Bedford Stagecoach happenings 2021

[al_557]

That will only leave one working spare for the X5/99.
also noted today parked at the back of bedford garage
peterborugh E400 10053 (SN12EHO) also Trident18104 (KX04RFE)

If they're short of coaches which will be more than likely with the useless B11R's, They'll use E200's or E300's on the 99, although the 06 plate E300's are becoming more and more unreliable with 27521 (GX06DZC) breaking down on the 41 a few days ago

[MIB]

I wasn't going to make any effort today until I saw 19889 on the 6/5/1074 circuit and as I wanted it for the 10/4 I decided to do 22835 on a 50. Trouble was it turned up 12 minutes late putting me on a minus 2 onto the 1142 10. I had hoped to intercept it at Union Street but the congestion at Clapham Road roundabout ended all hopes.

This meant I had over 2 hours to kill in Bedford so I decided to do 19892 on the 1200 9a to Shorts town for a walk to Cardington Gate to do 37439 on a 73 back to the bus station just so I could get Easycotts Road and Cardington Road again. I then did 36321 on a 2 and strolled over to Elstow Road to scratch in the diverted 9 via London Road on 37234.

This now put me in position for the 1412 10 and 1437 4 return with 19889. Typically the 1412 departed 7 minutes late which I wanted for the 1142 not the 1412 which would have avoided all the hanging about. Again 22835 was my 50 home at 1641.

Others noted were 19891 also on the 4/10/5/6 diagrams, 10880, 11280, 27520 on 1's, 27521, 27522, 27523 on 41's and 19587 on a 51 then 41.

[tomfrombedford]

Stagecoach South West E400MMC 10499 spotted on the 1 today in Kempston- did the coaches go there in exchange for these?

[al_557]

Stagecoach South West E400MMC 10499 spotted on the 1 today in Kempston- did the coaches go there in exchange for these?

That would appear to be the case as I've been told by my usual contact at Bedford depot that 10500/01 (SN65ZHR/T) are also due at Bedford.

[rm clippie]

just a thought could these be replacements for the 06 E300s

 

[al_557]

just a thought could these be replacements for the 06 E300s

That's a good shout as they're very unreliable these days, But not as bad as the MAN's were before they were withdrawn.
They'll need another one to replace the 4 06 plate E300's though

[katieloulou]

That would appear to be the case as I've been told by my usual contact at Bedford depot that 10500/01 (SN65ZHR/T) are also due at Bedford.

It seems this week (well Monday and Tuesday anyway!) there are three MMCs on the X5. Just covering for the 3 coaches that have left, even though 3 coaches are still on the 99, or is the X5 migrating to these now too? Given different vehicles are reporting each day, then I assume it's not just the coaches in disguise.

[MIB]

10499 is showing as at Bedford but it is not being tracked although I did notice yesterday that whatever was on route 9 was not tracked so I wondered if that was the new arrival.

All I did today was the the 50 with 11134 into town which I had not had this year and winner 36843 home on the 1336. I never knew they went that high numerically as never seen this vehicle before in Bedford. Far too many crates around these days...

The X5 appears to have dropped 10876, 10877, 10878 and 11280 today and I did see two of these heading off towards MK. 27520-522 all showing on the 41 with 27523 on 1's.

[AD70DBL (Jonny)]

10499 is showing as at Bedford but it is not being tracked although I did notice yesterday that whatever was on route 9 was not tracked so I wondered if that was the new arrival.

All I did today was the the 50 with 11134 into town which I had not had this year and winner 36843 home on the 1336. I never knew they went that high numerically as never seen this vehicle before in Bedford. Far too many crates around these days...

The X5 appears to have dropped 10876, 10877, 10878 and 11280 today and I did see two of these heading off towards MK. 27520-522 all showing on the 41 with 27523 on 1's.

10499 is a new bus replacement for the coaches that's gone to Stagecoach South West two more to arrive soon.

New buses don't track straight away I have I have noticed it on an few buses.

