Xelabus Discussion (including Yellow Coaches and Eastleigh/Hampshire operations)

[BenS123]

From tomorrow, Yellow Coaches, part of Xelabus, will begin to run Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council tendered routes 18, 33 and 36.

The timetables are now on https://www.yellowcoaches.co.uk/bus-times but does anyone know what the fares will be?

 

[PTR 444]

Mod note: Two threads were started in a short space of time and have now been merged.

Surprised there isn’t already a thread for this well-established independent operator, but the past month has seen so much happening regarding Xelabus in a short space of time - from losing local authority funded routes in Hampshire to gaining new ones in Bournemouth through winning ex-Yellow Buses tenders. I thought it would be worth starting a dedicated thread for Xelabus as the next few weeks will be a very busy time for this Eastleigh-based operation.

 

[GusB]

After receiving some feedback, I've amended the thread title to cover all Xelabus operations, including the recent Yellow Coaches acquisition. Until recently, Xelabus hasn't really cropped up, however if it becomes apparent that there's enough activity to warrant separate threads we can have a look at this in future.

 

[James H]

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council have shared a picture on Facebook of one of the Xelabus vehicles now operating under the Yellow Coaches brand:

https://www.facebook.com/MyBCPCounc...9d4HCgDGe4UvfU4VGKUFRU71DSZFhvWKfthntWTE254il

It’s the first day today of Yellow Coaches operating BCP Council’s supported 18, 33 & 36 bus routes.
Here's Irene and Simon in the Square today before wagons started to roll.

 

[Western Sunset]

Just been on the Xelabus website, but can't see any mention of their routes/fares for their new operation around Bournemouth. Anyone know where I can find that info please?

 

[sonic2009]

There are some times here on Yellow Coaches - which does have the logo showing part of the Xelagroup.

Bus times — Yellow Coaches

www.yellowcoaches.co.uk

Thank you for choosing to travel with us.

We are delighted to announce that Yellow Coaches will be returning to the local community in Bournemouth from Monday 15th August 2022 with services 18, 33 and 36.

Timetables originally operated by Yellow Buses will be re-instated, providing assurance to all passengers that normal service has returned!

Click on your route number below to find out more information.

Should you have any enquiries, please contact our friendly Customer Services team on 023 8064 4715.

 

[Western Sunset]

Thanks.
Wonder how the average punter is going to know where to look though. And no mention of fares.

 

[baza585]

Just been on the Xelabus website, but can't see any mention of their routes/fares for their new operation around Bournemouth. Anyone know where I can find that info please?

The first place the average punter will look is on the morebus site. As they haven't bothered to tell their customers they have lost the contract, I think your ire should be directed there rather than at Yellow coaches.

Just a thought .......

 

[Lynford1976]

The first place the average punter will look is on the morebus site. As they haven't bothered to tell their customers they have lost the contract, I think your ire should be directed there rather than at Yellow coaches.

Just a thought .......

Have a look here...

Service Updates - morebus

www.morebus.co.uk

 

[Western Sunset]

No ire intended...

Within a two-week period, these routes have been operated by:
1. Yellow Buses
2. One day of no service at all
3. More Bus
4. Xelabus (or is it Yellow Coaches?)

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council say the contract has been awarded to Xelabus. Just trying to clarify things as to where info would be found.

 

[baza585]

Have a look here...

Service Updates - morebus

www.morebus.co.uk

It's well hidden though. Returns a 404 error if you access it with route number 18 or 33 or 36. You have to access with a different route number to see it. A brief entry in the News section is all that was needed. A bit childish not to give the contact details for Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole council too.

Not untypical of this operator sadly. All very happy clappy and self congratulatory press releases.

 

[341o2]

No ire intended...

Within a two-week period, these routes have been operated by:
1. Yellow Buses
2. One day of no service at all
3. More Bus
4. Xelabus (or is it Yellow Coaches?)

BCP Council say the contract has been awarded to Xelabus. Just trying to clarify things as to where info would be found.

And the contract awarded to Xelabus is valid for six months......

