Stagecoach in Bedford happenings 2018

[Steven Knight Media]

The first of the Coasthopper Solo SRs has been treated to a repaint. 48036 now carries green based 'Greener Smarter Travel' livery

[al_557]

I saw this one today. It's the same livery as Cambridge's ex busway Scania Enviro 400's

[MIB]

This morning I resorted to walking into town and the first three buses viewed were all Darts. 34424 had recovered from its embarrassment of last Friday and was on a 9 to Shortstown, 34425 went past on a 3 and then 34428 on the 0845 73. 18423 was on a 1 whilst 37439 was on a 2, 37431 on a 72 and slime green 48036 was let loose on a 5. 34825 did the 0915 81, 18424 the 0915 73 and my 0923 6 to work was 18336 as the 0911 vanished into thin air.

Going back into the past on 15 December 2010, I was heading for work when budgie 16227 was chucked out to work an X5 extra to Milton Keynes station one way so I just had to do it and leave work till later after a quick phone call to clear it with the boss. Unlike the previous occasion with 16228, this time we went via Coachway. My bus home at the end of  the day on the 9 was 16013.

[al_557]

There's an all over white Plaxton Elite in the yard at Bedford. Does anyone know the identity of this and why it's here?

[Steven Knight Media]

I believe a 'loan' coach is due at Bedford to provide cover while the existing X5 fleet is undergoing modifications at Volvo, Ely.

[MIB]

Just for a change I did the 51 after work yesterday with 18424 and we passed 19083 on the 1712 50 and 19698 on the 1715 51.

This morning 37438 was on the 9 and I had 18424 again on the 0911 6 which departed 6 minutes late. Others seen were 34428 on the 0845 73 for the second day running and 19703 on a 53. The 0915 departures from the bus station were 19699 on the 53, 19890 on the 73 and 37431 on the 81.

A predominantly white Northern Counties oly went past my office half an hour ago reminding me on this day in 2012 I went home via Shortstown on 16593 when it did the 1805 9.

[al_557]

I believe a 'loan' coach is due at Bedford to provide cover while the existing X5 fleet is undergoing modifications at Volvo, Ely.

Hopefully this will stop them breaking down so often. The Enviro 400's are out dailly covering for them

[MIB]

I had an appointment in town yesterday afternoon which involved having 36044 on the 9 home and the following were viewed along with a dire unidentified solo on an 81:

1 - 18419
2 - 48024
8 - 47354
9 - 34832
10 - 47351
41 - 37439
51 - 18424, 19705
53 - 37434
73 - 18423

This morning my treat on the 9 into town was 47352 but then it was the best bus to have with 27520, 27522 and 27646 the other boring options on the route. The 9 wasn't the only route to be troubled by a small fry bus as 48025 was viewed on 2's. The 0905 41 produced 37436 and the raft of 0915 departures had 37439 on a 53, 18423 on the 73, 34428 on the 81 and 19702 on the 51.

Other objects noted were 18336 on a 1, 37434 on a 71, 36935 on a 72, 19706 on a 41, 19701 on a 53 and 19700 arrived on a 51 which would then form the 0945 42. I was going to do 18419 on the 0923 6 but changed my mind when gold winner 11137 appeared for the 0932 50 so was taken to Sainsburys. Ten to go...

On this actual date in 2010 green budgie 16225 produced on my 6 to work so I stayed on it past the office to Brickhill and got off at my stop on its return into town. After work 16209 was my 6 into town but again I found myself having to return to Brickhill when blue budgie 16228 featured on another 6 so a return journey was made on it.`

[HughT]

Friday 21 Dec. Unidientified X5 Volvo receiving running repairs at Cambridge Parkside mid-morning. A tow truck had the front lifted up - looked like a problem closing one of the luggage hatch doors. And an unidentified double decker was working the 1010 X5 from Cambridge. Whether these two things are related or not was impossible to determine for certain. The Volvo was there when I passed nearby at 10.00, so it seems unlikely there would have been time for Bedford to despatch a decker to cover for its incapacity.

[MIB]

This morning the 9 had 37439, 27647 and 34829 on it and I had the latter into town. There were three tridents on the 1, 18419 being one of them, but I didn't id the other two. 48024 was let loose out on the 5 alongside 19702 and 36044. 37438 arrived on a 72, 19705 was on a 51, 48036 on a 3 and both 37437 and 19704 did 2's. The 0915 trio were 34424 on the 81, 37432 on the 51 and 19703 on the 73. My bus on the 6 was 27643 and it looked like 19084 was to be the 0932 50 if my eyesight is up to scratch.

On this date in 2010 my bus home after work on the 9 was blue budgie 16228 so I went to Shortstown first and got off at my place on the way back.

