Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[Jordan Adam]

The intention is meant to be that E400EVs would go away for the St Andrews Open with the E350Hs covering at Aberdeen. 29001-10 are eventually due to be getting split between Buchan and Elgin with the E300s at Buchan moving to Aberdeen.

On a separate note most of the E400s, 47875/76 and repainted E200s have been converted to Euro 6.

 

[computerSaysNo]

29001-10 are eventually due to be getting split between Buchan and Elgin with the E300s at Buchan moving to Aberdeen.

Just to confirm, these are the E350H hybrids with the low-back green seats?
Why would they send them out of Aberdeen, I thought they had poorer road performance than an E200/E300?
Plus I wouldn't think that splitting up what is already a micro-fleet would be a good idea...

I would mention that last time I was on one of the 350H's it felt like it was ready to fall apart, but that's sometimes not entirely surprising when you remember it's Stagecoach!

 

[Jordan Adam]

Just to confirm, these are the E350H hybrids with the low-back green seats?
Why would they send them out of Aberdeen, I thought they had poorer road performance than an E200/E300?
Plus I wouldn't think that splitting up what is already a micro-fleet would be a good idea...

I would mention that last time I was on one of the 350H's it felt like it was ready to fall apart, but that's sometimes not entirely surprising when you remember it's Stagecoach!

Correct. There isn't really much option, the E350Hs going to Elgin are likely to be for the 33A/33C while the Buchan ones will most likely be on the town/local services (not including the 50-55). They're far more suited to this type of work than the work they're doing at Aberdeen at the moment.

Keep in mind in the not to distance future the 4/5/6, 14, 59 and 727 will be fully E400EV operated, so the only routes Aberdeenshire will have left are those on the Stonehaven, Deeside, Alford and Inverurie corridors. It's already not uncommon for E350Hs to venture as far as Huntly and Keith on the Aberdeenshire operated 10 short workings.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Correct. There isn't really much option, the E350Hs going to Elgin are likely to be for the 33A/33C while the Buchan ones will most likely be on the town/local services (not including the 50-55). They're far more suited to this type of work than the work they're doing at Aberdeen at the moment.

Keep in mind in the not to distance future the 4/5/6, 14, 59 and 727 will be fully E400EV operated, so the only routes Aberdeenshire will have left are those on the Stonehaven, Deeside, Alford and Inverurie corridors. It's already not uncommon for E350Hs to venture as far as Huntly and Keith on the Aberdeenshire operated 10 short workings.

There's a chance of roughly zero, that they'll be captive on the 33A/33C though, and all other routes out of Elgin are of a similar profile to the remaining routes out of Aberdeen I would have said.
Are there enough local/town routes in Fife that they could be sent there?
Or with West Scotland in Glasgow?
I'm not sure where else Stagecoach operate which is primarily urban in nature, other than the obvious one of London but I doubt it would make financial sense to get them converted to London spec at this stage in their lives.

But yes I see your point. I hadn't fully realized that Aberdeen were getting enough electrics to cover all the urban routes.

 

[Jordan Adam]

There's a chance of roughly zero, that they'll be captive on the 33A/33C though, and all other routes out of Elgin are of a similar profile to the remaining routes out of Aberdeen I would have said.
Are there enough local/town routes in Fife that they could be sent there?
Or with West Scotland in Glasgow?
I'm not sure where else Stagecoach operate which is primarily urban in nature, other than the obvious one of London but I doubt it would make financial sense to get them converted to London spec at this stage in their lives.

But yes I see your point. I hadn't fully realized that Aberdeen were getting enough electrics to cover all the urban routes.

The E350Hs don't really have issues getting up to speed as such, it's more maintaining the speed up long hills, that's why they struggle so much with the A96 at Tyrebagger/Kinellar and A92 Stonehaven Road south of Aberdeen. But they manage fine on a route like the 218 or 290/291.

Bluebird are due to receive another batch of 13 Enviro400EVs as part of the ZEBRA scheme which will allow for the full conversion of the 4/5/6 & 14, E400EVs are already appear on those routes at present but that's due to the 59 and 727 both operating reduced frequencies.

