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September 30th 2020 @ 14:30: Fleet View Special - Stagecoach Group is 40 years old on October 9th 2020

30/9/2020

 
Picture© Lee Frost
Stagecoach Group
October 9th 2020 marks the 40th Anniversary of the Stagecoach Group. Look out for a special destination display appearing on vehicles - it has already been seen on Stagecoach East Midlands vehicles.
In advance of the actual Anniversary date we focus on the bus and coach operations of the company and present a selection of images of the company showing the ‘Stripes’, ‘Beachball’ and current corporate liveries. 

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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Stagecoach Group
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Steven Knight Media
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© Megabus/Twitter
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© Lee Wardle
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© David Growns
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© Lee Wardle
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© Lee Wardle
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© Lee Wardle

September 30th 2020 @ 14:20: Fleet Ramblings

30/9/2020

 
Stagecoach Midlands
Further transfers to Leamington from Northampton are Enviro 400MMCs 10726-32 and Scania/Enviro 400 15449.
Enviro 200s 36154/55/56/60/61 have been transferred from Rugby to Nuneaton.
Route branding has been removed from Nuneaton-allocated Enviro 200s 36748 (route 5/5A) and 36753 (route 10). 
We understand that MAN/Enviro 300 22837 at Nuneaton is currently being used as a staff shuttle vehicle between Nuneaton and Coventry to allow driver changeovers on the 60 and 703 services.
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© Steven Knight Media
Stagecoach South Wales
Returned to service following repairs are Dart SLF 34748 at Cwmbran and Optare Solo 47184 at Blackwood.
Enviro 200s 36793 and 36795 have transferred from Aberdare to Merthyr displacing similar 37180 which has transferred from Merthyr to Caerphilly.
 
Stagecoach Oxfordshire
Former Stagecoach East Dart SLF 34882 is now at Banbury depot. It is a replacement for Optare Solo 47736 which has been out of service for a considerable time with engine failure and is now expected to be formally withdrawn for disposal. It had been sent to Crewe Engines for repair before COVID-‘lockdown’ but we understand that the repair is no longer viable.

Stagecoach South
We understand that a transfer here (at Winchester) from Stagecoach East Scotland is Trident 18086.

September 30th 2020 @ 09:22: Fleet Vision

30/9/2020

 
Stagecoach North East
The North East fleet is building up quite a collection of vehicles in the new Stagecoach 'Local' livery.  Here we present a selection of images of Enviro 300s (27742/43/50) in the new colour scheme from the camera of Ian Hardie.
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© Ian Hardie
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© Ian Hardie
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© Ian Hardie

September 30th 2020 @ 09:15: Fleet Vision

30/9/2020

 
East Yorkshire
The roll-out of the Ray Stenning/Best Impressions-designed family of liveries here is now complete with the unveiling of the new livery for the East Yorkshire Coaches fleet on Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 95..
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© East Yorkshire Coaches
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© Ben Gilligan/EY/Twitter
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© Ben Gilligan/EY/Twitter

September 29th 2020 @ 14:30: Fleet Ramblings

29/9/2020

 
Stagecoach Midlands
Temporary fleet numbers are now being allocated to the hire fleet at Northampton. Reported so far are:
80071 LK08DXP
80072 LK08NVF
80073 SN13CHC
80079 BJ11DTZ
80081 BJ11EBL
80082 BJ11AEO
A further former Stagecoach East Dart SLF to enter service at Rugby is 34831.

Stagecoach South
A recipient of the Stagecoach ‘local’ livery here is Enviro 400 19885.
 
Stagecoach Manchester
Reported Stagecoach ‘Local’ repaints here are Optare Solo 47649 and Optare Solo SR 47825.
Stagecoach South Wales
Former Stagecoach Oxfordshire Gold-spec Scania/Enviro 400 15613 finally entered service at Cwmbran on the afternoon of September 21st 2020.
 
