Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[computerSaysNo]

Flying machines too helped by the fact they're ZF autos

Most of the time when I travel on the 10 I get one of the iShift 2010 Elites (which, honestly I prefer as they have non-leather seats) but on the occasion I get one of the ZF 2017 B11s I'm always amazed at how rapidly they accelerate.

Honestly though if they can adapt at Elgin to make longer coaches work then I'd say the PantherLEs would be a better fit. There are a lot of older people use the route and I'm sure they would appreciate a step-free entry. I'm not sure how reliable the toilets normally are on the coaches on the 10 but they've been working on 0% of the journeys I've been on them so if that's the usual then you wouldn't feel their loss on the PantherLEs.

 

[GusB]

Honestly though if they can adapt at Elgin to make longer coaches work then I'd say the PantherLEs would be a better fit. There are a lot of older people use the route and I'm sure they would appreciate a step-free entry. I'm not sure how reliable the toilets normally are on the coaches on the 10 but they've been working on 0% of the journeys I've been on them so if that's the usual then you wouldn't feel their loss on the PantherLEs.

It's not going to happen without demolishing and rebuilding, I'm afraid. I remember when the current bus station in Elgin was built, drivers commented on how much tighter it was space-wise. When they built the St Giles Centre, the bus station was more or less a box-ticking exercise. The car park retained its original footprint and gained a few extra storeys in the process, but that of the bus station was more or less cut in half.

 

[Highland050261]

There's apparently 6 of these GTe14 on order for the M96.

 

[Volvodart]

There's apparently 6 of these GTe14 on order for the M96.

As discussed above, I thought they were too long for the route.

 

[GusB]

There's apparently 6 of these GTe14 on order for the M96.

What's the source of this information, please?

 

[Highland050261]

What's the source of this information, please?

Drivers that are currently being familiarised on the bus are all being told it's not here for trial but that it's here to get all the Joint Venture drivers trained on.

 

[Volvodart]

Drivers that a currently being VF on the bus there all being told its not here for trial it's here to get all the Joint Venture drivers trained on.

You cannot see Stagecoach being willing to pay the full cost of electric coaches at present without subsidy from somewhere.

 

[Highland050261]

You cannot see Stagecoach being willing to pay the full cost of electric coaches at present without subsidy from somewhere.

Apparently government subsidy still going for another 2 years we will just need to wait and see I just thought it was Interesting.

Two of Cumbernauld 9700DD were in Inverness overnight for the morning runs.

 

[GusB]

Drivers that are currently being familiarised on the bus are all being told it's not here for trial but that it's here to get all the Joint Venture drivers trained on.

What joint venture are you talking about?

 

[Highland050261]

What joint venture are you talking about?

M96, which is due to be moved to Highlands under Citylink.

Mod note: source required

 

[Bowie]

As discussed above, I thought they were too long for the route.

Thats what im thinking, its long as hell just like the YX64 plate elites and they wouldn’t fit in Elgin Bus station. Hows the Yutong gonna manage? In my opinion electric vehicles shouldn’t be anywhere NEAR express work and kept only for city work

 

[computerSaysNo]

In my opinion electric vehicles shouldn’t be anywhere NEAR express work and kept only for city work

Why?
What are you personally losing by electric coaches being on express services?
I think anything which can draw people out of their cars is a good thing.

 

[Bowie]

Seems like 54121 SP62 CGY is back or its a tracking error and its another bus tracking as 54121, but its tracking at Edinburgh right now

 

[Highland050261]

Seems like 54121 SP62 CGY is back or its a tracking error and its another bus tracking as 54121, but its tracking at Edinburgh right now

It's a old citylink machine 54121 still up in Wick.

 

[Bowie]

48059 YJ71 GWN is supposedly transferring to Thurso at some point

And 54309 YX64 WCN and 54304 YX64 WCG are now at Tain depot

Some of Bluebird's E200s are supposedly getting withdrawn according to someone on a bus group on Facebook, due to Aberdeen’s LEZ (Low emission zone) coming into force. The E200s are as follows:

36031 SV07 FCC
36048 SV08 GUW
36066 SY57 AXR
37254 SL64 HWK
37259 SL64 HWS


Whether they’ll transfer to another Stagecoach operator such as East Scotland is unknown.

Mod note: please include the sources of your information. Thanks

 

[Jordan Adam]

Wait so a bus has actually transferred to Inverness?? I thought they didn’t like using older buses

36193 to Elgin, 36194 to Inverness, 36418 to Peterhead and 36423 to Aberdeen.

21412 has also transferred from Inverness to Aberdeen while 36031 and 36048 have transferred from Stonehaven to Peterhead and Elgin respectively.

 

[Bowie]

36193 to Elgin, 36194 to Inverness, 36418 to Peterhead and 36423 to Aberdeen.

21412 has also transferred from Inverness to Aberdeen while 36031 and 36048 have transferred from Stonehaven to Peterhead and Elgin respectively.

Is the Evora permanent or just a loan? That now takes the total number of Highland vehicles currently with Bluebird to 4. Thanks for the information, although i can’t imagine the E200 will be used for service with Inverness

48059 YJ71 GWN is supposedly transferring to Thurso at some point

And 54309 YX64 WCN and 54304 YX64 WCG are now at Tain depot

Some of Bluebird's E200s are supposedly getting withdrawn according to someone on a bus group on Facebook, due to Aberdeen’s LEZ (Low emission zone) coming into force. The E200s are as follows:

36031 SV07 FCC
36048 SV08 GUW
36066 SY57 AXR
37254 SL64 HWK
37259 SL64 HWS


Whether they’ll transfer to another Stagecoach operator such as East Scotland is unknown.

