Stagecoach North East: Order Predictions

[glen]

Thanks for info mate

[logidoodah]

Sorry I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought this most convenient place.

Does anyone know what Stagecoach are going to do about the ever imminent CAZ in Newcastle as they still have MAN ALX300's in active service and they cannot just move them onto other single decker routes as there are only 2 routes that don't enter the city centre at all, which is 6,7,8 and 18. However I feel there would be too many of them so they would have to cascade some. Do you think some new E200 MMC's could be on the way?

Also what are they doing about it? Such as GNE lowering emission standards to Euro 6 on most routes, even there Hybrids as euro 6 is cleaner. Are the E400's euro 6? I know the 69 plates are but what about the 16 plates and older??

[deanmachine]

Sorry I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought this most convenient place.

Does anyone know what Stagecoach are going to do about the ever imminent CAZ in Newcastle as they still have MAN ALX300's in active service and they cannot just move them onto other single decker routes as there are only 2 routes that don't enter the city centre at all, which is 6,7,8 and 18. However I feel there would be too many of them so they would have to cascade some. Do you think some new E200 MMC's could be on the way?

Also what are they doing about it? Such as GNE lowering emission standards to Euro 6 on most routes, even there Hybrids as euro 6 is cleaner. Are the E400's euro 6? I know the 69 plates are but what about the 16 plates and older??

I have a feeling some E300s from Stockton or even the E200MMCs could be getting swapped. I'd of said the Sunderland ones but South Tyneside Council footed the bill for Euro 6 upgrades to them.

[AIG20]

I have a feeling some E300s from Stockton or even the E200MMCs could be getting swapped. I'd of said the Sunderland ones but South Tyneside Council footed the bill for Euro 6 upgrades to them.

Yet quite a few MAN E200s are allocated to the E's on most days, with some of the ADL E300s being used on other routes that don't go anywhere near South Tyneside?

Therefore, would there be any repercussions if 27726-40 were transferred to Slatyford? Even as a temporary measure until funds become available for new vehicles to be purchased.

[Dan]

Yet quite a few MAN E200s are allocated to the E's on most days, with some of the ADL E300s being used on other routes that don't go anywhere near South Tyneside?

Therefore, would there be any repercussions if 27726-40 were transferred to Slatyford? Even as a temporary measure until funds become available for new vehicles to be purchased.

Stagecoach would need to declare this desire to South Tyneside Council, and get permission. I can’t imagine they’d be very keen on the idea as it means they’ve funded something for another area to gain from it, and would see more pollution in their own area.

Not great that they’re being used on other routes day to day but I suspect this isn’t noticed.


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[V514DFT]

I have a feeling some E300s from Stockton or even the E200MMCs could be getting swapped. I'd of said the Sunderland ones but South Tyneside Council footed the bill for Euro 6 upgrades to them.

The 8 does go into Newcastle, im sure it goes to Central Station

[GNE6312]

The 8 does go into Newcastle, im sure it goes to Central Station

Indeed it does

[Micheal Aaron]

I don't understand why stagecoach should get rid of the MAN 18.220 Alexander ALX300. There still in good shape and good working order. Still sound amazing

[glen]

I think so to mate about alx 300 buses.

[V514DFT]

I don't understand why stagecoach should get rid of the MAN 18.220 Alexander ALX300. There still in good shape and good working order. Still sound amazing

Not get rid of,we're talking about putting them on other routes,which would either be the 6,7,or 18, because of the Euro Ratings of them they wouldnt be allowed on other services when CAZ comes into play,some of them are very much end of the line now anyway,being between 16 and 18 years old,the younger ALX300's are 14 years old

[Micheal Aaron]

Tbh they suit being on the X63 but I know one day they will get taken off. I could see them on the 6 7 and the 8. And even the 18

[V514DFT]

Tbh they suit being on the X63 but I know one day they will get taken off. I could see them on the 6 7 and the 8. And even the 18

They cant go on the 8 as it go's to Central Station,and its not on a full time service anyway,likewise they cant go on the X63,basically any service that go's through or to the City Centre from when CAZ comes into play must have a specified Euro rating,i believe Euro 6, so the ALX300's cant be allocated to those routes as they arent Euro 6,and because of their age wont have any Euro 6 modifications

[Micheal Aaron]

They could make a new service where there still in use

[streetdeckfan]

Or, depending on the structure of the 'fines' for taking a non-compliant bus into the CAZ, they may be better of paying up than replacing the vehicles straight away.

[V514DFT]

Or, depending on the structure of the 'fines' for taking a non-compliant bus into the CAZ, they may be better of paying up than replacing the vehicles straight away.

Fair point

[logidoodah]

I don't understand why stagecoach should get rid of the MAN 18.220 Alexander ALX300. There still in good shape and good working order. Still sound amazing

Not get rid of,we're talking about putting them on other routes,which would either be the 6,7,or 18, because of the Euro Ratings of them they wouldnt be allowed on other services when CAZ comes into play,some of them are very much end of the line now anyway,being between 16 and 18 years old,the younger ALX300's are 14 years old

I was in Eldon Square Bus Station earlier on today and I saw quite a few ALX300's (as usually allocated to X47, X77/8, X82, X87/88) and I think I only saw 1 possibly 2 that didn't cough out thick black smoke, they look even older compared to GNE's Citaro's (one coughed out black smoke I think and it was either 5337/5338) and Omnicites,[/size] even though there not much older.  I think this is because no other buses were coughing out black smoke.

