Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[TheGrandWazoo]

This maybe of interest

Is that a substantiated comment?

 

[TEW]

I think its most likely someone they've upset, possibly an ex-employee even.

From what I heard that was a line of investigation after the last fire, but I don't know if it actually led to any of the arrests.

 

[Qwerty133]

Is that a substantiated comment?

it's a comment on a news article, not a new account so can probably rule out a troll, but no sources to check with so is unverifiable.

 

[Goldfish62]

While most certainly not wishing to judge these allegations as we have no way of knowing if they have the slightest substance, or are purely malicious, the whole Cornwall supported bus network is currently being retendered. Thus if WGL have been banned from tendering they will lose all their contracted work. If they retain/win any work then obviously they haven't been banned from tendering.

 

[SWTH]

Unfortunately I have no official information on that rumour. As I am a mere steering wheel attendant I won't find out officially whether WGL have won or lost anything until a day or two before the timetables/routes are amended.

I'm told that the tender results were announced last week sometime by Cornwall Council, does anyone happen to know where I could find such information?

 

[richw]

This maybe of interest

would the 30p price rise not have some involvement in this. Since First took over every time I've used it, its been full and standing, which I don't recall being the case under western greyhound. This is probably related to the fact Truro city centre has not been accessible by car since early September due to major roadworks. I imagine this has contributed to skewing First's income positively. The buses on loan from Reading have a larger capacity than the Citaros as well making the full and standing show larger passenger numbers. On some occassions I've seen drivers turn away passengers to wait for the next service. I never saw this happen once under WG, other than late night shopping days.

I therefore conclude from my observations First genuinely have higher passenger numbers.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Unfortunately I have no official information on that rumour. As I am a mere steering wheel attendant I won't find out officially whether WGL have won or lost anything until a day or two before the timetables/routes are amended.

I'm told that the tender results were announced last week sometime by Cornwall Council, does anyone happen to know where I could find such information?

Might be wise to separate the two things out?

Firstly, the fire etc. All this talk about insurance jobs and suspected P&R irregularities. There's some speculation, granted, but people should be circumspect about using words and repeating unfounded comments from websites.

Secondly, tender losses/results. If the council have excluded any business, you can ask under a freedom of information request. However, if a tender process is ongoing (e.g. the results are in, awards made but contracts have yet to be signed), then they can legitimately claim that they are in the middle of confidential negotiations and decline to answer just yet.

 

[swifty]

I'm told that the tender results were announced last week sometime by Cornwall Council, does anyone happen to know where I could find such information?

I believe they went live on Friday and the bid deadline is on March the 3rd?

 

[SWTH]

It has to be said that the most efficient machine in the transport industry is the rumour mill. I've actually come to the conclusion that its a perpetual motion machine - it requires no actual input, yet produces colossal amounts of energy transmitted as sound waves and light energy.

I was under the impression that the tenders were due to start at the beginning of April, if they aren't announced until March that doesn't leave much time (unless VOSA suddenly experience a rush of short notice registrations) to register and organise.

 

[richw]

It has to be said that the most efficient machine in the transport industry is the rumour mill. I've actually come to the conclusion that its a perpetual motion machine - it requires no actual input, yet produces colossal amounts of energy transmitted as sound waves and light energy.

I was under the impression that the tenders were due to start at the beginning of April, if they aren't announced until March that doesn't leave much time (unless VOSA suddenly experience a rush of short notice registrations) to register and organise.

Cornwall Council says "April/May 2014" for the new tenders to begin. They have a £5m budget for subsidiaries for the next tax year.

 

[swifty]

The deadline for bids is 12:00 on 03/03/2014, with expected start dates in April or May. There are 74 routes across Cornwall up for tender "with an estimated cost of GBP 4.1m per annum", for a period of 4 years with an optional year long extension.

 

[SWTH]

Thank you for clearing that up.

 

[matt_splat]

is there any information online what's up for tender and what the plans are for any possible changes to routes?

