Works Contract to Tilmanstone Salads

[Darryl Meades]

Advertised on the Bakkavor (Tilmanstone Salads ) Facebook page is a new (trial) workers service. This has been registered as Stagecoach 'BK1' on the DVSA website. The timetable has been published on Facebook and is attached.

Will anyone be around at 01:00 or 02:00 to photograph the return journey? 😉

D.

[Neil Gow]

It's interesting that Stagecoach have it as this type of work often goes to smaller operators, and given that they currently don't have enough staff to run their scheduled services it seems a strange time to be taking on new work.

Neil.

[JFO]

"Will anyone be around at 01:00 or 02:00 to photograph the return journey?", Well Daryl I know I'm crazy, but I'm not that crazy!, though I can see why you'd all assume that I'd be the one to capture it at night, but to be honest I prefer night shots I can walk to...
I must admit I was as surprised as Neil when I saw this was being operated by Stagecoach, especially as Bayliss, L&I Coaches and Kings Ferry are all just down Pike Road, having said that, Bayliss YR61RVC has driven past my house every morning this week with 80A Dover Schools on the destination...

[JFO]

While on my drive on Saturday 12th, as mentioned I saw Stagecoach "Loop" MMC 26239 YW19VNJ operating Route BK1 to Tilmanstone Salads: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/51876729952/, and on the way home I stopped off at the turning for Bakkavor just in time to see the BK1 arrive about 15:30PM by which time it had picked up quite a good load, however contrary to Nicholas Kings previous reports: https://groups.google.com/g/mdekbusclub/c/Y48jZoyKwjw, the vehicle used for the BK1 now runs in service back to Thanet and I saw YW19VNJ leaving with another healthy load, and in adition to this Stagecoach operated run, Bayliss Executive Travel are also doing a run to Bakkavor from the Folkestone Area which I see drivng through Dover each afternoon, usually with their MM16BAY or V44BAY doing the honours and I have noticed Bayliss on that run since September 2021, though I'm sure Geoff Loyd will fill us in on any exact details.

[Nicholas King]

Extra journeys were introduced on BK1 from 3rd January as reported in Invicta last month.

 

Nicholas King

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[JFO]

Stagecoach now appear to be doing another run to Bakkavor/Tilmanstone Salads this time to and from the Folkestone Area, and I have seen it drivng through Dover Pencester Road at 16:20PM each weekday afternoon over the last 2 weeks, with MMC SN66VVT 10706 usually being the designated vehicle: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52036318301/, though I don't know whether this has replaced the Bayliss Executive Travel operated run I previously mentioned, which they seem to still operate on Sundays & Public Holidays, including Sunday 24th of April 2022 when Geoff Loyd drove passed me in V44BAY/YA65BMY (with Bakkavor stickers in the window), so I assume he can fill us in on any exact details.

[Nicholas King]

The Bayliss working is from and to Ashford (March Invicta refers).  The Stagecoach working from and to Cheriton is a new operation, as far as I know.

 

Nicholas King

 

From: 'JFO' via Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup <mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 28 April 2022 20:37
To: Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup <mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Invicta] Works Contract to Tilmanstone Salads

 

Stagecoach now appear to be doing another run to Bakkavor/Tilmanstone Salads this time to and from the Folkestone Area, and I have seen it drivng through Dover Pencester Road at 16:20PM each weekday afternoon over the last 2 weeks, with MMC SN66VVT 10706 usually being the designated vehicle: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52036318301/, though I don't know whether this has replaced the Bayliss Executive Travel operated run I previously mentioned, which they seem to still operate on Sundays & Public Holidays, including Sunday 24th of April 2022 when Geoff Loyd drove passed me in V44BAY/YA65BMY (with Bakkavor stickers in the window), so I assume he can fill us in on any exact details.

