Stagecoach North Scotland (Bluebird and Highland)

[Spsf3232]

How many driver changes on that do you think? At least one I would say and more likely 2

5 hours 30 is legal for drivers so more than likely just the one driver. Also remember that the timetable is 5 hours 30, that doesn't account for layover at any point so driving time may well be less

 

[overthewater]

Its not like its all journeys. it's only 3 towards Inverness and 5? towards Aberdeen.

 

[Caleb2010]

Has anyone any further news on the service changes in Moray that have been mentioned for August?

Can’t find anything about them on the stagecoach website.

When you set your location as Elgin you get Aberdeen and shire service changes!!

 

[Volvodart]

Aberdeen are having a consultation. Moray is under Highland control now. Maybe they are just going to lodge the changes without anything further being done and they will be announced probably next month.

 

[Caleb2010]

Moray is under Highland ?? Company or Area?

Moray allocated vehicles and services are operated by Bluebird!

I know stagecoach isn’t exactly good at publicising changes - I just wondered if they’d had a change of heart and actually let passengers know this time that changes were afoot.

 

[Volvodart]

No change to company just where it is run from.

 

[Caleb2010]

Ahh, ok thanks for that!

 

[Volvodart]

The Moray changes from 21 August 2023 are currently being processed by the Vehicle Operator Licensing, so I was correct about no details being released until Bluebird are ready to do so.

 

[Caleb2010]

Fair enough, thanks for that.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Indeed there's no consultation for Moray. The Moray changes have been finalised internally for a while now. The merge of the 31/32, axing of the 38 outwith Buckie and the changes to the 10/35 should save around 5 vehicles so should help with the driver shortages, while the new M98 just replaces placing journeys between Elgin and Keith on the 10 so has no impact on vehicle or driver requirements. There's currently two drivers from Arbroath on loan to Elgin i believe.

 

[overthewater]

SO what is this new X8 all about?

• PM0000005/709 Registered​

  BLUEBIRD BUSES LIMITED
  Route: Union Square to Stonehaven via Portlethen ASDA + Wellington Rd
  Service number: X8 (X8)
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 21 Aug 2023

 

[Jordan Adam]

SO what is this new X8 all about?

• PM0000005/709 Registered​

  BLUEBIRD BUSES LIMITED
  Route: Union Square to Stonehaven via Portlethen ASDA + Wellington Rd
  Service number: X8 (X8)
  Service type: Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 21 Aug 2023

Its the X6 from the consultation renumbered. X8 is a far better choice of number as it keeps it consistent with the Stonehaven Town Service 8A/8C and avoids confusion with the Westhill Service 6.

 

[PG]

Indeed there's no consultation for Moray. The Moray changes have been finalised internally for a while now. The merge of the 31/32, axing of the 38 outwith Buckie and the changes to the 10/35 should save around 5 vehicles so should help with the driver shortages, while the new M98 just replaces placing journeys between Elgin and Keith on the 10 so has no impact on vehicle or driver requirements. There's currently two drivers from Arbroath on loan to Elgin i believe.

The STV North evening news tonight ran a piece on Stagecoach bus services in the Highlands. It focused upon Inverness in particular and made reference to the use of social media to publicise short notice cancellations. A response from Stagecoach said 96% of services operated as normal last week but that there was no quick fix to the driver shortage. Nothing showing up on the STV website as yet to allow me to provide a link.

 

[fraser158]

The shortage in Inverness seemed to be getting better for a while but recently has taken a dive again.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Smith & Sons have won the 26 (Stonehaven - Laurencekirk) from Stagecoach Bluebird

• PM0001044/32 Registered (Short notice)​

  IAN F SMITH & PARTNERS
  Route: Stonehaven, Mackie Academy, Westfield Road or Barclay Street Int to Laurencekirk Kinnear Square or Luthermuir Main Street via Drumlithie, Glenbervie, Auchenblae or Fourdoun
  Service number: 26
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 21 Aug 2023

 

[overthewater]

Full details of the August changes have appeared: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-28/07/2023-17:09:33:601

Stagecoach Bluebird has confirmed the revised network of services which will operate across the North East from 21st August 2023. The announcement follows an in-depth review of customer travel patterns, as well as a consultation exercise with customers which has helped shape the final timetables.

