April 17th 2019 @ 15:10: Stagecoach London open top Trident cascades and suggestions that Stagecoach UK Bus may be eying up DB's sale of Arriva's bus Operation

17/4/2019

Stagecoach London
All nine of the former megasightseeing.com open top Tridents which had been in use here have found new homes within Stagecoach UK Bus. We have previously reported that 18477 is now with Stagecoach South East and 18497 with Stagecoach North Scotland. Now we can confirm that Stagecoach East Midlands has 18473, which was at Grimsby depot yesterday, and is also due to receive 18467.
The remaining five vehicles - 18471/74/75/82/96 - are earmarked for Stagecoach Midlands and we believe these will replace the five older open top Tridents, 17412/17/94 and 17527/75, which are used on the City Sightseeing operation in Stratford-upon-Avon.
18467/71/73/96/97 are Part Open Top with 18474/75/77/82 being fully Open Top.

Brylaine
Two former Stagecoach East/Norfolk Green Optare Tempos have reported as returning operate service in Lincolnshire. When based at King’s Lynn former Norfolk Green 25120 (YJ06YSP) and 25121 (YJ56ATU) were regularly used on the 505 Spalding-King’s Lynn route. Following withdrawal and sale by Stagecoach they passed to Harrogate Coach Travel with its ConneXions operation. Now they have been bought by Brylaine.

First Eastern Counties (Excel)
We understand that the existing ADL Enviro 400 vehicles on the XL Norwich-Peterborough route, which date from 2013, are now being planned for replacement later this year.

Stagecoach West
It is expected that the remaining two Optare Versas here, 25123 and 25127 which are fitted with seat belts, will be taken out of service at the end of the current school academic year and cascaded within Stagecoach UK Bus.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire
The company has confirmed that it is transferrng MAN/Enviro 300 24121 to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire in place of the planned 24120.

Stagecoach South West
Scania/Enviro 400 15893 is expected to be painted into Devon General livery. Also expected to receive Devon General livery is Optare Solo 47095 which will now be used as a publicity/information vehicle.
Work is currently taking place on the two vehicles acquired for open top conversion. When complete we understand Enviro 400 19571 will go to Torquay whilst Scania/Enviro 400 15665 will be allocated to Exeter as a replacement for open top Trident 17701.

Stagecoach Group
There has been a suggestion that Stagecoach Group may seek High Court action against Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and the Department for Transport after it was disqualified from three rail franchise competitions - East Midlands, South East and West Coast.

Stagecoach UK Bus
Although unconfirmed by Stagecoach there is speculation in the City that Stagecoach could be interested in bidding for parts of DB’s Arriva bus operation in the UK.
There is still no formal confirmation from the company on the new vehicle plans for 2019/20.

Stagecoach East Scotland
Two Tridents for charity donation are 17702 which will be donated via Stagecoach North East and 17705 which is being donated via Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire.

Stagecoach East Midlands
ADL Enviro 300 27198 now carries Park & Ride branding for use on the Bridlington Park & Ride contract.

Stagecoach North East
Another ADL Enviro 300 to lose Stockton ‘Zone’ branding is 27175.
We are pleased to publish some photographs of the Seasider open top Tridents here courtesy of Matt Williamson.

East Yorkshire
The two new ADL Enviro 200MMCs have now been delivered. The two vehicles were pictured outside Anlaby Road depot in Hull before being transferred to their operational depots. 8.9m 515 at Bridlington and 10.8m 396 at Pocklington.