tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post7364324429433674760..comments2024-03-25T19:07:29.729+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: Stagecoach in Norfolk and Other NewsSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-22305275028521865692018-03-09T02:02:23.747+00:002018-03-09T02:02:23.747+00:00The new operators have been announced: https://www...The new operators have been announced: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/deal-announced-to-save-west-norfolk-bus-services-1-8406495/ampAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-44856031508642818712018-02-13T21:16:01.521+00:002018-02-13T21:16:01.521+00:00I find it difficult to make sense of this.
I appr...I find it difficult to make sense of this.<br /><br />I appreciate Stagecoach didn't get where they are by throwing good money after bad, so they will give up rather than struggle (and can afford to, unlike First, perhaps). But I thought they paid good money for Norfolk Green - double what First offered? Would they just write it off - they usually come out of it with something (witness East and West Coast rail)? Stagecoach East, I think, took over (or were lumbered with) its management late in the day, and it always looked to me like the albatross around Andy Campbell's neck. Often things come round eventually, we just have to be patient.<br /><br />So this is probably a wild flight of fancy; but I'm left wondering if perhaps there is a chance that Andy Campbell might swop his albatross for mid and south Essex which looks to me like the albatross around their new boss Steve Wickes' neck at First? Certainly their current Service Changes look more like a book keeping exercise than anything done for operational reasons, and not something I'm not sure any new boss with his wits about him would want to be associated with an eye on making his reputation. And an equality payment could come in very handy, I'm sure. It always seemed to me to be an area too in which Stagecoach would be happier and the allegedly lax depots might do with a bit of the firm handling for which Stagecoach is renowned (as local management have conveniently moved into Norfolk it seems). They also seem to have the knack of escaping the attention of the Competition Commission. Any word on the grapevine? We have the usual oblique statements as always. Colchester and Clacton for their part seem to sit much more happily alongside Ipswich as part of the Eastern Counties family, and uniting Norfolk again is neat, too. The latest Essex accounts were dire, though just how dire between the depots can only be guessed at. But as costs rather than income seems the main bugbear, the London effect can't help. Their Berkshire ops look to be in a mess for perhaps the same reason. It certainly doesn't look as though First have yet got any grip on the costs! OK West Norfolk isn't a honeypot either, but then do First have any honeypots? - although Eastern Counties don't seem to be doing so badly amongst the rest, even the big conurbations! It'd help the ticketing conundrum which seems to vex everybody, even in local places like Herts and Essex which have a nominal multi-operator ticket its acceptance seems to increasingly become the exception rather than the rule.smurfukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04812247601237248526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-22327087442477041382018-02-07T18:28:11.025+00:002018-02-07T18:28:11.025+00:00I can confirm that Anonymous is correct, Turners h...I can confirm that Anonymous is correct, Turners have ceased trading, they lost almost all their school contracts and then had an enforced change of ownership. The vehicles are currently parked up at the depot.SEV 777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-11304010887675597782018-02-06T21:28:18.526+00:002018-02-06T21:28:18.526+00:00Be happy if anyone takes over the routes. Here in ...Be happy if anyone takes over the routes. Here in East Suffolk many of the routes built up by Anglian and wrecked by Go Ahead just died, with no one taking them on. Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-15445217713298594842018-02-06T21:00:19.163+00:002018-02-06T21:00:19.163+00:00Norfolk Green was a wonderful bus company founded ...Norfolk Green was a wonderful bus company founded by Tony Haynes in 1990 they gave a great service but with the takeover by USELESS STAGECOACH this is gone forever! We don't want useless Sanders on this route it can be either Lynx or Eastern Counties as its vital the Coasthopper continues once Stagecoach is gone!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06841376022356358187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-91054894790457787942018-02-06T19:49:53.450+00:002018-02-06T19:49:53.450+00:00I thought they were completely buggered at least 3...I thought they were completely buggered at least 3 years ago.....Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-66231362659387448232018-02-06T19:19:43.242+00:002018-02-06T19:19:43.242+00:00looks like the current fleet of enviro 400s are go...looks like the current fleet of enviro 400s are going to stay on the route then unless they bite the bullet or get the Scanias most of the new stagecoach scnia n250uds delivered this year seem pretty rattle free. how much longer do u think the Enviros can hold up till they are completly buggered lol ? sorry for my poor spelling and grammarAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-7050721742712014872018-02-06T19:02:39.556+00:002018-02-06T19:02:39.556+00:00The Long Sutton outstation still run by Stagecoach...The Long Sutton outstation still run by Stagecoach on the 505 sounds interesting. In NBC days this route was operated by Lincolnshire Roadcar, which of course became Stagecoach Lincolnshire. Could really be a case of back to the future!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-82620778330599025112018-02-06T18:00:40.678+00:002018-02-06T18:00:40.678+00:00Lovely idea, with you all the way on that but ther...Lovely idea, with you all the way on that but there is no way First will pay out for that type of vehicle. If they were then we'd have a fleet of Enterprises by now!Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-38550658339015805382018-02-06T17:47:23.659+00:002018-02-06T17:47:23.659+00:00Obviously not an option as they aren't conside...Obviously not an option as they aren't considering coaches, but perhaps Astromegas such as those on the Oxford Tube could be used??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-36762785353473559352018-02-06T02:04:36.798+00:002018-02-06T02:04:36.798+00:00They tried one and were appalled by the body noise...They tried one and were appalled by the body noise. However I have a feeling that is what the route will end up with.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-68852258925708518342018-02-06T01:10:00.754+00:002018-02-06T01:10:00.754+00:00Surely apart from coaches (twirlys don’t seem to m...Surely apart from coaches (twirlys don’t seem to mind on Stagecoach East’s X5 with their free passes) the X1 would be best with Scania Enviro 400 MMCs which Stagecoach prefer for their longer Interurban routes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-76805066977202381732018-02-05T17:36:45.469+00:002018-02-05T17:36:45.469+00:00A year ago GA didn't know that a costessey ben...A year ago GA didn't know that a costessey bendy would soon be in an accident resulting in only 1 being left (No point having just 1 of a type of bus in a fleet costs etc). A year ago Konect hadn't had a meeting with UEA/Hospital to discuss adding more departures onto the park and ride due to high usage.<br /><br />Hindsight is a wonderful thing as they say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-43538817671689194492018-02-05T17:17:15.643+00:002018-02-05T17:17:15.643+00:00They had both.They had both.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-19977874054648996612018-02-05T17:12:23.471+00:002018-02-05T17:12:23.471+00:00Are you sure they were 05 plate Gemni and not 02 r...Are you sure they were 05 plate Gemni and not 02 reg onesUnkownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15489586838147640660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-91800078114661524272018-02-05T15:53:29.625+00:002018-02-05T15:53:29.625+00:00I said 550/1/2 will be replaced as soon as possibl...I said 550/1/2 will be replaced as soon as possible - which is true - but as far as I understand, 515/6/8/9 are not their direct replacements. They are retaining dual door layout for Costessey P&R - the previous batch wouldn't have been suitable for this use, as they only had a single door. Stagecoach are to operate the 505/55 from Long Sutton outstation. This is confirmed but has not yet been reported in an official press release.Sam Larkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976628103910804969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-29609367715326168312018-02-05T11:53:35.985+00:002018-02-05T11:53:35.985+00:00Some interesting historic photos of Buses in the C...Some interesting historic photos of Buses in the Colchester area<br /><br />http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/wp-content/themes/Old-Bus-Photos/galleries/essex_suffolk_border/essex_suffolk_border.phpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-57590316385364551732018-02-05T11:07:17.992+00:002018-02-05T11:07:17.992+00:00Turners of Essex
It appears that Turners of Essex...Turners of Essex<br /><br />It appears that Turners of Essex have ceased tradingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-17381274068857362782018-02-05T07:18:52.838+00:002018-02-05T07:18:52.838+00:00There's a bit of a fine line between early ava...There's a bit of a fine line between early availability and sufficient notice. <br /><br />A few years ago I worked for a small bus operator that introduced a Saturday service on a route. The guv'nor said "it's registered, so why not tell the passengers"? Difficult to argue, really, so we told the passengers with about 6 weeks notice. On the first Saturday after releasing the timetables, we got a call from a passenger who said "I've been waiting for your b****y bus for two hours and it hasn't shown up!" He'd seen the timetable, but not noticed the big red "starts on ** September flash"!!