Stagecoach Goldline
Encyclopedia
Stagecoach Gold, previously, Goldline is an experimental brand used by various Stagecoach Group
bus subsidiaries in the United Kingdom
. It was started in Perth
and Warwick
in November 2007. It was extended to Aldershot
from February 2009, and in September 2009 Stagecoach West
started a new Stagecoach Gold 94 service between Cheltenham
and Gloucester
replacing the existing 94 service. The Cheltenham and Gloucester route is however branded as Stagecoach Gold, not Goldline. This marked a change in the branding, with all past services being branded as "Goldline" eventually being brought into line with the new "Stagecoach Gold" name. In 2010, the Stagecoach Gold brand was extended to services run by Scottish Citylink
, where Stagecoach are the minority shareholders, where two services were designated as Citylink Gold, those between the cities of Glasgow
and Aberdeen
or Inverness
.
Goldline routes have a luxury specification. Buses have hand stitched leather seats, metallic paint, and special flooring. Drivers wear special uniform and there is a Goldline customer charter.
The service was expanded to Aldershot in early 2009, and Oxford and Cheltenham to Gloucester in September 2009, and is due to be introduced into other areas. The September 2009 extension to Cheltenham and Gloucester on route 94 marked the change of the brand name from "Goldline" to "Stagecoach Gold", as well as the introduction of a new livery with brighter swoops added, as opposed to the previous gold and blue only livery. The reason behind the name change was that Translink
had the rights to the "Goldline" name, using it on their Ulsterbus coach services, and Stagecoach had to pay Translink to pass every use of the name by themselves.
. Perth is where the Stagecoach Group
is based.
It uses a fleet of eight Alexander Dennis Enviro300s, which were the first examples to be built to the new style. The scheme operates on Perth city route 7, which was in its sixth year of growth following the kick-start funding, with growth continuing at 2% a year.
Route 7 runs between Hillend, Perth city centre and Scone, and runs every 10 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytime, and up to every 30 minutes in the evening and Sundays.
The service uses a fleet of 11 Optare Solo
s, on route 66 which was renumbered G1 following the introduction of Goldline. The service is run by Stagecoach in Warwickshire
.
The route operates at a frequency of 8–10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every half hour on evenings and Sundays.
- between Aldershot
, Farnborough
and Camberley
- was upgraded to Goldline status from 8 February 2009. It is on Stagecoach in Hants & Surrey
's route 1 which runs like the Perth route every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays.
.
The service uses a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400s branded in Stagecoach Gold livery with the leather seats, suited drivers and other features which appear on all the previously introduced goldline services. The service is run by Stagecoach in Cheltenham
.
The route operates every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and 30 minutes in the evening. Services operate every 20 minutes on Sundays.
services, the G9 between Glasgow
and Aberdeen
and the G10 between Glasgow
and Inverness
. Service specifications are similar to that of the bus services branded as Goldline or Stagecoach Gold, but extra services include free wi-fi and free tea and coffee served all day.
.
Some of the buses were used prior to the Gold launch for passengers at the Cheltenham
racecourse. The buses for this have also been used at the 2010 British Grand Prix
event at Silverstone.
These buses have a mix of VX59*** and OU10*** registrations
The X4 gold edition also includes free WiFi for it's customers, the route covers Peterborough, Oundle, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and Milton Keynes.
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
bus subsidiaries in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was started in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
and Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
in November 2007. It was extended to Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
from February 2009, and in September 2009 Stagecoach West
Stagecoach West
Stagecoach West is an operating division of the Stagecoach Group. Based in Gloucester, it operates bus services in Cheltenham , Gloucester , the Cotswolds , the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and Swindon .- History :Stagecoach West...
started a new Stagecoach Gold 94 service between Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
and Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
replacing the existing 94 service. The Cheltenham and Gloucester route is however branded as Stagecoach Gold, not Goldline. This marked a change in the branding, with all past services being branded as "Goldline" eventually being brought into line with the new "Stagecoach Gold" name. In 2010, the Stagecoach Gold brand was extended to services run by Scottish Citylink
Scottish Citylink
Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd is a long distance express coach operator in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland . The company was formed as a subsidiary of Scottish Transport Group in June 1985...
, where Stagecoach are the minority shareholders, where two services were designated as Citylink Gold, those between the cities of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
or Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
.
History
The Goldline brand was introduced to try and win more middle class motorists to bus services. It was initially trialled in two areas, Perth and Warwick, both on routes which has received kick-start funding from the government to help establish the routes. Perth's route 7 used £300,000 of its own money to demonstrate the idea to politicians.Goldline routes have a luxury specification. Buses have hand stitched leather seats, metallic paint, and special flooring. Drivers wear special uniform and there is a Goldline customer charter.
