Stagecoach West Scotland

[overthewater]

If anyone has been keeping an eye on what's been happening, you'll know they have been a bit short of buses of late. Extra buses were drafted in from Glasgow and Newcastle to help out.

BUT this popped up today:
https://www.twitter.com/StagecoachWScot/status/871988770391941120

#AYR Due to technical issues various services are subject to disruption sorry for any delays these may cause

Also the Ex sleeper deckers are now working the Citylink 900 service with 56 normal seats... ( IE in seat mode)

 

[Bletchleyite]

As in they've taken the sleeper convertible seats out, or they're just using them as seats?

 

[overthewater]

As in they've taken the sleeper convertible seats out, or they're just using them as seats?

Second. They are down at heel and the amount of space is a complete waste. I doubt they will last long, I wonder if they will get sold on? Maybe to tour companies?

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Am sure I read somewhere that VOSA were recently at Ayr and pulled 6 vehicles off the road due to them being un-roadworthy so I'm sure that'll be adding to the problems as well...

 

[Strathclyder]

A E200 (36134) and a E300 (27614) appeared on the 4 (Glasgow - Ayr via Kilmarnock) & the X77 (Ayr - Glasgow Express) respectively yesterday, which may or may not be related to the aforementioned shortages...

 

[GaryMcEwan]

A E200 (36134) and a E300 (27614) appeared on the 4 (Glasgow - Ayr via Kilmarnock) & the X77 (Ayr - Glasgow Express) respectively yesterday, which may or may not be related to the aforementioned shortages...

I'm certain 27164 is one of the E300s that have came up from Teeside to cover for the shortages.

 

[Strathclyder]

I'm certain 27164 is one of the E300s that have came up from Teeside to cover for the shortages.

I thought so too at first, but 164 is a SF59-reg machine, thus indicating that it was new to Western; currently allocated to Ayr depot.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

I thought so too at first, but 164 is a SF59-reg machine, thus indicating that it was new to Western; currently allocated to Ayr depot.

Interesting, 27164 is showing a reg of SN64OJO and new to Teeside...

 

[Strathclyder]

Interesting, 27164 is showing a reg of SN64OJO and new to Teeside...

Oops, my mistake. It was 27614 (SF59 FYT) that appeared on the X77 yesterday, not 27164. Accursed sticky fingers strike again...

 

[overthewater]

oh dear:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/south-ayrshire-bus-network-in-10730702

Ayrshire’s bus network is struggling as drivers depart in droves and buses are pulled from the road over safety concerns, according to insiders.

An ex-employee has lifted the lid on what he claims is a crisis that has gripped Stagecoach’s Ayr depot over the past few months.

It comes amid a consultation into drastic service cuts that would see the bus network across Ayrshire changed entirely.

They say as many as 35 drivers have left over the last year because of issues with working conditions, with loan drivers brought in from as far afield as Wales and Newcastle.

And the Ayr depot has been subject to visits from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) over the last six weeks – with buses pulled from the road because of defects.

READ MORE
Ayr friends stand up to Stagecoach bus cut bid as they gather hundreds of names in protest at changes to services
Passengers have also reported buses sporting liveries from as far afield as Glasgow on Ayrshire roads, fuelling fears about the Ayr-based fleet.

Stagecoach deny problems with their fleet have led to service issues, saying Ayr depot is at full capacity.

A spokeswoman said: “We assisted the DVSA following the identification of two vehicles which were emitting higher than usual levels of smoke. The DVSA carried out further checks and found no further issues with any other vehicles.

“Safety is our absolute priority. Our vehicles are all subject to a robust maintenance regime and we continue to take steps internally to further improve the maintenance of our fleet and ensure we are delivering an even better service for customers.

“We are fully staffed at our Ayr depot and are continuing to deliver services as normal for local people.”

READ MORE
Dalrymple villagers furious over bus havoc after Stagecoach timetable changes cause chaos in people's lives
So far the only public admission from the company that anything was amiss came from Stagecoach West Scotland’s Twitted feed on June 6.

