Stagecoach East Scotland

[RomeoCharlie71]

If Stagecoach South West’s Falcon goes in the next while; which could happen given the silly and in my view deliberate changes planned to it, then that’s a huge chunk of coaches available.

Would they be any better than the current coaches operating in Fife though?

 

[Fifescottish]

Would they be any better than the current coaches operating in Fife though?

They look to be 2015 coaches, a lot of the Fife ones were registered between 2011 & 2013 so marginally newer. Given the mileage they cover its time they were replaced.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

They look to be 2015 coaches, a lot of the Fife ones were registered between 2011 & 2013 so marginally newer. Given the mileage they cover its time they were replaced.

Fife still have that sole 61 plate Elite and the rest are 62 and 63 plate tri-axles mostly on the Glasgow express with sockets that haven't worked on them for years, 64 plates from down South aren't too bad cause their USBs still work on them but definitely some investment needed IMO.

 

[route101]

I thought they had 66 plate elites or have they gone?

 

[overthewater]

I thought they had 66 plate elites or have they gone?

They are still in use along with 67 plates. Its now been 5 years since the last new coaches were brought for Express network.

 

[roadierway77]

I find it surprising the Elites and Panther LEs were never delivered with any sort of tables, not even flip-down ones. A missed opportunity in my opinion, especially with the Panther LEs, given how popular the express routes are with commuters. Doing any sort of work on a laptop on a Stagecoach coach is pretty difficult.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

I find it surprising the Elites and Panther LEs were never delivered with any sort of tables, not even flip-down ones. A missed opportunity in my opinion, especially with the Panther LEs, given how popular the express routes are with commuters. Doing any sort of work on a laptop on a Stagecoach coach is pretty difficult.

It just seems like an unnecessary cost in my opinion. I’m not sure why many users would need to use a laptop on the X55?

 

[Fifescottish]

I saw a Stagecoach 23 plate electric bus on the 2 in Dunfermline this evening. I think it was numbered 30020. Presumably Dunfermline depots new buses are starting to arrive. Do we know how many are due?

 

[APT618S]

I saw a Stagecoach 23 plate electric bus on the 2 in Dunfermline this evening. I think it was numbered 30020. Presumably Dunfermline depots new buses are starting to arrive. Do we know how many are due?

10 - 30018-30027, with Perth getting the next 5, (30028-30032).
Source, 2023 Stagecoach bus handbook published by British Bus Publishing.

 

[computerSaysNo]

What's going on with the X55 at the moment? I passed one late last night heading out of Edinburgh (after 10pm) which was displaying Bus Full, and I've just passed one today (at about half 1pm) heading into Edinburgh also displaying Bus Full; are they frequently running full even at off-peak times now?

 

[roadierway77]

What's going on with the X55 at the moment? I passed one late last night heading out of Edinburgh (after 10pm) which was displaying Bus Full, and I've just passed one today (at about half 1pm) heading into Edinburgh also displaying Bus Full; are they frequently running full even at off-peak times now?

The X55 usually doesn't run full off-peak from my experience, only occasionally, but it always tends to be quite busy. It's an extremely popular service - it's pretty common for peak time services and the last bus of the night back from Edinburgh to run full. It could definitely benefit from a frequency increase but I'm not sure if resources are available at the moment for that.

I saw a Stagecoach 23 plate electric bus on the 2 in Dunfermline this evening. I think it was numbered 30020. Presumably Dunfermline depots new buses are starting to arrive. Do we know how many are due?

I find Stagecoach's approach to these new vehicles interesting - earlier this week I attended one of McGill's launch events for their new batch of Yutong electrics; the company seemed to be making a fairly big deal of the new stock, hosting three separate launch events in Greenock, Port Glasgow and Linwood. Stagecoach, on the other hand, have just silently pressed these new electrics into service with little fanfare and no announcement. They're not obligated to promote them, of course, but the silence seems a little strange, considering these are the first new battery electric buses to ever grace Dunfermline's streets.

It just seems like an unnecessary cost in my opinion. I’m not sure why many users would need to use a laptop on the X55?

Perhaps only a few, but perhaps many; the X55 is a popular commuter route, with it almost always running full at peak times, and the lack of any surfaces makes doing work during the commute difficult. I'm a student in Edinburgh who uses the X55 at least six times a week and it would be useful to make the travel time productive, but using a laptop on the bus is just too awkward. Yes, I could just use the train, but many choose to use the bus over the train as it's cheaper and in some places more convenient.

