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Stagecoach East Midlands

M60lad

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31 May 2011
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1,108
Is there a reason why single decks are preferred to deckers on 250 & 350 services?
 
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RailUK Forums

K13R0N

Member
Joined
26 Mar 2019
Messages
96
Location
Grimsby
Some days it feels like they had a bad morning at the depot with all sorts of unusual allocations. We get purple buses absolutely everywhere, not helped by Grimsby's purple (Interconnect) routes not being on "self contained" boards. And the blue ("250") buses get everywhere too, as there's no difference between them and the other MMCs. The other day there was even a decker (19172 I think) tracking on the Saltfleet, which once upon a time would've been something like a Solo or small Dart!

But I suppose at the end of the day, any bus is better than no bus, as long as it's safe, legal and fits!
19207 went on the afternoon 50 diagram yesterday too!
Is there a reason why single decks are preferred to deckers on 250 & 350 services?
I would say its probably due to passenger load (in my experience the 250 only gets really full after the Barton/Humber Bridge) but also the fact that if the bridge is closed to high sided vehicles, singles can still cross
 

IanMac

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Joined
29 Jul 2024
Messages
11
Location
Whittlesey
The Enviro 400s 10052-5 are ex-Norfolk Green and are recognisable by their bonded windows; they also have superior seating. No sign of them leaving Peterborough so far.
 

SteveyBee131

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Joined
28 Oct 2017
Messages
685
Location
Grimsby Town
Is there a reason why single decks are preferred to deckers on 250 & 350 services?

...

I would say its probably due to passenger load (in my experience the 250 only gets really full after the Barton/Humber Bridge) but also the fact that if the bridge is closed to high sided vehicles, singles can still cross
It is indeed to avoid problems on windy days.

Many years ago, when loadings were high enough that large single decks often struggled, they even considered trying bendy buses on the Flyer and the Fast Cat as they were known then. As other companies using them found that many of Britain's roads can't cope with them, the idea was quietly put to bed! It was decided to stick with large single decks, and if the very busy days land when it's windy, to use a spare bus and driver to run a duplicate.
 
Joined
7 Jan 2019
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282
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West Midlands
The Enviro 400s 10052-5 are ex-Norfolk Green and are recognisable by their bonded windows; they also have superior seating. No sign of them leaving Peterborough so far.

Steven Knight Media (Trident the Bear on X) has reported they are destined for Skegness’ Long Sutton outstation. So they will be returning home to Norfolk and the 505!

(I would provide a link for this however their account is now private)
 

K13R0N

Member
Joined
26 Mar 2019
Messages
96
Location
Grimsby
Steven Knight Media (Trident the Bear on X) has reported they are destined for Skegness’ Long Sutton outstation. So they will be returning home to Norfolk and the 505!

(I would provide a link for this however their account is now private)
Hopefully this will then send some Spalding vehicles back up to Skeg and send Grimsby 19195/6/200/206 to replace the older Tridents. Although to be fair, the older tridents are way more reliable then their replacements, of which barely any are in use at the moment!
 

CN12 AWU

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11 Nov 2024
Messages
187
Steven Knight Media (Trident the Bear on X) has reported they are destined for Skegness’ Long Sutton outstation. So they will be returning home to Norfolk and the 505!

(I would provide a link for this however their account is now private)

Now has a blue sky account aswell as twitter and can be viewed now twitter account is private
 

IanMac

Member
Joined
29 Jul 2024
Messages
11
Location
Whittlesey

Now has a blue sky account aswell as twitter and can be viewed now twitter account is private
Steven Knight Media (Trident the Bear on X) has reported they are destined for Skegness’ Long Sutton outstation. So they will be returning home to Norfolk and the 505!

(I would provide a link for this however their account is now private)

Spalding (not Long Sutton!) will be a fitting home for them to see out their days.
 

