Stagecoach North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2015

(28 Feb 2015, 10:26 am)AIG20 wrote It appears that Slatyford MAN E200 39726 (NK09 EGY) has transferred to Walkergate Depot, for use on service 15/15A.
Image owned by Flickr user "Sean Blair".

So it looks like Pointer Darts 34609-14 are transferring to Slatyford instead of Sunderland.

Further discussion is difficult when posts are removed, but thankfully Michael quoted this one before it disappeared...

I should note that the MANviro Enviro200s are only Euro 4. It has been speculated recently that the new contract will stipulate the use of Euro 5 vehicles (hence the alluded transfer of ADL Enviro200s) opposed to Euro 4? Matt Williamson reports on Flickr that Dart 34614 has been exchanged for 39726.

(01 Mar 2015, 11:46 am)Dan wrote Further discussion is difficult when posts are removed, but thankfully Michael quoted this one before it disappeared...

I should note that the MANviro Enviro200s are only Euro 4. It has been speculated recently that the new contract will stipulate the use of Euro 5 vehicles (hence the alluded transfer of ADL Enviro200s) opposed to Euro 4? Matt Williamson reports on Flickr that Dart 34614 has been exchanged for 39726.

Hopefully that's good news, means Sunderland don't loose any enviro's. 

Although, i think its far from confirmed?

(01 Mar 2015, 11:49 am)Michael wrote Hopefully that's good news, means Sunderland don't loose any enviro's. 

Although, i think its far from confirmed?

I agree that it's good news for us if the contract still is Euro 4 as per Nexus' original invitation to tender specification, but thought I'd query it in search of confirmation as it was suggested by you and Kuyoyo in the "Tender Discussion" thread that the new contract would be Euro 5:

(22 Feb 2015, 1:31 pm)Michael wrote I was told its gonna be euro 5... unless i was mis-informed!

(22 Feb 2015, 1:33 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Stagecoach bid specified Euro5 vehicles as I understand it (that or Nexus changed the specification) and therefore, as I understand it, 34609-14 will be swapped for 6 of Sunderland's 36081-94

(01 Mar 2015, 11:55 am)Dan wrote I agree that it's good news for us if the contract still is Euro 4 as per Nexus' original invitation to tender specification, but thought I'd query it in search of confirmation as it was suggested by you and Kuyoyo in the "Tender Discussion" thread that the new contract would be Euro 5:

Its what i got told by someone i know. 

(01 Mar 2015, 11:46 am)Dan wrote Further discussion is difficult when posts are removed, but thankfully Michael quoted this one before it disappeared...

I should note that the MANviro Enviro200s are only Euro 4. It has been speculated recently that the new contract will stipulate the use of Euro 5 vehicles (hence the alluded transfer of ADL Enviro200s) opposed to Euro 4? Matt Williamson reports on Flickr that Dart 34614 has been exchanged for 39726.

He states that 39726 is being trialled on the 15/15A with other swaps occurring after 39726's trial period. I wonder whether Stagecoach are thinking about upgrading some vehicles to Euro 5/6?

(01 Mar 2015, 11:55 am)Dan wrote I agree that it's good news for us if the contract still is Euro 4 as per Nexus' original invitation to tender specification, but thought I'd query it in search of confirmation as it was suggested by you and Kuyoyo in the "Tender Discussion" thread that the new contract would be Euro 5:

The information I recieved from Nexus suggested that both contracts were awarded on a non-conforming basis, presenting the best value. Both contracts were tendered as Euro4 not Euro5 though

(27/02/2015, 20:04)Tyresmoke Wrote:
It could do with deckers but they could do with sorting the reliability first - probably wants an extra bus in it but they won't do that.

If the X82 is anything to go by, the will simply remove some stops rather than add an extra bus. Which has been totally unsuccessful with reliability being as shocking as ever! As for upgrades, there are a number of Slatyford routes that would easily justify deckers. But given the last time this forgotten depot received a new full size bus is 2007...

Think Stagecoach Newcastle will getting a Complaint as there 63 Service which due at the stop on Stamfordham Road at 17 mins past went down the road at bang on 12 mins past the hour, 5 mins early I might add.

It was revealed on Twitter last night that Stagecoach are holding an open meeting at Walkergate Depot to discuss traffic delays and possible solutions on Monday 23rd March between 6pm and 8pm. I'll defnitely be going! Stipulates, incidentally, that it is not an enthusiast event and no access will be provided to the buses.

"I have a old photo of old ALX 300 buses line up in Stockton depot on Sunday, It would be nice to see all of the new Enviro 300 buses line up on Sunday at Stockton depot to see them all lined up instead"

I've noticed a couple of nights recently some of the double deckers have been mixed in with the singles!

"Kuyoyo Wrote:
Although not yet seen to be confirmed, 22063 is reported to have returned to Stockton depot after its loan to Slatyford with reserve-allocated MAN 22471 has gone in the opposite direction."