 

[Volvodart]

53639 is back in service today on the 201. The dangers of bustimes.org, it is actually 10530! I would not have thought that Ballater would have had a spare ticket machine as it is such a small depot.

 

[Red Onion]

Talking of small depots, does anyone remember when Alford shut? I’m sure it must have been around the time the council supported 415 Aberdeen-Alford service was withdrawn, which I think was 04/05 perhaps.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Talking of small depots, does anyone remember when Alford shut? I’m sure it must have been around the time the council supported 415 Aberdeen-Alford service was withdrawn, which I think was 04/05 perhaps.

It was around 2009 when the new Insch depot opened. The 415 was withdrawn in February 2008 when the Westhill services were revised and simplified in to the X15/215 and X17.

 

[Red Onion]

I didn’t realise it was as late as that, I thought it was earlier. Many thanks for the info

 

[Jordan Adam]

Ex-WScot Enviro200s 36331 and 36337 are at Tullos, these are due to be replacing 47214 and 47233 at Peterhead.

 

[Jordan Adam]

36331 has finally entered service at Peterhead, it was on the 82/83 yesterday and 69 today, albeit not yet tracking.

36337 still requires some attention before being road worthy, both have been repainted in to local livery again as their previous paint jobs were already in a poor condition with the original London red paint creeping through in places already.

 

[alchemy]

Thanks that’s a great help.

Latest:- I saw four out of the six required and Solo 48906.

Undergoing attention in the depot at Kirkwall was a unidentifiable white open top which looked like a Trident.

It's been undergoing attention since it arrived. Early June I think
Probably as before brought up for the twice daily T11 tour.
Never been out as far as I can tell. Given agricultural shows are now over, can't see it getting used at all now.

Thanks that’s a great help.

Latest:- I saw four out of the six required and Solo 48906.

Undergoing attention in the depot at Kirkwall was a unidentifiable white open top which looked like a Trident.

Still there. Hasn't moved AFAIK.
Not even out of the garage bay

 

[GusB]

I don't know who was doing the allocations today, but clearly they were having a bad one. I spotted a 35-branded Enviro 400 on the long 10 earlier, the 38 had a Volvo/Elite and on my route, the 32, they allocated a Solo; fine for most of the day, but not on the 1545 departure from Elgin when it picks up about a dozen school kids on the way.

I thought the former D&E Solo that I got the last time was bad, but 47247 is an absolute bucket. The gearbox sounded very sick with a horrible grinding noise kicking in every now and again and the whole bus didn't feel that steady on the road. In comparison, the 07 plate E200 I had travelling into town was almost a delight to travel on.

On a positive note (?!), the number of kids on the bus seems to have increased, which suggests to me that parents are less inclined to drive their little darlings to and from school. No doubt the increase in fuel costs will be helping too. Despite it being the wrong sized bus, it was good to see a healthy load.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Are there rail strikes on the Aberdeen - Inverness line coming up? I think they try to put the E400s on the 10 during those, presumably they have more seats than the Elites.

 

[Jordan Adam]

From October Stagecoach are introducing some timetable and route changes to services in Aberdeen and along the Aberdeen - Inverurie corridor.

ServiceUpdatesArticle

www.stagecoachbus.com

From 31st of October 2022, there will be changes to some services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

The details of the changes are as follows –



West Aberdeenshire (Inverurie, Kintore, Blackburn, Kemnay, Alford)

Service 10 (Aberdeen-Inverness) will have an additional fast journey operating between ARI and the the city centre.

Service 9 (Inverurie-Aberdeen) effectively replaces the additional journeys on service 10 operating between Inverurie and Aberdeen, which were introduced in 2020. A small number of journeys operating between Keith and Aberdeen will also be withdrawn (the core service from Keith to Aberdeen and Elgin is not affected).

Service 37 (Inverurie-Aberdeen) will be revised to operate between Inverurie and Kintore only, with additional stops at Kintore Railway Station to allow customers to connect to rail services.

Service X20 (Alford-Kemnay-Aberdeen) will offer faster journeys into the city centre via the Hilton and Westburn. maintaining a direct connection to Aberdeen. The section of route covering Berryden Retail Park will be withdrawn due to very low usage. Services in Alford and Kemnay will be revised as all journeys will operate as X20, connecting with Kintore and Aberdeen via the faster route described. This will provide a faster, more consistent service for these communities, with the removal of stopping restrictions previously enforced on certain journeys.

