Stagecoach in Newcastle
Stagecoach in Newcastle is a bus company, and a division of Stagecoach North East.[1] Stagecoach in Newcastle is the largest division of Stagecoach North East, and one of the three major bus operators in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, alongside Arriva North East and Go North East. Stagecoach prodominantely provide services within the city, with Arriva North East and Go North East's routes extending beyond the city.
 An Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC, branded in the company's former corporate livery, seen at Gallowgate in Newcastle upon Tyne. | |
| Parent | Stagecoach |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1986 (34 years ago) |
| Headquarters | Wheatsheaf Monkwearmouth Sunderland Tyne and Wear SR5 1AQ |
| Service area | Tyne and Wear |
| Service type | Bus and coach |
| Depots | 2 |
| Managing Director | Steve Walker |
| Website | https://www.stagecoachbus.com/about/north-east |
Fleet and operations
Stagecoach Newcastle operate a fleet mainly consisting of vehicles manufactured by Alexander Dennis, with most recent deliveries consisting of Enviro 200 MMC single-deck and Enviro 400 MMC double-deck vehicles. Some older vehicles in the fleet were manufactured by MAN.
Most vehicles are branded in the former corporate livery, which was originally launched in 2000. It consists of a white livery, with a blue skirt, and red and orange swoops. The new Stagecoach livery was launched in January 2020, and features three different liveries, based on the type of service operated, these being local, long-distance and specialist.
Stagecoach in Newcastle operate services from two depots:
- Slatyford: Slatyford Lane, Slatyford, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Walkergate: Shields Road, Walkergate, Newcastle upon Tyne
Services
Stagecoach in Newcastle provides local services in and around Newcastle upon Tyne, with buses operating from two depots – Slatyford and Walkergate.
As of June 2020, the following routes are operated by Stagecoach in Newcastle:[2]
| Route | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slatyford Pooley Road | Cobalt Park Silver Fox Way |
| 6 | Metrocentre Interchange   |
Four Lane Ends Interchange  |
| 7 | Metrocentre Interchange |
Four Lane Ends Interchange |
| 8 | Newcastle Central Station |
Four Lane Ends Interchange |
| 10 | North Kenton Delamere Road | West Denton Combe Drive |
| 11 | North Kenton Delamere Road | West Denton Shopping Centre |
| 12 | Wallsend Interchange |
Fenham Two Ball Lonnen |
| 18 | Walker Church Walk | Benton Halisham Avenue |
| 22 | Throckley Newburn Road | Cobalt Park Silver Fox Way |
| 22X | Throckley Newburn Road | Cobalt Park Silver Fox Way |
| 30 | Fenham Bingfield Gardens | Fawdon Fawdon Park Road |
| 31 | Denton Burn Whickham View | Montagu Estate Arlington Avenue |
| 32 | Walker Church Walk | North Kenton Hillsview Avenue |
| 32A | Walker Church Walk | North Kenton Hillsview Avenue |
| 35 | Newcastle Pilgrim Street | Fawdon Acomb Crescent |
| 36 | Newcastle New Bridge Street | Fenham Bingfield Gardens |
| 38 | Denton Burn Whickham View | Four Lane Ends Interchange |
| 38A | Chapel House Hillhead Parkway | Freeman Hospital |
| 39 | Walker Bus Terminal |
Dumpling Hall The Vallum |
| 40 | Wallsend Interchange |
Chapel House Hillhead Parkway |
| 62 | Killingworth Bus Station |
North Walbottle Northumberland Gardens |
| 63 | Killingworth Bus Station |
Chapel House Hillhead Parkway |
| 68 | Four Lane Ends Interchange |
Tyneview Park |
| 71 | Newcastle Grainger Street | Throckley Newburn Road |
| 72 | Newcastle Grainger Street | Chapel House Hillhead Parkway |
| 87 | Newcastle Grainger Street | Newbiggin Hall Trevelyan Drive |
| 100 | Newcastle Blackett Street | Metrocentre Interchange |
| 991 | Walbottle Hexham Road | Tyneview Park |
| 995 | Byker Brinkburn Street | Tyneview Park |
| X47 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Kingston Park Brunton Lane |
| X63 | Newcastle Blackett Street | Killingworth West Bailey |
| X77 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Darras Hall Middle Drive |
| X78 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Darras Hall Middle Drive |
| X79 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Kirkley Hall |
| X82 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Throckley Leazes Parkway |
| X87 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Newbiggin Hall Trevelyan Drive |
| X88 | Eldon Square Bus Station |
Newbiggin Hall Trevelyan Drive |
Vehicle orders and deliveries
In 2007, the first batch of Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 double-deckers were delivered to Newcastle – these being part of a £55 million group-wide order.[3] The vehicles operated predominantly on the city's busiest routes.
A further delivery in July 2011 saw Walkergate depot take delivery of twenty-six Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H double-deckers, as part of the government's green bus scheme.[4] These buses served on routes 39 and 40 from their introduction, until turn of the new decade, when they were replaced by new Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC double-deckers.[5]
In 2016, twenty-four Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 MMC double-decker buses were delivered for services 62 and 63 services (operated by both Slatyford and Walkergate depots), with this delivery allowing for some of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 from the original 2007 order to leave the region.
Eighteen Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 MMC single-decker buses were also delivered in 2016, these being for routes 30, 31 and 36 (operated by Slatyford depot).
Night buses
In September 2018, Stagecoach in Newcastle introduced weekend night buses on the following routes: N1, N30, N39, N40 and N88.[6] These services were withdrawn in July 2019, owing to low usage.
The Seasider open-top service
In 2019, the company launched The Seasider open-top service, which takes in the sights of the North East's coast. The route serves North Shields, Cullercoats, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.[7] The launch of the coastal service coincided with the end of the company's City Sightseeing franchising agreement, with the open top double-deckers being deployed onto this new route, in order to engage with a new customer base in North Tyneside.[8]
Incidents
2011
On Monday 28 March 2011, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 (19151), NK07 HBL suffered severe fire damage after its engine burst into flames in the Killingworth area of Newcastle upon Tyne.[9]
2008
On 31 December 2008, Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 (19380), NK58 AEU was de-roofed after it hit a Metro bridge 54.9885°N 1.5395°W at The Avenue (around 400m west of Wallsend Metro Station). The accident happened after the driver had apparently took a wrong turn, leading to minor injuries and brief Metro speed restriction.[10] The vehicle returned to service six months later in June 2009.
References
- "Busways Travel Services Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
- "Newcastle Bus Route Map" (PDF). Stagecoach. November 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "Stagecoach group places £55m bus orders for UK". Stagecoach Group. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "Stagecoach launches £7m eco-bus fleet". Nexus. 3 July 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "Local bus operator makes £5m fleet investment to boost Newcastle bus services". Stagecoach Group. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "Bus operator introduces night buses in Newcastle following customer feedback". Stagecoach. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- "The Seasider". Stagecoach. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- Henderson, Tony (11 April 2019). "Two new sightseeing buses to launch across Tyneside from this weekend". ChronicleLive. Retrieved 17 May 2019.
- http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/03/29/pair-flee-fire-on-killingworth-double-decker-72703-28422359/
- "Four hurt as bus hits low bridge". BBC News. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
