Stagecoach South East

Last updated

Stagecoach South East
YN67YLB 090922 CPS.jpg
Parent Stagecoach Group
Founded1989
Headquarters Canterbury
Service area East Sussex
Kent
Service typeBus services
Hubs Canterbury, Ashford, Hastings, Eastbourne, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Dover
Depots7
Fleet439 (2022)
Annual ridership42.6 million (2018/19) [1]
Managing DirectorJoel Mitchell
Website www.stagecoachbus.com

Stagecoach South East is the trading name of East Kent Road Car Company Limited, a bus operator based in Canterbury providing services in Kent and East Sussex in the south east of England. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach Group.

Contents

History

Stagecoach have been operating in the Hastings area since their takeover of Hastings & District Transport in 1989. Stagecoach have made a vast amount of improvements to the Hastings bus network. [2] [3] [4] [5] All the improvements are in partnership with Hastings Borough Council and East Sussex County Council.

Acquisitions

East Kent Road Car Company

Stagecoach acquired the East Kent Road Car Company in 1993 and operates many routes with different route branding.

Eastbourne

In early November 2008, local press reported that Eastbourne Buses was to be sold by the end of the year to either the Go-Ahead Group or Stagecoach Group. The employees' trade union, Unite, wrote to Eastbourne Borough Council to ask the Council to sell to the Go-Ahead Group, because of work conditions and a superior fleet. [6] On 25 November 2008, it was announced that Stagecoach was the preferred bidder to purchase. A few days later, it was announced in local press that the takeover had cost £4 million. [7] Stagecoach had run services in the town until late in 2000 before they were withdrawn, and at the time of the announcement operated services to Hastings and Bexhill from Eastbourne.

The sale caused a lot of controversy, with MPs criticising the secrecy surrounding the sale [8] and blaming each other's parties for the state the Eastbourne Buses got into, the Liberal Democrats claiming the Conservatives "failed to support Eastbourne Buses". [9] There has also been criticism of the low price the company was sold at - revealed at £3.7 million, lower than the original report of 4 - and criticism against Stagecoach, one MP saying that the company has effectively been "given away for nothing". [10] However, it was revealed that Go-Ahead had bid much lower at £2.85 million, so the council had to sell to Stagecoach to serve the taxpayer due to the £1.2 million difference in bids, despite the union's calls. [9]

Cavendish Motor

In January 2009, Cavendish Motor Services were bought by Stagecoach Group. Stagecoach announced redundancies for Cavendish staff. [11] The company was then merged with Eastbourne Buses and rebranded as Stagecoach.

On 13 May 2009, the Office of Fair Trading announced that it was referring the purchase of Eastbourne Buses and Cavendish Motor Services by Stagecoach to the Competition Commission. [12] Although the provisional decision found that the acquisitions had substantially lessened competition, the Competition Commission cleared the purchase in October 2009 after deciding that Cavendish would have chosen either to reduce its services substantially or even to close its operations altogether following Stagecoach's acquisition of Eastbourne Buses. [13]

Eastonways

Eastonways was an independent bus and coach operator providing regular bus services in and around Thanet, Kent in England. [14] The company's services, either fully or partly funded by Kent County Council, regularly operated in Margate, Westgate, Broadstairs, St Peters, Ramsgate and surrounding villages, Birchington, Acol, Manston, Minster & Monkton. In March 2012, six of their buses were set alight at the company's depot in Ramsgate in an act of arson. [15] In October 2013, the company was placed in liquidation and most routes were taken over by Stagecoach on behalf of Kent County Council. [16]

Until July 2017, Stagecoach operated National Express coach routes 007, 021, and 022, which were then taken over by The Kings Ferry. East Kent had operated services from Kent to Victoria Coach Station since 1932. [17]

Fleet and Vehicles

Current fleet

As of 2022, the Stagecoach South East fleet consists of 442 buses. [18]

The fleet consists of a mixture of Alexander Dennis Enviro400 (both integral and Scania N230UD versions), Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC (both integral and Scania N250UD versions), Scania OmniCity, Dennis Trident 2 Alexander ALX400, Alexander Dennis Enviro200, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC, Alexander Dennis Enviro300, Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer and Optare Solo buses. [19]

Vehicle History

On 22 January 2012, 11 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Scania N230UDs were introduced on The Wave 99 that runs between Hastings and Eastbourne via Bexhill and Pevensey Bay. [20]

