Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[OvergroundMatt]

Niche question but does anyone know the reason for the recent, idiosyncratic decision to send the 202 clockwise round the Woodside Road loop in Banchory, regardless of whether the service is running to or from Aberdeen, after nearly 40 years of a perfectly rational operating pattern in this part of the town?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Niche question but does anyone know the reason for the recent, idiosyncratic decision to send the 202 clockwise round the Woodside Road loop in Banchory, regardless of whether the service is running to or from Aberdeen, after nearly 40 years of a perfectly rational operating pattern in this part of the town?

The rerouting was done so that the Enviro400EVs can be used on the Aberdeen 202 duties, due to their long front overhang they're unable to make the turn from Arbeadie Road on to Station Road without grounding out.

 

[PG]

The rerouting was done so that the Enviro400EVs can be used on the Aberdeen 202 duties, due to their long front overhang they're unable to make the turn from Arbeadie Road on to Station Road without grounding out.

Isn't this the sort of thing that a demonstrator is for? i.e. checking that the bus can fit round your routes/depots before buying some
Maybe no-one thought to check if the electric model had different dimensions to the diesel version...

 

[aberdeen1]

Why are coaches being used so little on the 10 & M96 now?

I count 4 out right now, with a majority of the services being worked by the E400MMCs intended for the 35, and it seems like this is the case most of the time.

Bit ridiculous no?

 

[GusB]

Why are coaches being used so little on the 10 & M96 now?

I count 4 out right now, with a majority of the services being worked by the E400MMCs intended for the 35, and it seems like this is the case most of the time.

Bit ridiculous no?

It's bad enough that the E400s are being used on the 10, but I would be most disgruntled if one turned up on the M96. Sadly, I've noticed this happening a few times now.

Meanwhile, they're happy to run a coach on the 33A/C services in Elgin!

 

[computerSaysNo]

It's bad enough that the E400s are being used on the 10, but I would be most disgruntled if one turned up on the M96. Sadly, I've noticed this happening a few times now.

I've noticed this too. Is the M96/M98 actually contracted by Citylink or is it a Stagecoach service which just happens to follow the Citylink/Megabus route lettering principle and just happens to be included on the Citylink website? Just wondering as if it's contracted then I can't imagine Citylink being very happy with Stagecoach putting non-coaches on it.

 

[Highland050261]

I've noticed this too. Is the M96/M98 actually contracted by Citylink or is it a Stagecoach service which just happens to follow the Citylink/Megabus route lettering principle and just happens to be included on the Citylink website? Just wondering as if it's contracted then I can't imagine Citylink being very happy with Stagecoach putting non-coaches on it.

Its a Stagecoach Route.

 

[Tayway]

There's the M39 from Inverness to Newtonmore as well, which has even less to do with Citylink than the M96.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Why are coaches being used so little on the 10 & M96 now?

I count 4 out right now, with a majority of the services being worked by the E400MMCs intended for the 35, and it seems like this is the case most of the time.

Bit ridiculous no?

There aren't enough coaches, additionally the Ex-National Express Levantes are proving quite troublesome having recently replaced more reliable Panthers/Elites. 53731 is restricted to local services only while the other two Levantes can best be described as "knackered". The only reason they really took them on is because they tick the Euro 6 box having had HJS Exhaust systems retrofitted a few years back.

 

[GusB]

I personally think people are over reacting. An E400MMC is fine on the M96 and 10. Its the E200’s and E300’s that shouldn’t be touching those routes

Do you think that an E400MMC is really suitable for a journey along the entire length of the A96?

 

[GusB]

Yes, its the E200’s and E300’s that shouldn’t be on that route… as i said

Have you travelled the route for any significant distance?

 

[route101]

See a Levante on a 10 on Tuesday.

 

[route101]

The Elites are better just saying. But those buses are nice

I have travelled on enough levantes with National Express. Rather a coach than a E3OO.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I was led to understand that the new fleet that Orkney got was to stay on the island permanently and not be transferred off to other operations, was this vehicle surplus or have they gone back on that idea now

 

[Jordan Adam]

I was led to understand that the new fleet that Orkney got was to stay on the island permanently and not be transferred off to other operations, was this vehicle surplus or have they gone back on that idea now

The vehicles are owned outright by Stagecoach. Renewal of the entire fleet was part of Stagecoach's bus service tender bid for Orkney in 2021, they then did the same with Skye last year and the Inverness/Aviemore/Tain this year while the tenders in Caithness were awarded to Aaron's Of Wick.

No idea bud. As of now we now have 3 Orkney buses here instead of there. SJ72 HNN, YJ71 GWN and now YJ71 GWG

There doesn't seem to be a clear answer as to why 21398 was ordered for Orkney in the first place. The 72 and 73 plate long 21xxx Evoras are only 46 seats whereas the 71 plates are 49 seats therefore 21398 is unsuitable for the school contracts on Orkney, hence why it only went there briefly before coming back down to Inverness. More recently 21398 has been on loan to Skye to cover for warranty work on the 72 plates while Enviro200 FM36 on loan from Ferrymill Motors covering for it at Inverness/Tain.

