Jo Bamford completes Wrightbus takeover.

Alexbus12 · 18 Feb 2020

winston270twm said:
They are not massively short of drivers at all. It has come down a lot, as is still falling.

Recruitment is on-going.

I'd suggest coming observing the services at Bolton and Bury, it is quite evident they're still massively short on drivers.

RailUK Forums

winston270twm · 18 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
I'd suggest coming observing the services at Bolton and Bury, it is quite evident they're still massively short on drivers.

No need, I heard straight from the 'horses mouth' at Bolton depot exactly how many drivers they're short.

Alexbus12 · 18 Feb 2020

winston270twm said:
No need, I heard straight from the 'horses mouth' at Bolton depot exactly how many drivers they're short.

So you'd know that they're still very short and can't run services? Not as if that is much different to their usual standards, oops.

winston270twm · 18 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
So you'd know that they're still very short and can't run services? Not as if that is much different to their usual standards, oops.

No, I know accurately how many drivers they're short of first hand, not hearsay.

Robertj21a · 18 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
I'd suggest coming observing the services at Bolton and Bury, it is quite evident they're still massively short on drivers.

I think it's you who has mentioned this on a number of occasions. Do you have any accurate figures for the number of drivers short ?. As far as I can tell, many major operators in parts of the country are routinely 'massively short of drivers' - are Bolton and Bury far worse than those too ?

Alexbus12 · 18 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
I think it's you who has mentioned this on a number of occasions. Do you have any accurate figures for the number of drivers short ?. As far as I can tell, many major operators in parts of the country are routinely 'massively short of drivers' - are Bolton and Bury far worse than those too ?

Yes, by far.

winston270twm · 18 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
Yes, by far.

Please enlighten us all how short they are then?

Snow1964 · 18 Feb 2020

winston270twm said:
I think the WF Streetlite is for a TfGM tendered route, not sure which one.

No, the only other Streetlites are due for Diamond WM & Hotel Hoppa as follows:

2 x 9.5m WF (March)
6 x 10.8m DF (April & May)
7 x 11.5m DF (April)
(All for Diamond WM - due March, April & May)

15 x 9.6m DF
(All for Hotel Hoppa - 5 due May, June & Oct respectively)

Are those Hotel hoppa for Heathrow (the London wide ULEZ starts 26 October, and all diesel vehicles over 7.5t have to be euroVI minimum)

winston270twm · 18 Feb 2020

Snow1964 said:
Are those Hotel hoppa for Heathrow (the London wide ULEZ starts 26 October, and all diesel vehicles over 7.5t have to be euroVI minimum)

Yes, Hotel Hoppa only serves Heathrow Hotels.

Robertj21a · 18 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
Yes, by far.

Thanks, how many short ?

JL1 · 18 Feb 2020

Is it known yet when the StreetLites and StreetDecks for Arriva Southern Counties are due to be delivered?

Whiteway215 · 18 Feb 2020

Josh Lawson said:
Is it known yet when the StreetLites and StreetDecks for Arriva Southern Counties are due to be delivered?

Is there a planned delivery date for the rest of the Streetdecks for First West Yorkshire?

Volvodart · 18 Feb 2020

It has only been said the replacement for the rejected ones were "months away" fairly recently, No mention of the rest of the ones to make up the 300 odd order.

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

Volvodart said:
It has only been said the replacement for the rejected ones were "months away" fairly recently, No mention of the rest of the ones to make up the 300 odd order.

The commitment was 284 by the end of 2020

Andyh82 · 19 Feb 2020

TheGrandWazoo said:
The commitment was 284 by the end of 2020

Was it ever said 284 streetdecks or just 284 new buses?

Aren’t the replacements for the cancelled order the ones that have just arrived in recent months, the Bramley ones with grey fronts?

Note that when Wrightbus were still in business the order wasn’t continuous, they were delivered in batches months apart, so there isn’t necessarily anything outstanding at this point.

Volvodart · 19 Feb 2020

The ones rejected were the ones Diamond North West acquired and the replacement ones still have to be built.

TheGrandWazoo · 19 Feb 2020

Andyh82 said:
Was it ever said 284 streetdecks or just 284 new buses?

Aren’t the replacements for the cancelled order the ones that have just arrived in recent months, the Bramley ones with grey fronts?

Note that when Wrightbus were still in business the order wasn’t continuous, they were delivered in batches months apart, so there isn’t necessarily anything outstanding at this point.

The commitment was 284 new vehicles. Types were not specified. However, a quick tot up of the figures shows c.178 Streetdecks delivered since 2017?

Robertj21a · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Thanks, how many short ?

Just a reminder as I see you're also posting on the other Rotala thread. If Rotala are stating that they have 449 drivers at Bolton, what figure should they be at ?

winston270twm · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Just a reminder as I see you're also posting on the other Rotala thread. If Rotala are stating that they have 449 drivers at Bolton, what figure should they be at ?

