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Stagecoach East Scotland

overthewater

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Further disruption to bus services as the new Forth Bridge is delayed again!

To be fair the bridge was due to open in December 2017? but someone hoped it could be done early. I think stagecoach want this sorted by Late July just in time for the Edinburgh Festival, Just a shame it wont be finished in time for the Highland Show.
 
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overthewater

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That was always weather permitted :D

Some of the comments on the Evening news puts a smile on my face. including extending the tram from the Aiport to SQ or how about


SOUTH Queensferry is set to lose its only direct bus link to the centre of Edinburgh after Stagecoach announced it was withdrawing the service. Community leaders warned that the No 40 was a “lifeline” service which many people relied on and said they hoped another company would step in to ensure it continued. Stagecoach has operated the route for the past three years, but says the service has become unsustainable. The company will pull out in June. Terry Airlie, secretary of Queensferry and District Community Council, said the move did not come as a total 
surprise. “First Bus pulled out about three years ago because they were losing money and Stagecoach cut back on frequency last year. It’s busy in the rush hours, but generally not enough people use it.” But he said the service was nonetheless vital. “It’s a lifeline service for a lot of people. There has to be a bus connection along the A90 corridor.” Residents who use the bus have vented their frustration on the community council Facebook page, complaining they will be “potentially stranded”. Edinburgh Western Liberal Democrat MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton said South Queensferry was a growing area but the bus route was not sustainable, partly due to a bottleneck at Barnton increasing journey times. “People just choose to take their cars into town. But not everyone in South 
Queensferry has a car – and not everyone can choose or afford to use the train from Dalmeny.” Pensions workers Michelle Lewis, 49, who uses the No 40 to get to work daily, said it was late every day but trains were so busy it was sometimes impossible to get on. “We pay Edinburgh council tax so we’re entitled to a bus service like everyone else – and one where the fare is £1.60 not £3.90. If people switch to cars it means more pollution and traffic jams.” In a statement, Stagecoach said: “We have seen a significant fall in demand from customers in the South Queensferry area, to below the level needed to even cover the costs of operation. The route has also been affected by traffic congestion affecting journeys towards the city centre. Planned frequency changes on the tram network, combined with upcoming roadworks, are expected to have an even greater impact on journey times. This damages reliability, pushes up operational costs and makes bus travel less attractive to passengers.” Transport convener Lesley
Hinds said she was disappointed at Stagecoach’s decision. But she added: “I have a meeting tomorrow with Lothian Buses to see if they are able to step in and provide the service on a commercial basis. If not, the council will have to have further discussions on how people in South Queensferry can have a good, efficient, affordable bus service.”

Read more at: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...h-queensferry-s-bus-link-to-capital-1-4404951
 

Volvodart

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https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-updates/serviceupdatesarticle?SituationId=ID-28/03/2017-15:27:27:366

Service proposals to Express services from Monday 5 June
28 Mar 2017 to 05 Jun 2017
We have been reviewing our Express City Connect services from Fife to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee and will be carrying out a customer consultation through our website and with local authorities during early April with changes due to be introduced in early June.



The opening of the Queensferry Crossing and resulting transfer of the Forth Road Bridge to become a public transport priority route provides an opportunity for us to review our Edinburgh services.



The current network is very popular but we are aware from customer feedback and our own observations that there are some difficulties faced in operating in and out of Edinburgh city centre.



The popularity of our Glasgow services continues to increase and this has led to some instances where coaches are full to capacity.



The changes made to services X53 & X54 in 2016 have proven popular with more people travelling into Dundee than before.



To reflect feedback received from our customers, as well as current operational conditions, we are proposing a number of changes that will increase capacity on a number of services and offer other improvements to the services on offer.



Key proposals include;

Increased frequencies:- Halbeath park & ride to Glasgow up to every 15 minutes

Glenrothes to Glasgow up to twice an hour

Forth Valley Hospital to Glasgow up to every 30 minutes

Peak time journeys every 5 minutes Ferrytoll to Edinburgh city centre

Peak time journeys every 10 minutes Halbeath to Edinburgh city centre

Edinburgh to Dundee up to every hour on Sundays

Halbeath to Edinburgh on Sundays, up to three times an hour

Ferrytoll to Edinburgh on Sundays, up to every 10 minutes



New journey opportunities; Leven, Windygates, Markinch to Glenrothes & Glasgow every hour

