Stagecoach Gold (travel in luxury)

[sonic2009]

Stagecoach seem to be really giving this Gold Brand a go. today i learned that route 66 Swindon - Oxford via Farringdon, has been transferred over from i think they were MAN Bodied Enviro buses they used on that Route.to Gold Scania Double Deckers with free wifi.

I can't understand why the Stagecoach in Cheltenham 94 gold buses were never fitted with wifi.

Questions. 1. Are they any routes you'd like to see as a Gold Service? Stagecoach of Course.

Are their other operators who operate this luxury Kind of Bus Branding?

2. Are Stagcoach in Swindon getting rid of their Volvo B10M buses, the 151/51 Swindon - Cheltenham was operated by these. I wonder if they have changed.


I hope to get a trip on the 66 this weekend if anyone is interested?

Currently Im On Stagcoach in Wye + Dean County Link 33 to Hereford on a Dennis Trident on my way to Abergavenny, all on my £19 megagoldrider

 

[Smethwickian]

Are there other operators who operate this luxury kind of bus branding?

Blue Diamond (Central Connect Ltd trading as Blue Diamond) in conjunction with Centro operates certain services in the Solihull area with higher-spec vehicles including leather seats and wi-fi, branded Signature - see http://www.signaturebus.com/

These are also the routes on which this operator and Centro are trialling Smartcards for the West Midlands.

 

[SS4]

Blue Diamond (Central Connect Ltd trading as Blue Diamond) in conjunction with Centro operates certain services in the Solihull area with higher-spec vehicles including leather seats and wi-fi, branded Signature - see http://www.signaturebus.com/

These are also the routes on which this operator and Centro are trialling Smartcards for the West Midlands.

I've seen an NXWM 638 with similar seats to that (and bloody comfy it is too!)

 

[Eagle]

Questions. 1. Are they any routes you'd like to see as a Gold Service? Stagecoach of Course.

Stagecoach Warks could hurry up and make the 67 into the G2 like they were supposed to when they first introduced Goldline in 2008... (it was long enough ago that the number the G1 used to have, the 66, has now been reused for a Leamington to Banbury service that has strangely not existed before now).

 

[W-on-Sea]

I travel on the Stagecoach Oxfordshire Gold S1/S2 very frequently. The wi-fi leaves a great deal to be desired, frankly. The buses are very comfortable, and those on the 66 have some detail differences from the earlier ones (one fewer seat at the front downstairs, the backward facing seats atthe back downstairs and the forward-facing seats next to them are low-back rather than high-back so as not to block views).

You can't use a West megarider on them, but the S5 from Oxford-Bicester recently got Gold double-deckers too. So from Oxford the S1 and S2, S5 and 66 all have them on now. I think it's a major step-up in luxury terms compared with any premium bus service I've used elsewhere, and Stagecoach deserve to be commended for it.

 

[MK Tom]

They've made the X4 on which I go to uni a gold route - the seating's nicer and it's a nicer environment but as far as I can see the luxury ends there. I like the gold brand, especially the fact it doesn't cost more, but it doesn't include armrests or obvious 'luxury' features like that. Arriva operate route 300 in MK which is a park and ride route of similar standard, with leather seats etc, but they include armrests on some of the seats. I don't think SC Gold can really be called 'luxury'. It's what I'd call 'rather nice'

 

[Ivo]

I think they could do worse than the 57 in Exeter.Whether FGW would be impressed or not is another matter. They could also do the 55 in Swindon, but I don't know what Swindon would have of having to such routes. Mind you, if they did it would mean the only lousy route on the Bristol - Bath - Chippenham - Swindon - Oxford corridor would be the 231/232 from bath to Chippenham.

I hope to get a trip on the 66 this weekend if anyone is interested?

I would certainly be interested, but it would have to be Sunday because of the GM Challenge. Last time I went on the 66 was in June...

 

[WestCoast]

Are their other operators who operate this luxury Kind of Bus Branding?

Not quite what you are looking for, but Lothian's Airlink uses very luxurious Wrightbus Gemini 2s - certainly the plushest interiors I have every seen. Red well-padded leather seating (with some of those seats arranged around tables), 'mood lighting' which changes to give a 'warm feeling' depending on the time of day, power points, free Wi-Fi, CCTV monitoring screens so passengers can watch their luggage upstairs, and next-stop audio (with music) and visual information displayed on screens. You're even given an estimation of how long the bus will take to reach certain stops!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4473087487_aef8494a6f.jpg

Stagecoach Gold is an interesting concept for sure, I am not entirely convinced by it but if the branding increases passenger numbers, then it can only be a good thing for all involved. My local Stagecoach route was recently upgraded to -54 plate ALX400s from mid-90s single-deck Volvo B10M Alexander PSs, and they seem pretty plush in comparison!

 

[starrymarkb]

The 57 was considered, thing is the train is cheaper then the bus for day returns and is much faster...

 

[W-on-Sea]

Essex County Council paid for (what they described as) "luxury buses" for the Regal Busways-operated "Essex Pullman" (no, I don't know why) service between Canvey Island and Chelmsford (again, no I don't know why) , complete with wi-fi, power-points, some seats arranged around tables, and so on....distinctly underwhelming in practise, I thought
http://www.regalbusways.com/Fleet_P01.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hhhumber/6777599041/

 

[Ivo]

Essex County Council paid for (what they described as) "luxury buses" for the Regal Busways-operated "Essex Pullman" (no, I don't know why) service between Canvey Island and Chelmsford (again, no I don't know why) , complete with wi-fi, power-points, some seats arranged around tables, and so on....distinctly underwhelming in practise, I thought
http://www.regalbusways.com/Fleet_P01.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hhhumber/6777599041/

Remind me to go on that when I go home next (April). I have to say that the 1 has been a success story from what I've seen, pretty much from the word "Go".

On a related note, I saw two Lynxes on the 3 over Christmas - but wasn't able to travel on them because I was busy :cry:

 

[W-on-Sea]

I think it's a bit hit and miss if you get one of those on the 1 nowadays. Certainly the last few times I saw one running through Benfleet (late last year) it tended not to be one of the "Pullman" stock. (Not sure why) . I'm amazed any Lynxes are left. And mildly amazed that the ever-more circuitous route 3 still exists (seems odd that there is a demand for it on Mon-Fri but not a Saturday). The 11a used to be quite useful for me - was the nearest bus to where I lived in Westcliff.

I have to say, moving to Oxfordshire (and seeing the battered old junk that some of the local independent bus companies - RH, Charlton Services, White's, even Heyfordian) put out really make me see Regal in a better light. (Not Arriva Southend or First though...)