Stagecoach North West Discussion

[rosswatson]

Don't know if its been mentioned on here but there are enough new deckers on the latest SC order to see off all the Leylands in the UK. So I'm hoping more Olys or LF deckers will turn up in the NW to replace our remaining Leylands!!!

Eurgh, more Volys :roll:
17017 still hasn't seen service with LL.....

 

[Mattdw92]

Rumour has it that 17017 is getting a new engine and gearbox (if it hasnt been mensioned/not know)
- but yeah, its taking its time, errrm worth the wait....

--- old post above --- new post below
47059 and 47007 on Moorclose this morning
- 47007 disappeared on the 0915 run with 20913 on in replacement 47007 back on 1045

 

[Dallamlad]

Stagecoach are aiming to have smartcard technology rolled out across their whole UK bus network by November 2010. Now does this mean new ERG machines with multi tickets features? Whole story below:

SMARTCARD technology is set to become a much bigger feature of Stagecoach Group’s UK bus and rail services. The expansion will build on the company’s sector-leading position as the country’s first transport group to pioneer the Government’s preferred technology. More than 53 million smartcard transactions are already made on Stagecoach buses and trains each year, including the UK’s rst use of the Government’s ITSO technology on the national UK rail network and the country’s first contactless bankcard payment scheme in
Merseyside. Stagecoach Group has also developed its own StagecoachSmart travel card, using a system provided by Vix ERG, to o er multi-modal
ticketing on its bus and rail services using the ITSO technology. The company recently became the first UK bus operator to roll out a smartcard system across an entire operating area with the launch of StagecoachSmart throughout its Cambridgeshire bus operation. The planned expansion of smartcard provision by Stagecoach will include:

• Completing the installation of smartcard
enabled technology on its entire UK bus eet
by November 2010
• Extending the use of smartcard ticketing on
the South West Trains network to cover more
than 80 stations
• The continued roll-out of StagecoachSmart
travel cards across its UK bus division, starting
throughout Cambridgeshire.

Martin Gri ths, Stagecoach Group Finance Director, said: “Value for money and convenience are crucial to getting more people to switch from
the car to greener, smarter public transport. “Our investment in smartcard technology means we are also leading the way in the UK in
making it easier for people to travel and make integrated journeys using public transport.”

 

[Ado 16]

“Value for money and convenience are crucial to getting more people to switch from
the car to greener, smarter public transport. “Our investment in smartcard technology means we are also leading the way in the UK in
making it easier for people to travel and make integrated journeys using public transport.”

Ho ho - Nice to have something to laugh about of a morning. Any countenance of an 'integrated transport system' in this country is still a long way off whilst we still have this compost heap of a system of private operators. We've been talking about it since Barbara Castle had a go in the 1960's and we've been simply talking about it ever since.

 

[cainebj]

Stagecoach highly rated
Stagecoach has been rated as one of the businesses most likely to gain from the increasing challenge of sustainability and its impact on company performance, according to a survey carried out by the Observer newspaper in conjunction with Co-operative Asset Management.
The study assessed the impact of sustainability on the prospects of over 300 of Britain’s biggest Plcs. Out of a scoring range of +5 to – 5, Stagecoach Group was rated +4 for ecological sustainability and +3 on the societal measure.
Stagecoach has taken a number of actions to reduce carbon emissions. In April, the company launched a new sustainability strategy and an £11m investment programme to reduce carbon emissions from its transport operations.
The Group is targeting an overall reduction of 8% in its buildings' CO2 emissions and a cut of 3% in annual fleet transport emissions. It is also a member of the Greener Journeys campaign, which aims to reduce car journeys by 1bn over the next three years. The Carbon Trust Standard has been awarded to the company too, making it the first Scottish-based transport group and one of only two listed UK public transport operators to have achieved the benchmark.

taken from Bus & Coach Buyer Issue 1088, 10th September 2010


havn't seen anything exciting today really, just a late running 300 (what a surprise), 47617 on 47, and 35248 on 30 & 31.


Not SCNW, but Blackpool Transport have now reportedly withdrawn their last Optare Deltas, having taken delivery of a brand new batch of Plaxton Centro's. I believe it leaves the only "fully step entrance bus" route as Preston depot's 61, of which does get low floors when they're available.