K13R0N

Member
Joined
26 Mar 2019
Messages
96
Location
Grimsby
Seen on Facebook and YouTube that the end may not be near after all for 16962/65. Saw a comment on YouTube that alleges that 19106/07 are only at Grimsby as SC Yorkshire do not have enough warm storage space for them. Saw this afternoon on Facebook apparently 16962/65 are awaiting MOT results in April before their fate is decided. However, 16962 passed its MOT on the 15th Jan, whilst 16965's MOT runs out on 27th Feb so I imagine if it is being kept, some prep work is being undertaken before the MOT. It's very much a case of wait and see!
 

jimbob185

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Joined
9 Oct 2018
Messages
99
Seen on Facebook and YouTube that the end may not be near after all for 16962/65. Saw a comment on YouTube that alleges that 19106/07 are only at Grimsby as SC Yorkshire do not have enough warm storage space for them. Saw this afternoon on Facebook apparently 16962/65 are awaiting MOT results in April before their fate is decided. However, 16962 passed its MOT on the 15th Jan, whilst 16965's MOT runs out on 27th Feb so I imagine if it is being kept, some prep work is being undertaken before the MOT. It's very much a case of wait and see!
Seems strange to list 19106/7 on the fleet card as movements to Grimsby if they are only there for storage for Stagecoach Yorkshire.
 

K13R0N

Member
Joined
26 Mar 2019
Messages
96
Location
Grimsby
Seems strange to list 19106/7 on the fleet card as movements to Grimsby if they are only there for storage for Stagecoach Yorkshire.
Certainly would be. Equally strange to MOT 16962 in January if they knew it would be going, unless it stays as a spare
 

cnjb8

Established Member
Joined
26 Feb 2019
Messages
2,249
Location
Nottingham
Certainly would be. Equally strange to MOT 16962 in January if they knew it would be going, unless it stays as a spare
Unless the decision to withdraw the 122 in Devon came after January, making their open tops surplus
 

jimbob185

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Joined
9 Oct 2018
Messages
99
Unless the decision to withdraw the 122 in Devon came after January, making their open tops surplus
Could be the case as I think 19106/7 arrived around 24th January which is about 10 days after MOT of 16962 so could be that plans changed or they are keeping it as a spare.
 
Joined
23 Nov 2023
Messages
257
Location
Grimsby
Seen on Facebook and YouTube that the end may not be near after all for 16962/65. Saw a comment on YouTube that alleges that 19106/07 are only at Grimsby as SC Yorkshire do not have enough warm storage space for them. Saw this afternoon on Facebook apparently 16962/65 are awaiting MOT results in April before their fate is decided. However, 16962 passed its MOT on the 15th Jan, whilst 16965's MOT runs out on 27th Feb so I imagine if it is being kept, some prep work is being undertaken before the MOT. It's very much a case of wait and see!
16965 was in the yard at Grimsby garage today, the first time I've seen it around for a couple of weeks. I'm guessing they've both been in the workshop, the door of which has been closed every time I've passed recently.
 

JD2168

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Joined
11 Jul 2022
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1,339
Location
Sheffield
Even if the B7TL Gemini’s are being replaced it would make sense to keep them as reserve at least after the problems encountered during 2024 with the Hybrids in Skegness.
 

ChrisC

Established Member
Joined
7 Oct 2018
Messages
1,958
Location
Nottinghamshire
From next Monday 24th February, the 141 Nottingham-Mansfield-Sutton in Ashfield route operated by Stagecoach in Mansfield, under contract to Nottinghamshire County Council, is running to a completely revised timetable. This route was taken on by Stagecoach in September 2022 following Trent Barton pulling out of the route. I think Stagecoach have made a good job of running this route and it is now fairly reliable in the fact that buses do actually turn up but late running has been a big problem. This is mainly due to heavy traffic both in the Mansfield and Nottingham areas at peak times. This has not been helped by very short turnarounds at each end of the route.