 

[Wychwood93]

It's well hidden though. Returns a 404 error if you access it with route number 18 or 33 or 36. You have to access with a different route number to see it. A brief entry in the News section is all that was needed. A bit childish not to give the contact details for BCP council too.

Not untypical of this operator sadly. All very happy clappy and self congratulatory press releases.

''18 33 36 - from Monday 15 August 2022​

15th Aug - 30th Sep

• Affected routes:
• 18
• 33
• 36

18 33 36 - From Monday 15 August 2022 these routes will no longer be operated by morebus, and will no longer part of our network. Please contact BCP for further information.''

The above is what you get from the link given if you scroll down a couple of taps. I would not exactly call it hidden!

 

[James H]

It would be nice if in the interests of recognising that the car is the real competitor, rather than Xelabus, they were gracious enough to give details of the new operator.

 

[Wychwood93]

Working the 33 service today was GX09ZZW - the only hint to not being Yellow buses was the sticker above the door - 'Yellow coaches - part of the Xela group'. Photos taken in Christchurch this morning.

 

[Western Sunset]

Ah, one of the ex-isle of Man buses.

 

[aliceh]

Saw that on the 907 school service this morning too, along with another ex-YB vehicle that was a hastily de-branded route 1 decker with the destinations still on the sidem(can't remember which one, sorry!)

Edit: HF11HCX

 

[Flange Squeal]

The Megabus work taken on at short notice by Yellow Coaches (under Xela ownership) is now being operated by Heathrow-based AirSym.

On the Xelabus Enthusiasts group on Facebook, MD Gareth Blair answered a question saying: “Yellow coaches took it on at short notice when YB went into administration. It was only a temporary measure and we tendered for a new timetable but did not win this based on price.”

This was followed by the Hampshire Bus Blog on Twitter who tweeted Megabus asking who now ran the services, with the response from Megabus reading: “Hi there, our M3 services are operated my AirSym. I hope this helps ^Becky”

 

[fgwrich]

Looks like the first of Xela's brand new E400 MMCs arrived into Eastleigh this week - GB72XEL looking rather smart in Barton Park today!

 

[route101]

Looks like the first of Xela's brand new E400 MMCs arrived into Eastleigh this week - GB72XEL looking rather smart in Barton Park today!

What services are they for?

 

[Flange Squeal]

What services are they for?

It and sister PB72 XEL are for the recently revised X4 between Velmore/Eastleigh and Hedge End.

Timetable at: https://xelabus.info/uploads/22-23/september/X4.pdf

 

[WibbleWobble]

And if you're wondering, the PB and GB in the registrations stand for Phil and Gareth Blair, the father (chairman) and son (MD) behind the business.

 

[Jamesbus80]

SK72CWJ, still with the registration on arrival, is in service in Portsmouth today on the Cruise Ship shuttles. I managed to capture it on camera along Queen St earlier this morning, completely by accident!

 

[Dfatcontroller]

SK72CWJ, still with the registration on arrival, is in service in Portsmouth today on the Cruise Ship shuttles. I managed to capture it on camera along Queen St earlier this morning, completely by accident!

View attachment 120859

Is this a third one then? GB72 & PB72 were on delivery carrying those plates.

 

[Jamesbus80]

Is this a third one then? GB72 & PB72 were on delivery carrying those plates.

As far as I am aware, the two were delivered SK72CWJ AND SK72CWL, with both planned to become GB72XEL and PB72XEL respectively. My source is someone who posted a photo of both of them at Barton Park on the First Hants & Dorset forum (separate to this site) last nigh which both carried the former registrations and claimed the changeover is to be made soon.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

As far as I am aware, the two were delivered SK72CWJ AND SK72CWL, with both planned to become GB72XEL and PB72XEL respectively. My source is someone who posted a photo of both of them at Barton Park on the First Hants & Dorset forum (separate to this site) last nigh which both carried the former registrations and claimed the changeover is to be made soon.

This seems to be similar to the Crosskeys, Folkestone delivery too.

All three (2xXela, 1xCrosskeys) were delivered with the plates that the operator wanted them to carry (I photographed the Crosskeys carrying GN22DXW and a friend photographed the two Xela ones on the M74 on their delivery run with GB72 & PB72). However, once arrived at the operator, the plates have been changed to the SK7Xxxx (SK22 for Crosskeys) and then subsequent "formally" reregistered to their desired plates.