Service 22 (Inverurie town service) is regrettably proposed to be withdrawn. This service previously operated under contract to Aberdeenshire Council, but was replaced by the Ready2Go Demand Responsive service in August 2021. Stagecoach Bluebird agreed to continue operating a more limited timetable on service 22 as a trial following customer feedback. However, it is clear that passenger numbers on service 22 cannot cover the costs of operation, which is no longer sustainable. Customers will still be able to travel on the Ready2Go service or alternative Stagecoach services.



Westhill

Service 4, 5 and 6 (Aberdeen-Westhill) will offer faster and more consistent journey times for all customers following the successful revamp of the Westhill/Countesswells – Kingswells P&R – Aberdeen corridor in 2020. The biggest benefit will be seen by customers travelling from Kingswells Park & Ride, with journey times to the city centre of just 27 minutes through the day. We are also proposing to make some adjustments to early morning and late evening services, as well as those serving Prime Four and TotalEnergies to reflect customer demand.

Aberdeen City

Service 727 (Aberdeen Airport – P&J Live – Aberdeen city centre) will see a revised timetable which will improve punctuality and offer a more consistent experience to customers, following extensive analysis of traffic patterns on the route. There are no changes proposed to the frequency of the service, which will continue to offer convenient connections to the Airport, local business parks, P&J Live and the Great Northern Road corridor.

Service 59 (Balnagask-Northfield) is proposed to operate a revised frequency on Saturdays, with journeys operating every 15 minutes most of the day. This change reflects the level of demand on the service, following the significant increase in capacity for the service, which now operates exclusively with double deck vehicles.

The axing of the 22 and Aberdeen-Kintore section of the 37 comes as no surprise. The route change in Aberdeen to the X20 is bizzare. They haven't really thought through the numbering of the 9 given Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is already served by the Service 9U.

I'm also not exactly sure what the purpose of a short working 10 between Union Square and ARI is either. Nor do I understand why they've written an entire thesis on the changes to the 4/5/6, 59 and 727 when it's just be minor timing adjustments.

Hopefully the faster journey times claimed on the 4/5/6 mean an end to buses arriving at Kingswells P&R up to 10+ minutes early in the afternoon due to excessive running time. For some reason buses get 35 minutes to do a journey which can easily be done in under 25 minutes.

You see a perfect example below, the bus left Union Square on time at 17:00 and even with the diversion on Albyn Place and being held up at the lights at the Kingswells roundabout on the A947 it still got in to the Park & Ride 9 minutes early at 17:26 (due at 17:35) - https://bustimes.org/services/4-abe...2/vehicles?date=2022-08-24#journeys/300712523

 

[Volvodart]

A recent front only photo of Peterhead depot shows what looks like 54125 there, as it has Citylink on the front. Has it always been there or is it returned?

 

[E-Rail]

Have the ex-Rapson Volvo B9TL/Olympus' (16945-8) been sold yet?

 

[Jordan Adam]

A recent front only photo of Peterhead depot shows what looks like 54125 there, as it has Citylink on the front. Has it always been there or is it returned?

It was always there, they tried taking it down to Arbroath back in June but it broke down just a few hundred metres from the depot blocking the Longside Road / Meethill Road roundabout.

 

[PG]

They haven't really thought through the numbering of the 9 given Aberdeen Royal Infirmary is already served by the Service 9U.

Strikes me as an inevitable consequence of the renumbering exercise undertaken circa 2008, moving away from 3 digit route numbers to 1 or 2 digits. No doubt some research 'informed' that decision but it didn't account for First Aberdeen using a 1 or 2 digit route numbering system and the potential for two completely different routes having the same number!

It was always there, they tried taking it down to Arbroath back in June but it broke down just a few hundred metres from the depot blocking the Longside Road / Meethill Road roundabout.

Unless I'm mistaken it was parked up at the premises of Alex Aiken in Peterhead last week, easily visible when passing on an X60. I'd assumed it was there for testing...