It said: “Due to technical issues various services are subject to disruption.

“Sorry for any delays these may cause.”

Councillor Philip Saxton said he has been contacted by members of the public with concerns.

He said: “Is this the reason why they’re cutting the services?

“If they don’t have the amount of buses to serve areas – it doesn’t matter if there’s one bus or 20 buses – they need to come clean with it.

Stagecoach slashes bus routes across Ayrshire sparking anger among commuters

“This is public money that’s involved. We finance some of these buses so we’re entitled to know why the services are being cut, and if problems with the buses have anything to do with it.”

A spokesman for the DVSA would not comment on any investigation.

Stagecoach have sparked anger after revealing swingeing cuts to services across Ayrshire, with many taking their own action to try and save their bus services.

Jeane Freeman, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, met with Stagecoach managing director Tom Bridge on Friday.

 

[overthewater]

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/stagecoach-west-scotland-managing-director-10753888

One of the big points is the August service changes have been pushed back a month, that is a tad weird, but will have several quite significant changes to those proposals.

nice to see the paper believe 200 submissions = avalanche, the paper needs to get out more.

Ayrshire’s bus boss has vowed not to fail his customers after coming in for stinging criticism.

We revealed last week that dozens of drivers had walked out over problems with the service as the company moves ahead with controversial changes to routes.

The man in charge of the Ayrshire network has confirmed those changes will not come into force until September, a month later than planned, as they deal with public feedback.

And Stagecoach West Scotland managing director Tom Bridge has denied claims the Ayr depot is running on a skeleton staff –and says his door is always open if drivers have problems.
He told the Post: “At the moment we require to operate our network of services out of Ayr depot, and we have 138 drivers based in Ayr at the moment.

“We have in that past had to call drivers in but that can be the case at most depots.

“The link Councillor Phil Saxton was attempting to make between the story last week and the more general story about changes to services is a pretty tenuous one. There’s no link whatsoever between the two – and to be clear, the allegation that six buses were pulled off the road, that we had a dawn raid, that we’re short staffed, all those things are not true.”

Last week, the company admitted two buses had been pulled from the road by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency after they were found to have high levels of emissions.

We grilled Mr Bridge on allegations from drivers that the relationship between management and employees in Ayr was causing strain on the service.

And he said: “In the last two or three months the directors have held two open meetings with the staff, which have been positive meetings.

“I’m not aware of any current complaints, as far as I’m aware, the managers and the staff at Ayr depot work in harmony.

“My view was that things were going quite well.”

Stagecoach spoke out as the consultation period for changes to routes across South Ayrshire came to a close.

The Ayrshire Post has reported on angry groups of passengers who fear they will be negatively affected by the changes.

And the company has received an avalanche of around 200 submissions.

But Mr Bridge says the changes are necessary as they look for the Ayr network to turn a profit.

He said: “The Ayr network, and specific services, simply aren’t covering their costs.

“Ultimately we need our Ayr business to make a profit. That’s not so the money can be spent paying bonuses or paying money to shareholders – we need a profit so we can reinvest.”

Stagecoach are taking a slice through services, reducing journeys on some routes and axing the Culzean service.

But the boss told us the consultation wasn’t just a “paper exercise” – and the feedback they’ve received from passengers will be reflected in further changes.
Mr Bridge said: “We’re probably now not going to implement the changes until mid-September. It was originally going to be mid-August.

“Operators traditionally have been quite reluctant to publicise their changes before they register them with the Traffic Commission. Operators are in competition, and you don’t want your competitors to know what your plans are.

“But times have changed. What we’ve done in going out to consultation four and a half months out from when we’re going to do it is to engage in a genuine consultation exercise about the changes we’ve got planned.

“The final version, which we don’t have to submit until the end of this month, will have several quite significant changes to those proposals.”

The No11 Megarider has been scrapped, and replaced with a better ticket.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Few Van Hool coaches are heading to Dublin Coach in Ireland.

50226
50230

Already there.

