OPERATIONS PROFILE
as at 3rd January 2010
Stagecoach in South Shields operate a PVR of 60, split 75% (45) easyACCESS and 25% (15) high floor. The PVR of 60 is covered by a network of 19 services which stretches from Fellgate in the West, Marsden on the East coast and Cleadon & the Boldons in the South. In addition, Service X34 connects South Shields to Gateshead and Newcastle, while Services E1, E2 and E6 connect South Shields and Sunderland.
Fleet
Profile
The
Stagecoach in South Shields fleet comprises 72 vehicles, 83% (60) of which are
easyACCESS and 17% (12) high floor. The total
of 72 is made up of 9 Volvo B10M's, 1 Volvo B10B, 18 Volvo B10BLE's, 2 Darts, 28 Dart
SLFs and 14 Enviro 200s. All
of the South Shields fleet have received Stagecoach in South Shields livery, with the
exception of 20552
which carries a
striking allover pink and white livery for service X34 in support of the charity
Breakthrough
Breast Cancer. The Enviro
200 fleet have all had names applied to their front end.
In addition, South Shields have one Driver Training Vehicle; Volvo B10B 21041.
Dart SLFs 34605-15 & 35187-95 and Enviro 200s 39701-14 were delivered complete with the new style interior, while formerly X34 branded B10Ms 20123/25/26 have been treated to a full refurbishment (complete with bucket style seats and blue floors) and Dart SLF 34401 was transferred from Teesside complete with new style interior. Several of the remainder have received retrim (new blue moquette on old seats), comprising 20135, 20551/52, 20840/42, 21002, 21136-40/43-46/50/52/55/56/58, 32793, 33491, 33828.
A number of the Dart SLF easyACCESS saloons carry megarear advertisements: 34606 Dayrider, 34614/15 “pants” Megarider. 34605 has lost its' “take any bus” Megarider megarear and 34607 has lost its' Superoute megarear.
All
of the Volvo B10BLE's and 56-plate SLF Darts have scrolling orange
Sentence Case digital destination displays while the 04-plate
SLF Darts, B10M's 20551/52 and low floor Darts 33101/489/90/91/92, 33825/28 & 34401 have yellow non-scrolling Sentence Case
digital destination blinds. All of the other B10M's, and Darts 32624 &
32793 have yellow UPPERCASE digital destination
blinds. Volvo B10B 21002 has conventional yellow roller blinds.
Meet
the
Fleet
21136 21137 21138 21139 21140 21143 21144 21145 21146 21149 21150 21152 21153 21154 21155 21156 21157 21158 33101 33489 33490 33491 33492 33825 33828 34401 34605 34606 34607 34608 34609 34610 34611 34612 34613 34614 34615 35187 35188 35189 35190 35191 35192 35193 35194 35195 39701 39702 39703 39704 39705 39706 39707 39708 39709 39710 39711 39712 39713 39714
high floor
20123 20125 20126 20135 20551 20552 20553 20840 20842 21002 32624 32793
A bit of Analysis
Average fleet age: 7.8 years
|
|
Total Fleet |
|
high floor |
| Spares overall | 16.7%
(12/72) |
25.0%
(15/60) |
-25.0%
(-3/12) |
| Spares on PVR | 20.0%
(12/60) |
33.3%
(15/45) |
-20.0%
(-3/15) |
Note: no services have officially been converted to easyACCESS as a result of the arrival of 8 low floor Darts from Teesside, hence the high easyACCESS spares and negative high floor spares.
