March 5h 2015

Route X47 branding has been removed from Stagecoach North East’s MAN/ALX300ss 22409/10 upon repainting.
Stagecoach East’s Cambridge-based MAN/ALX300 22330 has been severely damaged in a collision with a lorry near Waterbeach, whilst Lincoln-allocated Stagecoach East Midlands Trident 17679 has been damaged after apparently being blown off the road during high winds.
Another Pointer-bodied Dart SLF has been transferred from Stagecoach South to Norfolk Green. The latest arrival is Dennis Dart SLF 33020 (T593CGT).
Changes reported from Stagecoach South East have included Darts 33098 and 34413 moving to Ashford, with 34434 transferring from Ashford to the Reserve Fleet at Eastbourne. As well as transferring Dart 33098 to Ashford, Eastbourne’s MAN/ALX300 22107 is also transferred to the Reserve Fleet. Replacements at Eastbourne are Optare Solos 47065 and 47066, with 47067 to follow. The three Eastbourne Solos are for services 3/3A. Volvo Olympian 16090 is back in the main fleet at Dover, but similar 16739 and 16774 are now for disposal. Further vehicles sold are Volvo Olympians 16272/74, 16805, Volvo B10Ms 20009 and 20680 along with Dart SLFs 33022, 33320/65/85 and 34064/71.
Stagecoach East Scotland has allocated recently received Tridents 18005 and 18332/33 to Glenrothes depot. Sold from the fleet to Drew Wilson are Volvo Olympians 16108 and 16772. Scania Onmilink 24009 is out of service for accident damage repairs with cover at Dunfermline being provided by MAN/E300 22576. Repairs to 53717 have been completed which has resulted in 53304 being returned to the Reserve Fleet.
Stagecoach Manchester has allocated new ADL E30D/Enviro 300s to Wigan. Further Tridents for disposal are 17648/49/50 and 18293. Returned from loan and now at Hyde Road are Tridents 17002 and 17175.
At Stagecoach West Scotland recently delivered Streetlites 39001-07 are being prepared for Arran services. Volvo B7Rs 21201/02 have transferred to Stagecoach North Scotland whilst Scania/Enviro 400s have been transferred from Ardrossan to Glasgow.
Stagecoach East Midlands has transferred Volvo B7RLEs 21212/14 and Volvo B7TL 16942 from Skegness to the Seasonal Reserve fleet. Replacements are ADL Enviro 300s 27765/81/82 from Hull. Trident 18318 is awaiting return to service at Grimsby following fire damage repairs which will allow Dart SPD 33833 to transfer to Worksop as a replacement for Enviro 36005 which is receiving accident damage repairs. MAN/ALX300s 22463/64 have transferred from Lincoln to the Reserve Fleet and have been replaced by ADL Enviro 300s 27783/84 from Hull. Also transferred from Hull to Lincoln are Volvo B7R coaches 53210/13/16 which have been displaced following a review of the X62 ‘Love Your X’ service. At Lincoln they are being used to upgrade the Rail Replacement fleet. Trident 17718 is back in service at Hull displacing MAN/ALX300 22490 to the Reserve Fleet. Replacing the ADL Enviro 300s at Hull which have been transferred to Skegness and Lincoln are MAN/Enviro 300s 22797/98/99, 22800/31. Withdrawn for disposal is Grimsby-based training vehicle Volvo B10M coach 52145, which has been replaced by similar 52283 transferred from Lincoln. More MAN/ALX300s transferred to this fleet from Stagecoach West Scotland are 22359/60/79/82/83, which are expected to be allocated to Hull. A large number of vehicles (51) are now awaiting disposal with Stagecoach East Midlands. A further former Stagecoach London Trident received here for spares is 17478.
Stagecoach South Wales has transferred MAN/East Lancs 39608 to the Reserve Fleet and replaced it at Blackwood with Dart SLF 35204 from Porth. At Porth it has been replaced by 34751 from Cwmbran.
At Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, Volvo Olympians 16670 and 16714 are now for disposal and 16651 has transferred from West Cumbria to the Reserve Fleet at Barrow.16336 has been sold and is no longer part of this fleet. Also now for disposal is Mercedes 709D 40033, which had been used as a publicity vehicle. Optare Solos 47247-49 have been returned to Lancashire County Council and are no longer part of this fleet. Dart SLF 33397 is now for disposal and has been replaced at Morecambe by 34218 from the Reserve Fleet. MAN/ALX300s 22816/21 from the Reserve Fleet are now for disposal whilst Optare Solo 47005 has been allocated to Morecambe. Tridents 17196/98 are now allocated to West Cumbria. Withdrawn for disposal is training coach Volvo B10M 52268.
At Stagecoach West we hear that the ‘heritage’ Bristol VRT 19950 is being readied for use on race special in Cheltenham next week. Our regular correspondents Dave Russell & Deric Pemberton report that Volvo B9R/Plaxton Panther coaches 53609-11 will be painted into ‘Belles Express’ grey/light blue/silver livery for the new Gloucester-North Bristol service that starts later this month. They also advise that Enviro 200 37243 is another of the type to receive service D branding. The last remaining Pointer-bodied Dart SLF at Cheltenham, 34838 has been transferred to Stroud in exchange for Enviro 200 36385.
Further news from Stagecoach East is that the Plaxton Panther-bodied Volvo B9Rs used on the 99 Milton Keynes Rail Station to Luton Airport service are to receive a Best Impressions designed route branding.
Rear end adverts for careers with Stagecoach are appearing on vehicles operated by several companies.