Go South Coast fleets (More, Bluestar, Southern Vectis etc)

[E-Rail]

I assume.the 035 diagrams that Yellow Buses operate are not going to be long for this world either?

Possibly not but there was a rumour last month that NX had tabled an offer for Yellow Buses. I would guess if Yellows do keep the 035, then that rumour might have some truth. Certainly NX have stated that they will be aiming for Uni contracts in future through their new NX Transport Solutions company and Bournemouth Uni would be a potentially lucrative contract to win if they were to be in the area. I'm not convinced NX are a potential buyer of Yellows though, personally I think it's only a matter of time before Stagecoach in Bournemouth arrives.

 

[ddhecks]

It appears Yellows have removed NX branding from at least 3 of their 2-axle Levantes.

 

[cnjb8]

Possibly not but there was a rumour last month that NX had tabled an offer for Yellow Buses. I would guess if Yellows do keep the 035, then that rumour might have some truth. Certainly NX have stated that they will be aiming for Uni contracts in future through their new NX Transport Solutions company and Bournemouth Uni would be a potentially lucrative contract to win if they were to be in the area. I'm not convinced NX are a potential buyer of Yellows though, personally I think it's only a matter of time before Stagecoach in Bournemouth arrives.

Can we all remember that due to a certain pandemic, money isn't flying about. I very much doubt we'll see any change to Yellow Buses, apart from maybe losing the National Express contracts

 

[carlberry]

It appears Yellows have removed NX branding from at least 3 of their 2-axle Levantes.

NX will have told their contractors what their longer term plans are so it's possible that they have more spare. Three fully compliant coaches would be useful for hire instead of just standing around.

Can we all remember that due to a certain pandemic, money isn't flying about. I very much doubt we'll see any change to Yellow Buses, apart from maybe losing the National Express contracts

As Yellow Buses were recently sold it's quite possible the new owners might not want to ride out the changes in the way the bigger groups plan to so a sale might be attractive.

 

[M803UYA]

There is also the possibility that the coaches have gone over 7 years, so can't be used on NX. There were only two '13' plate coaches however and these have found new owners.

NX will have told their contractors what their longer term plans are so it's possible that they have more spare. Three fully compliant coaches would be useful for hire instead of just standing around.

 

[upasalmon]

Why is Swindon Bus under the management of South Coast? Logically it should be part of the Oxford group, as Swindon is nowhere near the coast. Brighton & Hove should be part of the South Coast group, although that would mean Crawley Metrobus would have to be attached to Go Ahead London.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Why is Swindon Bus under the management of South Coast? Logically it should be part of the Oxford group, as Swindon is nowhere near the coast. Brighton & Hove should be part of the South Coast group, although that would mean Crawley Metrobus would have to be attached to Go Ahead London.

It's possibly because Wilts and Dorset (Salisbury Reds and More) is part of South Coast. There's more linkage and overlap between Swindon Bus and Salisbury Reds in areas like Marlborough etc (though it's less since a few tender losses). I don't think there's any connection between SBC and OBC/Thames Travel; think the closest they get is an hourly Wantage to Faringdon service.

 

[carlberry]

Why is Swindon Bus under the management of South Coast? Logically it should be part of the Oxford group, as Swindon is nowhere near the coast. Brighton & Hove should be part of the South Coast group, although that would mean Crawley Metrobus would have to be attached to Go Ahead London.

I suspect the 'South Coast' is just a name, not a geographic requirement otherwise Brighton and Plymouth would have to be part of it. South Coast already ran into Swindon before the takeover so it appears it was seen as a better fit. The odd thing is that the 'South Coast' management have the obsession with having one operating license across a vast area whereas other Go Ahead companies don't; the Oxford ops still have three separate licenses for example.

 

[Megafuss]

I suspect the 'South Coast' is just a name, not a geographic requirement otherwise Brighton and Plymouth would have to be part of it. South Coast already ran into Swindon before the takeover so it appears it was seen as a better fit. The odd thing is that the 'South Coast' management have the obsession with having one operating license across a vast area whereas other Go Ahead companies don't; the Oxford ops still have three separate licenses for example.

