Nottingham 'Bus War'

[Pe251lz]

Looks like the new 'Y35' will be starting soon; it's only on the er.... 27th Jan 2013?!

Waiting for new buses?

Lol isn't 'Wendy' recruiting very well. Or waiting for NCT to sack some drivers perhaps.
tempos on order even....
Got to say though, finishing points of Derby Rd & Ilkeston Rd is very helpful in understanding what these new routes are all about.....
What happened to 56 days notice? Is this a first in being registered so soon?
One thing, it's given NCT plenty of time to 'prepare'.

 

[WillPS]

Unless they'll cancel these at short notice and register something else, with NCT having upped their game in the wrong place? Just a guess.

 

[MCR247]

Hmm could be? Would be rather dirty though!

Let's just hope no-one from Premiere is reading this

 

[Deerfold]

Unless they'll cancel these at short notice and register something else, with NCT having upped their game in the wrong place? Just a guess.

Don't think the traffic commissioner would be very happy with that - and they can refuse a cancellation...

 

[Ginga]

Trent Barton Bingham Xprss Prices going up 40% from £1.60 to £2.20 single with Mango

Premiere have a "Offer" on and that's Ten Trips for £10 , normal price is £15.

 

[WillPS]

Don't think the traffic commissioner would be very happy with that - and they can refuse a cancellation...

Hmmm. What reasoning can they give for declining a cancellation request with the correct notice period?

Surely YourBus could give an explanation along the lines of "lack of suitable vehicles" given Nottingham's SQBP?

I know of occasions when they've refused to withdraw with shorter notice (The Big Lemon, Bellamy's Routemasters) but not with the correct period.

 

[Deerfold]

Hmmm. What reasoning can they give for declining a cancellation request with the correct notice period?

Surely YourBus could give an explanation along the lines of "lack of suitable vehicles" given Nottingham's SQBP?

I know of occasions when they've refused to withdraw with shorter notice (The Big Lemon, Bellamy's Routemasters) but not with the correct period.

If they thought they were doing it to induce someone else to register the route they could.

If Yourbus had no SQBP-compliant buses but had some on order that'd be fair enough. If they'd made no attempt to obtain any it'd look like they're just playing silly buggers.

 

[WillPS]

If they thought they were doing it to induce someone else to register the route they could.

If Yourbus had no SQBP-compliant buses but had some on order that'd be fair enough. If they'd made no attempt to obtain any it'd look like they're just playing silly buggers.

How can the Traffic Controller force YourBus to operate a service which the local council will not allow?

 

[Deerfold]

How can the Traffic Controller force YourBus to operate a service which the local council will not allow?

I'm sure the Traffic Commissoner would find some way - instructing them to obtain some suitable buses, perhaps.

I do know they don't take kindly to being messed around or bus companies using dirty tactics - even getting fed up of companies constantly retiming to be just in front of the competition (much as customers do). Perhaps they'd impose some other condition.

 

[Heinz57]

Some news on what is happening with the r4 solars. They will be going onto the 21 to replace the existing Tempos. These (or at least some of them) will then be transferd over to the black cat.

Speaking of which, Trent will be absorbing the ex-Felix black cat off Midland General (a loophole in Mr Frosts will there, he said Felix can't be ran by Trent. He said nothing about them becoming someone else [like Midland General] and then being absorbed by Trent that way). The on the hour run will remain as it is; Ilkeston Hospital - Derby. Just that the BC will all be ran as one. And that the trent black cat drivers could do the on the hour run, and the current Felix/Midland General drivers could be doing the half past run (should they choose to transfer to Langley Mill with the Black Cat). Trent did apparently look at running the bus to Mansfeild every 30 minuites, but it wasn't realy viable. This will all probably happen a few months down the line yet. But it will be a sad day indeed when it does.

 

[MCR247]

There are a lot more R4 solars than tempos on the 21 so where are the rest going?

 

[Heinz57]

Not sure to be honest. Maybe they will all go over and increase the buses (although I havn't heard anything about that), so maybe they will be painted red and used as general trent barton spares or just be sold on.

 

[tbone]

There are a lot more R4 solars than tempos on the 21 so where are the rest going?

I'm pretty sure that Alex Hornby did say that there would be two Scania Wrightbus Solar spares in addition to the current ones soon and Trent Barton have expressed a desire to withdrawn all of the excels by the end of the year. The introduction of Versas to what is currently Rainbow 3 will wipe out a fair few, but quite a few will still remain:

234, 235
254, 255, 256, 257
260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266

I had also heard that some were headed for Notts and Derby for the unibus 6, although I think that they are getting former TM Travel Centros for that instead

 

[Heinz57]

I had also heard that some were headed for Notts and Derby for the unibus 6, although I think that they are getting former TM Travel Centros for that instead

The TM Centros have been on there a few times, as have 56 and 08 from Felix. The Olympians have also occasionaly been used.

Unibus did have loads of the Mickleover Excels, and used to use them all the time on the 6, now they seem to be hardly used.

It probably is about time the Palidens were replaced with something else. Don't get me wrong they're decent buses. But they get very cramped. Sometimes unbearable. They also arn't wheelchair friendly.
Plus with the ever modernising and changing face of the University, it would look a lot better if there was something a bit more modern than Palidens doing the Unibus.

 

[tbone]

The TM Centros have been on there a few times, as have 56 and 08 from Felix. The Olympians have also occasionaly been used.

Unibus did have loads of the Mickleover Excels, and used to use them all the time on the 6, now they seem to be hardly used.

