Stagecoach East Scotland

[route101]

I have seen a few E300s on Edinburgh express services to Fife.

 

[Siemens Trains]

I don't really understand this message.
Main reason for what?
Why does bad weather mean missing two stops?
What happened in the 2019 timetable?

'Deckers' means double deck buses and these are much taller than single deck buses. Double deckers are at risk of being diverted away from the Forth Road Bridge onto the nearby wind-shielded Queensferry Crossing during strong wind restrictions which can arise at short notice. Unfortunately this diversion renders the bus stops at both North and South Queensferry inaccessible. Single deckers are lower in height and aren't usually affected by the restrictions. Historically they've been Stagecoach's preference. But deploying double deckers on cross-Forth services wouldn't be a problem if the routes using high vehicles were not scheduled to call at the two awkward stops anyway.
Nowadays all the passing Stagecoach services are supposed to pick up or drop off at these two stops, mainly for consistency and to retain direct connections to locations across Fife. Prior to Covid cutbacks the frequency was higher and some routes did not observe the stops. Therefore it wouldn't matter if these services were operated by double deckers and diverted away from the Forth Road Bridge when windy.

 

[overthewater]

Ive just remember the Tay Road bridge aswell if decker coaches were to appear on the X54 so they would get a double whammy.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I'm more confused as you're the one who asked the questions:

I wasn't sure exactly what you were responding and referring to as you didn't quote/reply to any messages so your post didn't have any context.

My response is this


It's weather related: At present there is a driver shortage so the company has brought some decker coaches to help combat with the demand on the Glasgow route. However if they get used on the Edinburgh routes ( with the Glasgow routes going back up to every 20mins) and there are high winds they can't operate across the old bridge. It will also add more time if there is congestion on Queensferry bridge. Yes X55 has seen a large number of deckers on the Edinburgh route at times but if the winds pick up off they come and it has already happened a few times this year.

Ah right, didn't know they had the ability to quickly swap back to coaches.

2019 timetables had a lot more journeys, and half of the services operated as flyers non stop from Ferrytoll to Edinburgh City centre. At present we're missing:

* one journey per hour on X55
* one journey per hour on X59
* two journeys per hour on the X60.

I'm led to believe the Fife service changes in the summer will see some increase on the Edinburgh Express.

Ahh, yes that would be good.

'Deckers' means double deck buses and these are much taller than single deck buses. Double deckers are at risk of being diverted away from the Forth Road Bridge onto the nearby wind-shielded Queensferry Crossing during strong wind restrictions which can arise at short notice. Unfortunately this diversion renders the bus stops at both North and South Queensferry inaccessible. Single deckers are lower in height and aren't usually affected by the restrictions. Historically they've been Stagecoach's preference. But deploying double deckers on cross-Forth services wouldn't be a problem if the routes using high vehicles were not scheduled to call at the two awkward stops anyway.
Nowadays all the passing Stagecoach services are supposed to pick up or drop off at these two stops, mainly for consistency and to retain direct connections to locations across Fife. Prior to Covid cutbacks the frequency was higher and some routes did not observe the stops. Therefore it wouldn't matter if these services were operated by double deckers and diverted away from the Forth Road Bridge when windy.

Ahh right. Yes those two stops aren't in an ideal location.
It looks like it would be much better to serve a stop on Ferry Muir Road instead (behind the Tesco Petrol Station), as that road can be accessed from both the old and new bridge (old by coming off at the Echline Junction, new by coming off at the Queensferry Junction and going along Builyeon Road). This might also give better connections to local South Queensferry bus services? And after serving that stop there's then immediately a roundabout so buses can just turn and then get back on the dual carriageway.

Ive just remember the Tay Road bridge aswell if decker coaches were to appear on the X54 so they would get a double whammy.

Ah, yes true. I had thought that the bridge at St Michaels being too low for deckers was the reason that deckers never appeared on the X54 but I've just checked on Street View and deckers would fit, so the reason must be the one you've suggested.

