Stagecoach Highlands Buses and Coaches : Inverness and Easter Ross
After months of speculation, the Rapson Group sold the Highland Country fleet and network to Stagecoach in May 2008, vehicles transferring into Stagecoach ownership on Saturday May 17th 2008. As one who started out working for the SBG owned Highland Scottish Omnibuses, it has been fascinating observing the Highland Country fleet transform into the Stagecoach fleet of today. Many of the older non standard Highland vehicles have now departed the fleet as new vehicles are brought in and networks rationalised. Early changes included a complete revamp of the Lochaber network and the merging of the Inverness workings of the Highland Country fleet into the Inverness Stagecoach Bluebird depot and allocation.
This collection covers the Inverness and Easter Ross areas from May 17th 2008 through to the present day. Those photographs taken up to Sunday April 24th 2011 are labelled in one series under "Highland Country Stge" whilst those taken from Monday 25th April 2011 are labelled as "Stagecoach Highlands". This does create two sets of numerically ordered images in each gallery. I initially chose this as a a suitable cut off period as the Inverness allocation of the Stagecoach Bluebird fleet was transferred to the Highland Country licence from April 25 2011, effectively creating a more logical geographical break between the Bluebird and Highland companies.
This rationalisation in bringing Inverness under the Highland Country Buses Operator License effectively recreates a situation similar to the former SBG Highland and Northern companies. Bluebird vehicles will still be seen in Inverness, operating through from Elgin and Aberdeen and will remain in a separate "Stagecoach Bluebird Buses and Coaches in Inverness" gallery. Both companies continue to operate as separate entities under their respective Operator Licences but the greater management of the two operations are shared under the Stagecoach North Scotland banner.
Read MoreThis collection covers the Inverness and Easter Ross areas from May 17th 2008 through to the present day. Those photographs taken up to Sunday April 24th 2011 are labelled in one series under "Highland Country Stge" whilst those taken from Monday 25th April 2011 are labelled as "Stagecoach Highlands". This does create two sets of numerically ordered images in each gallery. I initially chose this as a a suitable cut off period as the Inverness allocation of the Stagecoach Bluebird fleet was transferred to the Highland Country licence from April 25 2011, effectively creating a more logical geographical break between the Bluebird and Highland companies.
This rationalisation in bringing Inverness under the Highland Country Buses Operator License effectively recreates a situation similar to the former SBG Highland and Northern companies. Bluebird vehicles will still be seen in Inverness, operating through from Elgin and Aberdeen and will remain in a separate "Stagecoach Bluebird Buses and Coaches in Inverness" gallery. Both companies continue to operate as separate entities under their respective Operator Licences but the greater management of the two operations are shared under the Stagecoach North Scotland banner.