 

[overthewater]

10 - 30018-30027, with Perth getting the next 5, (30028-30032).
Source, 2023 Stagecoach bus handbook published by British Bus Publishing.

Does that mean Glenrothes is getting the other 15 then? Mind you that seems a lot for them.

What's going on with the X55 at the moment? I passed one late last night heading out of Edinburgh (after 10pm) which was displaying Bus Full, and I've just passed one today (at about half 1pm) heading into Edinburgh also displaying Bus Full; are they frequently running full even at off-peak times now?

It should really be every 20mins, and frequently has deckers put onto the service to deal with the demands.

I find Stagecoach's approach to these new vehicles interesting - earlier this week I attended one of McGill's launch events for their new batch of Yutong electrics; the company seemed to be making a fairly big deal of the new stock, hosting three separate launch events in Greenock, Port Glasgow and Linwood. Stagecoach, on the other hand, have just silently pressed these new electrics into service with little fanfare and no announcement. They're not obligated to promote them, of course, but the silence seems a little strange, considering these are the first new battery electric buses to ever grace Dunfermline's streets.

There has been an Electric bus running about for weeks now doing tests. It was one of the Perth ones. Maybe they are making sure everything works before highlighting stuff?

 

[APT618S]

Does that mean Glenrothes is getting the other 15 then? Mind you that seems a lot for them.

Nothing listed for Glenrothes, Perth has listed an additional 7 in the 29000 number series (29119-29125) which is the slightly shorter model.

 

[roadierway77]

There has been an Electric bus running about for weeks now doing tests. It was one of the Perth ones. Maybe they are making sure everything works before highlighting stuff?

Yes, it was 29116, managed to catch a ride on it here in Dunfermline at one point. Saw 29112 the other day as well. Perhaps so, maybe a soft launch? Either way, time will tell.

 

[Volvodart]

The Inverness formal launch was a good while after they started to enter service.

 

[pimmy]

Glenrothes is getting 6 E100 power points. They're starting to get installed tomorrow.

 

[Fifescottish]

I believe that it is the Dunfermline city services to go electric, presumably the 1,2, 3 and 5 services. Are 10 new electric buses enough?

 

[roadierway77]

I believe that it is the Dunfermline city services to go electric, presumably the 1,2, 3 and 5 services. Are 10 new electric buses enough?

The 1, 2, 3 and 5 use nine vehicles in total so ten is enough, yes.

 

[pimmy]

Apparently the e100s that are coming to Glenrothes are for Kirkcaldy town services 34 and 35 about time Kirkcaldy town services got new buses

 

[GusB]

Apparently the e100s that are coming to Glenrothes are for Kirkcaldy town services 34 and 35 about time Kirkcaldy town services got new buses

Do you have a source for this?

 

[pimmy]

Yep know a driver that works at Glenrothes he was telling me last week

 

[roadierway77]

New 200EVs 30018, 30020 and 30024 are now tracking on bustimes.org. Saw 30022 sitting outside St Leonards a short while ago as well, though not tracking.

Stagecoach have announced a fare increase for East Scotland will come into affect from Sunday April 2nd, with fares rising by around 15%.

A link to the relevant service updates article is below, alongside a quote of the article's content.

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

Fare change in East Scotland from Sunday 2nd April​

We understand the cost-of-living pressures our customers face, and we realise that fare increases are not welcome. However, we strongly believe our fares still represent good value for money.
Stagecoach has encountered several challenges including the global Covid 19 pandemic, industry-wide recruitment shortages, and rising costs. The cost-of-living crisis has impacted businesses, and there have been significant increases to its three largest costs – wages, fuel, and engineering parts.
The emergency funding provided by the Scottish Government to ensure a level of bus service for people to access local amenities, which would not otherwise have been commercially sustainable, has been reduced over the past 12 months and from 31st March 2023 will be withdrawn altogether.

As a result of this change, from Sunday 2nd April 2023, all fares will increase by an average of 15% across all bus services operated by Stagecoach East Scotland.
You can find out the new price of your bus ticket below.

