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Stagecoach West/South West/South Wales - Fleet News & Discussion

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Temple Meads

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Couldn't see a current thread for Stagecoach SW and quite a lot is happening down here at the moment! Updated on 04/03/15 to include Stagecoach West and South Wales

This thread is for fleet news and general discussion regarding Stagecoach operations in the West area and the South Wales and South West, please post any unusual sightings or comments..

___________


So, to start us off, Exeter depot has received a new 14 plate batch of Enviro 200's, they had their public 'unveiling' yesterday, and ironically (or perhaps by design?) ALX200 Dart 34067 found itself on the 'R' Rifford Rd Circular as the public launch of the E200's took place - the ALX200's look to be ousted in Torquay by Pointer Dart's from Exeter that the new buses replace.

34067 on the 'R' (not my pic): https://www.flickr.com/photos/swbuspics/14603020817/

E200 launch (again, not my pic): https://www.flickr.com/photos/swbuspics/14809383963/in/photostream/

Meanwhile down in Torquay, with the end of the school term Olympian R129 EVX (16129) - hired in from Stagecoach West after two Enviro 400's were seriously damaged in a fire at Paignton bus station - is no longer in regular use, not sure what the future holds for it!

Torquay also now have Solo's CN57 FWM and CN57 FWO from Stagecoach South Wales to operate the Route 66 from Newton Abbot to South Devon College, which has been increased to an hourly frequency.

Over to you!
 
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iantherev

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The 66 has been hourly for quite a while now - it's just been re-routed in the Aller area because of the South Devon Link Road works and Solos are more suited to the new route. 47698/9 have also moved from Exeter - Torquay.

Dart SLFs 34776/7 (PX 55 EFE/F) have also arrived from Wales. Both were new to Merseyside.
 

mbonwick

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There must be changes afoot for vehicles to be coming in in addition to the new E200s.

On paper there are sufficient new E200s to replace all non-DDA darts, which at this stage is all that a region can expect to do.
 

Rapidash

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Not sure of the number, but there is an an former Exeter Optare Solo on the 18 Brixham - Kingswear route at the moment. Its gone from being Exe-Citi to Ex-City!

....I'll get me coat.

Also: any ideas why several Tridents have been put back on the 12, even though Hop12 branded Enviro's are being seen on the 32/13/22/23?
 
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henairs

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Hi,
Exeter City Enviro 36222 was on the 157 Exmouth - Sidmouth service today whilst 35153 worked one of the turns on the Seaton - Taunton 20 route.
47600 Solo was also noted at Honiton on a 4a service from Exeter.
34725 one of the ex Scottish Darts was on a 4 into Axminster as well but has probably visited before.
And to finish the day the two Lancaster Bombers with two smaller aircraft [Spitfire's ?] passed over Axminster Station at 17.03 as I waited for my train back home.
Cheers, Mike Russell
 

henairs

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Hi,
Quite a mix on route 99 today with only 1 Versa in traffic 4 Darts and Trident 17053 also working in the morning/early afternoon.
Due to various electrical issues only 25256 of the 6 Chard based Versa's was on the road, although told a bus broke down earlier in the morning.
17053 which had only arrived back from Exeter on Friday was used on the 12.15 service from Chard to Yeovil returning with the 13.28 Yeovil as far as Chard.
35171 presumed empty from Exeter as it was seen at Crewkerne on the 17.40 Yeovil to Chard. 3 Other Darts on route were 34729,34863 and 34866.
At Taunton 34766 was on the 14.15 20 departure.
Darts perform well when on this route and would seem a better bet than the somewhat unreliable Versa's which are subject to problems
Wonder if the Barnstaple ones have similar setbacks although I suppose they accrue less mileage.
Cheers, Mike
 

Temple Meads

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starrymarkb

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The R/S routes in Exeter have a variety of vehicles allocated - anything from Solos to Deckers. The 'R' in particular seems to get a MAN/E300 quite often but I've never seen one running an 'S'.

IIRC the MAN on the R is a Park and Ride spare. The R is about the only city route that can fit full sized buses.

