Stagecoach South West - Fleet News & Discussion

[RELL6L]

Looks like there are a number of changes in Devon from 5 April.

Latest news and service updates - Travel Devon

Please see below a feed of latest news for bus services in Devon. If you require information on operational issues, such as delays and diversions, please

www.traveldevon.info

Highlights:
7 runs through to Dartmouth in place of 92
52 diverted via Aylesbeare to replace Greenslades 356
85 split into 84 (south of Holsworthy) and 85 north of Holsworthy
98 withdrawn, just the 98A running hourly (Exmouth local)
118 will go to Okehampton Parkway when it opens
157 revised to permit double deckers in the summer - don't know where the issue is
178 peak journeys withdrawn (Country Bus)
C extended from Matford P&R to Alphington serving new developments

Apparent frequency reductions:
1 (Plymouth) to up to x20
4 (Exeter) to up to x15
55 to up to x20 in peaks
A (Exeter) up to x20 in peaks and x15 off peak
E up to x15
R/S each up to x30

And many minor timetable changes

 

[Busmansholiday]

I'm lead to believe the Yutongs have been in store at Rawmarsh and were fetched south around the 20th February whilst the E400s have been at Cambridge.

 

[Bornin1980s]

Looks like there are a number of changes in Devon from 5 April.

Latest news and service updates - Travel Devon

Please see below a feed of latest news for bus services in Devon. If you require information on operational issues, such as delays and diversions, please

www.traveldevon.info

Highlights:
7 runs through to Dartmouth in place of 92
52 diverted via Aylesbeare to replace Greenslades 356
85 split into 84 (south of Holsworthy) and 85 north of Holsworthy
98 withdrawn, just the 98A running hourly (Exmouth local)
118 will go to Okehampton Parkway when it opens
157 revised to permit double deckers in the summer - don't know where the issue is
178 peak journeys withdrawn (Country Bus)
C extended from Matford P&R to Alphington serving new developments

Apparent frequency reductions:
1 (Plymouth) to up to x20
4 (Exeter) to up to x15
55 to up to x20 in peaks
A (Exeter) up to x20 in peaks and x15 off peak
E up to x15
R/S each up to x30

And many minor timetable changes

Does this mean that the C will no longer go via Tan Lane?

 

[THarris123]

Has anyone got a definitive list of how many electrics are due for each depot and what type? Also what services they will be intended for?

Latest I can find is 110 electrics in total. 59 for Torquay, 21 Barnstaple, 30 Exeter. Is that right?
20 BZL, 10 E100EV, 12 Yutong E10, 58 E400EV - is that right and what's the other 10?

Services - I guess E100s 120, 17, 18 and?; E400s 11, 12, 13, 21, 22 and?; BZL C?, 4/4A?

 

[gka472l]

Has anyone got a definitive list of how many electrics are due for each depot and what type? Also what services they will be intended for?

Latest I can find is 110 electrics in total. 59 for Torquay, 21 Barnstaple, 30 Exeter. Is that right?
20 BZL, 10 E100EV, 12 Yutong E10, 58 E400EV - is that right and what's the other 10?

Services - I guess E100s 120, 17, 18 and?; E400s 11, 12, 13, 21, 22 and?; BZL C?, 4/4A?

I'm only aware of 48 E400EV's, 80246-80259 for Barnstaple, and 80260-80293 for Torquay......has there been more added??

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

What I’m intrigued to see is what departs. Does anyone know if the MMC’s to Barrow is a permanent one?

 

[150249]

What I’m intrigued to see is what departs. Does anyone know if the MMC’s to Barrow is a permanent one?

Yes I believe it is. Although 10690 is on loan to Preston for the time being.

 

[gka472l]

Yes I believe it is. Although 10690 is on loan to Preston for the time being.

10688 is being used from Carlisle (bustimes shows it having worked the 685 over to Newcastle today) and 10692/3 are being used at Morecambe currently.....not sure where 10689/91 are at the moment.

