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Stagecoach West Scotland

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Nawm8

Member
Joined
5 Jun 2019
Messages
35
mb88 said:
Thanks pal. Apparently there were 'candidates with a skillset more suited to the role' according to the email I got. I have 12 years experience as a bus driver :D Not that I'm bitter about it, if there was only 1 position available and they had multiple applicants with similar experience, or if they have filled it internally, then that's fine. Just wish they'd say that rather than a bog standard copy and paste email.

Indeed a Solo on that run sounds torturous. I often think that when I see Borders Buses Optare Versas going from Melrose to Edinburgh as well!
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I got rejected because I weigh over 18st. 6'4 so not exactly rotund but still...

Job has been up for over a year on and off, must have unbelievably high standards!
 
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RailUK Forums

M

mb88

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17 Aug 2012
Messages
438
Nawm8 said:
I got rejected because I weigh over 18st. 6'4 so not exactly rotund but still...

Job has been up for over a year on and off, must have unbelievably high standards!
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I had a phone call from them today to ask if I was still interested. It's a 5 over 7 rota and the shifts are 12 hours. No wonder they're struggling to get someone.
 
R

RomeoCharlie71

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18 Sep 2017
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1,723
Location
Scotland
mb88 said:
I had a phone call from them today to ask if I was still interested. It's a 5 over 7 rota and the shifts are 12 hours. No wonder they're struggling to get someone.
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That's pretty standard for Stagecoach. Long spread-overs, max'd out driving time and long breaks.

Don't be surprised if they come chasing you asking for overtime the day before a rest day either.
 
M

mb88

Member
Joined
17 Aug 2012
Messages
438
RomeoCharlie71 said:
That's pretty standard for Stagecoach. Long spread-overs, max'd out driving time and long breaks.

Don't be surprised if they come chasing you asking for overtime the day before a rest day either.
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I worked for Stagecoach for 5 years and never did 12 hour shifts. Needless to say I politely declined. As nice as the prospect is of working at a distant outstation and left to get on with your job driving a nice wee run, I have a life outside work. If I was working 12 hours I'd expect it to be a 4 day week.
 
U

Unstoppable

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11 May 2015
Messages
224
Jordan Adam said:
I agree, however Panoramas are more expensive, cost more to run and may be more limited in where they can operate, the staircase on the Elite isn't much of an issue either, it's only the Interdecks people (at least up here) complain about, part of the reason being because sections of the route operate hail and ride, so passengers have to use the stairs while the vehicle is in motion to tell the driver where they want off.

You also have to consider what the vehicle will do in later life, generally Stagecoach cascade their coaches north, Panoramas would be unsuitable in much of the Highlands due to high winds and their size. They've already had one topple over on the A90 just a few months back. Additionally Panthers/Elites will be far easier to sell second hand than Panoramas too. It'll actually be interesting to see what Stagecoach end up doing with all the Interdecks, there's nowhere for Stagecoach to really cascade them to and while there may be a second hand market for them it's fairly niche.
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The Panoramas are the same height as the Interdecks at 13 ft 1 and they are also shorter at 47.7 feet long. Going by the continual issues with the Panoramas I would be surprised if they keep investing money in them
 
Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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1 Feb 2017
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Edinburgh
Unstoppable said:
The Panoramas are the same height as the Interdecks at 13 ft 1 and they are also shorter at 47.7 feet long. Going by the continual issues with the Panoramas I would be surprised if they keep investing money in them
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I didn't realize the Panoramas had issues, I thought they all seemed relatively robust.
 
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Unstoppable

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Scotrail314209 said:
I didn't realize the Panoramas had issues, I thought they all seemed relatively robust.
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Constant issues since new. Mainly heating and coolant related along with turbos not working to full potential. The heating panels on the Megabus ones still freeze which prevents you from adjusting both the cab demisters and pax heating which requires a full 10 minute reset otherwise everyone cooks. If you are stopped on a hill the doors don't close without you assisting it. If they just made the above more robust they would be the best vehicles on the road. They are certainly the most comfortable to drive but Plaxton motors are cheap and as they say you get what you pay for
 
S

Surreyman

Member
Joined
29 Jan 2012
Messages
953
Unstoppable said:
The Panoramas are the same height as the Interdecks at 13 ft 1 and they are also shorter at 47.7 feet long. Going by the continual issues with the Panoramas I would be surprised if they keep investing money in them
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Anyone know if they are owned or leased?
 
Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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Edinburgh
When do we think Stagecoach will next refurbish some of their older buses, particularly some of the X76 Astromegas and Enviro 200s. They are still in good condition, but as they rebrand the interior will need to match up.
 
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Unstoppable

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Blindtraveler said:
They could certainly do with sorting the heating issue out. Quite a few of the ones running on the 900 either roast you like a turkey or freeze you as effectively as a storage use it for the Pfizer vaccine
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Graysons clearly aren't clued up on the heating system. The Panoramas only allow you to select the temperature for both decks. The Astromegas allow you to select the temperature on the bottom deck, top deck front and top deck rear. This makes so much sense because heat rises. The top deck is always warmer. The Panoramas are always freezing downstairs because the vent at the bin blows in freezing cold air from outside. The air con system makes a ridiculous amount of noise for no reason. Very poor design
 
Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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Edinburgh
Unstoppable said:
Graysons clearly aren't clued up on the heating system. The Panoramas only allow you to select the temperature for both decks. The Astromegas allow you to select the temperature on the bottom deck, top deck front and top deck rear. This makes so much sense because heat rises. The top deck is always warmer. The Panoramas are always freezing downstairs because the vent at the bin blows in freezing cold air from outside. The air con system makes a ridiculous amount of noise for no reason. Very poor design
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The air con issue seems to follow on Enviro 400s and Enviro 400 MMCs too
 
C

CBlue

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Joined
30 Mar 2020
Messages
799
Location
East Angular
RomeoCharlie71 said:
They don't have air con.

