Stagecoach Oxfordshire

[Marcus Fryer]

I understand from the Stagecoach West thread that new electric buses (Alexander Dennis E400) are due for Oxford. Does anyone have more details about when they are expected to enter service, and on which routes please?

 

[Parebunks]

I understand from the Stagecoach West thread that new electric buses (Alexander Dennis E400) are due for Oxford. Does anyone have more details on when they are expected to enter service, and on which routes please?

Beginning to be phased into service from the start of May (source in the Stagecoach section), on the routes within Oxford SmartZone. That's 1, 2, 2A, 8, 10, 14. Haven't done full calculations, but 55 vehicles seems potentially more than needed for those routes, so I wouldn't be surprised if they see some use on more 'country' routes like the S5 or S9?

 

[goldisgood]

Beginning to be phased into service from the start of May (source in the Stagecoach section), on the routes within Oxford SmartZone. That's 1, 2, 2A, 8, 10, 14. Haven't done full calculations, but 55 vehicles seems potentially more than needed for those routes, so I wouldn't be surprised if they see some use on more 'country' routes like the S5 or S9?

Definitely more than needed - the city routes only use around 35-40 vehicles between them. I'd expect the electrics to run on the Oxford portion of the S7, which would use another 6, and maybe some midday boards on the S3, S5 and S9 where the buses outstationed at Chipping Norton/Bicester/Grove currently cycle through Oxford depot? Note that most of these services are worked from outstations which presumably won't be equipped with overnight charging facilities. If I remember right some frequency improvements are planned for the city later as part of the bus gate introduction also linked to the ZEBRA bid, but I haven't seen anything on this recently.

 

[Falcon1200]

It will be great to see new buses on Stagecoach in Oxford, particularly on the service I use most, the 14; Almost entirely operated by single-deckers which at times are extremely busy. Although OTOH it will be sad to see some of the 'foreign' (ie from the South Coast) buses, which have been running in Oxford recently, go!

 

[Edvid]

First integral E400EV in passenger service appears to be 80004 (SK24 XRE), which is tracking on the 2.

 

[carpo]

Pleased to see today that the S2X is making it's return Carterton to Oxford as of 3rd June restoring an express link between the two which will be so valuable for commuting - https://bustimes.org/registrations/PH0005863/97

 

[Andyh82]

Is there any update on the introduction of Stagecoach Oxford’s electric buses, as this thread has gone quiet presumably meaning it hasn’t happened yet

 

[Falcon1200]

I have seen a couple in service, and indeed travelled on one (deliberately!), 80002 on the 10 service on the 18th June; But having said that I did not see any on my last visit to Oxford, last weekend.

 

[Parebunks]

Is there any update on the introduction of Stagecoach Oxford’s electric buses, as this thread has gone quiet presumably meaning it hasn’t happened yet

Yes, it hasn't really started yet - five are at Oxford and occasionally see service (80001-80005, per bustimes.org), but the charging infrastructure for more isn't in place properly yet, to my understanding. I believe a lot are currently at Chesterfield depot, with some scattered elsewhere around the country. Not the best look for Stagecoach given the rollout from Go-Ahead is all but complete, especially given all the vehicles do already exist!

 

[goldisgood]

There are a couple out most days now, usually on the 1 and 2/2A - driver training is also well underway using one of those not out in service, so should hopefully be a relatively fast introduction once the charging infrastructure is sorted out! I've had a couple journeys on them, and they seem to be extremely high quality vehicles and personally I've found them far smoother than the Electroliners on the Go-Ahead services.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I was cycling through Fawler the other week and a Stagecoach electric bus came through doing a training run on the S3 (Charlbury branch) - impressed to see one so far out!

 

[JD2168]

Is there any update on the introduction of Stagecoach Oxford’s electric buses, as this thread has gone quiet presumably meaning it hasn’t happened yet

Some currently at Chesterfield depot.

 

[Hyebone]

Some currently at Chesterfield depot.

Correct. Last time I passed Stonegravels (Chesterfield Depot), there was around 16 Enviro400EVs parked on the former scrapline (Usually inhabited by geriatric MAN Enviro300s), all fully branded for Oxford.

 

[Edvid]

Update on the Oxford electrics from Oxford & Chilterns issue 313:

Contractors have had more delays with connecting the Oxford charging facility to the grid, so the planned Oxford EV launch of 19th August has been put back, again. No new date has been set at the time of writing, but we have our fingers crossed for mid-September. Service 10 will be the first route converted with other routes being added over the following weeks.

So far, 80001-80043 are all with Stagecoach at various sites, and 80044-80049 are still with AD in Scotland. The remaining 6 vehicles are still under construction.

 

[Stewart2887]

The S6 trundles through our village regularly, and a good service it is too. Will they get bigger buses when (if) the Botley road bridge reopens? I guess the same applies to the Witney/Wantage services too? Or are they already full-size? Seem fine to me though I'm sure I read that they are reduced height

 

[Parebunks]

Went along to a 'Witney Bus Users' public meeting today, one or two few interesting snippets. Rollout of the EVs is slated to finally start on the 13th October, with route 10 coming first. Witney is seeing changes in February, with Stagecoach losing the H2 hospital service to Pulhams who will increase it to half-hourly with S106 money from Oxford North. This will allow some minor tweaks to other routes, but those at the meeting didn't want to commit to any more substantial changes given the uncertainty around the Botley Road closure. Go-Ahead certainly seem to be on an increasingly competitive footing with Stagecoach in West Oxfordshire, even if it's hardly full bus war territory yet.

