Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire

[TheGrandWazoo]

If there was enough demand then you could engineer something that is sectional, which would be much easier to get up and install. Could even allow the amount of open space to be varied based on season and conditions. However, the engineering work going in to designing and building that is significant, so would need enough customer base to justify. I've not seen that many (non-coach based) open toppers that aren't converted from life expired service buses, so I doubt there would be the market for ADL or Wright to explore such a solution.

And that's the point - there are few routes that could ever justify new vehicles. It's why the commercials usually lend themselves to converting something that is already either largely or fully depreciated.

That's led me to wonder - are there any open top E400MMCs? A quick google doesn't throw anything up. I wonder if the new body makes conversion harder, as the more modern open-tops seem to be Wright or MCV.

West Coast Motors has a couple or three for Glasgow Sightseeing IIRC

 

[florence]

That's led me to wonder - are there any open top E400MMCs? A quick google doesn't throw anything up. I wonder if the new body makes conversion harder, as the more modern open-tops seem to be Wright or MCV.

I did see a Scania MMC In Glasgow a few years ago.

As for the age of the open toppers, they're no older than the open top fleet has generally been in Cumbria for at least 30 years.

 

[JKP]

And that's the point - there are few routes that could ever justify new vehicles. It's why the commercials usually lend themselves to converting something that is already either largely or fully depreciated.


West Coast Motors has a couple or three for Glasgow Sightseeing IIRC

West Coast Motors have open top electric Wright Streetdecks for Glasgow Sightseeing.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I did see a Scania MMC In Glasgow a few years ago.

As for the age of the open toppers, they're no older than the open top fleet has generally been in Cumbria for at least 30 years.

They tend to last to around 20 years as an average, give or take a year, whether they were Olympians or Tridents. 16943 is quite the survivor at 26 yrs, and 17692 and 19161 are now 20 and 19 respectively.

The Titans lasted longer but they were a breed apart

 

[Andyh82]

I’m not sure convertibles would have much of a point in the lakes. The summer uplift has a long season, longer than most places. It also overlaps with any school term requirement

In Bournemouth and Poole there is a clear use for the buses all year round and the season is shorter

 

[florence]

They tend to last to around 20 years as an average, give or take a year, whether they were Olympians or Tridents. 16943 is quite the survivor at 26 yrs, and 17692 and 19161 are now 20 and 19 respectively.

The Titans lasted longer but they were a breed apart

I think you've got 17692 and 16943 mixed up

I can definitely agree having basically grown up going on holiday having Titans on Borrowdale, but even they were struggling at the end.

 

[lrbvoyager]

I would have thought they would want to be replacing the e200s in the lakes with e200mmcs since I imagine lakes connections is where they make most of their money so wouldnt they would want their most up to date busses?

 

[Tetchytyke]

Do any manufacturers do removable top buses?

Theoretically, yes. Go North East had a few ex-Brighton convertible Scania Omnidekkas. But GNE never operated them with the roof off. I’m not even sure Brighton did very often.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think you've got 17692 and 16943 mixed up

I can definitely agree having basically grown up going on holiday having Titans on Borrowdale, but even they were struggling at the end.

Yep - swapped them round

 

[florence]

I would have thought they would want to be replacing the e200s in the lakes with e200mmcs since I imagine lakes connections is where they make most of their money so wouldnt they would want their most up to date busses?

There's an argument against replacing what works - early MMCs can be a little problematic (just look at 26001!)

 

[lrbvoyager]

Why doesn’t the 555 go from Lancaster to Carlisle via the Central lakes? That way you can remove the 554. I’m sure a lot of people from Carlisle would use the £3 fares to get to the lakes without having to change bus. I personally think that it would be a really good idea along with keeping the 553, however I’m no bus expert!

 

[florence]

Why doesn’t the 555 go from Lancaster to Carlisle via the Central lakes? That way you can remove the 554. I’m sure a lot of people from Carlisle would use the £3 fares to get to the lakes without having to change bus. I personally think that it would be a really good idea along with keeping the 553, however I’m no bus expert!

It's already a very long route, but works because it's staffed from Kendal depot primarily which is the midpoint of the route. There's not really the market for it, otherwise the 554 would be far more frequent than it actually is. If you're traveling from Carlisle to the Central Lakes, it's arguably better to use the train to Windermere and change at Oxenholme. Yes it's more expensive, but the time savings are substantial.

 

[Strathtay 260]

Do Morecambe drivers also not drive the 555, or does Morecambe depot just provide the vehicles for the M6 runs?

There is quite a few more M6 runs running all season round now, rather than just Saturdays and certain dates between July and September.

 

[route101]

The 554 is quite well used although not too frequent. I suppose you could use train and use the X4 and X5 too.

I would love to see a bus route go over to Alston from Penrith.

 

[Acathater]

Do Morecambe drivers also not drive the 555, or does Morecambe depot just provide the vehicles for the M6 runs?

There is quite a few more M6 runs running all season round now, rather than just Saturdays and certain dates between July and September.

my understanding is some Lancaster - Kendal short services are (or were) run by Morecambe drivers (evenings?) as also some of the Sunday turns

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Apr 2026 ==

Why doesn’t the 555 go from Lancaster to Carlisle via the Central lakes? That way you can remove the 554. I’m sure a lot of people from Carlisle would use the £3 fares to get to the lakes without having to change bus. I personally think that it would be a really good idea along with keeping the 553, however I’m no bus expert!

