Stagecoach East Scotland

[overthewater]

Honest question - have passenger numbers at the Kinross P&R been in line with expectations?

A third P&R on the same stretch of motorway must be unique in the UK?

Its hard to tell if Kinross P&R has been successful. The car park is never full but Kinross is linked into 30 mins service, and passengers are always getting on and off most times.

I have also heard the 747 may get extended up to this site, while Service X24,26,27 and 19 should be going into the site aswell, hence the reason for six bus stance.

 

[Liam]

Honest question - have passenger numbers at the Kinross P&R been in line with expectations?

A third P&R on the same stretch of motorway must be unique in the UK?

I'm not sure what the expectations were, but I can't imagine they would have beenn too high. The car park is small (120 spaces) and the bus service is only 2 or 3 per hour to Edinburgh and Perth, one via Dunfermline.

 

[overthewater]

I'm not sure what the expectations were, but I can't imagine they would have beenn too high. The car park is small (120 spaces) and the bus service is only 2 or 3 per hour to Edinburgh and Perth, one via Dunfermline.

Alot of people use it for Perth.

 

[robertclark125]

Where would the station have been built? The railway is high above the car park on a viaduct and embankment.



At the Crossgates roundabout on the A92.

Liam, I was actually meaning at the Halbeath Park and Ride sorry, not Ferrytoll, re a railway station.

 

[overthewater]

What new service are going to appear for the Halbeath P&R? There is already very little spare capacity for a big increase in passengers for peak, and even mid morning passengers?

Just a shame more links to North Edinburgh are not appearing.

 

[Jamester]

16166 looks like it is remaining in service at St.Andrews on service 23 for the time being. One of the ex Goldlines is off the road.

I've heard that new coaches are coming for service X27 in September. And new Optares in August which will be used on X4/G7 & 32 routes. 18010 which sustained fire damage will undergo repair soon.

 

[overthewater]

16166 looks like it is remaining in service at St.Andrews on service 23 for the time being. One of the ex Goldlines is off the road.

I've heard that new coaches are coming for service X27 in September. And new Optares in August which will be used on X4/G7 & 32 routes. 18010 which sustained fire damage will undergo repair soon.

So the five new solos and five new b12? Seems rather pointless buying more 49 seaters for the route. I take it the spare that are freed up will be used for addition halbeath to Edinburgh services?

 

[mbonwick]

The coaches will be 15m Elites, C61FLt...

 

[overthewater]

The coaches will be 15m Elites, C61FLt...

Your Joking? :P That weak, Bawbee bridge at Leven bus station will put a stop to that. Unless there have at least done it up, but that been what 15 years?

 

[robertclark125]

Seven Optare solos due for september, confirmed on Twitter.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Your Joking? That weak, Bawbee bridge at Leven bus station will put a stop to that. Unless there have at least done it up, but that been what 15 years?

I don't think he's joking. The bridge has an 18t limit, which is the maximum GVW anyway for those coaches, so shouldn't be a problem, unless each and every person is a) turning up with 25kg of luggage or b) pie-abetic

 

[overthewater]

I don't think he's joking. The bridge has an 18t limit, which is the maximum GVW anyway for those coaches, so shouldn't be a problem, unless each and every person is a) turning up with 25kg of luggage or b) pie-abetic

What is the weight of the articulated coaches? That bridge is the reason why there were kicked off the Glasgow routes.
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Seven Optare solos due for september, confirmed on Twitter.

I wonder what route will get those two other Solos. unless its for the Kirkcaldy town services?

 

[Liam]

Wasn't the problem with the B13r's on the X27 grounding issues at Lundin Links?

 

[overthewater]

It seem 7 SR solos are for 32/G7/X4/46 and 13 all based at Aberhill. It seems with the school contract wins at Glenrothes, it has room for them.

