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Stagecoach North West Discussion
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driver9000
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An observation from Saturday I forgot to mention was 21003 working the 12:10 No.10 Lancaster-Ridge-Lancaster.
could get someone else to crash it haha. someone who is on the edge of being sacked lol (i say this because lots of witnesses, including myself and my coach driver, seen a stagecoach vehicle run a red light after stopping at it!!! i'll private message you the bus details if you wish).
20768 was on Seaton 47 this morning.
47024 on 51, with 33167 on 50.
33167 later went onto 47 for the busy run, sending 40651 onto 50.
40445 out on harrington and seaton routes sounding very bad!
20763 on 31 with non-working display and i didnt see a destination board either this morning!
14233, 14234 and a H reg oly were on schools at St Benedicts this morning.
14234, 16733 and something else were on schools at St Benedicts this afternoon
20768 was on Seaton 47 this morning.
47024 on 51, with 33167 on 50.
33167 later went onto 47 for the busy run, sending 40651 onto 50.
40445 out on harrington and seaton routes sounding very bad!
20763 on 31 with non-working display and i didnt see a destination board either this morning!
14233, 14234 and a H reg oly were on schools at St Benedicts this morning.
14234, 16733 and something else were on schools at St Benedicts this afternoon
i was really shocked lol, especially when there were people on it! oh well, if anyone has reported it, you'll find out who it was maybe when they disappear off the rota's!
forgot to say earlier, there are some disruptions for stagecoach...again! roadworks outside the building site for Netto, which affects services 30, 31, 46, 46A and 46B. (i think maybe 301, but can't remember which route it takes lol. i used to see 301 go through annie pit going to whitehaven (west cumberland hospital)).
forgot to say earlier, there are some disruptions for stagecoach...again! roadworks outside the building site for Netto, which affects services 30, 31, 46, 46A and 46B. (i think maybe 301, but can't remember which route it takes lol. i used to see 301 go through annie pit going to whitehaven (west cumberland hospital)).
wishful thinking, but he stopped, was stationary for a while, then just drove off while the light was on red! the light for pedestrians was on green! lucky there wasnt anyone crossing at the time!!!
Dallamlad
Established Member
Got to admit its quite cool when drivers predict exactly when lights are going to change. Lancaster drivers are quite good at it its ace lol. Nothing happening in Lancaster these days. Had 14235 on D6 which is a shed lol still has SC in Lancaster on the side.
Erm 20546 on the 3 about 7.50 this morning. Everything else is normal I guess mind you I haven't seen much today.
PS: Past 100 pages woop lol
Erm 20546 on the 3 about 7.50 this morning. Everything else is normal I guess mind you I haven't seen much today.
PS: Past 100 pages woop lol
just been given this UNCONFIRMED information:
6 Optare Solo's to replace Optare Metrorider's at Deepdale Rd depot, although these are expected to be from Preston (Frenchwood) through the merging of "battle routes".
2 Optare Solo's due to be transferred to Lillyhall in April, these are thought to be from Deepdale Depot, and will recieve repaint and hanover LED display unit before service. interior refurbishment will also be expected at some point.
6 N reg Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympians will be transferred to Barrow, along with the N reg NC bodied Volvo Olympian, which will presumably remove 7 F reg Leyland Olympians out of service.
33169 (T607 JBA) is expected to be transferred to Lillyhall at some point during 2009 however it is unknown when.
Mercedes 709d's 40001 (N201 UHH) and 40033 (N133 YRM) are expected to move into the Stagecoach NW reserve fleet upon arrival of the two Optare Solo's, along with another 709d (unknown which at the present time).
32917 (L119 HHV) was due to be transferred to Carlisle, however this transfer will now no longer take place. no reason for this has been made known.
i wish that was confirmed information!
6 Optare Solo's to replace Optare Metrorider's at Deepdale Rd depot, although these are expected to be from Preston (Frenchwood) through the merging of "battle routes".
2 Optare Solo's due to be transferred to Lillyhall in April, these are thought to be from Deepdale Depot, and will recieve repaint and hanover LED display unit before service. interior refurbishment will also be expected at some point.
6 N reg Alexander RL bodied Volvo Olympians will be transferred to Barrow, along with the N reg NC bodied Volvo Olympian, which will presumably remove 7 F reg Leyland Olympians out of service.
33169 (T607 JBA) is expected to be transferred to Lillyhall at some point during 2009 however it is unknown when.