Services across the Aberdeenshire will be revised, including in areas such as Deeside, Buchan, Stonehaven and Portlethen. Services in Moray will also see changes, including services 10 and 35, which link Aberdeen, Elgin, Macduff and Inverness.

Most of the changes are in response to changes to travel patterns across the region, especially on key routes linking towns across the region with Aberdeen. Additionally, there will be changes to certain services operated under contract to Aberdeenshire Council, with new operators taking on a number of routes.

The recent consultation exercise has provided valuable insight and feedback from customers, which has been used to make adjustments to the final timetables. Over 300 comments were received during the consultation process, which took place online and at in-person events. Notable changes to the original proposals include the continuation of services to Torphins, following feedback from customers. Furthermore, changes to service 9 and X20 are a direct result of customer comments received during the consultation.

Daniel Laird, Commercial Director for Stagecoach North Scotland said: “We are incredibly grateful for the feedback received during the consultation process. Everything we have planned is to best use our fleet of buses to meet the travel habits in the region as well as improving the punctuality of the services. We will continue to monitor the performance of this new network, especially once the long-awaited bus priority measures in Aberdeen city centre come into effect later this year”.

Full timetables can be downloaded below.

Deeside

Service 201/202/203 (Aberdeen-Banchory/Torphins-Ballater-Braemar)

This service will be revised to operate hourly between Aberdeen and Ballater, and up to every 30 minutes between Aberdeen and Banchory.

The route will be revised within Banchory, with Raemoir Road mainly served by the shorter journeys to Banchory only (service 202). This will reduce the journey time for customers travelling towards Ballater. As a direct result of feedback from customers, service 202 will extend from Banchory to Torphins, providing journeys to Aberdeen up to every hour. It is hoped that this more regular service will increase passenger number, particularly as development continues in the area.

Journeys serving Tarland and Lumphanan have been withdrawn due to low passenger numbers.

However, Aberdeenshire Council will provide a Monday to Friday replacement service, connecting with either service 201 at Banchory or service 202 at Torphins. Further information on the replacement service can be obtained by clicking on the link below: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/shuttlebus212

Buses between Ballater and Braemar will continue to operate every 2 hours; however, on weekdays and Saturdays they will operate as a shuttle service (203), connecting to Aberdeen buses at Ballater Golf Road. Customers will be able to connect between buses at Ballater for no additional cost, and advertised connections will be guaranteed.

On Sundays, journeys will continue towards Braemar every 2 hours. Following the recent decision by Aberdeenshire Council to withdraw funding for Braemar services on Sundays, Stagecoach is pleased to confirm that these journeys will operate seasonally on a commercial basis until Sunday 29th October, returning in April 2024.

Service 205 (Banchory Town Service)

Due to low passenger numbers, this service will be withdrawn. Customers will still be able to travel throughout Banchory on service 201 and 202.

Buchan

X60/X63/61 Aberdeen-Ellon/Newburgh-Peterhead

Timetables have been revised to improve service punctuality.

On Sundays, services X60 and X63 will be replaced by service 61, operating consistently throughout the day.

X67/X68 Aberdeen-Ellon-Mintlaw-Fraserburgh

Timetables have been revised to improve service punctuality.

On weekdays, services between Aberdeen and Fraserburgh will be revised to operate hourly (as X68) between the morning and evening peak periods. Service X67 will operate between Aberdeen and Ellon during this period. Frequency of services at the busiest commuting times is not affected.



Service X69/69/69B Peterhead-Fraserburgh

In response to customer feedback, most weekday journeys will operate as faster service X69, directly via the A90 and Lonmay. This will provide a quicker journey for the majority of customers. Service X69 will not divert from the A90 at Crimond and St Fergus, serving the main road bus stops instead.

The recently introduced additional journeys to NESCOL Fraserburgh Campus will be maintained on service X69.

Connections between St Combs and Fraserburgh will be maintained on service 69, with some changes to journeys.

Sunday services will continue to operate as service 69/69B.



Service 66 Peterhead-Mintlaw-Stuartfield/Maud

Timetables have been revised to improve service punctuality.

