Archive 07

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Tuesday 25 June 2002
Your webmaster travelled around Fife today... and picked up a lot of the new timetables - for a list of service changes due to happen on 8 July, click here.

Recent discussion on some of the newsgroups involved the Cupar Town Service 68, ran by Stagecoach in Fife. On my last visit to the area, the traffic lights (or something) seemed to cause the bus to get progressivly later througout the day, despite it being a public holiday! Signs in the area state the traffic lights have been re-phased, and as such the 68 today ran bang on time! Mercedes 76, seen here leaving Crossgate towards Millfield.
Three vehicles of interest here. Firstly, Spencer of Leven's Optare MetroRider, K806 NTJ, recently acquired from Hall's of nearby Kennoway (actually, they are closer to Kennoway than Leven - being in Langdyke...) Anyway, that is bye the bye.... Next we have Volvo Citybus 908, new as a Volvo demonstrator and newly painted into the latest Stagecoach corporate livery, followed by Volvo Citybus 9cc in old style Stagecoach stripes. All parked up at the south side of Glenrothes Kingdom Centre Bus Station.
Stagecoach Fife Volvo B10M 336 is the last one of the batch to carry the "old" stripes - following 340 being repainted - but carries them (and the pre-1999 fleetname!) on the front only. The rest of the vehicle is an ovrrall advertisment for the Curtis Vauxhall car group. Aptly enough, one of the windows at the back got smashed, and the vinyl was not replaced.... zoom in on the larger one to see what I mean! The vehicle is seen here at Kinghorn, about half-way between Kirkcaldy & Burntisland on the 7 Leven - Dunfermline route.
711 was shown on this page a few weeks ago... here it is in the sun! It is at Kinghorn, working a 6 (Burntisland - Leven), but this time doing a part route to The Boreland. Why do some towns and villages in Fife do that, add "the" i.e. The Gauldry, The Boreland, etc? Anyone know?
Fife's X50 service was depicted a few weeks back, when I showed 566 on the Saturday route to Ocean Terminal. In the weekday peaks, two buses run from North Edinburgh to Fife. The 1635-ish from Ferry Road (BAe Systems) is ran by Dunfermline depot, so after Ferrytoll continues in service to Dunfermline. This is using the Olympian on the left, which was about to leave to run light to Muirhouse. The bus on the right is the Kirkcaldy vehicle, and works Service X50's all day between Victoria Quay (Scottish Executive) and Ferrytoll - first bus starts/last bus returns to Kirkcaldy, via the coast. From the new timetable in 8 July, the X50 extends to North Queensferry (off-peak) to partly replace the 53, while the Saturday service to Ocean Terminal gets chopped (but weekday off-peak buses will now operate into the centre).
After nearly 16 years on constant service, Fife are chopping commuter service X52 (Townhill - Edinburgh North Bridge) after Friday 5 July. Some buses on the X54, 55 and X57 will serve Townhill, and the X54 will replace the service to Surgeons Hall (and new Royal Infirmary), but there will be no replacement to The Mound, Bristo Square, University etc. - which is where most passengers boarded! When we crossed the Forth, we were more than two-thirds full - last time I tried the route a year ago, we had only a handful on the bus. With all the plans for expanding Ferrytoll and the like, it really begs the question of WHY?, but..... where are all those noisy school kids (that I shared a bus stop with for a few minutes) who go back to North Queensferry on the 53 going to go when it gets chopped ??? :-) Volvo B10M 316 is seen at Edinburgh, North Bridge.
Following the reallocation of a slightly newer Leyland Titan to Dunfermline depot (following Aberhill depot's reciept of Volvo Olympian 716), the last "all red" Leyland Titan in Fife, 742, was scheduled for withdrawal earlier this month. With the schools still on for another few days, it is likely to be removed from service soon. However, it made it to Ferrytoll this afternoon while I was there...
In January, Service 59 (Dalgety Bay - Ferrytoll Park & Ride) was introduced on a 10-minute peak time service. The idea for the short route was to avoid over-crowding on the main X59, X60 services. Passengers returning to Dalgety Bay take any bus to Ferrytoll, and change there to an 59 short working. Indeed, a Dalgety Bay Flexi-Rider (12 journey ticket) was introduced for £20, and was valid even when a change of bus is needed (at Ferrytoll). Some duplicates running into Ferrytoll from Edinburgh, now display "Dalgety Bay" X59 or X60, and then passengers change onto the 59 at Ferrytoll. However, after Friday 5 July, this is being withdrawn. The through service X59, X60 is being upped to every 20 minutes off peak, 10 minutes peak, and every 30 minutes on Sunday daytimes. Olympian 739 was formerly Bluebird 062 (or 62) until August last year, when transferred to Fife.

	It was Royal Highland Show weekend, meaning First and Lothian both did shuttle services to and from Ingilston. The First route (39) runs to St Andrew Square while the Bus Station is being rebuilt, however, the Lothian service has always ran from Waverly Bridge. Interesting to note that First day tickets for CW + W1 zones (£2.50) or better were accepted by First, but Lothian were charging £1.20 Single/£2 Return - with no day tickets or passes bar concessions! Anyway,Olympian 891 is seen at Waverly Bridge, awaiting departure.
	On Sundays, Lothian's Dennis Tridents can escape onto any route. Here, the "red" branding for the 26 service does not go down well on Service 5... Trident 520 seen at Asda The Jewel.
	Speaking of which, after branding buses for the 44, 26, and 22, Lothian ceased adding new route branding - for now! 559, a "plain" Trident, seen at Ocean Terminal on Route 34.
	Docherty's Midland Coaches, Auchterader, had "new" Volvo B12M Y77 JDS at Ocean Terminal. Despite being new in March 2002, and as such, qualifying for an 02 plate, DMC have chosen to re-use an old JDS plate.
	Another 98 (Royal Highland Show) bus is Volvo Olympian 432, until recently back-up for the Airport services. The vehicle retains coach seats, single door, plain rear end, and has a back megarear for Easyjet.

Saturday 22 June 2002
Stagecoach West Scotland's open day at Kilmarnock was held today. A wide variety of buses from Stagecoach Scotland, and beyond, turned up to support the event. Despite a large part of what was "Nursery Avenue" now being houses (and the depot now being officially in Mackinlay Place!), there was still plenty of space for everything! SOME PHOTOS WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY.... KEEP WATCHING!

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Site by Andrew Gronneberg/ScotBus/The Mod 1997 - 2002.
Serving the Scottish bus enthusiast (online) community since July 1998.

	Strathtay's extended Montrose - Dundee (- Ninewells Hospital) service (Was 40X, now 39) has been posted to the groups before, but here is a shot of Montrose's 954 at Ninewells Hospital, showing the "via" boards in the nearside windscreen.
	Travel Dundee Scania 110 managed a day's run out on the 28/29 Douglas - Charleston routes - here it is at Albert Square (Royal Exchange buildings).