This means there are now 4 spare slim line solos which, I dare say will be needing a new home. There will also be two normal solo going spare. There cannot be used on the new F15 since a Min 29 seater bus is required, nor replace two 34 seater darts since again said capacity are to small for said duties

Because 32 will free up three spare deckers, and with few other losses, I take it only a couple of London deckers will be needed?

Are Fife due any new E300 this year?

 

[Jamester]

The B13 coaches are only currently in use on X24/X26. (limited number of journeys on X27 on Sundays only) I heard a rumour that Stagecoach has been given the go ahead to take these vehicles across the Bawbee Bridge. They are very keen to return to the timetable format where service numbers change at St.Andrews and Glasgow. This means the same vehicle type will be used on 24/26/27 routes and will make driver changeover easier. At the moment Aberhill depot cannot do extra work for Dunfermline depot due to the different vehicle type.

I haven't heard about any grounding issues at Lundin Links, however.

I doubt Aberhill will be allocated all 7 new solos. I doubt Aberhill will get 100% of service 13 after 12th August. I heard a while back that Aberhill will get 3 deckers from Cowdenbeath. This might explain the 3 deckers that will be freed up and will also help take coaches off the school runs. A few comments have been posted here about B7s popping up on school runs; this may happen less after 12th August.

Interestingly if the 3 deckers transferred are 18195/196/197, they will return to where they began their Fife service days back in 2009 at Aberhill. I'm merely surmising, though!

 

[overthewater]

Commercial Manager is the one who said all seven are off to Aberhill.

X24/26 still swap over at Glasgow, ( before the changes, the old X26 never swapped over at Glasgow)

The only problem is Swapping the X24 and X27 over at St Andrews, since there is No spare time in the timetable to even allow this to happen. Its only two min between X24 arrs and the X27 dep. The extra 5mins which was also added into the Kirkcaldy - St Andrews section, has helped reduced late runnings, and shortly with the new Park and ride opening its already going to be tight enough.

 

[Jamester]

From what I've heard today, the X24 & X27 will not be interchanging at St.Andrews, nor will a B13 be used on the Leven to St.Andrews section of the journey.

A B13 was being tested in the Leven area today (Wedensday) for route suitability.

 

[jamieintercity]

are the arbroath olys going to be withdrawn from service soon since the fife ones are already withdrawn?

Also, why was this Oly up at Ninewells Hospital just last week?

And is this Oly based in dundee or is there another one based up at Arbroath?

 

[robertclark125]

The Fife ones are being withdrawn as a result of the upper age limit of council contracts, which states vehicles can be no older than 15 years. The Olympians will soon exceed that. There is no such restriction on contracts in Dundee and Angus, so I'd imagine if there is any, the restriction is higher, e.g. 18 years.

 

[mbonwick]

are the arbroath olys going to be withdrawn from service soon since the fife ones are already withdrawn?

Also, why was this Oly up at Ninewells Hospital just last week?

And is this Oly based in dundee or is there another one based up at Arbroath?

Won't be going anywhere until next year at the earliest when the V reg ex-London Tridents get aged out of Fife contracts...

The caption on the first picture states 16883 was doing crew shuttles.

Arbroaths allocation of Olys is 16658, 16881/3. So your second link if of an Arbroath based vehicle.

 

[jamieintercity]

Won't be going anywhere until next year at the earliest when the V reg ex-London Tridents get aged out of Fife contracts...

The caption on the first picture states 16883 was doing crew shuttles.

Arbroaths allocation of Olys is 16658, 16881/3. So your second link if of an Arbroath based vehicle.

thanks, wonder how these Olys got to dundee. Perhaps on a 27 to forfar, then a 20/22 to dundee? Are there any other olys based at dundee/blairgowie but are the forfar/brechin/montrose buses allocoated to the arborath depot?

 

[Liam]

From what I've heard today, the X24 & X27 will not be interchanging at St.Andrews, nor will a B13 be used on the Leven to St.Andrews section of the journey.

A B13 was being tested in the Leven area today (Wedensday) for route suitability.

Split the X27 at Leven? If that was to be the case, I would switch the X60 back to the direct route and the X27 back through Anstruther.

