Stagecoach East Scotland

[Spsf3232]

Would imagine it simply comes down to citylink using contractors and are able to source extra vehicles but stagecoach don't meaning they can only use the vehicles and drivers they have

 

[CSB0241]

The Fife changes are now listed on bustimes, should see them announced on the website in the next few days:
- Service 1/1A
- Service 2/2A
- Service 3
- Service 4B
- Service 5
- Service 7D
- Service 8/8A
- Service 19
- Service 33
- Service 36A
- Service 43/43A
- Service 65
- Service 99
- Service 747
- Services 30, 36, 40, 84A, 93/93A, & AZ1 withdrawn.

Excitingly, the 8A is still going to run to Alloa, presumably being funded by either Clackmannanshire or Fife Council, but who knows. I was on the 8A last Sunday, & it was relatively quiet compared to other routes in Dunfermline(about 10 people getting on at Dunfermline, roughly 3 getting on & 5 getting off inbetween Crossford & Kincardine), then someone got off & 3 people got on at Kincardine, with nobody getting off until Alloa, along with a couple people getting on at a couple stops on the outskirts of Alloa, so there isn’t a lot of demand for it commercially.

The 84A getting withdrawn still feels like an odd choice. I do get that it interworks with the 4B, but I still feel that it’d be nice to have them separate instead.

I’m excited for the 2/2A, but I do think that it could probably omit FLP & operate direct between Abbeyview & Duloch for longer layovers, but that is coming from someone who lives in Edinburgh, where buses being delayed by less than 5min is a very rare occurrence, & on top of that, when I was in Dunfermline in April, every 1 I saw was running at least 7 minutes late, so I at least have some reasoning for wanting longer laybys.

I’m actually super excited for the 5’s introduction, & I can’t wait to use it. My only problem, however, is the timetable. It departs Ferrytoll P&R at 25 past the hour, & 56 past the hour from Duloch. The 89, on the other hand, also departs Ferrytoll at 25 past, & Duloch at 54 past the hour. I think it’d be better in the long run to have them depart at half-hourly intervals. I also think that it’d work better if it maybe wasn’t a circular, & if it went via Duloch Park both ways.

Overall, I think that these are solid changes, but they could definitely be improved upon, even if only slightly.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

The winners of ScotZEB2 funding have been announced; Stagecoach East Scotland have been lucky enough to win funding for 46 electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.

It has been announced internally that 22 will be deployed at Arbroath, 16 at St Andrews and 8 at Dunfermline.

There are also in excess of 60 cascades due, with a mix of E200MMC, E400MMC and Enviro400s arriving from elsewhere within the Group. Amongst other fleet upgrades, this will see the B5LHs at Arbroath, which are due to depart the Group entirely, replaced.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The winners of ScotZEB2 funding have been announced; Stagecoach East Scotland have been lucky enough to win funding for 46 electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.

It has been announced internally that 22 will be deployed at Arbroath, 16 at St Andrews and 8 at Dunfermline.

There are also in excess of 60 cascades due, with a mix of E200MMC, E400MMC and Enviro400s arriving from elsewhere within the Group. Amongst other fleet upgrades, this will see the B5LHs at Arbroath, which are due to depart the Group entirely, replaced.

16 at St Andrews will probably be for the 99

With any luck we'll see some of the newer MMCs transferred up here once they lose the other depots in Manchester in January

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

There are also in excess of 60 cascades due, with a mix of E200MMC, E400MMC and Enviro400s arriving from elsewhere within the Group. Amongst other fleet upgrades, this will see the B5LHs at Arbroath, which are due to depart the Group entirely, replaced.

On the face of it, this seems a surprise move to replace the B5LH’s but I’m sure there a bigger reason for it. To clarify is it just the 2015 examples (13041, 13043-13058) or does it include some or all of the 2017 examples (13111-13117) as well? Wish Lothian would take them to be honest but will be interesting to see where they end up.

Hopefully that one single decker that always appears (as it goes on the 39 in evening) can be changed soon. It’s not the best.

 

[overthewater]

The winners of ScotZEB2 funding have been announced; Stagecoach East Scotland have been lucky enough to win funding for 46 electric vehicles and associated charging infrastructure.

It has been announced internally that 22 will be deployed at Arbroath, 16 at St Andrews and 8 at Dunfermline.

There are also in excess of 60 cascades due, with a mix of E200MMC, E400MMC and Enviro400s arriving from elsewhere within the Group. Amongst other fleet upgrades, this will see the B5LHs at Arbroath, which are due to depart the Group entirely, replaced.