The new timetable, with much more generous timings, and a diversion near Hucknall to serve the new Nottinghamshire County Offices, will obviously require 5 buses on the route instead of the current 4. In addition to more generous timings the turnaround at each end of the route has been increased, especially in Nottingham and buses will have 10 minutes dwell time in Mansfield Bus Station which is not for passengers doing cross Mansfield journeys.

Advantages of the timetable change for passengers:
Improving timekeeping and reliability at peak times was desperately needed as some buses are regularly running 30+ minutes late. I think the longer turnaround, especially at Nottingham will really help and allow the driver a toilet break without further delaying the bus. More generous journey times to allow for heavy traffic at peak times will also help. Buses which were delayed during the morning peak, never made up the lost time, and often remained running late all day.

Disadvantages:
The more generous timings are not needed at off peak times or on Saturdays although the longer time allowed in Nottingham will be good.
Journey times, on an already long roundabout route will be extended by up to 15 minutes for passengers from some of the villages into Hucknall and Nottingham. The diversion to the Council Offices and extra journey times will be a real annoyance to regular users of the route. I hope that Stagecoach will ensure that drivers wait at timing points and don’t run early at off peak times including Saturdays. Even on the current timetable it is not unusual for buses to run up to 5 minutes early through some of the villages with drivers just carrying in regardless of the timings. The new timetable will require lots of waiting times and I hope the drivers will do this.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give all the facts. This is going to be a big change for regular passengers. The timings of the 141 has changed very little over the years and is still very much as it was 50 years ago when run by Midland General as the B8. There’s no information about the timetable changes at any bus stop so I think there will be a lot of people very confused from next week when buses turn up at complete different times.
 
Joined
23 Nov 2023
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Grimsby
Speak of the devil and it shall appear! No sign of Lolly (16962) around the garage this morning, but Splash was just inside the workshop door as seen below;
(photo shows 16965 "Splash the Seasider" in the workshop at Grimsby garage on 20th February 2025 (taken from the public pavement))
 

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psmith2023

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Joined
23 Jul 2024
Messages
53
Location
Mansfield
53 from Sheffield to Mansfields broken down at Sheffield as it's a 2 hour wait for the next one got to spend money on a train ticket to chesterfield do stagecoach refund excess tickets at all
 

Teapot42

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Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
685
53 from Sheffield to Mansfields broken down at Sheffield as it's a 2 hour wait for the next one got to spend money on a train ticket to chesterfield do stagecoach refund excess tickets at all
Daft question, but why not get the X17 to Chesterfield then the Pronto?

Assuming it was the 13:30 that broke down, there was an X17 11 minutes later with an 8 minute change in Chesterfield, meaning you'd only be just over quarter of an hour later in to Mansfield than you would have been.

FWIW, I've not had any success getting refunds from Stagecoach when it's been their own services cancelled, never mind using the train instead.
 

K13R0N

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26 Mar 2019
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Location
Grimsby
10054 has arrived at Skegness from Stagecoach East and is operating a 57 this afternoon
 

M60lad

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Joined
31 May 2011
Messages
1,108
Depending what time 53 broke down in Sheffield wouldn't it have been logical for a vehicle from Stagecoach's Sheffield Depot to replace it in the short term to have kept the service running?

Is there a reason why 53 doesn't run more often, I might be wrong but in the past didn't 53 run every hour? Why doesn't it run every hour anymore?
 

ChrisC

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7 Oct 2018
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Nottinghamshire
Depending what time 53 broke down in Sheffield wouldn't it have been logical for a vehicle from Stagecoach's Sheffield Depot to replace it in the short term to have kept the service running?

Is there a reason why 53 doesn't run more often, I might be wrong but in the past didn't 53 run every hour? Why doesn't it run every hour anymore?
In some respects it often seems like Stagecoach East Midlands and Stagecoach Yorkshire are completely different companies. There are instances where there ought to be some co operation between them.

