Information posted on July 31st 2015 at 12:00

Stagecoach Olympians hanging on… (Part One)
The last few months have seen vast inroads made into reducing the number of Volvo Olympians in service across Stagecoach, so we though it might be useful to look at how many vehicles of the type remain. Over the coming weeks we will look at all the Stagecoach companies.

Stagecoach Midlands
Stagecoach Midlands currently has 25 Volvo Olympians in its fleet, but with more Tridents due to enter service in the next few months look out for further withdrawals, including the open top examples at Stratford.
In Service (13 + 4 Open Top)
Leamington: 16614, 16615
Stratford: 16619, 16693, 16695 (Open Top 16527, 16538, 16539, 16580)
Northampton: 16694, 16696, 16698, 16699
Kettering: 16113, 16174, 16459
Rugby: 16757
Reserve Fleet (5)
Corby: 16460
Rugby: 16685
Kettering: 16755
Leamington: 16873
Stratford: 16683
For Disposal (3)
Northampton: 16162
Corby: 16495
Leamington: 16223

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
The Stagecoach Cumbria fleet includes 25 Olympians, which includes one Open Top example. 17 are in service with the remainder in the Reserve Fleet (6) or awaiting disposal (3).
In Service (16 + 1 Open Top)
Barrow: 16639, 16661, 16670
Carlisle: 16650, 16776 (Open Top 16534)
Morecambe: 16634, 16645, 16660, 16663, 16664, 16665, 16667, 16793, 16795
West Cumbria: 16649, 16666
Reserve Fleet (6)
Carlisle: 16119
West Cumbria: 16118, 16657
Kendal: 16640, 16642
Barrow: 16651
For Disposal (3)
Morecambe: 16339
West Cumbria: 16652
Barrow: 16662

Stagecoach East Midlands
Despite an influx of Tridents earlier this year, there are still 20 Volvo Olympians in the fleet, with all but two in the operational fleet.
In Service (18)
Worksop: 16136
Gainsborough: 16462, 16463, 16464, 16469
Scunthorpe: 16061, 16461, 16465, 16466, 16467
Lincoln: 16131, 16133, 16148, 16151, 16169, 16456, 16582
Skegness: Open Top 16314
Reserve Fleet (2)
Scunthorpe: 16063
Worksop: 16066

Stagecoach East Scotland
With just 13 Olympians in this fleet, Perth remains a stronghold with eight vehicles of the type on its books.
In Service (13)
Arbroath: 16228
Blairgowrie: 16771, 16779, 16780, 16781
Perth: 16075, 16229, 16753, 16754, 16762, 16763, 16770, 16778

Information posted on July 31st 2015 at 08:30
News from Stagecoach North East is that new Enviro 200s 37301-05 are now in service at South Shields, with 37306-08 being prepared for service. The five in use have displaced Dart SLFs 35191-95 to Slatyford, which in turn has released 34609-13, which are shown by the company as surplus and likely to be cascaded elsewhere within Stagecoach.
At Stagecoach East Scotland Volvo Olympian 16073 is recorded as being sold to Drew Wilson, whilst MAN 22349 is back in service at Dunfermline as a replacement for Scania Omnilink 24004 which is out of use with accident damage. Following completion of the Rail Replacement work here 22350/72, 22574/77/79 and 53248/59 are back in the Reserve Fleet.
News reaches us that another Stagecoach East Midlands Plaxton President-bodied Trident has been damaged by fire, although we don’t have an identity yet.

Information updated on July 31st 2015 at 12:15
Stagecoach East has cancelled the planned transfer of Tridents 18348/49 from Cambridge to Peterborough, and they are both now in the Reserve Fleet. As a consequence MAN/ALX300s 22333/34/36 are back in the main fleet at Peterborough, with 22335 moving to the Reserve Fleet. Bedford-based Volvo B10M training coach 52415 has been withdrawn for disposal whilst Dart SLFs 34141/60 and Volvo B10BLEs 21161/64 have been sold to AH Hardwick.