[rm clippie]

Comfirmed 4 elites at the back of garage today
think this will a common sight most days ,

[al_557]

Comfirmed 4 elites at the back of garage today
think this will a common sight most days ,

The Elites have been very unreliable since they were new and really need replacing.
They're the worst coaches ever to work the X5 in my opinion

[katieloulou]

Some interesting changes to the 73 coming up at the end of August; some journeys renumbered 72 and go via Potton to and from Biggleswade, presumably as part replacement for the 188/190 which Centrebus are giving up on the 28th. Also a re-route in Sandy.

https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/East/SERVICE%20CHANGE%20NOTICES/2021/Aug%2030%20Service%20Change%20Booklet.pdf

[Julia_Hayward]

Specifically a Bedford question - are the E40Ds that typically run the 905 (108xx, 11279-80, and now 10499-500) fitted with wi-fi? Had a really weird answer from Stagecoach's Twitter account:

> "The Wifi is a free service that we offer nationwide . It was removed during the pandemic and should be coming back soon".

(which also raises the question - they were, why was it removed?)

[Steven Knight Media]

Specifically a Bedford question - are the E40Ds that typically run the 905 (108xx, 11279-80, and now 10499-500) fitted with wi-fi? Had a really weird answer from Stagecoach's Twitter account:

> "The Wifi is a free service that we offer nationwide . It was removed during the pandemic and should be coming back soon".

(which also raises the question - they were, why was it removed?)

Julia.

As far as I am aware the 108xx vehicles have USB charging but I don't believe they had WiFi fitted as new. It was never used/marketed when they were at Peterborough and there is no sign of it being on 10499.

WiFi was switched off on most routes (with some exceptions) last year. The following was received on 22nd July 2021 following a media request to Stagecoach Group "as we are still receiving government support, we are being responsible over additional costs within the business. We are keeping the WiFi situation under review, but as yet, there are no plans to reintroduce it". 

I am not aware of any update to that statement.

[al_557]

E300 27642 (GX10HBU) is back in service today in local livery.
Just 2 E400 MMC's on the X5 today 10876 (YX67VDN) and 11280 (SN69ZPG)

[MIB]

Today I did 22832 into town on a 50 to have 19581 on the 1157 4 to Goldington and back on the 1219 10 which was my last E400 to have on the 4/10 bringing the total up to 16. By contrast I have only had three MMC's on them.

I then did 19893 on the 1315 81 to Elstow for 10874 back on a 9 from Mile Road before heading home on 15401 on the 1436 50 which somehow contrived to depart 10 minutes late despite arriving on time.

It appears that the people of Wootton have sinned as Stagecoach punished them by sticking 36302 and 36321 on 53's today straying from their more normal 8, 51, 2 diagrams. 27521-23 were all on the 41 but 27520 did 1's until it mysteriously headed off up Union St out of service. It reappeared on the 1 route about 60 minutes later but the tracker did not reveal what it was up in the gap.

The tracker suggests the nasty solo has not worked for a month which is something to rejoice about. I do hope the thing will never darken my travels again. I still have not clapped eyes on 10499 so it remains a myth like the Loch Ness Monster until I see it.

[al_557]

Thanks to my usual contact at Bedford depot for the info that E400MMC's 10866-73 (YX67VDA/C/D/E/F/G/J/K) are expected to transfer to Bedford from Peterborough soon to replace Elites on the X5. 5 of Cambridge's 10 Plate E400's are replacing them at Peterborough

[chris johnson]

Dose anyone know about 10499 on the 904/x5 today please just give me heads up

Thanks

[chris johnson]

10499 is doing the 905 route today and he’s doing 13:43 (1:43pm) to Cambridge

[al_557]

The shortage of serviceable coaches causing E400MMC's to be used on the X5 is starting to show now as E400 19704 (AE60JSY) was covering for an MMC on the 905 today.

[MIB]

Since scoring 36846 on the 50 on 18 August I have largely stayed away but today I did 11127 on a 50 to town to have 10877 on a 1 returning with 10879 on a 2. I stayed with 10879 on a 5 to Woodside and returned to town on winner 10499 on a 7. Not overly impressed with no leather seats and chargers but I did get that on 11135 home on the 1300 50.

