Stagecoach West - Fleet News & Discussion

[Parebunks]

As reported on twitter, new buses have started arriving for Witney, freeing up the SN69 E400s for Bristol Park and Ride. Took a ride on one of the new Witney ones today, and can't say I was enormously impressed - only real difference was in the seats, which were notably less comfortable than the old ones, without reading lights or coathooks, and with less USB sockets and stop bells. Seems like an odd decision overall considering how new the SN69s are, does anyone here know the reasoning behind it?

 

[goldisgood]

As reported on twitter, new buses have started arriving for Witney, freeing up the SN69 E400s for Bristol Park and Ride. Took a ride on one of the new Witney ones today, and can't say I was enormously impressed - only real difference was in the seats, which were notably less comfortable than the old ones, without reading lights or coathooks, and with less USB sockets and stop bells. Seems like an odd decision overall considering how new the SN69s are, does anyone here know the reasoning behind it?

The reasoning is as you have said to free up the SN69s for Bristol Park and Ride - but it does seem like a significant downgrade for the S1 which has always said to be one of the most profitable in Oxfordshire. I have also questioned if this is the best allocation for these buses, or if they would have been better going straight to Bristol (although numbers don't quite add up, as I think only 12 of the SN69s are planned to leave?). I'm not sure about age limits for the Bristol contract, but getting rid of comfier buses on the S1 where significant numbers of journeys are around an hour long for a park and ride service around 20-25 minutes long doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interests...

 

[Parebunks]

The reasoning is as you have said to free up the SN69s for Bristol Park and Ride - but it does seem like a significant downgrade for the S1 which has always said to be one of the most profitable in Oxfordshire. I have also questioned if this is the best allocation for these buses, or if they would have been better going straight to Bristol (although numbers don't quite add up, as I think only 12 of the SN69s are planned to leave?). I'm not sure about age limits for the Bristol contract, but getting rid of comfier buses on the S1 where significant numbers of journeys are around an hour long for a park and ride service around 20-25 minutes long doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interests...

My understanding was that there were 15 new buses for Witney, primarily for S1 whilst the other routes would stay with the SN69s not transferring to Bristol. Agree r.e. comfort on the S1, especially considering how long journeys are taking with the diversion via the A40 and the routing through Witney estates - now sometimes takes almost two hours end-to-end.

 

[CharlesR]

My understanding was that there were 15 new buses for Witney, primarily for S1 whilst the other routes would stay with the SN69s not transferring to Bristol. Agree r.e. comfort on the S1, especially considering how long journeys are taking with the diversion via the A40 and the routing through Witney estates - now sometimes takes almost two hours end-to-end.

Had Bristol not have gotten the 9, this order was going to do the bulk of trident removal. I’m not quite sure how the cascades are going to work but you’d suspect excess scanias in Cheltenham and Swindon may now remove tridents at Gloucester, Stroud and Swindon

 

[MasterSpenny]

15 new buses for Witney

Do you mean 11747-11761? That’s what I can find on the TangyTango bus forum. (not sure if the plan for this batch has changed. Also this is the most recent post I can find on there, despite it being dated 20th of May 2023).

While on this thread, thought I list on where their 200+ diesel E400MMC's that are due over the course of this year and likely onto next year:

11571-9 Kendal (coach seats) (9) (YX23OOW/Y/PA/B/C/D/E/F/G) already in service on the 555
11581-602 Chichester (22) (YX23OPH/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/Y/Z/RA/C/F/G/H/J)
11603-6 Folkestone (4)
11607-20 Walkergate (14)
11621-28 Birkenhead Rock Ferry (8)
11629-51 Preston (23)
11652-68 Folkestone (7)
11659-62 Currently unknown - was originally due for Folkestone (4)
11663-76 Northampton (14)
11677-96 Hull (20)
11697-716 Sheffield Holbrook (20)
11717-31 Manchester Hyde Road (15)
11732-46 Ashton (15)
11747-61 Witney (15)
11762-9 Mansfield (8)
11770-80 Walkergate (11)
11781-97 Inverness (17)

Couple of there were changed from the initial announcement of which 11603-6 was due for Winchester, 11607-28 was all due for Torquay and the entire 11652-62 batch was due for Folkestone.

