Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire

[Agent_Squash]

Some big swaps over the weekend in the Lakes.

New Enviro 400 MMCs 11571-79 were introduced on the 555 over the weekend. They’re quite nice new buses with tables and a slightly brighter colour scheme inside.

The former Kendal E400 MMC allocation has moved to Barrow (10552-58) and Morecambe (10559-60). The Barrow E400s will then be moving to Lillyhall to replace Tridents.

Was quite nice having the X6 with the fancy Lakes interior!

 

[chiltern trev]

Roger French was in the Lakes for the launch - his bus blog was out today.

https://busandtrainuser.com/2023/04/25/bus-improvements-in-the-all-new-westmoreland-furness/

 

[OptareLover]

10552 is the 2nd of the ex-555 branded buses to recieve the new Local livery. It is currently in Carlisle being repainted.

What's everyone's thoughts on the Lakes Connections livery instead of Local for new buses? I personally think it's great as it's if not my favourite, one of my favourite Stagecoach liveries.

If you haven't yet been on the open-top 78, it's worth a ride!

 

[mangad]

The Lakes Connection is an absolutely lovely livery.

 

[OptareLover]

The Lakes Connection is an absolutely lovely livery.

I believe they're the only area of Stagecoach who don't specialise in Stagecoach Local. New buses, not local. Most repaints, not local. In my opinion, it's the best area for Stagecoach liveries and are also unique compared to other areas which is what I like about them!

I do also love their Lakes Connect bus timetable with its big map!

 

[Andyh82]

Are they repainting the old 555 buses then? I assumed they’d keep the Lakes livery for the 6/X6

 

[cnjb8]

I believe they're the only area of Stagecoach who don't specialise in Stagecoach Local. New buses, not local. Most repaints, not local. In my opinion, it's the best area for Stagecoach liveries and are also unique compared to other areas which is what I like about them!

I do also love their Lakes Connect bus timetable with its big map!

Its only a chunk of the Cumbrian fleet that's in Lake District livery, mainly buses based at Kendal and a few at Carlisle get it. The rest of the fleet is in beachball and local livery

 

[Agent_Squash]

Its only a chunk of the Cumbrian fleet that's in Lake District livery, mainly buses based at Kendal and a few at Carlisle get it. The rest of the fleet is in beachball and local livery

There’s a few more at Lillyhall starting to get it iirc. Basically anything that operates in the national park.

Are they repainting the old 555 buses then? I assumed they’d keep the Lakes livery for the 6/X6

Yes, they are. A shame really, but the routes barely go in the national park and Barrow is pretty distant from the Lakes themselves!

 

[OptareLover]

Are they repainting the old 555 buses then? I assumed they’d keep the Lakes livery for the 6/X6

At least they're getting rid of the 555 branding if the buses aren't on the 555, which I can't say about many other Stagecoach transfers!

 

[Tetchytyke]

In my opinion, it's the best area for Stagecoach liveries and are also unique compared to other areas which is what I like about them!

I think it’s fair to say the application is varied. The branding is solid enough on the 555 and the open-toppers, less so elsewhere. And the branding for the 685 seems to have died a death, which is a real shame.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think it’s fair to say the application is varied. The branding is solid enough on the 555 and the open-toppers, less so elsewhere. And the branding for the 685 seems to have died a death, which is a real shame.

That's a little harsh. Kendal depot is fully Lakes liveried so the 505/516 are branded. The 77 is usually operated by their liveried Solos though if there's a failure or service, then a standard liveried vehicle needs to deputise. Same with the X4/X5 with the Gold vehicles being reliveried. Even the 508, a single vehicle at Penrith, usually gets the sole liveried vehicle so they're fairly decent.

The Cross Pennine was dropped a few years ago for the 685... seeing as Arriva weren't bothered, Stagecoach probably thought "why persist"?

 

[OptareLover]

I honestly think the Solos and Solo SRs look amazing in the livery!

Does anyone know if 10554 is currently being repainted?

 

[madannie77]

Mr Madannie reports seeing Alexander Dennis Dart 34715 (PX05 EKJ) working Carlisle route 69 today. Bus Times seems to agree with him, the bus reappearing in service yesterday (2nd June) after however long out of service. He has photographic evidence although I have not yet seen it.

It has been quite some time since there was a Dart in Stagecoach service in Carlisle (apart from the Driver Training vehicles)

 

[Whistler40145]

Could someone confirm if it’s true that Stagecoach are taking back the Kirkby Lonsdale services?

 

[Hardcastle]

Could someone confirm if it’s true that Stagecoach are taking back the Kirkby Lonsdale services?

I've just messaged the Lancaster bus users guy so maybe he will know i will advise if ive any updates.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Some big swaps over the weekend in the Lakes.

New Enviro 400 MMCs 11571-79 were introduced on the 555 over the weekend. They’re quite nice new buses with tables and a slightly brighter colour scheme inside.

