Stagecoach Group (Group-wide matters)

[tbtc]

Better than random missing journeys though.

True - I'd rather that they nipped it in the bud and we at least knew that there'd be a bus every half hour rather than a supposed fifteen/ twenty minute frequency where there are some duties missing

However, based on the changes at https://travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-gb/newsupdates/service-changes#bus, we have the situation where...

25 Bradway - Sheffield - Woodhouse
Minor timetable changes. Double deckers will be provided on some journeys

Only minor changes to the 25 but the First 24 (Lowedges - Woodhouse) is cut back to every twenty minutes, so there will be gaps of fifteen minutes on a corridor that used to have a co-ordinated six minute service (later cut back to seven/eight minutes)

83a Ecclesfield – Sheffield – Lodge Moor
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to every 40 minutes

And yet the First 83 (Ecclesfield - Greystones) remains every half hour from what I can see (not listed as a change on the TSY website), so the ten minute service that became every fifteen minutes will now have gaps of half an hour on the combined section

The busy Ecclesall Road corridor used to see a fairly well co-ordinated eighteen buses per hour (every ten minutes on the 81/82, the 83/83a and the 88), but now we'll have the 81/82 every fifteen minutes (one of the First cuts), the 88 every fifteen minutes but the 83/83a running seven buses every two hours!)

Both the 24/25 and 83/83a have long combined sections of route

But one of the problems with the peace deal between First and Stagecoach in Sheffield is that both operate 50% of some key corridors (the 7/8 from Ecclesfield to Crystal Peaks, the 52 from Woodhouse to Hillsborough, the 120 from Halfway to Fulwood), so any reductions to services are quite "clunky" (rather than just removing one bus per hour, they either both retain the full frequency of both remove a bus per hour)

SL1, SL1a Middlewood – Stocksbridge
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to three buses per hour, maintaining tram connections. Sunday frequency reduced from 3 buses per hour to 2 buses an hour

That's potentially going to be a problem as the SL1/SL1a are effectively the "town service" around Stocksbridge/ Deepcar, reducing to just one per hour in one direction will be unattractive, as will climbing the steep hill from Manchester Road up to the housing estates!

 

[DJ_K666]

I would expect them to be more interested in her customer service skills. They are likely to assess her driving skills with a separate assessment, which may or not, be part of the same process.

There's a highway code exam and a basic arithmetic exam. Both marked while she's out having the driving assessment. Then there's an interview with a manager which may end in a job offer. Then a medical. Once her provisional licence category comes back she'll get a start date.

 

[Markdvdman]

Well Stagecoach promptly ended the X75 Merthyr to Swansea service yesterday citing low usage and driver issues. The timetable was dreadful anyway with the first bus leaving Merthyr at 8:45am the chance of commuter traffic has gone.

 

[CharlesR]

Very substantial cutbacks from 30/31 October in Yorkshire (inc Chesterfield). Many frequent routes cut back by 1bph, including Sundays, a number of routes reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly. The SL/SL1A cut back from 5bph to 3bph now just meeting some of the trams at Middlewood. X10 reduced from hourly plus peak extras to just one round trip each peak.
Described as temporary - but who is to say if they will ever be reversed.
Some double deckers on extra routes, Chesterfield 25, 54/A, Sheffield 25, Barnsley X19.

Better than random missing journeys though. Looking at the 4bph 66 this morning there appears to have been a 60 minute gap followed by a 45 minute gap.

Latest timetables

www.stagecoachbus.com

Changes to some timetables​

We pride ourselves in running great, reliable, bus services and we’re sorry that we haven’t been able to run services to our normal standard recently.
Along with many other industries, bus operators across the country are experiencing a shortage of staff, leaving the company with not enough drivers to run all journeys each day and though our teams have worked incredibly hard, sadly we’ve had to cancel some journeys, sometimes at short notice.
The situation has worsened recently and has been compounded by issues at the DVLA, where delays issuing licences to bus drivers means that the company has had to wait weeks, or even months, before newly recruited drivers can start their training.
From Saturday 30 October, we’re making temporary changes to some timetables to help us run more reliable services while we recruit more bus drivers and we’re hoping to return to normal timetables as soon as we can.
Full details of the changes are below, please click on the service name for the timetable.