Also IIRC the turn from the High Street into South Street is restricted for vehicles over a certain length (ie longer then a Dart). The R has a much easier turn from Market Street
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Hi,
Quite a mix on route 99 today with only 1 Versa in traffic 4 Darts and Trident 17053 also working in the morning/early afternoon.
Due to various electrical issues only 25256 of the 6 Chard based Versa's was on the road, although told a bus broke down earlier in the morning.
17053 which had only arrived back from Exeter on Friday was used on the 12.15 service from Chard to Yeovil returning with the 13.28 Yeovil as far as Chard.
35171 presumed empty from Exeter as it was seen at Crewkerne on the 17.40 Yeovil to Chard. 3 Other Darts on route were 34729,34863 and 34866.
At Taunton 34766 was on the 14.15 20 departure.
Darts perform well when on this route and would seem a better bet than the somewhat unreliable Versa's which are subject to problems
Wonder if the Barnstaple ones have similar setbacks although I suppose they accrue less mileage.
Cheers, Mike

Versas don't have a particularly good reputation. The Welsh ones (on the 151) experienced reliability issues, and Optare and electrics are not happy bedfellows.
 

Temple Meads

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One of the Barnstaple based Versa's showed up on the 17:35 Barnstaple-Tiverton and 19:05 return Service 155 on Friday - a turn that sometimes produces a North Devon Wave liveried Enviro instead of the usual Trident - not seen a Versa on it before though.
 

CC 72100

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Temple Meads

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I'm not sure how many we get in term time though - I only ever used to see the one go up the hill through the uni at about 9:10 in the morning, at all other times (day and night), solidly the Enviro single deckers in Ex-citi branding.

I can't say I've ever seen another decker on the 'D', was more thinking that, out of term time, there are busier city services where a decker may have been better deployed.
 

iantherev

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Versas don't have a particularly good reputation. The Welsh ones (on the 151) experienced reliability issues, and Optare and electrics are not happy bedfellows.

Many of the problems with the Welsh batch have involved the MAN engines - some of the batch have been re-engined with Cummins engines by Smiles Engineering, Newcastle. It's notable that the two Solos which came to Devon are MAN engined!
 

CC 72100

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I can't say I've ever seen another decker on the 'D', was more thinking that, out of term time, there are busier city services where a decker may have been better deployed.

Exactly - although there are people at university over the summer, as I found at a recent open day with my brother - a significant amount of international students (who seem to use the bus a lot more than the 'home' students and quite a few have passes) are still at uni.
 

starrymarkb

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It is mostly the Chinese students that use the D. IME most others walk and TBH it's only about a 15 min walk (admittedly uphill) if you go up Longbrook Street.

There is usually one on the D around 4-5pm aswell.
 

Rapidash

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Changes to Exeter PIS

Exeters PIS system to be ripped out and replaced - not surprising in the slightest, as its been a bit useless for the last few months. I wonder if they will be adding in the inter-urban services to it this time?
 

embers25

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I can't say I've ever seen another decker on the 'D', was more thinking that, out of term time, there are busier city services where a decker may have been better deployed.

I got a decker on the D on the 1622 from Digby on Thur 28th August. It arrived empty from the depot and may have been Stagecoach reacting to the closure of Countess Wear roundabout. Whatever the reason it was a nice change although very tight to get round in places. The driver was very careful around trees as obviously they aren't chopped back given it's usually a single decker.
 

Wolvercoter

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IIRC the MAN on the R is a Park and Ride spare. The R is about the only city route that can fit full sized buses.

Also IIRC the turn from the High Street into South Street is restricted for vehicles over a certain length (ie longer then a Dart). The R has a much easier turn from Market Street

Aah... that'll explain it. Thanks for that.

Speaking of MAN/E300, I saw 24148 looking shiny in corporate Stagecoach livery this evening, heading into Exeter on the X38. Used to be a Matford Greeny.
 

Temple Meads

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Aah... that'll explain it. Thanks for that.

Speaking of MAN/E300, I saw 24148 looking shiny in corporate Stagecoach livery this evening, heading into Exeter on the X38. Used to be a Matford Greeny.

Saw 24148 on the Blue P&R on Monday:

Stagecoach - WA59 FXE - 24148 - Exeter - Paris St by Transport Tim

And ALX200 Dart 34077 was on a 'P' to Crossmead around the same time:

Stagecoach - S477 BWC - 24077 - Exeter - Sidwell St by Transport Tim

It was also parked up on Exeter Upper Bus Station tonight, so looks like the 14 plate Enviro's haven't completely vanquished them, although I assume it's a reserve vehicle now?

Although having said that, a flickr contact saw two ALX200 Dart's on the back of a wrecker today, most likely scrapyard bound.
 

Rapidash

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Those old Darts and a few ancient Tridents in Torbay must be the last around here with the terrible bench style seats, right?