Stagecoach South West
All of the Reserve Fleet vehicles here have now been returned to service. Also back in service, at Exeter, following repairs is Dart SLF 35245. Optare Solo 47098 has been transferred from Exeter to Torquay.
Vehicles sold are Dart SLF 34408 and Volvo B7R 53236.

East Yorkshire
Look out for Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse Urban 345 transferring from Pocklington to Hull, whilst also at Hull Mercedes-Benz Tourismo 95 is being re-licensed and reinstated to the Coaching Fleet.
The company has also advised that Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 973, on loan here from Oxford Bus Company is being moved from Elloughton to Hull although the reason for the transfer is not known.

Stagecoach Oxfordshire
Last Sunday saw the annual Showbus rally replaced with a road run. This year just one Stagecoach-owned vehicle took part - ADL Enviro 200MMC 37630 from Banbury depot.
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© Gary Seamarks

September 28th 2020 @ 16:10: Fleet Ramblings

28/9/2020

 
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
This fleet continues to have a large number of original Optare Solos on its books with over 54 examples in the fleet. There are also 11 Optare Solo SRs operated. Two examples of the original Optare Solo fleet include two narrow-bodied Slimline vehicles with high floors which were specifically bought for use on the Keswick-Honister service and we are able to bring an image of one of these, 47722, photographed recently by John Gelson. Most of the Optare Solos retain the 2000-style Stagecoach livery although some others carry Lakes Connection colours and five, 47006/09, 47139/40 and 47617 have been painted in the new Stagecoach ‘Local’ colours.
​Further repaints into Stagecoach 'Local' livery here are Scania/Enviro 400s 15682/83 and 15726 along with MAN/Enviro 300 24129.
Look out for the departure of Trident 18328 from West Cumbria. It is being transferred to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire and is expected to be allocated to Birkenhead.
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© John Gelson

September 28th 2020 @ 11:15: Fleet Ramblings

28/9/2020

 
Stagecoach East Midlands
Now at Lincoln, from Grimsby is Enviro 300 27191 whilst Grimsby-allocated Enviro 200s 37200/07 have both been repainted into the Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery. Also now carrying the new ‘Local’ livery here are Enviro 400s 19189 and 19687 along with Enviro 400MMC 10737.
Reserve Fleet Trident 18031 is currently on loan from Mansfield to Gainsborough.
The return to service of Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 16907 at Scunthorpe on September 21st 2020 allowed Enviro 400MMC 10742, which had been on loan, to return to Hull the following day.
Picture
© EYspotter
​Stagecoach West
Now repainted into the Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery are MAN/Enviro 300s 22748/53 and Scania/Enviro 300 28688. Also repainted here are Scania K340s 59306 and 59307 which now carry the Stagecoach ‘Special’ livery.
The majority of the COVID-19 delicenced vehicles have now returned to service
Former Stagecoach Manchester Enviro 400s 19165/66/67 have been allocated to Swindon with 19186/87/88 allocated to Stroud.
Now at Swindon are Gold-spec Enviro 400MMCs 10994/95/96 which have transferred from Cheltenham along with Gold-spec Scania/Enviro 400s 15857/58 which have transferred from Gloucester and Optare Solo 47904 from North Bristol.
Stroud now has  two additional Tridents, 18414/15, on its books which have transferred over from North Bristol along with Gold-spec Scania/Enviro 400s 15523/24/25/25 which have transferred from Gloucester.
Cheltenham depot has received Scania/Enviro 400s 15977/78/79/80 from Stroud and 15981 from North Bristol. Also now at Cheltenham are Enviro 200s 36258/60, 36385/86/87/92 from Stroud along with 36107 and 36257 from North Bristol. Optare Solos now at Cheltenham are 47244, 47686/88 from Stroud.
Added to the Gloucester allocation are MAN/Enviro 300s 22744/45/46/47/48/49/51/52/53/54 from North Bristol along with  enviro 200 37323 from the Reserve Fleet.
The allocation at Ross on Wye has increased by two vehicles, Scania/Enviro 400 15876 from Gloucester and Dart SLF 34718 from the Reserve Fleet.
Scania K114 coaches from the training fleet have been sold.
Transferred to the Reserve Fleet are 8.9m Enviro 200s 36079/80 from Gloucester and Trident 18420 from North Bristol.