Service 66A journeys via Torterston will no longer operate due to very low passenger numbers. This will improve journey times for the majority of customers.

Following customer feedback, additional weekday journeys have been added to provide a service from Mintlaw Academy towards Peterhead in the afternoons.



Service X65 Aberdeen-Balmedie-Ellon (replaces services 50 and 53)

This new service will provide a fast connection between Aberdeen, Balmedie, Foveran and the centre of Ellon. Connections are particularly improved for customers in Foveran and Balmedie.

Journeys on service 53A (Balmedie-Ellon Academy) will be retained on service X65.

This new route replaces services 50 and 53 (see below)



Service 81 Peterhead-Boddam

The 0830 journey from Peterhead to Boddam will now operate at 0800.



Service 49 Ellon-Oldmeldrum-Inverurie

The service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.



Service 50 Aberdeen-Newburgh-Ellon

The Monday to Friday service 50 (Newburgh – Ellon) will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts. The route will be partially replaced by new service X65.



Service 52 Ellon Town Service

The revised service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.



Service 53 Aberdeen-Balmedie-Ellon

Journeys operating between Ellon Park & Ride, Castle Park and Meiklemill will be covered by service 52 (Ellon Town Service) and will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts. The route will also be partially replaced by new service X65.

Service 54 Ellon Town Service

The revised service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches and renumbered service 52.

Service 55 Ellon-Modley Avenue

This service will be withdrawn.

Service 248 New Byth-Inverurie

The service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

Service 292 Ellon-Methlick

Most journeys on this service will be withdrawn on this service due to low passenger numbers, with a limited number of early and late journeys continuing to operate.

Service 452 Fraserburgh-Methlick-Inverurie

The service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches and will run on a Wednesday following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

West Aberdeenshire

Service 9 Aberdeen-Blackburn-Inverurie

Revised timetable with no changes to service frequency. One late journey will operate via Kintore following customer feedback.

Service 10/10A/10B/10C Aberdeen - Elgin - Inverness

Revised simplified daytime timetable running hourly throughout the daytime between Inverness, Elgin and Aberdeen. Revised evening timetable with the last journey from Aberdeen at 2300 Monday to Saturday operating as Service 10B through to Elgin.

Minor changes to service 10C.

Service 35/X35 Aberdeen - Banff - Elgin - Inverness

Revised timetable with the Service extending through to Inverness Monday to Saturday. Revised stopping arrangements within Aberdeen City Boundary. New Service X35 that will operate a limited stop Service between Aberdeen and Banff. Within Aberdeen Service X35 will operate a revised route within the City between ARI and the City Centre and will serve Union Terrace.

Service 35/X35 will combine to offer a Service up to every 30 minutes during the daytime between Banff and Aberdeen.

The last Service leaving Aberdeen Monday to Sunday will now be at 2245.

On Sundays there will be a slight reduction in frequency between Banff and Aberdeen

Service 37 Inverurie-Kintore

Revised timetable with no changes to service frequency, improving connections with services 9 and 10.

Service X20 Aberdeen-Kemnay-Alford

Additional journeys will be added on schooldays; 0825 Kemnay to Aberdeen and 1415 Aberdeen to Kemnay. This will provide an improved frequency at busy times.

Service 41 Insch-Inverurie

Changes to timetable.

Service 403 Kingseat-Inverurie

The service will now be operated by Watermill Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

Service 421 Inverurie – Kemnay

The Saturday service will now be operated by RS Taxis and Minicoaches Hirefollowing changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

Service 422 Insch-Alford

Changes to timetable.

Service 219 Strathdon-Alford Academy

This service will now be operated by RS Taxis and Minicoaches Hire following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

Aberdeen City

Service 4 Aberdeen-Kingswells P&R-Countesswells

Minor changes on weekdays to allow school pupils to travel from Countesswells to Hazlehead Academy, in response to customer requests.

Stonehaven/Newtonhill/Portlethen

Service X7 Stonehaven – Aberdeen

An hourly service from Barclay Street to the city will continue to operate, supplemented by new service X8 (see below).