It probably is about time the Palidens were replaced with something else. Don't get me wrong they're decent buses. But they get very cramped. Sometimes unbearable. They also arn't wheelchair friendly.
Plus with the ever modernising and changing face of the University, it would look a lot better if there was something a bit more modern than Palidens doing the Unibus.

There were 5 ex Mickleover excels branded for Unibus 6, to fulfil the PVR, one was written off after an accident with an X38 tempo and the others seem to be used all over the place, I think Notts and Derby have now withdrawn all the branded buses for both of their P&R services so they often appear there.

There are currently 4 Centros at N&D, with a further 3 due.

 

[Heinz57]

Went on one of the ex-TM Travel centros yesterday, it was on the BC. What an awful bus! Engine didn't sound too promising and the whole thing just rattled around. Went on the other ex-TM one a few weeks back, on the P+R, that was no better.

Both of the TM Centros are pretty bad. It can't just be the bus in general because the Felix ones were never like that, they in fact were pretty good.

Also, I was told earlyer on that the Leicster Xpress is finishing soon? Is this true? Also, I never actualy used this bus, what vehcles do they use? I was told its a grey coach, so are they using the same vehcle as the Club Class? I suppose its likley because they both only run like twice a day.

Apparently Trent Barton are trying to find a way to utilize the Club Class vehcles more. As they are used only a few times a day, for the rest of the time the buses are sat idle in Broadmarsh, losing money. So they're thinking of ways to use them more. I think a suggested idea is to use them for like specials and excursions.

 

[WillPS]

Leicester Xpress is supposed to be finishing due to low patronage (shouldn't really be a surprise!), but I don't think it has been formally deregistered yet.

It uses (one of?) the Club Class (former Commuter Xpress) coaches yes. I've read somewhere that the Club Class coach does a journey on Ruddington Connection also before heading out to Sandiacre, is this true?

TM Travel are notoriously low quality. You should see the state of some of their stuff - the newer stuff seems to look worse somehow.

Rainbow 3 is set to become The Threes.

 

[MCR247]

Ruddington Connection club class: http://www.flickr.com/photos/acbestphotography/7381706376/

23rd July club class ends

 

[Heinz57]

Is the Club Class service ending too? After they've just re-furbished the coaches?

Yeah the Rainbow 3 is next in line with the overhaul. I have a feeling they might be having Versas, like the Spondon Flyer had.

The new livery on the Ruddington Connection looks nice, when did that receive its overhaul?

 

[MCR247]

No sorry I meant Leicester Express ends 23rd July

Ruddo was 17th June, Allestree on the 24th

 

[bb21]

No sorry I meant Leicester Express ends 23rd July

About time too. Did anyone seriously think that it was going to make money (unless as a spin-off alongside some sidework)?

 

[Heinz57]

Ruddo was 17th June, Allestree on the 24th

Didn't know the Allestree had an overhaul. What have they had? New buses or just a lick of paint?

Got a link to a photo by any chance?

 

[MCR247]

Solo SRs, the same batch as the Ruddington. For pics just search on Flickr as I'm on my phone

 

[WillPS]

Is the Club Class service ending too? After they've just re-furbished the coaches?

Yeah the Rainbow 3 is next in line with the overhaul. I have a feeling they might be having Versas, like the Spondon Flyer had.

Your feeling is correct. I dunno why though tbh - the Excels are pretty well loaded throughout the day.

 

[Heinz57]

That surprised me too. They need Solars or Eclipses on there.

Apparently the drivers on the i4 also don't like the new Tempos, a few of them have even asked for the Solars back.

I very much doubt that will happen now though! They're in Langley Mill and several of them have been stripped and rubbed down ready for re-painting.

I did mention previously that some of them are going onto the 21, but seeing as that only runs once an hour, they won't need that many vehcles on there. Wondering what will happen to the rest of the Solars? Painted red and used as general spares maybe?

 

[tbone]

That surprised me too. They need Solars or Eclipses on there.

Apparently the drivers on the i4 also don't like the new Tempos, a few of them have even asked for the Solars back.

I very much doubt that will happen now though! They're in Langley Mill and several of them have been stripped and rubbed down ready for re-painting.

I did mention previously that some of them are going onto the 21, but seeing as that only runs once an hour, they won't need that many vehcles on there. Wondering what will happen to the rest of the Solars? Painted red and used as general spares maybe?

21 has a PVR of 2

Any spare buses now are likely to go into the new mango livery (as seen on Eclipse 727 or Solo SR 500) or a new trent barton livery, that has yet to appear. It has also been said that any bus in the new style would recieve the same style seats as those on i4/ Ruddington Connection/ Allestree/ Club Class so they are likely to be refurbished aswell.

Rainbow 3 is getting Versas and will be renamed 'The Threes', with destination blinds showing 'A', 'B' or 'C' as opposed to the current '3A'. They go into service on either the 22nd or 23rd July, can't remember exactly which one it is.

 

[WillPS]

Showing just A B or C on the destination board is stupid. Even if you are insistent on having it threeA, the board should say that as A B and C alone mean nothing.

It'd be like The Nines just having .1, .2 and .3!

 

[Heinz57]

Remember this is Trent Barton we're talking about here.

The same company that would rather spend money on hundereds of new ties for its employees rather than spending the money where its actualy needed.

 

[WillPS]

I'm not against the concept of rebranding but just showing a letter seems counter-intuitive.

 

[MCR247]

When are these new ticket machines coming?

And really when you think about it, just showing A B C is just like showing the blue/green circle on the front, or how on indigo just the destination is shown etc