 

[Siemens Trains]

It looks like it would be much better to serve a stop on Ferry Muir Road instead (behind the Tesco Petrol Station), as that road can be accessed from both the old and new bridge (old by coming off at the Echline Junction, new by coming off at the Queensferry Junction and going along Builyeon Road). This might also give better connections to local South Queensferry bus services? And after serving that stop there's then immediately a roundabout so buses can just turn and then get back on the dual carriageway.

Unfortunately that's unlikely to be popular. To make it worthwhile then every journey would need to take the route, regardless of the weather conditions. For many journeys there would be no passengers at all and it's quite a substantial diversion. In fairness they usually send the 747 along Builyeon Road to/from the Queensferry Junction when the Forth Road Bridge is closed, as it's meant to observe these stops anyway.

Local connections for South Queensferry aren't great on Ferrymuir Road. The X51 from Stagecoach goes right into Tesco as part of its normal route, which is better but time-consuming. Also it seems unlikely that the council would support bus stops on Ferrymuir Road any time soon. It's an awful stretch of road.

 

[overthewater]

I believe the reason no bus stops are on Ferrymuir road is because it belongs to Transport Scotland and not the council as part of the major redevelopments of the area a while back.

 

[PG]

I believe the reason no bus stops are on Ferrymuir road is because it belongs to Transport Scotland and not the council as part of the major redevelopments of the area a while back.

There's a certain irony to that

 

[overthewater]

Minor improvements are coming soon as part of the new rail station.

https://levenmouthreconnected.fife.scot/news/articles/funding-secured-for-new-and-improved-levenmouth-bus-services

A plan to improve bus services in Levenmouth to complement the imminent return of rail services to the area has been approved by local councillors.

The Levenmouth Area Committee agreed to fund the delivery of the bus services via the Levenmouth Reconnected Programme with £1.75 million being allocated for a combination of new and enhanced bus services serving communities across Levenmouth over the next three years to improve connectivity and transport access to employment and key services including education, health and leisure facilities.

Three options were drawn up following a feasibility study and extensive consultation, and a hybrid of the three has been assessed as best suited to help improve connectivity relative to cost, benefits, patronage, and long-term viability.

The proposed service improvements are:

• 43 and 44 – Current Fife Council evening and Sunday service 43. Operates 1830-0030, 0800-0030 hourly.
• 49 – Current Fife Council and Sunday service 49. Existing service revised to become a circular service 48 and 49 to provide bus/rail connections. Operates 1830-0030, 0800-0030 hourly.
• 48 and 49 – New early morning, Monday to Saturday journeys. 0500-0630. Two journeys service 48, two journeys service 49.
• 47 and 47A – New daytime service providing direct links between Kennoway and Cameron Bridge Rail Station, extending to Leven Bus Station. 0500-0030 hourly. Evening and Sunday service direct links between Cameron Bridge Rail to Leven Bus Station.
• 7 – New early morning and late evening, Monday to Sunday, journeys providing bus/rail connections. 0500-0715, 2300-0030. Two morning journeys, two late night journeys.
• 95 – New Monday to Saturday early morning journeys and Sunday evening journey between Anstruther - St Monans – Elie - Upper Largo - Lower Largo - Lundin Links to Leven Bus Station. 0500-0800, 2330-0015. Morning journeys, one late night journey from Leven.

The funding support for the new bus services is being offered over a three-year period to allow them to grow patronage and hopefully become more attractive to commercial operators to run without Council subsidy.

Councillor Colin Davidson, convener of the Levenmouth Area Committee, said: “We all want to see connectivity improved across Levenmouth and encourage more people to use sustainable public transport, so this option provides a good balance between identified service needs and value for money.

“The revisions proposed will give everyone in Levenmouth a higher level of service, while the new services put forward will not only provide more direct links to the rail stations but will also better connect our coastal communities.”

Further details on the new services including start dates and timetables will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Notes:

The £10m Levenmouth Reconnected Programme, with equal £5m funding by Fife Council and Transport Scotland, was created to maximise opportunities for social, economic, and environmental regeneration benefits through the opening of the Leven Rail Link.

Monitoring of patronage and the revenue from the supported bus services will be continuous and reported to the Levenmouth Area Committee at the end of each year.

