News, debate and discussion on Cumbria & North Lancashire's Bus Operations.
Bus operators include the likes of Stagecoach, Alba Travel, Grand Prix Coaches, Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire, Reays Coaches and many more.

Independent companies in Cumbria and North Lancashire. So companies like Reays, Travellers Choice etc.

(08 Dec 2012, 9:00 pm)W179SCU wrote Independent companies in Cumbria and North Lancashire. So companies like Reays, Travellers Choice etc.

Hows the winner of this competition judged?

(08 Dec 2012, 11:52 pm)CumbrianJosh wrote

(08 Dec 2012, 9:00 pm)W179SCU wrote Independent companies in Cumbria and North Lancashire. So companies like Reays, Travellers Choice etc.

Hows the winner of this competition judged?

By a vote...

Can you post this in the relevant thread next time haha! - You are reading my signutare, this is info about Independent companies in Cumbria

34682 was on the 685 yesterday replacing a failed coach.

Summer timetables are out now, effective from 25th March.

The summer timetables are finally available to us! There are some minor and major changes to a number of routes!

'Honister Rambler' 77/77A
Why not travel on The Honister Rambler through one of the steepest passes in the region? These services operate a circular from Keswick via Buttermere and Whinlatter. Additionally, there are short services between Keswick and Portinscale...
The timetable can be viewed here


'Borrowdale Rambler' 78
This service operate every 30 mins in the summer holidays between Keswick and Seatoller, with fantastic open-top buses to enjoy the views.
The timetable can be viewed here


Service 103/104
This service from Carlisle to Penrith, with certian journeys extending Winfell Forset, Center Parcs. They operate every 30 mins to Penrith, every hour to Center Parcs. The timetable can be viewed
here


Services 108/508
The 108 operates between Penrith and Patterdale via Pooley Bridge and Glenridding. The 508 however, extends from Patterdale to Windermere and Bowness via the amazing Kirkstone Pass. The timetable can be viewed here


'The West Coast Connect' 300/301
These services operate from Whitehaven from Carlisle via Workington, Maryport, Aspatria and Wigton. The timetable can be viewed here


'Coniston Rambler' 505
Operates from Windermere to Coniston hourly. If your looking for a great day out, experience a Lakeland Cruise on the fabulous Coniston Water! Timetable can be viewed here


'Langdale Rambler' 516
This service runs from Ambleside to lovely, scenic Dungeon Ghyll. Timetable can be viewed here here


Service 554
This service runs from Carlisle to Keswick four times a day (if your visiting the lakes from Newcastle via the 685, this would be your best option to get to Central Lakes) The timetable is seen here


'The Lakes Connection' 555
This cracking service runs from Keswick to Lancaster (and extra journeys to Kendal) via Central Lakes. Timetable is seen here


'The Lakes Rider' 599
Operated by open-top tridents, with audio-commnetary,the 599 operates from Bowness Pier to Grasmere. This year, there are some additional services from Ambleside to Windermere. The timetable can be viewed here


Service 600
This service runs from Carlisle to Cockermouth and West Cumberland Hospital with certian journeys extending to Frizington. Timetable can be seen here


'Bike Bus' 800
I must say, I was shocked when I read this timetable. I was expecting it to run from Windermere to Whinlatter Forset similar to last year however it is totally different. The service now runs from Ambleside to Haverthwaite, Bowness, Windermere, Brockhole and Waterhead. This service can carry up to 12 bikes, however has a reduced seating capacity. Timetable can be seen here


'trans Cumbrian' X4/X5
This service, operated by coaches, operates between Penrith and Workington via Keswick and Cockermouth. Timetable can be seen here

The Stagecoach North West collection has been added to Stagecoach UK.
The Stagecoach in Cumbria set has been added, but the Stagecoach in Lancaster set has not, and won't until my next trip to the Lakes when I next get an opportunity to take photos of those rather than sticking to Central Lakes as I did earlier this month.

Something which you should all be familiar with now, is my fleetlist-style of sets/collections. As always, they will be updated accordingly whenever I take more photos of that fleet and I will keep you all posted on here.

Reays Coaches have now introduced two new service, the 77R and 78R in competition with Stagecoach. The 77R operates from Keswick to Cockermouth via Seatoller and Honister using a ''Cycle Lakes'' branded solo, which can carry up to 5 bikes.