Information posted on July 30th 2015 at 10:00
With the entry into service of the new Optare Solo SRs (48003-20) at Exeter, Stagecoach South West has placed older Solos 47084-94 into its Reserve Fleet along with 47576/78. 47095/96 have transferred from Exeter to Barnstaple, releasing 47585/88 into the Reserve Fleet. Three Solos, 47081-83 have been transferred to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire. It is believed the new Optare Solo SRs are B29F, but confirmation is being sought.
The transfer of Scania K340 coach 59303 on loan from Stagecoach Midlands (Megabus Fleet) to Stagecoach South East at Dover is to provide cover for Volvo B9R 53708 which has sustained collision damage. Volvo Olympian 16022 has been withdrawn from Dover and is now awaiting disposal. In its place Dover has received Volvo B10M 20675 from the Reserve Fleet. Back in service from the Reserve Fleet at Eastbourne is MAN/ALX300 22008 although we understand that similar 22187 may now be out of service there. We have not received any reports of new ADL Enviro 200 37327 entering service at Hastings.
Heading to Hull news reaches us that the training school at East Yorkshire Motor Services is to get a second double deck training bus in the shape of Volvo B7TL 648, which following conversion will be given fleet number 9916.
Further to yesterday’s Fleet Ramblings on changes at Stagecoach Manchester, we are informed that the transfer of the Tridents from Sharston to Hyde Road are for a Metrolink tram replacement service and that they are expected to return to Sharston for the start of the academic year in September. We also now understand that the three Tridents transferred to Wigan are cover for contracts which will transfer to that depot from Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire when the latter closes Chorley as a main depot.

Information updated on July 30th 2015 at 10:25
We can now confirm that Stagecoach Midlands has transferred Optare Solos 47407/08 from Northampton to Kettering, as replacements for 47123/24 which has been shipped out to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.
We understand that Dart SLF 34717 and open top Trident 17449 are both now in service with Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire at Kendal depot and news also reaches us that the open top conversion work on Plaxton President-bodied Trident 17692 is now complete and it should be in service within the next week.

Information updated on July 30th 2015 at 17:15
Its been a busy day for Fleet Ramblings, but with here we go with more news.
Stagecoach Yorkshire has reduced its fleet of operational Dart SPDs to just one, 33402 at Ecclesfield, with 33401, 33840/41 now awaiting disposal along with 33403, 33837-39. Also now for disposal are MAN/ALX300s 22934 and 22940 from Rawmarsh with similar 22801 (Rawmarsh) and 22812 (Barnsley) now in the Reserve Fleet. The cull of East Lancs-bodied MAN saloons appears to have started with 39621 and 39630 now in the Reserve Fleet at Barnsley and 39628 awaiting disposal. Also for disposal are Dart SLFs 33096 from Chesterfield and 33240 from Rawmarsh. With all of the ex-Carlisle Enviro 200s now in service at Rawmarsh there has been a swap around of Dart SLFs with 34361/65, 34583 and 34722 now at Chesterfield and 35115, 35261-63 now at Barnsley.
It has been a fairly quiet month at Stagecoach South with Enviro 19071 now in service at Portsmouth whilst Enviro 300 27663 moves from Worthing to Chichester in exchange for 27655. Reserve Fleet Optare Solo 47545 moves from Basingstoke to Chichester whilst Volvo Olympian 16303 has been sold to T Wigley.
At Stagecoach Midlands the cull of Volvo Olympians continues – 16460, 16683/85, 16755 and 16873 are now in the Reserve Fleet and 16162, 16223 and 16495 which had been delicenced for repairs are now awaiting disposal. Also now for disposal is Dart SLF 34121, whilst similar 34120 has been sold. The transfer of Scania/Caetano Levante coach 59303 to Stagecoach South East is now regarded as permanent rather than a loan. Several of the Tridents which have been converted to single door layout are now in service here, 17567 at Stratford, 17511 at Leamington and 17486 at Rugby. Dart SLF 34496 has transferred from Nuneaton to Corby, whilst MAN/Enviro 200 39692 has moved from Northampton to Rugby. Several Optare Solos are now in the Reserve Fleet here – 47010/15/32/34/35/36/37/44, 47128. Of the Reserve Fleet vehicles three are being used as cover for the repaint programme – 34491 (at Rugby), 47032 (at Northampton) and 47128 (at Nuneaton). Delicenced for body repairs is Trident 17615 at Corby and for engine repairs is Enviro 200 36212 at Rugby. Enviro 36153 has returned to service at Nuneaton after collision repairs.

Information posted on July 29th 2015 at 07:00
The stay of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire Optare Solo SR 48002 at West Cumbria was short-lived and it has returned to Carlisle.
Further Tridents ousted from Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire are 18145/46/48 which have transferred to Stagecoach Manchester and are in the Reserve Fleet.
Stagecoach Manchester has reduced the number of withdrawn vehicles on its books with the sale of Spectras 13995/96 and MAN?ALX300s 22138/80-86, 22212/27/28. Tridents 17452, 17500/04/19/35 are now at Sharston (transferred from Hyde Road). MAN/ALX300 22391 has transferred from Hyde Road to Stockport where it has allowed 22819 to be transferred to the Reserve Fleet.

