seem to squeak/rattle which is good.

Some of the Citaros seem to have really good kickdowns, although I wouldn’t know if this varies with certain batches?

It will do them good on the Transpeak to get up to speed having done town work all their lives!

The older ones have a better Kickdown but the newer ones are equally as quick once in the third gear, which with a ZF box happens at around 14mph. The problem we found with them was the jerking as they slowed down - it could be quite frightening at times! But you soon learned to accommodate your driving / feather the braking accordingly. First time I did my 'type training' on one - which was a self taught drive to Ripley and back on the then 696 (804,904) I rung engineering to tell them the gearbox had gone and was greeted back with no, thats what they do!

Anyway back to High Peak, it's good to se them investing in transpeak and making a great effort with the long standing brand.

 

[Trainman40083]

At the time the company were struggling for resource and buses so it was a case of getting one on one off, sometimes it happens that way. It was the same situation when the threes were replaced because the Versas were... Versas they literally were replaced one by one as a soft relaunch followed by getting back in the community (for the first time since 2020), many sleepless nights and long working days spent working on that project.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2025 ==


The older ones have a better Kickdown but the newer ones are equally as quick once in the third gear, which with a ZF box happens at around 14mph. The problem we found with them was the jerking as they slowed down - it could be quite frightening at times! But you soon learned to accommodate your driving / feather the braking accordingly. First time I did my 'type training' on one - which was a self taught drive to Ripley and back on the then 696 (804,904) I rung engineering to tell them the gearbox had gone and was greeted back with no, thats what they do!

Anyway back to High Peak, it's good to se them investing in transpeak and making a great effort with the long standing brand.

Remember the time when buses came off the Twos and some went for refurbishment whilst the others helped out in former Twos livery. Then there was the Sixes Scanias that ran in the secret Sixes livery, untill all were ready.

 

[YX73OUB]

Remember the time when buses came off the Twos and some went for refurbishment whilst the others helped out in former Twos livery. Then there was the Sixes Scanias that ran in the secret Sixes livery, untill all were ready.

And then carried on in sorry about my appearance vinyled livery after.

 

[Tetchytyke]

But will they climb hills? (LOL)

Yes. The entire single decker fleet here in the Isle of Man- which is rather hilly- consists solely of Citaros. They're perfect buses for routes like the TransPeak.

 

[Trainman40083]

Yes. The entire single decker fleet here in the Isle of Man- which is rather hilly- consists solely of Citaros. They're perfect buses for routes like the TransPeak.

I remember many a ride on an Isle of Man Citaro....Think there was one on the service to Calf of Man. Nice turn of speed on the trunk routes.