Buses in Stevenage 15/09/2022

Buses in Stevenage at the new bus interchange opposite the rail station, with a few also seen in the Old Town's High Street, on 15th September 2022. Earlier this year Arriva re-introduced the SB prefixes to their network of local routes while the vast majority of their buses in the town now carry the new livery.
Operators and routes:
Arriva Southern Counties: 55, 100, 301, SB1 - SB8, SB11
Central Connect: 386
Centrebus: 80
Bus types:
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC and Enviro300
Dennis Dart SLF / Plaxton Pointer 2 MPD
Optare Solo
VDL Bus SB200 / Wrightbus Pulsar and Pulsar 2
Volvo B7RLE / Wrightbus Eclipse 2
Wrightbus StreetLite DF
/ astock5000

[@lisanne6809]

Great video! Stevenage Interchange looks smart and well laid out. Enjoyed this!

[@astock5000]

Thanks! It is laid out well compared to the old bus station where it could be a lengthy walk between stops around the perimeter. That said the location of the new one means some buses such as northbound 301s don't call there and instead stop outside the rail station on the other side of the dual carriageway.

[@bowlerstuff9589]

It is, they put in PIS displays but they still put in paper timetables for people who find them easier to use. Wayfinding is quite easily since it isn't big. Most places/areas have a specific stop for the routes that go through/serve it.

[@luisstransport]

Great video

[@astock5000]

Thanks!

[@Lucas.Interests]

8:02 That's my Bus!

[@bowlerstuff9589]

Arriva should have bought a 4th E200 off Tower Transit to replace the Dart here.

[@astock5000]

Perhaps, though there are around a dozen other Darts still in use at ASC garages plus three at Luton, so a more substantial order and cascade, or second-hand purchase, would be ideal. However any plans were probably affected first by the collapse and takeover of Wrightbus in 2019 (which saw off the StreetLite order for Hemel among others) along with everything else that's occurred since to affect revenue.
Meanwhile the enthusiast part of me enjoys seeing the Dart's while they're still around!

[@bowlerstuff9589]

@@astock5000 Not to mention the Cadets in High Wycombe being a vital part.

[@GuyArab]

Very enjoyable, but not a ‘decker n sight.

[@astock5000]

That's been the case for many years in Stevenage. Even by 1990 Sovereign, as the local part of London Country had become, had few double decks in their fleet. Not sure off the top of my head whether LDT / The Shires ever allocated any to Stevenage.

[@bowlerstuff9589]

Ware at this point is the only garage that has proper DDs (Since the 500 should really go to Aylesbury 100% at this point)

[@astock5000]

@@bowlerstuff9589 Isn't that (500 entirely to Aylesbury) expected to happen once the route is split at the end of next month? Or will Hemel still have duties?