 

[overthewater]

The changes in August have been moved to September and have also been revised:

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/...endments-to-proposed-ayrshire-service-changes

Following a recent public consultation on proposed changes to bus services operated in Ayrshire, Stagecoach West Scotland has announced a number of changes to its original service proposals. The new network of services will now take effect from 17th September 2017, and have been amended as a result of a comprehensive evaluation of passenger and public feedback.

The timetable changes were proposed due to a considerable change in passenger travelling habits over recent years. This has been driven by changes to working patterns, shopping patterns and the decrease in the relative cost of car ownership, which has led to a decrease in overall passenger numbers. At the same time congestion on roads has increased and operating costs have risen.

Tom Bridge Managing Director, Stagecoach West Scotland said: “We need to provide services that reflect current travel patterns and are sustainable, allowing us to invest in our employees and vehicles.

“Throughout the consultation period we have had a number of comments asking us to leave services as they are, or indeed to increase service provision. However, this is simply not a realistic option.

“We have made a number of amendments to our proposals based on feedback during the consultation period, a number of which will not be sustainable in the longer term if we do not see improved passenger numbers and action from relevant authorities on congestion and better bus priority measures. Our staff work extremely hard every day to provide good quality services to you, our passengers, and we value every journey that you make. However we must have viable services and as such we encourage you to support your local bus services to ensure that they can continue to operate.”

A leaflet explaining the change to each route and, in particular, any change to stopping arrangements in Ayr Town Centre, will be produced and full timetables will also be available in the coming weeks, in printed format and on our website. The changes to the original proposal are set out below:

Service 1 – Service 1 will now remain on a 30 minute frequency but will incorporate the Masonhill terminus on its route. The route between 0900 and 1800 will be Ayr Town Centre – St Andrews Street – Glencairn Road – Hillfoot Road - Masonhill – Clarendon Place – Caledonia Road – St Andrews Street – Ayr Town Centre. Morning and evening journeys will operate via Ashgrove Street and not St Andrews Street. Evening journeys will not serve Masonhill
Service 2 – Service 2 will now remain on its current route from Dalmilling to Ayr via Craigie and from Ayr to Asda via Prestwick. This will allow the new Ayr Academy campus to be served for those from Dalmilling. Journey times on a Saturday will be changed to aid punctuality of the service
Service 3 - Service 3 will now remain on its current route from Whitletts to Ayr and not operate via Dalmilling as was proposed
Service 8 – This will be withdrawn and replaced by an hourly service on the 58 service which will now also operate, between 0900 and 1730, via the High Street, Ayr
Service 9 – Service 9 will now remain on a 30 minute frequency from Doonfoot, please see service 1 for details of the Masonhill service 9
Service 14 – Service 14 will now continue to serve Monkton on an hourly basis and will also include the roundabout at Lang Road end, Troon on all journeys. Service 14 will operate from Douglas Street Ayr and not from Ayr Bus Station. The proposed service 14B from Troon to Irvine will be implemented but the service number will be the 14A
Service 42 – this route will be changed as outlined in the original proposals. The 30 minute frequency between Drongan and Ayr will remain however only one bus an hour will continue beyond Drongan to Ochiltree and Cumnock. The route from Cumnock to Muirkirk will remain on an hourly frequency.
Service 43 - this route will be changed as outlined in the original proposals. The 30 minute frequency between Tarbolton and Ayr will remain however only one bus an hour will continue beyond Tarbolton to Mauchline, Catrine and Cumnock. The route from Cumnock to New Cumnock will remain on an hourly frequency.
Service 43A – An additional early morning journey and a number of evening journeys have been added to the original proposal
Service 52 –In order to improve punctuality the service will now operate via Miller Road to the Bus Station and not via High Street, Ayr and Douglas Street
Service 58 – service 58 will now operate via High Street, Ayr on inbound journeys as well as via The Loaning
Service 60 – service 60 will continue to operate via Culzean while we discuss a more appropriate service with The National Trust for Culzean Castle. Service 60 will no longer be diverted via The Loaning but will continue to operate as currently via Maybole Road, Ayr
Service X77 – minor changes to evening departure times from Glasgow and a further direct service (not via Kilmarnock) from Glasgow in the early evening
Stagecoach West Scotland would like to thank all of those who took the time to comment on the proposals and all those passengers who travel on its network of services.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I think Stagecoach had their fingers badly burned by the bull in a china shop atitude to Fife changes last year and now realise that taking feedback from the punters can be handy. For example withdrawing a service to one of the National Trust's key West Scotland locations mid season without asking them or their staff was nothing short of daft and its good to hear they are talking now.