I believe too many Solos were ordered for Orkney as such 48059 became surplus to requirements, 48055 is presumably just on loan for a few months as i'd assume the PVR (Peak Vehicle Requirement) on Orkney will be lower over the winter period.

 

[Jordan Adam]

So 26130 X25 HBS is currently with Bluebird, weather its a loan or a transfer is unknown although its most likely just a loan. Not sure why they’d need to borrow an Inverness bus tho lol

It has Bluebird legal lettering which suggest its a transfer, the loan buses usually just have a "on loan to..." A4 sign in the window.

So does that mean theres a chance SJ72 HNN will be coming back to Inverness eventually based on your info? The Orkney livery is so much nicer so it’d be nice to have it come back here.

In theory yes. I'm surprised it hasn't been repainted yet given they wasted no time in repainting 48059.

 

[Caleb2010]

Yes, that’s the place, either there or just behind the rear n/s wheel!

It’s probably transferred while bluebird repair the last lot of enviros highland shafted onto them!

 

[Highland050261]

It has Bluebird legal lettering which suggest its a transfer, the loan buses usually just have a "on loan to..." A4 sign in the window.


In theory yes. I'm surprised it hasn't been repainted yet given they wasted no time in repainting 48059.

26130 has been transferred and 21398 will return to Inverness once all skye buses repaints are complete.

 

[aberdeen1]

11169 has suffered a “technical issue” twice in the span of two trips on the 10 tonight.

One in Forres working the 16:40 Elgin-Inverness which resulted in a 30 minute delay, and has now suffered another one upon arriving into Aberdeen Bus Station. Causing even more delay.

Vehicles suffering from issues on the 10, along with the M96 is becoming much more frequent, and the vehicle involved is usually a E400MMC

When will they realise these vehicles aren’t suitable for the 10&M96?

They aren’t really suitable for the 35 either but that’s a whole other story!

 

[computerSaysNo]

11169 has suffered a “technical issue” twice in the span of two trips on the 10 tonight.

One in Forres working the 16:40 Elgin-Inverness which resulted in a 30 minute delay, and has now suffered another one upon arriving into Aberdeen Bus Station. Causing even more delay.

Vehicles suffering from issues on the 10, along with the M96 is becoming much more frequent, and the vehicle involved is usually a E400MMC

When will they realise these vehicles aren’t suitable for the 10&M96?

They aren’t really suitable for the 35 either but that’s a whole other story!

What exactly was the issue?
They are only five years old, even if unsuitable I wouldn't think they should be failing frequently if maintained properly.

 

[aberdeen1]

What exactly was the issue?
They are only five years old, even if unsuitable I wouldn't think they should be failing frequently if maintained properly.

I’m unsure of the exact issue, only going off of Stagecoach’s social media post’s, although having been on one a few times when these so called “technical issues” occur, it’s usually either a breakdown, or a warning light the driver is unsure enough about to stop the bus.

Although whatever the issue 11169 has suffered upon arrival into Aberdeen Bus Station, it has meant it’s had to be swapped with 19735… an even more unsuitable bus. Now leaving just under an hour late.

 

[PG]

What exactly was the issue?
They are only five years old, even if unsuitable I wouldn't think they should be failing frequently if maintained properly.

Sounds like a likely candidate for the first thermal incident of the year...

 

[aberdeen1]

What exactly was the issue?
They are only five years old, even if unsuitable I wouldn't think they should be failing frequently if maintained properly.

Not sure how Elgin or Macduff’s Depot’s maintenance is, although if the busses are so frequently failing, I can’t imagine it would be good.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Plastic, cheap ADL junk at its best would seem to be the obvious answer here. And yes before someone jumps at me I know I'm biased against them but nonetheless, these things are not designed for the work they're being put to and as far as I'm aware there's no ban on free speech yet

 

[aberdeen1]

While on the topic, 19217 also seems to be suffering from some sort of issue while working the 23:30 10C to Insch, either that or it’s decided a 20+ minute long nap on North Anderson Drive is the best idea.

 

[Highland050261]

At least Inverness will finally have another livery apart from boring Local, they’re obsessed with it


Do we know when the repaints are done?

I'm not too sure when they're finished. Currently 21395 is away.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Although whatever the issue 11169 has suffered upon arrival into Aberdeen Bus Station, it has meant it’s had to be swapped with 19735… an even more unsuitable bus. Now leaving just under an hour late.

What is 19735 and why is it less suitable? It's not coming up when I do a Find On Page on the Bluebird, Highland or East Scotland bustimes pages.

 

[GusB]

What is 19735 and why is it less suitable? It's not coming up when I do a Find On Page on the Bluebird, Highland or East Scotland bustimes pages.

I assume it's a typing error - 19735 is in London!

 

[PG]

I assume it's a typing error - 19735 is in London!

Going by this post I think it was 19217

While on the topic, 19217 also seems to be suffering from some sort of issue while working the 23:30 10C to Insch, either that or it’s decided a 20+ minute long nap on North Anderson Drive is the best idea.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I assume it's a typing error - 19735 is in London!

Going by this post I think it was 19217

The bus in question the other lad would have been talking about is 19375 SV58 BMZ, an E400.

Ah right, great, thanks.