Cowdenbeath & Crossgates to Glasgow every hour

Thornton to Edinburgh every hour

Newport to Glenrothes every hour

Newport to Ninewells Hospital every hour



Improved connections; Perth & Kinross to Cumbernauld & Glasgow

Ladybank & Freuchie to Edinburgh

East Neuk to Glasgow & Edinburgh

Dunfermline to Dundee



Faster journeys; Perth & Kinross to Edinburgh

Peak time, non-stop express journeys from Ferrytoll to Edinburgh city centre

Peak time, express journeys from Glenrothes & Dunfermline to Edinburgh



More journeys; Cupar & Dundee to Ninewells Hospital & Invergowrie at peak times

Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy during morning peak times

Improved evening & Sunday service between Cowdenbeath and Edinburgh



Earlier journeys; Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy



Later journeys; Kirkcaldy to Dunfermline & Glasgow

Kirkcaldy to Dundee





More details on our proposals will be available in early April, with the opportunity to provide your own opinions and feedback. Follow us on Twitter @StagecoachEScot to keep informed.
 
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overthewater

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So much for service cuts..... that looks to me like improvements... The Glasgow coaches have been running FULL on Saturdays for years now, and leave over a dozen people at FVH numerous times. and Even if the bridge is delay, this consultation work still need to be carried out.

* So the X27 will be revised to a straight 30min timetable, with all coaches via Forth Valley Hospital.
* I dare say the X26 will be brought back to operate the new Leven - Windygates, Markinch - Glenrothes - Glasgow. ( I have a funny feeling this will also operate via Cowdenbeath & Crossgates to Glasgow every hour)

I shall warn people that this idea enough to kill off the X4 and 44. It also possible it could kill off the Hourly leven to Kirkcaldy section off the X27. I dare say it could operate up to 15mins faster then the current X27.

This is the idea I can't get: Thornton to Edinburgh every hour. Does this mean the X53 will now got via Newport to Glenrothes every hour

More Dunfermline to Kirkcaldy during morning peak times
Oh look there reinstating the journeys cut from Last August...
 
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Fifescottish

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Sounds like they are going to need extra coaches to operate this.

Faster journeys from Perth to Edinburgh and Perth to Glasgow. Is this cuts to Megabus coming.

Cant see the X55 being cut during the day now?
 

overthewater

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Sounds like they are going to need extra coaches to operate this.

Faster journeys from Perth to Edinburgh and Perth to Glasgow. Is this cuts to Megabus coming.

Cant see the X55 being cut during the day now?

I know where there going to get the extra driver from ;) Mind you there would be mad hatter to reduced the X55 before 1st September at any rate.

I thought it said Better connections with Perth and Kinross service to Glasgow Ie X55 and X24/7?
 

Fifescottish

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Obviouly the returns here are better than the 40....as you say we know where the drivers are from! X55 converted to 59 plate E300.....

Your right about Perth connections to Glasgow (or Kinross etc)
 

overthewater

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Obviouly the returns here are better than the 40....as you say we know where the drivers are from! X55 converted to 59 plate E300.....

Your right about Perth connections to Glasgow (or Kinross etc)

I never thought about those ex No40 E300 going on to the X55, freeing up around 5 Tri alx coaches to operate the extra routes, m nd you there still going to have to find a couple more.
 

Macllain

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2 new 17 plate Volvo 400MMC deckers delivered to Dunfermline depot today. Rumour going around the current short working X59's will extend to Perth instead of the X55. Apparently Leopards are due for the X55 in the Autumn with new 200MMC's for the increased airport service imminent.
 

Fifescottish

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What do Dunfermline need new double decks for?

I wonder if the X59 Perth would be quicker after leaving Halbeath or as slow as the X55....
 

TaysideTrainz

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I presume that these Volvo B5LH/ADL Enviro400mmc's are those due for Arbroath/Forfar os, stopping off momentarily at Dunfermline depot.
 

Stan Drews

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I presume that these Volvo B5LH/ADL Enviro400mmc's are those due for Arbroath/Forfar os, stopping off momentarily at Dunfermline depot.

Indeed, they are for the Forfar outstation (of Arbroath) to work the 20/21 services from Dundee to Forfar/Kirrie/Brechin/Stracathro. A company director reported elsewhere that they stopped briefly at Dunfermline on their way to Aberhill depot for branding etc.
 

overthewater

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So within 12 hours the rumors appeared and disappeared that was quick. Those new deckers will hopeful keep the punters happy, there been moaning for a while on that route.

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/blog/ne...ransport-convener-on-queensferry-bus-services

Following a joint meeting today between City of Edinburgh Council and Lothian Buses representatives to discuss the issue of bus services to Queensferry, Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Hinds has outlined the next steps.