 

[Falcon1200]

Stagecoach losing the H2 hospital service to Pulhams who will increase it to half-hourly with S106 money from Oxford North.

That's interesting, and the half-hourly service will be great, but wonder whether ticket acceptance remain the same, ie Oxford Smartzone tickets valid? I have a vested interest as I sometimes use the H2 for local journeys within Oxford.

 

[Parebunks]

That's interesting, and the half-hourly service will be great, but wonder whether ticket acceptance remain the same, ie Oxford Smartzone tickets valid? I have a vested interest as I sometimes use the H2 for local journeys within Oxford.

Would assume so given Pulhams are part of go-ahead now

 

[Falcon1200]

Would assume so given Pulhams are part of go-ahead now

That makes sense, thanks.

 

[Parebunks]

Full rollout of the electrics finally seems to have started (see bustimes.org), with 11 (80001-80007, 80009, 80010, 80014, 80016) in service today (80008 has also been out). I've now been on one a few times, and they do seem to be excellent vehicles - the grey seats definitely make them feel more spacious than the Oxford Bus electroliners, even if they are perhaps slightly less comfy. There is a full LCD screen downstairs, but only dot-matrix on the top deck as far as I can see which feels a shame, although even that is something of a step forward for Stagecoach.

 

[carpo]

It's been reported that Oxford Tube coaches from Carterton/Witney to London are being reduced from December. Anyone happen to know the new timings as I was planning to catch one in mid-December!

In addition interesting that there's a one a day London to Bicester Village service being planned!

 

[Volvodart]

It's been reported that Oxford Tube coaches from Carterton/Witney to London are being reduced from December. Anyone happen to know the new timings as I was planning to catch one in mid-December!

Is it not already in the booking system as you can book then now?

 

[carpo]

Is it not already in the booking system as you can book then now?

Aha - good point. Phew the one I want to catch is not affected by these changes.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

Do we know what fleet numbers are being cascaded out of the Oxfordshire fleet?

I've nothing against the 2011-2014 Scania E400's but with the new EV fleet I'd have thought Stagecoach want to cascade the E400 MMC's to routes previously run by them rather than keep the older vehicles which will also mean more ALX400 Tridents replaced either way no doubt.

 

[DaveHarries]

[...] Witney is seeing changes in February, with Stagecoach losing the H2 hospital service to Pulhams who will increase it to half-hourly with S106 money from Oxford North. [...]

I wonder if the H2 will be the only change? IIRC there was a plan to increase the frequency of the S2 through to Cheltenham but nothing has been heard of that for a while so I wonder if that plan is now dead in the water. Anyone know?

Dave

 

[Parebunks]

I wonder if the H2 will be the only change? IIRC there was a plan to increase the frequency of the S2 through to Cheltenham but nothing has been heard of that for a while so I wonder if that plan is now dead in the water. Anyone know?

Dave

Stagecoach said at that meeting that there wouldn't be any major changes to S1/S2/E1 until Botley Road had reopened as there was too much uncertainty stemming from that. AFAIK it is still an aspiration for both county councils, but this could partially depend on how much funding is still available by the time the bridge reopens.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

How come Stagecoach have got rid of some of their normal 16/66-plate E400 MMC's including one of the 69-reg ones (11243) when they've got older buses running routes like the S5 which means a good amount of A34 work.

 

[Parebunks]

Oxford Chiltern Bus Page reporting that Stagecoach are going to run the new 600 route (details here, Redbridge to Thornhill via Cowley and JR), the same date they're losing the H2 to Pulhams as I mentioned above.

The start date for New Service 600 is 23rd February 2025, and that will be run by Oxford depot with PVR 6. Witney depot will lose Service H2 (PVR 2) to Pulhams from the same date, and that will be run by them at a 30-minute frequency with PVR 4.

This perhaps explains why Stagecoach seemed to have ordered more electrics than necessary for its current routes- does mean that they'll have a bit of a vehicle surplus if they manage to rectify the current rollout issues before then, could be a fairly narrow window to catch them out on 'country' routes. Really seems like an odd way round to have the tenders, 600 feels like it would fit in better with Go-Ahead whilst the H2 does obviously go with Stagecoach's Witney routes.

 

[Falcon1200]

How come Stagecoach have got rid of some of their normal 16/66-plate E400 MMC's including one of the 69-reg ones (11243) when they've got older buses running routes like the S5 which means a good amount of A34 work.

Not just that route, the single deckers usually used on the 14 are well past their best, and frequently overcrowded too; There is one particular service I avoid using now as it is so busy!

 

[Parebunks]

Times for the 600 now up on bustimes.org, also includes weekends which I hadn't expected. The vehicles saved at Witney from the H2 seem to be partially going into new morning and evening trips on the S2 as far as Witney, times here. The 600 will certainly face some issues having been introduced before the traffic filters, but I suppose the continuing Botley Road fiasco doesn't really leave any other options given the vast majority of the electric buses have arrived and the H2 needed retendering anyway.