Barnsley and Dearne Valley area service changes from Saturday 30 October 2021

1 Barnsley - Mapplewell - Staincross
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly.
6 Barnsley – Worsbrough, Bank End
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly.
9 Rotherham – Rawmarsh Circular
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
11 Barnsley – Athersley North
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly.
12 Barnsley – Athersley South
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes. Sunday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly.
27 Barnsley - Grimethorpe - Wombwell
Retimed to maintain coordination with buses 28 and 32 on Pontefract Road.
28 Barnsley – Grimethorpe – Pontefract
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency (between Barnsley and Hemsworth) reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly. No change to journeys to/from Pontefract.
32 Barnsley – Cudworth
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
59, 59a Barnsley – Royston – Wakefield
Monday to Saturday daytime journeys to Wakefield reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly.
66 Barnsley – Elsecar
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
93, 95 Barnsley – Darton
Monday to Friday daytime frequency reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes. Saturday frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
219, 219a Barnsley – Goldthorpe – Doncaster
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly. Great Houghton will still be served but at different times.
221 Doncaster – Mexborough – Rotherham
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
X10 Barnsley – Darton – Leeds
This service will only operate Monday to Friday peak periods, at 0650 and 1610 from Barnsley and 0755 and 1730 from Leeds. No service on Saturday or Sunday. Alternative journeys between Barnsley and Darton are available on service 93. Alternative journeys between Barnsley, Darton and Leeds are available on local trains.
X19 Barnsley – Goldthorpe – Doncaster
Monday to Friday off-peak and Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly. Service retimed to maintain coordination with buses 218 and 219 between Barnsley, Ardsley and Darfield. Double deckers will be provided on some journeys.

Sheffield area service changes from Sunday 31 October 2021

25 Bradway - Sheffield - Woodhouse
Minor timetable changes. Double deckers will be provided on some journeys.
43, 44 Sheffield – Dronfield – Chesterfield
Monday to Friday frequency reduced from 4 buses per hour to 3 buses per hour.
52 Hillsborough – Sheffield – Woodhouse
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes. Sunday service frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
83a Ecclesfield – Sheffield – Lodge Moor
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to every 40 minutes.
88 Ecclesfield – Sheffield – Bents Green
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes.
120 Fulwood – Sheffield – Halfway
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes. Sunday service frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
SL1, SL1a Middlewood – Stocksbridge
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to three buses per hour, maintaining tram connections. Sunday frequency reduced from 3 buses per hour to 2 buses an hour.

Chesterfield area service changes from Sunday 31 October 2021

1, 1a Newbold - Chesterfield - Langwith
Monday to Friday frequency reduced from 4 buses per hour to 3 buses per hour.
25 Chesterfield - New Whittington
Monday to Saturday frequency reduced from every 30 minutes to hourly. Double deckers will be provided. Retimed to maintain coordination with bus 50a.
39 Grangewood Farm - Holme Hall
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes.
43, 44 Sheffield – Dronfield – Chesterfield
Monday to Friday frequency reduced from 4 buses per hour to 3 buses per hour.
51 Chesterfield - Danesmoor
Monday to Friday off-peak and Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes.
54, 54a Chesterfield - Clay Cross
Monday to Saturday daytime frequency reduced from every 12 minutes to every 15 minutes. Double deckers will be provided on all daytime journeys.

Here in Gloucester, Stagecoach made changes earlier this month. Services 10 and 12 were reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes, service 1 every 10 minutes to every 12 minutes, 2/2A every 15 minutes to every 20 minutes and service 9 a flat frequency throughout the day.

