My apologies to all Stagecoach followers that there has been quite a delay in putting this page on line. Indeed the last page was published as long ago as September 15th 2017, now over 5 months ago.

Quite a lot has happened with Stagecoach since then, with changes to the fleets in Oxford, East, West and Midlands being the areas we mainly follow.

The share price has dipped since September but recently perked up a little.

 

         
        

The fleet changes at Oxford saw the arrival of four brand new ADL E400MMC Gold buses. These arrived on or about November 24th and were later moved to Network Oxford where they have remained ever since.

 

10902 and 10903 seen stored at Network Oxford on Christmas Eve - by Gavin Francis

10902	YX67VBL	AD E40D SFD938ER4HGX10077	AD H413/1	H45/32F	11/2017
10903	YX67VBM	AD E40D SFD938ER4HGX10078	AD H413/2	H45/32F	11/2017
10904	YX67VBN	AD E40D SFD938ER4HGX10079	AD H413/3	H45/32F	11/2017
10905	YX67VBO	AD E40D SFD938ER4HGX10080	AD H413/4	H45/32F	11/2017

Other changes to record in fleet movements are:

Delicenced
12008    OU10GGV    ADL E400 Hybrid  - fire damaged -  held at Oxford

Awaiting disposal
34466    KV53NHA    Dennis Dart  -                                  held at Oxford

In reserve
34437    KV53EZO    Dennis Dart  -                                 Held at Oxford

Pictures of interest provided by various contributors are included below:

St Giles Fair always provides some interesting changes and here 10687 on the 2 is seen in Broad St on September 3rd by Gavin Francis

Scania Gold 15836 working the S3 turns into Broad St during St Giles Fair on September 3rd by Gavin Francis

It seems a long way back to late summer of 2017 when E200 36927 is seen working the 16 crossing Folly Bridge during the road works at that time
on September 23rd taken by Gavin Francis.

ADL-MMC Gold 10780 works the 2A by Debenhams on January 31st seen by Gavin Francis.

ADL-MMC Gold 10788 on the revised and renumbered S9 once the X30 in New Road on October 25th again by Gavin Francis.
The Wantage routes are now Gold routes and normally worked by the newer MMC buses.

As mentioned above the S9 is nominally a Gold route but here MMC 10442 is seen in St Aldates on October 31st by David Gray.

The S3 outstation at Chipping Norton in the last spell of snow with 15966 at rest in the yard on December 10th by Jim Wright.

Talking of the out-station at Chipping Norton, home for many of the S3 and 7 rostered buses, has just moved!

Jim Wright, a senior driver at the base writes "The long term outstation at Chipping Norton, based on the site of the old Oxford South Midland depot on London Rd closed on February 24th. The location then moved to a new site at Cromwell Business centre, off the Banbury Road at the back of Aldi."

Jim goes on to write "I drove last bus out of old site 15836 and then 15832 out of new site on February 25th."

Pictures of this event are shown below.

Pictures by Jim Wright

I wonder if any readers have pictures of the Chipping Norton depot in days gone by?

David Gray writes "I had a trip to Oxford on February 7th and thought I would send you a couple of photographs of Stagecoach Gold vehicles 'off normal route."

  
"Golds" on the 10 and 3 being 15759 and 10784 by David Gray.

Buses once with SC Oxford by Tim Hall

 
Now in Hull 36454 works the 9 SCE and 36455 the 7 seen on august 23rd by Tim Hall

Questions

Alexander Edwards asks "When Stagecoach ran the 44 service, why was it given that number although it was related to the 32? Also, why did Stagecoach run an X59 service before they ran A 59 service?"

Your responses much appreciated.

Various developments have taken place within this company area. One of these is the transfer of four brand new GOLD ADL/MMC E400's to West (10902-5) which were delivered to Oxford last November. I am advised that these buses were to be first used at the Cheltenham gold Cup event and thereafter to initiate a new Park & Ride service. I am awaiting pictures of these buses in their new home.

In parallel West has taken delivery of a batch of brand new GOLD Scania/MMC E400's for use on service 55, which are based at Swindon.

Scania 15344 YP67XBT at Grayson, Birmingham on November 8th seen by Chris Maxfield. This is a Scania agent to provide PDI.

