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

They'll be on C&NL disposals for other regions to bid for them, but couldn't see many takers as everyone knows how poor they are. The native Cumbria ones aren't too bad considering, as they've had money spent on them over the years.

22599 will be staying put as it's got a Cummins lump in and is pretty reliable.

Delivery of the C&NL E400MMCs has now been complete:

Morecambe for service 1:
11139 YX68 UWN
11140 YX68 UWO
11141 YX68 UWP
11142 YX68 UWR
11143 YX68 UWS
11144 YX68 UWT
11145 YX68 UWU
11146 YX68 UWV
11147 YX68 UWW
11148 YX68 UWY
11149 YX68 UWZ
11150 YX68 UXA
11151 YX68 UXB
11152 YX68 UXC
11153 YX68 UXD
11154 YX68 UXE
11155 YX68 UXF
11156 YX68 UXG

Carlisle for the Cross Pennine service 685:
11157 YX68 UXH

Outstanding:
11158 YX68 UXJ is on loan to Stockport for Cloud technology trials, but will join the Carlisle example in the near future.

11157 is now at Carlisle and being prepped for service.
11157 (YX68UXH) Carlisle Depot20 by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

11158 is on loan to UK Bus, and is due to be delivered to Stockport - this is the first vehicle in UK Bus to be rigged up to the Cloud for ticketing, diagnostics etc.

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.

17692 (X702JVV) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr
17217 (V217MEV) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

11157 should enter service on Monday 14th.
Lancaster's are also due to enter service then too.

Entry of the new buses means that 18139, 18140, 47140 and 2 Darts are planned to be taken out of service at Morecambe, into Operational Reserve - the Solo and Darts are likely to remain in service. 19145 is transferring to Carlisle, with 12 E300s due to be parked up at Lillyhall for regional disposal.

11157 has been parked at Carlisle Bus Station this afternoon on what looks like driver familiarisation




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If anyone wants to know if 11157 is out this morning, the answer is no. 18358 is on this mornings 685 from Carlisle to Newcastle and back


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If anyone wants to know if 11157 is out this morning, the answer is no.  18358 is on this mornings 685 from Carlisle to Newcastle and back


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It made it out on the 1730 ex Carlisle this evening.
[/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2d7xsaG]11157 YX68UXH Newcastle 685 by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

It made it out on the 1730 ex Carlisle this evening.
[/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2d7xsaG]11157 YX68UXH Newcastle 685 by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

Hopefully be out tomorrow instead of the ALX400 that was on earlier today, went out twice to try and catch it


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One for those (like me!) who have missed the current decker board Monday-Friday on the 685, 11157 should now be allocated all week (inc Hexham shorts on Sunday), alongside one of the current Cross Pennine saloons.

19144 is on 685s today, just in case anyone is out for 11157.

11157 should enter service on Monday 14th.
Lancaster's are also due to enter service then too.

Entry of the new buses means that 18139, 18140, 47140 and 2 Darts are planned to be taken out of service at Morecambe, into Operational Reserve - the Solo and Darts are likely to remain in service. 19145 is transferring to Carlisle, with 12 E300s due to be parked up at Lillyhall for regional disposal.

Did the Morecombe E400 MMCs enter service?

Did the Morecombe E400 MMCs enter service?

They did yes, all in service now. Some images of them here:
Stagecoach North West 11148 YX68UWY leaving Heysham Towers terminus with a service 1 short working to Lancaster Bus Station. by Gobbiner, on Flickr
Stagecoach North West 11140 YX68UWO arrives at Heysham Towers terminus with a service from Lancaster University. by Gobbiner, on Flickr
Lancaster. by Darren "Sneeze", on Flickr

MANs have been parked up at Morecambe at the moment, with three being loaned to Kendal (22880, 22883 & 22885)

Thanks for that as am in Lancaster tomoz and had seen no photos of these anywhere

Did the Morecombe E400 MMCs enter service?

Yes they did


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Anyone know what time 11157 is due in Newcastle this afternoon?

Anyone know what time 11157 is due in Newcastle this afternoon?

11157 was on the 9:45 departure from Eldon Square, so it should depart again at 14:45.

11157 was on the 9:45 departure from Eldon Square, so it should depart again at 14:45.

Got no chance of catching it today, will have to go on the hunt during the week.

