Bedford Stagecoach happenings 2021

[katieloulou]

Some E400s appear to have migrated from Cambridge to Bedford over the weekend, including 19567, 19575 and 19577, if the tracker is to be believed. Perhaps to try and keep the 1 as double deck?

The 275xx E300s appear to have gone the other way for the Milton Park and Ride.

[al_557]

Some E400s appear to have migrated from Cambridge to Bedford over the weekend, including 19567, 19575 and 19577, if the tracker is to be believed. Perhaps to try and keep the 1 as double deck?

The 275xx E300s appear to have gone the other way for the Milton Park and Ride.

I've just had a ride into town on 19575 (AE10BWH) on the 53

[rm clippie]

Major changes at Peterborugh next weekend,there will about 12 buses spare
Hope some will come to bedford . I think there will be changes at bedford as well
Possibly the X5 going hourly and services 1,5,6 being on a reduced frequency with double deckers
This my take on it.

[Derbyshire Ninja]

Major changes at Peterborugh next weekend,there will about 12 buses spare
Hope some will come to bedford . I think there will be changes at bedford as well
Possibly the X5 going hourly and services 1,5,6 being on a reduced frequency with double deckers
This my take on it.

Looking at the changes in Cambridge park and ride this will free up enough buses for the x5 and 905 service.

[tomfrombedford]

Have all the 2752x E300’s left now then?

[al_557]

Have all the 2752x E300’s left now then?

They've been swapped for 10 plate E400's from Cambridge which will be more useful for Bedford than the E300's were and also helps get the age profile of the fleet down a little

[MIB]

Today winner 36844 was a good excuse to do the 50 into town. Winner 19567 was conveniently on the 1200 9a so was taken to Harrowden Road for 36060 back on a 72. This gave time for a shop before doing winner 19577 on the 1310 53 to the hospital before returning on 36321 on a 2 for 22839 home on the 1336 50.

I left 19575 for another day which was also on the 9a/b circuit. 10872 and 10804 continue to hide from me so I can't get them.

[al_557]

The latest repaint into local livery is E200 36935 (SN63KFP)

[HughT]

At 1255 this lunchtime (21 Oct) I observed something yellow all over operating a Cambridge-bound 905 on Madingley Rd, just by the junction with Storey's Way. In other words, on the "old" X5 route. For a moment I thought my prayers had been answered, but I suspect it was being diverted for some reason and isn't a permanent change.

EDIT (1411): I see that there was a lorry fire on the A428 in the Girton area, which would explain the diversion.

[MIB]

Yesterday I went to Chester for the day which involved 22833 on the 50, 11280 to MK Station on the X5, 10875 back on the X5 and 22839 home on the 50.

Today 15401 brought me into town on the 50 so I could do winner 19575 on a 1 to Kempston. 37435 took me back on a 53 and once again 22839 was my home move. Not a lot going on as the demic buses still showing as doing nothing on the tracker.

[Leyland L60]

Now that Stagecoach in Bedford have finally given up on the X5 Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elites, can anyone in the know tell us why they have been so unsuccessful in service? It's very odd really as the Volvo/Plaxton combination is usually good and has been for many years. Stagecoach as a group have a lot of B11R/Elites, though mainly in Scotland, so do they cause problems up there too? Are the issues caused mainly by the chassis or body components?
I gather that some or all Bedford's have been treated to modifications at Plaxtons and at Stagecoach's depot at Rugby, seemingly with little success.
I'm sure a lot of us would love to know what has gone wrong for these highly-specified and visually stunning coaches to have to be replaced with slightly-upmarket but much lower-specified double-deck buses.

[TCD813]

Now that Stagecoach in Bedford have finally given up on the X5 Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elites, can anyone in the know tell us why they have been so unsuccessful in service? It's very odd really as the Volvo/Plaxton combination is usually good and has been for many years. Stagecoach as a group have a lot of B11R/Elites, though mainly in Scotland, so do they cause problems up there too? Are the issues caused mainly by the chassis or body components?
I gather that some or all Bedford's have been treated to modifications at Plaxtons and at Stagecoach's depot at Rugby, seemingly with little success.
I'm sure a lot of us would love to know what has gone wrong for these highly-specified and visually stunning coaches to have to be replaced with slightly-upmarket but much lower-specified double-deck buses.