 

[Mattdw92]

Stagecoach highly rated
Stagecoach has been rated as one of the businesses most likely to gain from the increasing challenge of sustainability and its impact on company performance, according to a survey carried out by the Observer newspaper in conjunction with Co-operative Asset Management.
The study assessed the impact of sustainability on the prospects of over 300 of Britain’s biggest Plcs. Out of a scoring range of +5 to – 5, Stagecoach Group was rated +4 for ecological sustainability and +3 on the societal measure.
Stagecoach has taken a number of actions to reduce carbon emissions. In April, the company launched a new sustainability strategy and an £11m investment programme to reduce carbon emissions from its transport operations.
The Group is targeting an overall reduction of 8% in its buildings' CO2 emissions and a cut of 3% in annual fleet transport emissions. It is also a member of the Greener Journeys campaign, which aims to reduce car journeys by 1bn over the next three years. The Carbon Trust Standard has been awarded to the company too, making it the first Scottish-based transport group and one of only two listed UK public transport operators to have achieved the benchmark.

taken from Bus & Coach Buyer Issue 1088, 10th September 2010


havn't seen anything exciting today really, just a late running 300 (what a surprise), 47617 on 47, and 35248 on 30 & 31.


Not SCNW, but Blackpool Transport have now reportedly withdrawn their last Optare Deltas, having taken delivery of a brand new batch of Plaxton Centro's. I believe it leaves the only "fully step entrance bus" route as Preston depot's 61, of which does get low floors when they're available.

Intresting, rather good then. Certainly doing its bit for the future and to achieve this status, hands together for Stagecoach

20918 was on Seaton early this afternoon, 47617 must have replaced it - 34079 on Seaton also
16733 was on the short 300 and 20195 also on 30/31

 

[Ex-Nat-Ex Mark]

Have just found this on ebay.

2 Plaxton B10's (L138/ 139BFV), both ex Preston 's first Interurban coaches which were trannsferred to Lancashier United on sale of the east Lancs part of stagecoach are now for sale from Belfrod, Northumberland, cant recall what company is based there, correct me if I am wrong but is it "Northumberland Coaches"?

 

[jonesy3001]

Lancaster`s 3 remaining scania`s turned up this morning
15698-700 PX60 BFA/E/F

 

[cainebj]

20918 replaced 47617 on 47. 47617 disappeared on staff shuttle, and returned, and has been sat on the annexe for the past hour, while 20918 has been in and out of the bus station on 47.
47005 and 47060 on Harrington.
16733, 20195, 20905 and 35248 on 30 & 31. 22600 also on there, extremely slow. it was at top end of the gear refusing to change up. sounding extremely awful.

15683, 15685, 15686 and 20910 on standard 300's.
16651 staff shuttle, then presumably Whitehaven schools.

 

[Chris26584]

Stagecoach highly rated
Stagecoach has been rated as one of the businesses most likely to gain from the increasing challenge of sustainability and its impact on company performance, according to a survey carried out by the Observer newspaper in conjunction with Co-operative Asset Management.
The study assessed the impact of sustainability on the prospects of over 300 of Britain’s biggest Plcs. Out of a scoring range of +5 to – 5, Stagecoach Group was rated +4 for ecological sustainability and +3 on the societal measure.
Stagecoach has taken a number of actions to reduce carbon emissions. In April, the company launched a new sustainability strategy and an £11m investment programme to reduce carbon emissions from its transport operations.
The Group is targeting an overall reduction of 8% in its buildings' CO2 emissions and a cut of 3% in annual fleet transport emissions. It is also a member of the Greener Journeys campaign, which aims to reduce car journeys by 1bn over the next three years. The Carbon Trust Standard has been awarded to the company too, making it the first Scottish-based transport group and one of only two listed UK public transport operators to have achieved the benchmark.

taken from Bus & Coach Buyer Issue 1088, 10th September 2010


havn't seen anything exciting today really, just a late running 300 (what a surprise), 47617 on 47, and 35248 on 30 & 31.


Not SCNW, but Blackpool Transport have now reportedly withdrawn their last Optare Deltas, having taken delivery of a brand new batch of Plaxton Centro's. I believe it leaves the only "fully step entrance bus" route as Preston depot's 61, of which does get low floors when they're available.

More like it gets low floors when the step entrances ain't available lol! Odd Trident and MAN, but usually home to our 2 B10M's and a couple of Olympians. Expect 16184/352 on this regularly as they don't carry tachos, with the 59 now worked by the EU rosta through to Accrington - even though it falls below the millage needed to make it a tacho only route - therefore all the tacho deckers are needed on this or the X61.

The new 4C started on Monday linking the Bus Station with Preston College using basically anything thats going spare. This proved to be very popular as many college students were catching the regular versions of the 59, 61 and 68 into the bus station not realising that the college versions running directly to Fulwood Campus were timed 5-10 minutes behind these! The 4C is needed as the special College Riders are not accepted on Preston Bus service 19, with their college tickets not being accepted by Stagecoach - in order to make it less confusing possibly when it comes to selling it to whoever buys it.
Preston Bus have also put their fares up 10p across the board (except the £2.70 dayrider), with their weekly Cityrider now £9, still £8.50 on Stagecoach and kids getting charged a peak time fare of 80p and 70p after half 9, outrage and stagecoach-bashing in the local press (even though any profit will be going to Preston Bus and NOT Stagecoach as all funding has to be kept seperate). Passengers by Tuesday had soon got the idea to wait for a Stagecoach bus to purchase weekly tickets, or visit a driver on the bus station - it should be noted that all tickets are still interchangable between the 2 companies!