HTH

 

[mbonwick]

Does anyone know if the MMC’s to Barrow is a permanent one?

Depends if the contract service that the MMCs were moved to Barrow for makes it out of the trial stage and becomes permanent!

 

[richard13]

Does this mean that the C will no longer go via Tan Lane?

Tan Lane comes before Matford and the extension is beyond there. So Tan Lane is unchanged.

 

[THarris123]

Has anyone got a definitive list of how many electrics are due for each depot and what type? Also what services they will be intended for?

Latest I can find is 110 electrics in total. 59 for Torquay, 21 Barnstaple, 30 Exeter. Is that right?
20 BZL, 10 E100EV, 12 Yutong E10, 58 E400EV - is that right and what's the other 10?

Services - I guess E100s 120, 17, 18 and?; E400s 11, 12, 13, 21, 22 and?; BZL C?, 4/4A?

Further to that I had a more thorough look yesterday. Eventually I found some articles on it.

Barnstaple - 21 electrics due. 14 E400EVs with 7 E100EVs. Deckers for 21/A/B. E100s for town work.

Exeter - 30 electrics due. 10 E400EVs and 20 Volvo BZL. 10 deckers for 4. 20 singles for presumably C, H, I, J and maybe A??

Torquay - difficult to know. One article says 49, one says 55, one says 56 and another says 59. Anyone know the exact figure? Presumably results in all of Torquay depot going electric. 3 E100EVs for 120/17/18. 12 Yutong E10s presumably for 23, 24, 35A/35C. E400EVs for 11, 12 and 22. Anything for 13 and 31? Anything I've missed?

Anyone able to clarify if the above is correct?

Presumably results in all of the 04 plate solos, all Tridents and all 19*** E400s withdrawn. I'm guessing all of the older E200s and the MAN E300s will be withdrawn too?

 

[henryb]

I'm only aware of 48 E400EV's, 80246-80259 for Barnstaple, and 80260-80293 for Torquay......has there been more added??

Supposedly 10 Yutong deckers going to Exeter rather than 400EV

 

[150249]

Further to that I had a more thorough look yesterday. Eventually I found some articles on it.

Barnstaple - 21 electrics due. 14 E400EVs with 7 E100EVs. Deckers for 21/A/B. E100s for town work.

Exeter - 30 electrics due. 10 E400EVs and 20 Volvo BZL. 10 deckers for 4. 20 singles for presumably C, H, I, J and maybe A??

Torquay - difficult to know. One article says 49, one says 55, one says 56 and another says 59. Anyone know the exact figure? Presumably results in all of Torquay depot going electric. 3 E100EVs for 120/17/18. 12 Yutong E10s presumably for 23, 24, 35A/35C. E400EVs for 11, 12 and 22. Anything for 13 and 31? Anything I've missed?

Anyone able to clarify if the above is correct?

Presumably results in all of the 04 plate solos, all Tridents and all 19*** E400s withdrawn. I'm guessing all of the older E200s and the MAN E300s will be withdrawn too?

Fleet numbers for Torquay's are 80260-80293, 63136-63147 and 46041-46048 which makes 54. I am assuming 46049 and 46050 will also be allocated to Torquay which puts the total up to 56. It may be the case that some of the E100EVs will be reallocated to Barnstaple when they get their electrics up and running. That would put the number back down to 49.

I am amazed that the 04 plate solos all see regular use still. Often you get all 6 E pathings allocated as 04 plates. Admittedly, 47099 is still a rocket.

So far, the following electric buses have entered service
E400EVs 80261, 80263-264, 80267, 80272, 80283, 80286
Yutongs 63136-139 63142-147
E100EVs 46041, 46047-048

 

[Bornin1980s]

Has anyone got a definitive list of how many electrics are due for each depot and what type? Also what services they will be intended for?

Latest I can find is 110 electrics in total. 59 for Torquay, 21 Barnstaple, 30 Exeter. Is that right?
20 BZL, 10 E100EV, 12 Yutong E10, 58 E400EV - is that right and what's the other 10?