Whenever I have used the 53, usually on Saturdays, I have found it a very busy route which would benefit from being hourly. A major problem is the cross boundary situation. It is not just Stagecoach East Midlands/Yorkshire but also the fact the 53 runs through Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. The route certainly was hourly in the distant past but only around 3 years ago there were even rumours of the through route between Mansfield and Sheffield being route being withdrawn. The irregular timetable does not help or the lack of early morning and evening buses in and out of Sheffield. The Pronto route also has these problems to a lesser extent at the Chesterfield end.
 

Teapot42

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12 Jan 2022
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685
In some respects it often seems like Stagecoach East Midlands and Stagecoach Yorkshire are completely different companies. There are instances where there ought to be some co operation between them.
There is a little bit of cooperation with Chesterfield, but mainly historically as it used to be part of East Midlands.

Would a bus from another division actually be allowed to cover - legals etc would be different.

Whenever I have used the 53, usually on Saturdays, I have found it a very busy route which would benefit from being hourly. A major problem is the cross boundary situation. It is not just Stagecoach East Midlands/Yorkshire but also the fact the 53 runs through Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. The route certainly was hourly in the distant past but only around 3 years ago there were even rumours of the through route between Mansfield and Sheffield being route being withdrawn. The irregular timetable does not help or the lack of early morning and evening buses in and out of Sheffield. The Pronto route also has these problems to a lesser extent at the Chesterfield end.

How much is the 53 used for short sections, and how many travel the full route? From Sheffield to Mansfield it's not much slower going via Chesterfield and you get a bus every 30 minutes on the two sections of the route.

I do actually think that a Sheffield to Nottingham via Chesterfield express is possible in under 2 hours. Cutting 20-25 minutes off the journey time of the Pronto suddenly makes it a more attractive alternative to driving. It could also cut the Sheffield to Mansfield time by 10-15 minutes. It strikes me it's only really Pleasley to Eckington where the 53 offers an option that isn't fully covered by other services which are much more frequent.
 

psmith2023

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Joined
23 Jul 2024
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53
Location
Mansfield
Stagecoach refunded me the app ticket in end customer services was actually good for for a change i know breakdowns can happen but they should have a system in place of a breakdown a x17 accepts the tickets even it's run out of time and the pronto from chesterfield as people shouldn't have to pay twice

Stagecoach refunded me the app ticket in end customer services was actually good for for a change i know breakdowns can happen but they should have a system in place of a breakdown a x17 accepts the tickets even it's run out of time and the pronto from chesterfield as people shouldn't have to pay twice
They could run one notts to Sheffield a hour same route as x17 to Sheffield limited stop so many morning and afternoon trips
 
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Teapot42

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Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
685
They could run one notts to Sheffield a hour same route as x17 to Sheffield limited stop so many morning and afternoon trips
I strongly believe there is a case to up the express frequency on the Sheffield to Chesterfield corridor to at least 3x hourly, and 4x would allow then to slot in without disrupting the current X17 timetable. One to Nottingham is obvious - whether they feel like taking on Trent Barton and taking one to Derby is another question. If not, then even to Clay Cross would serve a market, or to Bolsover which doesn't currently have a fast bus to Chesterfield.
 

ChrisC

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7 Oct 2018
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Nottinghamshire
I do actually think that a Sheffield to Nottingham via Chesterfield express is possible in under 2 hours. Cutting 20-25 minutes off the journey time of the Pronto suddenly makes it a more attractive alternative to driving. It could also cut the Sheffield to Mansfield time by 10-15 minutes. It strikes me it's only really Pleasley to Eckington where the 53 offers an option that isn't fully covered by other services which are much more frequent.
Going back right to the 1970’s there was a limited stop X53 which basically ran every 2 hours. The route was Sheffield-Mansfield-Hucknall-Nottingham. Like the 53 it didn’t run via Chesterfield but I’m sure that it used a section of the M1 between Sheffield and Mansfield. I remember that some people that I worked with used it as a fast link between Mansfield and Hucknall and were quite disappointed when it was withdrawn in the early 1980’s.
 

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