Stagecoach MCSL - Preston Depot

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Stagecoach - Preston Depot
The Gold Enviro400s are becoming more common on the X2: at least two were on it today in the form of 15228 and 15240. I managed a ride on 15240 from Bootle Strand to Southport and while the interior was nice, if a little gimmicky, the ride quality was a bit disappointing compared with the outstanding PX59CTK. Still, there's a lot worse out there!

The X2 is surely the perfect route for Gold standard conversion given its interurban nature and it serving many affluent areas on the way. I did hear a couple of people on board in Thornton commenting favourably on the 'gold bus', and it might just tempt a few more people out of their cars and off the train onto the bus.

The incumbent X2 batch is a decent set of buses, not too far off Gold standard, but clearly their reliability isn't brilliant of late with so many substitutions. Today, there were at least four (two Golds, a 62 plate and PX12EFD) and five has been commonplace in recent weeks. From an enthusiast's point of view, the variety is interesting, but it seems like time for a new batch of Scanias for the X2.