North East Buses

(22 Feb 2015, 2:57 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote [ -> ]Might ride some of those when I go to the Lakes with my family in the May/June holidays.

We're spending a few nights there, and one day I think they're just going shopping in a few places, and I'm allowed to roam freely on a North West Explorer!

Wow Marcus, not even content now with a Get Around on a Saturday

(22 Feb 2015, 2:58 pm)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]Wow Marcus, not even content now with a Get Around on a Saturday

The way it's looking, citaro, this will be during the week.

I'll still have my Get Around the next Saturday!

(22 Feb 2015, 2:57 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote [ -> ]Might ride some of those when I go to the Lakes with my family in the May/June holidays.

We're spending a few nights there, and one day I think they're just going shopping in a few places, and I'm allowed to roam freely on a North West Explorer!

I've heard some of the fares over there are quite steep, though.

last time i went to North West i was tempted to ride the bus on the town services even to Brunton Park (home of Carlisle United) plus its a canny town decent people too

Optare Solo SR 47921 at Carlisle is currently being trialled on various town services, testing suitability for the routes. Should only last a week or two before it's put back on the short 685s.

Photo taken a few days ago below:
YJ14BVL  47921  Stagecoach North West, Carlisle by highlandreiver, on Flickr

Will this be the last year for the B10Ms?

If it is then I'd definitely try to ride them before the summer. Sadly, the Central Lakes services (bar the 508) are generally operated by Darts now, so you have to go on the 530, 567 etc. to ride them.

Also, is the Strider still there?

(27 Feb 2015, 8:42 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Will this be the last year for the B10Ms?

If it is then I'd definitely try to ride them before the summer. Sadly, the Central Lakes services (bar the 508) are generally operated by Darts now, so you have to go on the 530, 567 etc. to ride them.

Also, is the Strider still there?

21007 is VOR.

As for B10Ms, given DDA comes into effect at the end of this year - the answer is yes

(27 Feb 2015, 8:49 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]21007 is VOR.

As for B10Ms, given DDA comes into effect at the end of this year - the answer is yes

Ah okay thanks. Is it long term VOR?

And I thought that might have been the case, but some deadlines are different depending on the weight.

(27 Feb 2015, 8:51 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Ah okay thanks. Is it long term VOR?

And I thought that might have been the case, but some deadlines are different depending on the weight.

It might be finished

The deadline this year is all single deckers over 7.5 tonnes - aka anything that isn't a Breadvan (Vario etc) or a Metrorider or the shortest avaliable lentgh of Solo (which all meet DDA anyway as they weren't introduced until 2007/2008 by which time everything being built met DDA).

(27 Feb 2015, 8:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]It might be finished

The deadline this year is all single deckers over 7.5 tonnes - aka anything that isn't a Breadvan (Vario etc) or a Metrorider or the shortest avaliable lentgh of Solo (which all meet DDA anyway as they weren't introduced until 2007/2008 by which time everything being built met DDA).

Ah thats a shame - was a cracking bus when I had it last summer.

Cheers for the info.

Carlisle had a few odd workings today:

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 24123 / PX59AZN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 37121 / YY14WFM by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

The new Summer timetables are now available.

Changes for the 2015 season include:

- Service 78 will operate closer to Derwent Water.
- New Service 208 between Keswick and Patterdale Hotel introduced.
- Service 508 increased to hourly between Penrith and Patterdale Hotel. Open top buses will be used on the short journeys (Olympians?).
- Service 599 extended to Lakeside, replacing service 800 (high summer season only).
- Service 800 withdrawn, but the 599 can now accommodate four bikes.

You can view the timetables here: http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads/201...on_web.pdf

These are the open topper allocations:

17489/90/5 are the Tridents for 78
17217 for 508
17012-6/277/692 for 599

A Olympian will act as a spare either at Kendal or the Penrith Outstation.

(28 Feb 2015, 9:01 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Carlisle had a few odd workings today:

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 24123 / PX59AZN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 37121 / YY14WFM by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Not so odd them, Dan - a MAN E300 is often used if one of the two ADLs is out of service (inspection/service, MOT, repairs etc) on the 685 - today I noticed 24124, 24118 is another popular one to venture across to Newcastle.

I think because of this (also due to the MANs being notoriously unreliable) some E200s cover the 79 and 179 to Annan and Dumfries respectively.


Word on the street is that the E200s aren't worth having for Carlisle due to the low passenger numbers so a new fleet of Solo SRs are being ordered with the E200s being cascaded elsewhere (I would guess Lillyhall). That's just something I've heard though, timescales and validity I do not know.

(14 Mar 2015, 7:46 pm)northern156 wrote [ -> ]Not so odd them, Dan - a MAN E300 is often used if one of the two ADLs is out of service (inspection/service, MOT, repairs etc) on the 685 - today I noticed 24124, 24118 is another popular one to venture across to Newcastle.

I think because of this (also due to the MANs being notoriously unreliable) some E200s cover the 79 and 179 to Annan and Dumfries respectively.