Mercedes 709d's 40001 (N201 UHH) and 40033 (N133 YRM) are expected to move into the Stagecoach NW reserve fleet upon arrival of the two Optare Solo's, along with another 709d (unknown which at the present time).
32917 (L119 HHV) was due to be transferred to Carlisle, however this transfer will now no longer take place. no reason for this has been made known.
i wish that was confirmed information!
The 6 Solos will also come from the loss of some contracted routes by Stagecoach in Preston.
The fact that the 2 Solos heading to Lillyhall will receive LEDs suggests to me that they may be ex-PB examples with blinds.
As I have been saying all along, as newer vehicles arrive, there will be a reduction in the number of spare 709Ds.
Not surprised Carlisle don't want 32917...it'll probably go to reserve and very quickly disposal when it come out of service, ostensibly when the Solos arrive.
The fact that the 2 Solos heading to Lillyhall will receive LEDs suggests to me that they may be ex-PB examples with blinds.
As I have been saying all along, as newer vehicles arrive, there will be a reduction in the number of spare 709Ds.
Not surprised Carlisle don't want 32917...it'll probably go to reserve and very quickly disposal when it come out of service, ostensibly when the Solos arrive.
Dallamlad
Established Member
No mention of Lancaster in that info lol dam!!! Looks like our B6's are staying a while yet. Mind you we are very lucky to have such a well rounded fleet compared to others 
Dallamlad
Established Member
That would be class good man! I would hope we would get something and two Solos would be spot on!! I don't suppose anything to replace some of our old deckers or B10s will come along but I like those old girls so its OK lol.
with it being unconfirmed, it could all change. hopefully doesnt.
on that info i recieved, there was only Lillyhall, Barrow, Deepdale and Frenchwood mentioned. no idea what could be going on at other depot's. would be nice to find out though lol.
on that info i recieved, there was only Lillyhall, Barrow, Deepdale and Frenchwood mentioned. no idea what could be going on at other depot's. would be nice to find out though lol.
No, I don't think any other replacements are afoot.
As I keep saying, B10Ms (and possibly Volvo Olympians - we have some of the last ever made) will almost certainly still be around at the 2017 deadline, so will only be replaced (probably) by a last minute order.
As I keep saying, B10Ms (and possibly Volvo Olympians - we have some of the last ever made) will almost certainly still be around at the 2017 deadline, so will only be replaced (probably) by a last minute order.
You're probably right there.
Stagecoach is the only one of the "big" companies on target/ahead of schedule to meet the 2017 deadline!
In fact, I heard recently of First bringing in an E reg secondhand to replace an R reg (!) Olympian
Stagecoach is the only one of the "big" companies on target/ahead of schedule to meet the 2017 deadline!
In fact, I heard recently of First bringing in an E reg secondhand to replace an R reg (!) Olympian
Dallamlad
Established Member
At the rate SC are going I think they will easily make the deadline. However other operators may struggle and SC keep taking over small businesses and therefore lugging themselves with even more old vehicles.
There isn't much wrong with out Volvo Olys or our B10's but I do like new vehicles and they do look better for the city. However that said the Vol Olys have a better ride then most of Lancaster's Tridents to be honest.
There isn't much wrong with out Volvo Olys or our B10's but I do like new vehicles and they do look better for the city. However that said the Vol Olys have a better ride then most of Lancaster's Tridents to be honest.
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I agree with what you're saying about SC taking over smaller companies, but if it stops them going bust then I'm all for it. Incidentally, Fraser Eagle coaches have gone into administration.
But look at Preston. Less than a month after take over and it is pretty much in line with most other depots. Admittedly this is partly due to the fleet PB ran, but still, it is a very quick turn round of vehicles.
The cracks are starting to show though. Although there is a 2 year compulsory no reduncancies deal with PB staff, SC now have too many drivers. So they are being offered positions in Chorely or Lancaster. I guess over time though the problem will rectify itself through natural staff wastage.
But look at Preston. Less than a month after take over and it is pretty much in line with most other depots. Admittedly this is partly due to the fleet PB ran, but still, it is a very quick turn round of vehicles.
The cracks are starting to show though. Although there is a 2 year compulsory no reduncancies deal with PB staff, SC now have too many drivers. So they are being offered positions in Chorely or Lancaster. I guess over time though the problem will rectify itself through natural staff wastage.