	Adult	Child
	All Day	Off Peak	All Day	Off Peak
Broxden P&R	£ 2.20	£ -	£ 1.10	£ -
West Fife - Edi	£ 7.20	£ 6.10	£ 3.70	£ 3.10
Rest of Fife - Edi	£ 8.50	£ 7.20	£ 4.30	£ 3.70
West Fife - Livingston	£ 8.50	£ 7.20	£ 4.30	£ 3.70
Kirk/Glen/Cup - Dundee	£ -	£ 8.50	£ -	£ 4.30
Stonehaven to Aberdeen	£ 7.40	£ -	£ 4.50	£ -
Perth Day Return	£ 5.40	£ -	£ 2.80	£ -
Town /City Zones	Adult	Student	Child	Group
DayRider	£ 4.00	£ 3.00	£ 2.40	£ 10.00
Flexi 5	£ 16.00	£ 12.00	-	-
7 Day MegaRider	£ 14.40	£ 10.80	-	-
4 Week MegaRider	£ 47.60	£ 35.70	-	-
4 Week MegaRider Xtra	£ 47.60	-	-	-
13 Week MegaRider	-	£142.80	-	-
Regional Zones	Adult	Stud	Child	Group
DayRider	£ 8.00	£ 6.00	£ 4.80	£ 20.00
Flexi 5	£ 32.00	£ 24.00	-	-
7 Day MegaRider	£ 28.00	£ 21.00	-	-
4 Week MegaRider	£ 92.50	£ 69.40	-	-
4 Week MegaRider Xtra	£ 92.50	-	-	-
13 Week MegaRider	-	£277.60	-	-
East Scotland Zone	Adult	Stud	Child	Group
DayRider	£ 11.00	£ 8.30	£ 6.60	£ 27.50
Flexi 5	£ 44.00	£ 33.00	-	-
7 Day MegaRider	£ 36.50	£ 27.40	-	-
4 Week MegaRider	£118.50	£ 88.90	-	-
4 Week MegaRider Xtra	£118.30	-	-	-
13 Week MegaRider	-	£355.60	-	-
19 RouteRider ticket	Adult	Stud	Child	Group
DayRider	£ 5.00	£ 3.80	£ 3.00	£ 12.50
Flexi 5	£ 20.00	£ 15.00	-	-
7 Day MegaRider	£ 17.00	£ 12.80	-	-
4 Week MegaRider	£ 55.00	£ 41.30	-	-
4 Week MegaRider Xtra	£ 55.00	-	-	-
13 Week MegaRider	-	£165.20	-	-
NightRider	£ 3.50
Jet747 Period Return	£ 20.00
*New* Jet747 Duo Period Return (2x Adults)	£ 36.00
Jet747 U16 Add On	£ 2.00

 

[Morayshire]

Have been told that a Stagecoach 23 plate has gone up in smoke outside RM Condor heading into Arbroath. Single decker apparently.

 

[PG]

Have been told that a Stagecoach 23 plate has gone up in smoke outside RM Condor heading into Arbroath. Single decker apparently.

Hopefully no one injured. Assuming no foul play(?) then since a 23 plate can't be that old if its a manufacturing fault presumably it'd be down to the manufacturer to replace it?

 

[jamieintercity]

Have been told that a Stagecoach 23 plate has gone up in smoke outside RM Condor heading into Arbroath. Single decker apparently.

It is optare solo SR 47948 that caught fire this morning. Look like it was running back to arbroath depot from Forfar

 

[PG]

It is optare solo SR 47948 that caught fire this morning. Look like it was running back to arbroath depot from Forfar

Ah right, so not exactly a new bus then...

 

[fife_circle]

Have Dunfermline got some new panther LE’s? Noticed one running around with white LED display and red seats.

 

[Observer]

Have Dunfermline got some new panther LE’s? Noticed one running around with white LED display and red seats.

You would have seen YX19MMF (54521) which is an ex-demonstrator.

 

[Fifescottish]

You would have seen YX19MMF (54521) which is an ex-demonstrator.

Has this been acquired by Stagecoach and is to stay?

 

[roadierway77]

According to posts on the Stagecoach UK Enthusiasts page on Facebook, new vehicles LG23 EZU (30030) BYD ADL E200EV and LG23 EZX (14071) BYD ADL E400EV have entered service today in Perth and Dunfermline respectively. The former is already tracking on bustimes.org, the latter is not yet.

The link to the aforementioned group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stagecoachuk/?ref=share

Has this been acquired by Stagecoach and is to stay?

I believe 54521 is on loan to Stagecoach from Plaxton for the foreseeable future, but it may have been bought outright, I'm not too sure. It's of course now in Stagecoach livery, but considering the vehicle was also repainted into TrawsCymru livery when with Llew Jones, it's hard to tell if it'll be a permanent resident of Dunfermline depot or not.