Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire

[Blindtraveler]

Well will be interesting to see how they stand up to reliability tests on both workings from Carlisle and on the fairly demanding X4 and X5

 

[chiltern trev]

Well will be interesting to see how they stand up to reliability tests on both workings from Carlisle and on the fairly demanding X4 and X5

In what way would you describe the X4/X5 as demanding?

 

[tram21]

In what way would you describe the X4/X5 as demanding?

I'd say it is, but probably not as demanding as the X17 in Derbyshire they were on before

 

[Teapot42]

I'd say it is, but probably not as demanding as the X17 in Derbyshire they were on before

I don't know the nature of the route, but the failures I observed were mostly on the 'urban' section, rather than the higher speed country and motorway runs. They have done a lot of miles, but then the Scania E400s are 3 years older and are soldiering on without a problem.

At least one of the MMCs has had a new engine in the last year (11124 maybe?). I just hope the route isn't too hilly, as they really struggle compared to the Scanias.

 

[mangad]

I don't know the nature of the route, but the failures I observed were mostly on the 'urban' section, rather than the higher speed country and motorway runs. They have done a lot of miles, but then the Scania E400s are 3 years older and are soldiering on without a problem.

At least one of the MMCs has had a new engine in the last year (11124 maybe?). I just hope the route isn't too hilly, as they really struggle compared to the Scanias.

I only know the Cockermouth to Penrith section but on that the X4 and X5 go along good roads. There are a few ups and downs but overall it's pretty straightforward running in terms of gradient.

 

[Russel]

I only know the Cockermouth to Penrith section but on that the X4 and X5 go along good roads. There are a few ups and downs but overall it's pretty straightforward running in terms of gradient.

I've done the Penrith to Keswick part a couple of times and also don't recall anything too arduous, there's a bit of high speed running on a dual carriageway, from memory but If they can't handle that then I think we have bigger issues in general.

 

[Hyebone]

The former Ches MMCs have been hammered on the likes of Slack Hill (a 14% incline!), Cromford Hill, Lime Tree Hill, Worsborough and Heeley. Hopefully they get a rest.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Done the X4 between Cockermouth and Penrith, some ups and downs on the route, but it is quite long and frequent so is intensive in that regard.

 

[chiltern trev]

I don't know the nature of the route, but the failures I observed were mostly on the 'urban' section, rather than the higher speed country and motorway runs. They have done a lot of miles, but then the Scania E400s are 3 years older and are soldiering on without a problem.

How many miles have they done?

And how does that compare to the other similar aged E400MMCs 11157 and 11158 that have done 685 Newcastle day in and day for a few years? I see 11155 and 11156 are now clocking up the Newcastle miles.

 

[Hyebone]

How many miles have they done?

Upwards of 400k.

 

[chiltern trev]

According to photos on the Facebook group, 11125 arrived at Carlisle in the last few days (it was still in Chesterfield on Saturday) and has been on 600 Cockermouth and 79 Dumfries.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Here are some mileages for some of the former 555 SN16s and the CNL YX68s:-

10552-8 are Barrow based, 10559 is Kendal, 10560-3 are Morecambe based.
10552 - 514,199
10553 - 468,558
10554 - 507,571
10555 - 532,527
10556 - 522,867
10557 - 510,192
10558 - 497,120
10559 - 473,114
10560 - 468,228
10561 - 368,416 (MOT due so mileage will be higher)
10562 - 369,246 (MOT due so mileage will be higher)
10563 - Unknown (either dashboard or wheel hub odo have been replaced)

Of the Morecambe based ones, they've all had brand new engines, 10563 appears to idle like a newer MMC rather than an older one which is weird.

11139-54 are Morecambe based, 11155/6 were Lillyhall but have recently transferred to Carlisle, 11157/8 were new to Carlisle (not that you could tell off their mileages...)
11139 - 111,273
11140 - 227,154
11141 - 269,097
11142 - 248,847
11143 - 259,910
11144 - 264,902
11145 - 239,968
11146 - 261,871
11147 - 261,078
11148 - 256,748
11149 - 239,165
11150 - 170,277
11151 - 202,926
11152 - 204,683
11153 - 201,316
11154 - 226,076
11155 - 253,205
11156 - 287,156
11157 - 526,455
11158 - 407,754

Also to note, 11139s mileage appears lower than 11150, no idea how when 11150 was the bus that was rear ended in Birmingham and had a full rear end rebuild...

 

[route101]

According to photos on the Facebook group, 11125 arrived at Carlisle in the last few days (it was still in Chesterfield on Saturday) and has been on 600 Cockermouth and 79 Dumfries.

Is that a double decker on the 79?

 

[chiltern trev]

Interesting mileage comparisons between those allocated to town routes Vs those working the considerably longer country routes.

All 11139-11158 were new to Morecambe except 11157 got redirected to Carlisle and straight onto 685 Newcastles with 11158 spending its first year elsewhere in the Stagecoach empire before arriving at Carlisle to travel daily to Newcastle.

11155, 11156 and one of the ex Chesterfield Gold E400MMCs appear to be the usual Newcastle buses these days.