Cllr Hinds said: “We’ve had a very constructive meeting today with Lothian Buses to discuss the potential ongoing provision of bus services to Queensferry and Dalmeny.

"As a Council, we understand that these are very important routes and services and we appreciate how important it is for the residents of these areas to see the continuation of bus services.

“Lothian Buses have agreed to come back to the Council within the next two to three weeks, once they have collected and analysed passenger loadings relevant to the routes to see if they can develop a commercially viable proposition.

"In the meantime, Council officers will also explore potential bus priority measures that could be introduced to help improve journey times and make the services as reliable and efficient as possible.”

That last part, Edinburgh city council are a bunch of stinking gits. <( SHAME on them..
 

overthewater

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2 new 17 plate Volvo 400MMC deckers delivered to Dunfermline depot today. Rumour going around the current short working X59's will extend to Perth instead of the X55.
This, Then this put that to bed.
Indeed, they are for the Forfar outstation (of Arbroath) to work the 20/21 services from Dundee to Forfar/Kirrie/Brechin/Stracathro. A company director reported elsewhere that they stopped briefly at Dunfermline on their way to Aberhill depot for branding etc.

Of course new stock is due, so I can understand how the mix up happened.
 

Fifescottish

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Got you.

Interesting that they will now look at bus priority for Lothian. Am sure i read somewhere that the former MD of Fife asked for this ages ago and nothing happened!
 

Stan Drews

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Got you.

Interesting that they will now look at bus priority for Lothian. Am sure i read somewhere that the former MD of Fife asked for this ages ago and nothing happened!

Stagecoach, and First before them, have been trying for years to get better bus priority on the Queensferry Road corridor, but have come up against a brick wall. They were once told that no bus priority could be engineered into the Barnton junction because it was too busy!
It's funny how every other main arterial route into the city has benefited from some priority measures. Somebody once suggested it was because LB weren't the main operator on Qfy Rd, but that couldn't possibly be a factor, ....could it?
 

Fifescottish

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Not at all surely....:)

Look at St Johns Road through Corstorphine. It used to be like Queensferry Rd , till they made the nearside lane a bus lane!
 

Fifescottish

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Regarding the Airport 747, do we know if the whole route is due to upgraded to new E200 MMC, or is it just additional vehicles to join the existing Versas?
 

overthewater

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Regarding the Airport 747, do we know if the whole route is due to upgraded to new E200 MMC, or is it just additional vehicles to join the existing Versas?

I don't think new stock is due. 27540 has been given branding for the 747, no purple. Ie old e300 stock.
 

overthewater

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It seem the stagecoach fleet order has appeared.

2017 Financial Order - Stagecoach New Bus Order For 2017

Volvo B5LH/ ADL Enviro400 MMC
13111 to 13117 - Arbroath Depot, East Scotland

ADL Enviro200 MMC (11.8m)
26166 to 26171 - Dunfermline Depot, East Scotland

Volvo B11R/ Plaxton Elite
53401 to 53409 - Dunfermline Depot, East Scotland
54356 to 54361 - Glenrothes Depot, East Scotland
54363 - Perth Depot, East Scotland

What type is those Plaxton Elite? and why would Glenrothes need six of them?
 

GusB

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I'm surprised to see the E400/Volvo combination - I thought ADL was only producing integral vehicles these days.
 

GaryMcEwan

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I'm surprised to see the E400/Volvo combination - I thought ADL was only producing integral vehicles these days.

Stagecoach from what I understand usually take the integral vehicles if they are diesel. They still take the Volvo combo if its Hybrid. And ADL are still doing the E400MMC/Scania combo for other operators.
 

overthewater

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Volvo B11R/ Plaxton Elite
53401 to 53409 - Dunfermline Depot, East Scotland

Its being claimed those coaches are actually B8 ( I think Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopard) which have no loos, but can take 57 seats.

Two of the older 747 stock are back on the improved 747 service. The far superior luggage racks are getting good uses from the passengers. I think its strange how the old management were like there nothing etc and now every slowly everything is getting rolled back.
 

Fifescottish

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That is about the same capacity as the old Scanias is it not?

How long till all last years cuts are reversed....
 

overthewater

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That is about the same capacity as the old Scanias is it not?

How long till all last years cuts are reversed....

In June the Express network cuts will get reversed, August will see changes in central fife, its possible we might get some other changes in Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. If there could just double the X53 to every 30mins between Kirk and Glen, then that section would sorted aswell. 14/K4 might not get undone.

West Fife, we may have to wait until 2018.
 

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