Just observing the fleet list & have noticed the last two weeks 35222 appears to be the only remaining Dart in service with SNE, albeit restricted to duty's on the 4/8s between 09:41 & 14:11 most days.
Could/is this finally the end of the Darts, given most are now parked at the back of Chichester Depot. Have to say that SNE have certainly had their use out of them, which can't be said for the 397s, which I do believe they were desperate to get rid of at the earliest possible opportunity.
The only buses I can see starting to be disposed from the fleet this year & next would be:
15x MAN E300s (24101 - 24115)
19x Scania E300s (28001 - 15/17-20)
15x Enviro 200s (36081 - 36094) + 36050.
Although I would imagine some of these could be displaced by cascades & PVR reductions should they lose any work etc.
(20 Aug 2025, 7:39 pm)Teessider2014 wrote [ -> ]73176 was picked up today by Slatyford - apparently it is the first one for Slatyford.
According to the EM we are due another batch of 5 to replace the 4 ‘Scottish/midlands’ yutongs as well as 27175 which is the last Diesel in the fleet
Really 73176 is Slatyford’s? I thought we might have been borrowing it for driver training a bit like when Stockton used Sunderland’s 73074 for training.
(21 Aug 2025, 7:09 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote [ -> ]Really 73176 is Slatyford’s? I thought we might have been borrowing it for driver training a bit like when Stockton used Sunderland’s 73074 for training.
All I know is ours where told ‘not to prep it, it’s not ours’
(21 Aug 2025, 7:16 pm)Teessider2014 wrote [ -> ]All I know is ours where told ‘not to prep it, it’s not ours’
Interesting, I wasn’t expecting any of ours to be 25 plate. The majority are going to be 75 plate by the sounds of things. Unsure how many are being delivered to Slatyford if anyone knows?
Sounds like Slatyford are getting the full 18 batch 73176-73195. Be interesting to see how this works with no proper chargers
(21 Aug 2025, 7:16 pm)Teessider2014 wrote [ -> ]All I know is ours where told ‘not to prep it, it’s not ours’
Doesn't explain why it had Cleveland Transit legal lettering when I photographed it on August 6th
[quote="stagecoachfan" pid='319996' dateline='1755825143']
Doesn't explain why it had Cleveland Transit legal lettering when I photographed it on August 6th
[/quote
The sign guys who fit the electrical speel on the side of the buses put the legal lettering on this batch of buses inadvertently putting the wrong ones on!
Is 73176 a stagecoach Stockton one or for slatyford depot?
(22 Aug 2025, 6:34 pm)Glen1974 wrote [ -> ]Is 73176 a stagecoach Stockton one or for slatyford depot?
slaty
When is stagecoach Stockton U11dd due is it September?
Considering there was a fare increase only four months ago when service reductions had taken place, I have no doubt this will result in falling patronage for shorter distance trips. Considering the fare cap is £2.50, I dread to think how much would be charged if the fare cap been scrapped, although equally one wonders how much NECA & the state are reimbursing operators per each ticket sold.
Similar with Scottish Borders where under 22s can go free, but when that card runs out it's full fare, with no fare cap so £7 singles for a one hour journey. If operators & local authorities wanted to make Public Transport appealing to everybody, there should be an incentive for everybody to use it, opposed to just tailoring to the needs of the young & elderly, whilst hiking up prices for everybody else to where it's unaffordable for what you are paying for.
There's no magic money tree as some people believe sometimes! What really disappoints me is certain operators promoting they care about connecting communities etc, whilst at the same time removing vital links, hoping to win them back with LA funding. Yes, there's a balance to be struck in the sense of making a business viable, but removing a vital bus opposed to dropping frequency from another can speak volumes, especially to people who know exactly what is being done with their service.
Also isn't it at all strange some routes that were withdrawn commercially in 2022, suddenly became viable once another operator was about to win or regain the contract...
(27 Aug 2025, 10:30 am)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]Considering there was a fare increase only four months ago when service reductions had taken place, I have no doubt this will result in falling patronage for shorter distance trips. Considering the fare cap is £2.50, I dread to think how much would be charged if the fare cap been scrapped, although equally one wonders how much NECA & the state are reimbursing operators per each ticket sold.
Similar with Scottish Borders where under 22s can go free, but when that card runs out it's full fare, with no fare cap so £7 singles for a one hour journey. If operators & local authorities wanted to make Public Transport appealing to everybody, there should be an incentive for everybody to use it, opposed to just tailoring to the needs of the young & elderly, whilst hiking up prices for everybody else to where it's unaffordable for what you are paying for.