Bon voyage, EasyRiders, you did well to save us after Bayline, but I'll stick to the E400's if thats okay!:)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well, unless the fitters have some serious magic at their disposal, the last Trident 2 on the X46 snuffed it today. 1040 out of Exeter - Engine died just past the Gissons Inn, driver managed to get it to the nearby slip road for the garage there. Fitter called, swore at it, declared it dead and then shoved us on the next service to pass, which was the next X46 as naff all else goes that way.

I'm just glad it only took an hour to get us on another bus, as the preparation for the Tour of Britain pretty much shut down most of Exeter this morning. I wonder what variety of E400 we'll get now! PleasbeanotherGold,PleasebeanotherGold......
 

TheGrandWazoo

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Those old Darts and a few ancient Tridents in Torbay must be the last around here with the terrible bench style seats, right?

Bon voyage, EasyRiders, you did well to save us after Bayline, but I'll stick to the E400's if thats okay!:)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Well, unless the fitters have some serious magic at their disposal, the last Trident 2 on the X46 snuffed it today. 1040 out of Exeter - Engine died just past the Gissons Inn, driver managed to get it to the nearby slip road for the garage there. Fitter called, swore at it, declared it dead and then shoved us on the next service to pass, which was the next X46 as naff all else goes that way.

I'm just glad it only took an hour to get us on another bus, as the preparation for the Tour of Britain pretty much shut down most of Exeter this morning. I wonder what variety of E400 we'll get now! PleasbeanotherGold,PleasebeanotherGold......

I thought you'd been told that X46 was being converted to Gold?
 

Rapidash

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I had been! By the driver of the dead Trident by happy chance:lol:

It has been run by 2 Golds and a Trident for the last few months, not sure whats happening with the third one.
 

starrymarkb

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One of the Green E300s used to spend the day in the Bus station yard as it was only needed during peak hours. At least if it's in neutral colours it can go out and work on the R or some of the Rural routes like the other P&R spares.

And I've just noticed from Tim's pic that it's been re-repainted. It didn't have black around the windows for the first week or so out.
 
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Rapidash

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Looks like a Dart was on the X46 today. One of the few times I've been happy to fork out extra for the pleasure of using a Pacer.
 

henairs

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Hi,
Trident 17053 had a run out on the 99 route again this Saturday when it worked into Taunton on the 13.38 service from Yeovil.
Not sure if it worked throughout o may have replaced an ailing vehicle along route as it was 20+ down into the county town.
No doubt worked 16.40 return service.
Cheers, Mike Russell
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi,
A quick look in at Chard Depot revealed Trident 17702 is here at the moment whilst Versa 25251 was also parked up.
3 vehicle types out on 99 today, Versa's 25252/253 Darts 34729/34776 and Solo 47596 which still has Blue moquette Cooks coaches seats inside along with yellow grab rails. Not sure if any of the other ex Landylines [Cooks] vehicles still carry these colours internally or if they have been reworked into full Stagecoach interior spec ? A good few are still in use at other Depots in South-West area.
Also ex Barny Dart 35153 was on the 20 [14.15 T/ton] again.
Off on holiday to North Devon this coming week so looking forward to seeing operations down there.
Cheers, Mike Russell [henairs]
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi All,
ALX Dart 34068 has been working out of Barnstaple Depot as a stand in for vehicle/s away for painting. It was on 21a services to Croyde bay this Tuesday/Wednesday and was also seen working along the Torrington road on Thursday. Versa 25260 was absent this week so unless VOR could be away for paint. Trident 18079 which arrived back from painting middle of last week has been Fleet numbered back up and is back out in traffic.
Seen lunch time today on a 155 at Tiverton.
17053 was noted working MT to Taunton near Ilminster so not sure if 17702 has returned to Exeter.
Hope these notes interest someone out there.
Mike Russell [henairs]
 

Temple Meads

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Hi All,
ALX Dart 34068 has been working out of Barnstaple Depot as a stand in for vehicle/s away for painting. It was on 21a services to Croyde bay this Tuesday/Wednesday and was also seen working along the Torrington road on Thursday. Versa 25260 was absent this week so unless VOR could be away for paint. Trident 18079 which arrived back from painting middle of last week has been Fleet numbered back up and is back out in traffic.
Seen lunch time today on a 155 at Tiverton.
17053 was noted working MT to Taunton near Ilminster so not sure if 17702 has returned to Exeter.
Hope these notes interest someone out there.
Mike Russell [henairs]

Thanks for the info Mike, good to hear that an ALX200 is still fighting on the front line.

Saw 18079 earlier too, looked very smart.
 
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