(20 Jul 2017, 1:57 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote One of the new open topper B5s will be used in Manchester this coming Monday for the day, and then in Liverpool on Tuesday and Preston on Wednesday - services are still to be confirmed. Local plans are in place to use them in Lancaster and Carlisle over the next couple of weeks.

Interesting, is it in aid of anything in particular? Wondee if a promo team will accompany it to explain why it's in service

(20 Jul 2017, 7:27 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote The Gemini OT's out in service today.

I have created an album showing exterior and interior views which can be viewed at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gpr_bus_ph...4013794461

Still 13806 to land, plus the NSAs need installed with audio sorted soon too.

(20 Jul 2017, 8:55 pm)James101 wrote Interesting, is it in aid of anything in particular? Wondee if a promo team will accompany it to explain why it's in service

Just due to promotion it is.

• Monday in Manchester: 192, 203, 250 and X50 
  
• Tuesday in Liverpool: 82 and 86 and 
  
• Wednesday in Preston: 2/2A
  

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamson...otostream/

Wish it had been on it's normal Honister Rambler duties! Ended up with 47616 instead which was struggling to cope...the bus arrived late in Buttermere after already having to stop at Honister Pass...we ended up departing 30 minutes late as we had to wait for the bus to cool as there was smoke coming from the wheel-arch. Had to stop again near High Lorton due to a warning sound from the dashboard but the driver was told to continue. In the end we were just 5 minutes away from reaching Keswick in Braithwaite when the driver told us all to get off, again due to the smoke, and ended up having to wait 20 minutes for an X5 (in the meantime though 47616 had sufficiently cooled down and tbh I think the driver could have kept going after having managed to get the bus all the way there with only a short flat stretch on the A66 left to go). The driver blamed it on the fact that "some buses are made to go up those mountains and this isn't one of them...can't be helped when the usual bus is in for a service." As we were getting on the X5, 47774 also pulled up behind us which seemed a strange exercise as the driver had already rang and it had been agreed we would be transferred to the X5 (though the driver had been told it would only be a few minutes when it was timetabled to be due in 20 so perhaps they sent it in case the X5 was late) plus there were no remaining 77/77a journeys for the day that 47616 would have had to run onto. Later saw 47774 in Keswick Bus Station with our original driver which seems strange to have it run light to Keswick to run light back to the depot, when after sufficiently cooling the driver probably could have just taken 47616 back to the depot.

(03 Sep 2017, 12:45 pm)peter wrote https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamson...otostream/

Wish it had been on it's normal Honister Rambler duties! Ended up with 47616 instead which was struggling to cope...the bus arrived late in Buttermere after already having to stop at Honister Pass...we ended up departing 30 minutes late as we had to wait for the bus to cool as there was smoke coming from the wheel-arch. Had to stop again near High Lorton due to a warning sound from the dashboard but the driver was told to continue. In the end we were just 5 minutes away from reaching Keswick in Braithwaite when the driver told us all to get off, again due to the smoke, and ended up having to wait 20 minutes for an X5 (in the meantime though 47616 had sufficiently cooled down and tbh I think the driver could have kept going after having managed to get the bus all the way there with only a short flat stretch on the A66 left to go). The driver blamed it on the fact that "some buses are made to go up those mountains and this isn't one of them...can't be helped when the usual bus is in for a service." As we were getting on the X5, 47774 also pulled up behind us which seemed a strange exercise as the driver had already rang and it had been agreed we would be transferred to the X5 (though the driver had been told it would only be a few minutes when it was timetabled to be due in 20 so perhaps they sent it in case the X5 was late) plus there were no remaining 77/77a journeys for the day that 47616 would have had to run onto. Later saw 47774 in Keswick Bus Station with our original driver which seems strange to have it run light to Keswick to run light back to the depot, when after sufficiently cooling the driver probably could have just taken 47616 back to the depot.

