Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[GusB]

Didn't the Panthers have toilets?

I'd forgotten about the Panthers - were they specifically ordered for that route, though? I can't remember now.

The B10M/Interurbans certainly didn't have toilets. Prior to that, some of the coaches had them, but only because they were cascaded from other routes later in life; I wouldn't have wanted to rely on a toilet being available and working!

 

[Jordan Adam]

I'd forgotten about the Panthers - were they specifically ordered for that route, though? I can't remember now.

Yes they were.

53621-26 were new to Highland for the X99
53627-34 to Bluebird for the 10
53635-45 to Stagecoach Midlands for Megabus work.

53635-45 would later transfer to Bluebird for the 35 to replace Profiles and then to Deeside for the 201/202 once the 19 plate E400MMCs arrived.

 

[Scotrail88]

Yes they were.

53621-26 were new to Highland for the X99
53627-34 to Bluebird for the 10
53635-45 to Stagecoach Midlands for Megabus work.

53635-45 would later transfer to Bluebird for the 35 to replace Profiles and then to Deeside for the 201/202 once the 19 plate E400MMCs arrived.

is 6 fleet not high for the M96. Looks to be 4 requirement from lnever was.
just curious to where they will stray onto

 

[Jordan Adam]

is 6 fleet not high for the M96. Looks to be 4 requirement from lnever was.
just curious to where they will stray onto

I would imagine the M96 will probably require 5 of the Yutongs per day to allow for recharging. So it would leave one surplus, wouldn't surprise me if it ends up on the 10.

 

[GusB]

Yes they were.

53621-26 were new to Highland for the X99
53627-34 to Bluebird for the 10
53635-45 to Stagecoach Midlands for Megabus work.

53635-45 would later transfer to Bluebird for the 35 to replace Profiles and then to Deeside for the 201/202 once the 19 plate E400MMCs arrived.

Thanks for clarifying. I'd stopped using the service while the Profiles were still on the go and I really didn't pay much attention until the Elites came in.

 

[Blindtraveler]

As a frequent user of the x99 at the time of panther introduction, they were fantastic. I hope for the sake of users of the service that they get something new again for it soon

 

[route101]

As a frequent user of the x99 at the time of panther introduction, they were fantastic. I hope for the sake of users of the service that they get something new again for it soon

I thought the X99 has new Merc Turismos?

 

[Highland050261]

I'm not sure if they are directly replacing anything or if they are just moving buses around, but Inverness Engineering has stated that 53645 and 53708 are set to be withdrawn shortly. 53645 has been parked up in Elgin alongside 28644 and 19046.

I thought the X99 has new Merc Turismos?

No, they are for the Dounreay services and some local services in Caithness. The X99 still uses ex-Citylink tri-axle Panthers 54131-6.

 

[route101]

The link to the timetables is now at the top of the service update page.

Sometimes quite hard to find specific route timetables with Stagecoach. They want you to use the journey planner but I prefer looking at a whole timetable.

 

[Red Onion]

Sometimes quite hard to find specific route timetables with Stagecoach. They want you to use the journey planner but I prefer looking at a whole timetable.

That is my issue with it. At least with First (for example) they have a timetable page with them all listed, stagecoach require you to either use the journey planner or know the route number, you can’t just look at the whole timetable for, say, Aberdeen to Westhill without knowing it’s the 5/6. Horrible set up they have.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I'm not sure if they are directly replacing anything or if they are just moving buses around, but Inverness Engineering has stated that 53645 and 53708 are set to be withdrawn shortly. 53645 has been parked up in Elgin alongside 28644 and 19046.


No, they are for the Dounreay services and some local services in Caithness. The X99 still uses ex-Citylink tri-axle Panthers 54131-6.

Which were knackered when CityLink finished with them. So goodness knows how they're coping being thrashed up and down the challenging bit of the A9 everyday

 

[route101]

That is my issue with it. At least with First (for example) they have a timetable page with them all listed, stagecoach require you to either use the journey planner or know the route number, you can’t just look at the whole timetable for, say, Aberdeen to Westhill without knowing it’s the 5/6. Horrible set up they have.

I know what you mean. Arriva and First are not much better. The system that McGills, Explore Dundee, GNE etc is better with route map.

 

[Highland050261]

The last 3 TCe12 models have arrived, and the full list of registrations is as follows:

57001 SJ74UPB
57002 SJ74UPC
57003 SJ74UPD
57004 SJ74UPF
57005 SJ74UPG
57006 SJ74UPH

 

[Blindtraveler]

What vehicle am I likely to get between Inverness airport and the city centre on the 11 tomorrow please? Not that it matters but genuinely interested

 

[Volvodart]

The last 3 TCe12 models have arrived, and the full list of registrations is as follows:

1. SJ74UPB
2. SJ74UPC
3. SJ74UPD
4. SJ74UPF
5. SJ74UPG
6. SJ74UPH

57004 is at Union Square Aberdeen today branded Stagecoach but no gold graphics.

 

[Highland050261]

What vehicle am I likely to get between Inverness airport and the city centre on the 11 tomorrow please? Not that it matters but genuinely interested

The 11 is one of those runs where everything turns up, but more often than not, it's an E400 MMC or an E10.

 

[computerSaysNo]

54309 YX64 WCN, a B11R with tag axle, is currently tracking on service M96; I would think this would be quite rare as Elgin can't usually accommodate such vehicles due to the bus bay lengths?

