Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

[iMarkeh]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(28/09/2020 16:48)SK15 GZG Wrote:  What's the point in branding the X1 Enviro400s when they'd have to be debranded again when they inevitably go into the new livery? It'd be a waste of time and money

I repeat from earlier. 2 years they have had the buses for. X1 I understand as it's a newer route but to not brand for the 1 isn't great. They should either have been repainted into corporate or branded up. You look at the other gold routes and can you seriously say that Rock Ferry is providing a quality Gold service in comparison? Downgraded to no USB ports and buses 5 years older, you can generally see X4 branding where the stickers were, the panels are generally mixmatch colors and the decals are generally not put back on when the panels get replaced.

(28/09/2020 16:48)SK15 GZG Wrote:  If you think that the quality of Rock Ferry's fleet is "awful" then you clearly haven't got a clue what it was like prior to Stagecoach taking over. The majority of the vehicles which were allocated were well over ten years old - and absolutely dreadful to put it politely - whilst the newest were over seven years old. If I remember correctly First didn't buy any new vehicles for Rock Ferry either (although I'm happy to be corrected on this). The difference in quality for passengers between the fleet just prior to the Stagecoach takeover and today's allocation are complete polar opposites and I know for a fact which of the two fleets passengers prefer

While this I don't dispute. I am comparing Rock Ferry 2015 to now (so comparing apples with apples in terms of ran by Stagecoach. I feel like comparing it to first is a bit apples and pears as they run/ran things differently and the standards of back then compared to now have changed drastically).
I genuinely urge you to compare Rock Ferry to other Stagecoach depots. Branded buses thrown out all over the place, gold buses thrown about like there is no tomorrow because they don't have enough corporate. London red buses still plodding around (I can see no other Stagecoach areas running red London buses 2 years after they got them). Any reputable bus manager will tell you that these are some of the basics. Even First are doing quite well at keeping branded buses on the right routes. If First can do it, Rock Ferry should be able to.

I suppose what I am saying is there there is no pride there anymore compared to a few years ago. It's just, sending a bus out without a care how it looks. Their repaints for everyone else are fantastic, why can't they take as much care of their own fleet as they take care of other depots? I will actively try not to use RF buses because of the depots standards. Much more pleasant to find alternative ways to get places and that's a shame because just a few years ago, the depot was doing so well.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots
Have you forgotten the times we are in, most buses are needed and branding right now is not the most important thing. Buses being in operation is, and I can't say I have seen too many tatty looking SC buses about. There is s bigger picture. What is important is reliable , clean buses at the moment.

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(28/09/2020 18:06)iMarkeh Wrote:  I repeat from earlier. 2 years they have had the buses for. X1 I understand as it's a newer route but to not brand for the 1 isn't great. They should either have been repainted into corporate or branded up. You look at the other gold routes and can you seriously say that Rock Ferry is providing a quality Gold service in comparison? Downgraded to no USB ports and buses 5 years older, you can generally see X4 branding where the stickers were, the panels are generally mixmatch colors and the decals are generally not put back on when the panels get replaced.

To repeat from earlier: they're going to be repainted in due course so there's no point branding them or tidying them up because it'll be a waste of time and money

(28/09/2020 18:06)iMarkeh Wrote:  I genuinely urge you to compare Rock Ferry to other Stagecoach depots. Branded buses thrown out all over the place, gold buses thrown about like there is no tomorrow because they don't have enough corporate. London red buses still plodding around (I can see no other Stagecoach areas running red London buses 2 years after they got them). Any reputable bus manager will tell you that these are some of the basics. Even First are doing quite well at keeping branded buses on the right routes. If First can do it, Rock Ferry should be able to.

Does any of this actually matter?

(28/09/2020 18:06)iMarkeh Wrote:  I suppose what I am saying is there there is no pride there anymore compared to a few years ago. It's just, sending a bus out without a care how it looks. Their repaints for everyone else are fantastic, why can't they take as much care of their own fleet as they take care of other depots? I will actively try not to use RF buses because of the depots standards. Much more pleasant to find alternative ways to get places and that's a shame because just a few years ago, the depot was doing so well.

I think Rock Ferry has far more important things to worry about now than branding or repainting their Gold Scanias. If you feel that the depot (rightly) prioritising getting them into service as quickly as possible over getting them branded/repainted means they have no pride in their fleet then I've nothing else to say. Instead of complaining about something which really doesn't even matter in the grand scheme of things how about you actually give Stagecoach credit for giving the route a much needed capacity boost?

[iMarkeh]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(28/09/2020 18:45)SK15 GZG Wrote:  To repeat from earlier: they're going to be repainted in due course so there's no point branding them or tidying them up because it'll be a waste of time and money

And I repeat, they have had 2 years from the first set coming in. How long do they want to repaint a bus. St Helens sorted their London Enviro200s out a few months and have done a cracking job on them. Branding doesn't cost much. At least not if you went down the same line as the X4. Route number and 4 major points. I in no way expect Creating Desire to jump on the job, design a full new livery and then get it applied, it's simple basic route branding which they need (matching all other Gold routes in the UK).

While yes, now they 'may' be repainted in due course, why do any buses ever get route branding since buses are always in a repaint cycle? It's called promoting a route and trying to encourage passengers. The quality of the buses coming out of Rock Ferry, I am not surprised that anyone with a choice is choosing other modes of transport. Seen smarter buses leave HTLs yard.