Yeah, I wouldn't have allocated 47617 onto Honisters..! It's the re-engined Cummins one (originally MAN) and has recently made a come back after being off for about 3 months, it's nippy but a tad ropey and normally kept local.... Driver must have been flogging it to make up time with lots of heavy breaking! 47774 has been religiously working the X5 Broughton Roadworks Shuttles the past couple of months during the day, so perhaps the depot arranged quick cover in case 47616 did need to be left at Keswick for a bit, until a fitter could come and collect it. Sounds like the topsy turvy world of Lillyhall to me.

47721 went on the 50 later on in the afternoon - hence my spontaneous outing up the road for a photo of it   . So assume the Solo was indeed in for servicing/defect fixes.

While I'm at it, update of 'School Runner' vehicles. From today Stagecoach Cumbria's dedicated school fleet for Cumbria County contracts will be seen attending schools in the new red 'School Runner' livery, apart from fleet numbers they have no Stagecoach branding of any kind. Dedicated 'School Runner' vehicles are:

   - 16119 (Lillyhall)
   - 16650 (Carlisle)
   - 16661 (Lillyhall)
   - 16670 (Lillyhall)
   - 16793 (Carlisle)
   - 17017 (Lillyhall)
   - 17196 (Lillyhall)
   - 17198 (Lillyhall)
   - 17199 (Liilyhall)
   - 20457 (Carlisle)
   - 20710 (Carlisle)
   - 20711 (Carlisle/Penrith)
   - 20712 (Carlisle/Penrith)


17017 S817BWC Workington NIS by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

(21 Jul 2017, 7:26 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Still 13806 to land, plus the NSAs need installed with audio sorted soon too.

13801 - 13807 had Next Stop Announcements installed on Monday and Tuesday.

Old perspex screen incorporating the bus stopping sign on upper-deck has been removed - new fibreglass cut and fitted incorporating Hanover's LED internal sign and new bus stopping sign (similar to Go North East's Castles Express StreetDecks). Hanover's LED internal sign also retrofitted on the lower-deck too.

Unsure if the audio has been sorted yet, but system as well as bus stopping sign now works.

(05 Oct 2017, 6:48 am)Dan wrote 13801 - 13807 had Next Stop Announcements installed on Monday and Tuesday.

Old perspex screen incorporating the bus stopping sign on upper-deck has been removed - new fibreglass cut and fitted incorporating Hanover's LED internal sign and new bus stopping sign (similar to Go North East's Castles Express StreetDecks). Hanover's LED internal sign also retrofitted on the lower-deck too.

Unsure if the audio has been sorted yet, but system as well as bus stopping sign now works.

Some have, with some still to do I'm told.
Bus stops were automatically being announced/interrupting the audio tour prior to screen installs, so suspect it (hopefully) all syncs together now. Just in time for the winter season!

(05 Oct 2017, 9:22 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Some have, with some still to do I'm told.
Bus stops were automatically being announced/interrupting the audio tour prior to screen installs, so suspect it (hopefully) all syncs together now. Just in time for the winter season!

13801 - 13807 were all definitely done over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

(05 Oct 2017, 9:33 am)Dan wrote 13801 - 13807 were all definitely done over the course of Monday and Tuesday.

Two were still being worked on last night, could well of been post-Hanover tweaks by Stagecoach engineers like.
Audio doesn't marry up with a couple of stops apparently. Ellerthwaite for example is being shown on display as Brook Road, which is technically the bus stop name but regarded as Ellerthwaite on the tour.

5 ADL E200's from Stagecoach Manchester (Middleton) are due to transfer to Cumbria & North Lancs next week. These examples being 36100 - 36104 to replace Darts on Lakes services 505, 508 and 516 at Kendal. 4 are to be based at Kendal and 1 at Penrith, with 6th example hoped to land around April/May. This will enable Darts to transfer to the training fleet.

All examples will be first heading to Carlisle for a full refurbishment and will be gaining the same livery as the 555 E400MMCs.

The Lakes Connection Summer 2018 travel information from Stagecoach is now available online or in a printed version. The start date for summer services is 24th March 2018. Some prices have increased with the Explorer day ticket increasing to £11.30 for an adult and £8.30 for a child, the group Explorer price has been reduced by £1.

