Stagecoach East Scotland

[jamieintercity]

This is better though. To often I have seen X24 Kincardine, then under in small letters 'for Glasgow.' I know it's a through service, but to someone not used to travelling on the service it doesn't make it clear whether it is a through service to Glasgow or if a change of bus is required at Kincardine.

Saw similar stagecoach gold livery E300s in dundee and arbroath on the 39 dundee to arbroath route.

 

[overthewater]

Some talk the Aberdeen Alx300 will be staying, I wonder what there going to replace?

 

[robertclark125]

Well 22265 has now gained Fife Scottish legals, so should be staying (was new to Fife in 1999). I think it's at Aberhill, so probably their sole remaining Volvo B10M-55.

 

[mbonwick]

22265 "gaining" legals is nothing to do with its future prospects. Obviously vehicles are required to display the correct details, and given the extended timescales involved with Olympic loans, most/all regions have gone for vinyls over the area.

 

[Jamester]

22265 is currently in use at Dunfermline depot. Aberhill currently has 20339 & 20341.

If the destination is showing incorrectly on services X59 X24 etc. then this is more than likely down to driver error. The reason a destination should show "Glenrothes for Kincardine & Glasgow" is a legal one. All such services are driven under domestic driving rules so the service is split into sections of not more than 50km to comply with these rules.

It is a bit of a farce in reality and tends to confuse passengers as they are left not knowing if they need to change buses etc. But Stagecoach want to avoid using tachographs on these routes and this is a way around it. (or dare I say a loophole!)

 

[robertclark125]

22265 is currently in use at Dunfermline depot. Aberhill currently has 20339 & 20341.

If the destination is showing incorrectly on services X59 X24 etc. then this is more than likely down to driver error. The reason a destination should show "Glenrothes for Kincardine & Glasgow" is a legal one. All such services are driven under domestic driving rules so the service is split into sections of not more than 50km to comply with these rules.

It is a bit of a farce in reality and tends to confuse passengers as they are left not knowing if they need to change buses etc. But Stagecoach want to avoid using tachographs on these routes and this is a way around it. (or dare I say a loophole!)

Somebody ought to tell Western Greyhound that. They say they had to split routes for the same reason, but then claimed you can't use the same bus, so people have to change buses! Stagecoach UK bus prove otherwise.

Some changes will be made to rotues X37 and X40 in October. Not sure exactly what, but likely to be routings in Glenrothes. Also, works services G3 and G4 will also be axed in October; they have seen very little use in recent years.

 

[overthewater]

Somebody ought to tell Western Greyhound that. They say they had to split routes for the same reason, but then claimed you can't use the same bus, so people have to change buses! Stagecoach UK bus prove otherwise.

Some changes will be made to rotues X37 and X40 in October. Not sure exactly what, but likely to be routings in Glenrothes. Also, works services G3 and G4 will also be axed in October; they have seen very little use in recent years.

Maybe IF there had bothered to produce a G4 timetable more people would know about. Its not like there made much effort to promote these service, which of course got axed in 2001 and then come back in without a return journey by 2002

All of the changes that went thought are only for times.

 

[robertclark125]

They did issue a G4 timetable. I saw one in Glenrothes Bus station yesterday!

 

[overthewater]

They did issue a G4 timetable. I saw one in Glenrothes Bus station yesterday!

SHOCKER, I wonder why there went back to the G3 leaflet? instead of the G3/G4 which is on the net.

 

[robertclark125]

Thanks to stagecoach East Scotland and the other forum I'm on, the Dundee Area Forum, the 11 new Scania N230UB/Alexander E300 single deckers for St Andrews are

28651 SP62BHX
28652 SP62BJJ
28653 SP62BJX
28654 SP62BKA
28655 SP62BKF
28656 SP62BOH
28657 SP62BRV
28658 SP62BSO
28659 SP62BTX
28660 SP62BUO
28661 SP62BVZ

They will replace the sole remaining PS bodied B10M-55, and also the MAN's at St. Andrews. The two Plaxton bodied B10M-62s, used mainly on route 23, will remain, but are likely to be replaced when the new coaches for the Fife - Glasgow network arrive.

The scania's are, apparently, due to receive some form of branding, so as they'll be used on routes 42, 96, and the 99 group, it'll have some form of Tay connection. The current MAN's new in 2006 have Taylink 99 on them.

As to where the ousted MAN's go, well, it's anyones guess. I'd have expected some of them to head to Glenrothes, which still has the largest allocation of B10M-55s in stock, but we won't know until sometime next week.

 

[mbonwick]

22917 has been seen on tow south on the M6 in the Crewe area. This was/is based at Perth.

I'd be surprised of the St Andrews coaches are replaced. Being R regs there's not really much newer to bother replacing them with....

 

[overthewater]

22917 has been seen on tow south on the M6 in the Crewe area. This was/is based at Perth.

I'd be surprised of the St Andrews coaches are replaced. Being R regs there's not really much newer to bother replacing them with....

55 plate? Awful B7twin engine coaches. which will be released once the new tri-axle B15?

 

[mbonwick]

I suppose that is a possibility when the B13R/Elites enter service and displace the B7Rs.

I'd forgotten St Andrew's coaches weren't just for schools unlike most of the other depots.

 

[Blindtraveler]

big Q is where will the B7s go?

 

[robertclark125]

big Q is where will the B7s go?

One or two might go to rennies, and in addition, two will probably go to St Andrews for the 23. Where others go depends on how many get ousted.

 

[overthewater]

I keep hearing half will be kept in fife with the other half going to Glasgow/cumbernauld if said rumors are true.

