Stagecoach North East

[riverside motors]

RE: Stagecoach North East

(10/06/2013 16:47)kuyoyo Wrote:  

(10/06/2013 16:36)riverside motors Wrote:  

(10/06/2013 15:41)kuyoyo Wrote:  At some point, there will need to be an investment of new stock into Stockton for more than just the 36/37 as has happened in the last decade (and even then, only 24101-15 were fully purchased from Stagecoach funds, 22061-6 and 34401 were part-funded by the Government Kick Start funding same as Hartlepool's 34550/61-9 and Slatyford's 22408-13). Low height Enviro400s, in theory, should fit under Marton Railway Bridge so could be used on the 37 as well as the 36 (although you would need to try out first, same with the Tridents as they too are also low enough to fit under). The endless cascade of mid-life stock can only go on for so long.

And the ironic thing is that the newest buses are the most unreliable. I must say however when you look at the improvements Arriva have made across the North East, it does feel like Stagecoach are missing us out (as in Teesside) so an investment, like you say, must happen soon. The only problem is Stagecoach can't purchase Enviro200's for the depot because - with exemption of the 13 and 35, all the other bus services get reasonalby full for a bus that size - so its going to cost a lot of money (not to mention the must needed boost in the enviro's currently) , so unless they get buses from the green bus fund, its going to be expensive.

It only needs to be a small investment, double deckers for the 36/37 (maybe the 38 to give a even investment across the entire Norton-Park End corridor) would enable the MAN Enviro300s and the 54-reg MANs to replace 21 of the non-DDA MANs. After those routes, the 12 would be the next most profitable service, even with the 14 and 34 interworking into it so a few new buses there would replace further older non-DDA stock.

I think the 12 would be a better if it was double decker but the 37/38 would be more likely to get doubles after the 36, however the 38 doesn't particulary get full compared to the 12/36/37, so putting DDA buses on could just lead purchasing new Enviro 300's for the 37/38 (could see them being eletric/gas powered). So this would mean that every area would benefit from new buses, Middlesbrough (Coulby Newham, Hemlington, Acklam etc.) would get the Enviro 400, Billingham West and would also get new Enviro 400's, Park end would get Enviro300/400's, Norton would get new Enviro300's which would just leave out Stockton areas - Enviro200's for 61? In total around 40 buses (24 Enviro 400, 11 Enviro 300, 5 enviro 200)+ 15 current enviro's = 55 + 6 alx300 = 61 of the PVR