The 78R operates from Keswick to Seatoller in direct competition with the Stagecoach service 78.

The timetable for both of these services can be seen here (bottom page)

Is that the one which was featured heavily on both BBC and Tyne Tees news last week?

Looks a decent service.

(22 Jul 2013, 5:44 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is that the one which was featured heavily on both BBC and Tyne Tees news last week?

Looks a decent service.

I'm not sure! - But yeah, the 77R looks decent, not the 78R! Annoys me when they go in direct competition with Stagecoach!

You'd think they'd have learnt by now that they won't win. All they're doing is thinning the loadings out to a point where neither will make money and I think we know who will give up first.

(23 Jul 2013, 9:59 am)tyresmoke wrote You'd think they'd have learnt by now that they won't win. All they're doing is thinning the loadings out to a point where neither will make money and I think we know who will give up first.

Exactly Scott! - It was the same with the 300R and 302R, they totally failed there! - I mean, the 555R is alright, some decent loadings at times, but these two services will fail!

The 555R would probably do alright with a better timetable. The 2 buses follow each other the whole day with a 30 minute gap followed by a two hour gap. Also, according to the timetable open top Olympians are low floor with the services being 'low floor guaranteed'. I do still like Reays, but poor timetables wont get them anywhere.

(24 Jul 2013, 4:40 pm)Solar50 wrote The 555R would probably do alright with a better timetable. The 2 buses follow each other the whole day with a 30 minute gap followed by a two hour gap. Also, according to the timetable open top Olympians are low floor with the services being 'low floor guaranteed'. I do still like Reays, but poor timetables wont get them anywhere.

Send them a suggestion saying that maybe?

In the lakes for a week amd jus seen a Non floor B10 heading to cockermouth on the X4 with the X5 2 mins behind it.. normal allocation

Dart on the X5... these are random allocations.. last time i was here was 2 years ago sooo has anything changed?

(30 Jul 2013, 11:55 am)Michael wrote Dart on the X5... these are random allocations.. last time i was here was 2 years ago sooo has anything changed?

We have got one or two members who either live in Cumbria or visit frequently, so they'll be able to answer better than me... Judging by the photos I took on my last visit to the Lakes earlier this year, a Dart on the X5 isn't unusual or anything. Not sure on the PS, but I've found one or two photos on Flickr of that happening too.

Thanks, wasnt sure first time ive being in a couple of years

It appears Stagecoach have retaliated to the introduction of Go North East's X84/X85 service by transferring Enviros 27766/7 from Workington for use on service 685.

It was more in response to Arriva putting Omnicities on it, Stagecoach felt they had to upgrade their bit too.

(31 Aug 2013, 9:06 am)tyresmoke wrote It was more in response to Arriva putting Omnicities on it, Stagecoach felt they had to upgrade their bit too.

I have no doubt it was eventually going to happen after Arriva upgraded their runs, but perhaps not so soon... I was always under the impression it was to be achieved by the end of the year. Seems strange that - immediately after GNE put the VOSA registration in - fleet movements are in progress to allow the coaches to move elsewhere.
Stagecoach needed to ensure they had low floor buses on there before the competing service arrived. After all, they couldn't just hand passengers to GNE like that, could they?!

Good ol' bus war on our hands, I think!
Stagecoach still have 52629 out today, in addition to 27767, so feels very much like a trial to me.

You're reading way too much into that. Arriva put omnicities on due to the appalling reliability of their coaches and following a high profile campaign by the local MP virtually forcing Arriva into action. Once Arriva did this, it was inevitable Stagecoach would have to follow suit on their turns sooner rather than later. The E300's in question are just a temporary stop gap before more appropriate low floor buses are sourced. It's also worth noting that GNE's 'fast' X85 runs on the opposite half hour to the 685 and is therefore just providing a greater frequency. The X84 runs 5 minutes before from both Hexham and Newcastle off peak but takes an hour so it's unlikely it'll tempt that many fare paying passengers from the much quicker 685.