That excellent news, and a welcome boost for passengers across Tayside and Fife. However in relations to this years older, do you know where the new solo going to go?

On the face of it, this seems a surprise move to replace the B5LH’s but I’m sure there a bigger reason for it. To clarify is it just the 2015 examples (13041, 13043-13058) or does it include some or all of the 2017 examples (13111-13117) as well? Wish Lothian would take them to be honest but will be interesting to see where they end up.

Hopefully that one single decker that always appears (as it goes on the 39 in evening) can be changed soon. It’s not the best.

looks like all the B5LH are going, I doubt anyone will be sorry to see them go.

The Fife changes are now listed on bustimes, should see them announced on the website in the next few days:
- Services 30, 36, 40, 84A, 93/93A, & AZ1 withdrawn.

Excitingly, the 8A is still going to run to Alloa, presumably being funded by either Clackmannanshire or Fife Council, but who knows. I was on the 8A last Sunday, & it was relatively quiet compared to other routes in Dunfermline(about 10 people getting on at Dunfermline, roughly 3 getting on & 5 getting off inbetween Crossford & Kincardine), then someone got off & 3 people got on at Kincardine, with nobody getting off until Alloa, along with a couple people getting on at a couple stops on the outskirts of Alloa, so there isn’t a lot of demand for it commercially.

The 84A getting withdrawn still feels like an odd choice. I do get that it interworks with the 4B, but I still feel that it’d be nice to have them separate instead.

I’m excited for the 2/2A, but I do think that it could probably omit FLP & operate direct between Abbeyview & Duloch for longer layovers, but that is coming from someone who lives in Edinburgh, where buses being delayed by less than 5min is a very rare occurrence, & on top of that, when I was in Dunfermline in April, every 1 I saw was running at least 7 minutes late, so I at least have some reasoning for wanting longer laybys.

I’m actually super excited for the 5’s introduction, & I can’t wait to use it. My only problem, however, is the timetable. It departs Ferrytoll P&R at 25 past the hour, & 56 past the hour from Duloch. The 89, on the other hand, also departs Ferrytoll at 25 past, & Duloch at 54 past the hour. I think it’d be better in the long run to have them depart at half-hourly intervals. I also think that it’d work better if it maybe wasn’t a circular, & if it went via Duloch Park both ways.

There is a few other service changes which include 14, 28, 31, 48/49. Fife council are paying for the No8A, and the replacement of the 36, along other changes. The other changes around Dunfermline are all linked to the new super campus which is about to open, which includes two high school and the local collage, the changes are designed to suit them.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

That excellent news, and a welcome boost for passengers across Tayside and Fife. However in relations to this years older, do you know where the new solo going to go?

I heard Glenrothes and Blairgowrie but that was just on the grapevine, so don't take it as gospel

To clarify is it just the 2015 examples (13041, 13043-13058) or does it include some or all of the 2017 examples (13111-13117) as well? Wish Lothian would take them to be honest but will be interesting to see where they end up.

looks like all the B5LH are going, I doubt anyone will be sorry to see them go.

Just the 2015 plate ones I believe. They're going a bit further than Lothian!

Hopefully that one single decker that always appears (as it goes on the 39 in evening) can be changed soon. It’s not the best.

Not sure what you mean by this...

 

[ajrm]

On the face of it, this seems a surprise move to replace the B5LH’s but I’m sure there a bigger reason for it. To clarify is it just the 2015 examples (13041, 13043-13058) or does it include some or all of the 2017 examples (13111-13117) as well? Wish Lothian would take them to be honest but will be interesting to see where they end up.

The B5s are already 8 years old so it's not surprising to see them being replaced (the E400s that preceded them were replaced at 5 years, and they in turn replaced B7s that were 5 to 9 years old). I'm sure Arbroath will be glad to see the back of them!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Just the 2015 plate ones I believe. They're going a bit further than Lothian!

Not sure what you mean by this...

It shall be interesting to see where.

Sorry didn’t make the second bit clear. The 73A run that is booked a single deck due to it appearing on the 39 at night.

 

[overthewater]

The B5s are already 8 years old so it's not surprising to see them being replaced (the E400s that preceded them were replaced at 5 years, and they in turn replaced B7s that were 5 to 9 years old). I'm sure Arbroath will be glad to see the back of them!

To be fair Covid cause the delay in replacements, at least things are moving again.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Sorry didn’t make the second bit clear. The 73A run that is booked a single deck due to it appearing on the 39 at night.

