Stagecoach West Scotland

[snookertam]

Staff are currently beginning 6 weeks of strike action here due to a long standing pay dispute.

 

[overthewater]

At this rate Stagecoach might just closedown the place and sell it off. It really feels like an area Stagecoach can't be bothered with anymore ever since Covid come along compared to other places.

 

[Metal Mickey]

I wonder if anyone could answer this.

I take it the reason why some depots aren’t taking strike action is because they’re on different terms and conditions or in a different Trade Union branch?

At this rate Stagecoach might just closedown the place and sell it off. It really feels like an area Stagecoach can't be bothered with anymore ever since Covid come along compared to other places.

The 11 and X76/X77 apparently are very profitable so I don’t think they will be giving them up easily.

And they’ve also recently invested in a number of new EVs from ADL and Yutong for the local Ayrshire network.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yet again we're going to see see. I suspect a big ruthless commercial operator cherry picking the viable bits and dropping the rest.

 

[David M]

At this rate Stagecoach might just closedown the place and sell it off. It really feels like an area Stagecoach can't be bothered with anymore ever since Covid come along compared to other places.

Living in the Scottish Borders, I am very jealous of the services I find when I travel fairly regularly to one at a time of Hurlford, Darvel, Kilmarnock and Prestwick.
Kilmarnock bus station has pantographs for the (iirc) 1 to Hurlford and Darvel etc - we have 0 electric buses.
The X76 is a fantastic service and any time I've been on an X77 I wonder why they don't use deckers on it as well as it can be full.
Irvine to Kilmarnock has a decent service well into the later parts of the evening the last time I used it.
Prestwick to Troon is surprisingly sparse.
My main complaint is that the toilets are blocked from use on the X76 - not the end of the world compared to the Borders though.
The X95 from Galashiels to Edinburgh which has no toilet and takes roughly 90 minutes is a bus with often poor legroom.
The X62 and 51 from Galashiels to Edinburgh are both buses and about 2 hours without a toilet. Living in Melrose, the 51 would tempt were it a coach with toilet facilities.
A 'late' bus from Galashiels to Earlston on a Saturday night now leaves at 2045 whereas previously it was a 61 or 68 at 2030.
Nevertheless, only a few years ago there were buses at 2200 and 2300, sadly no more.
I can only say again how envious I am of the services available in and around Kilmarnock.
Where Borders buses and Stagecoach both do well is vehicle presentation although Stagecoach can more quickly recover if a bus breaks down - Borders buses are suffering increasing failures which lead to cancellations.
The Borders twitter account is truly appalling.
As a passenger, I would hope that Stagecoach stay in Ayrshire as whatever replaced them would definitely be nothing like as good.

 

[Blindtraveler]

All very valid points

 

[Stan Drews]

I wonder if anyone could answer this.

I take it the reason why some depots aren’t taking strike action is because they’re on different terms and conditions or in a different Trade Union branch?

Stagecoach stated in one of their ‘blogs’ about the strike that Dumfries and Stranraer drivers accepted the offer that was made - although if they no longer have any D&G Council contracts that may become irrelevant.
Cumbernauld dept are on separate terms & conditions as this is effectively what remains of the Stagecoach Glasgow operations which were never part of the historical ‘Western’ operations.

 

[route101]

Living in the Scottish Borders, I am very jealous of the services I find when I travel fairly regularly to one at a time of Hurlford, Darvel, Kilmarnock and Prestwick.
Kilmarnock bus station has pantographs for the (iirc) 1 to Hurlford and Darvel etc - we have 0 electric buses.
The X76 is a fantastic service and any time I've been on an X77 I wonder why they don't use deckers on it as well as it can be full.
Irvine to Kilmarnock has a decent service well into the later parts of the evening the last time I used it.
Prestwick to Troon is surprisingly sparse.
My main complaint is that the toilets are blocked from use on the X76 - not the end of the world compared to the Borders though.
The X95 from Galashiels to Edinburgh which has no toilet and takes roughly 90 minutes is a bus with often poor legroom.
The X62 and 51 from Galashiels to Edinburgh are both buses and about 2 hours without a toilet. Living in Melrose, the 51 would tempt were it a coach with toilet facilities.
A 'late' bus from Galashiels to Earlston on a Saturday night now leaves at 2045 whereas previously it was a 61 or 68 at 2030.
Nevertheless, only a few years ago there were buses at 2200 and 2300, sadly no more.
I can only say again how envious I am of the services available in and around Kilmarnock.
Where Borders buses and Stagecoach both do well is vehicle presentation although Stagecoach can more quickly recover if a bus breaks down - Borders buses are suffering increasing failures which lead to cancellations.
The Borders twitter account is truly appalling.
As a passenger, I would hope that Stagecoach stay in Ayrshire as whatever replaced them would definitely be nothing like as good.