There's no magic money tree as some people believe sometimes! What really disappoints me is certain operators promoting they care about connecting communities etc, whilst at the same time removing vital links, hoping to win them back with LA funding. Yes, there's a balance to be struck in the sense of making a business viable, but removing a vital bus opposed to dropping frequency from another can speak volumes, especially to people who know exactly what is being done with their service.
Also isn't it at all strange some routes that were withdrawn commercially in 2022, suddenly became viable once another operator was about to win or regain the contract...
Thats always been the case..... GNE dikd this with my local service when GCT had won the LA contract. They offered to do it commercially and did, and this type of behaviour was back up on here. Dont think it would be now though
The price of the Flexi ticket is absurd.
Apparently 73183 and 73193 have arrived at Stockton. Both YK75 plate. I believe these are for Slatyford but being stored at Stockton for the time being. Slatyford already have 73176 at the depot for the 30/31/36 services with driver training commencing next week. I believe Slatyford’s batch will be 73176-73193.
Has 27166 left stagecoach Stockton depot or sill not been in service for long time that all.
Second fare hike in less than 6 months......
Given the first (ignoring the 1st Jan single fare charges) lift earlier this year was massively over inflation already (around 10% in a number of products), this further hit to the customer suggests that the business is really not doing well, from a financial point of view.
Whilst huge investment is being seen in the region (that for the sake of argument will all be capitalised so won't hit the P&L all at once + any depreciation increase from new vehicles is likely offset by direct cost decrease in fuel and engineering heads), it does add fuel to the fire.
If this second round of fare hikes don't work, expect network cuts early 2026 is my take on things. Certainly doesn't shout confidence.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:50:35:970
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:11:25:838
Well tomorrow the 75 plates can officially go on the road
(31 Aug 2025, 9:06 pm)Superman wrote [ -> ]Second fare hike in less than 6 months......
Given the first (ignoring the 1st Jan single fare charges) lift earlier this year was massively over inflation already (around 10% in a number of products), this further hit to the customer suggests that the business is really not doing well, from a financial point of view.
Whilst huge investment is being seen in the region (that for the sake of argument will all be capitalised so won't hit the P&L all at once + any depreciation increase from new vehicles is likely offset by direct cost decrease in fuel and engineering heads), it does add fuel to the fire.
If this second round of fare hikes don't work, expect network cuts early 2026 is my take on things. Certainly doesn't shout confidence.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:50:35:970
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:11:25:838
I do think Stagecoach selling Hartlepool and South Shields would be the best idea going forward. While I can’t comment much on South Shields it’s quite clear they don’t care much about Hartlepool which is very much run on the bare minimum and has no thought at all other than been used as a scrapyard for withdrawn buses and to send buses from elsewhere that the majority of time are already knackered.
They is nothing really left to cut on the town network as it’s already bad enough as it is with buses constantly late and breaking down. The fare increases are a joke as well as many people are struggling financially as it is so this could see them struggle more. I do wonder if an independent would do a better job, certainly Stagecoach having a monopoly in the majority of the places they operate is not proving to be good for passengers.
(01 Sep 2025, 5:39 pm)col87 wrote [ -> ]I do think Stagecoach selling Hartlepool and South Shields would be the best idea going forward. While I can’t comment much on South Shields it’s quite clear they don’t care much about Hartlepool which is very much run on the bare minimum and has no thought at all other than been used as a scrapyard for withdrawn buses and to send buses from elsewhere that the majority of time are already knackered.
They is nothing really left to cut on the town network as it’s already bad enough as it is with buses constantly late and breaking down. The fare increases are a joke as well as many people are struggling financially as it is so this could see them struggle more. I do wonder if an independent would do a better job, certainly Stagecoach having a monopoly in the majority of the places they operate is not proving to be good for passengers.
Stagecoach are bad in Sunderland too, the 16 is horrendous atm, emails etc is just automated bollocks with the same replies and "Well investigate" - yet never seem to find out why, the service was so bad.
Paying £65 a month now for a pass and they aren't even providing a good service.
(31 Aug 2025, 9:48 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]Well tomorrow the 75 plates can officially go on the road
Think it’s 2-3 weeks before the Yutongs at Slatyford enter service on the 30/31/36 services. Driver training should commence this week
Yeah i know, was commenting more on the fact that the 75 plates couldnt actually go on the road until midnight 1st September
(01 Sep 2025, 6:39 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Stagecoach are bad in Sunderland too, the 16 is horrendous atm, emails etc is just automated bollocks with the same replies and "Well investigate" - yet never seem to find out why, the service was so bad.
