Hulley's of Baslow

[Trainman40083]

Didn't think there were Versas on Skyline? I thought it was a mixture of older Citaros and newer Enviro 200s

765 and 766 are in Skyline livery. The two of them have been off for work. Collision damage, engine repairs.

 

[SSmith2009]

The Streetlite that Hulleys had on loan was working the Sheffield connect SC1 service today

on loan from BusLink of Burton.

 

[IamTrainsYT]

Hulley's 172 journeys look like a nightmare to run standalone. At Castleton after the 0736 start, the other journeys have a 7 min stand time, which is fine. The 1448 does only go to Hathersage and then 1516 dead to depot (early finish?).
At Sheffield the 0846 is covered by the 0840 arrival, but the 10.36 has no arrival so dead from depot. The 1101 and 1301 form the 1136 and 1336 which is fine. The 1401 arrival has to wait until 15:36 departure and the 1816 arrival is empty to depot. That makes a lot of dead milage and hanging around.

172/272 interworked, in all requiring 3 buses.
One shift did 172s all day
One shift did 272s all day
The final shift did the following:
172 Matlock - Lady Manners
Dead Lady Manners - Sheffield
272 Sheffield - Castleton
272 Castleton - Sheffield
272 Sheffield - Castleton
272 Castleton - Hathersage
Dead Hathersage - Lady Manners
172 Lady Manners - Matlock
172 Matlock - Bakewell

 

[Teapot42]

I saw both EvoRas and Enviro 400s on it, but I'd imagine Enviro 200s also worked it

From what I can tell they tried to put an E400 or Evora out on it, however I've even seen a Solo on it before.

Even First don't always have Deckers on, I've seen the odd Streetlite work it.

There was a photo posted today showing a Citaro running the High Peak service. Have any of these been retrofitted to Euro VI, or will High Peak join the long list of operators contributing to the Sheffield Council Christmas Party fund?

 

[Trainman40083]

From what I can tell they tried to put an E400 or Evora out on it, however I've even seen a Solo on it before.

Even First don't always have Deckers on, I've seen the odd Streetlite work it.

There was a photo posted today showing a Citaro running the High Peak service. Have any of these been retrofitted to Euro VI, or will High Peak join the long list of operators contributing to the Sheffield Council Christmas Party fund?

Re the Citaro........ Yep, they contribute to Sheffield Christmas Party fund.

 

[florence]

The Citaros are all retrofitted to Euro 6, hence why they're being used on the 272.

The eVoras are no longer coming to High Peak.

 

[zkyx02]

Didn't think there were Versas on Skyline? I thought it was a mixture of older Citaros and newer Enviro 200s

2 67 plate versas that were brought from Marshall’s, both have had a few serious collisions & come back each time (much to drivers disappointment) both are earmarked for D&G

 

[mayneway]

2 67 plate versas that were brought from Marshall’s, both have had a few serious collisions & come back each time (much to drivers disappointment) both are earmarked for D&G

Not surprised - Versa’s are the worst buses ever designed and built.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Apologies if this has already been posted and I've missed it among the rest of this busy thread, but South Pennine Community Transport have posted on Facebook that they will be running a Sunday service on the 257 from this coming weekend. It looks to be an hourly two vehicle and driver operation between Sheffield and Bamford Station with a gap for lunch breaks. Departures from Sheffield 0945-1245 & 1445-1645, and from Bamford 1050-1350 & 1530-1730. Their post reads as follows:

NEWS - From Sunday 30th March 2025 (THIS SUNDAY!!) - We will take over Service 257 Sheffield - Bamford on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays during British Summer Time (BST). This service was previously operated by Hulleys of Baslow.

The service will operate to a slightly amended timetable. Adult fares are capped at £3, concessionary passes are valid along with Travelmaster and Derbyshire Wayfarer. South Yorkshire child fares and Bline child are fully available too.

257 connects with Trains at Bamford Railway Station.

Our team is really looking forward to welcoming new and old travellers aboard for fantastic trips out and about in some amazing scenery. We'd love to welcome you aboard!

*Please note that Monday to Saturday 257 journeys are, and will continue to be, operated by Andrews of Tideswell.*

Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1067100928770437&id=100064116188410

 

[Simon75]

As part of the Centrebus group they could call on D&G, Chaserider or Centrebus itself if necessary.

Or Wellglade, who owns ther other 50%

 

[gazmark]

Re the Citaro........ Yep, they contribute to Sheffield Christmas Party fund.