Incidentally, what vehicles are they using on the X77 these days?

 

[overthewater]

I think Stagecoach had their fingers badly burned by the bull in a china shop attitude to Fife changes last year and now realise that taking feedback from the punters can be handy. For example withdrawing a service to one of the National Trust's key West Scotland locations mid season without asking them or their staff was nothing short of daft and its good to hear they are talking now.

Incidentally, what vehicles are they using on the X77 these days?

Strangely one of the member of Staff who was at Fife is now at Ayr...., Another one is at Highland and bluebird and making cuts, while the Third is the MD at First Glasgow.

Burnt is one word that could be used, but Stagecoach Fife is still trying to clean up the mess from last years changes. Remember last year during the Edinburgh Festival? There forget to put on extra buses and a mad rush happened to put them back on, then the service cuts hit and there made the situation worse :roll: This year more buses than ever have been put on.

Thankful Western have listened and pushed the cuts back and scaled them back.

X77 is supposed to use Oxford Tube Vanhool, but its been noted to have E400 and even a dart. Thankful there in better shape inside compared to the manky 59 plate Coaches that comes from Aberdeen being used on the X24...

 

[Blindtraveler]

I dont think anyone from the festival goers and workers to the highest paid suit will ever forget the shambolic mess that was festival service from Fife last year. Those 59 plates are shocking and dont even carry power sockets and what have you promised on the X24 adds.

Fife is slowly getting back on its feat thank god but given it so nearly happened again in Ayr is a nasty thought. I dont believe travel habbits in the area have changed all that much, the area has always been very mixed with town and tourist services doing well and rural routes hobbling along as best they can, only real difference is the reduction in Prestwic flights so resultant drop in punters.

 

[overthewater]

I dont think anyone from the festival goers and workers to the highest paid suit will ever forget the shambolic mess that was festival service from Fife last year. Those 59 plates are shocking and dont even carry power sockets and what have you promised on the X24 adds.

If there had spent some pennies doing them up inside I could let them get away with it, I can deal with 8 year coaches but as you the condition inside them are shocking, the manky and just filthy, and there should be ashamed.

The reason there were put on the X24 was because there were the ones that needed a repaint :roll: Those coaches needed a repainted before there even entered service within Fife.

That the kind of cheap skate thinking that was inside that head office.

 

[route101]

Not a fan of the blue leather on the 59 plate coaches Yuck.
New x18 service East Kilbride to Silverburn , wonder how log that will last .

 

[ChrisC]

I can’t find any thread for Stagecoach West Scotland any more recent than this one from 2 years ago. Doesn’t anything ever happen in this area? There’s very active threads for many other Stagecoach areas.

Just wondered what things were like in the Stagecoach West Scotland area as I’m having a holiday up there later this month. I’m staying for a week at the Station Hotel in Dumfries and planning to visit large parts of Dumfries and Galloway by bus and perhaps also a couple of days up into Ayrshire or beyond.

I will certainly be making lots of use of the 500 to various points between Dumfries and Stranraer. Then other services to places like Kircudbright, Portpatrick, Drumore, Isle of Whithorn, Wigtown etc and maybe even up to Girvan either via the coast or from Newton Stewart returning to Stranraer by train.
Also planning to visit area north of Dumfries towards Thornhill, Sanquhar and Cumnock including a visit to Wanlockhead. May also go out towards Lockerbie and Moffat.