Here's where the problem started...

One or two of the older coaches were seen today on the X5, possibly covering for NEW Elites with teething problems?

One problem I noticed yesterday with 54318 was as it sat at the Victoria Ave stop, it "developed" a problem with the front door as it tried to depart. The road there cambers quite a bit, so the body was leaning towards the kerb. Anyhow, the lady driver tried to close the door about a dozen times & every time as the door's rubber seal touched the door frame, it re-opened !! Now, this is a long-standing problem with these plug-doors....they need the body to be completely upright !! On some automatic gearbox coaches, without the door shutting completely, you cannot get the gears to move off ! So a gallant yours truly went to her aid, holding the door closed whilst the door securing mechanism worked & then she went merrily on her way, with a smile & a wave !

I have to say that, as stunning a design as the Elite is, and they will turn a lot of heads when they go into service, I feel that Stagecoach East is missing a trick here. The soon-to-be-replaced 58-plate B9Rs are 12.2 metres long and have 49 seats and the Elites are 14 metres and 57 seats. I thought the X5 has a problem with capacity, and yet we have new coaches that are considerably longer, and therefore more likely to suffer body damage, that have just eight more seats! If East had gone for the 14-metre Interdeck we would be looking at about 68 seats and a very considerably reduced loading time for wheelchairs as it has a low-floor entrance instead of having to deploy the expensive and time-consuming Magic Floor platform. All right, there are more internal steps in the Interdeck and I am aware that the X5 has frequent stops on some sections e.g. Eaton Socon, but overall I feel that the capacity problems of the route will not be solved with eight more seats per vehicle. As someone posted weeks ago on this subject, would we not have been better increasing the frequency (every 20 minutes?) and keep to the existing vehicle length?

It almost looks like the people in Stagecoach aren't talking to each other, from reading reports it appeared that Stagecoach East rejected the Elite I as at the time Plaxton were only building it as a 15-metre which was too long for a number of aspects of the route.  However since then Stagecoach have ordered some 14-metre versions for Scotland East which would have offered a possibly better alternative, it's surprising Stagecoach Head Office didn't merge the two orders.

It WAS the intention of Stagecoach Head Office to ORIGINALLY order 8 Interdecks for East Scotland & 18 for East (Total 26), but as you rightly say, somebody had other ideas !!

[MIB]

Once again 15401 took me into town on a 50 so I could have 10499 on the 1412 10 to Goldington and back with it on the 1437 4 before heading home on 19087 on the 50.

19567 did the 1515 81. After keeping me waiting I have now seen 10804 in service on an X5 and also 10872 on a 905 so they do now appear to work. 10873 was also seen on the 905 but recent arrivals 19575 and 19577 were shirking on the garage.

[MIB]

Today Bedford's Town services changed colour confusing the normals to the extent people were questioning the drivers about it. I benefitted by getting the two winners I wanted.

After doing 11133 on the 50 into town, 10804 was on the 1312 7 so it had to be done to Woodside and back to town where I had to leg it to intercept 10876 on the 1350 4. This was taken to Goldington and back on the 1404 10 to have winner 10872 on the 1433 5. I only went as far as Goldington Road to get back to the St Michael's Road stop for 19705 back to town on a 7. This was necessary as year winner 11138 was on the 1500 50 to get home. I just want gold 11132 on the 50 for this year.

10803 performed on routes 1/53 alongside 10875, 10873 did 41's, 10876 did 3's as well as the 4/10, 10881 did the 2/5/6/7/9 routes with 10804 and 10872.

[rm clippie]

In service today at Bedford E400s 19568/79/82/83 on the 9s and 905
also most of the elites have gone from the back of the garage with only one the X5 according the tracker

[al_557]

In service today at Bedford E400s 19568/79/82/83 on the 9s and 905
also most of the elites have gone from the back of the garage with only one the X5 according the tracker

Most of the Elites have now been stood down. 54302/10/11/16 (YX64WCE/CO/P/DA) remain in service for the 99 for the time being

[Derbyshire Ninja]

Most of the Elites have now been stood down. 54302/10/11/16 (YX64WCE/CO/P/DA) remain in service for the 99 for the time being

Believe Ive seen a convoy of 3 of them on the m74 just pasted Annan yesterday heading north east Scotland at a guess.

