Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[overthewater]

TO be fair apart from booking tickets what does Aberdeen travel shop do? there haven't printed proper timetables in years. I dare say lost property will move to the inspector office?

 

[scottishtrains]

TO be fair apart from booking tickets what does Aberdeen travel shop do? there haven't printed proper timetables in years. I dare say lost property will move to the inspector office?

There is always a queue when im there, most of it is enquiries about which services go where and when and to pick up the A4 PDF timetables which can be found online, along with obviously booking tickets and lost property as you stated

 

[Highland050261]

54242 has now returned to service, joining 54219 and 54258 at Thurso.

 

[83G/84D]

19548 and 19550 seen at Kirkwall depot today.

 

[alan25]

More timetables!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jun 2026 ==

I was also thinking about making cover pages and a site, thoughts?

 

[route101]

TO be fair apart from booking tickets what does Aberdeen travel shop do? there haven't printed proper timetables in years. I dare say lost property will move to the inspector office?

I guess they sell Citylink/Megabus tickets, I imagine the Citylink tickets are A4 print outs now. Stagecoach ticket offices used to have a ticket machine, I remember buying a day ticket at Glasgow Buchanan Bus station years ago.

 

[Volvodart]

From the recent bus forum minutes, Buchan express is getting new diesel single deck coaches:-

Dave Simpson advised on the fleet replacement programme and was pleased to
announce that approval had been granted for new coaches to replace all current
vehicles operating on the mainline Peterhead and Fraserburgh to Aberdeen
corridors. He confirmed a delivery date has yet to be agreed but is expected to be
around towards the end of the year.
...
Dave Simpson advised that the replacement coaches represent a £5.5 million
investment in the fleet, although the exact type of single-deck coaches has not yet
been confirmed. However, each vehicle will feature steps leading into the coach,
unlike the current inter-deck vehicles which require passengers to access an upper
deck. They will be fitted with audio and visual destination announcements to
improve passenger accessibility and will not be required to be withdrawn during
periods of high winds."

pdf:-

https://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/acblobstorage/cf983383-c115-470a-8bc1-fb00d7d09718/stagecoach-update-meeting-forum-minutes-a90-north-of-aberdeen-ellon-fraserburgh-peterhead-18-may-2026-2.pdf

 

[Spsf3232]

From the recent bus forum minutes, Buchan express is getting new diesel single deck coaches:-

pdf:-

https://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/acblobstorage/cf983383-c115-470a-8bc1-fb00d7d09718/stagecoach-update-meeting-forum-minutes-a90-north-of-aberdeen-ellon-fraserburgh-peterhead-18-may-2026-2.pdf

I think that's the first time they have tried to get out in front of Ember before anything comes their way on a route!

Every route Ember has started against stagecoach has suffered majorly from reliability issues with vehicles and they wipe the floor with them

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Every route Ember has started against stagecoach has suffered majorly from reliability issues with vehicles and they wipe the floor with them

Sorry - can you clarify as the punctuation is a little unclear? Do you mean that Ember has had unreliability issues and that Stagecoach has wiped the floor with them OR (and I think you mean this) Ember has capitalised on Stagecoach's unreliability.

 

[alan25]

Sorry - can you clarify as the punctuation is a little unclear? Do you mean that Ember has had unreliability issues and that Stagecoach has wiped the floor with them OR (and I think you mean this) Ember has capitalised on Stagecoach's unreliability.

It must be the second one because I can’t think of any scenario where your first idea has happened

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2026 ==

More timetables!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Jun 2026 ==

I was also thinking about making cover pages and a site, thoughts?

Also thoughts on the guides?

 

[scottishtrains]

From the recent bus forum minutes, Buchan express is getting new diesel single deck coaches:-

pdf:-

https://publications.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/acblobstorage/cf983383-c115-470a-8bc1-fb00d7d09718/stagecoach-update-meeting-forum-minutes-a90-north-of-aberdeen-ellon-fraserburgh-peterhead-18-may-2026-2.pdf

Anyone know what it could possibly be (even speculation)?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Anyone know what it could possibly be (even speculation)?

It is believed to be Yutong GT14s.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

It is believed to be Yutong GT14s.

Apparently they're nice to drive and quite quick off the mark, I'm sure they're DAF MX13 engines coupled with a ZF Ecolife

 

[computerSaysNo]

Apparently they're nice to drive and quite quick off the mark, I'm sure they're DAF MX13 engines coupled with a ZF Ecolife

I feel like it can't be coincidental that they are suddenly buying exactly the same model of coach at their new main competition is using....
(except as diesel rather than electric).

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I feel like it can't be coincidental that they are suddenly buying exactly the same model of coach at their new main competition is using....
(except as diesel rather than electric).

They already have Yutong TCe12s in the fleet and I personally find them comfier than Embers TCe12s and where improved since they've had the toilet fitted so why not purchase the Diesel equivalent to the GTe14

 

[Volvodart]

They already have Yutong TCe12s in the fleet and I personally find them comfier than Embers TCe12s and where improved since they've had the toilet fitted so why not purchase the Diesel equivalent to the GTe14

The only current alternative would be Scanias, so the market is limited.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The only current alternative would be Scanias, so the market is limited.

Surprised they never went for a Volvo product since they're a load of 9700DDs in the fleet elsewhere in Scotland

 

[Highland050261]

The Aberdeen travel shop is closing permanently from 15 June 2026, but there will be bus station ambassadors around the stances for enquiries, but not to book tickets.

Inverness is not far behind. There was a notice on the bus station building door this morning saying that this ticket office will no longer provide Stagecoach information from 29th of June onwards.

 

[Megafuss]

It's such a retrograde step. I appreciate they've had driver issues, but my main issue with using buses in North Scotland is that I don't know where they go given the multitude of changes they choose to make themselves.