It keeps things simple though and It comes in handy when you need to swap vehicles around between operating bases. The obvious risk is if the TC decides to take an interest in malfeasance than the whole network is at risk. But GSC seem a very well run outfit, so they'll be confident they can manage that risk.

 

[cnjb8]

Ensign have purchased a batch of the GSC Caetano Levantes from 2016. A few have been sold already to South West Coaches.

 

[Surreyman]

Ensign have purchased a batch of the GSC Caetano Levantes from 2016. A few have been sold already to South West Coaches.

Would appear to be all of them, so presumably GSC no longer working N/express from Eastleigh or Bournemouth?
I assume that the Salisbury element is still operating?

 

[carlberry]

Go appear to be expanding again into Wiltshire (very slightly!). They now run a Saturday evening journey in one direction on the 33 Devizes - Chippenham. It's given as a 'Swindon bus company' route however the rest of the Devizes routes are covered by 'Salisbury Reds' vehicles.

https://bustimes.org/services/33-devizes-chippenham-2

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Go appear to be expanding again into Wiltshire (very slightly!). They now run a Saturday evening journey in one direction on the 33 Devizes - Chippenham. It's given as a 'Swindon bus company' route however the rest of the Devizes routes are covered by 'Salisbury Reds' vehicles.

https://bustimes.org/services/33-devizes-chippenham-2

I think they've done that for a little while http://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetables/5f52573f306ca.pdf

It runs off the 1710 42 from Marlborough and so rather than running to Calne via Cherhill, it goes via Devizes and Bromham!!

 

[carlberry]

I think they've done that for a little while http://www.faresaver.co.uk/timetables/5f52573f306ca.pdf

It runs off the 1710 42 from Marlborough and so rather than running to Calne via Cherhill, it goes via Devizes and Bromham!!

Ah! I only noticed it because they put in variation for it, however (as you say) they do appear to have been doing it since 2017!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ah! I only noticed it because they put in variation for it, however (as you say) they do appear to have been doing it since 2017!

I think it was one of those contracts that came about in the wake of APL Travel going under and so it went to Thamesdown before they sold to Go Ahead.

It's one of those anomalies that are fairly common in Wiltshire tenders, such as the 77/85 being Faresaver but with odd journeys from Stagecoach and Frome Bus.

 

[Gc1986]

Swindon buses have transfered Enviro 200 minis 108 and 109 to Salisbury Reds. This week the 06 plate Scanias are back in service. 509 still in Thamesdown livery came out of hibernation.

 

[Eyersey468]

Would appear to be all of them, so presumably GSC no longer working N/express from Eastleigh or Bournemouth?
I assume that the Salisbury element is still operating?

I believe NX are taking the runs in house

 

[Surreyman]

I believe NX are taking the runs in house

Run by Lucketts (and subsidiaries)

 

[M803UYA]

It's possibly because Wilts and Dorset (Salisbury Reds and More) is part of South Coast. There's more linkage and overlap between Swindon Bus and Salisbury Reds in areas like Marlborough etc (though it's less since a few tender losses). I don't think there's any connection between SBC and OBC/Thames Travel; think the closest they get is an hourly Wantage to Faringdon service.

It was my understanding at the time of the takeover (I was employed by the competition in a commercial role!) that Go South Coast (GSC) needed a substantial engineering facility which they couldn't have in Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton or Salisbury. Not just because of the lack of space, but also the supply of qualified engineering staff in an area where there are several train depots and hauliers offering much better terms and conditions. There are after all only so many people you can poach from the competition!

Swindon isn't considered to be too far from Salisbury and had the spare capacity to take on other jobs as the site (and it's facilities) was much larger than it needed to be for the operations running from there. Even after some people took voluntary redundancy post the takeover the site was able to take on a lot more work from other GSC depots.

Given the proximity of Oxford to Swindon it would be been more sensible for the operation to have fallen under them but GSC needed that engineering base.

 

[Gc1986]

A new arrival in Swindon: HF65 CXG, repainted into Swindon Bus livery from Blue star.