Stagecoach Midlands

Easter Monday 8 April 1996 - Stagecoach United Counties 426 (L426 XVV), an Alexander Dash bodied Volvo B6 new in July 1994, seen in St. Ives, Cambridgeshire.

Monday 1 August 1994 - Stagecoach United Counties 150 (K150 DNV) seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in February 1993 this coach had Volvo B10M chassis and carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.

Saturday 24 February 1996 (approx. 1200 noon) - Stagecoach United Counties 155 (L155 JNH) seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge loading for the 1205 service to Oxford. It was new in August 1993. When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services.

Monday 2 June 1997 (approx. 1510) - Stagecoach United Counties 173 (P173 KBD) seen at Milton Keynes Coachway (by junction 14 of the M1 Motorway). When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in October 1996 this coach had Volvo B10M chassis. It carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.

Thursday 20 November 1997 - Stagecoach United Counties 178 (R178 DNH) seen at Milton Keynes Coachway (by junction 14 of the M1 Motorway). When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for the ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicle they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Première. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. New in November 1997 this coach had a Volvo B10M chassis. It carries the Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places beyond.

Saturday 15 February 1997 - Stagecoach United Counties 147 (K759 FYG), a Plaxton Première 320 bodied Volvo B10M that had been new to Wallace Arnold in August 1982, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. It was reversing out of the loading stand as it departed for Oxford at 1205. The first side window has lost its Cambridge lettering. The reckless pedestrians didn’t seem to worry about the risks of reversing vehicles in the bus station.

Sunday 25 September 1994 – Stagecoach United Counties 83 (83 CBD) on display at Showbus, Duxford. It is a Plaxton Paramount 3500 bodied Leyland Tiger which carries the Coachlinks name which was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places further afield. I read that this coach having been new to United Counties spent a couple of years operating for Stagecoach Malawi and carried the registration number A294 ANH before export.

Tuesday 5 February 1991 – Stagecoach United Counties 652 (H652 VVV), an Alexander R type bodied Leyland Olympian new in October 1990, seen in Drummer Street bus station, Cambridge. Rather unusually the bus is seen having reversed in to one of the departure stands rather than being nose in – possibly the driver had nowhere else to go at the time.

Thursday 22 October 1989 - The Stagecoach Group acquired the United Counties Omnibus Company in 1987 in the privatisation of the National Bus Company and many traditional NBC procured vehicles came with the purchase. The group purchased the Alexander R type bodied Leyland (later Volvo) Olympian for most of its double deck requirements so the type was found countrywide. 625 (F625 MSL), new in August 1988, is seen in The Drapery in Northampton working the ‘Great Eastern Line 51’ cross town service linking New Duston and Blackthorn.

Saturday 15 July 1989 - The Stagecoach Group acquired the United Counties Omnibus Company in 1987 in the privatisation of the National Bus Company and many traditional NBC procured vehicles came with the purchase. The group purchased the Alexander R type bodied Leyland (later Volvo) Olympian for most of its double deck requirements so the type was found countrywide. 623 (F625 MSL), new in August 1988, is seen in Peterborough bus station a having strayed somewhat from the ‘Great Eastern Line 51’ service which is a cross town service in Northampton linking New Duston and Blackthorn.

Saturday 13 April 1996 – The frontage of the Stagecoach United Counties garage in Northampton Road, Kettering. National Express liveried Plaxton Premiere bodied Volvo B10M 92 (J430 HDS) stands on the forecourt, it was new to Park’s of Hamilton in May 1993. An Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR is beyond and an Alexander bodied Olympian is visible inside the garage doorway.

Saturday 13 April 1996 – Stagecoach United Counties 157 (L157 JNH) seen leaving Kettering bus station bound for Corby. It is a Plaxton Premiere Interurban bodied Volvo B10M new in August 1993. When the Stagecoach Group had need for a replacement for their ageing ‘dual purpose’ style of vehicles they worked with Plaxton and came up with the Interurban variant of the Plaxton Premiere. The model featured a number of bus like features built within the coach bodywork such as an enclosed driver’s cab, lino floor for easy cleaning etc but had coach comfort for medium distance services. The Coachlinks name was used for a network of express and limited stop services operated within the UCOC area and to some places further afield. The bus station subsequently closed and was redeveloped although the garage on Northampton Road remains. On the forecourt of the garage is National Express liveried Plaxton Premiere bodied Volvo B10M 92 (J430 HDS) and an Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR beyond.

Saturday 13 April 1996 – Two Stagecoach United Counties Alexander bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D mini-buses seen by the Market Place in Kettering working town services. 342 (M342 DRP) leading had just had a driver changeover as 337 (M337 DRP) picks up behind. They were both new in January 1995.

Sunday 28 September 2003 – Stagecoach United Counties Plaxton Expressliner bodied Volvo B10M coaches on display at Showbus, Duxford. The pair were new to Stagecoach Cumberland in August 1995 to work National Express contracts. Now lettered for the Virgin Trains Milton Keynes-Luton Airport Rail Link service. Left is 52332 (9737 VC) new as N132 VAO and in the background is 52330 (6253 VC) new as N130 VAO). Two years earlier (on Wednesday 28 March 2001) I had travelled from Aberdeen to Milton Keynes on board N130 VAO when it worked the 0720 Aberdeen to London National Express service 590. (See insert photograph)

Thursday 23 April 2015 (1447) - Stagecoach Midlands 35219 (KX56 JYZ) seen passing St. Mary's Church in Rushden when working service 49 to Kettering. It is a Plaxton Pointer style Dennis Dart built by Alexander Dennis new in November 2006.

Thursday 23 April 2015 (1445) - A Stagecoach Midlands Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident double decker seen passing St. Mary's Church in Rushden when working service 50 from Kettering to Bedford. (A fellow member of the Anglia and Thames Valley Bus Forum advises that this would be 19020 (MX06 XAV) based at Kettering garage).

Thursday 23 April 2015 (1445) - A Stagecoach Midlands Alexander Dennis Enviro400 bodied Trident double decker seen in High Street South, Rushden when working service 50 from Kettering to Bedford. (A fellow member of the Anglia and Thames Valley Bus Forum advises that this would be 19020 (MX06 XAV) based at Kettering garage)

Thursday 23 April 2015 (1447) - Stagecoach Midlands 35219 (KX56 JYZ) seen descending Skinners Hill in Rushden when working service 49 to Kettering. It is a Plaxton Pointer style Dennis Dart built by Alexander Dennis new in November 2006.