22 December 2009

Stagecoach sell Long Sutton

I've been lead to believe that Stagecoach Cambridgeshire is to sell its small depot at Long Sutton to King's Lynn-based Norfolk Green for an undisclosed sum. The Long Sutton depot was once the headquarters of Cavalier Contracts Ltd, which Stagecoach purchased in the spring of 2008.

Currently, six vehicles are based at Long Sutton - three outstationed from Peterborough and three from Ely. No vehicle is included in the sale, (although some may be loaned for a short time) but all routes and contracts with the exception of Service X9 (March-Ely-Chatteris-Cambridge) will pass to Norfolk Green. Service X9 is to be curtailed, with no operation north of March, i.e. to/from Long Sutton.

The sale is expected to take place from 15 February 2010. Most of the current Long Sutton-based vehicles working Service X9 will be housed at March depot, who will assume Long Sutton's operational responsibility. This could see up to 10 vehicles in the small March depot, which will be quite a squeeze.

Stagecoach in the Fens was the name given to the acquired Cavalier business, following OFT approval, and, following the changes, the Stagecoach in the Fens trading name will have no exclusive operating centre - with Long Sutton closed and March being a Stagecoach in Peterborough outstation, it will be a fleetname in limbo. (CW)