Stagecoach East Scotland

[Jamester]

That is the interesting piece:


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Actually with the A985, It should be possible to get from Ferrytoll or Dunfermline to Kincardine Bridge in around 20mins. It also possible to get from Kincardine to Edinburgh within an hour even with the extra traffic.

Also that X51 seems to have an extra 45mins added in.

The timings are a bit of a lottery, though. There is no precedent for this scenario. Things may settle a bit towards the end of the week when people get used to the diversion routes etc. No doubt journeys from Fife to Kincardine Bridge should be ok for buses but the traffic will still bottleneck after crossing the bridge. Plus the shuttle services to Edinburgh city are all serving Ratho Station to connect with airport passengers, then onto Barnton to pick up normal route. That's not to mention if there are accidents/breakdowns on route which will only cause delays.

As far as I'm aware the extra buses for the shuttle services are operating from Cowdenbeath depot. The E300s for use on the 40/40A are being stored in Lothian's Longstone depot.

It is said there are 33 extra buses, but with each service operating a 20 minute daytime frequency (X55 X58 X59) by my reckoning that will require 36 bus workings.

 

[overthewater]

Just to point out the existing fleet is also being used along side the 33 buses, so all the X55 buses are also out in use.

Noted in use:

* 3 megebuses coaches
* Number of Buchan 59 plates all with On hire
* TWO megabus GOLD deckers.
* Few E300 from Wales
* Few E400 From Newcastle
* Driver trainer in use for the X58
* West Midlands E400

Not spotted are the 4 Cambridge mans, which could actually be working the 55 and 747 shuttles on the Fife side.

Big Q: It seem there services have been dead for most of today, but the travel times has been over est, and you can do it within the hour.

Either passengers will pick up again or stagecoach will just have to axe all the X55 off peak and just divert the X59 into Dunfermline bus station.

Of course the current plans are only set in stone if the Bridge reopens in early January, and the talk is that really optimistic.
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Those nice Megabus Gold coaches are still running about, but is pop luck what appears.

Turns out a good number of people have stayed away from the buses/ park n ride because there believe there would be no room.

Peak travel time is min 30 quicker while off peak is deffo 60 mins faster. Just a shame the Livingston service has not been improved etc since it might have help cut some traffic.

 

[Jamester]

I also heard that the off peak journeys were very quiet! People are just avoiding going to Edinburgh unless necessary and you can't blame them. One look at the temporary timetable to see that a half hour journey now takes 2 hours will put people off. They may cut the timings but I don't think they will be allowed to cut the frequency of journeys. Everything is being done to encourage people to use public transport, so it must be available.

 

[overthewater]

I think the timing will get cut if the same happens today, but some of the runs have at least 60mins to much!

Everything is being done to encourage people to use public transport, so it must be available.

Alas that is utter bullcrap, links to West Lothian are just dire and that where the highest % of traffic using the Forth bridge go to. People keep on asking for Gyle shuttle. Lets not forgot the users to travel to Falkirk.
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Further changes coming from Thursday, while the timetables will be revised again from Monday with the X58 shuttle being withdrawn. Ratho station will be replaced by Ingliston P&R from Thurs 10 December I think, thus improving connection to Gyle etc.

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-02/12/2015-16:39:49:915


The page is just getting updated the now, and new timetables being added. Stagecoach are give the X55 far too much time, It can done at least 10mins faster off peak.

 

[Jamester]

I completely agree that the shuttle services only really suit those working in Edinburgh city. I meant that they were trying to promote using the bus to reduce congestion on the diversion route. That's why the A985 is bus/HGV only. But the best option is still car if you work for example, at The Gyle. I wouldn't want to get the shuttle bus at Fife, get to the city centre or Ingliston, then have to catch another bus to The Gyle. Highly likely your journey time would be shorter by car and commuters always want the shortest journey time. But they will still try to encourage these commuters to use public transport!

That said, it is not really viable to have shuttle buses going various different routes. You would never be able to cover all the areas people would want. Especially since the shuttle services are being cut by a third with X58 being chopped. Quite a good idea that services X58/X60/X62 are continuing beyond Ferrytoll as service 55 to connect with shuttles at Dunfermline.

 

[Fifescottish]

As a quick update to the normal X55 between Perth and Dunfermline numbers are picking up on this service. Yesterday morning the first service north had 27 passengers on board by the time it left Milnathort. People were having to share double seats, something they havent had to do for a long time on Citylink!

 

[overthewater]

I completely agree that the shuttle services only really suit those working in Edinburgh city. I meant that they were trying to promote using the bus to reduce congestion on the diversion route. That's why the A985 is bus/HGV only. But the best option is still car if you work for example, at The Gyle. I wouldn't want to get the shuttle bus at Fife, get to the city centre or Ingliston, then have to catch another bus to The Gyle. Highly likely your journey time would be shorter by car and commuters always want the shortest journey time. But they will still try to encourage these commuters to use public transport!

