Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Bus News

Trainman40083 · 3 Mar 2024

43055 said:
Not the first time. 462 and I think 740 has been edited before when 499 was tracking as them!

We should be glad that there is not a company car with a wired ticket machine as some would change it to that too. I seem to recall one day where one bus was tracking on at least two routes at the same time...Magic, eh? No, just a ticket machine

Notts and Derby Scania decker 48 is confirmed as withdrawn.. Damage isn't too bad, but cost of repairs more than the bus is worth. Plus you'd not get rid of the smell of smoke.

tram21 said:
For the first time in a very long time, there are 8 buses on the Red Arrow, a full service!

After a rocky start this morning it's been a good day for trentbarton and Kinchbus in terms of Service availability!

Not so good for Red Arrow today. 84 taken out of service in Derby. Around 12.55, 85 needed the attention of ambulance staff, to see to a passenger right at the back. Blimey, an ambulance and an ambulance car. Still, 4 Mango single deckers were helping out.

RailUK Forums

zakky1.0 · 5 Mar 2024

YD73 FTP (photo below) has arrived at Arriva Derby today, assume it’ll be on driver familiarisation for a few days before entering service.

The rumours are 2 are due for evaluation at Derby on services 1/1A/1C & 38s

Trainman40083 · 5 Mar 2024

zakky1.0 said:
YD73 FTP (photo below) has arrived at Arriva Derby today, assume it’ll be on driver familiarisation for a few days before entering service.

The rumours are 2 are due for evaluation at Derby on services 1/1A/1C & 38s

View attachment 153691

I expected a couple of the green Wright bodied deckers to be used

tram21 said:
For the first time in a very long time, there are 8 buses on the Red Arrow, a full service!

After a rocky start this morning it's been a good day for trentbarton and Kinchbus in terms of Service availability!

I think your comment goes down as "famous last words". Looks like just 5 vehicles on Red Arrow this evening. Complaints seem to be flowing from people in Nottingham. People saying they will be getting a free ride. When one person asked where the next bus to Derby was, TB told them they could see there was a bus in Derby bus station. I'm due to go to Nottingham on Saturday. It will be by train.

bringiton · 5 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
I expected a couple of the green Wright bodied deckers to be used

I saw one driving through into Derby the other Thursday, ironically on a Red Arrow spare. Unfortunately didn't get a pic as when I realised what it was it was too late.

I also noticed earlier that v3 only had 1 bus on today and yesterday. HQ had no buses at one point and then when they had a bus there was only 1, and that's the few services I checked that there would definitely be more. Trent do need to get their act in order.

Trainman40083 · 5 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
I saw one driving thru into derby the other thursday.. ironically on a red arrow spare, unfortunately didnt get a pic as when i realised what it was it was too late

Also noticed earlier that v3 only had 1 bus on today and yesterday HQ had no busses at one point and then when they had a bus there was only 1, trent do need to get their act in order

Actually you say that about the V3. I drove through Findern earlier around 11.35 and saw both 480 and 491..491 had stopped tracking some hours earlier. Maybe a ticket machine fault. I just have a vision of a bus company desperately needing revenue giving lots of free rides. Correction to earlier. Was down to 4 on RA. 846 seemingly released off Swift when 737 fixed, putting it back to 5. Wonder if 269 and 827 failed? 85 tracked to Nottingham, then also worked to Derby. Maybe freebies.

bringiton · 5 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
Actually you say that about the V3. I drove through Findern earlier around 11.35 and saw both 480 and 491..491 had stopped tracking some hours earlier. Maybe a ticket machine fault. I just have a vision of a bus company desperately needing revenue giving lots of free rides. Correction to earlier. Was down to 4 on RA. 846 seemingly released off Swift when 737 fixed, putting it back to 5. Wonder if 269 and 827 failed? 85 tracked to Nottingham, then also worked to Derby. Maybe freebies.

