Stagecoach North West Discussion

[K768 DAO]

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[Dallamlad]

Yeah Dallams back tomoz so will scout out the buses that are used.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[mbonwick]

No, just a keen Dallam 6th Form pupil who is lucky to live in Lancaster so he gets the best of STL and STK!


Mid you, I see a lot of STL and a fair bit of STK what with the 555/6 and trips into Kendal!

 

[Dallamlad]

Yeah mbonwich right I'm just a sixth former at Dallam so i do get both STL and STK. I'm hoping to see some of the new darts on our smaller school services soon.

If anyone ever has any questions about Dallam school services or STL just fire away.

 

[mbonwick]

Hmmm.. I can't say I see school services getting a low floor bus that could be better used elsewhere, unless of course these runs regularly produce Darts?
Which are they?

 

[Dallamlad]

yes your right but on occasion we do see low floor vehicles such as the old Marshall's on the 552. So the chances are that we may see a new Dart on the 552 eventually. Its usually a B10 route but sometimes they use something else.

 

[mbonwick]

Ah I see what you mean, jsut a case of what's available at the depot! I was under the impression that one of your routes was a regular low floor, but that's obviously not the case.

 

[Dallamlad]

Ha no not on school routes but yeah its whatevers available.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[Dallamlad]

Yeah they use the ex Lancaster J regs for schools dont they?

 

[cainebj]

ex Lancaster J reg's are used for schools in Carlisle area.
as K768DAO said, most school work in the area is done by local coach hire companies, and stagecoach run the odd school service (33C and 33D i think usually come to sixth form). the odd B10m does come occasionally (this academic year, i've only seen one, which was on last day of term, and it carried no passengers!). students will occasionally use the public services if they don't feel like being squashed on a school bus (service 31 in both directions is usually used).
i think the stagecoach school services generally run in addition to the 31 (frizington), and the coach hire companies generally run the services which aren't covered by the service buses going near the school (with exception of workington and maryport, as the stagecoach services running near the school didnt go out that far prior to april 2008.)

i apologise if that doesn't make sense. as usual, i have something in my head that i struggle getting onto computer!

 

[driver9000]

Around 15:30 Monday I passed 30281 working a 3 towards Morecambe Battery on Torrisholme Rd!! Morecambe must have been hard up for buses!!

The 55 that begins from Spring Garden St is a public bus service, or was when worked there....

 

[cainebj]

P134XCN (20134) (sounding tired!) was on Moorclose Circular 50 today. didnt see moorclose 51.
H118SAO (14258 ) ran empty on Tesco Free Bus, and later sat on the annexe at Workington Bus Station with K759DAO (20759), P565PNE (42565) and P566PNE (42566). enviro 300's on 30's and 31's when i went past, and 709d's on 46/46A/47. didnt see an x4/x5, but i'd guess as usual, a B10m will have probably ran at least one of them!

 

[Dallamlad]

Ok today’s observations. Was at school today so travelled from Lancaster to Milnthorpe and therefore getting the best of Lancaster and Kendal.

Lancaster

2/2a-17021, 17023, 18328, 18330, 18375 and 18380
3/4- 22804, 22809 22813, 22814 and 22817.
10-47022
41-21003.
50-20545
55-20131 (later on)
80-20131 (earlier on)
X1-20451 and 20547

Layover at Lancaster bus station:

14195, 18363.

Kendal:

552-20750 and 20305.
555-18357 and 18366

Dallam School services:

D1-14248
D1A-18360
D2-20712
D3-Was a school runner but was unable to read the number.
D4(530 to Grange)-14259
D5-20458
D6-14199
School Special to Levens-14235.

Notes:

• 21003 is looking good with its new screen and seating revamp
• 20547 has a rear advertisement all but I’m not sure what’s it’s for.
• 18357 has an all over body suite displaying the Lakeland pathfinder. It also has CCTV which not all the 2005 Tridents at Kendal have.
• 14199 is back in service after been revamped at Lancaster. It has brand new seating covers (not new seats) and a new floor. However it does not have a “bus stopping” sign on the upper deck only one stop button. Doesn’t even have the strip. So having spent all this time and money on doing this they decide to put in on a school run. Its screen was also out of order.
• 14235 was an ex Lancaster vehicle (as was 14199) that has spent a lot of time moving between Lancaster and Kendal. It seems to have settled permanently in Kendal now.
• 47022 has a broken screen.

 

[mbonwick]

The 1547 55 service is a public bus service Driver9000, but it's school time only.

22823 was working the 155x to Overton - this is normally a D, boy was it crowded! I think Morecambe must be having a bus shortage

 

[Dallamlad]

Yes that 55 is a public service sorry i didn't make myself clear. It only leaves from the center of town for LGGS.

Yeah a MAN was on the 2a at about 10.20 this morning. What service was 22823 on? I assume it was the 2a but it could have been the 5 if it was going to Overton.

 

[mbonwick]

No, it was the 2A out of the bus station.

 

[Dallamlad]

ah cool probs the same one i spotted this morning. Its just weird allocation but its just daft putting a single on such a busy service especially to Overton coz that's the one all the school kids use.

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

good old pickthall, coming to the rescue hahaha.

the joncks will hopefully go soon! lillyhall would be better taking one of the plaxton interurbans out of reserve to temporarilly cover the x4/x5. they would be a lot more reliable than the joncks!

 

[Dallamlad]

Do we have a picture of one of the Joncks?

Just spotted 16666 on the 2a to Heysham Towers which annoys me coz it will probably do the whole night shift. Whats the excuse for not having a low floor on the night shift?

 

[p968hwf]

I cant understand why Lillyhall dont get their own wrecker well i suppose it is good for us! The breakdown was at Threlkeld so im guessing it was an X4/X5 service.

 

[cainebj]

front view
rear view
(these pictures are from fotopic and not owned by me)
the pictures are of the one that was recovered!

 

[Dallamlad]

Welcome p968hwf and yeah they should have their own wrecker lol.

 

[cainebj]

I cant understand why Lillyhall dont get their own wrecker well i suppose it is good for us!.

it would be useful for them with the amount of s*i*e they get, but as you said, your dad is getting cash for doing it!

 

[Dallamlad]

Oh yeah I know what they are now I wish Lancaster had some kind of express service.

 

[cainebj]

its a useful service, but it needs a strong, reliable, comfortable vehicle! the jonckheere's are none of those!
something is needed quite badly to replace them! ideally a coach, but it won't happen! i personally don't think a double decker bus is needed for X4/X5. they manage with a 51 seater coach (usually never full), and they use 49 seater b10m's on there. i personally think they should give enviro 300s a go! but with a different engine!

 

[Dallamlad]

Well I'm sure something will change soon.

I don't know why but I like the look of these:

http://album4103.fotopic.net/p339172.html

 

[cainebj]

leyland national with 2 door body :P
pickthall's originally had 2 doors, now only has the one at the front. they are nice buses!