According to buslistsontheweb.co.uk they have been registered as:

Fleet Code	Registration
11747	YX73OYS
11748	YX73OYU
11749	YX73OYV
11750	YX73OYW
11751	YX73OYY
11752	YX73OYZ
11753	YX73OZA
11754	YX73OZB
11755	YX73OZC
11756	YX73OZD
11757	YX73OZE
11758	YX73OZF
11759	YX73OZG
11760	YX73OZH
11761	YX73OZJ

 

[cnjb8]

Do you mean 11747-11769? That’s what I can find on the TangyTango bus forum. (not sure if the plan for this batch has changed. Also this is the most recent post I can find on there, despite it being dated 20th of May 2023).

According to buslistsontheweb.co.uk they have been registered as:

Fleet Code	Registration
11747	YX73OYS
11748	YX73OYU
11749	YX73OYV
11750	YX73OYW
11751	YX73OYY
11752	YX73OYZ
11753	YX73OZA
11754	YX73OZB
11755	YX73OZC
11756	YX73OZD
11757	YX73OZE
11758	YX73OZF
11759	YX73OZG
11760	YX73OZH
11761	YX73OZJ

11762-69 are for Hull, diverted from Mansfield. They weren't part of the batch for Witney

 

[Callum15632]

11234 SN69 ZDR is out in service today on the 9 in Bristol. Brislington Park and Ride to Portway Park and Ride. Also 11233, 11235,11236 also showing on Stagecoach West (Bristols Fleetlist) on bustimes org

 

[lukem]

It seems from the new year the 3X will become hourly and get a new Saturday service, as well as being extended to Bristol Parkway and Temple Meads Stations.

This will hopefully be the start of more competition between First bus and Stagecoach in Bristol but the timetable has some large gaps in the evening with almost 4 hours missing in the timetable from Bristol to Aztec West.

 

[-Colly405-]

It seems from the new year the 3X will become hourly and get a new Saturday service, as well as being extended to Bristol Parkway and Temple Meads Stations.

This will hopefully be the start of more competition between First bus and Stagecoach in Bristol but the timetable has some large gaps in the evening with almost 4 hours missing in the timetable from Bristol to Aztec West.

The extension to Parkway looks like a bit of an all-day reinstatement of the erstwhile 3B...

 

[carpo]

The reasoning is as you have said to free up the SN69s for Bristol Park and Ride - but it does seem like a significant downgrade for the S1 which has always said to be one of the most profitable in Oxfordshire. I have also questioned if this is the best allocation for these buses, or if they would have been better going straight to Bristol (although numbers don't quite add up, as I think only 12 of the SN69s are planned to leave?). I'm not sure about age limits for the Bristol contract, but getting rid of comfier buses on the S1 where significant numbers of journeys are around an hour long for a park and ride service around 20-25 minutes long doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interests...

The problem is that in the past four years we've gone from express buses from Carterton to Oxford which were comfortable to a service that takes 45 minutes to an hour longer and are more cramped in a less comfortable - in short, it's been a massive downgrade of the service without a doubt.

 

[swifty]

This will hopefully be the start of more competition between First bus and Stagecoach in Bristol but the timetable has some large gaps in the evening with almost 4 hours missing in the timetable from Bristol to Aztec West.

That’s all we need, duplication of commercial routes… maybe a better use of resources would be on areas no longer served after the previous WECA cutbacks.

 

[Citistar]

3X is at least doing some things which other services aren't covering, such as the route around Redland and running the whole length of Gloucester Road (including the bit between Patchway and Aztec West). The additional journeys on the timetable are very much something to keep school buses busy off peak. They could have been somewhat more imaginative with it, but the most obvious opportunities on previously cut routes in the area are now covered to some extent (5, 84/85) or complicated by road closures (Y2). Perhaps the new leadership struggles to see beyond the city limits?