The data will confirm how services are performing in terms of patronage/demand and whether there is a need to consider a revision to services/journeys, or if they have become commercially independent and no longer requiring funding.

Any proposal to alter services would be brought to the Levenmouth Area Committee for approval as part of the regular monitoring.

 

[VolvoOly85]

I'm more confused as you're the one who asked the questions:



My response is this


It's weather related: At present there is a driver shortage so the company has brought some decker coaches to help combat with the demand on the Glasgow route. However if they get used on the Edinburgh routes ( with the Glasgow routes going back up to every 20mins) and there are high winds they can't operate across the old bridge. It will also add more time if there is congestion on Queensferry bridge. Yes X55 has seen a large number of deckers on the Edinburgh route at times but if the winds pick up off they come and it has already happened a few times this year.




2019 timetables had a lot more journeys, and half of the services operated as flyers non stop from Ferrytoll to Edinburgh City centre. At present we're missing:

* one journey per hour on X55
* one journey per hour on X59
* two journeys per hour on the X60.

I'm led to believe the Fife service changes in the summer will see some increase on the Edinburgh Express.

There isn't a driver shortage. The new coaches are to replace ageing fleet and provide increased capacity on a busy service without having to add in additional vehicles to the service at significant cost.

 

[overthewater]

There isn't a driver shortage. The new coaches are to replace ageing fleet and provide increased capacity on a busy service without having to add in additional vehicles to the service at significant cost.

The New double decker coaches are going on the Glasgow routes. I think, what your saying is the company has enough drivers to operate the current lower services levels, however some routes are overcrowded and need more journeys.

It does look like the Perth depot will free up drivers when it longer operates the 16 and will be able to full take over the X56.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

It does look like the Perth depot will free up drivers when it longer operates the 16 and will be able to full take over the X56.

Perth are also looking for 10 new trainee drivers: https://twitter.com/StagecoachEScot/status/1782723799852462169

We are looking for 10 trainee bus drivers at our #perth depot to start this summer.

Would you like to drive your career in a new direction, well just apply below, but be quick we close applications 5th May!

Trainee Bus Driver

Salary £14.00 Trainee Bus Driver – Perth Stagecoach are looking for trainee bus drivers to join our Perth team. Get paid to train and zero training costs as not only will you be earning from day one, we’ll also pay for all of your training costs to achieve a recognised national qualification in...

stge.co

 

[computerSaysNo]

I don't suppose anyone is able to say whether any B8RLE/PantherLEs are on any unusual routes today? Anything other than the X55/X56/X61. Currently 54501, 06, 09, 10, 15 and 18 don't seem to be tracking (https://bustimes.org/operators/stagecoach-east-scotland/vehicles).
Is there anything out on Citylink duties today?
Thanks in advance.

 

[overthewater]

I don't suppose anyone is able to say whether any B8RLE/PantherLEs are on any unusual routes today? Anything other than the X55/X56/X61. Currently 54501, 06, 09, 10, 15 and 18 don't seem to be tracking (https://bustimes.org/operators/stagecoach-east-scotland/vehicles).
Is there anything out on Citylink duties today?
Thanks in advance.

PVR for B8RLE is only 14 on a Saturday and that only on non busy days. You could keep an eye out on the Fife - Glasgow Express as they do operate duplicates on Saturdays.

 

[computerSaysNo]

PVR for B8RLE is only 14 on a Saturday and that only on non busy days. You could keep an eye out on the Fife - Glasgow Express as they do operate duplicates on Saturdays.

Thanks. Do the duplicates show up on the bustimes map either just the overall map or the route map? And is there any way to know if one of them is on a Citylink duty other than to go out and watch?

 

[overthewater]

Thanks. Do the duplicates show up on the bustimes map either just the overall map or the route map? And is there any way to know if one of them is on a Citylink duty other than to go out and watch?

They do appear on the map but with the INcorrect service number. Only the Perth depot does Citylink.

 

[computerSaysNo]

They do appear on the map but with the correct service number.