 

[tbtc]

If First are withdrawing their journeys on the 15 (Falkirk - Kincardine - Alloa), any best on whether Stagecoach pick up some of the pieces?

 

[robertclark125]

If First are withdrawing their journeys on the 15 (Falkirk - Kincardine - Alloa), any best on whether Stagecoach pick up some of the pieces?

It's possible, though this would require either a new depot being established somewhere, or perhaps an outstation, possibly at Kincardine on Forth. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of extra runs from Dunfermline.

But remember, Stagecoach Fife has only took over the evening and Sunday tendered journeys, First just lost the contract. But now, that First are withdrawing the whole service, you do wonder if Stagecoach may open a depot in, say Alloa. There actually used to be a depot in Alloa, operated by Alexander (Midland). The depot closed many years ago, but still stands and is sued by another business. It could be that Stagecoach, who also operate the C63 and C64 services, may decide to move into this area.

On another note, regarding the Cairneyhill/Crombie - Queen Anne High School journeys that First operate from Larbert, which is the nearest depot to Falkirk (and of course their head office), you know, I can't help but wondering if, despite what they told me earlier in the year, if they're going to abandon these contracts either ASAP, or upon expiry in 2016.

 

[Liam]

It's possible, though this would require either a new depot being established somewhere, or perhaps an outstation, possibly at Kincardine on Forth. Otherwise, you're looking at a lot of extra runs from Dunfermline.

Couldn't they combine the 78 and 28 routes? Have the inbound 78 at Kincardine at the same time as the outbound 28 and vice versa and allow through ticketing from Falkirk to Alloa/Clackmannan/Stirling. Would need to run the 28 hourly though.

 

[overthewater]

Couldn't they combine the 78 and 28 routes? Have the inbound 78 at Kincardine at the same time as the outbound 28 and vice versa and allow through ticketing from Falkirk to Alloa/Clackmannan/Stirling. Would need to run the 28 hourly though.

28 would then require 2 extra buses etc to provide the hourly service, and would also not serve any place inbetween old 15 route. What people are still forgetting is Carronshore is also lost is daytime bus now.

Stagecoach are not going to open up a depot to operate 2 buses. C64 is Saturdays only. The current 15 is pointless, the H1/H2 is carrying more passengers.

 

[Jamester]

22400 401 & 402 have moved to Cowdenbeath depot, whether this is permanent or not, I'm not sure. Yesterday, most of the new Scania for St.Andrews were still at Aberhill depot being prepared for service. Haven't seen any of them receive any type of route branding as yet. They do look quite nice buses. The emergency door is in the middle rather than at the rear and the mirrors have yellow coloured outer casings.

 

[mbonwick]

The emergency door is in the middle rather than at the rear and the mirrors have yellow coloured outer casings.

Both EU WVTA regulations now. The mirrors mainly (supposedly) to stop pedestrians getting whacked by them when pulling into stops.

 

[UWW5x]

SP62BJJ was in Blackpool for the buses driver of the year 2012 championship. Picture on the blog http://busestractionengines.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/bus-driver-of-year-2012.html

 

[robertclark125]

The only Bova Futura ever owned by Stagecoach UK bus, N401 LTN, which latterly worked with Rennies, was sold last year to Ensign. It's now back in Scotland, with Coackley of Motherwell.

 

[Blindtraveler]

amazing! SC Related as of next week wedinburgh services woant be serving the bus station as the next lot of tram work kicks in. The station will sti5l be served by other opperaters. Wonder why SC arnt using it and hope they return after its over as the new departure point is v inconvenient

 

[overthewater]

amazing! SC Related as of next week Edinburgh services wont be serving the bus station as the next lot of tram work kicks in. The station will stil be served by other opperaters. Wonder why SC arnt using it and hope they return after its over as the new departure point is v inconvenient

Main Reason for not using the bus station is it would take FAR to long to operate along princess street, leith street, little Kings street, St james place - Bus station - Eldar place - York place - Leith street - Princess street.

By going to St Andrews sq, there will continue to operate to the same times without the need for addition buses, plus save a few bob. First 43, 62, 95 all have 15min layover times and could managed lose some of this. Stagecoach service have 5mins and cant Afford to lose any of it.

I think it great it out of that bus station, hopeful there will not get held up and can zoom in and out of the city instead of waiting a bunch of crappy lights..

 

[Blindtraveler]

that remains to be seen, the new stops are in an island of roadworks so may not be as good on time as hoped. They had better return after its done.

 

[robertclark125]

Recently we discussed the MAN 18.220s, four of them that came from Bluebird to Fife, in relation to the Olympics. These vehicles were surplus with the introduction of the new E350Hs to Aberdeen for route 59. Mbonwick said they were on loan. I can confirm they are actually permanent transfers to Fife, and won't return north. These vehicles were originally with Fife when new in 1999, at Cowdenbeath.

 

[overthewater]

Recently we discussed the MAN 18.220s, four of them that came from Bluebird to Fife, in relation to the Olympics. These vehicles were surplus with the introduction of the new E350Hs to Aberdeen for route 59. Mbonwick said they were on loan. I can confirm they are actually permanent transfers to Fife, and won't return north. These vehicles were originally with Fife when new in 1999, at Cowdenbeath.

I did say there were staying, BUT if fife is getting back all the E300 there sent down to London, what are these 4 going to replace?

 

[robertclark125]

Can only assume more B10M-55s. I know Fife has recently had the new E300 bodied Scanias, and there will be a reshuffle of rolling stock as a result. I'm just also wondering though, if Fife has found the E300s that are used on a couple of duties on routes 6 and 7 are maybe unsuitable, and are going to use the MANs, and thus switch the E300s to other services. Hard to say.