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[JFO]

The Stagecoach BK3 drove past me again this Monday with GN60FDA 15704 operating it this time, however I have also now observed that the vehicle used appears to run empty to Tilmanstone, which to me seems to be a bit of a waste, considering that I have allways seen the vehicle for the Bayliss operated BK2 running empty through Dover on the way to start their run, and there is also an early morning Stagecoach run back from Tilmanstone that I saw passing my house at 05:50AM last week (while letting a relatives dog out).

[Nicholas King]

I think there’s some confusion here.  The Stagecoach working from Cheriton is BK2.  That number, and BK1 for the Thanet operation, is purely Stagecoach internal usage.  As we know, the numbers aren’t actually displayed on vehicles.  I’m not aware that Bayliss have given any number to their working from Ashford, or that Bakkavor themselves require numbers.

                BK2 runs to Tilmanstone (arrive 0530) in the morning, then returns dead to Folkestone.  It goes back dead to Tilmanstone in the afternoon for the return trip at 1600.  There’s no way that the vehicle and driver would sit at Tilmanstone doing nothing for ten-and-a-half hours!

                In fact from tomorrow (3rd) this car will also work the 991, confirming what has been local arrangement since the start of the new term.

 

Nicholas King

 

From: 'JFO' via Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup <mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 02 May 2022 20:11
To: Invicta Bus & Coach Newsgroup <mdekb...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [Invicta] Works Contract to Tilmanstone Salads

 

The Stagecoach BK3 drove past me again this Monday with GN60FDA 15704 operating it this time, however I have also now observed that the vehicle used appears to run empty to Tilmanstone, which to me seems to be a bit of a waste, considering that I have allways seen the vehicle for the Bayliss operated BK2 running empty through Dover on the way to start their run, and there is also an early morning Stagecoach run back from Tilmanstone that I saw passing my house at 05:50AM last week (while letting a relatives dog out).

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[JFO]

Thanks for the clarifcations Nicholas, and for the record I was not suggesting that the Stagecoach vehicle would sit at Tilmanstone all day, but that in my opinion it seems a bit unproductive for vehicles to run empty.
I have also not noticed route numbers being displayed by Stagecoach with the vehicle destinations usually displaying "Contract Service", or "Stagecoach South East" as displayed by SN66VVT this Tuesday afternoon.

[JFO]

I passed through Eythorne on Saturday 25th, and Stagecoach had MMC SN66VVT 10706 on the BK2 to Shepway: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52172734348/, while "Breeze" MMC YN16WVG 15265 was on the BK1 to Thanet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52172734318/, and both had very full loads, though they didn't turn up the same time, so I couldn't get both in the same shot.

[JFO]

I found out from a freind in the Industry today, that Stagecoach is loosing the Contact for the BK2 to Shepway from the 25th of July 2022 though I don't know what will happen to the BK2 after that, however the friend also showed me that today the 19th, the BK2 was actually Tracking on Bus Times as a Route 76!, with E200 GN13EYP 36879 shown at 15:50PM as waiting at Eythorne to operate the 16:00PM departure, which was then confirmed when the BK2 passed through Dover Pencester at 16:20PM, while another E200 GN13EXO 36857 was noted operating the "at risk" Dover Evening Town Route 61A past my house tonight.
However I have not yet seen any sign of the 3 GO Bus & Coach Enviro's that Ryan said are coming on hire to Stagecoach for "Contract Work", with Thanet, Folkestone, and Eastbourne depot's said to be getting one each.

[JFO]

I passed through Eythorne on Saturday 23rd, and Stagecoach had "Breeze" MMC YN16WVG 15267 on the BK1 to Thanet: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52236852059/, while Ashford based Scania GN09AZR 15476 was on the BK2 to Shepway: https://www.flickr.com/photos/69558134@N05/52237062270/, and once again both had very full loads though I still couldn't get both in the same shot as they didn't turn up the same time.
I also saw that the last Stagecoach operated BK2 from Eythorne on Sunday 24th of July 2022 was being operated by a "Gold16" Scania, however as of Monday 25th of July, Bayliss now appears to be operating the BK2, and their YR61RSO has driven past my as it returns home empty with "Bakkavor Salads" on the destination.