Stagecoach Megabus/Joint Venture
Four Megabus Volvo B11R coaches are currently being used on Kent County Council schools contracts and are temporarily based at Stagecoach South East’s Thanet depot. 54201/02 had been in store at Stagecoach Yorkshire’s Chesterfield depot but had latterly been in use with Stotts on MegabusPlus services. They have been joined by 54207/08 which were allocated Stagecoach West’s North Bristol depot but since easing of ‘lockdown’ had been in use at Cwmbran (Stagecoach South Wales) and latterly with the Megabus school bus operation at Hazel Grove in Manchester.
A similar arrangement with Kent County Council has seen three Freestones Megabus coaches, believed to be Scania Irizar FRE1/2/4, temporarily based at Stagecoach South East’s Herne Bay depot.
Three left hand drive Volvo B11Rs, from the North Bristol allocation, have been relicensed and are currently on loan to Stagecoach West. 55026/27/28 are allocated to the domestic fleet at North Bristol.

Stagecoach Midlands
We understand that MAN/Enviro 300s 22832, which had been allocated to the Reserve Fleet at Kettering has re-entered service there. Optare Solos 47510/18 and 47651/52 are now back in service at Nuneaton, whilst MAN/Enviro 300s 22836/37 are also now in service at Nuneaton.
Suggestions that Optare Solo 47077 is back in service at Nuneaton were incorrect. The bus, pictured below in 2018, remains for disposal. However, a ticket machine claiming to be in 47077 is actually fitted to MAN/Enviro 300 22837.
Enviro 400s 10040/41 and Trident 18401, which had all been on loan at Northampton, are understood to have returned to Leamington. Also in service at Leamington are Enviro 200s 37046/47/49/50 which have transferred from Northampton.
Five of the Dart SLFs transferred here from Stagecoach East are now operational at Rugby - 34424/25, 34833/78 and 35186 whilst MAN/Enviro 300s 22838/39 are now in the operational fleet at Leamington. Northampton is currently operating MAN/Enviro 300s 22840/41/42/43.
Picture
© Steven Knight Media
Stagecoach North East
Sold to Alpha Recovery is MAN/ALX300 22020 whilst Dart SLFs on the move have been 34605 from Sunderland to Walkergate and 35189 from Sunderland to South Shields.
Other previously unreported transfers here include Enviro 400s 19204/05 and MAN/Enviro 200s 39672/74 and 39710 from Sunderland to Walkergate with Enviro 400 10379 moving from Walkergate to Slatyford and 19384 from Stockton to Slatyford.
The North East fleet continues to operate MAN/ALX300s and two re-allocations to report are 22106 from Stockton to Walkergate with 22070 moving from Slatyford to Stockton.
Enviro 300 27723 is a transfer from Stockton to Walkergate.
Previously unreported is the branding of all-over white Enviro 400MMC 10300 into the Stagecoach ‘Local’ livery
 
Stagecoach South Wales
Optare Solo SR 47974 did not go to Stagecoach London on loan as we initially reported and it is currently away for repairs. However, Optare Solo 47638 and Optare Solo SRs 47847/48 are additional loans to the London fleet.
Now for disposal here are Optare Solos 47201, 47343, 47522/24, 47719 and 47907.
We understand that Optare Solo SR 47949, which was away for tests with DVSA/VOSA when it was formally transferred here from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire remains with DVSA/VOSA and has never been received here.
Caerphilly now has Dart SLFs 34750/62/70 and 35201 on its allocation, whilst Optare Solos 47192 and 47348 from have been relicensed and transferred from the Reserve Fleet at Porth to the main allocation at Aberdare.
Relicensed and back in service at Porth are 11.8m ADL Enviro 200MMCs 26098 along with 26100/08.
 