 

[Parebunks]

The minutes of a recent Gloucestershire County Council meeting include the following tidbits on various Bus Service Improvement Plan+ funded improvements, mostly Stagecoach West routes getting better evening and Sunday services, which seems sensible considering shifting travel patterns:

There's also some more substantial stuff:

The S2 in particular is very positive, it's definitely taken off since it changed from the 853 last year. Could easily see it becoming commercial at that frequency or even better if invested in (maybe merge in the 234 to Burford somehow?). Realistically the two new Cheltenham routes will be Stagecoach or Pulhams, will be an interesting barometer of Go-Ahead ambitions in what's still very much Stagecoach territory. Curious to see how quickly GCC can bring these in - neighbouring Oxfordshire is starting BSIP+ funded improvements from December, so optimistic that some of this could come in soon.

Looks like implementation of the easier stuff in here is beginning in January, with the late journeys on the A, C, D and 41 coming in from the start of the month. Also included is an uplift of the 94/94X to 8BPH, which IIRC was the pre-COVID frequency - excellent news particularly if commercial, good indicator that SC have largely recovered from the pandemic and subsequent driver shortages. Now waiting on the S2 and 801 uplifts! Over in Oxfordshire, preparation continues for the arrival of the electrics, which are still meant to be arriving in the spring.

 

[GoneSouth]

Also included is an uplift of the 94/94X to 8BPH, which IIRC was the pre-COVID frequency - excellent news particularly if commercial, good indicator that SC have largely recovered from the pandemic and subsequent driver shortages.

Upgrade in frequency, downgrade in vehicles? Where did all the gold buses go? There isn’t enough to run 6 ph let alone 8

 

[EnviroExplorer]

Upgrade in frequency, downgrade in vehicles? Where did all the gold buses go? There isn’t enough to run 6 ph let alone 8

A number of the Gold examples were transferred to Bristol to operate the Park & Ride contract. Now that Witney have received their latest batch of new buses, the Gold examples from Cheltenham and Swindon should be returning to respective depots, with Bristol receiving some of the previous 2019 batch from Witney.

 

[MasterSpenny]

I see the Enviro 400 EV buses coming to Oxford are being manufactured.

https://x.com/rupert_airbear/status/1736685459747582427?s=46&t=NwCcaynuPR-k7xjMa0OtGQ

Earlier this month I visited @ADLbus at Larbert to see the build of the new electric buses for Oxford.

They'll be entering service in 2024, improving passenger journeys and lowering emissions in the city.

 

[goldisgood]

I see the Enviro 400 EV buses coming to Oxford are being manufactured.

https://x.com/rupert_airbear/status/1736685459747582427?s=46&t=NwCcaynuPR-k7xjMa0OtGQ

Interesting to see Lazzerini seats in these rather than the Smartseat, which has been standard for all ADL buses for the last 5 or so years. Can't complain too much, they're perfectly comfortable for all the services these are planned to operate, and looks like it'll be the same interior spec for both Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company on all the new electrics.

 

[Cesarcollie]

Interesting to see Lazzerini seats in these rather than the Smartseat, which has been standard for all ADL buses for the last 5 or so years. Can't complain too much, they're perfectly comfortable for all the services these are planned to operate, and looks like it'll be the same interior spec for both Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company on all the new electrics.

Smartseat is no longer the ADL standard - it’s back to Lazzerini

 

[Callum15632]

Has 10788 SN66 VZK transferred to North Bristol depot? Is there any more of this batch to come? Are 11238-11253 coming down to Bristol or are they staying at Witney/Oxford?

 

[Parebunks]

Has 10788 SN66 VZK transferred to North Bristol depot? Is there any more of this batch to come? Are 11238-11253 coming down to Bristol or are they staying at Witney/Oxford?

The plan was for 6 to stay at Witney - I assume this will be 11248-11253. The rest should reach Bristol eventually, but will likely be in Oxford till the electrics arrive early 2024 to replace them. Witney still only looks to have 13 out of 15 from the YX73 series, not sure why the last two aren't there. If that happens, 11241 and 11242 should be following the others to Horspath Road then Bristol, else they'd have to stay in Witney.

 

[markglos]

The plan was for 6 to stay at Witney - I assume this will be 11248-11253. The rest should reach Bristol eventually, but will likely be in Oxford till the electrics arrive early 2024 to replace them. Witney still only looks to have 13 out of 15 from the YX73 series, not sure why the last two aren't there. If that happens, 11241 and 11242 should be following the others to Horspath Road then Bristol, else they'd have to stay in Witney.