Also, wouldn't the 42 also count, unless this is being advertised as fully accessable now.... even though 16668 was on it today!

 

[cainebj]

Big flaw in bus services

Last updated at 12:27, Thursday, 09 September 2010

It seems that recently there has been quite a shortage of small low-floor buses which operate the town services and urban areas of west Cumbria.

I was on one of the Moorclose circular buses, which was a a step-entrance bus (both 50 and 51 were) operating at Hunday Court and also Wastwater Avenue. I saw two buggy users, who wanted to use the bus, but couldn’t because it was step-entranced.

These people were told by the driver to walk to Moorclose shops to catch the 31 to town as that “should” have more low-floor buses on.

It was the same coming back from town where a buggy user wanted to go to Seaton.

They asked staff for advice and were turned away from the service as that wasn’t low-floor either.

Seaton and Moorclose (and Harrington) are said to be low-floor services but over the past few weeks the number of low-floor buses in Workington have been decreasing. In fact today, two step-entrance buses are on Moorclose.

Stagecoach is probably the UK’s largest bus company and it is a concern that it can’t provide the services advertised especially when these urban town services are key for the elderly and buggy/wheelchair users to get to town for their daily/weekly needs and also to the different outskirt areas of Workington.


taken from News & Star

 

[mbonwick]

42 is worked separately from the 40/1 AFAIK.

The 8 Scanias Morecambe will eventually have are just enough to cover the PVR of 8 for the 40/1, so the 42 will continue getting whatever is available.

 

[Dallamlad]

Lancaster's 3 remaining scania's turned up this morning
15698-700 PX60 BFA/E/F

Brilliant, look forward to them been out in service soon and seeing what leaves ME!

Saw 20128 for the first time on the 55 this afternoon.

 

[Mattdw92]

22600 also on there, extremely slow. it was at top end of the gear refusing to change up. sounding extremely awful.

Lets give it a tacho, make it run to Carlisle... then kill it :roll:

It seems that recently there has been quite a shortage of small low-floor buses which operate the town services and urban areas of west Cumbria.

I was on one of the Moorclose circular buses, which was a a step-entrance bus (both 50 and 51 were) operating at Hunday Court and also Wastwater Avenue. I saw two buggy users, who wanted to use the bus, but couldn’t because it was step-entranced.

These people were told by the driver to walk to Moorclose shops to catch the 31 to town as that “should” have more low-floor buses on.

It was the same coming back from town where a buggy user wanted to go to Seaton.

They asked staff for advice and were turned away from the service as that wasn’t low-floor either.

Seaton and Moorclose (and Harrington) are said to be low-floor services but over the past few weeks the number of low-floor buses in Workington have been decreasing. In fact today, two step-entrance buses are on Moorclose.

Stagecoach is probably the UK’s largest bus company and it is a concern that it can’t provide the services advertised especially when these urban town services are key for the elderly and buggy/wheelchair users to get to town for their daily/weekly needs and also to the different outskirt areas of Workington.

taken from News & Star

At least we aren't the only ones seeing this problem! It took me a while to click on but I like the headline the paper/person came up with 'Big Flaw' not low-'flaw' :roll: Take note Stagecoach

These people were told by the driver to walk to Moorclose shops to catch the 31 to town as that “should” have more low-floor buses on.

Looking at todays allocations on 30/31, "should" is a word that could be argued upon

 

[darrenw29]

To add to the low floor woes 34079 in its regular position on the back of Pickthalls tow truck this evening going up high Street towards Lillyhall

 

[rosswatson]

To add to the low floor woes 34079 in its regular position on the back of Pickthalls tow truck this evening going up high Street towards Lillyhall

Next stop: Moss Bay Metals!
Surely it won't be fixed this time...... :roll: I know one man who will be pleased if they do fix it though,

 

[Mattdw92]

To add to the low floor woes 34079 in its regular position on the back of Pickthalls tow truck this evening going up high Street towards Lillyhall

OMG again
Take a hint stagecoach, we need a new one!!
I hope it doesn't come back this time!
If fit, get 47474 out of the depot and in service now stagecoach

 

[rosswatson]

If fit, get 47474 out of the depot and in service now stagecoach

The elusive 47474! I reckon it should have been scrapped after the crash. Been nothing but trouble since it was repaired.

 

[Mattdw92]

The elusive 47474! I reckon it should have been scrapped after the crash. Been nothing but trouble since it was repaired.

