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

[CharlesR]

New or cascaded from elsewhere?

Brand new.

 

[TheWalrus]

Brand new.

These are 15 series scanias? Would have made sense for them to go to Swindon as it’s the only depot in West that has them already.

 

[cnjb8]

Brand new.

I thought Stagecoach had stopped ordering Scania's. The last time they bought some was 2017.

 

[CharlesR]

I thought Stagecoach had stopped ordering Scania's. The last time they bought some was 2017.

Edit: Just been told that the new buses are not coming now. Postponed or fully binned, I have no clue.

 

[DaveHarries]

I just found this (which may have been posted here before - apologies if so) - https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/bus-routes-across-devon-set-3981819 - but it looks as if some of the changes to Stagecoach SW routes may be reversed in this consultation, live until 24-Apr-2020, comes off: https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/bus-routes-across-devon-set-3981819

Bude could certainly have a good amount of bus services going by the latter link.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[ValleyLines142]

Interesting if true about the deckers coming to Bristol. TBH I can't see Bristol depot needing any more deckers than they already have - unless Stagecoach have plans that I don't know of.
Dave

What routes in Bristol justify deckers? I noticed back in February a Trident (18312 I think) was regularly being used on the 625?!

The only regular route (excluding staff shuttle buses) that I can possibly see requiring a double decker is the 77. It certainly could live without, but perhaps the peak ones that are timed out of UWE/MoD/Aztec West between 4 and 6 could have some. If they're using one on the 625, they can use one on the 77!

 

[carlberry]

What routes in Bristol justify deckers? I noticed back in February a Trident (18312 I think) was regularly being used on the 625?!

The only regular route (excluding staff shuttle buses) that I can possibly see requiring a double decker is the 77. It certainly could live without, but perhaps the peak ones that are timed out of UWE/MoD/Aztec West between 4 and 6 could have some. If they're using one on the 625, they can use one on the 77!

I cant imagine the 77 actually requires a decker, the only reason they have them is schools and shuttles and some of those are because they had to replace 53 seat coaches and it's not possible to do that with a single deck bus anymore. I believe the 625 interworks with an Amazon contract.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I cant imagine the 77 actually requires a decker, the only reason they have them is schools and shuttles and some of those are because they had to replace 53 seat coaches and it's not possible to do that with a single deck bus anymore. I believe the 625 interworks with an Amazon contract.

I've never been on a 77 that is been full and standing in fairness.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I cant imagine the 77 actually requires a decker, the only reason they have them is schools and shuttles and some of those are because they had to replace 53 seat coaches and it's not possible to do that with a single deck bus anymore. I believe the 625 interworks with an Amazon contract.

I've never been on a 77 that is been full and standing in fairness.

I'm with @carlberry on this one. There's no way the 77 needs a decker - it manages quite nicely with an e200. The deckers are used only for schools and contracts; 18312 is a particular regular on the 432. However, they do interwork with other routes (think one of the 3 variants has a regular working) and will also be turfed out onto other routes to cover shortages/breakdowns.

The only regular Stagecoach deckers workings that have loadings that demand deckers are probably the peak SEV expresses and also selected X5s.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I'm with @carlberry on this one. There's no way the 77 needs a decker - it manages quite nicely with an e200. The deckers are used only for schools and contracts; 18312 is a particular regular on the 432. However, they do interwork with other routes (think one of the 3 variants has a regular working) and will also be turfed out onto other routes to cover shortages/breakdowns.

The only regular Stagecoach deckers workings that have loadings that demand deckers are probably the peak SEV expresses and also selected X5s.

Well this is what I thought, I was surprised to see Bristol having more deckers but I expect it is predominantly for school runs/interworking with the 3.

I've never seen the demand for a decker on the 77, although Bus Times is showing a couple of Tridents out on it this week but I expect that is down to a) social distancing or b) the wrong machine being fitted to buses.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Well this is what I thought, I was surprised to see Bristol having more deckers but I expect it is predominantly for school runs/interworking with the 3.

I've never seen the demand for a decker on the 77, although Bus Times is showing a couple of Tridents out on it this week but I expect that is down to a) social distancing or b) the wrong machine being fitted to buses.

Probably the former, I'd suggest.

With the takeover of South Gloucestershire, there is a much increased decker requirement that has been satisfied by drafting in additional late model Tridents to replace the Olympians (and a Citybus).

I do have a wry smile when you see Stagecoach drafting in 2005/6 Tridents in for school runs whilst older fleet is still in front line service for First!

 

[ValleyLines142]

Probably the former, I'd suggest.

With the takeover of South Gloucestershire, there is a much increased decker requirement that has been satisfied by drafting in additional late model Tridents to replace the Olympians (and a Citybus).