Got no chance of catching it today, will have to go on the hunt during the week.

Alright, good luck

11157 is now branded Cross Pennine, 27141 now in corporate livery.
11157 (YX68UXH) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

11157 is now branded Cross Pennine, 27141 now in corporate livery.
11157 (YX68UXH) Carlisle Depot by Carlisle Bus Group, on Flickr

Will it do the 2:45 off Newcastle on saturday

Should be yes. It is back out tomorrow on its allocated 0705/20 1215 1730 ex Carlisle board.

Stagecoach Cross Pennine 11157 / YX68 UXH by kieron mathews, on Flickr

11157 seen here this afternoon on the West Road running approximately 15 minutes late coming out of Newcastle. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/

Should be yes. It is back out tomorrow on its allocated 0705/20 1215 1730 ex Carlisle board.

How busy does the 0705/20 get?  it will no doubt be empty when it leaves Carlisle, but does it become fuller than a single decker anytime after Haltwhistle?

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So there are 18 E400 MMCs on short distance stop/start low speed services in Lancaster & Morecambe and 2 on long distance high speed service to Newcastle.

What type of gearbox to cope with this wide variation of route profile? I assume all 20 have the same engine & gearbox spec. I did hear that ALX400 Tridents and the 555 route was not good on the gearbox due to the undulating nature of many miles of the 555 causing the gearbox to hunt up and down at times on some inclines.

11157 just arrived in Newcastle so will be due to work the 0945 685 off Eldon Sq.

How busy does the 0705/20 get?  it will no doubt be empty when it leaves Carlisle, but does it become fuller than a single decker anytime after Haltwhistle?

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So there are 18 E400 MMCs on short distance stop/start low speed services in Lancaster & Morecambe and 2 on long distance high speed service to Newcastle.

What type of gearbox to cope with this wide variation of route profile?  I assume all 20 have the same engine & gearbox spec.  I did hear that ALX400 Tridents and the 555 route was not good on the gearbox due to the undulating nature of many miles of the 555 causing the gearbox to hunt up and down at times on some inclines.

The 0705 is empty till it hits Brampton, then picks up all the way to Haydon Bridge. By the time it reaches Melkridge/Haydon Bridge every seat is normally taken on the decker, with them alighting at Hexham school.

Underneath the batch are the same, however the 11157 has had gearbox mapping for the 685.

Probably the two most strenuous parts of the 555 is the up-hill climb from Grasmere and the climb out of Keswick, both of which are long steady inclines and the Keswick one has a few bends. I don't think I've ever been on a bus up those which haven't dropped into first gear on a slow climb. All the 555s have gearbox mapping for the route.

Thought I'd update the C&NL thread this evening on the latest significant goings on.

22890 and sister 22884 have recently joined the Carlisle fleet from the MANviro disposal-pot at Morecambe. These two example replace 24118 and 24171 which are now up for disposal after engine failures.

Merseyside & South Lancashire's Preston-based 27768 and 27769 have transferred to Carlisle depot this weekend in exchange for MAN Enviro 300 24119 and 24123 which have gone to Liverpool's Gilmoss depot. The MAN examples, having high-back dual purpose seating, are to be allocated on the Liverpool to Widnes X5 service replacing Volvo B7 coaches. In the coming weeks, 24120 and 24124 will join Gilmoss also once 22880 and 22885 have been released by Kendal depot. All four will be branded for the X5.

Also incoming at Carlisle will be 5 or 6 ADL/E200s to replace the Optare Solo SRs used on service 62. The Optare Solos are moving to Stagecoach South Wales with 47949 having already left for VOSA in Northampton, with them loaning the vehicle for a couple of weeks.

27768 PO61NTD, 27769 PO61NTE Carlisle Depot by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

Does anyone know when the Lake District Summer timetables will be online?

Does anyone know when the Lake District Summer timetables will be online?

The Lake District Summer timetables start on 6th April 2019 and they are online now on the Cumbria County Council website. Still waiting for the updated version of the Lakes Connection set of timetables from Stagecoach.

The Lake District Summer timetables start on 6th April 2019 and they are online now on the Cumbria County Council website. Still waiting for the updated version of the Lakes Connection set of timetables from Stagecoach.

Thanks, might be having a few days down that way, (if my schedule allows that!).