So they appear as a normal service would? Just to clarify as you've used the word "but" which to me implies "not normal" but both your statements "appear on the map" and "with the correct service number" are normal things...? Or maybe I'm interpreting it wrong.

 

[overthewater]

So they appear as a normal service would? Just to clarify as you've used the word "but" which to me implies "not normal" but both your statements "appear on the map" and "with the correct service number" are normal things...? Or maybe I'm interpreting it wrong.

Ive edited it to say Incorrect service number. They do appear but most times it never say X24 or X27. You end up seeing X55 etc going down the M80. ( Sometimes they do appear with the correct service number but not always)

 

[computerSaysNo]

Ive edited it to say Incorrect service number. They do appear but most times it never say X24 or X27. You end up seeing X55 etc going down the M80. ( Sometimes they do appear with the correct service number but not always)

Ah right, thanks. So it sounds like it would be best using the overall Stagecoach East Scotland map. I don't see any duplicates at the moment but I'll keep an eye on it.

 

[route101]

I don't suppose anyone is able to say whether any B8RLE/PantherLEs are on any unusual routes today? Anything other than the X55/X56/X61. Currently 54501, 06, 09, 10, 15 and 18 don't seem to be tracking (https://bustimes.org/operators/stagecoach-east-scotland/vehicles).
Is there anything out on Citylink duties today?
Thanks in advance.

Seen one on a M8 or M9 Citylink service once.

 

[Bowie]

I don't suppose anyone is able to say whether any B8RLE/PantherLEs are on any unusual routes today? Anything other than the X55/X56/X61. Currently 54501, 06, 09, 10, 15 and 18 don't seem to be tracking (https://bustimes.org/operators/stagecoach-east-scotland/vehicles).
Is there anything out on Citylink duties today?
Thanks in advance.

There’s a Panther LE on an M90 to Edinburgh. Left Inverness at 6:35

 

[CSB0241]

Is there any news on changes in Fife at all aside from the article from LevenmouthReconnected or the recent 34/34A & 42/42A changes? It feels like ages since the August changes & I feel that they need to increase waiting times at Edinburgh Bus Station for the Edinburgh expresses & the 1 in Dunfermline needs some improvements reliability-wise.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Is there any news on changes in Fife at all aside from the article from LevenmouthReconnected or the recent 34/34A & 42/42A changes? It feels like ages since the August changes & I feel that they need to increase waiting times at Edinburgh Bus Station for the Edinburgh expresses & the 1 in Dunfermline needs some improvements reliability-wise.

Any improvements to the express network have been set back, largely due to the delay in the new 9700 DDs arriving.

 

[CSB0241]

Any improvements to the express network have been set back, largely due to the delay in the new 9700 DDs arriving.

Do we we have a rough idea on when the DDs are gonna arrive now?

 

[jamieintercity]

The number of tridents currently still with East Scotland are now down into single figures. 18075/82/370 are at cowdenbeath and 18449 is at arbroath. Don't know where 18506-9 are but I think 18507/8 are still at Perth.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Not half dragged the arse out of getting these new Volvo 9700DDs

 

[overthewater]

Not half dragged the arse out of getting these new Volvo 9700DDs

Blame the manufactures, its them that causing the delays.

 

[GusB]

Blame the manufactures, its them that causing the delays.

Would you provide the source that confirms this, please?

 

[318266]

Would you provide the source that confirms this, please?

I'm not quite sure who else would be to blame for manufacturing delays? Lots of Volvo orders have been arriving later than expected recently, e.g. the Lothian BZLs necessitating the temporary reinstation of the blue interior B9TLs.

 

[GusB]

I'm not quite sure who else would be to blame for manufacturing delays? Lots of Volvo orders have been arriving later than expected recently, e.g. the Lothian BZLs necessitating the temporary reinstation of the blue interior B9TLs.

Manufacturing delays can occur during chassis production or body production, or could even be a combination of both. However, I simply asking for a source that confirmed that the delays were due to manufacturing. It was being stated as fact with no indication of where the information came from.

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

Blame the manufactures, its them that causing the delays.

Would you provide the source that confirms this, please?

Internal sources certainly corroborate what @overthewater has said