Last week at Witney (26-12) i saw all but 11758 & 11761,

 

[ValleyLines142]

I see 10441 has transferred to Cheltenham from Oxford, and that 22751 has had a repaint! No more Gold single dockers at Gloucester now.

 

[Callum15632]

I see 10441 has transferred to Cheltenham from Oxford, and that 22751 has had a repaint! No more Gold single dockers at Gloucester now.

Also 11238,11240/41 have gone from Oxford to Bristol.

 

[GoneSouth]

I see 10441 has transferred to Cheltenham from Oxford, and that 22751 has had a repaint! No more Gold single dockers at Gloucester now.

That’s a shame. Gold looks infinitely more professional than the tat they’ve applied with that horrendous new livery

 

[ValleyLines142]

Also 11238,11240/41 have gone from Oxford to Bristol.

I did see those. Also wasn't aware that 10433-438 had gone down to Stagecoach South either!

Agree re new livery, its certainly not a vibe!

 

[Callum15632]

37630 has been spotted in North Bristol Depot? Why is it in Bristol depot and what will it be used on?

 

[carpo]

Has anyone heard anything about the proposed S2 to hourly or Carterton to Oxford direct routes that were mentioned at the time of the bsip+ announcement for Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire?

 

[DaveHarries]

The bus improvements in and around Gloucester & Cheltenham will start 03rd March 2024. The details are not yet on the Stagecoach website but timetables are on TravelineSW and can be summarised thus:

- 1 (City Centre - Matson): additional journeys are 0010 & 0050 from City Centre and 0026 & 0106 from Matson on Friday and Saturday nights. The 0106 from Matson will be numbered as Service N1.

- 2 (City Centre - Abbeydale & Upton St. Leonard): the 2230 from the City Centre & 2244 to City Centre now show as running Mondays to Saturdays; additional journeys are 2330 & 0030 from City Centre and 2344 & 0044 from Abbeymead & USL on Friday and Saturday nights.

- 8 (Hunts Grove - Brockworth): On Friday and Saturday nights 2323 Quedgeley - City Centre extends to Brockworth and 2315 Brockworth - City Centre extends to Quedgeley. Extra journeys 0015 Brockworth - Quedgeley and 0023 Quedgeley - Brockworth. Introduction of Service N8 (0115 Quedgeley - City Centre & 0115 Brockworth - City Centre).

- 10 (Gloucester - Cheltenham): no timetable changes but introduction of N10 on Friday & Saturday nights: journeys 0115 Cheltenham - Gloucester City Centre and 0107 Lower Tuffley - Brockworth.

- 12 (Gloucester - Quedgeley): extra journeys 0010 from City Centre and 0024 from Quedgeley as well as addition of Service N12 (0110 from City Centre & 0125 from Quedgeley) on Friday and Saturday nights.

- 24 (Gloucester - Coleford) to run to Monmouth on Sundays & Bank Holidays every 2 hours. No extra evening journeys.

- 32 (Gloucester - Newent): extra journeys 2050, 2150 & 2300 from Gloucester and 218, 2218 & 2320 from Newent.

- 71 (Gloucester - Northway): additional journeys 1947, 2047 and 2147 from Gloucester & 1932, 2032, 2132 & 2232 from Northway on Mondays to Thursdays. Extra journeys 2247 from Gloucester and 2332 from Northway on Friday and Saturday nights. Also new Sunday & Bank Holiday service running hourly.

Has anyone heard anything about the proposed S2 to hourly or Carterton to Oxford direct routes that were mentioned at the time of the bsip+ announcement for Oxfordshire/Gloucestershire?

No new timetable for the S2 but the extra journeys would be very useful.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[ValleyLines142]

Most disappointing that the 9 isn't included in the late departures party. Last bus for anyone along Tuffley is still 2240 I believe?

 

[TheWalrus]

Most disappointing that the 9 isn't included in the late departures party. Last bus for anyone along Tuffley is still 2240 I believe?

I don’t think the 9s get many customers at night?
I am led to believe the 63/64 Stroud services will be extended to tun until about midnight - which serve the Tuffley area.