Word on the street is that the E200s aren't worth having for Carlisle due to the low passenger numbers so a new fleet of Solo SRs are being ordered with the E200s being cascaded elsewhere (I would guess Lillyhall). That's just something I've heard though, timescales and validity I do not know.

Yeah, I've seen them a few times! Equivalent of a red spare turning up on a Go North East service back here in my neck of the woods, as there's no spare vehicles of the same spec.

Interesting. I'm sure I heard that management at Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs were originally looking at the feasibility of buying double deckers for two of the town services (61/62?) with a decrease in frequency to increase the profitability of the routes, but they decided to stick with how things operated with the Darts and opted for Enviro200s instead. 42 Solo SRs have been ordered as part of Stagecoach UK's 2015/16 Order, so it's entirely possible I guess!

(14 Mar 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Yeah, I've seen them a few times! Equivalent of a red spare turning up on a Go North East service back here in my neck of the woods, as there's no spare vehicles of the same spec.

Interesting. I'm sure I heard that management at Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs were originally looking at the feasibility of buying double deckers for two of the town services (61/62?) with a decrease in frequency to increase the profitability of the routes, but they decided to stick with how things operated with the Darts and opted for Enviro200s instead. 42 Solo SRs have been ordered as part of Stagecoach UK's 2015/16 Order, so it's entirely possible I guess!

BIB: Of which 14 are to Stagecoach Gold standard, presumably destined for Leamington depot to replace their original Goldline Solos.

(14 Mar 2015, 7:53 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Yeah, I've seen them a few times! Equivalent of a red spare turning up on a Go North East service back here in my neck of the woods, as there's no spare vehicles of the same spec.

Interesting. I'm sure I heard that management at Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs were originally looking at the feasibility of buying double deckers for two of the town services (61/62?) with a decrease in frequency to increase the profitability of the routes, but they decided to stick with how things operated with the Darts and opted for Enviro200s instead. 42 Solo SRs have been ordered as part of Stagecoach UK's 2015/16 Order, so it's entirely possible I guess!

Hmm... may have been the case a while ago while there were still a good few deckers left at Carlisle (I remember seeing Dennis Tridents on 61/61As) however the routes don't need double deckers running them, there just aren't enough bums to place on seats. In peak times there are usually good passenger numbers (especially on the 62A to Kingmoor Park which is peak-only, otherwise they run as 62 to Lowry Hill or Kingstown ASDA) however this is typical of most reasonably small cities.
However, I really cannot see how Solo SRs on peak services will work - unless a dozen or so E200s are kept solely for that purpose? That or the PVR increases for peaks, however that requires more drivers.

21007 suffered a major Gearbox Fault, Thats why its VOR,

On the Fleet Cards it does show as Reserve however its sat on the Scrap Line at Morecombe Depot so i would expect its not coming back now

(14 Mar 2015, 8:33 pm)northern156 wrote [ -> ]Hmm... may have been the case a while ago while there were still a good few deckers left at Carlisle (I remember seeing Dennis Tridents on 61/61As) however the routes don't need double deckers running them, there just aren't enough bums to place on seats. In peak times there are usually good passenger numbers (especially on the 62A to Kingmoor Park which is peak-only, otherwise they run as 62 to Lowry Hill or Kingstown ASDA) however this is typical of most reasonably small cities.
However, I really cannot see how Solo SRs on peak services will work - unless a dozen or so E200s are kept solely for that purpose? That or the PVR increases for peaks, however that requires more drivers.

A rumour which appears to be true..!

Union representatives are allegedly against Solo SRs being allocated to the Carlisle Town Services as it will see the majority of drivers take a paycut, with the drivers on town services instead being on a minibus rate of pay.

Imagine it's all very much in the air at the moment, but I'm shocked that drivers could go from being given a payrise one month and a few months later, they're on a lower rate of pay..? Hardly seems fair!

(15 Apr 2015, 10:41 am)Tom wrote [ -> ]http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/busine...-1.1205312

"We need to make changes to reflect rising staff costs as the economy grows and because of Government cuts to public-sector investment in buses."

Somewhat ironic, if the rumours are true with regards to Solos replacing Enviro200s at Carlisle, with drivers consequently receiving a lower rate of pay than present!

(15 Apr 2015, 10:51 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]"We need to make changes to reflect rising staff costs as the economy grows and because of Government cuts to public-sector investment in buses."

Somewhat ironic, if the rumours are true with regards to Solos replacing Enviro200s at Carlisle, with drivers consequently receiving a lower rate of pay than present!

Yeah thats what I was thinking!

The Explorers seems to go up every year, I think it was £10.30 last year.

Former Stagecoach North East MAN ALX300 22728 (T728 OEF) is currently awaiting disposal. I assume it has already been sold due to the Stagecoach Logos being covered in black paint.
Image owned by Flickr user "Christopher Lowe"

(25 May 2015, 10:43 am)AIG20 wrote [ -> ]Former Stagecoach North East MAN ALX300 22728 (T728 OEF) is currently awaiting disposal. I assume it has already been sold due to the Stagecoach Logos being covered in black paint.
Image owned by Flickr user "Christopher Lowe"

As is 22730:
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire: 27728 / T728OEF by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Seen the first of the new Optare Solo SRs for Carlisle today in the city centre.