 

[fgwrich]

As far as I am aware, the two were delivered SK72CWJ AND SK72CWL, with both planned to become GB72XEL and PB72XEL respectively. My source is someone who posted a photo of both of them at Barton Park on the First Hants & Dorset forum (separate to this site) last nigh which both carried the former registrations and claimed the changeover is to be made soon.

This seems to be similar to the Crosskeys, Folkestone delivery too.

All three (2xXela, 1xCrosskeys) were delivered with the plates that the operator wanted them to carry (I photographed the Crosskeys carrying GN22DXW and a friend photographed the two Xela ones on the M74 on their delivery run with GB72 & PB72). However, once arrived at the operator, the plates have been changed to the SK7Xxxx (SK22 for Crosskeys) and then subsequent "formally" reregistered to their desired plates.

Indeed, all vehicles are awaiting their V5s to come through when they'll regain the GB & PB registration plates again.

 

[Flange Squeal]

From 3rd January, the Xelabus website states that the X4 will be split, with the Eastleigh to Velmore section becoming a circular X4A Eastleigh - Velmore - Eastleigh. The timetables have not yet been formally published, but looking at BusTimes the X4A looks set to run hourly 0945-1445 with a 1545 terminating at Velmore. Under the current X4 departures from Eastleigh to/from Velmore are 0830, hourly 0940-1640, then 1800. The X21 Science Park service will also be reduced to three trips each way down to two (0645 and 0815 from Southampton returning 1630 and 1800 - currently 0700/0800/0900 returning 1610/1710/1810.

Some changes from 3rd January 2023 – Service X4 and X21​

As a result of continual traffic congestion causing reliability problems for our Crosstown Service X4 we have decided to split the route at Eastleigh Bus Station for our Velmore customers.

A revised timetable for the X4 service will be introduced and a new X4A service will operate from the Bus Station to Velmore Estate. Details of the new timetables will be shown under “Travel Times” shortly.

Also from the same date, to improve reliability, the Service X21 between Southampton City Centre and Chilworth Science Park will operate a reduced timetable in both directions. Timings will also be changed as follows:

0645 and 0815 from Vincents Walk to Science Park

1630 and 1800 from Science Park to Vincents Walk

Source: https://xelabus.info/updates/1031

The Hants Bus Update blog also says that they are cancelling their former Yellow Buses Bournemouth tenders 18, 33 and 36 from 15th February. No official announcement appears to have been publicly made that I can see, but the blog can be found at: https://hantsbus.blog/2022/12/changes-at-xelagroup (unable to copy and paste for quote).

 

[Wychwood93]

From 3rd January, the Xelabus website states that the X4 will be split, with the Eastleigh to Velmore section becoming a circular X4A Eastleigh - Velmore - Eastleigh. The timetables have not yet been formally published, but looking at BusTimes the X4A looks set to run hourly 0945-1445 with a 1545 terminating at Velmore. Under the current X4 departures from Eastleigh to/from Velmore are 0830, hourly 0940-1640, then 1800. The X21 Science Park service will also be reduced to three trips each way down to two (0645 and 0815 from Southampton returning 1630 and 1800 - currently 0700/0800/0900 returning 1610/1710/1810.


Source: https://xelabus.info/updates/1031

The Hants Bus Update blog also says that they are cancelling their former Yellow Buses Bournemouth tenders 18, 33 and 36 from 15th February. No official announcement appears to have been publicly made that I can see, but the blog can be found at: https://hantsbus.blog/2022/12/changes-at-xelagroup (unable to copy and paste for quote).

For those of us who live in the Bournemouth general area the cancelling of the contract for the 18, 33 and 36 will, hopefully, put them back in hands of Morebus - who are joining the £2 single club. Nothing at all against Xelabus, it is still a mystery why BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) council did not let Morebus carry on where they had started.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Given the 18, 33 and 36 were emergency tenders, I imagine these are up for longer-term renewal.

As for the X4, the choice of X4A is puzzling given it will be a separate route and not a variation. Plenty of other numbers available!