AI’s ‘Aye’ For The 111: Introducing Optibus

Stagecoach Group invests in AI based bus route planning tool

• Investment will help plan the changes in travel coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic;
• New AI platform Optibus will help improve service delivery and provide more efficient timetables;
• State-of-the-art artificial intelligence, advanced algorithms and cloud computing used to make timetables smarter;
• Major technological transformation will enable quicker roll-out of electric buses.

Low Bridge Strikes Scuppered by Bridge Alert System

Stagecoach Group becomes first UK bus operator to invest in national roll-out of new bridge alert technology

• £4m project to strengthen existing safety measures to prevent bridge strikes;
• Enhancement to GreenRoad’s leading driver safety and fuel-efficiency system;
• 8,000 buses covered in England, Scotland and Wales by summer 2021.

New Year and New Man for Stagecoach Greater Manchester

Lee Wasnidge to succeed Elisabeth Tasker in 2021

Lee Wasnidge.

• Lee Wasnidge joins Stagecoach’s largest bus company on 04 January 2020;
• Successor to Elisabeth Tasker has Background in running rail and air services in Greater Manchester at senior level;
• New MD has extensive customer service and stakeholder management experience, whilst recognising Stagecoach’s major role in supporting the North West’s economy.

Official! Santa Swaps Sleigh For Bus

Stagecoach Greater Manchester drivers spread a bit of Christmas cheer to raise funds for local communities

Given how strange 2020 has been, Father Christmas trading in his sleigh for a double decker bus now seems run-of-the-mill. Who could blame him as he could use the top deck for storing presents? Unless he uses an open top bus, the presents wouldn’t be soggy. As for automatic transmission, cab heating, kneeling floors and buggy bays, a development that is long overdue. Sadly at the expense of Rudolph and his fellow furloughed reindeer friends.

Exact Fare Policy Raises More Than £122k for NHS Charities Together

Stagecoach passengers thanked for supporting major donation to the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal

• Over £122,000 raised by Stagecoach passengers for NHS charity with £19,271.72 raised by Stagecoach Greater Manchester passengers;
• Passengers thanked for their support in the exact fare scheme, though passengers still encouraged to use contactless payment wherever possible.

The Stagecoach Group has thanked its customers across the UK for helping to raise more than £122,000 for the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Appeal. As part of this total amount, Stagecoach Greater Manchester’s contribution was £19,271.72.

Stagecoach Canteen Changes Sees Surplus Food Sent to Food Banks

Why Stagecoach Greater Manchester donated supplies to five food banks in the city region

Stagecoach driver Joanne Morgan unloads food donations from the bus to the food bank at United Estates of Wythenshawe.

There is a famous episode of On The Buses* when Luxton and District decide to change the canteen facilities. After a few complaints about the food portions and Messrs Butler and Co. wanting a bit more than two pork sausages, the canteen staff are replaced by a wall of vending machines. Thankfully, this didn’t happen with Stagecoach Greater Manchester, after a change of canteen supplier. Their changes left the canteens of our city region’s leading bus operator with an abundance of baked beans, a bounty of bread, and a cornucopia of coffee granules. Not to mention a multitude of meat pies.

Gimme (Flexi) 5! Stagecoach Greater Manchester Introduces Flexible Season Ticket

New flexible season ticket offers five days unlimited travel on Stagecoach Greater Manchester buses for the price of four days travel

Over the lockdown period, working from home has become the norm for white collar workers. Some of which have previously paid for seven-day, 14-day, monthly and annual season tickets for local buses, trams and trains. For some people, spending two days in the office and three days working from home has taken over from doing five daily commutes. Owing to this trend, the days of ‘traditional’ season tickets are numbered.

Stagecoach Manchester MD to Retire After 20 Years in Bus Industry

Elisabeth Tasker’s retirement leaves vacancy in top role

The Stagecoach Group has announced that Elisabeth Tasker, Managing Director of its Manchester bus operation is to retire after 20 years’ service in the bus industry. 

The Clippercard Makes a Comeback!

Clipper ticket resurrects spirit of the Clippercard on Metrolink trams

The Clippercard is dead… long live the Clippercard! Well, that’s how we may have reported on the self-cancelling ticket’s demise if East of the M60 was around in 2004. Years after the original ticket’s demise, Greater Manchester Transport’s ten-trips-for-the-price-of-nine tickets still carry fond memories. You might have travelled with a Clippercard by fair means (with a black plastic wallet) or foul (by boarding and passing the card on to your friend).

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Measures: Sunday Service Across Stagecoach Greater Manchester Routes

Important information for bus passengers during the Coronavirus situation

From the 28 March [this Saturday], further precautions against the Coronavirus pandemic will be taken by Stagecoach Greater Manchester. With the effects of a near total lockdown leading to an inevitable loss of patronage, most of their routes will be operating an enhanced Sunday service.