[Malarkey]

I was in Eldon Square Bus Station earlier on today and I saw quite a few ALX300's (as usually allocated to X47, X77/8, X82, X87/88) and I think I only saw 1 possibly 2 that didn't cough out thick black smoke, they look even older compared to GNE's Citaro's (one coughed out black smoke I think and it was either 5337/5338) and Omnicites,[/size] even though there not much older.  I think this is because no other buses were coughing out black smoke.

The MAN E200's are awful for kicking out smoke and also need replacing as a few still work the 6/7/8 & 32/32A while as you say the ALX300's are usually allocated X47, X63, X77/X78, X82, X87/X88 with the odd few sneaking on the 10/11/12/22/31 and 100 most days. Not sure what has had Euro 6 upgrades other than MAN E300's 24101-15, i'd imagine the 60 plate E400's have along with E400H's but there is a fare few 07/57/58 plate E400's which are Euro 4 rated.

Either way Stagecoach need to invest massively in Newcastle in the coming months with the emission zone coming into effect and I would personally like to see new buses on the Newcastle Expresses as it would give them a much needed boost as they've went far to long with having an "odd ball" allocation as we see on a daily basis and I do think this will impact passengers numbers when majority of the vehicles allocated do no not have Wifi or NSA's.

[Ds1197]

The MAN E200's are awful for kicking out smoke and also need replacing as a few still work the 6/7/8 & 32/32A while as you say the ALX300's are usually allocated X47, X63, X77/X78, X82, X87/X88 with the odd few sneaking on the 10/11/12/22/31 and 100 most days. Not sure what has had Euro 6 upgrades other than MAN E300's 24101-15, i'd imagine the 60 plate E400's have along with E400H's but there is a fare few 07/57/58 plate E400's which are Euro 4 rated.

Either way Stagecoach need to invest massively in Newcastle in the coming months with the emission zone coming into effect and I would personally like to see new buses on the Newcastle Expresses as it would give them a much needed boost as they've went far to long with having an "odd ball" allocation as we see on a daily basis and I do think this will impact passengers numbers when majority of the vehicles allocated do no not have Wifi or NSA's.

Currently no stagecoach buses have Wi-Fi they turned it off on must or you get a message saying we are temporary switching off Wi-Fi speaking of which does any one know when the plan to turn it back on

[Benny]

Currently no stagecoach buses have Wi-Fi they turned it off on must or you get a message saying we are temporary switching off Wi-Fi speaking of which does any one know when the plan to turn it back on

I doubt they will turn it back on to be honest

[col87]

Sorry I didn't know where else to put this, so I thought this most convenient place.

Does anyone know what Stagecoach are going to do about the ever imminent CAZ in Newcastle as they still have MAN ALX300's in active service and they cannot just move them onto other single decker routes as there are only 2 routes that don't enter the city centre at all, which is 6,7,8 and 18. However I feel there would be too many of them so they would have to cascade some. Do you think some new E200 MMC's could be on the way?

Also what are they doing about it? Such as GNE lowering emission standards to Euro 6 on most routes, even there Hybrids as euro 6 is cleaner. Are the E400's euro 6? I know the 69 plates are but what about the 16 plates and older??

One option for Stagecoach is swapping the 64  65 plate E300 at  Stockton with the remaining man Alexander 300s which would help in the short term. I suppose they could take a few E200 MMC as well from Stockton.  Ideally though Stagecoach need to do something so if money is available I would do the following. 

Newcastle. 
Enviro 400 MMC 
Enviro 200 MMC  
Some of the older Enviro 400 could be cascaded to Stockton and Sunderland depots along with the Enviro 300s. This would also help to see the end of the worse of the the Enviro 200s out of the north east fleet.  

Hartlepool 
Enviro 200 MMC 
Optare Versa   ( only if Stockton does not get new buses instead ) 
Enviro 400 MMC 

Hartlepool has a major problem at the moment in that it desperately needs better buses as the mechanics are having a difficult  job keeping the current fleet on the road. At least more than half the fleet is poor and needs to go. Getting some newer optare versea and enviro 200 MMC could solve the problem for at least the next few years.  Splitting the 36 with Stockton could also help especially with the reliability of that service which is why I put some Enviro 400 MMC on the list. 
 
Stockton 

Enviro 400 MMC 
Enviro 200 MMC 

More Enviro 200 MMC would see some of the remaining Man Alexander 300 removed from service and put into the reserve fleet. Enviro 400 for the 36 service shared with Hartlepool could beneficial and make the service more reliable plus once covid measures are finally fully removed it’s likely the 36 will return to be full on most journeys so extra capacity could be needed.  This could also some of the 64 and 65 plate E300 moved to Hartlepool to replace some of the worse of the Enviro 200 fleet.    

Hartlepool and Stockton 

Mercedes Benz Dodge 
Optare Solo SR. 

This could be used and bought in part payment by Tees Valley combined authority as spares and to extend the Tees flex operation. Could also be used for experimental routes or duplicates at busy times.  

I know before anyone points out none of this or at least most of this is likely to happen but everything there does benefit most depots and helps get rid of the worst of the fleet.