Bedford Stagecoach happenings 2021

[MIB]

My first moves of the year were 2 January aboard 34536 on a 73, 21225 and 19704 both on 6's finishing on 10881 on the 1315 9b. 21225 then got swapped onto the X5 alongside 21224. The 2 had 34535 on it before it got swapped for 10876. Route 6 also was home to 11279.

Today 21223 is on 99's with 21221 and 21225 on X5's. 34536 is out on the 3, 4, 10 routes 10879 on the 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 circuits whilst both 10877 and 10881 are on 1's with the former also doing 53's. Gold 11131 is out on 50's.

[MIB]

Before Boris locks us all up except for food shopping and exercise I indulged in a few moves. I did 34535 on a 3 into town for 35177 on the 1336 50. I returned on 37438 on a 6 to have 34834 on the 1415 81. Back to town with 10880 on an 81 for what I reckon is a winner, 34835 on the 1541 50 which I took to Clapham for 37215 back on a 51. I went home on the 1604 2 with 34830.

The tracker was malfunctioning this morning as it had 19888 working solidly on 8's while at the same time working routes 41 and 81. What wasn't in doubt was 34536 on 2's and 34538 / 21221 on 5's. 21224 did the 1515 81 whilst 21223/21225 produced on the X5.

[MIB]

Yesterday 6 January I did 34538 on a 3 for 10874 on a 53, 19698 on a 2 and went home on 37432 on a 9. It appears that this was the last day of 21224 as a Bedford bus on route 99 as today, 7 January, the tracker shows it shuttling back and forth between Cambridge and Trumpington on route A. Does this mean we are losing the greenfly with the 36xxx vehicles poised?

Today's exercise regime to a packed town centre involved indulging in 34536 on a 9b, 21225 on a 1, 34535 on a 2, 27521 on a 6 for 21221 on a 51, then 19893 out on a 6 for 18104 on a 50 and finally a move home with 34538 on a 3.

I haven't noticed this week but has the missing stop for Sainsburys for inbound 50/51 services been put back after completing the roadworks as it was missing last week? It is a bit off that the tracker and Stagecoach app still shows a bus stop there last week when there wasn't. There was never any sign their to say the stop was going to be closed even after the roadworks started. It is a bit of a hike carrying bags from Sainsburys to the stop in Clapham Road next to the school playing fields.

[tomfrombedford]

Perhaps Bedford town centre wouldn’t be so packed if people weren’t using bus services to make unnecessary observations...

[John Wakefield]

Perhaps Bedford town centre wouldn’t be so packed if people weren’t using bus services to make unnecessary observations...

And unnecessary journeys, there is a Lockdown on in case some people have not heard.  Stay at home, Stay safe and Protect the NHS,

[MIB]

OK if that is how people feel then I will cease postings permanently. Even if I stay at home and don't exercise or go for a food shop there will still be plenty of folk out there carrying on their daily business.

Oh and for the record I have been mentally ill for 7 months and have a doctors note that I need to get out of the house and try to be as normal as possible for my state of mind. I don't take kindly to people ignoring mental health insisting everyone stay in. Absolutely impossible when you live on your own and have no family. Nobody is going to offer to do all my food shops or whatever I need to do so whether you like it or not I have to do it myself and getting to town is too far to walk.

[al_557]

OK if that is how people feel then I will cease postings permanently. Even if I stay at home and don't exercise or go for a food shop there will still be plenty of folk out there carrying on their daily business.

Oh and for the record I have been mentally ill for 7 months and have a doctors note that I need to get out of the house and try to be as normal as possible for my state of mind. I don't take kindly to people ignoring mental health insisting everyone stay in. Absolutely impossible when you live on your own and have no family. Nobody is going to offer to do all my food shops or whatever I need to do so whether you like it or not I have to do it myself and getting to town is too far to walk.

Totally get what you're saying. People who live where route 9 goes and don't have a car need to use the buses to get to and from supermarkets.
Personally speaking I find your posts useful and entertaining

Hope you're well and staying safe

[tomfrombedford]

Didn’t once say don’t go out but it’s not necessary to food shop every day and it’s also not necessary to go to a supermarket which requires the use of multiple bus services... within walking distance of route 9 there is two Lidl’s, an Aldi, a large Tesco plus the amneties in the town centre and surroundings such as Home Bargains and B&M

The more disciplined people are in following harsher restrictions the less time we have to suffer harsher restrictions

[al_557]

During this morning's trip to and from Tesco in my car. I observed Dart 34537 (GX04EYL) and E200's 37231/34 (SN64OLK/P) which have moved from Fenstanton in exchange for Volvo B7RLE's 21223-25 (AE09GYT/U/V). All were on services 3,4 and 10 respectively.
37234 was previously in Bedford last year when it was transferred in to replace Dart 34428 (KV53EZE) which has now been scrapped

[al_557]

Spotted from my window whilst working from home was Dart 34827 (KX06JYJ) on the 53. This has returned from Fenstanton. Volvo B7RLE 21221 (AE09GYR) is now back at Fenstanton according to the tracker. So I presume they have been swapped for each other

[Steven Knight Media]

Could any of our Bedford correspondents confirm if the Solos have returned from London to Bedford yet please?