It has reduced bus cancellations to an extent, however not entirely. I would much prefer it if they reduced other frequencies (i.e services 8 and 97/98, currently running every 20 minutes) to ensure that all buses run, rather than cancelling routes 1, 8 and 10 all of the time...

 

[Typhoon]

South East - frequency has been cut on the most frequent routes from Herne Bay and Thanet garages (Ashford from Sunday). However there are also cancellations (Stagecoach South East (@StagecoachSE) / Twitter), 34 tweets so far today (a Folkestone tweet lists over 60 journeys, a Dover tweet over 80). Not all cancellations are being posted, for instance Uni 1 and Uni 2 should be half hourly on a Saturday, last Saturday and today there were large gaps (last Saturday well over an hour on Uni 1, today a journey has recently been posted, first one I have seen in, again, over an hour). Buses on the Triangle are diverted to cover the missing journeys.

 

[RELL6L]

The Lancashire Bus Users Group blog spot reports significant cuts ahead east of Lancaster and the closure of the Ingleton outstation. Not good!

Lancaster District Bus Users' Group

lancsbus.blogspot.com

Lancashire and North Yorkshire County Councils have been holding talks to see what can be done following notification from Stagecoach that it is to withdraw services from the Lune Valley.

Coming just days before the County Council published its Bus Service Improvement Plan, which sets out its ideas for improving the county's bus network, Stagecoach says it intends to close its outstation at Ingleton and de-register services 80 Lancaster - Ingleton and 81 Lancaster - Kirkby Lonsdale - Ingleton from the end of December.

Rob Jones, Managing Director for Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs told the Bus Users Group

"We advised staff this week that we will be closing our Ingleton outstation at the end of this year, and are working with Lancashire County Council on how this affects customers on those routes.

"Sadly the 80/81 has not made money for some time, and before the pandemic struck the world, so with lower passenger numbers and significantly lower concessionary travellers (across the country not just Ingleton), we have had to take this decision."

Cross-Boundary Services​

The services were being provided without any financial assistance from either authority. Whereas Kirkby Lonsdale, (where the 81 terminates) is just within Cumbria County Council's administrative area, responsibility for the service lies almost entirely with Lancashire. Service 80, however, has a substantial proportion of its route within the area covered by North Yorkshire County Council

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said:

"We have been in discussion with colleagues at NYCC and we are keen to ensure the cross boundary services are able to continue for residents of both counties. Ingleton and High Bentham are bigger communities than most of those either side of the river combined and it is likely going to be key to maintain these cross boundary links with them potentially contributing towards to greater sustainability of the network. Of course LCC would expect that NYCC fund their share of any future service provision through their area."

The Bus Users Group has been invited to put forward suggestions as to what any replacement services should look like and we have put forward a number of ideas on matters such as regular headways, alteration to departure times, service numbers, fares and ticketing.

Lancashire County Council is keen to secure the replacement services as soon as possible and has undertaken to inform the Bus Users' Group and other interested parties when this has been achieved.

As this post was being written unofficial reports were received that Stagecoach would continue to operate the existing services until April, "to give the councils more time to organise a replacement", something that a council spokesman was unable to confirm or deny.

 

[Volvodart]

New livery revealed for UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service

https://www.stagecoachgroup.com/media/news-releases/2021/2021-11-19.aspx

19 Nov 2021


New autonomous bus service trial due to go live in Scotland in early summer 2022
Service will use the dedicated transport corridor across the Forth Road Bridge
New route will make it attractive for people to make the switch from car to bus
Partnership between Fusion Processing, Stagecoach, Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland
Stagecoach, in partnership with Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland, has today, 19 November, revealed the first glimpse of the new special livery for the autonomous bus project, CAVForth, launching in Scotland in 2022.