The X77 used to use double deck coaches. Coaches have been tried in the borders but unpopular with some passengers.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

I wonder if anyone could answer this.

I take it the reason why some depots aren’t taking strike action is because they’re on different terms and conditions or in a different Trade Union branch?


The 11 and X76/X77 apparently are very profitable so I don’t think they will be giving them up easily.

And they’ve also recently invested in a number of new EVs from ADL and Yutong for the local Ayrshire network.

Yutongs are away they where never for Kilmarnock permanently 4 Gold spec E200MMCs have came up in their place and there's an MCV Volvo B8RLE eVoRa on loan from Glenrothes as well apparently they'll be going to Arran after only being at Glenrothes for less than 6 months, Not sure what's happening with the Volvo BZLs that where initially on order for Arran

 

[Steve440]

Yutongs are away they where never for Kilmarnock permanently 4 Gold spec E200MMCs have came up in their place and there's an MCV Volvo B8RLE eVoRa on loan from Glenrothes as well apparently they'll be going to Arran after only being at Glenrothes for less than 6 months, Not sure what's happening with the Volvo BZLs that where initially on order for Arran

There were never any BZLs on order for Arran, that was a mistake for Ardrossan as pointed out elsewhere.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

There were never any BZLs on order for Arran, that was a mistake for Ardrossan as pointed out elsewhere.

The BZLs which were listed for Arran (76121-76126) are actually for Arbroath

 

[Steve440]

The BZLs which were listed for Arran (76121-76126) are actually for Arbroath

Yes sorry my mistake!

 

[Blindtraveler]

I still say that the council have forced them out, I do feel sorry for staff but I'm sure that if the council are going to take on the bulk of those other runs then they'll need drivers and probably support staff as well. So the only thing left now in Dumfries itself now will be the Carlisle service operated by Cumbria and I would assume the x74 as that makes a few quid, presumably operated from Glasgow?

 

[scotrail170434]

I still say that the council have forced them out, I do feel sorry for staff but I'm sure that if the council are going to take on the bulk of those other runs then they'll need drivers and probably support staff as well. So the only thing left now in Dumfries itself now will be the Carlisle service operated by Cumbria and I would assume the x74 as that makes a few quid, presumably operated from Glasgow?

quite possibly, Might increase reliability as all i seem to see on twitter is the x74 not running due to a problem with the bus.

 

[Metal Mickey]

If Dumfries is to close then I can’t see the X74 lasting in the longer term as alternative operating sites are far too remote.

 

[computerSaysNo]

If Dumfries is to close then I can’t see the X74 lasting in the longer term as alternative operating sites are far too remote.

I thought the nearest garages are Cumbernauld or Kilmarnock, are they too remote?

 

[KrisEK]

Cumbernauld is really at the wrong end of the route for commuter flow, and Kilmarnock is nowhere near. If the Carlisle-Dumfries run gets based in Cumbria, maybe they connect that on to the X74 to make a through route Glasgow to Carlisle served from the depots at either end?

 

[computerSaysNo]

Cumbernauld is really at the wrong end of the route for commuter flow, and Kilmarnock is nowhere near. If the Carlisle-Dumfries run gets based in Cumbria, maybe they connect that on to the X74 to make a through route Glasgow to Carlisle served from the depots at either end?