The former Kendal E400 MMC allocation has moved to Barrow (10552-58) and Morecambe (10559-60). The Barrow E400s will then be moving to Lillyhall to replace Tridents.

Was quite nice having the X6 with the fancy Lakes interior!

10559/60 were originally meant to be Morecambe buses (hence the lack of 555 branding) but moved to Kendal, 559 some time before 560

 

[randyrippley]

Just been totally shocked by one of the MX05 plated double deckers in service on Morecambe prom - in the last Lancaster City Transport livery of Oxford blue/RAF blue/white complete with roof stripes
Carrying a fleet number of "324" which should make it a single decker
Considering the way in which Stagecoach forced the council to close LCT it leaves a bad taste

edit
amended 328 >324 following gka4721's post

 

[gka472l]

Just been totally shocked by one of the MX05 plated double deckers in service on Morecambe prom - in the last Lancaster City Transport livery of Oxford blue/RAF blue/white complete with roof stripes
Carrying a fleet number of "328" which should make it a single decker
Considering the way in which Stagecoach forced the council to close LCT it leaves a bad taste

It's 18324, carrying '324'

HTH

 

[randyrippley]

It's 18324, carrying '324'

HTH

my short term memory really is getting bad.............

 

[Andyh82]

Is Lancaster Bus Station always chaotic?

Due to the lack of any layover bays, buses on layover have to be left on a live stand, meaning buses often depart from the wrong stand, sometimes not even on the correct side. Drivers have to resort to shouting out their bus to passengers who may be waiting some distance away.

The internal space isn’t great either with the middle bit being too narrow, it doesn’t take much to get crowded

Ideally that slightly odd paved taxi circle at the back should have been made into layover bays

 

[Agent_Squash]

Is Lancaster Bus Station always chaotic?

Due to the lack of any layover bays, buses on layover have to be left on a live stand, meaning buses often depart from the wrong stand, sometimes not even on the correct side. Drivers have to resort to shouting out their bus to passengers who may be waiting some distance away.

The internal space isn’t great either with the middle bit being too narrow, it doesn’t take much to get crowded

Ideally that slightly odd paved taxi circle at the back should have been made into layover bays

I've never departed from the wrong stand at Lancaster Bus Station apart from when a bus had a CCTV malfunction and we had to swap.

Also, I have seen buses parked off the main station, even if they're not in dedicated layover bays. Indeed, it happened just this evening!

One thing I have noticed - Stagecoach CNL seem to be doing a really good job with appearance as of late. The (heavily used) E400 MMCs at Morecambe have been near spotless every time I've used them this summer, the new Kendal fleet is lovely, and there's just an air of quality that I've never quite had from buses before.

 

[Andyh82]

One thing I have noticed - Stagecoach CNL seem to be doing a really good job with appearance as of late. The (heavily used) E400 MMCs at Morecambe have been near spotless every time I've used them this summer, the new Kendal fleet is lovely, and there's just an air of quality that I've never quite had from buses before.

Yes I would agree with that, it seems a very large proportion of the fleet is in the new livery, very few are still in beachball

I think it’s a shame repainting the buses used on the X4/X5 into lakes livery didn’t proceed. I would possibly have done the 6/X6 as well so everything in the lakes timetable book would be in lakes livery

 

[Blindtraveler]

Are the X4 and X5 still using the gold spec Scania double deckers? They must be knackered by now

 

[Russel]

Are the X4 and X5 still using the gold spec Scania double deckers? They must be knackered by now

They were in April and yes, internally they need a refurb.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Should imagine they're showing their age mechanically as well as these things work hard with a lot of dual carriageway running

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Word going around Cumbria & North Lancs is, we're receiving ADL E300s from Scotland but no idea where yet, anybody any idea if they'll come from here or North/West?

 

[Highland050261]

Word going around Cumbria & North Lancs is, we're receiving ADL E300s from Scotland but no idea where yet, anybody any idea if they'll come from here or North/West?

36047/68 27107/811/916 have already Arrived from Inverness 27107 came Via Aberdeen.

27536/802 ,28602/43/44/45/50 have not been allocated to a depot yet.

28603/04/05/47/49 are currently being stored at East Scotland.

Apart from 27107 all the 63/14/64 plate buses were sent to Aberdeen.

 

[jonesy3001]

I used to be in the north west crack group on Facebook that had regular updates, don’t know if the group still exists or I got kicked out of it.

 

[mbonwick]

27536/802 ,28602/43/44/45/50 have not been allocated to a depot yet.

28603/04/05/47/49 are currently being stored at East Scotland.

East Scotland taking these, not Cumbria.

I used to be in the north west crack group on Facebook that had regular updates, don’t know if the group still exists or I got kicked out of it.

The group no longer exists.

 

[jonesy3001]

East Scotland taking these, not Cumbria.


The group no longer exists.

That's a shame about the group.