[Grahamk748]

Stagecoach have announced some changes to their services due to COVID, see attached picture for details

[tomfrombedford]

E200 36062 out on 5’s this morning, 36044 parked at the bus station

[al_557]

Could any of our Bedford correspondents confirm if the Solos have returned from London to Bedford yet please?

They're all still in London except 48036 (YJ66ASZ) which has been out of use at Bedford depot since the first lockdown

[Coast_Hopper]

They're all still in London except 48036 (YJ66ASZ) which has been out of use at Bedford depot since the first lockdown

Any idea what is wrong with it to be out of use

[al_557]

Any idea what is wrong with it to be out of use

It broke down on its way to London and was towed back to Bedford in disgrace. It's engine related as far as I'm aware.
With the current service patterns, It's not required for service. All the routes that are usually allocated Solo SR's are now allocated Darts, E200's or E200 MMC's with the exception of the 8 which is the home of the ex London short E200's at the moment.

[Coast_Hopper]

It broke down on its way to London and was towed back to Bedford in disgrace. It's engine related as far as I'm aware.
With the current service patterns, It's not required for service. All the routes that are usually allocated Solo SR's are now allocated Darts, E200's or E200 MMC's with the exception of the 8 which is the home of the ex London short E200's at the moment.

Thought they could only use the Solo on certain routes as Darts and E200s too big

[al_557]

Thought they could only use the Solo on certain routes as Darts and E200s too big

Only the 8 is restricted to smaller vehicles. Darts and E200's are fine for the 3,4,7 and 10.
During the first lockdown, E400's were used on some workings of the 4 and 10

[MIB]

In the week before Christmas 36935 did the 8 on 21 December, 22nd was 34535 which I did, 23rd was 34830 and 24th started off with 37437 before 36302 replaced it and normal service resumed.

[MIB]

Today there were three gold buses on the 50 with 11126, 11127 and 11132 producing. 10874 was on a MK X5, 10881 did 1/53 services, 10876 was on 1's before going onto a 51 and 73. 10877 later went onto the 9a/b circuit.

I did 27642 to town on an 81, 10878 on a 1 for 34537 on a 2, 11279 on a 9a and 36043 on the 1430 41 as far as the station in keep fit moves. I did have 36044 last week to the station on a 6 but missed out on 36062 which did the 1315 81 and mysteriously disappeared last Tuesday. I went to my stop to intercept it on the 1420 return but nothing at all appeared so after 20 minutes I went home. I haven't seen it since and none of the 360xx are appearing on the tracker.

Still I have scooped 34537, 37230, 37231 this year so patience required. I assume 19892 has been wrecked as it has not worked since pre Christmas.

[MIB]

Both 11279 and 11280 escaped from the X5/905 circuit today as I spent my hour lunch break exercise outdoors before the snow finally melts. 11279 was on the 1 and 53 turns whilst 11280 did the 1215 81. Also on the 1/53 was 10881 and 10877/10878 on 1's. 36044 was observed on a 3 and 11127 and 11137 on 50's.

My moves to view the goings on involved 37234 on a 3 to town, 37431 on an 81, 36935 on a 3 and I went home on 37212 on a 2.

[al_557]

Today there were three gold buses on the 50 with 11126, 11127 and 11132 producing. 10874 was on a MK X5, 10881 did 1/53 services, 10876 was on 1's before going onto a 51 and 73. 10877 later went onto the 9a/b circuit.

I did 27642 to town on an 81, 10878 on a 1 for 34537 on a 2, 11279 on a 9a and 36043 on the 1430 41 as far as the station in keep fit moves. I did have 36044 last week to the station on a 6 but missed out on 36062 which did the 1315 81 and mysteriously disappeared last Tuesday. I went to my stop to intercept it on the 1420 return but nothing at all appeared so after 20 minutes I went home. I haven't seen it since and none of the 360xx are appearing on the tracker.

Still I have scooped 34537, 37230, 37231 this year so patience required. I assume 19892 has been wrecked as it has not worked since pre Christmas.

19892 (AE11FUJ) was on the 53 this morning. Add this one to the growing list of vehicles that aren't tracking

[MIB]

Yesterday Stagecoach was obliterated from the UK map with not a solitary vehicle to be found anywhere on the map.

Today normality returned as did 19892 as advised by Al which I viewed on a 1. I also viewed 36062 on a 41 but I have not yet had this winner. I did 36301 on a 3, 11280 on a 9b, 37439 on a 73 for winner 18400 on the 1628 W7 just for the novelty value of having a Northampton bus in Bedford and a good excuse to take a look at some properties in Wellingborough, and get a feel for the place after dark, before I get evicted from my current home as the landlord is selling.