Service X8 Stonehaven – Portlethen ASDA – Cove - Aberdeen

This new service replaces some of the short journeys between Stonehaven and Aberdeen on service X7. Following extensive feedback from the local community, this fast service will operate hourly from Stonehaven via Newtonhill Park & Choose, Portlethen ASDA, Schoolhill, Cove and Wellington Road to Aberdeen Union Square. Key employment sites at Gateway Business Park and Altens Industrial Estate will also be served. The timetable for this service has been designed to cater for shift workers at various employment centres, including the McIntosh Donald meat processing site.

Service 7/7B/7S Stonehaven – Newtonhill/Chapelton – Portlethen - Aberdeen

Services 7 and 7B will see a revised timetable which will improve punctuality and offer a consistent experience to customers, following extensive analysis of traffic patterns on the route. The services will continue to offer convenient connections to Portlethen, Newtonhill and Chapelton.

Customers will benefit from additional evening journeys to Newtonhill Park and Choose, providing better connections to Aberdeen city centre.

Service 7A journeys which currently serve Altens Industrial Estate will be replaced by equivalent journeys on services X8 and 7B.

Following customer feedback during the consultation, additional journeys have been added to serve Berrymuir Road in Portlethen.

Service 8A/8C Stonehaven Town Service

Additional morning journeys have been introduced on weekdays and Saturday mornings to allow customers to connect to Aberdeen services at Barclay Street, Stonehaven.

Service 26 Stonehaven - Laurencekirk

This service will now be operated by Smith & Son Coaches following changes to Aberdeenshire Council contracts.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Full details of the August changes have appeared: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/servi...rticle?SituationId=ID-28/07/2023-17:09:33:601

Main changes since the consultation:

• Proposed X6 renumbered to X8
• Service 7 retained
• Service 202 to Torphins reinstated - likely because they realised the bus would be sitting in Banchory anyway...

Shame the X35 is still going ahead as its entirely pointless, albeit that falls under Moray which is under the control of the Highland commercial unit rather than the Bluebird Commercial Unit which only cover Aberdeenshire and Buchan at present.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Are the changes in Moray, mentioned here previously, still going ahead?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Are the changes in Moray, mentioned here previously, still going ahead?

Yes. I've yet to see any formal press release but the new timetables for the 10/10A/10B/10C/X10, 32, 33A/33C, 34, 35/X35, 36, 38 and M98 are on Bus Times. Make sure to change the date to the 21st of August or later.

Stagecoach Bluebird

 

[aberdeen1]

The way bus times' timetable for the 10 and all its lettered variants are quite confusing, does anyone know what the last service would be from Elgin-Aberdeen?
after the new timetable change?

 

[pgfb1306]

The way bus times' timetable for the 10 and all its lettered variants are quite confusing, does anyone know what the last service would be from Elgin-Aberdeen?
after the new timetable change?

Looks like 2105 Mon-Sat and 1938 on Sun. As per https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/North Scotland/Bluebird/9-10 FINAL.pdf

 

[computerSaysNo]

Looks like 2105 Mon-Sat and 1938 on Sun. As per https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/North Scotland/Bluebird/9-10 FINAL.pdf

How can you tell this is the new timetable? As it doesn't say anywhere on it what time period it refers to?

 

[pgfb1306]

How can you tell this is the new timetable? As it doesn't say anywhere on it what time period it refers to?

You're absolutely right. That was taken from the link on bustimes.org. It does appear to be there has been yet another change which is shown under the Service Changes on the stagecoachbus.com site, making it 2025 Mon-Sat from Elgin and 2010 on a Sun.
Latest link is https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s...th Scotland/Bluebird/Temp/21 AUG 23/9, 10.pdf

 

[route101]

I used the 201 yesterday all the way to Braemar yesterday. Great run especially West of Banchory. Though we did leave Aberdeen 25 minutes late and had a queue of passengers to process. Did these service used to be operated by coaches?

 

[Red Onion]

They were operated by coaches, I don’t think it was too long ago they switched over.