It is the next key milestone in the exciting trial which will see the first-full sized autonomous buses running on UK roads for the first time next year. The new service will be made up of four single-decker buses running a 14-mile route, including crossing the iconic Forth Road Bridge. It will provide capacity for up to 10,000 passengers a week, connecting Fife’s Ferrytoll Park & Ride with Edinburgh Park’s transport hub and is expected to be popular with commuters, students, day-tripper, tourists and novelty riders; keen to be first to say they have been driven by a computer.

The new service will make it easy for people to switch to public transport by providing a brand new bus route in the heart of East Scotland. It comes on the back of the COP26 climate change summit where Stagecoach said that the fastest way to make progress towards the UK’s net zero ambitions is by people switching from making car journeys and instead travelling by public transport, cycling or walking.

The four buses, which will feature the special new livery, are currently being fitted out with the ground-breaking sensor and control technology, developed and supplied by project lead, Fusion Processing Ltd, that allows them to become computer-driven. The vehicles are also being put through their paces with an array of virtual and track testing to ensure all systems are functioning as expected before on-road testing begins later this year.

The colours and design were chosen through consultation with local communities and a decision made to ensure the vehicles stand out on the road. The ‘AB’ logo, stands for autonomous bus and is an icon that Stagecoach hopes to see become a standard identifier of autonomous vehicles in the future.

The design of the livery is intended to ensure that it still feels like a regular bus, and is easily identifiable with the well-known Stagecoach brand, whilst also acknowledging the array of project partners who are making this world-leading pilot service a reality: Fusion Processing, Alexander Dennis Limited, Transport Scotland, Napier University, Bristol Robotics Lab, University of the West of England, as well the funding partner; the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.

Minister for Transport Graeme Dey said: “This is another welcome step forward for the incredibly exciting Project CAVForth, as we move closer to seeing it go live next year. This type of innovation shows Scotland is very much open for business when it comes to trialling this technology. This ground-breaking and globally significant project will really help the country establish its credentials on the world stage.”

Sam Greer, Regional Director for Stagecoach in Scotland said: “We are all very excited to be marking the next major milestone in our autonomous bus project, with buses planned to be on the road in early summer next year.

“The new service will provide a bus link between Fife and Edinburgh Park which currently does not exist and we hope will encourage more people to ditch the car, skip traffic jams and enjoy a relaxed journey in a dedicated bus lane and with new innovative state of the art technology.”

Jim Hutchinson, Fusion Processing Ltd CEO, said: “We are delighted to be leading on the world’s most complex and ambitious autonomous vehicle programme. CAVForth is an exciting pilot service and a great demonstration of our automated vehicle technology. The vehicles are fitted with CAVstar, our automated driving system which combines our own hardware and software to create, safe, AV Level 4 full sized buses. The buses will be operating on a 28 mile round trip route that includes motorways, single carriageway A-roads, minor roads, bus lanes, roundabouts and junctions with and without traffic lights. We believe it will be the most comprehensive Autonomous bus demonstration to date. ”

Paul Davies, ADL President & Managing Director, said: “As the UK bus industry’s innovation leader, we are constantly exploring new ways to further increase efficiency and safety. The trial of the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service gives us an outstanding opportunity to gain real-world experience. We are also working closely with our colleagues across NFI Group who are developing similar, promising projects.”

ENDS

 

[alex397]

Not quite sure what’s so special about that livery.

 

[LUYMun]

NEW LIVERY REVEALED FOR UK’S FIRST FULL-SIZED AUTONOMOUS BUS SERVICE

https://www.stagecoachgroup.com/media/news-releases/2021/2021-11-19.aspx

Just like electric buses, autonomous buses won't win any brownie points for the company.

 

[Simon75]

Reading about Travel Wright, closing, would the Stagecoach Newark outstation be affected

 

[Volvodart]

Stagecoach acquires east London bus operations from Kelsian Group

https://otp.tools.investis.com/clie.../regulatory-story.aspx?cid=273&newsid=1588406

Stagecoach is pleased to confirm that its subsidiary, Stagecoach Bus Holdings Limited, has entered into binding agreements to acquire Kelsian Group's east London bus operations and depot at Lea Interchange for total consideration of £20m. Upon completion, £10m will be payable, with a further £1m per annum payable for ten years commencing on the first anniversary following completion, subject to certain conditions.