 

[TEW]

AFAIK it's all of the Cornwall Council tendered routes that are up again. They were all let in April 2012, and I believe it was 2 years.

 

[overthewater]

Why not Phone Cornwall council transport department?

 

[Volvodart]

http://www.publictenders.net/node/2450988 will bring up a LONG list of items included.

 

[TEW]

That looks like all the Council tendered local bus routes to me.

 

[SWTH]

To correct my previous report, 522 is alive and well.

Three MPD's have arrived over the weekend at Summercourt and have been allocated fleet numbers as follows:
NA52 AWJ - 203
NA52 AWP - 208
KN52 NFR - 215

 

[richw]

To correct my previous report, 522 is alive and well.

Three MPD's have arrived over the weekend at Summercourt and have been allocated fleet numbers as follows:
NA52 AWJ - 203
NA52 AWP - 208
KN52 NFR - 215

Are they the only MPDs in the fleet?

 

[SWTH]

Yes. Varios 500, 528 & 574 are all due for withdrawl - they should have gone this weekend but have been in use due to the Liskeard fire.

 

[Goldfish62]

http://www.publictenders.net/node/2450988 will bring up a LONG list of items included.

The interesting thing is that it includes some stuff which was withdrawn with the cuts in November, eg lot 319 is for Service 7 Land's End to Gurnard's Head. There's another one for 5/6 winter Sunday evenings.

 

[matt_splat]

a lot of the north cornwall network is up for grabs could be a way if stagecoach wanted to move further south from Bude could be a bit more work for them to grab.

I also notice the bude are routes that were changed last year are back up for tender.

 

[richw]

The interesting thing is that it includes some stuff which was withdrawn with the cuts in November, eg lot 319 is for Service 7 Land's End to Gurnard's Head. There's another one for 5/6 winter Sunday evenings.

The cuts were made by the bus companies following the temporary withdrawal of funding, the subsidies were cut for the period November to March. I understand they were not permanent subsidy cuts. Many of the cuts are receiving lower subsidy with small independent minibus companies running the services since november

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

a lot of the north cornwall network is up for grabs could be a way if stagecoach wanted to move further south from Bude could be a bit more work for them to grab.

I also notice the bude are routes that were changed last year are back up for tender.

Can't see Stagecoach heading much further west, as that would bring them in direct competition with Western Greyhound and they've generally enjoyed quite cordial relations.

 

[SWTH]

A further six MPD's have arrived, making a total of 5 ex-Go NE and 4 ex-Abellio.

 

[winston270twm]

A further six MPD's have arrived, making a total of 5 ex-Go NE and 4 ex-Abellio.

Here's the full list of purchases as posted by Ross from Ensign:

Darts KN52NFR / NFP / NFU YT51DZZ NA52AWV / AWN / AWO / AWJ / AWP : Western Greyhound, Newquay.

 

[Goldfish62]

The cuts were made by the bus companies following the temporary withdrawal of funding, the subsidies were cut for the period November to March. I understand they were not permanent subsidy cuts. Many of the cuts are receiving lower subsidy with small independent minibus companies running the services since november

It was actually the early termination of a number of contracts, with the threat by the council of more cuts to come in April. WGL and FDC then both took the opportunity to also trim their commercial networks.

"Temporary" withdrawal of funding was never mentioned at the time, hence the welcome news that some of the cut services are to be reinstated in one form or another.

 

[richw]

"Temporary" withdrawal of funding was never mentioned at the time, hence the welcome news that some of the cut services are to be reinstated in one form or another.

At the time it was mentioned the funding was ceased for the remainder of the tax year on the Cornwall Council website.
Despite this the Council managed to subsidise small independent companies taking on many of the routes. These independents most surprisingly were able to make the service better value for money, one would think that a large operator should be able to provide better value as they can operate in bulk as such.

 

[83G/84D]

Anyone seen any of the recently acquired Dart's in use?

 

[SWTH]

KN52 NPR & YT51 DZZ are both in use.