Services - I guess E100s 120, 17, 18 and?; E400s 11, 12, 13, 21, 22 and?; BZL C?, 4/4A?

The BZLs were from a ZEBRA bid for the 4, A, and C. I understand a Volvo demonstrator was also tested (without passengers) on other routes, including the I and J.

The C might have to remain diesel powered for a while. Since the bid was made, the clearance below the low bridge at Tan Lane was reduced from 3.2m (the height of the Volvos), to 3.1m, lower than any current full size electric bus.

 

[gka472l]

The BZLs were from a ZEBRA bid for the 4, A, and C. I understand a Volvo demonstrator was also tested (without passengers) on other routes, including the I and J.

The C might have to remain diesel powered for a while. Since the bid was made, the clearance below the low bridge at Tan Lane was reduced from 3.2m (the height of the Volvos), to 3.1m, lower than any current full size electric bus.

One of the Stagecoach London BZL's, 6609* was in Exeter very briefly as well.....

 

[150249]

One of the Stagecoach London BZL's, 6609* was in Exeter very briefly as well.....

I think it was 66091. It was in Exeter for the Devon County Show I believe. Presumably to showcase the new buses to the public.

 

[padbus]

The big question remains. When will Exeter get a socket to plug these electric buses into?

 

[Bornin1980s]

Looks like there are a number of changes in Devon from 5 April.

Latest news and service updates - Travel Devon

Please see below a feed of latest news for bus services in Devon. If you require information on operational issues, such as delays and diversions, please

www.traveldevon.info

Highlights:
7 runs through to Dartmouth in place of 92
52 diverted via Aylesbeare to replace Greenslades 356
85 split into 84 (south of Holsworthy) and 85 north of Holsworthy
98 withdrawn, just the 98A running hourly (Exmouth local)
118 will go to Okehampton Parkway when it opens
157 revised to permit double deckers in the summer - don't know where the issue is
178 peak journeys withdrawn (Country Bus)
C extended from Matford P&R to Alphington serving new developments

Apparent frequency reductions:
1 (Plymouth) to up to x20
4 (Exeter) to up to x15
55 to up to x20 in peaks
A (Exeter) up to x20 in peaks and x15 off peak
E up to x15
R/S each up to x30

And many minor timetable changes

Why is the E being reduced to four an hour?

 

[Cesarcollie]

Why is the E being reduced to four an hour?

I haven’t a clue. But I’m guessing that it doesn’t make money at its current frequency.

 

[150249]

Why is the E being reduced to four an hour?

It never runs at 5 an hour. I'm assuming it has been changed to improve reliability because every bus during the peak is still full and standing.

 

[Xavi]

Why is the E being reduced to four an hour?

It was only increased to a 12-minute frequency last year following a councillor-led campaign which was partly due to elderly passengers being left behind due to overcrowding.

 

[exeter 50044]

So why not put bigger busses on the E

 

[Bornin1980s]

So why not put bigger busses on the E

They often do, particularly on Sundays, but they struggle on the narrow winding roads.

 

[150249]

So why not put bigger busses on the E

The main issue is parked cars on Farm Hill and Barley Mount that only smaller buses like Optare Solos can navigate.

 

[Xavi]

So why not put bigger busses on the E

Perhaps that’s the plan, particularly with vehicles being released from Torquay. I note the comments about the problems with parked cars and larger buses, but Sundays when they use larger buses would also probably have the most cars parked outside homes.

 

[Bornin1980s]

LibertyBus to introduce 22 Otokar Vectio C midis to Jersey in 2026 - routeone

Jersey operator LibertyBus has shown the first of a fleet of 22 Otokar Vectio C midibuses that are to enter service from January 2026.

www.route-one.net

You know, the South West wouldn't go far wrong with Liberty Bus Jersey's Otokar Vectio C buses. 2.3m wide, but 9.6m long. I think Liberty Bus and Otokar are working on an electric version.

