Trivia - 2016 Seasonal Open Top Bus Services

[overthewater]

I saw that page a couple of days ago but it HAD no details about when the bus was running.

 

[Volvodart]

I saw that page a couple of days ago but it HAD no details about when the bus was running.

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/East%20Scotland/Fife/St%20A%20Open%20Top%20Tour/ESCOT_Fife_95_OpenTop_020716.pdf

 

[extendedpaul]

Got it now, thanks.

I would just love to do that journey but not easy from either of my bases unfortunately.

 

[duncanp]

The 50 (Bournemouth - Swanage) and 60 (Poole - Sandbanks) are all year round services, but they are sometimes operated with open top vehicles in the summer.

The 60 used to be numbered 52 up until the end of May when it was rebranded as the 60 ("Purbreck Breezer")

 

[overthewater]

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/East%20Scotland/Fife/St%20A%20Open%20Top%20Tour/ESCOT_Fife_95_OpenTop_020716.pdf

Thats not the page I saw, but its nice to see the timetable up with day just to go.

 

[E-Rail]

The 50 (Bournemouth - Swanage) and 60 (Poole - Sandbanks) are all year round services, but they are sometimes operated with open top vehicles in the summer.

The 60 used to be numbered 52 up until the end of May when it was rebranded as the 60 ("Purbreck Breezer")

The 50 between Bournemouth and Swanage is open top all year round using half tops (with partition and swing door enclosing the front section).Up until this week, these have been 2009 Scania/Optare Visionaries although next week the Volvo B5TL/MCV Evoseti should take over and the Scania/Optares will operate the 60 between Poole and Sandbanks for the summer.

A further six convertible full open top B5TL Evoseti are currently in build but won't arrive until September so likely won't see open top use until 2017.

 

[Busaholic]

The most surprising open top bus I ever came across (not a 'service' as such) was in the last months of normal Routemaster operation in London and, on a beautiful September day, First put on their opentop Routemaster ex-coach on the 23 - caught it from St Paul's to Regent Street, but unfortunately had no camera. Never heard of any other appearances by it other than on 'last day' specials.

 

[extendedpaul]

Stagecoach South East have recently lopped the tops off two ex-London Tridents. They have (or will) be repainted into traditional East Kent open-top livery (cream with dark red relief*) and used on a service around the Isle of Thanet coastline - precise details not yet confirmed.

*: this year is East Kent's 100th year.

This service started operating today until 4 September.Only runs between Broadstairs and Ramsgate with the round trip taking just under an hour.

Saw it twice, both absolutely packed upstairs and a fair few sitting downstairs. Was running about 15 minutes late lunchtime but bang on time at 4pm so off to a good start.

Bus looks great too. Numbered 69 so should really be going all the way from Minnis Bay to Ramsgate !

 

[Hophead]

There's a change of plan regarding Brighton & Hove's 77 out to Devil's Dyke. Due to staff shortages, they are sub-contracting the route to Seaford & District till mid-September. S & D intend to use open-top and/or heritage vehicles at weekends.

 

[0B00]

3T Pwllheli to Porthmadog in North Wales by Arriva new this year.