 

[Jordan Adam]

Enviro400 19377 has been repainted in to Stagecoach Stripes livery and reregistered to "OO05 BLU'.

06/09/2022

Wright Streetdeck Electroliner demonstrator LY71GJE is at Tullos for trials.

 

[Volvodart]

The Wrightbus Electroliner demonstrator is on the 727 today.

 

[Volvodart]

19377 is now in service, but with its original registration. The Electroliner demonstrator has now left Bluebird.


4.10 2022
19377 is now carrying OO05 BLU.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Some updates...

The new Yutong E10s for Inverness are currently at Pelican having their interiors fitted out so they should be in Inverness fairly soon.

Sadly this is the only publicly accessible photo of one at the moment. However based on other photos I've seen all 25 are now in the UK.

One of 2 Yutongs seen on delivery to Stagecoach.

Explore tulipdave's 36621 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

The new Evoras for Skye have started entering service.

Stagecoach 21391

Stagecoach Highlands Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora SJ72 HNE Based in Portree, seen in it's first week in service in Broadford.

flic.kr

There are also a pair due for Orkney,

Stagecoach 21398 SJ72HNN - Inverness

25 October 2022

flic.kr

Meanwhile at Stagecoach Bluebird five Optare Solos have been withdrawn this weekend (47161/178/214/233/235), these are due to be going to Arbroath for storage pending disposal. These have come off due to PVR reductions in Aberdeenshire with 27533, 47484 and 47490 moving to Peterhead.

Following the service consultation on the Aberdeen City and Aberdeen - Inverurie corridor further consultations are to take place at Buchan and Stonehaven in the near future.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Anyone any idea why there are two additional MCVs for Orkney? The new electrics for Inverness will be very interesting indeed, definitely a departure for Stagecoach in terms of what electric bus it buys.

 

[Volvodart]

Stagecoach Highlands takes 11 Volvo MCVs for Skye

Stagecoach Highlands takes 11 Volvo MCVs for Skye - routeone

Stagecoach Highlands has taken delivery of 11 Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork for use on services on Skye.

www.route-one.net

By routeone Team -November 7, 2022
New fleet of Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora buses for Stagecoach Highland on Skye
Stagecoach Highlands is making what it says is a £3.3m investment in its Skye fleet that includes the introduction of 11 new Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork for use at Portree depot. They will be joined by a pair of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based minibuses early next year.

The operator launched the Volvo MCVs on 2 November. They will be used across the island, including on routes to Portree High School. Each has USB charging points, LED interior lights and the means to accept contactless payments.

Of the new buses, two are 10.8m examples with the remainder at 12.1m. They follow 25 B8RLE Evoras delivered to Stagecoach Highlands in 2021 for use on Orkney.

Says Stagecoach Highlands Managing Director David Beaton: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to provide the people of Skye with a brand-new fleet of buses to improve their daily commute, trip to the shops or journey to school. This investment is part of our long-term commitment to Skye and the communities we serve there.”

Adds The Highland Council Cllr John Finlayson (pictured, right): “I was delighted to attend the launch of the many new buses for Skye, which I know will be greatly appreciated by users across the island. It will also be hugely welcomed by school pupils who use the buses daily and it was great to hear the positive feedback from them at the launch.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New post below-


From Aaron's of Wick Facebook post, it appears that Stagecoach have lost the majority of school buses and service work for Highland Council in Caithness to them as of January 2023.

 

[Volvodart]

The electric buses have started delivery with SG72 NAA ans SG72 NBL's arrival at Inverness.

Parking space at Aberdeen's Union Square Bus Station is limited just now as charging points are being installed for the electric buses

 

[Jordan Adam]

Five Yutongs E10s (30101/5/9/10/12) are at Inverness.

Photo Credit: Cameron Robertson

Stagecoach 30110 63110 SG72NBJ 30101 63101 SG72NAA 30112 63112 SG72NBL 30109 63109 SG72NBF 30105 63105 SG72NBA

Explore cameronrobertson8's 17183 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

At least 6 Enviro200s are expected to move to Buchan replacing Optare Solos 47178/484/485/486/489/490.