The service was expanded to Aldershot in early 2009, and Oxford and Cheltenham to Gloucester in September 2009, and is due to be introduced into other areas. The September 2009 extension to Cheltenham and Gloucester on route 94 marked the change of the brand name from "Goldline" to "Stagecoach Gold", as well as the introduction of a new livery with brighter swoops added, as opposed to the previous gold and blue only livery. The reason behind the name change was that Translink
Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company , a public corporation in Northern Ireland which provides the public transport in the region. NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metro are all part of Translink....
had the rights to the "Goldline" name, using it on their Ulsterbus coach services, and Stagecoach had to pay Translink to pass every use of the name by themselves.
Perth
The service in Perth started on 5 November 2007, and is run by Stagecoach East ScotlandStagecoach East Scotland
Stagecoach East Scotland is an operating region of Stagecoach UK Bus, with its regional base in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland and including the legal companies Bluebird Buses Ltd, Fife Scottish Buses Ltd,Stagecoach Ltd, Strathtay Scottish Omnibuses Ltd, JW Coaches Ltd and Rennie's of Dunfermline Ltd.-...
. Perth is where the Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
is based.
It uses a fleet of eight Alexander Dennis Enviro300s, which were the first examples to be built to the new style. The scheme operates on Perth city route 7, which was in its sixth year of growth following the kick-start funding, with growth continuing at 2% a year.
Route 7 runs between Hillend, Perth city centre and Scone, and runs every 10 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytime, and up to every 30 minutes in the evening and Sundays.
Warwick
In Warwick, the service started on 12 November 2007, immediately after the buses were launched by Stagecoach Group chief executive Brian Souter.The service uses a fleet of 11 Optare Solo
Optare Solo
The Optare Solo is a low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare in Leeds, UK since 1997. The name "Solo" is a play on the low-floor status of the bus, the manufacturer believing its vehicle having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm with kneeling suspension.The innovative...
s, on route 66 which was renumbered G1 following the introduction of Goldline. The service is run by Stagecoach in Warwickshire
Stagecoach in Warwickshire
Stagecoach in Warwickshire is the Stagecoach Group bus operator in and around the county of Warwickshire, England. While Stagecoach in Warwickshire is the brand image of the company, its legal name is Midland Red Ltd...
.
The route operates at a frequency of 8–10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every half hour on evenings and Sundays.
Aldershot
The Aldershot service in the Blackwater ValleyRiver Blackwater (River Loddon)
The River Blackwater is a tributary of the River Loddon in England and, indirectly, of the River Thames. It rises at Rowhill on the outskirts of Aldershot between Aldershot in Hampshire and Farnham in Surrey and runs northwards to join the Loddon near the village of Swallowfield in Berkshire...
- between Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
and Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
- was upgraded to Goldline status from 8 February 2009. It is on Stagecoach in Hants & Surrey
Stagecoach in Hants & Surrey
Stagecoach in Hants & Surrey is an operating sub-division Stagecoach South, which itself is part of the Stagecoach Group.Together, Stagecoach South carries 29.5 million passengers a year with a fleet of 460 buses and 950 staff.-Services:...
's route 1 which runs like the Perth route every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays.
Cheltenham and Gloucester
Stagecoach Gold started operations on the 94 route between Cheltenham, Churchdown and Gloucester on 12th September 2009. The new service and buses were launched at Cheltenham RacecourseCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
.
The service uses a fleet of Alexander Dennis Enviro400s branded in Stagecoach Gold livery with the leather seats, suited drivers and other features which appear on all the previously introduced goldline services. The service is run by Stagecoach in Cheltenham
Stagecoach in Cheltenham
Stagecoach in Cheltenham is a subsidiary of Stagecoach West, itself a sector of the larger Stagecoach Group, that operates buses in Cheltenham.- History :...
.
The route operates every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and 30 minutes in the evening. Services operate every 20 minutes on Sundays.
Scottish Citylink
The Citylink Gold brand is used for two Scottish CitylinkScottish Citylink
Scottish Citylink Coaches Ltd is a long distance express coach operator in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland . The company was formed as a subsidiary of Scottish Transport Group in June 1985...
services, the G9 between Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and the G10 between Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. Service specifications are similar to that of the bus services branded as Goldline or Stagecoach Gold, but extra services include free wi-fi and free tea and coffee served all day.
Oxford
In 2010, Stagecoach Oxfordshire introduced the Stagecoach Gold brand on its S1/S2 services running from Witney to Central OxfordOxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
.
Some of the buses were used prior to the Gold launch for passengers at the Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
racecourse. The buses for this have also been used at the 2010 British Grand Prix
2010 British Grand Prix
The 2010 British Grand Prix was the tenth race of the 2010 Formula One season. On 7 December 2009, it was confirmed that the race would take place at Silverstone for the next seventeen years after the failure of Donington Park to raise the necessary funds to hold the race...
event at Silverstone.
These buses have a mix of VX59*** and OU10*** registrations
X4 Route (Peterborough, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes
In November 2011 the Stagecoach gold expanded to the X4 route which covers Northamptonshire, Peterborough and Milton KeynesThe X4 gold edition also includes free WiFi for it's customers, the route covers Peterborough, Oundle, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and Milton Keynes.