May 31st 2016

Information uploaded on May 31st 2016 at 11:00
Stagecoach East Midlands…
Following the recent sale of five gas-powered Optare Solos from the fleet it is understood that a sale is close to being completed for the remaining five examples - 47271/75/95, 47398/99.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire…
Sold are Volvo Olympian 16642, Dart SLF 34685 and MAN/ALX300s 22135 and 22815. Former Stagecoach Manchester Optare Solo 47001 is now in service from Carlisle with Dart SLF 34708 now allocated to West Cumbria.
Stagecoach Manchester…
Expected here from Stagecoach East at King’s Lynn are Dart SLFs 34639/40 and 34700.
Stagecoach East…
With all nine ADL E20D/Enviro 200MMCs, 37431-39, now in service at King’s Lynn several vehicles have been taken out of frontline service. In addition to the three Dart SLFs for transfer to Stagecoach Manchester, Optare Solos 47883/85/89 are for disposal, whilst 47892/93/95/99 are now in the Reserve Fleet. Reserve Fleet (Cambridge)-based Trident 18342 has transferred to the Reserve Fleet at King’s Lynn. The company has confirmed that Dart SLF33382 is still on the books and is for disposal. With the planned transfer of the three Dart SLFs to Stagecoach Manchester just two examples of the type remain in service at King’s Lynn - 34701 and 34580.
Stagecoach West Scotland...
Optare Solos 47356/57/58/87 have left this fleet and have been transferred to Stagecoach West.

Information updated on May 31st 2016 at 12:00
Stagecoach Manchester…
The remaining four Tridents due to transfer to Stagecoach South East, 17657/64/67/69, have now left the fleet, whilst Reserve Fleet Tridents 17616/18/20 are now for disposal here.
Stagecoach South East…
Stagecoach South East has put its remaining 17 new Enviro 400MMC vehicles, 15261/75-90 into service on its ‘Triangle’ route linking Whitstable-Canterbury-Herne Bay.
£3.4 million worth of ultramodern double deck buses were introduced on the popular ‘Triangle’ route on Sunday. The 17 new state-of-the-art vehicles are designed to accommodate passengers in comfort and convenience. As well as being more environmentally friendly, the buses feature free WiFi and USB charging points for customers to keep connected and fully charged whilst on the move. Each bus is equipped with air-chill technology which maintains a comfortable interior temperature whatever the season.
The new buses come as part of a wider investment in the region as whole. At a launch event in Tankerton on Friday, Stagecoach South East managing director Philip Norwell said: “We believe that at £11 million, Stagecoach’s order for 55 brand new double decks during this year of our centenary is the largest ever in the county of Kent and reaffirms our policy of reinvesting in the local communities which we serve.”
Mr Norwell added “The Triangle maintains important links across the district and with a simplified timetable also being introduced we hope to tempt even more people to try the service.”
Stagecoach says that the Triangle route carried 4.8 million passengers in 2015, saving vast numbers of car journeys.
The new buses have Euro 6 specification engines which represent the very latest in clean engine technology. Scania, the vehicle manufacturer, have developed an exhaust after-treatment system which reduces particle emissions by 99% compared to the previous design standard.
Speaking at the launch of the new bus fleet on Friday, The new Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr George Metcalfe said “These striking new buses will be a huge boost to the very popular Triangle bus service. The environmental benefits of the new low emission engines are to be welcomed across the district but most particularly in Canterbury city centre where air quality is a key concern.”
For comfort the buses come with high-back moquette fabric seats and tinted windows to reduce the build-up of heat inside. On the outside the buses sport three attractive designs which represent different aspects of the three principle locations served by the route. A Whitstable design features a hard-hat diver harvesting oysters which reflects the significance of oyster farming and the diving technique developed in the 19th century. For Herne Bay the record-breaking aviatrix Amy Johnson is depicted in recognition of her pioneering solo flight and continued legacy. Finally for Canterbury the Cathedral features prominently as an iconic landmark for the past 1,400 years.

Information updated on May 31st 2016 at 15:30
Stagecoach East Midlands…
The company has confirmed that Gas-powered Optare Solos 47272/73/74/76 and 47396 have been sold to AH Hardwick.
Notable repaints here are of Scunthorpe's Volvo Olympian 16467, which has a fresh coat of corpora livery and former Megabus Volvo B12B 54052 which is now in Rail Replacement livery.

Information updated on May 31st 2016 at 15:45
Stagecoach West…
Another Optare Versa due here from Stagecoach South Wales is 25215.
Stagecoach South Wales…
Received here from Stagecoach West Scotland are Optare Solos 47314 (Reserve Fleet at Merthyr) and 47359/61 (Reserve Fleet at Cwmbran).
Dart SLF re-allocations are 35677 from Reserve to Caerphilly; 35207 from Caerphilly to Blackwood; 35198 from Blackwood to Caerphilly; 35472 from Merthyr to Porth; 34753 from Reserve to Merthyr and then to Porth. The Blackwood Staff Shuttle Dart SLF 34490 is now in service at Porth.
Optare Solo has transferred from Cwmbran to the Reserve Fleet at Blackwood. Optare Tempo 25107 is away at Optare for repairs.

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All Photos (c) Stagecoach South East