The acquisition is a good strategic fit with Stagecoach's existing operations in east and south-east London. Lea Interchange depot is well located close to Stratford, the busiest station in the UK. It operates eleven contracts on behalf of TfL using a fleet of around 150 buses, with an annual turnover of around £38m.

The acquired contracts have an acceptable expiry profile and there are opportunities to improve operational performance and grow contract margins as routes are retendered.

Additionally, the acquired depot provides a positive platform to bid for new contracts in the area over the short and medium term. In addition to the initial £10m consideration, we would anticipate the incremental impact on Stagecoach's net debt upon completion to increase by around a further £20m, reflecting the IFRS 16 liabilities associated with the vehicle and property leases.

Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Chief Executive, said: "We have an extensive track-record of operating high-quality and profitable bus services on behalf of Transport for London.

"This targeted acquisition provides operational and margin improvement opportunities that we have successfully delivered at our other London bus depots.

"We look forward to working with TfL to deliver even better bus links to local communities in east London and also helping support the Mayor's drive to deliver a net zero transport system."

ENDS

 

[JaJaWa]

Seems like Stagecoach has just got Tower Transit

BREAKING NEWS

Stagecoach announced at 0700hrs this morning that that its subsidiary, Stagecoach Bus Holdings Limited, has entered into binding agreements to acquire Kelsian Group's east London bus operations and depot at Lea Interchange for total consideration of £20m.

Kelsian Group was formerly known as SeaLink Travel Group, with its London operations trading as Tower Transit. RATP Dev Transit London operations, the joint venture between RATP Dev UK and Tower Transit in West London, continue unchanged.

https://twitter.com/CBWtweets/status/1530081514569998336

 

[overthewater]

It seems Stagecoach are still selling off Megabus:

Megabus, Falcon retail activity to go to Scottish Citylink - routeone

Stagecoach is to sell the retailing activities of its Megabus and Falcon scheduled coach business to the Scottish Citylink joint venture.

www.route-one.net

Stagecoach has reached agreement to sell the retailing activities of its Megabus and Falcon scheduled coach businesses to Scottish Citylink, the well-established joint venture (JV) between the group and ComfortDelGro.

The transaction is expected to complete in mid-August. It will also see Stagecoach’s share in Scottish Citylink increase from 35% to 37.5%.

Announcement of the sale agreement represents a change from an earlier position that, under initial plans for Stagecoach to be purchased by National Express, would have seen Scottish Citylink take on the marketing, retail and customer service activities of Megabus and Falcon but also become wholly owned by ComfortDelGro in a deal slated at the time to be worth £8.75m.

The proposed purchase by National Express subsequently collapsed and Stagecoach was instead acquired by DWS infrastructure. The Scottish Citylink JV is already responsible for services operating under that brand, along with Megabus-branded routes to, from and within Scotland.

At the time that the earlier, more extensive planned deal between Stagecoach and ComfortDelGro was announced, the prospective purchaser said it was planning to further expand its provision of scheduled coach routes in the UK with “new and innovative” services. Since then, ComfortDelGro has agreed a €12m purchase of Galway-based GoBus to make it Ireland’s country’s third-largest scheduled coach operator.

Around 30 Stagecoach employees are expected to transfer to Scottish Citylink as part of the sale of Megabus and Falcon retail activities. No changes will be made to the operation of those services, with vehicles and drivers still provided by Stagecoach.

Speaking about the latest agreement, Stagecoach Chief Executive Martin Griffiths says: “Inter-city coach has a positive future as a greener and better-value alternative to the car and as the UK rail network continues to see rising fares and operational challenges.

“The agreement we have reached with ComfortDelGro will provide certainty for employees in these businesses and ensure that we can continue to benefit from future growth in the inter-city coach market through our increase share in the Scottish Citylink joint venture.”