10878 was doing routes 1/53 and 11279 was on the X5. I am relieved to see 48036 has vanished from Bedford's allocation on the tracker so hopefully it has gone for scrap.

[al_557]

Since scoring 36846 on the 50 on 18 August I have largely stayed away but today I did 11127 on a 50 to town to have 10877 on a 1 returning with 10879 on a 2. I stayed with 10879 on a 5 to Woodside and returned to town on winner 10499 on a 7. Not overly impressed with no leather seats and chargers but I did get that on 11135 home on the 1300 50.

10878 was doing routes 1/53 and 11279 was on the X5. I am relieved to see 48036 has vanished from Bedford's allocation on the tracker so hopefully it has gone for scrap.

The Solo's are all going to Fenstanton to work a new on demand contract

[TCD813]

The Solo's are all going to Fenstanton to work a new on demand contract

Any details?

[al_557]

Any details?

Steven Knight Media reported it a couple of weeks ago. It's a 6 month contract to operate a demand responsive service around Huntingdonshire. Details are on his website.
https://stevenknightmedia.co.uk/news-and-views-1

[MIB]

The Solo's are all going to Fenstanton to work a new on demand contract

I do hope so but 48036 has reappeared today in Bedford's allocation.

I wasn't going to bother today until Kettering chucked out a winner on the 1350 50 so I had to do 36845 into town. As 10878 dropped onto the 1545 9 I did it to Shortstown and walked to Eastcotts for 36937 just so I could do a 72. 22839 was the 1716 50 home.

I noticed our fleet are all blinded with back to bus on display. Not sure why now and not July on the alleged freedom day.
,
10878 appears to have done 9a, 9b, 73, 72, 9, 6 and 5 during the day whilst 27520 made its first outing of the day on the 1645 9. Both 10874 and 10875 were on the X5.

[MIB]

Winner 22836 arrived on a 50 to take me into town today. I did 19891 on a 72 to Harrowden Road shops for 36044 back on a 9. I then did 37230 on a 2 and returned with 11279 on the 1221 2 from the park and ride. Somehow it was running 18 minutes late with 19889 not far behind coming in from Flitwick.

Also running 22 minutes late was 15404 on the 1236 50 so I did this to Sainsburys and returned with 36306 on a 51. My second winner of the day 36850 took me home on the 1336 50.

The X5 had deckers 10874, 10877 and 11280.

[al_557]

E400MMC's 10872/73 (YX67VDJ/K) have now transferred in from Peterborough and were on the 905 and X5 respectively this morning

[rm clippie]

Does this mean the X5 will be a mix of coaches and E400s.

[al_557]

Does this mean the X5 will be a mix of coaches and E400s.

E400MMC's will gradually replace the coaches once enough are transferred in

[MIB]

Just to make my life more difficult it appears the tracker has now clumped all the East allocations together so now I can't see the wood from the trees. I just want to see Bedfords allocation at a glance not sift through rows of vehicles. I don't care what the oly imposters are doing, what is on the park and ride or on the Cambridge tour. It is so clogged up with vehicles that I failed to notice 1872 on the 905 and 10873 on the X5 purely because they were dismissed as non Bedford.

What I did notice were 10499, 10881, 11279, 11280 were on the X5 and 19890 on the 3 and 7 but I have had that on the 3 before. Nonetheless I came out on 15404 on the 50 before doing 36064 on the 9 to Shortstown and strolled over to Eastcotts for 10875 on a 72 to town. Next up was 36060 on a 6 to Brickhill returning on Dart 34834 before heading home on 11128 on the 1436 50.

As luck would have it work asked me to pop in to the office which turned out quite well as winner 36849 was on the 50 dropping me off just past the Manton Lane bomb site of chaos and confusion. I am now heading home again on 11128 on the 1814 50 running 20 late stuck in the Midland Road stalemate of nothing moving at the mini jamabout.