Stagecoach North Scotland [Bluebird]
Returned to service following repairs is Optare Solo 47601, which has been allocated to Peterhead.

Stagecoach South East
The two Tridents from Stagecoach East, 18411/12, are currently parked at Thanet.

Stagecoach Engineering Services
The company has taken out adverts in the Bus & Coach Trade Press offering its engineering expertise to private operators. Services being offered include vehicle inspections and maintenance, MOT preparation, vehicle repaints, body repairs and repainting along with vehicle interior, exterior and chassis cleaning. The advert says that many of the services on offer are provided at a fixed price.
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September 25th 2020 @ 15:20: Announcement from Ensignbus on December Running Day

25/9/2020

 
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September 25th 2020 @ 14:15: Fleet Ramblings

25/9/2020

 
Connexions
We were quite surprised to see this phot from Stephen Longmire, a leading light in the Eastern Bus Enthusiasts and a driver with Yorkshire-based Connexions. This was not a photo from last winter, but was taken after a heavy thunderstorm yesterday which was accompanied by significant hail. The bus is Optare Solo SR L50LOW, which was originally registered YJ65EVH.
Picture
© Stephen Longmire
Stagecoach East
It has now been confirmed that Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther coaches 53612/13/15-18 have been transferred to Stagecoach North Scotland [Highlands] and are not with the Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire fleet as initially thought.
Dart SLF 34534 has been sold whilst Tridents 18411/12, which has also been for disposal here, have been earmarked for cascade to Stagecoach South East.
The transfer of Busway Volvo saloons 21307/12 and 21363-65 from Bedford, where they had been on loan, to Fenstanton is imminent.
All but four of the Volvo B7RLEs, 21226/27/29/30, at Fenstanton are now in the licenced Reserve Fleet there although a number remain in regular use pending return of the vehicles from Bedford.
Stagecoach Oxfordshire
We understand that another four Dart SLFs have been received here from Stagecoach East - 34537/38 along with 34829/81.
 
Stagecoach Midlands
Two more Dart SLFs here from Stagecoach East are 34421 and 34424.
The 12 loan vehicles (Volvo B7TL/Volvo B9TL/Enviro 400s) here are currently all allocated to Northampton.
 
Stagecoach East Scotland
Volvo B5LH 13111 is currently out of service for repairs and has been replaced at Arbroath by Enviro 200 fm36 (MX14FUP) which is on loan from Ferrymill Motors.
Withdrawn from use here is MAN/East Lancs training vehicle 25203, which is due to be donated to the Fire Brigade.

September 25th 2020 @ 23:30: This week on the Oxford & Chiltern Bus Page

25/9/2020

 
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This week on the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page
Malcolm has made few changes to the layout of the page this week with local area news now at the top of the page and other areas of interest at the bottom, so if you only want a quick check you don’t need to read the full page.
The direct link to the latest page is:  Weekly Briefing nr 123 - September 25th 2020
Showbus Flyby is this coming Sunday from Oxford services to Beaconsfield services.
Buses on school children only services
All your pictures and notes on operators covered in our area
Arriva make some more changes to allocations
Significant fleet changes for the Go Ahead Oxford Group - pictures show the changes
Reading Buses win a National Express award for 2019
Local and London developments
A Travel London decker stops for a Kebab
Andrew Webb shows some of the latest developments in London
From Times of Old memories flood back - a weekly reminisce
Michael Wadman reminds us of The Oxford Circle Tour
READERS WRITE
Gary Seamarks asks some interesting questions
Ian Williamson remembers the Derwent Dart in Cambridgeshire
OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST
Andrew Tyldsley writes about Go North East
Trevor Wilson tells us about the Cross Pennine services in the North of England
…..plus all the local news and some pictures of other operators. 
Don’t forget that you can check out the Oxford & Chilterns Bus Page at any time by visiting
www.oxford-chiltern-bus-page.co.uk

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