 

[smtglasgow]

it appears that Stagecoach have lost the majority of school buses and service work for Highland Council in Caithness

What – if anything – does this leave Stagecoach with in Caithness? Can’t be much done commercially.

Don’t know the area at all – are Aarons new to service work?

 

[Volvodart]

There is a bit about Aarons here:-

https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.u...in-wick-man-aaron-talks-about-how-hes-284694/

Back on the road again – Wick man Aaron talks about how he's back in business with his bus company after Covid nightmare
By David G Scott - [email protected]
Published: 17:30, 16 August 2022

The boss of a bus company based in Wick talked candidly about how his business almost went bust due to Covid but has now bounced back to full operation again.

Aaron Wilson has a new depot at Roxburgh Road in the town and his fleet of sparking clean buses were ready for action during a recent visit – a far cry from the situation in 2020 when he lost all his coaches to a finance company.

Aaron Wilson at his new depot in Wick near the Pulteney Distillery. Picture: DGSAaron Wilson at his new depot in Wick near the Pulteney Distillery. Picture: DGS
Speaking to the Groat Aaron said: "During lockdown we were having payment breaks on buses, paying them back [finance companies], and they took everything of us and left us with one vehicle." He said the business became unsustainable due to Covid and he was left with just a single minibus. "We bounced back in March this year and now we're sitting with a fleet of 15 buses again."

The 28-year-old entrepreneur kept busy during lockdown by starting his own groundworks company but has now given that up to go back to the job he is truly passionate about, running buses. "I saved and saved hard while doing the groundworks. I was so busy that I subcontracted the work out and we were taking a lot of money in." That money was put to good use for Aaron's purchase of a new fleet of buses.

Aaron with one of his new fleet.Aaron with one of his new fleet.Aaron's buses will once again be a familiar sight on Highland roads after he resurrected the business earlier this year.Aaron's buses will once again be a familiar sight on Highland roads after he resurrected the business earlier this year.
"My dad [Richard Wilson] believes in me even though the odds were against me at the time. Determination and hard work is what it's all about and I just carried on."

Asked what it is about buses that gets him so enthused, Aaron said "I just really love the job" and talked about how fulfilling it is to meet people from all around the world when operating coaches linked with cruise ships. "We work along with Invergordon Bus Tours and we're their main supplier for coaches – there's a massive, massive demand."

The special coaches take tourists around the highlights of the Highlands. Aaron said he also runs a party bus along with private hires and five minibuses for school work and football runs but the cruise ship work is his main source of income at the moment.

Aaron is delighted to have bounced back after the Covid period. Picture: DGSAaron is delighted to have bounced back after the Covid period. Picture: DGS
"We did a service run from Wick to Inverness and it was really busy but then Covid came along and ruined it – it ruined a lot of things."

At his new depot near the Pulteney Distillery, Aaron talked about his passion for buses and said that when he's not driving them he's underneath them to fix any problems. He now employs 12 staff that includes coach drivers, office staff, minibus drivers and cleaners.

"We're always doing private hire work, especially at weekends when we do local football, netball and rugby teams. The railway is another big contract and we do replacements when the trains don't run." A recent example of the latter work happened earlier this month with a derailment near Forsinard and Aaron's buses ferried passengers while the issue was being fixed.

Aaron said that when he's not driving buses he's fixing them. Picture: DGSAaron said that when he's not driving buses he's fixing them. Picture: DGS
"I'm absolutely delighted that we bounced back this summer and we've had a lot of help to get where we are now. I'm not going to lie to you, I had a lot of sleepless night with people telling me a rake of times that I'll never pull it off. It affects your mental health but here we are now and I'm delighted with it all."

Aaron said he's been self-employed since the age of 16 and worked on fishing boats, ice cream vans and doing window cleaning but as soon as he started with the buses he knew it was for him. "Since January we've added 10 vehicles to our fleet with all the demand. I really have to thank the people of Caithness for keeping us busy."

 

[smtglasgow]

Interesting. Hope it all works out – it’ll be quite a big deal to scale up quickly. But Shiel Buses in Fort William seem to be doing a decent job with the work they took off Stagecoach a few years ago. Stagecoach seem committed to the rest of the Highland operation judging by all the investment, but I guess it’s not at any price.