I haven’t decided which ticket or to use yet. The Dumfries and Galloway 7 Day Megarider is very good value at £24.50. Although perhaps a series Multi-operator D&G Day Discovery Tickets at £8 would be useful to visit the more remote areas along the Solway Coast by Houston Coaches and other smaller operators. I’m even considering the 7 Day West Scotland Megarider which although very expensive at £63 also includes travel from Dumfries to both Glasgow and Edinburgh plus all Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran. The train may also be useful to quickly get up as far as Kilmarnock or Ayr but with only one useful departure north from Dumfries at 0854 it will not be of any significant use.

 

[83G/84D]

I am not from the area but spent a couple of days in the specific area in April this year.

In terms of frequency of bus services/ movements Kilmarnock and Dumfries were probably the busiest whilst Stranraer and Ardrossan the quietest.

I don’t know anything about particular services in the area but the scenery along the coast in particular is very nice.

Kilmarnock was probably the best location albeit almost exclusively Stagecoach.

I hired a car so didn’t use bus services except in the Glasgow area to avoid parking issues/ charges.

 

[ChrisC]

I’ve decided to leave my car at home, travel up from Nottinghamshire by train, and go out every day exploring the area by bus. I mainly want to visit interesting towns and villages and coastal locations including plenty of walking. I did have a couple of holidays in the Castle Douglas area about 20 years ago so do know the area a little. It would be good to take advantage of the most scenic and interesting bus routes.

 

[Volvodart]

The SP Energy Networks Green Economy Fund is funding £2 million. The other funding mentioned were electric, but not those.

https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/round_2_projects.aspx

Western Buses Limited TA Stagecoach West Scotland – introducing a fleet of zero emission single decker buses to operate the service between Kilmarnock and Priestland.

 

[Anthony ross]

Would stagecoach consider doing local routes in Glasgow given what’s going on with first

 

[Rod Harrison]

Would stagecoach consider doing local routes in Glasgow given what’s going on with first

I think it is possible given what happening in East Manchester and Bristol where they are slowly giving up services.

 

[PaulMc7]

Would stagecoach consider doing local routes in Glasgow given what’s going on with first

They tried before with buses from Maryhill and Ruchill to the QEUH but they didn't last at all

 

[Anthony ross]

I suppose if they were temped to run local routes in Glasgow they could buy out a company in Glasgow if they wanted to spend the money

 

[Bus Lightyear]

Would stagecoach consider doing local routes in Glasgow given what’s going on with first

It would be rather costly for Stagecoach to try new routes in Glasgow for a couple of reasons. They closed their depot at Blochairn and moved to the former First depot in Cumbernauld which is 14 miles north east of Glasgow. And to meet LEZ requirements they would also need to either invest in new buses or transfer from elsewhere in the group and retrofit.​

I suppose if they were temped to run local routes in Glasgow they could buy out a company in Glasgow if they wanted to spend the money

Who would you suggest they buy? A number of the small operators like City Sprinter, Caledonian and PD Travel kicked the bucket long ago. Avondale are still on the go but they only run local routes in Drumchapel and Clydebank with nothing to the city centre.

 

[PaulMc7]

Even at that I'm surprised Avondale still run. Think the main reason they can last is that First gave up Parkhall and Linnvale to them

 

[christopherrfc]

Changes to Ayrshire bus services

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promo...n?hootPostID=27095df59aed45fa120f10587f97f36e

 

[overthewater]

Funny looking improvements. And there been waiting rid of the X11 for years!

North Ayrshire and Garnock Valley to Glasgow Public Consultation
We are consulting on proposed changes to the following North Ayrshire and Garnock Valley to Glasgow Bus Services 11, X11, X34, X36, 25, X44, 25, 12 and 18 between now and the 20th September 2019.
Each of the changes outlined below are designed to improve overall customer satisfaction within North Ayrshire and Garnock Valley. Although the proposals include the removal of some services due to poor passenger numbers, the majority are to improve frequency, punctuality and delivery of the services within North Ayrshire.