Agree, you see buses with less damage been scrapped! Just because it was fairly new, we'll see if we can fix it. Probally an apprentice project
Its doing nothing and causing trouble from doing nothing!

 

[rosswatson]

Agree, you see buses with less damage been scrapped! Just because it was fairly new, we'll see if we can fix it. Probally an apprentice project
Its doing nothing and causing trouble from doing nothing!

One wonders if 34079 will be replaced by a Carlisle MPD, now that their PVR has been reduced,

 

[Mattdw92]

One wonders if 34079 will be replaced by a Carlisle MPD, now that their PVR has been reduced,

Anything low-floor is better than 34079
T-CCK MPD's are pretty poor though aha
Lillyhall would be happy enough to take them of their hands mind you...

 

[j@r]

aparently eddie stobart has been granted a lisence to operate busses i was told today. dont no how many or where for mind.

 

[cainebj]

aparently eddie stobart has been granted a lisence to operate busses i was told today. dont no how many or where for mind.

they're licensed for 2 vehicles, operating from Carlisle

 

[K777DAO]

To add to the low floor woes 34079 in its regular position on the back of Pickthalls tow truck this evening going up high Street towards Lillyhall

Not a big miss on the LF front this one... Not (Surprisingly) for it's unreliability, but through the fact it's flip-out wheelchair ramp was damaged, then removed after an accident a few years ago... If another similar bus was withdrawn, one could be retrofit, but for a vehicle of it's age (and reliability...) it's just not worth doing!

So in practice, it's not really an accessible vehicle!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

One wonders if 34079 will be replaced by a Carlisle MPD, now that their PVR has been reduced,

33076 would be my weapon of choice... but CE won't let that one go before one of the other two... Thumping 6-Cylinder powerplant in an SPD... It's not a brilliant example, but Gokart-esque Acceleration in comparison to any other short dart!!!

 

[Mattdw92]

20931 on Moorclose and 20195 on Seaton this morning
---- old post above --- new post above ---
Was driving behind 22609 just after 12, quite a bit of black smoke coming from exhaust and gearbox screaming in pain. Sounding rather ill.

Also the letter about lack of LF's on Workington Town services that appeared on the News and Star website Opinion Column - which cainebj posted (http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=493991&postcount=9881) - also features in todays weekly Times and Star Letters Column.

 

[cainebj]

16637 on its way back to Chorley with a fresh coat of paint.

2 Preston Bus Solo's have been painted into Stagecoach livery, the other 2 have been painted plain white! worth pointing out at this stage that there is to be an ASDA Free Bus in Workington area, to the new ASDA store which opens mid-october (18th October i think). could be putting 2 and 2 together to get 5, but ASDA usually specify accessible buses in ASDA livery these days for the free bus contracts, so could these 2 Solo's be put into ASDA livery?

 

[Mattdw92]

16637 on its way back to Chorley with a fresh coat of paint.

2 Preston Bus Solo's have been painted into Stagecoach livery, the other 2 have been painted plain white! worth pointing out at this stage that there is to be an ASDA Free Bus in Workington area, to the new ASDA store which opens mid-october (18th October i think). could be putting 2 and 2 together to get 5, but ASDA usually specify accessible buses in ASDA livery these days for the free bus contracts, so could these 2 Solo's be put into ASDA livery?

Lil' bit small for Dunmail Park/Asda runs, especially as people will most likeely abuse the free Asda bus to get to the cinema and shops... but since there are two, interesting!.... and where will the Stagecoach livery ones go one wonders...

 

[Dallamlad]

17019/20/22/23/24 on 2/2a
14196 on 55a
20128 ran dead into bus station
16874 on 500
16660 and 21004 on Ripley Schools
14245 on D1
Also 15697 was on a Preston this afternoon.

Interesting about the PB solos, I suppose they could be for ASDA bus as they are all over white with ASDA stickers on. We'll soon see anyway!

 

[cainebj]

14257, 35246 and 20473 on 30 and 31. 22600 on as well, still sounding very ill.
16714 on short 300 with dead LED.
all 4 Scania's on 300. 15684's LED's off again.
20910 on X4.
20436 on 600.
47617 flying around Not In Service, while 2 B10M's on town services (again).
16447 staff shuttle then Whitehaven Schools.

 

[Chris26584]

A freshly painted 16649 (I think - could have been 16647 although this was reported in West Cumbria) was on 68's today so is either on loan at Frenchwood or transferred. Makes it me think its 49 as it carried no "in" decriptors, suggesting they were unsure where it was going to move too post repaint. I thought this bus was on the hitlist when it came to chassis, been posted it was in a pretty dire state when at Chorley, unless its been off the road for sometime for some TLC... im sure the gang at Chorley will let us know.
Also, 33143 has returned to Frenchwood and is in the dead lanes at the moment but I wouldn't be suprised if we got it back for service *joy*