Mod note: please include the sources of your information. Thanks

36048 SV08 GUW, 37259 SL64 HWS, 27601 SV59 DDZ are now at Elgin Depot, 36254 SL64 HWK is to follow, being swapped with 36957 YX63 LHD. As such, 27803, 37255 and 37260 are now based in Aberdeenshire

 

[PG]

Another distinctly un-Citylink bus on the M96 today, doing a return trip from Inverness was enviro300 22781.

 

[Bowie]

Another distinctly un-Citylink bus on the M96 today, doing a return trip from Inverness was enviro300 22781.

It then got swapped for 26134 at Elgin

It then got swapped for 26134 at Elgin

11171 also did the 9:30 M96 to Elgin

Anyone able to shine some light on this, 53645 KX61 GFE was tracking on the 27 Inverness to Contin route earlier. I’m assuming its a loan or something???

 

[Volvodart]

Some of Bluebird's E200s are supposedly getting withdrawn according to someone on a bus group on Facebook, due to Aberdeen’s LEZ (Low emission zone) coming into force. The E200s are as follows:

36031 SV07 FCC
36048 SV08 GUW
36066 SY57 AXR
37254 SL64 HWK
37259 SL64 HWS

Seen with my own eyes, 37259 is now back at Aberdeen and 37254 will not now be transferring. They have either been quickly converted or they were Low Emission Zone compliant all along but incorrectly recorded until a few days ago.

 

[Bowie]

37259 is now back at Aberdeen and 37254 will not now be transferring. They have either been quickly converted or they were Low Emission Zone compliant all along but incorrectly recorded until a few days ago.

19175, 19176 and 19372 are also now at Inverness depot

 

[GusB]

Remember to include your sources when posting information to the forum. Thanks

 

[Bowie]

Remember to include your sources when posting information to the forum. Thanks

My bad. I took these photos of them and uploaded them so I could link them

Stagecoach 19175 SV57 BGF

Explore macdonaldivan67's 163 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

Stagecoach 19372 SV58 BMO

Explore macdonaldivan67's 163 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

Stagecoach 19176 SV57 BGK

Explore macdonaldivan67's 163 photos on Flickr!

flic.kr

 

[Bedford OB]

Thurso operations expanded from today with replacements for Aaron's 915 and 917. Timetables posted on Stagecoach web site.

 

[Volvodart]

Thurso operations expanded from today with replacements for Aaron's 915 and 917. Timetables posted on Stagecoach web site.

Aaron's are still doing the school bus element of these services.

 

[Jordan Adam]

It has been announced internally that Insch and Stonehaven depots are to close from August due to loss of school tenders. Aberdeenshire has been running at a loss for quite a while now so this news isn't really a surprise, the loss of the school tenders were really just the final blow. There will also be a partial closure of Elgin depot with management, maintenance and admin functions moved to Inverness. The service changes originally proposed for last month are to go ahead in August albeit with some revisions including a new hourly cross-city route in Aberdeen.

 

[Scotrail88]

It has been announced internally that Insch and Stonehaven depots are to close from August due to loss of school tenders. Aberdeenshire has been running at a loss for quite a while now so this news isn't really a surprise, the loss of the school tenders were really just the final blow. There will also be a partial closure of Elgin depot with management, maintenance and admin functions moved to Inverness. The service changes originally proposed for last month are to go ahead in August albeit with some revisions including a new hourly cross-city route in Aberdeen.

Presume will result in service cuts to accommodate the work in other depots and turn the profitability round?

Any idea of what’s planned as simply shutting depots and moving to Aberdeen depot can’t really save enough

 

[Bowie]

It has been announced internally that Insch and Stonehaven depots are to close from August due to loss of school tenders. Aberdeenshire has been running at a loss for quite a while now so this news isn't really a surprise, the loss of the school tenders were really just the final blow. There will also be a partial closure of Elgin depot with management, maintenance and admin functions moved to Inverness. The service changes originally proposed for last month are to go ahead in August albeit with some revisions including a new hourly cross-city route in Aberdeen.

So where are all the non LEZ buses that are currently at Stonehaven go? Will they just transfer to another Opco?

And while we’re on the subject of buses 19370 is currently tracking on Inverness routes

 

[Jordan Adam]

Presume will result in service cuts to accommodate the work in other depots and turn the profitability round?

Any idea of what’s planned as simply shutting depots and moving to Aberdeen depot can’t really save enough

Insch was down to only a few duties anyway, all of which will now be operated by Aberdeen. Likewise the 8/X8 (Aberdeen - Stonehaven) and 107 (Stonehaven - Montrose) are both going to be Aberdeen woworked. The 4 and Lochside Academy runs are being axed to cater for this.

Portlethen and Inverurie will both gain an extra bus per hour to Aberdeen, the latter seeing its service improved to Every 20 Minutes.

 

[Morayshire]

The 4 and Lochside Academy runs are being axed to cater for this.

So the new builds at Countesswells are losing their bus service via Prime 4 then?

Does this mean the 5/6 to Westhill timetable will be adjusted as well?