On this date a year later in 2011 I had 16684 on the 50 after work into town and then did 16581 on the 6 to Woodlands.

Again on this date in 2013 I went to Flitwick and back on 16592 on a 42 and then did 10012 on the 1745 X5 to Milton Keynes station. 10013 was also out all day on the X5.

22 December 2016 was supposed to be the last time I did a Stagecoach oly in public service on board Leyland tri-axle 13628 on the one way morning S9 from Ayr bus station to Belmont Academy with the downside of having to return to civilisation on 47982 on the 347. However, Millom route 7 in Cumbria was to change that in early 2017 when two olys, 16639 and 16793, had to be used on the route after special dispensation was given to use them whilst tridents required rectification with seatbelts so they became the last ones I did in public service.

Now it all just despairingly dull...

[MIB]

Christmas Eve turkeys viewed this afternoon:

1 - 18419, 19703,19705, 19891, 37435
2 - 18336, 19890, 19892
3/4 - 47352, 48031
5/6 - 18423
7 - 48036
8/10 - 47351, 47354, 47435
9 -  27523, 27646, 37438, 37439
41 - 37432
42 - 18424 (my bus home on the 1445), 19699
50 - 15404 (1432), 19084 (1332)
51 - 34424, 36937
53 - 19698, 19706, 34833
71 - 37433, 48034
72 - 18424, 37434
73 - 19700, 36044, 36935, 37431
81 - 19701, 34425, 34832, 36937

52485 was out driver training and 53618 was the driver changeover bus.

Back on 23 December 2010 I did 16226 on an additional X5 service to Milton Keynes station and after getting back to Bedford I did 16675 home on the 9 for lunch. 16675 returned me to town later for a spin on 16677 to Oakley and back on a 51, next up was 16681 on a 1 to Kempston and back. It wasn't long to wait for 16672 on another 1 for another rounder to Kempston and back before heading home on 16675 again.

The next day, 24 December, I went to Derby via Northampton and Birmingham for Christmas and the P1 I did to Northampton was 16209.

Have a good Christmas folks.

[MIB]

I did 37431 into town this afternoon and noted the following, rather trident free, albeit there is one in the garage naughty corner behind a solo:

1 - 18419, 19704, 19706, 19889, 19891
2 - 19701, 19888, 36937 (replaced 19701), 37437
3/7 - 48024, 48035, 48036
4 - 47352, 48031, 48032
5/6 - 27520, 27522, 27642, 27645, 27647, 34827, 36045
8/10- 47351, 47352, 47435
9 - 27521, 27643, 27646, 37431
41 - 34425, 37432
42 - 34829, 34832
50 - 15403 (1532)
51 - 19698, 19699, 34831
53 - 34428, 36043, 36044 displaying 53A
71 - 36936, 37438
72 - 34831
73 - 19699, 19701 after coming off route 2, 19893
81 - 19702, 19890, 34833

Turning back the clock to 31 December 2010 I went to Kempston and back with 16013 on a 1 and then Oakley and back with 16221 on a 51.

Also on New Year's Eve in 2012 I had 16593 to Luton on an 81 and returned to Bedford with 16581.

[al_557]

I did 37431 into town this afternoon and noted the following, rather trident free, albeit there is one in the garage naughty corner behind a solo:

1 - 18419, 19704, 19706, 19889, 19891
2 - 19701, 19888, 36937 (replaced 19701), 37437
3/7 - 48024, 48035, 48036
4 - 47352, 48031, 48032
5/6 - 27520, 27522, 27642, 27645, 27647, 34827, 36045
8/10- 47351, 47352, 47435
9 - 27521, 27643, 27646, 37431
41 - 34425, 37432
42 - 34829, 34832
50 - 15403 (1532)
51 - 19698, 19699, 34831
53 - 34428, 36043, 36044 displaying 53A
71 - 36936, 37438
72 - 34831
73 - 19699, 19701 after coming off route 2, 19893
81 - 19702, 19890, 34833

Turning back the clock to 31 December 2010 I went to Kempston and back with 16013 on a 1 and then Oakley and back with 16221 on a 51.

Also on New Year's Eve in 2012 I had 16593 to Luton on an 81 and returned to Bedford with 16581.

The 53A is a new school service replacing the 857 with the new silly route changes starting tomorrow. You'll have fun with the 9 being combined with the 71 and 72 to become the 9, 9A and 9B. This will make the service even more overcrowded in the peaks if the Enviro 300's and Darts are still used and less reliable with some journeys going to and from Hitchin rather than being a town service like it is now.
On the plus side according to steven knight media 47351/52/54/435 are all being withdrawn so less chance of an off route Solo although the seats on the Ex Coast hopper Solo SR's are very comfortable

[TCD813]

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Thanks,

Richard.