On 19 April 2012, 23 new Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Darts were introduced on the local Hastings Arrow routes. [21]

On 31 October 2014, a fleet of 10 new Scania N230UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 buses were introduced to upgrade route 16 between Canterbury and Hythe to Stagecoach Gold operation. [22]

In April and May 2016, a large fleet of new Scania N250UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses were introduced onto routes 8, 8A and 8X between Canterbury and Westwood Cross and onto the Triangle service between Canterbury and Herne Bay. [23] [24]

On 23 July 2016, Stagecoach South East introduced new open-top route 69 in Thanet, operating between Ramsgate and Broadstairs. Two TransBus Trident Alexander ALX400 buses were converted to open-top to operate the service. [25]

On 5 December 2016, a fleet of 25 new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses were introduced onto "Wave" routes 100, 101 and 102 between Hastings, Rye and Dover. [26] A further fleet of 12 new Scania N250UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses entered service on "Wave" route 99 between Eastbourne and Hastings in January 2018. [27]

In June 2019, a new fleet of 24 Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC buses were introduced onto the Thanet Loop service which operates in a circular route on the Isle of Thanet. [28]

Routes

Local and Interurban Services

Stagecoach South East operate a mixture of local and interurban services across Kent and East Sussex. Bus services are centred in the towns of Canterbury, Ashford, Ramsgate, Folkestone, Hastings and Eastbourne. [29]

The company also operates a number of high profile branded interurban services.

The Wave

Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Wave" route 99 in Eastbourne Stagecoach South East 15777 GN61 EWB.JPG
Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Wave" route 99 in Eastbourne

"The Wave" is the brand given to services along the south east coast. The network is currently formed of four routes, which form a coastal corridor between Eastbourne and Dover: [29]

Services are generally operated using "Wave" branded Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses, although a number of these are currently being repainted into the new Stagecoach local livery. [31]

Stagecoach Gold 16

Stagecoach South East Scania N230UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Gold" route 16 Canterbury - Stagecoach Gold 15180 (YN64AKF) - Flickr 22246944560.jpg
Stagecoach South East Scania N230UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Gold" route 16

Route 16 which operates between Canterbury and Hythe via Denton, Hawkinge and Folkestone is part of the premium Stagecoach Gold brand. [32] Services are operated using Scania N230UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 with free WiFi and leather seats. [22] A number of these buses are currently being repainted into the new Stagecoach local livery. [31]

The Breeze

Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Breeze" route 8A in Margate GN09BCE seen in Margate Kent (8522413198).jpg
Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "Breeze" route 8A in Margate

Routes 8, 8A and 8X which operate between Canterbury and Westwood Cross via Birchington-on-Sea and Margate are branded as "The Breeze". [29] [23]

Services are operated using "Breeze" branded Scania N250UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses although a number of these are currently being repainted into the new Stagecoach local livery. [31]

The Triangle

Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "The Triangle" at Canterbury Next by the bus station - geograph.org.uk - 2655320.jpg
Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 on "The Triangle" at Canterbury

The Triangle is a high profile branded service running in a circular route between Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay. [33]

Services are generally operated using Scania N250UD Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC buses in the Stagecoach local livery which were formerly branded for the route. [31] [34]

Canterbury Park & Ride

Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 working a Canterbury Park & Ride service SN63NCC CANTERBURY PARK & RIDE (14811031637).jpg
Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 working a Canterbury Park & Ride service

Stagecoach South East also operate the Canterbury Park & Ride service on behalf of Canterbury City Council.

Buses operate frequently from Canterbury City Centre to two park & ride sites, one at Wincheap and one at New Dover Road. [35] Services from a third park & ride site at Sturry Road are currently suspended. [36]

UniBus

Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 working a UniBus service STAGECOACH ALEXANDER DENNIS ENVIRO400 IN UNIVERSITY OF KENT UNIBUS LIVERY AT KEYNES COLLEGE BUS TURNAROUND CANTERBURY KENT AUG 2014 (15032571231).jpg
Stagecoach South East Alexander Dennis Enviro400 working a UniBus service

Stagecoach South East operate the UniBus service, in partnership with The University of Kent. The network is formed of two routes, the Uni1 and Uni2 which connect Canterbury City Centre with the university campuses. [37]