The processing of passengers at the bus station is a real gripe of mine. I use the Buchan services quite regularly which rarely depart on time for this very reason. Frequently queues can be 15-20 deep and it’s excruciatingly slow at boarding time with large numbers buying tickets, not helped by drivers attending buses just a minute or two before the scheduled departure time (not a dig, there could be valid reasons). I do feel that for some services, such as Buchan, Deeside, Airport etc, that roving ticket sellers would speed up this process immensely. It used to be done at Ellon P&R and worked well.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I used the 201 yesterday all the way to Braemar yesterday. Great run especially West of Banchory. Though we did leave Aberdeen 25 minutes late and had a queue of passengers to process. Did these service used to be operated by coaches?

Yes, they were mostly operated by Plaxton Panther 2s up until 2020/21 at which point the 16 plate Enviro400MMCs started to move over. There's rumours internally that they're looking at converting the 35 and 201 back to coach operation as the E400MMCs are not holding up well on what are quite demanding routes and are having frequent suspension issues among other problems. Add on to that the fact that even Stagecoach admitted at the council run bus forums in 2019 that the E400MMCs on the 35 had been received by passengers with mixed/negative feedback.

The processing of passengers at the bus station is a real gripe of mine. I use the Buchan services quite regularly which rarely depart on time for this very reason. Frequently queues can be 15-20 deep and it’s excruciatingly slow at boarding time with large numbers buying tickets, not helped by drivers attending buses just a minute or two before the scheduled departure time (not a dig, there could be valid reasons). I do feel that for some services, such as Buchan, Deeside, Airport etc, that roving ticket sellers would speed up this process immensely. It used to be done at Ellon P&R and worked well.

There's also the issue of buses using the wrong stances due to very poor scheduling. The 7B and X7 are often meant to depart at Stance 3 at the exact same times, likewise with the 9/10 and M96 at Stance 4, worse of all until recently a 5, 14 and 218 were all expected to depart from Stance 8 at the same time. It's not even like this is an issue at peak times only either, it happens pretty much constantly even at quieter times, yesterday morning for example the bus station stances were half empty and yet every bus was departing from the wrong stance.

 

[overthewater]

What kind of coaches could they get for the 35 and 201? The B8 that fife have?

 

[Red Onion]

There's also the issue of buses using the wrong stances due to very poor scheduling. The 7B and X7 are often meant to depart at Stance 3 at the exact same times, likewise with the 9/10 and M96 at Stance 4, worse of all until recently a 5, 14 and 218 were all expected to depart from Stance 8 at the same time. It's not even like this is an issue at peak times only either, it happens pretty much constantly even at quieter times, yesterday morning for example the bus station stances were half empty and yet every bus was departing from the wrong stance.

I’ve noticed that too and it causes frequent confusion, not helped by a lack of information screens, announcements or staff. The whole operation needs a rethink, especially with the bus station being utterly unfit for purpose.

 

[Jordan Adam]

What kind of coaches could they get for the 35 and 201? The B8 that fife have?

Its purely just internal rumours so take it with a pinch of salt but Yutong coaches have been touted for the 201. Of course any new vehicle order rumoured at this stage would be subject to the usual internal group bidding process so i wouldn't expect to hear anything concrete until next year.
Bluebird still have almost 70 non-Euro 6 vehicles in use at present so it'll be interesting to see what happens given LEZ is less than a year away.

I’ve noticed that too and it causes frequent confusion, not helped by a lack of information screens, announcements or staff. The whole operation needs a rethink, especially with the bus station being utterly unfit for purpose.

I think your last point highlights what is really the key underlying issue, the bus station is not fit for purpose at all. After the upcoming service changes the 9 and 218 are being altered to depart from Stance 6 which is currently unused (on paper...), however i can't see that really making much of a difference in the wider picture. There are still plenty of instances where different services are going to be expected to depart from the same stance at the same time.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Of course any new vehicle order rumoured at this stage would be subject to the usual internal group bidding process

What is said process?

the E400MMCs are not holding up well on what are quite demanding routes and are having frequent suspension issues among other problems. Add on to that the fact that even Stagecoach admitted at the council run bus forums in 2019 that the E400MMCs on the 35 had been received by passengers with mixed/negative feedback.

The 10 seems to have E400MMCs on it often as well, there's at least two on it today.