Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

[enrag2000]

RE: Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire

(23/08/2012 01:07)cumbria0902150 Wrote:  

(22/08/2012 20:01)Nicholas Wrote:  The 508 has a PVR of 2

Talking of 508, why is the 508/108 numbered in such a bizarre way? The 508 is simply a holiday/weekend extension to the 108, so the same number should be used throughout.

It is an odd one.
The route used to be Penrith operated 108 Penrith - Glenridding - Patterdale (7 days a week) and Kendal operated 517 Bowness - Windermere - Patterdale - Glenridding (weekends only Easter - Halloween, plus every day over summer holidays), but they were merged together as 508 working straight through Bowness - Pattedale - Glenridding - Penrith. So really, 508 is the best of both routes. It is simpler having 508 as opposed to having 108 connecting with 517. The standard weekday Penrith - Patterdale still being numbered 108, simplifying the difference. The process of merging togther improved the 517 side from 3 return trips per day to 4 return trips per day, still only requiring 1 bus from each depot as per 108 and 517 as independant routes.

Penrith's board on 508 will, as far as I am aware, continue to be B10M. Not 100% sure on Kendal's board, but I would imagine that would be B10M too, until suitable vehicles are found for climbing up Kirkstone Pass. The R-XVM B10M's don't take it well (they're timetabled a break at the top to cool down), but they're better than a MAN ALX300 would be. The old K/M reg B10M's take it no problem. (The 3 speed Voith's in the R reg's might be a smoother ride, but the 4 speed ZF's in the older ones tackle Cumbria's toughest routes a hell of a lot better).

I travelled on the Penrith-operated run on 7th April when Dart SLF 34715 was used - probably in the absence of a B10M. In spite of picking up nearly a decent load at Glenridding, it handled Kirkstone Pass with ease. Still, don't suppose there is much chance of getting a Dart on a regular basis!