Depots

Stagecoach South East currently operate services from seven bus depots (and one outstation) across Kent and East Sussex: [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrobus (South East England)</span> Bus operator in South-East England

Metrobus Limited, trading as Metrobus, is a bus operator with routes in parts of Surrey, Kent, Sussex, and Greater London. Formed through a management buyout in 1983, Metrobus was purchased by the Go-Ahead Group in September 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro300</span> Motor vehicle

The Alexander Dennis Enviro300 is a light-weight full-size single-decker bus that was built by Alexander Dennis and its predecessor TransBus International between 2001 and 2015. The design was the first of the new Enviro range of buses from TransBus and also the first bus to be built as an integral bus by TransBus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400</span> British-built double-decker bus (built 2005–2018)

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 is a twin-axle low-floor double-decker bus that was built by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis between 2005 and 2018. It replaced the Alexander ALX400, Dennis Trident and Plaxton President. In 2014, the Enviro400 was succeeded by the updated Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC and production of the classic Enviro400 ceased in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Hampshire & Dorset</span> Bus operator

First Hampshire & Dorset is a bus operator providing services in the counties of Hampshire and Dorset. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach South West</span>

Stagecoach South West is a bus operator providing services in Devon and East Cornwall along with coach services to Bristol. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Kent Road Car Company</span>

The East Kent Road Car Company Ltd is a bus company formed in 1916 and based in Canterbury, Kent. The company operated bus and coach services in Kent. In 1993 it was one of the first companies to be acquired by the Stagecoach Group, which eventually rebranded the operation as Stagecoach in East Kent, and made it part of the Stagecoach South East bus division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southdown PSV</span>

Southdown PSV Limited, which traded as Southdown Buses, was a medium-sized country bus operator, with 18 routes across East Surrey, West Sussex, South London and Kent, 9 of which were school bus routes. Most of their routes were operated on behalf of Surrey County Council, other work included railway replacement services for planned engineering work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scania N series</span> Motor vehicle

The Scania N series is a line of low-floor bus chassis with straight-up, transversely mounted Euro IV or newer engine at the rear, built by Scania since 2006, replacing the Scania N94.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach South Wales</span> British bus operating company

Stagecoach in South Wales is a bus operator providing services in South East Wales. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach East</span> Bus operating company in the East of England, part of the Stagecoach Group

Stagecoach East is a bus operator providing local and regional services across the East of England, operating in the counties of Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The company is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group and is headquartered and registered in Cambridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephensons of Essex</span>

Stephensons of Essex is a privately owned bus company based in Rochford, Essex. It operates local bus services throughout Essex and West Suffolk, from headquarters at Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea, and depots at Maldon, Boreham, Braintree and Haverhill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire</span> Bus operator

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire operates both local and regional bus services in Cumbria, Lancashire, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, England, as well as Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, which operates bus, coach, rail and tram services across the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach bus route 555</span> Scenic bus route in Cumbria and Lancashire, England

The Lakes Connection 555 is a bus route operated by Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire in Cumbria and Lancashire, England. The scenic route covers a distance of 45 miles (72 km) and runs between the towns of Keswick and Lancaster via Grasmere, Windermere, Kendal and Carnforth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC</span> Single-decker bus produced since 2014

The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC, also marketed as the Alexander Dennis Enviro200, is a single-decker city bus produced by Alexander Dennis since 2014 as the successor to the Enviro200 midibus and Enviro300 full-size bus. The first Enviro200 MMCs entered service with National Express West Midlands in 2015. Notably, Enviro200 MMCs have been modified by Fusion Processing to be used as the basis for the first driverless bus trials in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC</span> British-built model of double-decker bus, built since 2014

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC is a low-floor double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis since 2014, replacing the Alexander Dennis Enviro400. The Enviro400 MMC is produced at Alexander Dennis' Falkirk and Scarborough factories in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach Gold bus route X4</span> Bus route in England

Stagecoach Gold bus route X4 is a bus route in England that links Northampton and Peterborough via Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby. This service is operated by the Stagecoach Midlands bus company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City</span> British-built model of double-decker bus, built since 2014

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City is a low-floor double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis since 2015, as an alternative to the standard Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC bodywork. The Enviro400 City is produced at Alexander Dennis' Falkirk and Scarborough factories in the United Kingdom. It is available as a complete integral diesel or hybrid bus, as well as the Enviro400EV complete integral battery electric bus or Scania N280UD compressed natural gas-powered chassis.

