(29 May 2025, 10:24 pm)col87 wrote The plan was to send a majority of the fleet to Hartlepool to help with capacity and get rid of the less reliable and older buses in the fleet but from what a driver told they will be going to Slatyford with some of there buses going to Hartlepool which doesn’t really help much as your replacing knackered buses with more knackered buses. Saying that I don’t think the managers have much of a clue most of the time as things seem to constantly be getting changed.
I would personally hold fire on all movements though and concentrate on Hartlepool since Stagecoach know for sure they will continue to have the depot and services there in the long term which can not be said with any certainty for South Shields or the Two Newcastle depots or Sunderland. Rebuild the pits and invest in Hartlepool with full size buses and invest in the network and you could make a nice profit especially as since Arriva don’t seem interested they are gaps in the market especially to areas like Dalton Park and likes of Easington Village and Hordon
Stagecoach is a business and will certainly have long term plans. Hartlepool doesn't need single deck buses, midi buses are just fine. They run local town routes, which are going to get busy at peak times but that's part of the course. Why rebuild a depot to replace 10-15 year old buses with slightly bigger (4 extra seats if that) 10-15 year old buses?
Hartlepool won't get investment until it's needed, which will likely be electric vehicles when the 63/15 E200 darts need replacing.
As mentioned, the 36 serves a fair bit of Hartlepool and will soon run brand new fully electric buses with air con and high back leather seating - it's not like the town is getting nothing.