Cheaper fares will potentially be available to passengers, assuming they are travelling from Newcastle to Hexham rather than continuing their journey further afield.
Links with "Tynedale Links" services will be offered, with fares available for those travelling from Newcastle and connecting to these services.
Go North East's services have WiFi, and I'd also say that Go North East's services will be more reliable. With a dedicated spare (5229) based at Hexham, passengers can have peace of mind that their service should be replaced within 20 minutes of the breakdown occurring, assuming their Solar does break down.

Let's face it - I know which service is more attractive to me as a passenger, if I'm travelling to Hexham.

(31 Aug 2013, 11:24 am)Daniel wrote Cheaper fares will potentially be available to passengers, assuming they are travelling from Newcastle to Hexham rather than continuing their journey further afield.
Links with "Tynedale Links" services will be offered, with fares available for those travelling from Newcastle and connecting to these services.
Go North East's services have WiFi, and I'd also say that Go North East's services will be more reliable. With a dedicated spare (5229) based at Hexham, passengers can have peace of mind that their service should be replaced within 20 minutes of the breakdown occurring, assuming their Solar does break down.

Let's face it - I know which service is more attractive to me as a passenger, if I'm travelling to Hexham.

We'll see but I'm expecting it more to thin out the loads on service 10 across 2 buses rather than win too many passengers off existing express services. Not to mention Go North East's express service doesn't run on Sundays when many people may choose to visit places enroute or connect in Hexham on to the Hadrians Wall service.

Service 685 has still had decent loads, however mainly OAP's.

The summer timetables are almost coming to a end (start of November), which means one bad thing. The B10M's (the best buses I have ever been on) and Olympians are going. I'd strongly recommend if you wish to photograph those brilliant buses you make a trip into Central Lakes or Carlisle as soon as possible.

In addition, does anyone think any changes will be made to services next year? Services can change in that area, for example the 800 had a major change. It operated from Whinlatter Forest to Windermere a few times a day last year, however it operates hourly from Ambleside to Haverwaite this year.

Not sure where to put this but a school bus (blue solo) and lorry crashed this morning near kendel, no injured on the school bus... bus driver has being arrested

(23 Sep 2013, 3:08 pm)W179SCU wrote I'd strongly recommend if you wish to photograph those brilliant buses you make a trip into Central Lakes or Carlisle as soon as possible.

You'd be lucky to find an Olympian in Carlisle - saying that though, Carlisle's last remaining Olly 16650 is out and about, it sometimes does 104 runs and sometimes city services - I saw it on the 61/61As a few weeks back!
B10Ms are most commonly seen on the 93 to Bowness on Solway I think; not much more.

(23 Sep 2013, 9:34 pm)Michael wrote Not sure where to put this but a school bus (blue solo) and lorry crashed this morning near kendel, no injured on the school bus... bus driver has being arrested

Was Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches' Y268DRC - photo here http://www.flickr.com/photos/60671109@N08/8806022749/ (not mine).
http://news.sky.com/story/1145314/cumbri...en-injured

Fleet Movements in Period 6 (16th September to 13th October) are given below:

• 16652 (R252NBV) - Lillyhall to Lillyhall (Reserve)
  
• 16668 (R268NBV) - Awaiting Disposal to Sold
  
• 16793 (P723GND) - Stagecoach Manchester to Morecambe
  
• 16795 (P725GND) - Stagecoach Manchester to Morecambe
  
• 17012 (S812BWC) - Kendal to Kendal (Reserve)
  
• 17013 (S813BWC) - Kendal to Kendal (Reserve)
  
• 17221 (V221MEV) - Kendal to Kendal (Reserve)
  
• 17246 (X246NNO) - Lillyhall to Lillyhall (Reserve)
  
• 18380 (MX55KRO) - Lillyhall (Reserve) to Lillyhall.
  
• 20540 (P540ESA) - Awaiting Disposal to Sold
  
• 22140 (S140TRJ) - Awaiting Disposal to Sold
  
• 33076 (V972DRM) - Lillyhall (Reserve) to Lillyhall (Awaiting Disposal)
  
• 35247 (PX56CWN) - Awaiting Disposal to Sold
  
• 52627 (S797KRM) - Lillyhall (Reserve) to Lillyhall
  
• 52629 (S799KRM) - Carlisle (Reserve) to Carlisle
  
• 52635 (S665SDT) - Lillyhall to Lillyhall (Driver Training Unit)