Adds Sean O’Shea, speaking on behalf of ComfortDelGro as CEO of its Metroline subsidiary: “ComfortDelGro’s 20-year relationship with Stagecoach in Scotland is set to expand, and I look forward to working together to deliver great services for inter-city customers in England and Wales.”

 

[markymark2000]

Can anyone explain this in simpler terms? What will Stagecoach' role be in Megabus once this has completed?

How can you sell parts but increase your stake? Maybe im just tried but im struggling to understand it all.

Thanks

 

[Anthony ross]

From what I understand stagecoach will be a contractor for megabus under comfort Delgro ownership

 

[RELL6L]

As this thread has just been resuscitated it is perhaps the best place to continue a brief exchange I have had with @TheGrandWazoo on the 'trips' thread - we were entirely in agreement - about Stagecoach's local performance at the Commonwealth Games.

I have just read Roger French's latest blog

Games Makers

Thursday 28th July 2022 Today sees the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham continuing through to Monday 8th August. It’s a great opportunity for public transport to show off its cre…

busandtrainuser.com

including the lengthy conversation and argument underneath it which appears to clarify what I think we all thought. Summarising - Stagecoach tendered for the Commonwealth Games contract a couple of years ago and signed up irrevocably last year. The penalties for non-performance are so great that they are prioritising this over local services throughout the country.

But the impact from the terrible performance on the local services could be so great that they won't have much business left afterwards. I looked at the twitter feed from the Stagecoach Bristol operation - I reckon nearly half of it was cancelled. We know Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud as well as Exeter and much of Devon are horrendous too. I understand why this has happened - but where are the Traffic Commissioners? No doubt after the Commonwealth Games the drivers will take well-deserved holidays so I don't expect much recovery. I'm not planning a trip on any infrequent Stagecoach services in the near future!

 

[Scotrail314209]

As this thread has just been resuscitated it is perhaps the best place to continue a brief exchange I have had with @TheGrandWazoo on the 'trips' thread - we were entirely in agreement - about Stagecoach's local performance at the Commonwealth Games.

I have just read Roger French's latest blog

Games Makers

Thursday 28th July 2022 Today sees the start of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham continuing through to Monday 8th August. It’s a great opportunity for public transport to show off its cre…

busandtrainuser.com

including the lengthy conversation and argument underneath it which appears to clarify what I think we all thought. Summarising - Stagecoach tendered for the Commonwealth Games contract a couple of years ago and signed up irrevocably last year. The penalties for non-performance are so great that they are prioritising this over local services throughout the country.

But the impact from the terrible performance on the local services could be so great that they won't have much business left afterwards. I looked at the twitter feed from the Stagecoach Bristol operation - I reckon nearly half of it was cancelled. We know Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud as well as Exeter and much of Devon are horrendous too. I understand why this has happened - but where are the Traffic Commissioners? No doubt after the Commonwealth Games the drivers will take well-deserved holidays so I don't expect much recovery. I'm not planning a trip on any infrequent Stagecoach services in the near future!

It’s not so bad up here in West Scotland, but they’ve sent all our nice newer MMCs down for the Games, and left us with a mix of MMCs and a few hire ins from Stagecoach Highlands.

 

[markymark2000]

But the impact from the terrible performance on the local services could be so great that they won't have much business left afterwards. I looked at the twitter feed from the Stagecoach Bristol operation - I reckon nearly half of it was cancelled. We know Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud as well as Exeter and much of Devon are horrendous too. I understand why this has happened - but where are the Traffic Commissioners? No doubt after the Commonwealth Games the drivers will take well-deserved holidays so I don't expect much recovery. I'm not planning a trip on any infrequent Stagecoach services in the near future!

Some areas like the 94 corridor are down to 2 maybe 3 per hour versus scheduled 6 per hour. It's appalling. Traffic commissioners will likely turn a blind eye like normal.