The last 3 TCe12 models have arrived, and the full list of registrations is as follows:

57001 SJ74UPB
57002 SJ74UPC
57003 SJ74UPD
57004 SJ74UPF
57005 SJ74UPG
57006 SJ74UPH

Are we sure these are for the M96? I ask as the image posted upthread shows them as being delivered in Stagecoach Yellow livery, but not too long ago B11Rs were being repainted into Citylink blue & yellow livery which we thought were for the M96?

 

[Highland050261]

54309 YX64 WCN, a B11R with tag axle, is currently tracking on service M96; I would think this would be quite rare as Elgin can't usually accommodate such vehicles due to the bus bay lengths?

Are we sure these are for the M96? I ask as the image posted upthread shows them as being delivered in Stagecoach Yellow livery, but not too long ago B11Rs were being repainted into Citylink blue & yellow livery which we thought were for the M96?

54303, 4, and 9 are spares, while 54309 has been used frequently on the M96. Elgin can accommodate them, as well as the Interdeckers in the first stance. The TCe12 is definitely for the M96; one is currently in Aberdeen for driver training.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The 11 is one of those runs where everything turns up, but more often than not, it's an E400 MMC or an E10.

The latter would be rather nice as I've yet to sample one. Cheers

 

[computerSaysNo]

54303, 4, and 9 are spares, while 54309 has been used frequently on the M96. Elgin can accommodate them, as well as the Interdeckers in the first stance.

I see.

The TCe12 is definitely for the M96; one is currently in Aberdeen for driver training.

Thanks for confirming. Still seems a bit strange to partially convert the route to Citylink-branded vehicles and then abandon the rebrand as new vehicles are ordered.

 

[PG]

Still seems a bit strange to partially convert the route to Citylink-branded vehicles and then abandon the rebrand as new vehicles are ordered

Maybe Citylink no longer wish to be associated with it?!!

 

[Highland050261]

Maybe Citylink no longer wish to be associated with it?!!

The Citylink Elites spend more time on the 10 than anywhere else. The M96 route, on the other hand, typically features a mix of vehicles, including the Leventes, Elites, Evora, E400MMC, and occasionally the E200, depending on availability.

 

[route101]

The M96 is not sure what it is.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have to say that the E10 that Inverness have is a rather nice offering. Ended up having to get the 27 into town from the airport having missed the 11 by seconds. Genuine question, given today's forecast adverse weather on Friday 24th January, what's the situation on local buses in and around Inverness and the central Highlands? The website gives a fairly bland generic warning, but does anyone know what's actually happening on the ground?

 

[Highland050261]

I have to say that the E10 that Inverness have is a rather nice offering. Ended up having to get the 27 into town from the airport having missed the 11 by seconds. Genuine question, given today's forecast adverse weather on Friday 24th January, what's the situation on local buses in and around Inverness and the central Highlands? The website gives a fairly bland generic warning, but does anyone know what's actually happening on the ground?

I believe it's still operating as usual up here; only Scottish Citylink is affected.

 

[Statto]

That is my issue with it. At least with First (for example) they have a timetable page with them all listed, stagecoach require you to either use the journey planner or know the route number, you can’t just look at the whole timetable for, say, Aberdeen to Westhill without knowing it’s the 5/6. Horrible set up they have.

Indeed, trying to find the full timetables on the Stagecoach site if you don't know the route number is awful, & even worse, Stagecoach won't let you go to one of the divisions, at least with First, they let you go to say First Greater Glasgow, Stagecoach website you can't go to Stagecoach North Scotland, you have to type out the place first, very user unfriendly, why those in the know now going to likes of bustimes.org.

 

[GusB]

I have to say that the E10 that Inverness have is a rather nice offering. Ended up having to get the 27 into town from the airport having missed the 11 by seconds. Genuine question, given today's forecast adverse weather on Friday 24th January, what's the situation on local buses in and around Inverness and the central Highlands? The website gives a fairly bland generic warning, but does anyone know what's actually happening on the ground?

The Stagecoach Highland Twitter feed (https://x.com/StagecoachHLand/status/1882552418052796752) states:

Following the Amber and Yellow MET office weather warnings for 24 and 25 Jan, services may be delayed/cancelled at short notice. The safety of our customers & employees is priority. We'll continue to assess road conditions. Please check before you travel.

A similar message went out on the Bluebird feed.

It's impossible for any operator to predict what conditions will actually be like on the day, but the fact that an Amber warning has been issued for these parts (and Red warnings further south) should be enough to advise anyone that going out for a jolly probably isn't a good idea.

I believe it's still operating as usual up here; only Scottish Citylink is affected.

What you believe will happen and what will actually happen may be different things entirely. The advice is fairly clear - "Please check before you travel". While it's all fairly calm right now, we simply don't know how the situation will develop over the course of the day.

 

[Red Onion]

Indeed, trying to find the full timetables on the Stagecoach site if you don't know the route number is awful, & even worse, Stagecoach won't let you go to one of the divisions, at least with First, they let you go to say First Greater Glasgow, Stagecoach website you can't go to Stagecoach North Scotland, you have to type out the place first, very user unfriendly, why those in the know now going to likes of bustimes.org.

Agreed, it’s an awful system. I’ve fed it back to them before but received no feedback. I’m sure there’s logic to it somewhere…

 

[Blindtraveler]

Well, I suppose you could consider my whole weekend as a jolly
But that aside, I certainly hadn't got any plans on buying a network Day ticket and bashing buses today, as far as I'm concerned A to B if necessary via CD and z will do just fine and looks as if I should be able to achieve that. Thanks all for the assistance

 

[route101]

Agreed, it’s an awful system. I’ve fed it back to them before but received no feedback. I’m sure there’s logic to it somewhere…

What happened to PDFs of printed bus timetables or area books like Scotrail? An addition of a route map is very useful too.