I do have a wry smile when you see Stagecoach drafting in 2005/6 Tridents in for school runs whilst older fleet is still in front line service for First!

What I find frightening is the fact that 02-reg vehicles are 18 years old.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What I find frightening is the fact that 02-reg vehicles are 18 years old.

You'll get used to ageing!!! It comes to us all.

I remember when I went to a neighbouring bus depot with my dad (he was a driver) and I got to look around a new fangled Leyland Olympian....

 

[ValleyLines142]

You'll get used to ageing!!! It comes to us all.

I remember when I went to a neighbouring bus depot with my dad (he was a driver) and I got to look around a new fangled Leyland Olympian....

I know, my delightful other told me I was old the other day, I'm 26!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I know, my delightful other told me I was old the other day, I'm 26!

Could be worse - at least you're nearer the cradle than the grave

 

[ValleyLines142]

Could be worse - at least you're nearer the cradle than the grave

Going back, it's been really interesting seeing branded vehicles off route during this time. A 55-branded Gold Scania Enviro 400MMC was on the 49 last week, and another was on the 7 in Swindon!

 

[matt_splat]

deckers have been out on the 77 i wonder if they are also interworking with something like amazon at the moment

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Going back, it's been really interesting seeing branded vehicles off route during this time. A 55-branded Gold Scania Enviro 400MMC was on the 49 last week, and another was on the 7 in Swindon!

To be honest, Stagecoach Swindon are a bit liberal with their vehicle allocations ref: route branding, at the best of times. A gold on the 49 is something I've seen a few times, and conversely, it's not unknown to see standard vehicles on the S6, nor to see Golds off their respective routes e.g. 55s on the S6 and vice versa.

However, they're not in the First Bath league of odd vehicle to route allocations!!!

 

[Marcus Fryer]

deckers have been out on the 77 i wonder if they are also interworking with something like amazon at the moment

According to bustimes the decker on the 77 works on there all day, starting with the 07:35 Southmead to Thornbury and finishing with the 16:29 Thornbury to Bristol. The deckers on the AZ1/AZ2 go on to the X5, then SEV. I've seen the 77s quite often these last few weeks, and this seems the normal working. Might be because the 77 (which currently runs 2-hourly) serves Southmead Hospital.
The 19:05 from Bristol to Thornbury is a separate decker working which comes off AZ1 and goes on to a 22:15 SNB (whatever that is).

 

[DaveHarries]

(.....) and goes on to a 22:15 SNB (whatever that is).

I just looked on bustimes.org map and saw a Stagecoach bus at Filton marked as having done an SNB run. I clicked on the link and got a route map. The SNB seems to be a staff shuttle which serves an area of industrial units, including a Tesco distribution site, near Severn Beach (postcode approx. BS35 4GG) on roads including Govier Way, Holloway Road, Palmer Avenue and Central Avenue.

2215 SNB to Little Stoke heads out of the area via. Govier Way after which the route appears to be A403 (Severn Road and St. Andrews Road), Avonmouth Village, Avonmouth Road, A4 Portway, Shirehampton (Hung Road, Station Road, High Street, Lower High Street), Lawrence Weston (Kingsweston Avenue, Long Cross), Henbury (Kingsweston Road, Avonmouth Way, Station Road, Henbury Road, Crow Lane), Brentry & Southmead (Knole Lane, Pen Park Road, Southmead Road) and Filton (Gloucester Road North, Gypsy Patch Lane) to the depot. Could be that SNB simply stands for Severn Beach. Sorry to be geeky by including the full route: did that for anyone wondering.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[-Colly405-]

Gloucester is due Scania E400 MMCs soon. At least 20, no definitive number available. Buses are due to be displaced to North Bristol, apparently.

If this is the post people are referring to, there is nothing here that says N Bristol is getting deckers; just that Gloucester is getting deckers that will displace buses to N Bristol...

Also, is SNB the remnant of the SevernNet Flyer? Or perhaps the Tesco / Aldi staff shuttle?

 

[Dai Corner]

If this is the post people are referring to, there is nothing here that says N Bristol is getting deckers; just that Gloucester is getting deckers that will displace buses to N Bristol...

Also, is SNB the remnant of the SevernNet Flyer? Or perhaps the Tesco / Aldi staff shuttle?

Severnside Night Bus?

 

[TheWalrus]

To be honest, Stagecoach Swindon are a bit liberal with their vehicle allocations ref: route branding, at the best of times. A gold on the 49 is something I've seen a few times, and conversely, it's not unknown to see standard vehicles on the S6, nor to see Golds off their respective routes e.g. 55s on the S6 and vice versa.