When the services change tomorrow it will make it a lot easier to travel to the Gyle and Edinburgh park, so that should help out. Alas NO, the shuttle buses plus change over to tram or No35 would still be quicker than the car.

Thankful X51 is going back to Hourly timetable with running time of 55mins
https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s... timep tts/ESCOT_X51_FRBtemp_v3_121215NEW.pdf

As a quick update to the normal X55 between Perth and Dunfermline numbers are picking up on this service. Yesterday morning the first service north had 27 passengers on board by the time it left Milnathort. People were having to share double seats, something they havent had to do for a long time on Citylink!

That's good to hear, hopeful this will continue beyond January.

 

[Jamester]

It depends on where you're travelling from and the time you are travelling whether the bus is quicker than the car. In many cases the bus is far from quicker and many still want the convenience of commuting by car instead of various connections on buses, trams etc.

The shuttle buses clearly haven't proved as popular as they thought. I know many people who are going to Edinburgh for leisure reasons, i.e non-essential journeys and travelling by train off peak is the better option.

 

[overthewater]

IF that bridge reopens on the 4th January, touch wood. I believe stagecoach will extend that £3 Return ticket for a couple of weeks, because there going to have to work over the hill to get people back.

This bridge closure has differently highlighted the current problems with the bus network, Its only just recently Livingston route has managed to get bus, which at time can fill a double decker, of shopper not workers.

Every single study which has come out about the bridge clearly shows most of the car drivers using the bridge are not going to Edinburgh City centre because there all taking the bus or the train. There is alot of traffic heading into Fife and again public transport is not at its best either on this subject.

Maybe there should have gotten the army in transform one of the big files next to the A985 near Cairneyhill to have a temp car park then having shuttle buses connect to that.

 

[Stan Drews]

Every single study which has come out about the bridge clearly shows most of the car drivers using the bridge are not going to Edinburgh City centre because there all taking the bus or the train. There is alot of traffic heading into Fife and again public transport is not at its best either on this subject.

You certainly don't need a "study" to tell you that. Anyone with a modicum of transport knowledge could tell you that.

 

[overthewater]

You certainly don't need a "study" to tell you that. Anyone with a modicum of transport knowledge could tell you that.

Yes:

I've know that for years as well, but its helpful in this case to prove official studies have been done to back this up, even if its compete waste of time and money.

 

[Stan Drews]

Yes:

I've know that for years as well, but its helpful in this case to prove official studies have been done to back this up, even if its compete waste of time and money.

It would simply prove to me that the people asking for the study to be done, were clueless, and it's unlikely I'd give anything they suggested any credibility. A bit like the mandarins that told me it wasn't possible to implement any bus priority measures through the Barnton area of Edinburgh, because it was too busy!!

 

[GaryMcEwan]

It looks like Stagecoach have drafted in extra buses from Manchester and Merseyside to cover the extra work while the FRB is shut.

Saw Manchester's 19237 in full MagicBus regalia on the X59...

 

[overthewater]

46 buses and coaches, plus three Moffet and Williamson. The list is missing one of the Van Hool Sleeper 50313 has also been in use.
http://www.stevenknightmedia.com/fleet-news-ramblings/december-11th-2015

It going to get worse over the next two weeks; 19 new buses for the No19 are due. I bet there'll end up in Cowdenbeath depot until everything can be sorted.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

46 buses and coaches, plus three Moffet and Williamson. The list is missing one of the Van Hool Sleeper 50313 has also been in use.
http://www.stevenknightmedia.com/fleet-news-ramblings/december-11th-2015

It going to get worse over the next two weeks; 19 new buses for the No19 are due. I bet there'll end up in Cowdenbeath depot until everything can be sorted.

At least East Scotland will be able to see 27226's posh E-Leather seats as it's the unbranded Euro 6 E300 for Glasgow's Fastlink between Easterhouse and the QEUH.

 

[d1672]

Hi,

These Glasgow based E300, (27211 - 27228) are referred to locally as the "Irn Bru" buses, because of the seat colours.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Hi,

These Glasgow based E300, (27211 - 27228) are referred to locally as the "Irn Bru" buses, because of the seat colours.

Never heard them being called that, and I travel on the X19 everyday...

 

[overthewater]

A number of buses have been sent back to their own depots, were down to 25 extra buses, i expect to see this be cut further shortly.
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There is at least four Moffet and Williamson coaches on hire doing the X59 shuttles. Stagecoach fogot to tell anyone an extra Sunday journey was being added to the 747 departing at 04.50am. Someone also forgot to tell Rennies the X51 timetable had changed back to every hour instead of Bi-hourly.

The number of journeys running empty seems to be getting worse, and to be fair its understandable. If you live in Kirkcaldy or Glenrothes its at least 2 hour one way trip.

 

[Fifescottish]

Lots of office based staff will be finishing for Christmas at the end of this week. The schools also finish on Friday.

Will there be further cuts in service from then?

Hopefully passengers will return on the 4th Jan (if it is finished!)

 

[overthewater]

Lots of office based staff will be finishing for Christmas at the end of this week. The schools also finish on Friday.