 

[overthewater]

Split the X27 at Leven? If that was to be the case, I would switch the X60 back to the direct route and the X27 back through Anstruther.

Then were still back at square one since that would not solve the current issues. IF those B13 did appear for the X27 it will have to stop at Leven.

Maybe a new X28 could appear Leven - St Andrews or even extend a 99 due from St andrews?

 

[tbtc]

Maybe a new X28 could appear Leven - St Andrews or even extend a 99 due from St andrews?

Well, there's two "short" 99s an hour, and I'd imagine some market for a through service from the Leven area to Dundee (the X60 briefly did that, before the 99 existed).

However, you'd lose a direct St Andrews - Kirkcaldy service if you did that (other than going the long way via Anstruther)

 

[Liam]

However, you'd lose a direct St Andrews - Kirkcaldy service if you did that (other than going the long way via Anstruther)

Thats why I'd switch the X60 and X27 over. X27 Leven-Glasgow, X60 St Andrews-Leven-Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh, new service Leven-Anstruther-St Andrews (93 is free, otherwise 97 or 98 are once per day school services or X95).

 

[overthewater]

Thats why I'd switch the X60 and X27 over. X27 Leven-Glasgow, X60 St Andrews-Leven-Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh, new service Leven-Anstruther-St Andrews (93 is free, otherwise 97 or 98 are once per day school services or X95).

Now I get you.

 

[Stan Drews]

are the arbroath olys going to be withdrawn from service soon since the fife ones are already withdrawn?

Also, why was this Oly up at Ninewells Hospital just last week?

And is this Oly based in dundee or is there another one based up at Arbroath?

It was reported elsewhere that 16883 was covering at Dundee, whilst native 16772 was off for MoT. 16658 is an Arbroath bus and can be found regularly on the morning 22 journey.

 

[overthewater]

Its seems Eight B13 that are coming. If the current network is kept, it will be 7 and one spare.

Thus Eight spare coaches for the new Edinburgh network from Halbeath, I have heard some talk of the X59 going to every 30mins during the day from Halbeath? Its all up in the air at the moment.

further to that, There has been some talk the Airport buses being extended, As there want to move the Megabus connections to Halbeath. Since there will not be enough room for everything during the reconstructon work on the revised layout etc at Ferrytoll, which includes a new bus area and road network around the Ferrytoll. The roundabout outside the Ferrytoll will be lowered and a new underpass will be drilled.

 

[Liam]

Its seems Eight B13 that are coming. If the current network is kept, it will be 7 and one spare.

Thus Eight spare coaches for the new Edinburgh network from Halbeath, I have heard some talk of the X59 going to every 30mins during the day from Halbeath? Its all up in the air at the moment.

further to that, There has been some talk the Airport buses being extended, As there want to move the Megabus connections to Halbeath. Since there will not be enough room for everything during the reconstructon work on the revised layout etc at Ferrytoll, which includes a new bus area and road network around the Ferrytoll. The roundabout outside the Ferrytoll will be lowered and a new underpass will be drilled.

Do you have any detailed plans for Ferrytoll? Halbeath is just going to add time to journeys, the X24/6/7 from Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy take long enough already without 10 minutes going in and out of there. X59 only from Halbeath, or half hourly from Glenrothes?
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It would seem a bit of a waste moving the Airport bus to Halbeath as it will still have to go into Inverkeithing Station anyway.

 

[Stan Drews]

Its all up in the air at the moment.

I doubt that. Probably more a case of the company's plans not being made public.
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Halbeath is just going to add time to journeys, the X24/6/7 from Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy take long enough already without 10 minutes going in and out of there.

I'm not sure that I'd agree about the X24/6/7 taking long enough already. They offer fairly direct journeys, and I doubt Halbeath will add 10 minutes - maybe 5 as they already pass the roundabout outside the new site.
Remember Ferrytoll added time to the Edinburgh services when it opened, and I don't recall that having an adverse effect on the services.