A shot of the rear of 15349 by Gavin Francis taken at Gloucester Green on March 4th. Note the rear destination blind.

Stagecoach have spent £5m on the new fleet, which bosses describe as an early Christmas present for Torbay and Newton Abbot. Seventeen of the buses will be dedicated to the Hop12 route which connects Brixham, Paignton, Torquay and Newton Abbot up to every 10 minutes, seven days a week, with the other five fitting in elsewhere on the network.

Buses feature high-backed luxury seats, free Wi-Fi and USB charging points.

South West's Managing Director Bob Dennison said: "An investment such as this is a real statement of what we see for Torbay, and is the last phase of the new Hop routes that we have launched.

"Earlier in the year we saw the introduction of the new open-toppers in Torbay as well." 

A good friend, Rob Williams, has sent a few interesting pictures of the launch of a fleet of E400s for the route 12 - Newton Abbot - Torquay - Paignton - Brixham on November 9th.

As can be seen in the dramatic picture above, some seventeen buses, in a special livery, lined up on the front at Torquay.

I can't see Rob and wondered!!

Another picture to provide the variety of liveries offered in Devon by Stagecoach. It also shows one of the recently introduced Open Top buses.

15306 works the 12 seen on December 8th by Graham Low.

I very much like the provision of rear destination blinds as seen shown off by 15313 on December 8th by Graham Low.

These pictures rather encourage one to visit Devon in the coming better months for some very nice pictures.

As mentioned earlier four Gold ADLs have been moved from Oxford to West and these are being used on Race Day specials at Cheltenham in the first instance.

David Gray has kindly sent some pictures taken yesterday, March 14th, two of which are included below.

 
With many thanks to David Gray.

December 28th.

Gavin Francis writes "Coach 52446 has been at the depot a lot lately. It is Swindon's trainer and comes to us each day along with a driving instructor to train our drivers. We are so short at the moment and have our own three trainers out plus this one."

 
Picture by Gavin Francis. This coach has had a varied existence and I think started based at Cambridge?

Oxford depot is a staging post for new buses on delivery for South, which are coming down from the north.

South's 26148 SN67WWS on delivery via Horspath depot - the date September 15th by Andy Churchill.

When George Irvine collected and Gavin Francis returned the two Megabus Astromegas of Cwmbran they took the chance to record some interesting other members of the South Wales fleet.

   
On November 16th George photographed three Studentlink Volvo/Plaxton coaches in a striking yellow livery at Cwmbran depot.

One of the sixteen Gold ADL30D 41 seaters normally used on the X24 from Newport via Cwmbran, Pontypool, Varteg Hill to Blaenavon around 16 miles.

 27697 CN60CVR is a Dennis Enviro 300 Alexander 42 seater new 2010 to Red & White pictured by George Irvine.

Studentlink 52632 at Cwmbran on December 7th by Gavin Francis. 

Out of our area.

Inverness's 19370 SV58BLX spare in Invergordon High St on August 8th by Nick Ross.

The Oxford tube has been carefully plodding its way along with only one item to be recorded in the past five month, which this update is covering.

The main item of interest was the loan of two Megabus 61 plate Astromega to assist with some problems on the main fleet including the long term repairs to accident damaged 50272.

Two drivers went down to Cwmbran to collect 50236 and 50237. These coaches were pressed into service very quickly and stayed for most of November and the early part of December.

 
236 and 237 prior to the long journey to Oxford on November 16th by George Irvine.

The following day, 50237, is seen at the Victoria terminus with added logos for Oxford tube - Gavin Francis.

This picture enables readers to see the additional notices affixed whilst 50236 was in service now on November 18th by Gavin Francis.

Looking very smart, 50236 departs Gloucester Green on November 21st again by Gavin Francis.
It seems quite appropriate to have some exposure to Megabus as passengers can book on the Megabus M40 from Oxford to London.

50237 is seen from the rear nearside at Gloucester Green prior to a working to London on November 18th by Gavin Francis.

Cwmbran depot yard with 50306 laid up out of use on December 7th which is when 50236 and 50237 were returned home following service in Oxford.

Ironically 50236 had been to Oxford before, seen here next to 50226 of the home fleet. The location is Network Oxford,
the date December 8th 2012 and the picture once again by Gavin Francis.

