Colin Sellers writes:

Three weeks ago we travelled to Matlock on a soon to be withdrawn Olympian. We returned to Chesterfield on another, one hour later.

Last Friday 24th September 2010. We tried the X17 first to Sheffield, then a full run through to Matlock on the Scania Enviro 400s that are now operating the route.

We boarded the vehicle at the Chesterfield coach station for its run to Sheffield. We left on time, arrived at Cavendish Street, where we picked up more passengers, next stop Whittington Moor.

We came off Whittington Moor roundabout onto the bypass with power, but as I’ve been on a few of these vehicles, I wasn’t surprised when it started to lose power as the gradient increased. It appeared quite sluggish compared to other vehicles that have been used on the route. We arrived at Sheffield at 25mins passed. The bus disgorged its passengers before loading a fresh lot and leaving for Chesterfield. We intended to catch the next bus through to Matlock due at out 55, so didn’t wander far from the bus station. The bus arrived, loaded and departed within the window, we set off on the journey to Matlock.

We hit traffic at Woodseats and progress was slow. We were still on the bypass at 30, the time that we should have been leaving Chesterfield, Whittington Moor at 34, passing Stonegravels depot at 37 and arrived at the coach station at 46 to a crowd of passengers waiting for the bus. By the time we left, we were nearly 20 mins late. Kelstedge was reached at 04 and The Duke of Wellington at 10. Arriving and leaving the Matlock bus station at 20 past just within the operating window.

This gave us an hour in Matlock, a visit to the station and a cup of coffee. We waited for the bus back to Chesterfield this left about 8 mins late and we arrived back into Chesterfield on time.

A satisfying ride out, but the new Scanias seem disappointing compared to the previous vehicles I had ridden. This is a pity after Stagecoach has invested nearly £2 million in the ten vehicles.

Our photographs below include buses (and a couple of trains) we came ascross on our journeys.

Colin Sellers