In an all-over dark/navy blue livery. Destination blind wasn't on and there was a little bit of paper in the window marked 'STAGECOACH' and a fleet number. Was being driven by an inspector/instructor I think. Looked pretty smart!
Word is that a couple of them are already branded for 61/61A Harraby - Morton.

Heard that Volvo B10M/ Jonckheere coach 52626 (previously on 685s before being moved to Workington, I think for X4/X5s) has recently caught fire and is a write-off.

£3 million blue buses turn Carlisle green

 
Stagecoach has today announced an investment of over £3 million in new greener buses for Carlisle.
 
The 26 new low emission vehicles will hit the streets on Monday 22nd June, but passengers can get a sneak preview of the new buses on Saturday 20th when selected journeys will be run by the new fleet.
 
Built in Britain, the new buses feature the latest Euro 6 technology to lower exhaust emissions. They will improve Carlisle’s carbon footprint as they use less fuel than the buses they will replace.
 
The buses feature a unique dark blue and chrome colour scheme designed especially for Carlisle by top design house Best Impressions, with each route identified with in different colour. 
 
60                     Sky Blue Route              Sandsfield Park to Carleton Clinic
61/61A              Pink Route                     Morton West to Harraby East
62/62A              Purple Route                  Crindledyke Farm to Morton Park
76                     Orange Route                St Anns Hill to Durranhill
 
Passengers with mobility problems are not forgotten as the new fleet have low floors and wide step free entrances. They also have just as much space for buggies and wheelchairs as the buses they replace.
 
Commenting on the launch Nigel Winter, Managing Director of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire said; “Our striking new buses are dark blue but underneath they are very green. I am delighted that we are doing our bit to improve air quality in Carlisle.
 
‘The investment reflects our continued commitment to offer our customers a more sustainable way to travel and with unlimited travel available from just £1.22 per day* (*Carlisle megarider xtra available online at stagecoachbus.com) it’s great value too. 
 
‘Our fares in Carlisle are some of the lowest on offer across Cumbria and the new greener fleet is another reason to try the bus.’
 
Carlisle residents can have a VIP look at the new buses on Tuesday 23rd June when two of the new fleet will be displayed in the market place. The day will feature a red carpet welcome with special welcoming treat.
 
The new buses are arriving just in time for Catch the Bus Week which will see Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire joining forces with sustainable transport group Greener Journeys to promote the benefits of bus use.
 
The initiative, which will run for a week from 29th June, will see Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire working to encourage local people to leave their cars at home in favour of taking the bus.
 
Throughout the week, Stagecoach will highlight the health, environmental and financial benefits of using the bus more often.
 
Stagecoach is carrying out a programme of promotional activities across the area to encourage people to give the bus a try. This includes a free breakfast giveaway and Social Media competition to win 28 days travel across the region.
 
ENDS
 
Editors – For more details call Michael Sanderson, Commercial Manager, Stagecoach on 01228 400466 or at
Michael.sanderson@stagecoachbus.com.
 
For details of all Stagecoach Bus Services please visit www.stagecoachbus.com
Photo Opportunity
Date: Tuesday 23 June
Time: 1000 to 1400
Venue: Carlisle Market Place
 
Everyone is welcome, however if there is any press organisation who would like to pre-arrange a set time for an interview please contact us beforehand.

Kuyoyo states on this thread that they are Euro 5 - not Euro 6 (excluding the Honister spec examples).

Is Kuyoyo wrong or is Stagecoach telling a white lie in the above press release (given that some are Euro 6 but certainly not the majority)?

(19 Jun 2015, 5:24 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Kuyoyo states on this thread that they are Euro 5 - not Euro 6 (excluding the Honister spec examples).

Is Kuyoyo wrong or is Stagecoach telling a white lie in the above press release (given that some are Euro 6 but certainly not the majority)?

My list is incorrect - will be amended ASAP

Seen one of the new Solos today, one of the 60 branded ones. They look absolutely gorgeous, really do.

I'll be on a Dayrider tomorrow afternoon giving them all a go if anyone is going also Will be taking several photos too, probably using my car to get to places though.
I think there's a partial roll-out tomorrow with the main launch being Monday. I also hear there's one of the buses on display tomorrow too next to the Town Hall.
I'm away on Tuesday (most of the week) with work so unfortunately can't go and see the unveiling thing.

(19 Jun 2015, 7:34 pm)northern156 wrote [ -> ]Seen one of the new Solos today, one of the 60 branded ones. They look absolutely gorgeous, really do.

I'll be on a Dayrider tomorrow afternoon giving them all a go if anyone is going also Will be taking several photos too, probably using my car to get to places though.
I think there's a partial roll-out tomorrow with the main launch being Monday. I also hear there's one of the buses on display tomorrow too next to the Town Hall.
I'm away on Tuesday (most of the week) with work so unfortunately can't go and see the unveiling thing.

Why did Stagecoach get rid of E200s and replace them with smaller Solos?