<i>Spirit of London</i> 2005 London bus

19000 Spirit of London is an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-decker bus which entered service in London in October 2005. Originally carrying fleet number 18500, Spirit of London was built as the replacement for the bus destroyed in Tavistock Square during the 7 July 2005 London bombings, killing 13 passengers. Spirit of London was also the first production Enviro400 built by Alexander Dennis. Throughout its time in service, Spirit of London has served as a tribute to the victims of the 7/7 attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essex Airlink</span> Two airport bus services

Essex Airlink is the brand given to two airport bus services run by First Essex. The brand was relaunched at Stansted Airport, England, on 17 February 2020. There are three routes, X10, X20 and X30, which start their journey in Basildon bus station, Colchester and Southend Travel Centre, respectively. The X10 and X30 routes meet on the A130 and then follow the same route from there to Chelmsford where the route then splits with daytime X30 journeys traveling via Broomfield Road and serving Broomfield Hospital before compared to the X10, and night-time X30 journeys, taking a faster route to Stansted. Introduced in 2023. The X20 takes along A120 from Colchester to Stansted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thanet Loop</span> Bus route in Kent, England

The Thanet Loop is a circular bus route which operates on the Isle of Thanet peninsula in Kent, England. It is operated by Stagecoach South East.

References

  1. https://www.stagecoachbus.com/media-library/files/south%20east/annual%20report/annual%20report%202019.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  2. "£1 late night bus back to ferry revellers home". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  3. "Eleven new buses for Bexhill route". www.bexhillobserver.net. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  4. "Sharp move for Hastings bus company". The Argus. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  5. "Bus service changes on the cards from next month". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  6. "Bus firm is close to being sold". TR Beckett Newspapers. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  7. "Eastbourne Buses was sold for £4million". TR Beckett Newspapers. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2008.
  8. "MP blasts 'cloak of secrecy' over sale of bus company". TR Beckett Newspapers. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  9. 1 2 "How bus company almost went bust". TR Beckett Newspapers. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  10. "MP slams bus sale". TR Beckett Newspapers. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  11. "Stagecoach axe Cavendish Buses and 40 jobs". TR Beckett Newspapers. 15 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  12. "OFT refers Stagecoach bus acquisitions in Eastbourne to Competition Commission" (Press release). Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  13. "CC Clears Eastbourne Bus Merger" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  14. "Fast food restaurant fire tackled". 6 February 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  15. "Fire at Ramsgate depot destroys buses". This Is Kent. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  16. "Eastonways Folds After Rising Costs and Arson". This Is Kent. Retrieved 23 November 2013.
  17. "NatEx ends East Kent's 90-year London connection" Buses Magazine issue 750 September 2017 page 16
  18. 1 2 "About Stagecoach South East: Vehicles". Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  19. "Fleet List: Stagecoach South East". Bustimes.org. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  20. "Eleven new buses for Bexhill route". www.bexhillobserver.net. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  21. "Sharp move for Hastings bus company". The Argus. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Brand new luxury buses hit the streets of Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe". South East Business. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  23. 1 2 "Stagecoach launches new £2.6 Breeze fleet in Thanet". Coach & Bus Week. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  24. "Introducing the Triangle in style from 29 May" . Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  25. "Thanet open-top route 69". Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  26. "NEW buses for 100/101/102 Wave routes arrive next Monday" . Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  27. "Stagecoach South East launches rebranded Wave fleet on route 99". Coach & Bus Week. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  28. "Stagecoach reveal new Thanet buses for Loop route after £4 million investment". KentOnline. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  29. 1 2 3 "South East Network Map" (PDF). Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  30. "Wave 99 Route Map" (PDF). Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  31. 1 2 3 4 "Stagecoach unveils people-powered new look buses as it marks 40 years of connecting communities". Stagecoach Group. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  32. "Gold 16 Route Map" (PDF). Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  33. "Triangle Route Map" (PDF). Stagecoach South East. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  34. "NEW STAGECOACH BUS FLEET DESIGNS ARE INSPIRED BY THREE DISTINCT KENT ICONS" . Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  35. "Canterbury Park & Ride". Canterbury City Council. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  36. "Sturry Road park and ride in Canterbury to close from July 1". KentOnline. 19 June 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  37. "UniBus 1 and 2 route map" (PDF). University of Kent. Retrieved 4 September 2022.