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(20 Aug 2025, 7:39 pm)Teessider2014 wrote 73176 was picked up today by Slatyford - apparently it is the first one for Slatyford.
According to the EM we are due another batch of 5 to replace the 4 ‘Scottish/midlands’ yutongs as well as 27175 which is the last Diesel in the fleet
(27 Aug 2025, 10:30 am)S830OFT wrote Considering there was a fare increase only four months ago when service reductions had taken place, I have no doubt this will result in falling patronage for shorter distance trips. Considering the fare cap is £2.50, I dread to think how much would be charged if the fare cap been scrapped, although equally one wonders how much NECA & the state are reimbursing operators per each ticket sold.
Similar with Scottish Borders where under 22s can go free, but when that card runs out it's full fare, with no fare cap so £7 singles for a one hour journey. If operators & local authorities wanted to make Public Transport appealing to everybody, there should be an incentive for everybody to use it, opposed to just tailoring to the needs of the young & elderly, whilst hiking up prices for everybody else to where it's unaffordable for what you are paying for.
There's no magic money tree as some people believe sometimes! What really disappoints me is certain operators promoting they care about connecting communities etc, whilst at the same time removing vital links, hoping to win them back with LA funding. Yes, there's a balance to be struck in the sense of making a business viable, but removing a vital bus opposed to dropping frequency from another can speak volumes, especially to people who know exactly what is being done with their service.
Also isn't it at all strange some routes that were withdrawn commercially in 2022, suddenly became viable once another operator was about to win or regain the contract...
(31 Aug 2025, 9:06 pm)Superman wrote Second fare hike in less than 6 months......
Given the first (ignoring the 1st Jan single fare charges) lift earlier this year was massively over inflation already (around 10% in a number of products), this further hit to the customer suggests that the business is really not doing well, from a financial point of view.
Whilst huge investment is being seen in the region (that for the sake of argument will all be capitalised so won't hit the P&L all at once + any depreciation increase from new vehicles is likely offset by direct cost decrease in fuel and engineering heads), it does add fuel to the fire.
If this second round of fare hikes don't work, expect network cuts early 2026 is my take on things. Certainly doesn't shout confidence.
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:50:35:970
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:11:25:838
(01 Sep 2025, 5:39 pm)col87 wrote I do think Stagecoach selling Hartlepool and South Shields would be the best idea going forward. While I can’t comment much on South Shields it’s quite clear they don’t care much about Hartlepool which is very much run on the bare minimum and has no thought at all other than been used as a scrapyard for withdrawn buses and to send buses from elsewhere that the majority of time are already knackered.
They is nothing really left to cut on the town network as it’s already bad enough as it is with buses constantly late and breaking down. The fare increases are a joke as well as many people are struggling financially as it is so this could see them struggle more. I do wonder if an independent would do a better job, certainly Stagecoach having a monopoly in the majority of the places they operate is not proving to be good for passengers.
(01 Sep 2025, 6:39 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach are bad in Sunderland too, the 16 is horrendous atm, emails etc is just automated bollocks with the same replies and "Well investigate" - yet never seem to find out why, the service was so bad.
Paying £65 a month now for a pass and they aren't even providing a good service.
