CT Plus (inc Powells, Manchester/Bristol Community Transport)

There's not a "central" thread for the bits of CT Plus (ex Hackney Community Transport), so I thought I'd start one, see how they are doing elsewhere in the UK.

Here in Sheffield they (trading as Powells) are taking on a number of tenders with effect from this coming weekend, including the Inner Circle 10 from Sheffield Community Transport and the Bradfield Circulars 61/62 from TM Travel) but their attempt at a regular commercial service (converting the peak-only X7 to Maltby into a half hourly daytime service) doesn't seem to have worked out for them.

What about the rest of the country though? On the rise, or just mopping up tenders that the bigger companies aren't flexible enough to bid for competitively?

Standards seem to be changing in Manchester, well bits are anyway. MCT has always been known as the operator with virtually no standards, poor maintenance and a terrible image. Though in recent months with the new depot and mini rebrand, it seems theyre trying to move away from this perception..

Well in Bristol they started off with two Park & Ride services using horrible ex London bendies. But they then lost the contact, but came back operating tendered routes and a few commercial services. (Including the Metrobus M1 service, on behalf of First)

freetoview33 said:

Well in Bristol they started off with two Park & Ride services using horrible ex London bendies. But they then lost the contact, but came back operating tendered routes and a few commercial services. (Including the Metrobus M1 service, on behalf of First)

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What do they have that's commercial in Bristol?

TheGrandWazoo said:

What do they have that's commercial in Bristol?

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The 52!

They also operate as libertybus in jersey and also operate in guernsey

Seem to have grown from a tiny operation in West Yorkshire to now operating a PVR of 10 vehicles, I got round all of them recently in a day and they're all operated with anonymous E200s. I'm sure Phil will appear here soon so I'm sure he won't mind me saying he told me they will be put into a fleet livery soon. There is also a sizeable school bus operation in WY area.
There is a decent amount of investment going into the fleet at Powells in South Yorkshire too with a fleet of nearly new (5 year old) Solo's going in there to help with recent contract wins (as mentioned above) which I am sure will be the start of something bigger and better there too. Just a shame the expansion of the X7 hasn't worked out, though it was probably a bit ambitious competing with the two big boys. I dare say they're well positioned for the inevitable cuts that will come in First in this area.

freetoview33 said:

The 52!

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52 is an odd one, Bristol City Council don't say it is supported but Bristol Community Transport say it is.

Am I right in saying that South Bristol Community hospital supports the 52 bus route or at least the extention of the route from Hartcliffe to Hospital