 

[GoneSouth]

Stagecoach are horrendous for this practice. Just recently they were advertising their wonderful easy bus journey to the Royal International Air Tattoo and frequently offer charters for Cheltenham races at the same time as decimating their local timetable services.

How do we stop this happening as it’s all provided on a commercial basis and they take their assets where the money is. Its incredibly destructive to local bus networks, both now and in future. Who will choose to use a bus if they have an alternative at the moment, I know I wouldn’t. The frequencies are dropping in the timetable, the reliability issues are making that even worse, and the substitution of smaller vehicles whilst sending their latest and greatest to events makes them overcrowded.

At the moment Stagecoach are running the west region into the ground. i can’t see it bouncing back anytime soon. RIP 50% of Gloucestershire bus services by the end of the year.

Anybody found our missing fleet of yellow buses with number 10 plastered all over the side? Last seen escaping Cheltenham about 4 days ago (rumours suggest they were heading up the M5 in the direction of the commonwealth dollar). If so please return them with their handlers ASAP, we are missing them!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2022 ==

Some areas like the 94 corridor are down to 2 maybe 3 per hour versus scheduled 6 per hour. It's appalling. Traffic commissioners will likely turn a blind eye like normal.

They actually loudly touted their best ever 8 buses per hour timetable on the 94/94X not that long ago. Oh how different the reality now. They just really don’t give a **** anymore! By that I mean the people running the business, their drivers are mostly very helpful and polite and I do feel sorry for them having to put up with confrontation from frustrated passengers who have been left stranded.

 

[CharlesR]

The impact on Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud has not been helped by the fact that there has barely been an improvement in service since the shortages really started to hit home in June 2021.

In October, they introduced timetables to reduce the PVR which meant every 10 routes became every 15, every 15 became every 20 etc. They can barely run the reduced service, it is embarrassing. The 10 and 94 corridors are the worst; once thriving every 10 minutes routes central to investment plans now run how they like, usually with 2 running together and then a 45 minute+ gap.

Why is there no intervention when it comes to buses? It's obvious, nobody really cares about them. MPs will whack out a press release once or twice saying "improve your service" and then you'll never here on the matter again. Passengers can no longer trust Stagecoach to run a somewhat reliable service

 

[RELL6L]

The impact on Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud has not been helped by the fact that there has barely been an improvement in service since the shortages really started to hit home in June 2021.

In October, they introduced timetables to reduce the PVR which meant every 10 routes became every 15, every 15 became every 20 etc. They can barely run the reduced service, it is embarrassing. The 10 and 94 corridors are the worst; once thriving every 10 minutes routes central to investment plans now run how they like, usually with 2 running together and then a 45 minute+ gap.

Why is there no intervention when it comes to buses? It's obvious, nobody really cares about them. MPs will whack out a press release once or twice saying "improve your service" and then you'll never here on the matter again. Passengers can no longer trust Stagecoach to run a somewhat reliable service

It seems pretty obvious that Stagecoach should have known a while ago that this period would be a disaster at the local level. So, rather than the chaos now, why didn’t they register and publicise what they can operate? If that’s only 3bph on the 10 and 94 and 1bph on the 63 and 64 in Stagecoach West then ‘fess up, schedule it, register it and run it. Maybe in Bristol let some services go altogether for 6 weeks, at least it is honest.

 

[markymark2000]

It seems pretty obvious that Stagecoach should have known a while ago that this period would be a disaster at the local level. So, rather than the chaos now, why didn’t they register and publicise what they can operate? If that’s only 3bph on the 10 and 94 and 1bph on the 63 and 64 in Stagecoach West then ‘fess up, schedule it, register it and run it. Maybe in Bristol let some services go altogether for 6 weeks, at least it is honest.

I don't think that would go down well. What would be better in my opinion is sub out work to local independents like GoNorthEast did. It may not be a lot but it all helps. Making it random trips on each route too ran by independents so people don't start thinking the route has been taken over etc.