Creaky memory now...but I'm sure in the past (25-30 years ago?) both Lancaster-Keswick and Keswick-Carlisle were shown on the same timetable as separate journeys but both using the 555 number. I can remember looking at it and being confused at the time and assuming there was some kind of hidden continuation of service

 

[Statto]

I think the 555 used to go through to Carlisle at one time, but it was split at Keswick, also spring/summer traffic in the Lakes can play havoc with reliability as well.

The 555 is a long route as it is with buses taking 3 hours, then add in around another 1 hour 20 minutes for the Keswick to Carlisle bit, why they're 2 separate routes.

 

[lrbvoyager]

I think the 555 used to go through to Carlisle at one time, but it was split at Keswick, also spring/summer traffic in the Lakes can play havoc with reliability as well.

The 555 is a long route as it is with buses taking 3 hours, then add in around another 1 hour 20 minutes for the Keswick to Carlisle bit, why they're 2 separate routes.

Couldn’t you do Lancaster to Keswick as one route then the next 555 route do Kendal to Carlisle?

 

[JKP]

The 554 is quite well used although not too frequent. I suppose you could use train and use the X4 and X5 too.

I would love to see a bus route go over to Alston from Penrith.

Wright Brothers of Alston have operated their Newcastle to Keswick route via Hexham, Alston and Penrith for almost 100 years! It is one journey each way during the summer. Bus Times shows it starting in May this year.

Until 1st June there is also a Saturday service between Nenthead, Alston and Penrith operated with a minibus. Again one journey each way. This is new this year probably an initiative funded by the Council.

 

[adam rogan]

Do you think that Stagecoach's extension of the 111 to Tanterton is retaliation for the extension of Rotala's 23 bus route to Bamber Bridge and the potential start of a bus war or was it simply an enhancement to the current service? I know that Stagecoach and Rotala both run complementary services to Moor Nook, but the timing of this extension is strange https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-transport/bus-service-changes/

 

[Leedsbusman]

Do you think that Stagecoach's extension of the 111 to Tanterton is retaliation for the extension of Rotala's 23 bus route to Bamber Bridge and the potential start of a bus war or was it simply an enhancement to the current service? I know that Stagecoach and Rotala both run complementary services to Moor Nook, but the timing of this extension is strange https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-transport/bus-service-changes/

I’m sure the 111 extending soon after the 23 is entirely coincidental.

 

[CN12 AWU]

Since Preston joined C&NL operations has Preston started running some trips on service 40/41 I know there was talks a while back about both depots operating it once Preston joined C&NL

 

[Galactic142]

On my bus into Barrow this morning and was surprised when an E200 MMC showed up, reckon that's the first time one has ever been to Barrow (unless one ever got used on rail replacement work). It was 37484 and looks like it's been transferred to CNL from West Scotland. Is it a permanent move? It looks like it spent a week operating out of Morecambe before transferring to Barrow first which made me wonder if they're moving it around different depots.

Either way, it was a very nice modern bus, and a change from the old E300s usually used on the route.

 

[mbonwick]

Presumably transferred in to cover the PVR increase now that Stagecoach have taken on the BAE internal shuttle from Travellers Choice, that seems to be using 1/2 Solos.

 

[Acathater]

On my bus into Barrow this morning and was surprised when an E200 MMC showed up, reckon that's the first time one has ever been to Barrow (unless one ever got used on rail replacement work). It was 37484 and looks like it's been transferred to CNL from West Scotland. Is it a permanent move? It looks like it spent a week operating out of Morecambe before transferring to Barrow first which made me wonder if they're moving it around different depots.

Either way, it was a very nice modern bus, and a change from the old E300s usually used on the route.

That was in Morecambe for about two weeks, one of five or six moved from a closed Scottish depot.
Apparently despite the relative newness they're all high miles. Drivers didn't like them

 

[Strathtay 260]

16943 into Lakes livery, will hopefully be out in service soon on the 508.

 

[Russel]

16943 into Lakes livery, will hopefully be out in service soon on the 508

I didn't think they'd bother repainting that one!

Must be the only original style Wright Eclipse Gemini left in the Stagecoach fleet.

Edit - after posting this, a photo of it appeared in the Stagecoach Cumbria & Lancashire: Enthusiast News & Pictures Facebook group, it looks stunning!

Unfortunately it's a private group so can't link, but anyone who is a member should be able to find it.

 

[Strathtay 260]

I’ve seen it and I agree - looks great!

17692 and 19161 will hopefully also enter service in coming months.

 

[Simon75]

Has Stagecoach ever had a depot/outstation in the Blackpool/Fleetwood area ?

 

[Acathater]

On my bus into Barrow this morning and was surprised when an E200 MMC showed up, reckon that's the first time one has ever been to Barrow (unless one ever got used on rail replacement work). It was 37484 and looks like it's been transferred to CNL from West Scotland. Is it a permanent move? It looks like it spent a week operating out of Morecambe before transferring to Barrow first which made me wonder if they're moving it around different depots.

Either way, it was a very nice modern bus, and a change from the old E300s usually used on the route.

37493 turned up on the 5 in Morecambe this evening
Real rattlebox despite only being a 19 plate

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 May 2026 ==

Has Stagecoach ever had a depot/outstation in the Blackpool/Fleetwood area ?

Yes, the Lancaster - Knott End - Fleetwood services were run from there until around ten years ago, presumably other services as well. No idea where it was though.
There was an outstation shed at Garstang as well - I think that just about survived into the Stagecoach era - it was on the south of the town centre near the bridge

 

[Leedsbusman]

Has Stagecoach ever had a depot/outstation in the Blackpool/Fleetwood area ?

Yes. Sidings Road Fleetwood which closed c2016 from memory. Prior to Stagecoach ownership there was a depot on Talbot Road Blackpool (now Savoy Timber)