December 4th 2019: Fleet Ramblings

4/12/2019

Stagecoach East Midlands
Now operating from Gainsborough is Dart SLF 34530.

Stagecoach West
Trident 18156 which has latterly been operated by Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire, was parked inside Gloucester depot yesterday, believed to be a transfer. We understand that there may be further Tridents transferred from within Stagecoach UK Bus to this fleet.

Stagecoach South
The two additional ADL Enviro 400MMCs delivered here, 11272/73 (SN69ZGH/J) have received branding for use on Chichester University services.

Stagecoach Manchester
Trident 18415, which had been on loan from Stagecoach East and used from Sharston has been returned. It arrived back at Peterborough depot this morning and retains its Manchester Bee logo alongside the Stagecoach fleet name on the front of the vehicle.

Stagecoach East
Several passengers have apparently been told by drivers that the existing Volvo B11R coaches used on the X5 Oxford-Bedford-Cambridge route are to receive reliability modifications. A passenger yesterday was told that these will be carried out by Stagecoach Midlands at Rugby. It was also suggested that the Bedford depot, which works the X5 service, could receive a couple of new double deck vehicles to provide temporary cover whilst the work takes place. None of this has been officially confirmed by the company. Rugby depot has experience of coaches having a large allocation of Megabus vehicles on its books. It has also been undertaking reliability work on Oxford Tube vehicles.

Midland Metro
We were pleased to hear that ‘Brummie’ comedian Jasper Carrot has had a Midland Metro tram named after him - a more environmentally friendly travel alternative to his 1970s Funky Moped! Jasper’s name now adorns CAF Urbos 3 train 28 and was named on November 13th 2019.
Jasper said: “Having a tram named after you is indeed an honour especially when it is all tied up with Birmingham and the West Midlands where I was born and bred.
“Today was pretty special. The last time I rode on a tram in Birmingham was over 70 years ago when I went from the city centre to Handsworth Wood, it took about four days.
“To ride on the super smooth flying machine was a real treat especially as I didn’t have to pay.”