But aren't some of the Citylink buses ran from Kilmarnock (or were in the past)? Why were they acceptable if the X74 wouldn't be?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I sent an opportunity for someone like flix

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

But aren't some of the Citylink buses ran from Kilmarnock (or were in the past)? Why were they acceptable if the X74 wouldn't be?

Previously ran the 900 for a couple of years but are now back to Cumbernauld

 

[Jordan Adam]

But aren't some of the Citylink buses ran from Kilmarnock (or were in the past)? Why were they acceptable if the X74 wouldn't be?

The lucrative Citylink work likely brought in more revenue than the X74 would.

 

[Blindtraveler]

And I cannot see it being a viable proposition from Carlisle either these days, once upon a time, a fast bus on a regular basis between Carlisle and Dumfries might have gone places. Had it been as I say sufficiently regular and keenly priced, but the train service between the two locations takes 42 minutes and runs mostly hourly Monday to Saturday and the Sunday offering is much improved on what it was also,
The concessionary revenue would hardly support it and also a good number of pensioners. Do use the train as the railway station in Carlisle is a lot more convenient than the bus station is to a lot of the things they're likely to use. I'm sure somebody will come along and plug the Gap in the x74 market should it be left, but there still doesn't appear to be any official confirmation from news sources or D&g Council that this is the situation

What are the funding arrangements for the services in the far west that they wish to retain to and from strandra? These surely cannot be commercially viable and I are assume are a joint venture between two different local authorities in terms of subsidy

 

[Metal Mickey]

Just looking at the current timetable it takes approximately 5hrs 10mins to complete a round trip therefore it has to be operated by Dumfries to make it viable. If Dumfries depot is to close I simply cannot see it surviving in the longer term unless they’re able to acquire a smaller site, effectively an outstation, in or near Dumfries.

 

[smtglasgow]

Yesterdays message about the letter to employees and route losses has vanished, but it only mentioned Galloway routes – Stranraer/Whithorn depots. Are we sure that Stagecoach are pulling out of Dumfries?

The X74 only makes sense if run from Dumfries and they mentioned they wanted to keep running some Dumfries locals. Is there anything else commercial run by Dumfries – the daytime 81 to Lockerbie, maybe the 501 to Castle Douglas?

Is it possible they want to keep say 15-20 vehicles worth of work, possibly moving into smaller premises? Never seen Dumfries depot in the flesh, but it looks pretty big – with it being next to houses already, perhaps a developer might want to get their hands on it.

More to the point, this is awful news for everyone affected. I’ll be sad to see Whithorn depot go - I’ve got a bit of a thing for these quirky rural outposts, and they’re a vanishing breed.

 

[Blindtraveler]

501 Monday to Saturday daytime is commercial and I believe doesn't do too badly for them, evenings and weekends. It requires Council subsidy and switches operator to McCall's at around 5:00 in the evening I believe.

I would imagine the 81 makes them a bit as well

 

[Metal Mickey]

Are we sure that Stagecoach are pulling out of Dumfries?

More to the point, this is awful news for everyone affected.

The closure of Dumfries Depot was mentioned in the local press article provided by post #47 but you’re absolutely correct to mention the concerns of the workforce and I hope that a solution is found that secures jobs.

I’ll be sad to see Whithorn depot go - I’ve got a bit of a thing for these quirky rural outposts, and they’re a vanishing breed.

A wonderful part of the country.

 

[overthewater]

The closure of Dumfries Depot was mentioned in the local press article provided by post #47 but you’re absolutely correct to mention the concerns of the workforce and I hope that a solution is found that secures jobs.

The trouble is the local paper can't tell its ... you know that saying. So its very unclear what true or not.

 

[Rick1984]

Yutongs are away they where never for Kilmarnock permanently

What is planned for the 4 service long term?
The Yutongs weren't comfortable for a long distance service tbf.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

What is planned for the 4 service long term?
The Yutongs weren't comfortable for a long distance service tbf.

Mostly BZLs but they put anything on it

 

[Scott mac]

What is planned for the 4 service long term?
The Yutongs weren't comfortable for a long distance service tbf.

New yutongs are on order for the 4