<br />I've always reckoned that passengers should know of changes about 3 weeks in advance, with printed timetables and web timetables about two weeks in advance. Ipswich are maybe a few days late by that timescale, but if times hit the streets during this week then that's about right. <br /><br />Remember that, once the timetables are registered, they have to be printed in nice interesting leaflets or a booklet, and that all takes time. Nothing is immediate, in spite of what we have now come to expect from life!!greenline727https://www.blogger.com/profile/03033268278026535109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-33265623114676025432018-02-05T01:01:28.550+00:002018-02-05T01:01:28.550+00:00Some timetables - 4/11A/16/93/94/95 are on the Suf...Some timetables - 4/11A/16/93/94/95 are on the Suffolk on Board website https://www.suffolkonboard.com/buses/bus-timetable-updates/february-2018/Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-70191501301486738372018-02-05T00:40:55.465+00:002018-02-05T00:40:55.465+00:00Speaking of Ipswich Buses they’ve now announced th...Speaking of Ipswich Buses they’ve now announced they will not have any of their new timetables available (both in print or online) until the 9th February for a change on the 18th February!! They really don’t help themselves do they... with cuts and Sunday/evening services reduced how do they expect the customers they have left to plan ahead at all? And they wonder why people stop using their services. Is it really that difficult to put a PDF or something on their website? Or is it a case of them trying to hide and cover these cuts for as long as possible? When first announced back in December they promised timetables by end of January and meet the customer events throughout the new year until the changes commenced. What an absolute joke they have become.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293096761075742763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-88433962174485647792018-02-04T21:29:13.300+00:002018-02-04T21:29:13.300+00:00Yesterday you told me they were to replace the Ang...Yesterday you told me they were to replace the Anglian Scania deckers! My point is, had they not got rid of the 05 reg Geminis last year they would still be here and available to use. So yes - effectively they got rid of 4 05 plate Geminis last year and got 4 05 plate Geminis this year. Doesn't matter how you dress it up!<br /><br />Until Stagecoach officially say what is happening to the 505/55 I won't believe a thing. Either way it will still lose money if current customers transferring from SG town services have to pay twice.Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-32753544404938110612018-02-04T21:03:41.209+00:002018-02-04T21:03:41.209+00:00505 and 55 to be retained by Stagecoach and operat...505 and 55 to be retained by Stagecoach and operated from Long Sutton outstation under King's Lynn. The 4 arrivals at Konectbus are not to replace buses that left the fleet a year ago. They are to replace the last bendybus and bolster the service on the Costessey P&R, for which they will retain dual-door layout. Sam Larkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01976628103910804969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-8399036309427715492018-02-04T17:34:32.533+00:002018-02-04T17:34:32.533+00:00If they ran from Long Sutton I'd guess they wo...If they ran from Long Sutton I'd guess they would run some early 505 services into King's Lynn in the morning and some later 505 services back to Long Sutton in the evenings.<br />I'd guess Coasthopper will be left to Lynx as they have Hunstanton services pretty much covered.<br />As for other services, I think that some services are also rumoured to run out of Wisbech. This does seem slightly less plausible than Long Sutton.<br />I doubt that they will continue running any town services, and if they do I guess they may do it temporarily to cover for Lynx as they won't be able to get masses of buses quickly?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-2402638042525883122018-02-04T14:30:13.728+00:002018-02-04T14:30:13.728+00:00Cracking, thanks, Steve!
Just wondering . . . ...Cracking, thanks, Steve! <br />Just wondering . . . . could Stagecoach run the profitable bits of KL Town routes from Long Sutton? It's only a dead run twice a day, and plenty of London routes run with 30 minute dead runs at start and end of day, with relief breaks somewhere on the route. If the premises are cheaper, then perhaps we're all adding two and two and totalling anything between 3 and 5!!<br />After all, CoastHopper may be award-winning, but if Stagecoach have already tried to convert the loss-making bits into contracts and failed . . . . maybe OAP reimbursements aren't enough (are they ever anywhere nowadays?) so they will now simply withdraw and leave it to someone else?<br />Now where did I leave that crystal ball . . . . . . greenline727https://www.blogger.com/profile/03033268278026535109noreply@blogger.com