(28/09/2020 18:45)SK15 GZG Wrote:  Does any of this actually matter?

Yes when you are qualifying Rock Ferrys standards by their old owner rather than their current owner and standards. It also matters since you clearly think Rock Ferry are sending out top quality buses and by looking at other depots, it may help you to see just how poor the depot is.

(28/09/2020 18:45)SK15 GZG Wrote:  I think Rock Ferry has far more important things to worry about now than branding or repainting their Gold Scanias. If you feel that the depot (rightly) prioritising getting them into service as quickly as possible over getting them branded/repainted means they have no pride in their fleet then I've nothing else to say. Instead of complaining about something which really doesn't even matter in the grand scheme of things how about you actually give Stagecoach credit for giving the route a much needed capacity boost?

I would praise Stagecoach if they looked in a decent condition. These ones from Barnsley had 1 logo on from the photo posted. 1 logo. Nothing else. That's the same as HTL and Cumfybus etc. Not what should be expected from a major operator on a premium route.
I fully get trying to get buses out quickly but how long does it take for them to put some logos on the bus and smarten the thing up. It looks awful.
Right now, the route doesn't need much of a capacity boost. It's half dead. Not surprised really as they are killing off the demand on the 1/X1 slowly.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots
Have you completely forgotten that the gold brand is being discontinued, so why brand. This really is the most pointless thing to be saying right now. Clean safe buses are the important thing right now, well it is to most people anyway. Seriously.

[SK15 GZG (Moderator)]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(28/09/2020 21:03)iMarkeh Wrote:  And I repeat, they have had 2 years from the first set coming in. How long do they want to repaint a bus. St Helens sorted their London Enviro200s out a few months and have done a cracking job on them. Branding doesn't cost much. At least not if you went down the same line as the X4. Route number and 4 major points. I in no way expect Creating Desire to jump on the job, design a full new livery and then get it applied, it's simple basic route branding which they need (matching all other Gold routes in the UK).

Have you not considered that there may not be enough spare vehicles available to release them for repaint?

(28/09/2020 21:03)iMarkeh Wrote:  While yes, now they 'may' be repainted in due course, why do any buses ever get route branding since buses are always in a repaint cycle? It's called promoting a route and trying to encourage passengers. The quality of the buses coming out of Rock Ferry, I am not surprised that anyone with a choice is choosing other modes of transport. Seen smarter buses leave HTLs yard.

Yes when you are qualifying Rock Ferrys standards by their old owner rather than their current owner and standards. It also matters since you clearly think Rock Ferry are sending out top quality buses and by looking at other depots, it may help you to see just how poor the depot is.

If you think the Gold spec Scanias aren't of a high quality then you need to lower your standards. Their lack of branding and logos does not suddenly make them poor quality vehicles

(28/09/2020 21:03)iMarkeh Wrote:  I would praise Stagecoach if they looked in a decent condition. These ones from Barnsley had 1 logo on from the photo posted. 1 logo. Nothing else. That's the same as HTL and Cumfybus etc. Not what should be expected from a major operator on a premium route.
I fully get trying to get buses out quickly but how long does it take for them to put some logos on the bus and smarten the thing up. It looks awful.

I don't think the passengers who actually use them on a regular basis even care what logos or branding the bus has as long as it takes them where they want to go. In fact I'm sure they'll be very pleased that more capacity has been added to the route which will increase their chances of getting a seat - especially at a time when buses are operating with a reduced capacity due to social distancing regulations

Time to draw a line under this subject now I think

[iMarkeh]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(28/09/2020 21:55)SK15 GZG Wrote:  Have you not considered that there may not be enough spare vehicles available to release them for repaint?


If you think the Gold spec Scanias aren't of a high quality then you need to lower your standards. Their lack of branding and logos does not suddenly make them poor quality vehicles


I don't think the passengers who actually use them on a regular basis even care what logos or branding the bus has as long as it takes them where they want to go. In fact I'm sure they'll be very pleased that more capacity has been added to the route which will increase their chances of getting a seat - especially at a time when buses are operating with a reduced capacity due to social distancing regulations

Time to draw a line under this subject now I think

We'll have to agree to disagree here but yes, I'll leave it there for moderation reasons.

[motormayhem1]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots
I'm really good mates with the engineering manager at rock ferry as went through the arriva engineering apprenticeship with him and his priority is ensuring all his fleet is 100% safe rather than what the livery looks like.
They are in need of every service bus being in service or at least standing by ready for service due to service demand with "s" services etc.
His told me he is happy to over spend on his budget if it means his fleet is 100% safe for travelling passengers etc.

[MPTE1955]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots

(29/09/2020 22:14)motormayhem1 Wrote:  I'm really good mates with the engineering manager at rock ferry as went through the arriva engineering apprenticeship with him and his priority is ensuring all his fleet is 100% safe rather than what the livery looks like.
They are in need of every service bus being in service or at least standing by ready for service due to service demand with "s" services etc.
His told me he is happy to over spend on his budget if it means his fleet is 100% safe for travelling passengers etc.

Exactly how it should be at this time as well so well done to him.

[buses7675 (Website Founder)]

RE: Stagecoach MCSL - Chester & Wirral Depots
Can we all please draw a line on the discussion of how buses painted etc (new livery updates of course are always welcome) and keep the thread about fleet news please ????