I think the system you're referring to is ADL's air chill - which is, err, useless.
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Correct. A system that in winter blows out slightly warmer air than ambient..and in the summer, slightly warmer air than ambient!
Pretty much the entire guided busway 'decker fleet had air chill fitted, the older ones also blow a nice damp mildew smell around the upper deck as they've aged...
 
Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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Edinburgh
Astromegas are back on the X77 today after not being on them for years, a few of the X76 ones as well as 50280 from Oxford are on certain X77 workings to provide extra capacity for people going to Ayr Beach
 
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route101

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10,612
Scotrail314209 said:
Astromegas are back on the X77 today after not being on them for years, a few of the X76 ones as well as 50280 from Oxford are on certain X77 workings to provide extra capacity for people going to Ayr Beach
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I see, good day to go to the beach. The trains were busy too.

Unstoppable said:
Graysons clearly aren't clued up on the heating system. The Panoramas only allow you to select the temperature for both decks. The Astromegas allow you to select the temperature on the bottom deck, top deck front and top deck rear. This makes so much sense because heat rises. The top deck is always warmer. The Panoramas are always freezing downstairs because the vent at the bin blows in freezing cold air from outside. The air con system makes a ridiculous amount of noise for no reason. Very poor design
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Yes I noticed the noise on the Panoramas, blowing away.
 
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RomeoCharlie71

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According to the latest company fleetcard, Stagecoach West Scotland are to receive 6 brand new Volvo 7900e EV vehicles destined for Kilmarnock, imminently.

I believe this is separate to the BYD order, which was announced last month.
 
Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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Edinburgh
RomeoCharlie71 said:
According to the latest company fleetcard, Stagecoach West Scotland are to receive 6 brand new Volvo 7900e EV vehicles destined for Kilmarnock, imminently.

I believe this is separate to the BYD order, which was announced last month.
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Oh thats interesting, any indication of the depot yet?
 
V

Volvodart

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12 Jun 2010
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It is financed from the SP Energy Networks Green Economy Fund, which I think is now finished:-

  • Western Buses Limited TA Stagecoach West Scotland – introducing a fleet of zero emission single decker buses to operate the service between Kilmarnock and Priestland.
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Robbie01

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6 May 2021
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10
Location
Irvine
I spoke to a driver from Ayr who said that once Kilmarnock take hold of the order for the other electric buses to go along with the Solos from Inverness and the 6 they have already got, the E200MMC are moving to Ayr. I'm going to assume they will replace all existing E300 apart from the 4 15 plates. I'm guessing?
 
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Scotrail314209

Scotrail314209

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One thing I’ve noticed, after a certain hour the Enviro 400 MMCs practically disappear from the 11 to be replaced with Enviro 200 MMCs, is there a reason for it, or is it to simplify stuff from Kilmarnock?
 
MrKyleBuses

MrKyleBuses

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31 Jan 2020
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23
Location
North Ayrshire
Robbie01 said:
Spoke to a driver from Ayr today, once Killie take hold of the order for the other electric buses, to go along with the solos from Inverness and the 6 they have got, the e200mmc are moving to Ayr. I'm going to assume they will replace all existing e300 apart from the 4 15 plates? I'm guessing?
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Could also maybe replace some of Vision branded 62 plate batch of E200's which are now approaching 9 years old though I would expect if these were replaced they'd probably be transferred elsewhere. Seems like Stagecoach West Scotland always has had a pretty young fleet compared to some other operators.
 
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Robbie01

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Location
Irvine
Scotrail314209 said:
One thing I’ve noticed, after a certain hour the Enviro 400 MMCs practically disappear from the 11 to be replaced with Enviro 200 MMCs, is there a reason for it, or is it to simplify stuff from Kilmarnock?
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Back before the E200MMC arrived at Kilmarnock it seemed standard practice to replace the deckers with the E300s from the 4 service. Now its just the E200MMC instead.

MrKyleBuses said:
Could also maybe replace some of Vision branded 62 plate batch of E200's which are now approaching 9 years old though I would expect if these were replaced they'd probably be transferred elsewhere. Seems like Stagecoach West Scotland always has had a pretty young fleet compared to some other operators.
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Yes they do. It's one of the better operating areas in the company so they get newer buses regularly. I remember being told a while back that they might replace the E200s, but I think replacing the E300s is a better shout. The E200MMC will be better on the longer runs outwith the city centre.
 
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J

JumpinTrainz

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30 Jul 2018
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1,658
It would be nice to see the X19 receive some newer stock. The current E300s have been on the route since 2015 to coincide with the QEUH opening. Of course they’re not old but I wonder if they’re planning any electric buses on this route. The E300s also haven’t been painted yet I wonder if there are any plans.
 
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