You're wasting your time, he hasn't got a clue.

Alexbus12 · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Just a reminder as I see you're also posting on the other Rotala thread. If Rotala are stating that they have 449 drivers at Bolton, what figure should they be at ?

They're actively 30-50 drivers short with drivers being brought in from the Midlands to cover some services....

Robertj21a · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
They're actively 30-50 drivers short with drivers being brought in from the Midlands to cover some services....

Thanks. So, not really significant at all, despite your earlier comments. Many companies will be at least that % short, as a routine, so I've no idea why you've made such an issue of it.

Alexbus12 · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Thanks. So, not really significant at all, despite your earlier comments. Many companies will be at least that % short, as a routine, so I've no idea why you've made such an issue of it.

Well, it is. Come to Bolton and look at how many services are dropped on a daily basis. There are routes which havent had a single bus on them for 4 hours in recent weeks.

Jordan Adam · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
Well, it is. Come to Bolton and look at how many services are dropped on a daily basis. There are routes which havent had a single bus on them for 4 hours in recent weeks.

For a company of that size 30-50 drivers down isn't that out of the ordinary, especially with how difficult operators are finding it to retain drivers these days... "If" they truly aren't able to cover all services then i'd suspect they're either more drivers short than you've stated, there's other reasons at play (vehicle shortage due to high VOR rate etc) or you're over exaggerating just how many services fail to operate.

winston270twm · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
They're actively 30-50 drivers short with drivers being brought in from the Midlands to cover some services....

As of mid last week they were exactly 28 drivers short, that was expected to fall further this week due to a couple of new recruits & drivers going through training. Your figures are somewhat out.

It equates to just over 6% short based on the 449 drivers quoted in the article.

Alexbus12 · 19 Feb 2020

Jordan Adam said:
For a company of that size 30-50 drivers down isn't that out of the ordinary, especially with how difficult operators are finding it to retain drivers these days... "If" they truly aren't able to cover all services then i'd suspect they're either more drivers short than you've stated, there's other reasons at play (vehicle shortage due to high VOR rate etc) or you're over exaggerating just how many services fail to operate.

Come to Bolton and observe the services. You'll be shocked. Services are appalling, with buses either dropped on stand or left at the out of service bay because there isn't a driver to cover the services. 471s, 8s, 582s, 524s are just some of the routes which have 3 or 4 to 6 buses dropped each day on each service. There are then services which have direct competition so they drop services on there (571/2, 575) and then theres the tendered services which they try not to drop for obvious reasons.

Robertj21a · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
Come to Bolton and observe the services. You'll be shocked. Services are appalling, with buses either dropped on stand or left at the out of service bay because there isn't a driver to cover the services. 471s, 8s, 582s, 524s are just some of the routes which have 3 or 4 to 6 buses dropped each day on each service. There are then services which have direct competition so they drop services on there (571/2, 575) and then theres the tendered services which they try not to drop for obvious reasons.

Being 28 drivers short is hardly anything if they already employ 449. Many existing drivers will also be prepared to do overtime to earn a bit more.
So any missing trips are unlikely to be due to driver shortages.

Alexbus12 · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
Being 28 drivers short is hardly anything if they already employ 449. Many existing drivers will also be prepared to do overtime to earn a bit more.
So any missing trips are unlikely to be due to driver shortages.

There are literally signs above stands at Bolton saying "Diamond Bus reports that some trips will not be operating because of a shortage of staff" :rolleyes:

and anyway, it's one thing to make a statement, it's another to come and experience using their services. Not knowing whether one will turn up or not. It is literally impossible to rely on them if you need get somewhere by a certain time..

Robertj21a · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
There are literally signs above stands at Bolton saying "Diamond Bus reports that some trips will not be operating because of a shortage of staff" and anyway, it's one thing to make a statement, it's another to come and experience using their services. Not knowing whether one will turn up or not. It is literally impossible to rely on them if you need get somewhere by a certain time..

I know of a few operators who use 'shortage of staff' to disguise a lack of serviceable vehicles.

Alexbus12 · 19 Feb 2020

Robertj21a said:
I know of a few operators who use 'shortage of staff' to disguise a lack of serviceable vehicles.

That maybe the case, but this has happened *everyday* since the takeover in August.

Swimbar · 19 Feb 2020

Alexbus12 said:
That maybe the case, but this has happened *everyday* since the takeover in August.

What has any of this to do with:
Jo Bamford completes Wrightbus takeover??

Jo Bamford completes Wrightbus takeover.

Member

RailUK Forums

Established Member

Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Established Member

On Moderation

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

Established Member

Established Member

Veteran Member

On Moderation

Established Member

Member

On Moderation

Member

Established Member

Established Member

Member

On Moderation

Member

On Moderation

Member

Member