There aren't any 73As booked for single decks, and none of the 39s interwork with 73s

 

[CSB0241]

The new Fife changes have been unveiled on the Stagecoach website.

For the schools returning on the week commencing 19th August 2024, a number of the local bus services we operate on behalf of Fife Council are changing, including school services. To coincide with these changes, we’ll be revising some of our commercially operated services to tie in with these contracts, as well as making significant changes to the Dunfermline network to cater for travel to the new learning campus in Duloch, due to open at this time.

Below is a summary of the changes for 19th August with draft timetables. Finalised timetables will follow.

Services 1/1A - these will replace the current 1 and 2, and will run between Dunfermline city centre and Fife Leisure Park/Learning Campus via Brucefield, Abbeyview, Duloch Park and Amazon. Discussions have taken place with Amazon to confirm all shift times are accommodated with this change.

Services 2/2A - these replace the current 3 and 5, and run between Dunfermline city centre and Fife Leisure Park/Learning Campus via Woodmill, Touch, Abbeyview, Duloch Park, Lapwing Drive and Pitcorthie (2) or the reverse (2A).

Service 3 - this replaces the current service 2 between Dunfermline city centre and Townhill.

Service 4 - minor amendments to this timetable with the current evening and Sunday journeys on service 84s attached to the 4B and diverted to Fife Leisure Park/Learning Campus instead of Amazon.

Service 5 - this is a new service between Ferrytoll and Fife Leisure Park/Learning Campus via Rosyth, Pitreavie Castle, Amazon and Duloch Park, designed as a connecting route to Express services to Edinburgh.

Service 7 - minor timetable adjustment to early morning journeys improving reliability.

Service 7D - withdrawn from sections of the route to/from North Queensferry railway station and Kelty Main Street north of Keltyhill Road to improve reliability.

Service 8/8A – Revised timetable; service 8A will continue to operate with the support of Fife Council.

Service 14A - added tendered journey on Sunday morning. The daytime service 14 will move to another operator.

Service 19 - certain journeys will be diverted to serve Amazon replacing AZ1. Discussions have taken place with Amazon to confirm all shift times are accommodated with this change.

Service 30 – We will no longer operate this service from 19th August 2024, however Moffat & Williamson service 5 will provide an alternative service from this date.

Service 31 - revised timing changes will take place to improve reliability.

Service 32 –revised timing changes will take place to improve reliability.

Service 33 - withdrawn from Hill of Beath which will still have the service 19. Additional evening journeys will be added between Kirkcaldy and Halbeath which are tendered by Fife Council.

Service 34/34A - additional journeys tendered by Fife Council will be added on Sunday morning.

Service 36 - this will be replaced between Newburgh and Perth by new service 65. Service between Glenrothes and Newburgh will be maintained by new Moffat & Williamson M36 which will allow for connections onto the 65 into Perth and return to Glenrothes.

Service 36A – Will operate between Glenrothes bus station and Glenrothes Hospital.

Service 37/37A - additional journeys tendered by Fife Council will be added on Sunday morning.

Service 39/39A/39B – additional late night return journey to Thornton Station tendered by Fife Council

Service 40 – Will be withdrawn due to low usage, however tendered service 201 will operate via Asda in Glenrothes from 2nd September 2024.

Service 41/41A/41b – change of route to serve Cameron Bridge Rail Station

Service 43/43A - daytime journeys will be retimed with a loop introduced at Methilhill.

44/44A/44B – one additional journey in the evening between Glenrothes and Leven.

Service 48/49 – revised route to operate via Myreside in Kennoway

Service 65 - this is a new service replacing the 36 between Perth and Newburgh and extending to Cupar and St Andrews providing new travel opportunities in this area. Service between Glenrothes and Newburgh will be maintained by new Moffat and Williamson M36 which will allow for connections onto the 65 into Perth.

Service 84/84A - 84A journeys will be transferred to service 4B.

Service 93/93A – will be withdrawn due to low usage.

Service 99 - revised timings on most journeys to improve reliability and additional journeys will be added in early evenings and Saturday mid-morning.

Service 747 - additional trips will run at 0310 from Dunfermline depot and 0420 from the airport due to demand at this time.

Service AZ1 – will be withdrawn however services 1, 1A, 5 and certain journeys on the 19 will serve the site. Discussions have taken place with Amazon to confirm all shift times are accommodated with this change.