Routes
3 South Shields Market – Biddick Hall – South Shields Market
via Chichester, Stanhope Road, The Ridgeway, Harton Nook and Westoe
4 South Shields Market – Biddick Hall – South Shields Market
via Westoe, Harton Nook, The Ridgeway, Stanhope Road and Chichester
7 South Shields Market – Marsden – South Shields Market
via Chichester, Mortimer Road, Harton Nook, Horsley Hill and Westoe
8 South Shields Market – Marsden – South Shields Market
via Westoe, Horsley Hill, Harton Nook, Mortimer Road and Chichester
10 South Shields Market – Harton Nook – District Hospital – Low Simonside
via Beach Road, Bamburgh Avenue, Horsley Hill, Marsden Inn, Whiteleas, Biddick Hall, Simonside
11 Low Simonside – District Hospital – Harton Nook – South Shields Market
via Simonside, Biddick Hall, Whiteleas, Marsden Inn, Horsley Hill, Bamburgh Avenue and Beach Road
12 Mile End Road – Market – Watson Avenue – The Lonnen
via Tyne Dock & District Hospital
13 Jarrow – Low Simonside – District Hospital – Harton Nook – South Shields Market
via Hill Park, Simonside, Biddick Hall, Whiteleas, Centenary Avenue, Horsley Hill, Westcott Avenue and Beach Road
14 South Shields Market – Harton Nook – District Hospital – Low Simonside – Jarrow
via Beach Road, Westcott Avenue, Horsley Hill, Centenary Avenue, Whiteleas, Biddick Hall, Simonside and Hill Park
17 South Shields Market – Whiteleas – South Shields Market
via Laygate
18 South Shields Market – Brockley Whins – South Shields Market
via Westoe, Stanhope Road, Simonside and South Leam Estate
X20 South Shields Market – Fellgate Estate
via Chichester, Tyne Dock & Newcastle Road
30 South Shields Market – Cleadon – The Boldons – Boldon Asda
X34 Horsley Hill Square – Newcastle, Pilgrim Street
via Boldon Asda & Gateshead
E1 Sunderland – Whitburn – South Shields
via Roker, Horsley Hill and Pier Head
E2 Sunderland – Whitburn – South Shields
via Fulwell Mill, Horsley Hill and Laygate
E6 Sunderland – Whitburn – South Shields
via Fulwell Road and Harton Nook
| Service Number |
PVR | Operated by | Notes |
| 1 | 2*
(Sat)
3* (Sun) |
Dart SLF | Operates early morning Saturday & Sunday only. * Uses vehicles from other PVRs |
| 2 | Dart SLF | Operates early morning Saturday & Sunday only. * Uses vehicles from other PVRs | |
| 3 | 17 | Dart SLF | |
| 4 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 10 | 8
(with 13 & 14) |
Dart, Dart SLF |
Evenings & Sundays |
| 11 | |||
| 12 | 2 | Enviro 200 | |
| 13 | see 10 & 11 | Dart, Dart SLF |
Evenings & Sundays |
| 14 | |||
| 17 | 10 | Enviro 200 |
|
| 18 | |||
| X20 | 4 | B10M, Dart | Operates Monday-Saturday daytime only |
| 30 | |||
| X34 | 3 | Volvo B10M | Operates Monday-Saturday daytime only |
| E1 | 16 | Volvo B10BLE, Volvo B10M, Dart SLF (evenings) |
|
| E2 | |||
| E6 | |||
| TOTAL | 60 |
A sample vehicle working for Stagecoach in South Shields can be viewed HERE. This was the actual allocation from 2nd January 2010.
Where
to go…
…for Sightings
All of South Shields’ services with the exception of Service X34 serve the Town Centre. Anywhere on the Keppel Street or Fowler Street will enable sightings of all 57 workings on these routes (peak). Service X34 is best seen on Benton Road/Boldon Lane, where two duties can be seen within 5 minutes of each other. Alternatively try Boldon, Horsley Hill Square or indeed Newcastle City Centre (New Bridge Street/Pilgrim Street).
…for
Photos
The junction of Keppel Street/Chapter Row and Waterloo Square provides an excellent spot for snapping town services. The position of the sun means that for most of the day the best view is of buses heading west along Keppel Street to Chapter Row. Over the course of a couple of hours this includes all vehicles operating on the town services. An alternative is on the hill of Fowler Street, as buses leave the Town Centre.
For the X34, the best locations are on Benton Road, Nevinson Avenue or in Newcastle City Centre on Pilgrim Street.
