Stagecoach Manchester’s new Enviro 200s handed over and named
Stockport schoolchildren were all smiles last Tuesday as they helped Stagecoach Manchester to officially name and launch six new single decker buses, all of which will be serving Brinnington’s 325 route.
The pupils from Hillcrest Grammar, Adswood Primary and St. Thomas’ Primary schools entered a competition to name the new vehicles. They were joined by Christopher Bowles, Stagecoach Manchester’s Managing Director, and Philip Harding, local councillor and Stockport’s committee member of Transport for Greater Manchester.
The arrival of their six Enviro 200s represent a £750,000 investment in the company’s fleet and a fillup to the popular 325 route from Stockport to Brinnington. Following the handover, local children presented posters bearing the winning bus name to Christopher Bowles and their local councillors.
The Winning Names:
- Queenie: pupils at St Thomas’ Primary School;
- Mr Zoomer: Molly-May Sybray, Hillcrest Grammar School;
- Sophie: Becky Moore, Hillcrest Grammar School;
- Stage-crest: Ethan Richardson-Keeley, Hillcrest Grammar School;
- Bizzy Bus: Lewis Edwards, Hillcrest Grammar School;
- Steering You To Success: pupils at Adswood Primary School.
As a thank you for their hard work, they were rewarded with £50 worth of High Street vouchers, which will go towards textbooks, gardening and arts and crafts products for their schools. Christopher Bowles commented: “This is a significant investment into our Stockport operations for Stagecoach Manchester. It’s important that we continue to grow and improve our services and we hope that the addition of these vehicles to our fleet will ensure an even higher standard of travel for our loyal customers in the area.”
As with the previous purchases for Ashton depot, all six buses are more fuel efficient than their predecessors. For passenger security, each vehicle is fitted with voice-enabled CCTV.
Speaking about the schools competition, Christopher added: “As well as expanding our fleet, Stagecoach Manchester is also committed to building relationships with the communities in which it operates, so I would like to thank Councillor Philip Harding, and the local school children for helping us to launch the new buses.
“We received lots of fantastic entries for the ‘Name That Bus’ competition and it was very difficult to pick just six. I would like to congratulate all the winners and thank everyone who entered for their hard work and creativity.”
Councillor Philip Harding said: “I am very pleased to see six new Stagecoach Manchester buses arrive in Brinnington. The new vehicles will not only improve the experience of bus users in the area, but also help to decrease the carbon footprint in Stockport.”
Simon Crane, Assistant Headteacher for Hillcrest Grammar School, commented: “Bus travel remains an important part of transport to and from School, not only for Hillcrest pupils but for thousands of pupils in and around Stockport.
“We are extremely delighted that Stagecoach has made such a large investment into the local community and extremely proud that Hillcrest pupils, along with children from other local schools, have shown their imagination in naming the new Stagecoach buses.”
Here are a few more pictures from Tuesday’s event.
S.V., 15 March 2012
Photographs courtesy of Tangerine PR, Ardwick, Manchester.
East of the M60 
good photos
LikeLike
Like the idea of getting youngsters in the area involved. Not the first time that Stagecoach have named a fleet of buses. They did a similar thing in Hartlepool with their Enviro 200s naming their buses names like Molly and Mrs Bubble and Buzz Lightyear.
LikeLike
Hellos to Michael and Shaun.
I like the idea of community participation with regards to bus names. The only thing I don’t like is if the names and/or branding ceases to be used after the newness of the vehicles has elapsed.
Referring to my previous article, I am glad that none of them came up with ‘Brinnington Badger’ or ‘Offerton Otter’!
Bye for now,
Stuart.
LikeLike