Ask how much Bsip allegedly the council take out for bus and traffic priorities which never turn up

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

Apologies if this has already been posted and I've missed it among the rest of this busy thread, but South Pennine Community Transport have posted on Facebook that they will be running a Sunday service on the 257 from this coming weekend. It looks to be an hourly two vehicle and driver operation between Sheffield and Bamford Station with a gap for lunch breaks. Departures from Sheffield 0945-1245 & 1445-1645, and from Bamford 1050-1350 & 1530-1730. Their post reads as follows:


Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1067100928770437&id=100064116188410

No, it hasn't been posted on here previously but And More Central (Alex Clough) has announced it on YouTube ... I have to admit I didn't see them coming!!

 

[simonk8270]

Great news. Just purely out of interest, does anyone know why it doesn't do the full route on a Sunday yo Bakewell? Financially not viable? Would have thought it would have thought there would have been demand for it?

 

[stra200]

Shame it still leaves Glossop and New Mills without a Sunday service

 

[py_megapixel]

Shame it still leaves Glossop and New Mills without a Sunday service

Both do still have trains and Transport for Greater Manchester buses, so they're not totally cut off. Albeit those are much more useful (or in Glossop's case, only useful) if you're going into GM rather than away from it

 

[richard13]

257 Sunday - It is the same service as Hulley's was providing except 10 mins earlier and an hours gap at lunch time.
Only going to Bamford station means one bus can do a 2 hourly service. So 2 buses gives the actual hourly service.

============

Roger French visited the area on Thursday and has published details on his blog post for today.

busandtrainuser.com
(too big to post here)

Life after Hulleys​

 

[SLC001]

257 Sunday - It is the same service as Hulley's was providing except 10 mins earlier and an hours gap at lunch time.
Only going to Bamford station means one bus can do a 2 hourly service. So 2 buses gives the actual hourly service.

============

Roger French visited the area on Thursday and has published details on his blog post for today.

busandtrainuser.com
(too big to post here)

I have read that blog and wonder if his assertion that employees fearing that they may not get paid took the buses to Richards site is true?
As an aside, on Facebook I recall a picture of a youthful bus that had a problem with its radiator. Getting it repaired would take weeks if you could find someone to do it and a new one was terribly expensive and again on long delivery time. One comment was that to recover just the cost of a new radiator would require several thousand (3,000 IIRC) passengers such is the reimbursement rate for concessionary fares!
Is it any wonder that small independents struggle?

 

[Teapot42]

The Citaros are all retrofitted to Euro 6, hence why they're being used on the 272.

Thanks for confirming - the official CAZ checker has them down as non-compliant.

Out of interest, which other CAZ affects High Peak, or were they just converted in case?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2025 ==

Great news. Just purely out of interest, does anyone know why it doesn't do the full route on a Sunday yo Bakewell? Financially not viable? Would have thought it would have thought there would have been demand for it?

From memory it's a long time since the 257 did a full Sunday route. Probably the closest was a couple of years back when the summer variation went up via Ringinglow and Burbage, although when I did that they actually skipped this section.

That gap is a bit of a pain if you are coming from Chesterfield as well, as there is no easy way out to Castleton other than going via Sheffield. Or taking out a second mortgage to use the Peak Sightseer.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2025 ==

Shame it still leaves Glossop and New Mills without a Sunday service

Wouldn't have been one anyway - Hulleys were only going to run Sheffield to Fairholmes this summer.

DCC seem happy to subsidise a half-hourly service during the week, but won't do anything at all for a Sunday service.

 

[mayneway]

I have read that blog and wonder if his assertion that employees fearing that they may not get paid took the buses to Richards site is true?

Taking the buses to another site wouldn’t have got them there money - plus one of their drivers shared pics of various ticket machine messages one clearly asking for the vehicle to be dropped off at Andrews.
It’s also reported at least one vehicle was taken from Hulley’s to Andrews on a wrecker so most probably a planned move.

Another interesting comment online suggested the vehicles that had gone to Andrews were all owned by Modeldart and not Hulley’s and that they are actually on loan to Andrews, along with the ticket machine and back office equipment - again whether it’s true or not is anyone’s guess BUT if the suggestion there was actually very few assets owned by Hulley’s people will be waiting a long time to get debts settled.

 

[zkyx02]

The eVoras are no longer coming to High Peak.

when did the plan change… heard very recently that they were still coming & were due imminently..?

 

[SCH117X]

Roger French visited the area on Thursday and has published details on his blog post for today.
busandtrainuser.com

Andrews worked the 110/111 on Wednesday but I presume he is assuming the Carsingtion Connection branded Solo was being used on it on Thursday. Its showingh NIS so coule have being used on one of the other services,

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Thanks for confirming - the official CAZ checker has them down as non-compliant.

Out of interest, which other CAZ affects High Peak, or were they just converted in case?

They were done for Manchester before the Mayor decided not to introduce the CAZ there.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2025 ==

when did the plan change… heard very recently that they were still coming & were due imminently..?