[AndrewHA]

Latest Tuesday I photographed 54308 in Plymouth, Devon . Fully liveried and working on Stagecoach Devon’s Falcon Route to Bristol .

[al_557]

Believe Ive seen a convoy of 3 of them on the m74 just pasted Annan yesterday heading north east Scotland at a guess.

My usual contact at Bedford has confirmed most will be going to Scotland and that the 4 kept for the 99 will be going once suitable replacements for the service have been acquired

[al_557]

Volvo B11R Elites 54303/12-15/17 (YX64WCF/V/W/Y/Z/DC) have all now left Bedford for Scotland

[MIB]

Today I did 22838 on a 50 into town for winner 19579 on the 1342 10 to Goldington and back with it on the 1407 4 rattling most of the way upstairs. On arrival back at the bus station 19891 was waiting on the 1427 4 so I returned to Tesco on it and straight back on the 1449 10. I went home on 15401 on the 1541 50. I had intended to have winner 19568 on the 1 but the spoilsport thwarted me by swapping it onto the 905. 19577 had been on the 905 but changed over to a 9a.

Other piffle noted were 10879 and 11279 on the 72/73, 19575 on 1's, 11134 on the 50 and the 905 produced 19567, 19582, 19583, 19698 and 19893.

[MIB]

I was going to have a lazy day indoors but that all changed when I saw winner 22840 was approaching on a 50 so I had to do it to town. My plan was to do 11279 on the 10/4 routes but alas 11279 didn't want to play anymore on the 1240 5 and burst in St Paul's and was sent to the back of the garage. 37433 took over its diagram.

Fortunately this blow out allowed me to do 19579 on the 1345 3 where the driver lost all sense of direction heading off down the Embankment giving us a bit of excitement. He went up Newnham Road and turned round at the church to get back to the Embankment and the town bridge. I think he had route 7 on his mind from the previous run.

I returned from Fenlake on 19579 to pick up up winner 19568 on the 1445 1 as I had it ripped from my grasp yesterday. This was taken to the Saxon Centre for 19567 back on a 1 to do 15607 home on the 1541 50.

19893 was also out on routes 4/10 and the 9 had 19581/19891 on it. The 905 was sanctuary for 19577, 19578, 19582, 19583 and 19889.

[rm clippie]

Will Bedford get any of the surplus E200s/E400s from Peterbrough.

[rm clippie]

Peterborough E400s 19594/19597 showing at Bedford
on service 1 and 905.

[MIB]

Looks like I am going to be busy in the coming days as I have six winners to get. Today they are showing up on the following routes:
19573 - 41
19576 - 2/81
19582 - 1
19583 - 905
19594 - 53
19597 - 72

[al_557]

Looks like I am going to be busy in the coming days as I have six winners to get. Today they are showing up on the following routes:
19573 - 41
19576 - 2/81
19582 - 1
19583 - 905
19594 - 53
19597 - 72

I've been told these are on loan until enough E400 MMC's are available for transfer to Bedford for the X5/905. They need at least another 6

[chris johnson]

can they just order them as cambridge and peterborough needs them on there busy routes as they not got no busy to replace as bedford keep on nicking them from them 2 depots/yards it is nice to send replacements like send to cambridge ex london E200 and peterborough some of there 64 reg singles back

[al_557]

can they just order them as cambridge and peterborough needs them on there busy routes as they not got no busy to replace as bedford keep on nicking them from them 2 depots/yards it is nice to send replacements like send to cambridge ex london E200 and peterborough some of there 64 reg singles back

To be fair Cambridge pinched all of Bedford's E300's recently and Peterborough got 60 plate E400's back in exchange for 10874-81. Peterborough also pinched 2 63 plate E200's from Bedford over the first lockdown. The ex London E200's were originally supposed to go to Fenstanton for the 'ting' service but it was decided to use Bedford's much newer Solo SR's instead

[al_557]

Another E400 transferred to Bedford from Cambridge is 19574 (AE10BWG)

[rm clippie]

Where do Cambridge keep finding them .
I think that makes 12 in total. is something moving out
6 E200s MMC off the road today .