Other matters on Oxford tube.

 
Early in February Stagecoach invested quite a sum to increase awareness of the Oxford tube service at Gloucester Green.
Pictures provided by Gavin Francis.

Early December saw some very heavy snowfalls and here we see 50282 pausing at Thornhill on its way to London on December 10th pictured by Gavin Francis.

50273 heading for London along the M40 on a snowy December 12th by Gavin Francis.

Sadly since our last issue Megabus Gold has ceased and the coaches have appeared on other duties. A few pictures have been sent for inclusion which may be of interest to readers.

   
City Link gGld 50309 SF13FMO seen on October 21st by Gordon Scott.

Rennies PSU376, new to Stagecoach Western as their 50307 for Megabusgold.com services seen on August 19th by Gordon Scott.
This was the coach which suffered a flat tyre on the M40 and I helped recover from the A34 early one morning, October 18th 2015.
Subsequently I took this coach onwards to West Ham depot where it was normal to keep a spare Sleeper. Ah, happy memories!!
On this link you can read and see pictures of this event, now two and half years ago!
OCBP for November 23rd 2015

I learn that Megabus services are cutting back a service operated by Freestones. This service will no longer terminate at Victoria Coach Station but Stratford, East London on its four daily operations. One has noticed various coaches used on these services and one taken in February 2015 gives example to this operator.

Freestones LIB3768 in a sort of Megabus livery, works the M16 near VCS on February 20th 2015 by Gavin Francis.

Freestones Irizar i6 YT62HZX with the M16 on Elizabeth Bridge on March 12th 2015 by Gavin Francis.

The M34 service which runs through Oxford continues to provide interest. This is especially so when St Giles is closed and services then operate via Gloucester Green using one of the Oxford tube departure bays. Indeed for a period last autumn there was a daily layover service on the M34 which on one service terminated at Oxford northbound and took up service later in the day southbound. In recent weeks this has not been regular and indeed only once was this seen i  the last two weeks.

Megabus 54279 on the Oxford layover working on September 12th leaves Gloucester Green seen by Gavin Francis.

This service then waited time at the Oxford depot as seen above with 54278 at Horspath on September 7th seen by Gavin Francis.

Not everything runs to plan!

South Gloucester are, as a company, very well organised in the recovery business and here we see Levante SG6 on the low loader in Buckingham Palace Road.
This, one imagines, must save quite some money to the operator. September 6th by Gavin Francis.

Sightings in London Victoria.

Megabus 54270 on a Sheffield service in Buckingham Palace Road, the date February 15th by Gavin Francis.

A nice touch is the naming of certain Interdeckers with 54291 called "mega mcmegaface". Seen on February 15th by Gavin Francis.

The full batch of these coaches were delivered to Cwmbran to replace all of the ex Oxford tube Astromegas which have now been sold as seen below.

Indeed as the listing below shows the double deck fleet has changed significantly.

Cwmbran Astromega fleet

So an interesting change since all those sold to Dawsons seem to be sold to Dublin Coach. some pictures are provided by Dave Robinson.

A point of interest is did 50204 also go to Ireland?

 
50223 and 50224 once with OXFORD tube are seen at Cwmbran depot prior to collection on September 27th by  Robinson

David Robinson wrote "These coaches were repainted at Rowan Telmac, Coventry. and at October 23rd three coaches were being prepared for Ireland. Indeed the next day one was due to depart for Holyhead for the Irish Sea crossing.

50223 seen at Hellaby after repaint looking rather smart,, if you like green. November 2nd by Dave Robinson.
(This seems a far cry from its first outing driven by me to Showbus 2009 - Malcolm.)

50224 seen at Dawson Rentals on October 23rd again by Dave Robinson.

Pictures of ex 50226 in service with Dublin Coach in July 2017.

http://www.dublincoach.ie/services/luxury-coaches.php 

09-KE-17667 is pictured arriving at Red Cow on a route 726 from Portlaoise to Dublin Airport on July 6th by Irish Londoner.

Dublin Coach 09-KE-17667 ex Stagecoach 50226 at Dublin Airport again on July 6th by Irish Londoner. 

I am rather pleased with this report and hope that we may have some more pictures with these coaches in service in Ireland - please!

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