Few things here:

1. Still a bit odd with the number switches for Townhill. 3 to 2 to 3 must be getting tiring for the residents.
2. Fife Council have been generous to the Clackmannanites, & I am all the more thankful for it. I do think there is demand for the 8A, so the cut always slightly baffled me. There were also very few through passengers between Dunfermline & Alloa, so they don’t need to worry about cutting it because of the X22.
3. Do we know which operator will get the 14? Will it be M&W or Bay, or even A1?
4. Does anybody know what the route the M&W 5 will now follow be?
5. The 36 being withdrawn but the 36A being partly maintained is one of the strangest things here. Why not withdraw the 36A & make the 36 follow that route?
6. Why the 2nd of September for the 40/201 debacle? Is it a contract thing?
7. Excited to hear about passenger numbers on the 65!
8. I was rather against the 84A withdrawal due to it being my favourite Sunday route in Dunfermline (with the 83 being a close second), but hey, can’t win everything.

 

[mbonwick]

Just the 2015 plate ones I believe. They're going a bit further than Lothian!

Should be all of the B5LHs departing, the logic being that they're completely non-standard in the provincial fleets.

 

[BobbyBKinross]

The new Fife changes have been unveiled on the Stagecoach website.

Few things here:

1. Still a bit odd with the number switches for Townhill. 3 to 2 to 3 must be getting tiring for the residents.
2. Fife Council have been generous to the Clackmannanites, & I am all the more thankful for it. I do think there is demand for the 8A, so the cut always slightly baffled me. There were also very few through passengers between Dunfermline & Alloa, so they don’t need to worry about cutting it because of the X22.
3. Do we know which operator will get the 14? Will it be M&W or Bay, or even A1?
4. Does anybody know what the route the M&W 5 will now follow be?
5. The 36 being withdrawn but the 36A being partly maintained is one of the strangest things here. Why not withdraw the 36A & make the 36 follow that route?
6. Why the 2nd of September for the 40/201 debacle? Is it a contract thing?
7. Excited to hear about passenger numbers on the 65!
8. I was rather against the 84A withdrawal due to it being my favourite Sunday route in Dunfermline (with the 83 being a close second), but hey, can’t win everything.

The 201 is a Perth & Kinross Council subsidised service. I don't think Fife Council contribute at all financially, but I could be wrong. The 2nd of September date might be down to that?

 

[Strathtay 260]

this will see the B5LHs at Arbroath, which are due to depart the Group entirely, replaced.

What will operate the 73 when the B5s depart, EVs?

 

[DavidC]

The new Fife changes have been unveiled on the Stagecoach website.

Few things here:

1. Still a bit odd with the number switches for Townhill. 3 to 2 to 3 must be getting tiring for the residents.
2. Fife Council have been generous to the Clackmannanites, & I am all the more thankful for it. I do think there is demand for the 8A, so the cut always slightly baffled me. There were also very few through passengers between Dunfermline & Alloa, so they don’t need to worry about cutting it because of the X22.
3. Do we know which operator will get the 14? Will it be M&W or Bay, or even A1?
4. Does anybody know what the route the M&W 5 will now follow be?
5. The 36 being withdrawn but the 36A being partly maintained is one of the strangest things here. Why not withdraw the 36A & make the 36 follow that route?
6. Why the 2nd of September for the 40/201 debacle? Is it a contract thing?
7. Excited to hear about passenger numbers on the 65!
8. I was rather against the 84A withdrawal due to it being my favourite Sunday route in Dunfermline (with the 83 being a close second), but hey, can’t win everything.

Any ideas on which of the new services the electric buses will serve? I'd guess the 1/1A and 2/2A but not sure about the 3.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Any idea where these E200MMCs etc are coming from and when? And what buses will these be replacing, apart from the Hybrids at Arbroath

I would imagine the cascaded E200mmc’s will be for the 39. The new electric buses seem a good candidate for the 73 in my opinion, as others have already suggested.

That being said, with the stock on the 99 seemingly being replaced, I wonder if we might see the older stock moved elsewhere within East Scotland too. Again, the 39 could pick these up as well.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

The new electric buses seem a good candidate for the 73 in my opinion, as others have already suggested.

Indeed, ...but the 73 doesn't need 22 buses!

Think there's around 20 E200MMCs due, which should see off the last of the Euro 4 E300s and hopefully the pesky E200s which are absolutely dire

wonder where the E400 and E400MMMCs are coming from, probably Manchester or something

Certainly where (some of) the E400MMCs are expected to come from

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Indeed, ...but the 73 doesn't need 22 buses!