(08 Mar 2018, 12:51 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote The Lakes Connection Summer 2018 travel information from Stagecoach is now available online or in a printed version. The start date for summer services is 24th March 2018. Some prices have increased with the Explorer day ticket increasing to £11.30 for an adult and £8.30 for a child, the group Explorer price has been reduced by £1.

Where abouts, i can't see any information on the Stagecoach site?

(08 Mar 2018, 5:47 pm)Michael wrote Where abouts, i can't see any information on the Stagecoach site?

Info and timetable can be found here:  https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and...e-district

(08 Mar 2018, 5:55 pm)Jimmi wrote Info and timetable can be found here:  https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and...e-district

Thanks, nothing appeared for me haha.

Volvo Olympian 16534 has been sold to Classic Bus/Catch 22.

Slight change, looking like E200s landing from Manchester will be 36100/01/04/05/06.

(09 Mar 2018, 10:06 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Volvo Olympian 16534 has been sold to Classic Bus/Catch 22.

Slight change, looking like E200s landing from Manchester will be 36100/01/04/05/06.

Is there any update on these moves? Last report from the Manchester end was "a couple are ready to go" and that was about 7/8 March. Since then, all the Contract service changes (including commercial replacements) have been approved and I reckon that Stagecoach Manchester's PVR will reduce by about 7 buses. With a bit of simplification, this can be assumed to be 7x "single deckers" redundant at Stockport depot.

(18 Mar 2018, 4:12 pm)Tamesider wrote Is there any update on these moves? Last report from the Manchester end was "a couple are ready to go" and that was about 7/8 March. Since then, all the Contract service changes (including commercial replacements) have been approved and I reckon that Stagecoach Manchester's PVR will reduce by about 7 buses. With a bit of simplification, this can be assumed to be 7x "single deckers" redundant at Stockport depot.

36100 is now at Carlisle undergoing repaint.

36100 (MX59JBV) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

(18 Mar 2018, 5:08 pm)Dan wrote 36100 is now at Carlisle undergoing repaint.

36100 (MX59JBV) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

Thanks. I don't suppose any more have moved. Presumably, kit will be April (school hols) now before the other 4 (or is it 5) are released.

36106 also arrived last week, just them two at present.

(21 Mar 2018, 1:17 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote 36106 also arrived last week, just them two at present.

It is now believed 36101/4/5 will follow, with 36102/3 staying with Manchester - albeit in Reserve.

Anyone know what's been replaced (withdrawn) at Kendal now that the ex Manc E200s are in service?

Also, are Kendal vehicles outstationed anywhere other than Ambleside?

Hull-based 10735 and 10743 are on loan to Lancaster for the rest of this year.

With the winter season now started, Lillyhall's and Carlisle's Trident open-topper fleet are undergoing repaint into the blue/green Lakes Connection livery - as worn by the 555-branded E400s.

(25 Nov 2018, 8:11 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Now out in the open.... I can say that Lancaster are due 18 new E400MMC in the coming weeks for service 1. There are also two new E400MMC for Carlisle depot for use on the 685 to solve capacity issues.

All the above are to be delivered in corporate livery with minimal branding for each service.

These additional buses for Cumbria & North Lancashire are included in an extension of the 2018 order.

Will the 685 have the Deckers for all journeys?

(25 Nov 2018, 8:21 pm)S830OFT wrote Will the 685 have the Deckers for all journeys?

Sure will. 27141 and 27142 will move onto the 104s, displacing two MANvro to disposals. 

Similarly in Lancaster, current E400 on the 1 will move to the 2 displacing MANviro to disposals.

(25 Nov 2018, 9:46 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Sure will. 27141 and 27142 will move onto the 104s, displacing two MANvro to disposals. 

Similarly in Lancaster, current E400 on the 1 will move to the 2 displacing MANviro to disposals.

Surprised the MANviro's aren't moving else where to replace the MANs (such as 22082 at Newcastle)

(25 Nov 2018, 9:51 pm)Michael wrote Surprised the MANviro's aren't moving else where to replace the MANs (such as 22082 at Newcastle)

They could always give 22599 to Slatyford for the 100 and some of 24116 - 24124 to join 24101 - 24115 in the North East.