Updated on July 29th 2015 at 11:35
The recent transfer of the four Enviro 200s to Stagecoach Midlands has displaced at least two Optare Solos, 47123/24, which have been transferred to Stagecoach West Scotland.
Stagecoach West Scotland has put new Enviro 300s 27211-23 into service at Glasgow, with 27224-27 awaiting entry into service. Sold have been Dart SLFs 33078/79, MAN/ALX300s 22108/37/50, 22602 along with Volvo B10M (coach) 52026. The company reports that Dart SLF 33437 will be donated to a charity, whilst sales of Volvo Olympians 16728, 16852/54 are pending. Optare Solo 47505 has sustained collision damage and is expected to be withdrawn and sold. MAN/Enviro 300s into the Reserve Fleet are 22851/58/63/64/66/67. Enviro 200 37252 is transferred from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, whilst Optare Solo 47314 is now allocated to Ardrossan and similar 47559 is now allocated to Kilmarnock and 47913 to Dumfries.
Look out for the first Enviro 400s being released from Stagecoach Yorkshire in the next week and transferred to Stagecoach South East for service at Eastbourne.

Information uploaded on July 28th 2015 at 13:45
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire has transferred Volvo Olympians 16640 and 16642 to the Reserve Fleet, which removes the type from the main operational fleet at Kendal. Dart 34718 is confirmed as transferring from Carlisle to Kendal. It has been replaced at Carlisle by E200 37121 from the Reserve Fleet. Reserve Fleet Volvo Olympians 16652 and 16662 are now awaiting disposal, whilst MAN/ALX300s 22728 and 22730 along with Volvo B10M coach 52268 have been sold and are no longer part of this fleet.
East Yorkshire Motor Services reports that Volvo Olympians 630, 631 and 632 have been sold.

Information uploaded on July 27th 2015 at 09:00
Reports have been received that Stagecoach East is consulting on the closure of the Stagecoach in Norfolk outstations at Cromer, Reepham and Tattersett – all have just one vehicle, nominally an Optare Solo. We understand the plan would be to transfer the three vehicle workings to Fakenham where there is currently a five vehicle outstation, normally four single decks (Tempo/E300) and one Midibus (Dart/Versa).
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire has received Trident 17036 from the Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire Reserve Fleet. Also at the Cumbria fleet, Optare Solo 47616 has been repainted in the latest Solo livery.
Stagecoach West continues to reduce its double deck fleet with the transfer of Trident 18091 to Stagecoach Bluebird and similar 18376 to Stagecoach South. In return Dart SLF 34733 has been received from Stagecoach Bluebird and has replaced 18091 at Swindon. Scania/E400 15451 has transferred from Gloucester to Ross on Wye in exchange for Trident 17222, whilst Scania/E400 15875 is back in service at Gloucester after repairs. Just one of the latest delivery of Enviro 200s is in service at Gloucester - 37323. Volvo B10M training coach has moved from Gloucester to Cheltenham, whilst Darts 33946/50/53 have been sold and are no longer part of the fleet.

Information updated on July 27th 2015 at 10:50
Stagecoach South Wales has transferred MAN/Enviro 22279 to Stagecoach Highlands at Inverness, whilst the final Scania/Enviro 300 to enter service is 28721 at Cwmbran. Also at Cwmbran is Optare Solo 47195 following repairs, Into the Reserve Fleet here are Caerphilly Staff Shuttle Dart SLF 34490 along with Dart SLFs 35199 from Porth and 34749 from Cwmbran. Dart 34751 has transferred from Porth to Aberdare, whilst similar 34746 is now allocated to Merthyr to provide cover for the repaint programme.