Will there be further cuts in service from then?

Hopefully passengers will return on the 4th Jan (if it is finished!)

Yes, since from the Xmas eve on wards its a holiday timetable, with a Saturday timetable in use for most of the time.
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It would seem most of fleet sent in to help out may will be gone by Thursday. Since the new E200MMC? have appeared a number of 08 plate E300 are now being used on the Edinburgh routes.

Bay Travel has also been given some contract work, along side M&W
https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_love/23864840206/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_love/23808472341/in/photostream/

 

[Fifescottish]

All back to normal tomorrow.

Presumably Bay Travel stood down.

£3 fare stays in place till 3rd Jan!

 

[mbonwick]

Shame (from an enthusiasts point of view) that it's ended early...Lothian were due to start operating some services under contract to Stagecoach. Would have made an interesting sight.

Still, in the grand scheme of things - very good to see things starting to get back to normal.

 

[overthewater]

Shame (from an enthusiasts point of view) that it's ended early...Lothian were due to start operating some services under contract to Stagecoach. Would have made an interesting sight.

Still, in the grand scheme of things - very good to see things starting to get back to normal.

By any chance was it Xmas day service on No40? That might still happen, you try and change the staffing arrangements two days before hand.

 

[jamieintercity]

All of the E200MMCs have entered service at dunfermline displacing the MAN E300s to cumbria
22268/77 were the last of the V/X reg MANs in service are now withdrawn

Also I''m a bit lost as to what other fleet changes have been taken place over the past few weeks.

Off topic but NX/Xplore dundee withdrew the last of the volvo B10LEs last month

 

[overthewater]

A good number of the 59 plate Volvo B12B/Plaxton Panther from Aberdeen have no been place into service, along with ex park of Hamilton service ( which is on loan) https://www.flickr.com/photos/david_love/24119642950/

 

[jonesy3001]

22887 is the only one missing for cumbria and north lancashire.

 

[overthewater]

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-22/01/2016-16:10:27:175


Road closure at Guardbridge from 15 February 2016 affecting services 42, 94 & 99

22 Jan 2016 to 09 Apr 2016



From Monday 15th February, the A919 at Guardbridge will be closed while construction of a pipeline for the new St Andrews University biomass plant is carried out. This closure will last approximately eight weeks and requires the diversion of all bus services in the area. Below is a summary of the arrangements.

Timetables will be available online week commencing Monday 25 January, and a Guardbridge Closure Guide booklet will be printed and available from February.



Routes 42/42A/42B: Cupar/St Andrews – Tayport – Dundee
A revised timetable will be introduced keeping the 20 minute frequency between Tayport and Dundee, but with revisions to journeys to/from Cupar and St Andrews.
Routes 42A/42B will divert via Balmullo, and not serve Leuchars. They will run every 80 minutes rather than hourly.
Route 42 between St Michaels and Cupar will also run on the same frequency, and will be diverted to serve Leuchars village in place of route 42A.



Routes 94/94A/94X: Newburgh – Ladybank – St Andrews
Daytime journeys are diverted via the A91 and will not serve Leuchars or Balmullo. As a result, the timetable is revised along the whole route, although the existing hourly frequency is maintained. Evening journeys will serve Balmullo and Leuchars, but will run via the A91/A914 and clockwise via Balmullo, Leuchars and north Guardbridge.
The evening 94X journey from Newburgh to St Andrews will depart at 2333 instead of 2320.



Routes 99/99A/99B/99C/99D: Dundee – Leuchars – St Andrews
The main daytime service will operate as route X99 running every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday. This will stop at normal stops between St Andrews and Guardbridge (Cupar Road) and then at Balmullo and normal stops from St Michael to Dundee.

During the evenings and on Sundays, services will continue to operate with normal route numbers 99A/99D via Balmullo and serving Leuchars.

Within St Andrews, routes 99A, 99B, 99C & 99D will be retimed but will operate to their normal route and frequencies. Most journeys will arrive from, and continue to Dundee as route X99, Monday to Saturday daytimes, or as a 99A/99B/99C/99D in the evenings or on Sundays with no need to change buses.

Between Leuchars and St Andrews, route 99 will operate every 30 minutes, Monday to Saturday daytimes and will be the main service between St Andrews and the rail station. It will observe all stops on route. The timetable has been designed to ensure connections with rail services to and from the south. Customers wishing to travel northbound are advised to take route 99 to Balmullo and transfer onto route X99 to Dundee to make connections.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this road closure.

 

[overthewater]

Not with the East,

Talk on the grape vine; The Stagecoach Glasgow depot will be closing in April, and everything will be moving to the Cumbernauld Depot at that time.

 

[d1672]

hi,

That is correct. Depot staff were informed on 08/02/2016.

 

[Fifescottish]

Seems to be an awful lot of problems with the X55 coaches. 53248 out today and coach home was 53028. Seems wrong using a Megabus coach given the history of the route. Apparently its the spare coach but sees use most days. Supposed to be getting repainted at some point.

Parks still hanging in there for the moment.