However, they're not in the First Bath league of odd vehicle to route allocations!!!

That will be because Swindon has I think 26 gold buses to cover a PVR of 24. That leaves two spare if they’re not in the garage or kept local. also the S6 is prone to disruption due to frequent incidents of the A420 so often another vehicle has to be stepped up. So it isn’t a case of being liberal with allocations, more likely they don’t have the required amount of gold vehicles available at the given time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That will be because Swindon has I think 26 gold buses to cover a PVR of 24. That leaves two spare if they’re not in the garage or kept local. also the S6 is prone to disruption due to frequent incidents of the A420 so often another vehicle has to be stepped up. So it isn’t a case of being liberal with allocations, more likely they don’t have the required amount of gold vehicles available at the given time.

I travel the A420 regularly and appreciate the problems that the road has when there's a problem like the week before lockdown when I had to come off before Buckland (heading home) and had a magical mystery tour through Shrivenham and then Wanborough.

However, there have been plenty of times I've seen 55 vehicles on the S6 in the morning and other instances when there have been odd allocations when there's been no incidents. Still, when everything gets painted in the new scheme, we won't notice

 

[DaveHarries]

If this is the post people are referring to, there is nothing here that says N Bristol is getting deckers; just that Gloucester is getting deckers that will displace buses to N Bristol...

Stagecoach Bristol unlikely to be short of deckers come mid-June. In today's VOSA Bus Service registrations for the West of England T/A are temporary TT revisions due to COVID-19 for Stagecoach West (Bristol) routes 3, 3B, 11, 84, 85, 462, 622 and 625, all wef 29-Mar-2020.

Also thrown in is the full cancellation of both legs (Newport - Chepstow and Chepstow - Bristol) of the Severn Express and also full cancellation of the X14 Chepstow - Cribbs Causeway wef 14-Jun-2020. Whether or not this is temporary is unclear but I get the impression that Newport - Chepstow - Bristol commuters will soon be finding another way to get to work.

Dave

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Stagecoach Bristol unlikely to be short of deckers come mid-June. In today's VOSA Bus Service registrations for the West of England T/A are temporary TT revisions due to COVID-19 for Stagecoach West (Bristol) routes 3, 3B, 11, 84, 85, 462, 622 and 625, all wef 29-Mar-2020.

Also thrown in is the full cancellation of both legs (Newport - Chepstow and Chepstow - Bristol) of the Severn Express and also full cancellation of the X14 Chepstow - Cribbs Causeway wef 14-Jun-2020. Whether or not this is temporary is unclear but I get the impression that Newport - Chepstow - Bristol commuters will soon be finding another way to get to work.

Dave

Very surprised that SEV service is being pulled after 9 months especially Chepstow - Bristol leg (not surprised about the Newport leg being cutback as gets low passenger flow) once this pandemic is over a lot of Chepstow commuters aren’t going to be very happy with no buses to Bristol.

 

[Dai Corner]

Very surprised that SEV service is being pulled after 9 months especially Chepstow - Bristol leg (not surprised about the Newport leg being cutback as gets low passenger flow) once this pandemic is over a lot of Chepstow commuters aren’t going to be very happy with no buses to Bristol.

Unless Stagecoach South Wales are going to operate it from Cwmbran depot?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Very surprised that SEV service is being pulled after 9 months especially Chepstow - Bristol leg (not surprised about the Newport leg being cutback as gets low passenger flow) once this pandemic is over a lot of Chepstow commuters aren’t going to be very happy with no buses to Bristol.

Don’t think it is much a surprise. It’s not that busy during the day and what there is happen to be pensioners so rubbish remuneration. The peak journeys really underpinned the old route but once the bridge tolls went, traffic went up by 10% and a number were 7XP passengers who used to park up near the A466 roundabout.

Sad to say but toll abolition killed it.

 

[TheWalrus]

I travel the A420 regularly and appreciate the problems that the road has when there's a problem like the week before lockdown when I had to come off before Buckland (heading home) and had a magical mystery tour through Shrivenham and then Wanborough.

However, there have been plenty of times I've seen 55 vehicles on the S6 in the morning and other instances when there have been odd allocations when there's been no incidents. Still, when everything gets painted in the new scheme, we won't notice

True, everything will look the same. Good for consistency. In the evening some vehicles change between routes.

 

[CharlesR]

If this is the post people are referring to, there is nothing here that says N Bristol is getting deckers; just that Gloucester is getting deckers that will displace buses to N Bristol...

Also, is SNB the remnant of the SevernNet Flyer? Or perhaps the Tesco / Aldi staff shuttle?

I did say “apparently”. This forum has digged to far into something that I was unsure on myself.