Merge Acle Court P&R into the 94s would save 2 buses. Scrap 94Xs all together as 80% of them don't run. There's 4 buses saved there.

 

[CharlesR]

I don't think that would go down well. What would be better in my opinion is sub out work to local independents like GoNorthEast did. It may not be a lot but it all helps. Making it random trips on each route too ran by independents so people don't start thinking the route has been taken over etc.

Merge Acle Court P&R into the 94s would save 2 buses. Scrap 94Xs all together as 80% of them don't run. There's 4 buses saved there.

I don't think there's any need at this point. It's been bad enough for this long they might as well hold it out until the end of the games for vehicles and staff to return, as I am lead to believe that staffing numbers should be much better going into September than it was going into July

 

[GoneSouth]

I don't think there's any need at this point. It's been bad enough for this long they might as well hold it out until the end of the games for vehicles and staff to return, as I am lead to believe that staffing numbers should be much better going into September than it was going into July

Let’s hope so or there’ll be a lot of empty seats at schools all over the county.

What magic is going to happen between now and September?

 

[overthewater]

It seems to have gotten rather quiet since the company was sold 6 months ago. Has anyone found out what DWS group plan is for Stagecoach?

​

 

[Mwanesh]

Anyone know what the Stagecoach order is for this year. I have seen a few Mcv Evoras heading north on the M6. I saw 2 on Monday near Stafford. Today I saw another 2 by Coventry heading north all in Stagecoach colours

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes I'd be curious to know this as well

 

[Mwanesh]

Sunderland bus strike: Stagecoach blocks free travel passes for families

Drivers say Stagecoach is "vindictive" after suspending free travel for their partners and children.

www.bbc.co.uk

Striking bus drivers have accused bosses of a "vindictive move" after passes enabling their families to travel for free were blocked.
About 200 drivers in Sunderland are taking five days of industrial action in a dispute over pay.
The GMB union which represents them said the withdrawal of travel perks meant drivers' partners and children were unable to get to work or school.
Stagecoach said it was standard practice for a "breach of contract".
Drivers in the city voted to strike after being offered a 4% pay rise with a further 2% to follow later in the year, which they argue is not in line with inflation.
Stuart Gilhespy, GMB organiser, said: "This is a petty, vindictive move, plain and simple.
"These bus drivers are just trying to win themselves a decent wage, to help them make ends meet during the cost of living crisis.
"Instead of negotiating, Stagecoach is targeting parents and children in a bid to undermine the strike. It's outrageous."

What's your take on this?

 

[Surreyman]

Anyone know what the Stagecoach order is for this year. I have seen a few Mcv Evoras heading north on the M6. I saw 2 on Monday near Stafford. Today I saw another 2 by Coventry heading north all in Stagecoach colours

I am not aware of an 'official' order for 2022, - Zero Emission Bus orders confirmed for the 4 Scottish companies, 25 for Highland, 20 for Bluebird, 32 for East Scotland & 39 for Western, the 25 for Highland are apparently 10m 'midibuses' make/model of the others not specified unless anyone knows otherwise.
30 Volvo D/d ZEBs confirmed for Cambridge, Manchester are due @ 170 ZEBs for Stockport - details not known, Oxford due 55 ZEB - details not known, most of these ZEBs will not be delivered until 2023 earliest, some later.
I make the total @371 but some may not arrive until 2024, so thats potentially 371 older vehicle replaced, mostly by cascade.
I am not aware of anything else due but happy to be corrected/updated!

 

[mbonwick]

Anyone know what the Stagecoach order is for this year. I have seen a few Mcv Evoras heading north on the M6. I saw 2 on Monday near Stafford. Today I saw another 2 by Coventry heading north all in Stagecoach colours

We're unlikely to ever know. Stagecoach are moving away from big, yearly orders to a smaller, "trickle feed" style - mostly centred around if/when external funding is available, when new vehicles are needed for contracts etc.