No publicity and now nobody to formally ask. They deserve to lose customers

 

[Jordan Adam]

I feel like it can't be coincidental that they are suddenly buying exactly the same model of coach at their new main competition is using....
(except as diesel rather than electric).

The 72 plate Yutong E10s are the reason... North Scotland have received vehicles from various different builders over the last five years and when it came to procuring their most recent vehicles they have used the vehicles from the past orders to compare cost, build quality, reliablity, backup etc with those Yutong E10s out performing the other types. Hence why the order for the M96 was Yutong and this new order is Yutong.

It hasn't been that widely covered on here but the Evoras for example have had various build quality related issues ranging from headlights overheating to paint peeling and body panel corrosion. Meanwhile some of the 23 plate E400MMCs arrived already with oil and coolant leaks and the less said about the BYD E400EVs the better...

 

[Highland050261]

The 72 plate Yutong E10s are the reason... North Scotland have received vehicles from various different builders over the last five years and when it came to procuring their most recent vehicles they have used the vehicles from the past orders to compare cost, build quality, reliablity, backup etc with those Yutong E10s out performing the other types. Hence why the order for the M96 was Yutong and this new order is Yutong.

It hasn't been that widely covered on here but the Evoras for example have had various build quality related issues ranging from headlights overheating to paint peeling and body panel corrosion. Meanwhile some of the 23 plate E400MMCs arrived already with oil and coolant leaks and the less said about the BYD E400EVs the better...

If I remember correctly, the entire Skye batch of Evoras had to be repainted.

 

[Jordan Adam]

If I remember correctly, the entire Skye batch of Evoras had to be repainted.

Yeah they did, and when they were still fairly new too! The Skye batch seemed to be the poorest out of the three in terms of build quality, it was also the Skye examples that had the issues with the headlights.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Yeah they did, and when they were still fairly new too! The Skye batch seemed to be the poorest out of the three in terms of build quality, it was also the Skye examples that had the issues with the headlights.

Must off been a rare occurrence with those certain batches, Must be the most popular bus in the Country just now

 

[computerSaysNo]

Must off been a rare occurrence with those certain batches, Must be the most popular bus in the Country just now

Yes, I wonder what was different about the Stagecoach batch that has caused all those issues, or whether it affects more Evoras but we're just not hearing about it from other operators.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Must off been a rare occurrence with those certain batches, Must be the most popular bus in the Country just now

Yes, I wonder what was different about the Stagecoach batch that has caused all those issues, or whether it affects more Evoras but we're just not hearing about it from other operators.

Build quality on MCV vehicles has always been very hit or miss depending on specific batches. The new BZL's at Arbroath are shockingly poor in that regard, also haven't heard much good thing about the BZL-DD's at Lothian. Meanwhile as you say various operators have Evoras and will do nothing but sing their praises.

Getting back on topic... The 71 plate Evoras new to Orkney are generally regarded as the best out of the three batches at North Scotland.

 

[overthewater]

A number of changes are going thought Vosa right now, for service changes on 17th August However the 201 is changing on 1st august.

One of the more interesting points is the new X10:

Bus registration details​

• Registration number PM0000005/924
• Licence Number PM0000005
• Variation number
• Status New
• Service number.X10
• Service type Limited Stop
• Start point Aberdeen
• Finish point Inverurie
• Date received 06 Jul 2026
• Effective date 17 Aug 2026
• Supported by subsidies? No
• Local authorities covered by route Aberdeen City Council

 

[Volvodart]

A number of changes are going thought Vosa right now, for service changes on 17th August However the 201 is changing on 1st august.

One of the more interesting points is the new X10:

Bus registration details​

• Registration number PM0000005/924
• Licence Number PM0000005
• Variation number
• Status New
• Service number.X10
• Service type Limited Stop
• Start point Aberdeen
• Finish point Inverurie
• Date received 06 Jul 2026
• Effective date 17 Aug 2026
• Supported by subsidies? No
• Local authorities covered by route Aberdeen City Council

64/64A is being split up to separate Methlick and Inverurie services again.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The X10 will offer two buses per hour for a 20 minute frequency Aberdeen - Inverurie when combined with the 10.

The X35 is also being axed with the 35 going back to half hourly and rerouted via Rosemount.


Quite a number of routes are changing operators of those know so far are the following:

22: Watermill Coaches to Premier Coaches
41: Watermill Coaches to Premier Coaches
49: Watermill Coaches to Kineil Coaches
76: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
77: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
81: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
82A: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
83: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
84A/84C: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
231: Stagecoach to Premier Coaches
240: Watermill Coaches to Kineil Coaches
271: Watermill Coaches to Stagecoach

Stageocoach have also lost the 301 and 303 however it is not yet known who has picked it up.

 

[Volvodart]

Stageocoach have also lost the 301 and 303 however it is not yet known who has picked it up.

The 301/303 goes to Deveron Coaches.

 

[alan25]

The X10 will offer two buses per hour for a 20 minute frequency Aberdeen - Inverurie when combined with the 10.

The X35 is also being axed with the 35 going back to half hourly and rerouted via Rosemount.


Quite a number of routes are changing operators of those know so far are the following:

22: Watermill Coaches to Premier Coaches
41: Watermill Coaches to Premier Coaches
49: Watermill Coaches to Kineil Coaches
76: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
77: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
81: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
82A: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
83: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
84A/84C: Stagecoach to Watermill Coaches
231: Stagecoach to Premier Coaches
240: Watermill Coaches to Kineil Coaches
271: Watermill Coaches to Stagecoach

Stageocoach have also lost the 301 and 303 however it is not yet known who has picked it up.

Were the old 78a/c tenders and do we think this can lead to staff layoffs?