It’s on the bustimes web, search 369 and pick the version operated by Stagecoach SW
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Stagecoach South West - Fleet News & Discussion
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TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Isn't the 118 a two vehicle working?
Indeed, and is there is an unserved demand for passengers from Tavistock to Exeter?
150249
Member
I thought that too but apparently, according to bustimes, dartline use 3 buses on it each day.
henryb
Member
To be fair one of them is relief bus / driver that comes dead from Exeter each day
Tavy to Exeter by bus would be 2 hours each way - what does Exeter have that justifies 4 hours sitting on a bus?
The 6A was reduced in September to 3 hourly plus peak / shopping extras. There is little demand. The train is 40 mins to Exeter Central and hourly where as the bus is 70 mins - so 30mins slower each way. Thus most go by train; the fare is not a major factor for most.
The 6B looks like a Tavy school bus used to provide an Okehampton 09:30 6A to Exeter and a 13:05 return as extras to the 3 hourly basic 6/6A. I doubt it is used much as a through service.
Dartline appear to be pulling out of all their scattered local services and concentrating on coach and school services.
The 20 was just Hemyock/Uffculme to Wellington or Taunton historically by Redwoods of Hemyock and then by First Taunton with certain journeys to Honiton. Combining it with the Honiton to Seaton service came with a county contract which I think Cooks Coaches ran. Stagecoach bought out Cooks and thus acquired the 20 in its current form. Dartline has had the recent contract.
Running the 20 with Solos is much easier for all traffic, and the last time I used a Stagecoach Dart on the 20 we lost 15 mins in the first 30 mins, due to being unable to get through and having to wait while vehicles were moved. It is a tight road to drive in a car let alone a bus.
The new 20 timetable delays the 11:15 from Taunton to 11:45 and will be welcomed by many for extending the supermarket shopping time in Wellington from 50 mins to 1hr20.
The vehicle working for the day is:
1S 6B 6A meal break 6A 6B 1S
Same driver does the whole working.
From my days driving the Dartmoor Explorer, maybe. There was a hardened group who did a mad dash round Exeter shops or lunch in the 2 hour Dartmoor Explorer break. Certainly not enough to be commercially viable though.
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YorkRailFan
Established Member
Similar with Bude and Launceston, one can buy a through ticket on GWR's website from Exeter to Tavistock, with the 118 currently serving Okehampton Station every 2 hours. Its clear to me that the rail link in Okehampton satisfies the majority of demand between Exeter and Tavistock, and through ticketing only makes it easier for people to do this.
Bornin1980s
Member
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Well, according to the new Stagecoach Bus Handbook for 2025, the 20 new electric buses for the 4, A, and C in Exeter will be Volvos, numbers 66101-120. They will be 10.8 m, with 34 seats.
Which is the last thing Exeter needs, especially on the 4 and A! Looks like it was a big mistake to lump together the 4, A, and C, with the C having a unique requirement for single deckers of 3.2 m height or lower, and the other two services relying on an ageing fleet of double-deckers. I would have thought it possible to at least split the fleet into 10 single deckers for the C, and 10 double-deckers just for the 4 and A. But, I would at least have expected the C to get longer single deckers. They currently have a fleet of Enviro 300s (from 2009), with 42 coach style seats each. How can the short 34 seat Volvos replace the E300s, let alone the double-deckers on the 4 and A?
Is it that the Volvos are actually dead on the Tan Lane 10' 6" (3.2m) height restriction, with no further headroom, and does that actually restrict the length they can be, due to the dip in the road? Or, might it all be a mixup in reporting and might Exeter actually be getting the unallocated 12 m Volvos numbered 76101-120 (7xxxx for large single Deckers)?
Which is the last thing Exeter needs, especially on the 4 and A! Looks like it was a big mistake to lump together the 4, A, and C, with the C having a unique requirement for single deckers of 3.2 m height or lower, and the other two services relying on an ageing fleet of double-deckers. I would have thought it possible to at least split the fleet into 10 single deckers for the C, and 10 double-deckers just for the 4 and A. But, I would at least have expected the C to get longer single deckers. They currently have a fleet of Enviro 300s (from 2009), with 42 coach style seats each. How can the short 34 seat Volvos replace the E300s, let alone the double-deckers on the 4 and A?
Is it that the Volvos are actually dead on the Tan Lane 10' 6" (3.2m) height restriction, with no further headroom, and does that actually restrict the length they can be, due to the dip in the road? Or, might it all be a mixup in reporting and might Exeter actually be getting the unallocated 12 m Volvos numbered 76101-120 (7xxxx for large single Deckers)?
Bornin1980s
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Would it be possible to allocate the new electrics to more suitable routes, or do the terms of ZEBRA funding require them to be used on the proposed routes, no matter how unsuitable?
DaveHarries
Established Member
I wonder if the C might get a frequency increase at peak times and the 4/4A retain some double decker trips too?
Dave
The list I’ve seen online says 66101-120 are DD. See attached which I saved from a Facebook group a while back
Attachments
Steve440
Member
I think that's a mistake as all 6xxxx numbers are SD and all electric DD are 8xxxx
Bornin1980s
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6xxxx = Electric midibuses (or, confusingly, New Bus For London).
7xxxx = Electric full size single deckers.
8xxxx = Electric double deckers.
7xxxx = Electric full size single deckers.
8xxxx = Electric double deckers.
Are the 7**** for Scotland and midlands single or deckers that are marked as SD
Bornin1980s
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6xxxx for 'midibuses' (about 10-11m), and 7xxxx for longer single deckers.
henryb
Member
Does anyone know what the 20 euro 6 buses being cascaded down from elsewhere next year will be?
Bornin1980s
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I don't know, but I hope Exeter can get more double deckers, they've just the oldest one.
henryb
Member
It will apparently reduce average fleet age from 13 years to 8 years
Manchester early January goes to metro line in tranche 3 with many vehicles being cascaded around the country
150249
Member
I believe Stagecoach South West are getting 10412/423-430/443-448 and 19273-279/281-282
Bornin1980s
Member
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19273-282 were built in 2008, pre Euro 6. Have they been converted?
Yes.
Dfatcontroller
Member
10429 is the one in the Armed Forces Covenant livery (as linked here: https://flic.kr/p/2qx3JdG )
10430 was new as a ADL demonstrator to Stagecoach.
150249
Member
I believe 428 is in the mosaic livery.
cnjb8
Established Member
Most of 10412/423-430/443-448 are staying with Manchester as they have Bee Network stickers and are at Stockport
Class 466
Established Member
The MMCs you've listed there have all be stickered up for Bee Network operations and are part of the 35 'older' E400MMCs staying with Stagecoach at Stockport
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150249
Member
My apologies everyone. I was going off a graphic I'd been sent by a stagecoach engineer. I wonder which buses are earmarked for the South West now?
19398 arrived at Matford today as a replacement for 19001
19398 arrived at Matford today as a replacement for 19001