I guess with any electric fleet, the amount of spares needed will increase though, even if it’s just a couple. But as you say not 22.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

I would imagine the cascaded E200mmc’s will be for the 39. The new electric buses seem a good candidate for the 73 in my opinion, as others have already suggested.

That being said, with the stock on the 99 seemingly being replaced, I wonder if we might see the older stock moved elsewhere within East Scotland too. Again, the 39 could pick these up as well.

The Stagecoach staff notice (which I have a copy of but not in a position to share) states that the 19x e200MMCs are due "later this year" whilst 16x e400 Classic and 28x e400MMC are due "early in the new year".

 

[Penfold@658]

Are Glenrothes Due Any Buses

 

[overthewater]

Are Glenrothes Due Any Buses

Yes, brand new coaches for the X24 and the 8? brand new Enviro100EV. I dare say there will also get a few of the brand new solo that are also due. I dare say they will also get some of the new cascadeds aswell.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Yes, brand new coaches for the X24 and the 8? brand new Enviro100EV. I dare say there will also get a few of the brand new solo that are also due. I dare say they will also get some of the new cascadeds aswell.

What vehicles does Glenrothes currently have? I've only ever seen older vehicles around the bus station I think.

 

[Strathtay 260]

What vehicles does Glenrothes currently have? I've only ever seen older vehicles around the bus station I think.

According to this fleet list, Glenrothes presently have:
ADL Enviro400s 19170/71/82/85/90/92/213/21/25/309-316/894-899
ADL Enviro200 MMCs 26007-010
ADL Enviro300s 27126/27/29-40
Optare Solos 47251/57/367
Optare Solo SRs 47812/67-69/75/76
Volvo B13RT Plaxton Elites 54106/09-13/38-45
Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elites 54331-33/56-59/61/501
Please note any of this information may be incorrect; I'm just going off of that and any of what bustimes.org suggests can be incorrect!

The 73A run that is booked a single deck due to it appearing on the 39 at night.

Why would they book a single deck for the 73A just so it can interwork the 39? AFAIK, no 73A interworks the 39 and if I'm mistaken and there is, what's the problem with allocating a double decker to the 39? I'm not exactly sure what you mean!

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Why would they book a single deck for the 73A just so it can interwork the 39? AFAIK, no 73A interworks the 39 and if I'm mistaken and there is, what's the problem with allocating a double decker to the 39? I'm not exactly sure what you mean!

There used to be a rota that was on the 73A during the day before going on the 39 (or a variation of the 39) in the evening. I only noticed it once as I was on that bus and it had a defective ticket machine. The driver had the running board card placed over the ticket machine and it was only then that I discovered its rota. I haven’t been up to Dundee in a while to be fair as circumstances mean I don’t need to, so maybe it has gone, but this run I’m certain existed.

 

[Strathtay 260]

There used to be a rota that was on the 73A during the day before going on the 39 (or a variation of the 39) in the evening. I only noticed it once as I was on that bus and it had a defective ticket machine. The driver had the running board card placed over the ticket machine and it was only then that I discovered its rota. I haven’t been up to Dundee in a while to be fair as circumstances mean I don’t need to, so maybe it has gone, but this run I’m certain existed.

The timetables for both the 73A and 39 changed in May, so it likely doesn't exist anymore but might've back then.

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

The timetables for both the 73A and 39 changed in May, so it likely doesn't exist anymore but might've back then.

Probably did. It shall forever remain a mystery!

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

There used to be a rota that was on the 73A during the day before going on the 39 (or a variation of the 39) in the evening. I only noticed it once as I was on that bus and it had a defective ticket machine. The driver had the running board card placed over the ticket machine and it was only then that I discovered its rota. I haven’t been up to Dundee in a while to be fair as circumstances mean I don’t need to, so maybe it has gone, but this run I’m certain existed.

Arbroath depot uses duty boards, not bus boards, so it would’ve been the driver that went onto the 39, not the bus

 

[FlybeDash8Q400]

Arbroath depot uses duty boards, not bus boards, so it would’ve been the driver that went onto the 39, not the bus

Well that makes it make sense now. Come to think of it the bus appears to go on a 40 actually according to recent tracking data. It’s strange as it usually always gets an Enviro300 on it, not sure why.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Come to think of it the bus appears to go on a 40 actually according to recent tracking data. It’s strange as it usually always gets an Enviro300 on it, not sure why.

Nope... just a coincidence!

The only services which are scheduled to be operated by 73 bus boards (that aren't 73s), are the 0710 27 Arbroath-Forfar, 0805 21 Forfar-Dundee and the 1710 30 Arbroath-Warddykes circular.