There appears to be a lot of certainty about new vehicle allocations amongst enthusiasts & their contacts, far more so than there is with those who actually are involved in fleet management at Centrebus. Unlike big groups you don't see hard and firm plans for new vehicle deployment, there are soft plans to justify the purchase with a lot of flexibility depending on what happens in the meantime. Only about half of the original plans for new vehicle deployment have happened exactly as originally planned due to new contracts being won or better alternatives being available.

 

[Teapot42]

Taking the buses to another site wouldn’t have got them there money - plus one of their drivers shared pics of various ticket machine messages one clearly asking for the vehicle to be dropped off at Andrews.
It’s also reported at least one vehicle was taken from Hulley’s to Andrews on a wrecker so most probably a planned move.

Another interesting comment online suggested the vehicles that had gone to Andrews were all owned by Modeldart and not Hulley’s and that they are actually on loan to Andrews, along with the ticket machine and back office equipment - again whether it’s true or not is anyone’s guess BUT if the suggestion there was actually very few assets owned by Hulley’s people will be waiting a long time to get debts settled.

I've heard they are owned by Go Coach, Connexions and now ModelDart.... Based on the accounts at Companies House it would appear they were owned by Hulleys at the point the last accounts were submitted. The point at which they are sold - assuming they were - might make a difference if it was recently enough to be seen as an attempt to hide assets which could be used to repay debts.

The only thing all accounts agree with is that they are on loan to Andrews. Regardless of who owns them, if there was an agreement to loan them then it makes more sense as a guaranteed way to get a return on the asset. Unless further expansion is intended then I'd imagine there will be decisions over the coming weeks how many to retain - they only need around 10 as the services they have tenders for only need 7 plus a few spares. Fundamentally most are >15 years old so won't have much resale value and won't have much service life left.

 

[SCH117X]

Andrews operate a number of school services so maybe have some of the ex Hulleys vehicles lined up for such use.

 

[JD2168]

The Streetlite that Hulleys had on loan was working the Sheffield connect SC1 service today

On loan to cover the BYD’s. Some have been parked in the Interchange all week

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Mar 2025 ==

I am not in the bus trade at all but when you look at the current state of things today, Spital, Hady, Holymoorside, Wingerworth, Pilsley, Stonebroom and Morton all remain without a bus service at present because they were on a commercial route.

When does it come to the point Derbyshire Council might step in to look to support services if no one steps in commercially? These arent small villages and I would assume all have social needs from Student to OAP, there also seemed to be a fair few paying passengers in between

With regards Spital & Hardy DCC could get First to reroute the 80 via there, it used to do the area previously.

With Wingerworth you could reroute a 51 to Danesmoor as a 51a with 51 running 2 per hour & a 51a hourly giving an overall 20 minute frequency.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Viscount Travel, the current owner of Hulley’s former open top ALX400-bodied Trident SN03 DZM (now registered R4 OCT), has repainted it into cream with red skirt and bands. The reason for mentioning this is that it’s had new ‘Breezer’ logos applied in the same style as those Hulley’s used, but coloured red to go with the new colour scheme. Some might argue that the controversial route might not be worth a nod, while others may say it’s nice that a little bit of the vehicle’s history lives on. Some photos can be found in a post on the operator’s Facebook page linked to below:

The makeover of our Dennis Trident Open-Top bus is now complete, all stickers and finishing touches applied.
In memory of Ivan Merryweather, Nathan's grandad who died 11th January 2025.

Viscount Travel

The makeover of our Dennis Trident Open-Top bus is now complete, all stickers and finishing touches applied. In memory of Ivan Merryweather, Nathan's grandad who died 11th January 2025.

www.facebook.com

 

[m79900]

I take it the 'ACT stripped if no bigger buses by Saturday' was a myth then?

 

[Deerfold]

I take it the 'ACT stripped if no bigger buses by Saturday' was a myth then?

The what?

 

[Teapot42]

The what?

There was a post saying that the tender for the 110/1 specified a certain vehicle size, and Ashbourne Community Transport were given until Saturday gone to acquire one.

As the tender isn't in the public domain we can't verify the former, and only someone with inside knowledge would know the latter (if it's even true).

They seem to be managing with two buses for now, hopefully DCC will learn from their recent mistakes and not cause more disruption by forcing another change if the intermediate solution is working.

 

[JKP]

There was a post saying that the tender for the 110/1 specified a certain vehicle size, and Ashbourne Community Transport were given until Saturday gone to acquire one.

As the tender isn't in the public domain we can't verify the former, and only someone with inside knowledge would know the latter (if it's even true).

They seem to be managing with two buses for now, hopefully DCC will learn from their recent mistakes and not cause more disruption by forcing another change if the intermediate solution is working.

Tender documents normally only specify the vehicle capacity required. If this is being met by two 16 seats or whatever, then the contract conditions are being met, albeit at additional cost to the operator.