The 50 service today had 11126, 11127 and 11129 according to the tracker. The former duo cannot keep away from Bedford. 10874 and 27523 did 5's, 10876 was on 1/53 routes and 11279 also on 9a/b turns. 36309 was out and about driver training.

[MIB]

The weather was rancid today so all I did was 10880 on a 9a into town, went to the Post office and went home on 10875 on the 1615 81 departing late as usual. This was my last Bedford MMC to ride on for the year. I think the tracker was having a breakdown at one point as 10873 was showing in Hitchin on a citi 2.

11280 spent the day on 9a/b, 1 and 53 routes, 10879 did 9's all day, 10876 was out on 1's and 10877 on 1 and 53's. Also on the 1 were 27520, 37230 and 37436. Route 5 was home to 36043.

37231 has a defective display so was knocking about with a paper 6 in the window. The tracker reported 11129 and 39692 on 50's but I didn't see them in my quick visit.

[MIB]

I am told that the bus station is closed after 8.30pm for the foreseeable owing to the dubious beings that congregate there in evenings. After witnessing this for myself two weeks ago I can understand this if this story is true.

Today in my hour lunch break within Bedford I did 19892 on a 9a, 37235 on the 10 late 1315 81 after it was disinfected, 27520 on a 9b, 27523 on a 2, 19581 on a 1 before going home with 10880 on a 9.

10878 and 10879 were both on 1's. 27522 was lined up for the 828 so I assume there are limited school classes to run it before it went onto 5's. According to the tracker 28621 and 37061 are on the W7.

[MIB]

Today I did 10874 on a 9a for 27522 on a 1. I had intended to do 27523 on a 2 back but somehow it lost 30 minutes according to the tracker and went empty to the garage. This meant doing 27520 on the 2 behind. 27521 was also on 2's but 27523 was replaced by 36935. I then did 10878 on a 9 and finished on 10881 on a 9b home.

37235 became another casualty as it conked out on the apron of the bus station so when the breakdown truck arrived there was little space for buses to get past so some terminated in the X5 bays.

37231 is still without a working blind and went out on the school 828 with sticker in window as Bedford systematically break their buses. I haven't seen 34535, 34537, 34827 and 34830 for a while so whether they are broken or pulled from traffic I know not.

36044 arrived on a 3 and departed on a 7. I still haven't seen 36062 since viewing it about 9 days ago. The 50's had 18108 and 15405 on them whilst 37062, 37069, 28621 and 28625 showed up for W7's.

[MIB]

Early this morning 10878 did a 7, 4, 10, 3 and 7 before being ripped. I had intended doing a food shop on doing 34536 on an 81 but on making the minus 5 onto the 1315 81 which was winner 36062 so I went straight back home.

I went back out later on 10880 on a 9b but before I did the food shop I did 19893 on a 6 to intercept winner 22835 on an inbound 50 before doing 10879 home on a 9.

Later in the day 36937 did the school 828 and 27520 the 830. 18104 and 11129 appeared on 50's before a third winner appeared so I had to get 19889 on a 6 to bring back 34533 on a 50 before going home on a freezing 36937 on the 1815 9b which replaced 10880.

The W7 line up comprised 37045, 18322, 28625 and 37071.

[MIB]

A much more ordinary day today as I went to the Ampthill Road/Kempston Road area looking at more properties which involved using 36044 on an 81, 19891 on a 53, 27521 on a 2, 37436 on an 81 before going home on 10881 on a 9.

22835 returned to Bedford again on the 1536 50 and 35177 is currently on the 1630 from Kettering. 10879 spent the day on 5's, 11279 on 9a/b and 11280 on 1's. The school turns produced 37235 on the 828, 19893 on the 830 and 10875 on the 53a.

Tonight's W7 selection comprises 37048, 37050, 37069 and 10731 in that order of departures.

[MIB]

A trip to Sainsburys in the snow today involved ex Bedford 34424 on the 1136 50 returning with 37211 on a 51 before heading home on 10874 on a 9b. After lunch I did 10875 into town on a 9a for 36043 out on the 1604 2 to intercept 34536 on a 2 back for 11280 home on the 1615 73 in a 30 minutes exercise.

Also on the 50 today were 22835, 11137 and 35182. 36301 appeared to work the 1115 81, 19890 was on 9's, 36062 and 34828 on 5's whilst 10879 was on the 1615 81. The 828 produced 37210 with 37438 on the 830.

The W7 collection involved 37064, 37053, 37060 and 28625 in that order.

[al_557]

Darts 34535/827/34 (GX04EYJ/KX06JYJ/S) have been stood down at Bedford. As AE56LUJ has already said on the Peterborough thread, 34535 has gone to Peterborough. 34834 is showing in Cambridge on the tracker