…for Timetables
Stagecoach in South Shields no longer have a travelshop, but a limited counter service is offered at certain times of day to provide timetables and travel information. The Nexus Travelshop on Fowler Street normally has a decent stock of leaflets, as does the central library.
The Stagecoach North East head office at the Wheatsheaf (Sunderland) has timetables for all Stagecoach North East services in Tyne and Wear.
the
DEPOT
Please
remember – trespassing is illegal. Do not
enter any depot area without prior permission from Stagecoach.
All
of what is described here can been seen from outside the perimeter fence.
Stagecoach in South Shields is based at Dean Road, Chichester, close to Chichester Metro station. Chichester depot has recently undergone significant refurbishment, with considerable yard space and basic garage facilities (major engineering and repaints are completed at Sunderland).
Click HERE to view an aerial map of the depot and surrounding area (external link to Google Maps).
layout
There are three entrances to the depot, one
on the roundabout on Dean Road/Laygate and two further down Dean Road. The main
service fleet park up at the front, inside the depot but visible. Behind this
area are the workshops – the doors on Dean Road are usually open and views of
some of what’s inside may be seen from there. The rear of the
depot is where the Driver Trainers are stored and is also home to the bus-wash
and access to a further outdoor standing area. Walking round
the two sides of the depot (front and down Dean Road) gives a pretty good idea
of what’s in there, though a view of the opposite side (usually empty) can be
seen across the Metro line from outside of the doctor’s surgery.
The depot is in a residential area,
with car parking available on Dean Road or in the streets off it.
how
to get there
from Town
Centre Walking:
Leave the Town Centre on Westoe Road (past the Town Hall) and cross right onto
Chichester Road. Continue along Chichester Road for a way, to it’s
junction with Dean Road. You will see the former South Shields Busways
travelshop on the roundabout and the depot behind this. Driving:
Head out of the Town Centre on Station Road (from Ferry Street/Coronation
Street, at the top of the Market). The road name changes to
Western Approach, continue straight on to Laygate roundabout. Turn left,
onto Laygate. A right turn at the next mini roundabout will take you
straight past the depot, on Dean Road. Busing/Metro:
Services 3, 7, 17, 18, X20, 30, E2 & E6 all serve Chichester from the Town
Centre (indeed Service X20 runs right past the depot). Alternatively, hop on the
Metro to Chichester.
from A19 Leave for A194
heading towards South Shields. Stay
on this road, a dual carriageway, which will pass a Tesco Superstore.
Shortly before the main entrance to Tyne Dock, there is a junction with
Dean Road on the right. Follow Dean
Road and the depot is on the right a short distance along.
from A1(M) Leave at
Junction 65 for the A194(M). Follow
the A194(M) to A194 then follow the instructions above “from A19”.
from
Newcastle Driving:
Leave Newcastle over the Tyne Bridge heading for Gateshead and Sunderland.
At the roundabout take the first exit onto the A184.
On this dual carriageway you’ll pass Gateshead Stadium and Heworth
Interchange. Continue past Heworth
on the A184 and take the A194 (N), then follow the instructions above under
“from A19”.
from
Sunderland Driving:
From Sunderland City Centre, cross the Wearmouth Bridge go almost right around
the Wheatsheaf roundabout, taking the entrance after Roker Retail Park onto
Roker Avenue. The Wheatsheaf pub
will be on your right, as will the Wheatsheaf depot further on.
Follow the road system round to the sea front and continue along through
Roker, Seaburn and Whitburn. Shortly
after passing Whitburn Colliery take a left turn, followed by a right onto
Lizard Lane. At a mini roundabout
turn left onto Prince Edward Road, then at its intersection with Sunderland
Road, turn right. At Westoe mini
roundabout, turn left onto Dean Road, continue straight over the next mini
roundabout and you will see the depot in front of you. Busing:
Stagecoach services E2 & E6 serve Chichester, stopping close to the depot.
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Stagecoach North East Bus Depot 2005-2009.
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contact stagecoachbusdepot@hotmail.com
prior to their use.
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