Paying £65 a month now for a pass and they aren't even providing a good service.
Slatyford arent much better with the 62/63, there were supposed to be a service changes involving a new route to help out the 62/63, it ended up not happening and instead pissed around with these and the 10/11, 71/72, but yet they happily launched the 49
(01 Sep 2025, 6:39 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Stagecoach are bad in Sunderland too, the 16 is horrendous atm, emails etc is just automated bollocks with the same replies and "Well investigate" - yet never seem to find out why, the service was so bad.
Paying £65 a month now for a pass and they aren't even providing a good service.
Thing is with the 16 and the yutongs they take too long for doors to close, passengers who can’t be bothered to walk and do a one stop hop and passengers who stick their bags etc on their lap knocking the stop button on the back of seat in front which means the driver has to stop for no reason at all. It all adds up , ive known 1st hand myself can be bang on time leaving redhouse yet 3/4 minutes down at southwick, match days obviously dont help then there is holmside in the town since GNE took the 2 away from the city centre the 16 and x24 take a hammering in the town since people can’t be bothered to walk to park lane to catch a bus up chester road. Hopefully when this new tracking and running time software comes into play things might get better.
E300 27773 working out of Shields since yesterday, seen today on the 4 at Biddick Hall. Permanent move ?
(02 Sep 2025, 6:06 am)Theboyle92 wrote [ -> ]Thing is with the 16 and the yutongs they take too long for doors to close, passengers who can’t be bothered to walk and do a one stop hop and passengers who stick their bags etc on their lap knocking the stop button on the back of seat in front which means the driver has to stop for no reason at all. It all adds up , ive known 1st hand myself can be bang on time leaving redhouse yet 3/4 minutes down at southwick, match days obviously dont help then there is holmside in the town since GNE took the 2 away from the city centre the 16 and x24 take a hammering in the town since people can’t be bothered to walk to park lane to catch a bus up chester road. Hopefully when this new tracking and running time software comes into play things might get better.
Only used Yutongs on the Es Service and I'm on the taller side so I've caught the stop button with my knee a few times while sitting down.
I used the 16 today (my local service). Boarded at Hastings Hill (got off X24 to get the 16). Bus arrived Not in Service from Chester Road due to late running. Left first stop late (7 mins) and picked up every stop. Full standing load by the crew. Passengers got off at Park Lane then bus full at Fawcett Street (left around 20 mins late with the bus behind catching us up). Driver got a radio message at Southwick Green asking him not to pick up at Redhouse and travel light somewhere.
I think, the 16 needs a frequency increase or larger vehicles
(02 Sep 2025, 3:17 pm)morritt89 wrote [ -> ]I used the 16 today (my local service). Boarded at Hastings Hill (got off X24 to get the 16). Bus arrived Not in Service from Chester Road due to late running. Left first stop late (7 mins) and picked up every stop. Full standing load by the crew. Passengers got off at Park Lane then bus full at Fawcett Street (left around 20 mins late with the bus behind catching us up). Driver got a radio message at Southwick Green asking him not to pick up at Redhouse and travel light somewhere.
I think, the 16 needs a frequency increase or larger vehicles
Double deckers are needed. When I was a young bus enthusiast, all buses were double deckers , 1978 to mid 1990s. The electric singles don’t have enough seats for starters. If these were Metro trains, imagine the outcry.
(02 Sep 2025, 3:54 pm)Economic505 wrote [ -> ]Double deckers are needed. When I was a young bus enthusiast, all buses were double deckers , 1978 to mid 1990s. The electric singles don’t have enough seats for starters. If these were Metro trains, imagine the outcry.
I know they're hated but it's the sort of route where bendy buses should be used over deckers imo.
The dwell savings at places like Sunderland having multiple doors would massively speed things up.
Deckers doing the opposite because of people going up/down the stairs and the limited capacity on the lower deck.
Not sure whether they'd get around both extremes of the route but the rest of the route should be fine.
(02 Sep 2025, 5:42 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I know they're hated but it's the sort of route where bendy buses should be used over deckers imo.
The dwell savings at places like Sunderland having multiple doors would massively speed things up.
Deckers doing the opposite because of people going up/down the stairs and the limited capacity on the lower deck.
Not sure whether they'd get around both extremes of the route but the rest of the route should be fine.
Bendies would work if it skipped Grindon, went straight up Chester Road, turned around at the Hastings Hill roundabout, went up Newcastle Road and skipped Southwick Green and Faber Road, and terminated at Witherwack.
All the 16 needs is more running time, and maybe an extra bus. It gets 12 mjnutes at Hastings Hill anyway.