It would be easier, though if ADL could be quicker with the Enviro200ev, and if they could offer an extended Enviro100ev.

 

[nick291]

You know, the South West wouldn't go far wrong with Liberty Bus Jersey's Otokar Vectio C buses. 2.3m wide, but 9.6m long. I think Liberty Bus and Otokar are working on an electric version.

Passengers and management alike probably wouldn't be fossilised by the time they got built, shipped and pressed into service!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

BTW, more e400EVs seen on delivery on Sunday near Bridgwater

 

[Busmansholiday]

Good to see 18308, (WA05MGZ) the Trident in the original Stagecoach livery has been transferred from Torquay to Plymouth and is today operating the 80, Plymouth to Paignton service. Having been on it recently it does go very well.

 

[padbus]

Fleet numbers for Torquay's are 80260-80293, 63136-63147 and 46041-46048 which makes 54. I am assuming 46049 and 46050 will also be allocated to Torquay which puts the total up to 56. It may be the case that some of the E100EVs will be reallocated to Barnstaple when they get their electrics up and running. That would put the number back down to 49.

I am amazed that the 04 plate solos all see regular use still. Often you get all 6 E pathings allocated as 04 plates. Admittedly, 47099 is still a rocket.

So far, the following electric buses have entered service
E400EVs 80261, 80263-264, 80267, 80272, 80283, 80286
Yutongs 63136-139 63142-147
E100EVs 46041, 46047-048

A press release on Devon Live says Torquay will getting six 25-seat minibuses, a dozen 31-seat ‘midibuses’ and 37 double-deckers, each of which has 73 seats. That matches the total figure of 54 quoted above but not the split in vehicles types. Time will tell. For those who enjoy local news reports and adverts the link is https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/torbays-silent-revolution-unveils-new-10861636. The text is below.

Stagecoach has invested £30million in a fleet of new single and double decker electric buses, making Torbay only the second place in the whole of the UK to have an all-electric fleet. The project has been delivered by Stagecoach and Torbay Council, who worked together to secure government funds. The bus company’s investment makes up three quarters of the total cost of the fleet, with the rest supported by the Department for Transport working alongside the council. “This is a really good outcome, not only for Torbay but also for the whole of the South West,” said Torbay councillor Adam Billings (Con, Furzeham with Churston) at an official launch event for the fleet. “This is bringing in investment that benefits all of us.”

A total of almost 60 quiet, zero-emissions vehicles are now plying the bus routes around the bay, and passengers are already enjoying the smoother ride. The launch marks the first time in two decades that brand-new buses have been introduced across the area. “I'm really proud that we've been able to work with a private sector partner to make this happen,” said Cllr Billings. “I would encourage other private sector partners, in whatever field it might be, to see that this is an attractive place to do business. We want to attract inward investment because that's how we'll deliver the best outcomes for our residents. “This is one example of what we can do when we show that Torbay is an attractive place to do business, and I'd look forward to us doing this in lots of other fields, whether it's public transport, whether it's high tech, whether it's health or any of the other fields that can benefit our residents.”

The Torbay fleet comprises six 25-seat minibuses, a dozen 31-seat ‘midibuses’ and 37 double-deckers, each of which has 73 seats. All three sizes of bus have wheelchair ramps and spaces, next-stop announcement screens and hearing loops. Passengers will find themselves travelling in near-silence, with the air conditioning the only disturbance of the peace. There are no gear changes or other noises to overwhelm the announcements of where the bus will stop next. Video screens announce route details, and the electronics also include charging points for passengers’ mobile phones. Pedestrians are free from the noise and fumes of the traditional diesel buses passing by. All the new buses have air conditioning from a zero-emission heat pump. Minibuses and double-deckers are made by the Alexander Dennis company in the UK. The midibuses are made by Chinese company Yutong. The mini and midibuses have an energy efficiency of 0.9kilowatts per kilometre while the double decker uses 1.2kilowatts.