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Coaches
Stagecoach continued its domination of the local
express market by introducing striking Plaxton Elite bodied Volvos.
Their 53819 (SV11FSF), a Volvo B9R is seen approaching Dundee on
the recently introduced limited stop service from Aberdeen in August
[top left], and 54016 (SP61CXB), a Volvo B13RT, is seen arriving
at St Andrews on the X59 service from Edinburgh also in August [middle
left]. 2012 saw dramatic changes in the Megabus network.
Stagecoach 51062 (SJI1631), a Jonckheere bodied Volvo artic is
seen in London about to depart on the sleeper coach service to Glasgow
[top right]. Megbus also started services to Europe in 2012
with routes to Amsterdam and Paris. The vehicles then
complete the triangle by operating a service between the two capitals.
Their 53644 (KX61GFA), a Plaxton bodied Volvo, is seen at
Victoria heading for Paris in freezing fog in December [middle right].
In an unusual move, SNCF the French railway company, has started a
regular service from London to Paris. Their CM809ZD,
an idBus liveried Setra, is seen at London Victoria heading for Paris in
December [middle]. There have been more eye-catching
deliveries in Ireland with Ulsterbus taking a further batch of tri-axle
Caetano bodied Scanias such a 134 (FFZ9134) seen arriving at
Cairnryan from Belfast in August [lower left]. And Bus
Eireann has taken a batch of impressive VDL Synergy vehicles including
LE6 (12D28344), seen at Belfast on the service from Dublin in
August [lower right]
Electrics and Hybrids
Buses
powered by alternative power continued to make inroads into fleets in
2012. Hybrid vehicles, funded in part by the Government,
gained a foothold in many smaller fleets such as Preston where their
30128 (YJ12GUA), an Optare Versa, was caught leaving the bus station
in April [top]; Johnsons whose YJ11EJE, another Optare
Versa, was operating the Stratford-Upon-Avon
Park & Ride service in May [upper left]; Henderson whose 261
(SN61BLF), a Dennis Enviro200 in SPT livery, was seen at
Kirkintilloch Cross heading for Milngavie in November [middle] and
BakerBus, whose 246 (DX61EOO), a Wright bodied B5L, was seen in
the soon to be closed Hanley bus station in April [bottom middle].
Major fleets also took hybrids such as First in Leeds whose
39225 (BP11JWF), a Wright bodied B5L,
is seen on the guided busway in December [middle left]; Stagecoach, who
took the first batch of Dennis Enviro350's as represented by
29015 (SP12DYN)
in Stagecoach Gold livery in Perth in September [upper right] and Arriva
in London who took eight Borismasters including
LT7 (LT12GHT)
seen at Victoria bus station in January 2013 [bottom right].
Electric vehicles are still in the minority, but De Courcy has a batch
for the Coventry Park & Ride service such as
YJ12GWZ, an Optare Versa seen in
December.
Routes
[Clockwise] London Bus Company operated a heritage bus route from North
Weald to Epping where their RT3062 (KYX171) was seen in a hot May day;
high profile route X26 from Heathrow to West Croydon is now operated by
Epsom Coaches whose MCL10 (BN12EOS), a Mercedes Citaro, is seen at
Kingston in July; Stagecoach Fife has encroached into First territory
with a service from Dunfermline to Stirling and now First has crossed
the border into Fife with a route from Livingston to Dunfermiline (sic) - their
65594 (W593SNG), an
elderly Wright bodied Scania is seen at Ferrytoll in September; Stagecoach cascaded vehicles around the UK as cover
during the Olympics, such as this Magic Bus liveried NCME/Olympian
16090
(R190XNO) from Manchester seen in Eastbourne in August; First
East Scotland relinquished routes around Dalkeith which Lothian and its
low cost subsidiary East Lothian Buses have started operating - their
639 (SK52OGX), a Plaxton
bodied Trident is seen in Musselburgh in
September; Salisbury Park & Ride was re-tendered and Hatts took
over from Wilts & Dorset - their 504 (SN11FFW), a Dennis Enviro
is seen in March; most unusually Stagecoach have franchised a route in
Worthing to Compass Bus whose MX58VGP,
a Dennis Enviro200 in full Stagecoach livery, is seen approaching the
station in May.
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Takeovers and Failures
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Harte of Greenock who had run local bus
services for over 25 years went bust in 2012. One of
their distinctive, smart Mercedes Citaros (BU06HSV) is
seen at Braehead on the previously discontinued service to Largs
in August 2007. |
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One of the highest profile failures of
the year was that of Countryliner who operated over 50 services
around Surrey and had been doing so for more than 10 years.
Their W937JNF, an Alexander bodied Dart, is seen at
Woking station in March 2004 |
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Fleet Buzz, a small but smart Hampshire operator who serves
Farnborough and Aldershot was bought by Stagecoach.
Their 64 (MX58KZC), an Optare Versa, is seen when new at Riseley
on the Reading to Aldershot service in June2009. |
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Go-Ahead continues its Monopoly-like purchase of small rural
operators. This year it was Chambers and Anglian Bus
whose YT11LVF, a Scania Omnilink, is seen in Lowestoft bus
station in November 2011. |
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High Peak was formed by the integration of Bower's Buses and
Trent Barton to provide services around Buxton.
Their 377 (YJ05XMU), an Optare Solo, is seen in Buxton in
Centrebus livery on a freezing Good Friday. |
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First and Stagecoach have been battling it out in North Devon
for over five years. Stagecoach eventually won, with
First selling their operation to them. Here First
32767 (WJ55CTE), an East Lancs/Trident, and
Stagecoach 16058 (R158VPU), an Alexander bodied
Olympian, are seen in Barnstaple bus station in September 2007. |
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Clips
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| >>> PLAY >>> |
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Stagecoach 53819 (SV11FSF) leaving Dundee on
the service to Aberdeen in August. |
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| >>> PLAY >>> |
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Epsom Coaches MCL10 (BN12EOS)
in Richmond on the X26 service to Heathrow in July. |
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