Proposed changes are as follows:

Service 11 Ardrossan Saltcoats Stevenston Kilwinning Irvine Kilmarnock
0735 and 0745 will change to 0730 and 0740 departing Ardrossan (Monday to Friday) to allow an extra five minutes at Irvine Cross for pupils travelling to Greenwood Academy (Monday to Friday to board). The service will continue to serve the stops nearest to Greenwood Academy on Corsehill Road. Arrival time in Kilmarnock will remain the same.

Service X11 Ardrossan via Bypass Central Hospital Irvine
This service will no longer operate due to poor passenger numbers. Passengers can use services 11 or 585 in its place.

Service 12 Ardrossan Saltcoats Stevenston
To improve punctuality the service will operate every 40 minutes during the day. There will be a slight route change to the service and it will now go straight
along Stanley Road on journeys to Ardrossan and only serve Lawson Drive when leaving Ardrossan. A map of this change will be available online from Monday 9th September 2019.

Service 18
The 0735 service departing Saltcoats will depart at 0729. The 0804 departing Stevenson will now depart at 0758 to allow an extra six minutes running time to improve punctuality.

Service X36 Ardrossan Irvine Beith Glasgow
Due to low passenger demand at Braehead Shopping Centre, and to improve journey time to Glasgow city centre the X36 will no longer operate via Braehead Shopping Centre. We have reinvested the time saved by not serving Braehead into being able to increase our frequency on the rest of the service off peak. This service will remain the same as currently operated in the peak and will operate hourly rather than the current two hourly service off peak to reduce journey times and improve punctuality. All stops between Chapelhill Mount and Princes Street will continue to be served. Thereafter the X36 will be limited to stopping at: Princes Street, The Laurieston (South Beach), Saltcoats Station, Sandylands Holiday Park, Stevenston Cross, Morrisons, Whitehirst Park and then all stops currently served.
The X36N at 2200 and 0130 from Ardrossan on Friday evenings will no longer operate due to low usage along with return journeys, the 0000 and 0300 from Glasgow.

Service X34 Irvine Beith Glasgow
This service will continue to operate during peak hours, during the off-peak the X34 will be replaced with a new X76 extension service operating via Kilmarnock every hour Monday to Saturday. This will provide connections between Irvine and Glasgow on newer vehicles operating on better quality roads.

New X76 extension Irvine - Glasgow - Off peak service replacing the X34 & X44
The proposed route for the X76 will be Primark Irvine, Marress Road, High Street Irvine, Townhead, A71, A759, Dundonald Road, John Finnie Street, West George Street Kilmarnock Bus Station, Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow. The X76 will be limited to stopping at Irvine Primark and Irvine Cross and then the service will continue to the A71 before stopping at each stop on Dundonald Road, Kilmarnock but will not stop on John Finnie Street before entering Kilmarnock Bus Station and then operating on the traditional X76 between Kilmarnock Bus Station and Glasgow. The X76 will operate Monday to Sunday. Saturday’s first service will arrive in Glasgow from 0845.

Service X44
We have monitored passenger volumes over a number of years, unfortunately these numbers continue to be too low to operate a commercially viable service. Customers from Irvine will have the option to use the X34 and the X76 in the off peak. This will increase the number of journeys per day between Irvine and Glasgow, offering an improved experience on board double deck coaches on dual carriageway roads rather than the current double decker service buses and rural roads.

Service 25 Irvine Kilwinning Dalry Kilbirnie Beith
This service will remain hourly off peak, however once in Beith it will change into an express X36 service without passengers having to change buses, which combined with the current X36 timetable will provide a half hourly express service between Beith and Glasgow, Monday to Saturday.

We will be holding public consultations on:
Tuesday 10th September 2019

Saltcoats Town Hall 11am - 2pm

Irvine Volunteer Rooms 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Thursday 12th September 2019

Beith Library 3:30pm - 6:30pm

If you would like to comment on our proposals, please speak to a member of our team or email [email protected] or complete our online survey: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/yourview2019.

The proposed timetables for these services will be available from Monday 9th September 2019.

We would like to introduce these improvements by December 2019, and as such we would welcome any comments by 20th September 2019.