Information posted on July 25th 2015 at 10:10
It would appear that the seven Enviro 200s transferred from Stagecoach West Scotland to Stagecoach East Midlands (36706-12) are in fact in exchange for Optare Solos, although the identities of the Solos is not yet known. The Enviro 200s are at Lincoln being prepared for service.
The remaining main fleet Dart SPDs in the Stagecoach East Midlands fleet - 33832/35/37 - have been transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Hull. Also transferred to the Hull Reserve Fleet are MAN/ALX300s 22110/88 and 22309. Replacements are MAN/ALX300s 22278 and 22365 transferred from Lincoln (and eliminating the MAN/ALX300 type from the Lincoln allocation) and Enviro 300s 27196/97 and 27203/04 from Stagecoach South Wales. Also transferred from Stagecoach South Wales are Enviro 300s 27189/93 which are allocated to Lincoln.
Stagecoach East Midlands is to abandon the Frequento branding it has used in Hull for many years and replace it with Simplibus branding, which also includes service revisions and route renumbering.

Information posted on July 24th 2015 at 11:45
Megabus-operated Scania/Levante 59303 from Stagecoach Midland’s Rugby depot has gone on loan to Stagecoach South East at Dover to cover on National Express commitments.
Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire has transferred ADL E40D/Enviro 400MMC demonstrator from Gillmoss to Birkenhead depot. It has also placed Tridents 17111 and 17448 from Birkenhead and Chester into the Reserve Fleet. Also in the Reserve Fleet is Dart SLF 34620 from Chorley. Reserve Fleet Dart SLF 34597 has moved from Chester to Gillmoss. Scania L94 28538 has been taken out of service at Birkenhead and is now part of the training fleet allocated to Gillmoss.

Information posted on July 23rd 2015 at 12:45
Hot off the press is that the MCV EvoSeti-bodied Volvo B5TL, 793, has been delivered to East Yorkshire Motor Services this morning. Also now with the company are Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Geminis 790-92, with all three being delivered in dealer white and being repainted into EYMS livery before entering service.
Our regular correspondent Richard Smiles advises that further ADL E20D/Enviro 200s delivered to Stagecoach North East are 37306/07 (SK15HEV/HFA), both will carry South Shields - Connecting the Dots branding.
Our friends at Andy’s Bus Blog have confirmed that new Optare Solos 48021-25 have arrived with Stagecoach East at its Stagecoach in Norfolk (formerly Norfolk Green) operation. Three of the buses are registered YJ15AAZ/ANP/ANV, although actual identities are not yet known. Once they are in service look out for Solos 47883/85/86/87 being stood down from frontline service and likely to be placed into the Reserve Fleet. Two further repaints here into Stagecoach livery are 47895 and 47897.

Updated on July 23rd 2015 at 15:35
We can confirm that the five Optare Solo SRs delivered this week to Stagecoach East (Stagecoach in Norfolk), 48021-25 are registered YJ15AAZ/ANP/ANR/ANU/ANV.

Information posted on July 21st at 11:10
Look out for the first of ten new Scania/Enviro 400s for Stagecoach East (15211-20) being delivered to Fenstanton depot in the next few weeks to upgrade vehicles used on Busway service B. They will replace a similar number of older Scania/E400s which the company has confirmed will be will be transferred to Cambridge for use on Ely and Newmarket services. They will retain their leather interior seating and are likely to carry a green biobus-derived livery which would allow them to also be used on Busway services if required.
Stagecoach East Midlands is currently receiving cascaded Enviro 200s from Stagecoach West Scotland at Glasgow. It is expected that 36706-12 will be allocated to Lincoln depot.
Stagecoach East Midlands is also planning to introduce its ‘Simplibus’ branding and network concept - already in use at Grimsby - to its Hull network where it will replace the ‘Frequento’ brand.
Another Stagecoach London Trident transferred to Stagecoach East Midlands for component recovery is 17557.
New Enviro 200MMCs reported as awaiting commissioning with Stagecoach London at Romford at 36601/02/05. Stagecoach London has sold Tridents 17556 and 17812 to City Metals whilst Tridents 17846/52/53 are now at Barking and Scania 15042 at West Ham.

Updated on July 21st at 18:10
Look out for 12 Enviro 400s transferring from Stagecoach Yorkshire to Stagecoach South East, where they will be put into Eastbourne depot. They are due to be released in August following the completion of Supertram Replacement work. They are due to displace a similar number of Enviro 300s which through an internal cascade programme will enable further non-DDA saloons to be taken out of service.
A further Enviro 400 already released from Supertram work by Stagecoach Yorkshire is 19641, which is now with Stagecoach North East.
At Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire Dart SLF 34719 is now in the green ‘Lakes’ version of the Stagecoach livery and Optare Solo 47729 is now in the latest version of the Solo livery. Trident 18362 is losing its Morecambe & Wise livery on repaint, which will see it emerge in corporate livery.