22471 still in service at Stockton yesterday.

I always like to see buses line up on Sunday at Stockton depot even now they have the new buses Enviro 300 and newish Enviro 300s to it would be good to have a nice photo of them now line up on Sunday.

(03 Mar 2015, 10:59 am)markydh wrote It was revealed on Twitter last night that Stagecoach are holding an open meeting at Walkergate Depot to discuss traffic delays and possible solutions on Monday 23rd March between 6pm and 8pm. I'll defnitely be going! Stipulates, incidentally, that it is not an enthusiast event and no access will be provided to the buses.

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/Newcastleopenmeeting.aspx

Think Stagecoach should purchase some Optare Solo SRs for the 15/15A, that housing estate in Byker just after it stops outside Morrisons enroute to Newcastle is extremely tight for the MAN E200s.

(05 Mar 2015, 7:04 pm)Malarkey wrote Think Stagecoach should purchase some Optare Solo SRs for the 15/15A, that housing estate in Byker just after it stops outside Morrisons enroute to Newcastle is extremely tight for the MAN E200s.

For a one year contract? How would Stagecoach justify the capital expenditure into Optare Solo SR vehicles for a Nexus-secured service, which is due to come up for renewal again in a year? Put it like this: let's say you had to save up to buy a new games console, but there was a chance you wouldn't have a TV to use that games console with in a year's time, would you buy the games console?

In the instances of new "Nexus" branded vehicles being ordered by other companies, they've had fairly decent five year contract lengths, in most cases.

Its dark so not sure but is the 37*** at Shields got free Wi-Fi on it?

(05 Mar 2015, 9:59 pm)idiot wrote Its dark so not sure but is the 37*** at Shields got free Wi-Fi on it?

Believe they do - last month when I got a photo of one of them, I'm sure I saw a free Wi-Fi logo near the doors.

Should be able to do a quick Flickr search of the fleet number to double check that.

Now that sounds confusing! Search8ng sounds technical!

(06 Mar 2015, 4:50 pm)idiot wrote Now that sounds confusing! Search8ng sounds technical!

Didn't have time before work this morning so I couldn't do it for you - but it wouldn't have revealed the answer anyway as there are no photos showing the logo I recall!

It's been a very recent application of the 'Free Wi-Fi' logo on the nearside if my memory serves me well from my fairly recent trip to South Shields. I didn't think anything of it at the time.

I will down again on Monday hopefully catch it then

I saw a photos of the new buses for stagecoach western there are like the Arriva buses have got in Middlesbrough. I would really like to see some go to stagecoach north east because there are nice buses.

(07 Mar 2015, 8:07 pm)glen1234 wrote I saw a photos of the new buses for stagecoach western there are like the Arriva buses have got in Middlesbrough. I would really like to see some go to stagecoach north east because there are nice buses.

As they weren't ordered by Stagecoach and are't owned by Stagecoach - no other division will be getting Streetlites.

(07 Mar 2015, 8:40 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As they weren't ordered by Stagecoach and are't owned by Stagecoach - no other division will be getting Streetlites.

Have the Stagecoach Group formerly ruled out purchasing any Streetlites ever? I understand their orders are predominantly from ADL, but there are times they've looked elsewhere - e.g. the Versas in the North West. 

(07 Mar 2015, 9:01 pm)aureolin wrote Have the Stagecoach Group formerly ruled out purchasing any Streetlites ever? I understand their orders are predominantly from ADL, but there are times they've looked elsewhere - e.g. the Versas in the North West. 

The trial batch of WF Streetlites haven't exactly proved great, and actually produce a worse MPG than the batch of Solo SRs ordered at the same time and delivered months before 43001-9 finally entered revenue-earning service. The only thing they gave was the decision to order Solos with the same gearbox set-up

(07 Mar 2015, 9:16 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The trial batch of WF Streetlites haven't exactly proved great, and actually produce a worse MPG than the batch of Solo SRs ordered at the same time and delivered months before 43001-9 finally entered revenue-earning service. The only thing they gave was the decision to order Solos with the same gearbox set-up

But things can be done with engine and/or gearbox setup to give better MPG.

Someone is saying the gas leak near roker retail park was from the SC depot.

Is Howick Retail Park the Franks Flooring Store, Falcon Computers, the Tile Shop and Car Dealer; or the shops across the road?

(08 Mar 2015, 5:58 pm)AIG20 wrote Is Howick Retail Park the Franks Flooring Store, Falcon Computers, the Tile Shop and Car Dealer; or the shops across the road?

Not sure, i always thought it was Roker retail park.

Oh Dear! It appears that the leak did come from Sunderland Depot, and here are peoples comments below:

"It was confirmed it was at the stagecoach bus depot 1 of the cylinders had burst open hence the noise and smell of gas"

"Gas leak was at the depot for the busses"

"It's the busways depot, I live in Howick park"

"Its the gas tanks at the bus depot happened about half three really loud hissing noise could here it at Tesco"