Dallamlad
Established Member
Oh yeah I'm all for takeovers but its still a pain however I've just read this:
http://www.stagecoachplc.com/scg/media/press/pr2009/2009-01-26/
So hopefully next year we may see more new investment up here...although probs not lol.
http://www.stagecoachplc.com/scg/media/press/pr2009/2009-01-26/
So hopefully next year we may see more new investment up here...although probs not lol.
darrenw29
Member
I dont think Lancaster has such a bad fleet at the min, so youve got a couple of B6s, what about 3 year old Tridents?? Solos?? Think yourself lucky compared to other Cumbria depots
driver9000
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- 4,565
Lancasters fleet has improved a lot in the last couple of years. At one time it was a rag tag bunch of elderly buses, I think Lancaster once had the oldest average age of buses. The fleet being made up of Titans, VRs, and Olympians of varying age. Now its looking quite smart with a healthy allocation of relatively recent low floor buses and a few brand new buses added albeit only 3 but its better than nothing!
Regarding the comment on being able to judge traffic lights, its a sad side effect of driving the same roads day in day out Im afraid its been a few years now since I drove buses but still remember the sequences to most of the lights in Lancaster & Morecambe and even which are triggered by an approaching bus!!
Regarding the comment on being able to judge traffic lights, its a sad side effect of driving the same roads day in day out Im afraid its been a few years now since I drove buses but still remember the sequences to most of the lights in Lancaster & Morecambe and even which are triggered by an approaching bus!!
The Lancaster I have always known (really 2004 onwards) has always been relatively up to date and certainly ahead of Kendal in terms of new buses.
Anticipating traffic lights is not just a side effect of driving routes, it's also from travelling them!
Anticipating traffic lights is not just a side effect of driving routes, it's also from travelling them!
i got that information off my cousin. don't know where it originally came from though.
today, from the same source, i have been told that apparently SCMA are getting brand new low floor single deckers (E300's i think they are) in the second half of 2009. it is apparently planned that this will see some ALX300's get transferred into the SCNW fleet (presumably for Barrow's 6/6A). i'm guessing this is probably unconfirmed like the other information i recieved, so chances are it could all change.
i havnt seen anything at all today of Lillyhall's services, so no idea if anything "odd" has been happening lol.
going back to the traffic lights, i think someone has reported the driver doing it. i have seen plenty of drivers anticipate lights changing and set off as it changes to amber, but they didnt change for around 10 seconds after the driver drove through. i've got a feeling he was maybe looking at the pedestrian crossing light which had just changed to red for pedestrians.
good news for west cumbrians though (not stagecoach i'm afraid), VOSA were inspecting vehicles at Keswick School this morning, and ER Travel's white Van Hool has been taken off the road!!! unfortunately, that left a coach load of school kids stranded at Keswick School with no transport!!! i think its about time ER had their license removed! 1 coach deemed totally unsafe for use (white Van Hool), 1 isnt far off falling apart, and the other is pretty old and scruffy inside!
today, from the same source, i have been told that apparently SCMA are getting brand new low floor single deckers (E300's i think they are) in the second half of 2009. it is apparently planned that this will see some ALX300's get transferred into the SCNW fleet (presumably for Barrow's 6/6A). i'm guessing this is probably unconfirmed like the other information i recieved, so chances are it could all change.
i havnt seen anything at all today of Lillyhall's services, so no idea if anything "odd" has been happening lol.
going back to the traffic lights, i think someone has reported the driver doing it. i have seen plenty of drivers anticipate lights changing and set off as it changes to amber, but they didnt change for around 10 seconds after the driver drove through. i've got a feeling he was maybe looking at the pedestrian crossing light which had just changed to red for pedestrians.
good news for west cumbrians though (not stagecoach i'm afraid), VOSA were inspecting vehicles at Keswick School this morning, and ER Travel's white Van Hool has been taken off the road!!! unfortunately, that left a coach load of school kids stranded at Keswick School with no transport!!! i think its about time ER had their license removed! 1 coach deemed totally unsafe for use (white Van Hool), 1 isnt far off falling apart, and the other is pretty old and scruffy inside!
Very odd afternoon in Lancaster today;
22809 on the 1547 55 Warton service, this is usually a B10M due to the superior seating capacity
20133 on 4, this should be low floor
30281 on the 1620 49 Halton service, this is normally a Solo, but has been rather busy recently.
22809 on the 1547 55 Warton service, this is usually a B10M due to the superior seating capacity
20133 on 4, this should be low floor
30281 on the 1620 49 Halton service, this is normally a Solo, but has been rather busy recently.
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