Ahh i stand corrected then, i am only seeing what i see on a screen and thats not always right. 1 thing i will say as well they have started getting vehicles from the other depots, which i think is good they are trying to get the vehicles but does show they are struggling. Also might suggest they are doing anything to get revenue.. which could allow for the free trips atm

As well, some of the ilkeston routes since they are hourly i would expect they take priority and give them all the busses needed to have a full service, regularly getting on them myself ive only had 1 cancellation which was a while ago and then they put a bus out anyway (i got arriva instead and it drove past) but i have noticed a few times recently a bus missing leaving an hour gap between the service. One that i also notice is having problems is the snx, but they seem to be doing a good job at putting spares out quickly for that when needed

Also would think the social media team they have might put out some updates about the delays and cancellations, but maybe the "the really good bus company" is too proud to admit their struggles

Trainman40083 · 5 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
Ahh i stand corrected then, i am only seeing what i see on a screen and thats not always right. 1 thing i will say as well they have started getting vehicles from the other depots, which i think is good they are trying to get the vehicles but does show they are struggling. Also might suggest they are doing anything to get revenue.. which could allow for the free trips atm

As well, some of the ilkeston routes since they are hourly i would expect they take priority and give them all the busses needed to have a full service, regularly getting on them myself ive only had 1 cancellation which was a while ago and then they put a bus out anyway (i got arriva instead and it drove past) but i have noticed a few times recently a bus missing leaving an hour gap between the service. One that i also notice is having problems is the snx, but they seem to be doing a good job at putting spares out quickly for that when needed

Also would think the social media team they have might put out some updates about the delays and cancellations, but maybe the "the really good bus company" is too proud to admit their struggles

Now, a while ago, Hulleys had their problems. I suggested they admit the problem, detail it, own it, and have an action plan for improvement and asked for understanding whilst issues were addressed.They did and also started Twitter/Facebook posts again. Yes, they got some flack. But I feel they have improved. Okay odd cancellations but , less money to employ. Good news is great, bad news is bad, but no news is far worse. I sometimes think the social media team have given up, but they don't help the passenger to make an informed choice. For example, on Red Arrow they said it was running 15 minutes late. No mention only 4 vehicles on the route instead of 9. So, passengers get angry, frustrated, anxious after a day at work. They may take that frustration out on the poor driver, well on the one that is running. Not their fault. But then, you see this about their "superb" services.

bringiton · 5 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
Now, a while ago, Hulleys had their problems. I suggested they admit the problem, detail it, own it, and have an action plan for improvement and asked for understanding whilst issues were addressed.They did and also started Twitter/Facebook posts again. Yes, they got some flack. But I feel they have improved. Okay odd cancellations but , less money to employ. Good news is great, bad news is bad, but no news is far worse. I sometimes think the social media team have given up, but they don't help the passenger to make an informed choice. For example, on Red Arrow they said it was running 15 minutes late. No mention only 4 vehicles on the route instead of 9. So, passengers get angry, frustrated, anxious after a day at work. They may take that frustration out on the poor driver, well on the one that is running. Not their fault. But then, you see this about their "superb" services.

100% if they told people they had problems then people might have slightly more trust in them. I know someone who got fooled by the new red Versa that was running on the Red Arrow thinking they got new vehicles when actually 827 is over ten years old. I know it's small but that might give people hope they have new vehicles. If they actually got new vehicles it would be amazing. It also doesn't give me much hope for the new timetable changes as it suggests that they don't want to invest in new vehicles to keep the passengers happy and will reduce service frequency, yes to be more reliable, but to provide vehicles to Kinch for their new timetable.

I do think if they stopped hiding then people won't mind as they will understand more that they are having a rough time with vehicles, and that might help reduce the stress of drivers since they are the ones who do have to put up with itd. I do think Red Arrow is slacking and even if they put a Solo it would help with people trusting. Even getting some of the older coaches they had from Notts + Derby for a bit to try help, probably not many trained on them still but they had them in service till not that long ago. But yeah if they communicated then they will get hate but at least its a start.

Trainman40083 · 5 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
100% if they told people they had problems then people might have slightly more trust in them. Ik someone who got fooled by the new red versa that was running on the red arrow thinking they got new vehicles when actually 827 is over ten years old. Ik its small but that might give people hope they have new vehicles, if they actually got new vehicles it would be amazing. As well doesn't give me much hope for the new timetable changes as it suggests that they dont want to invest in new vehicles to keep the passangers happy and will reduce service frequency, yes to be more reliable, but to provide vehicles to kinch for their new timetable.

I do think if they stopped hiding then people wont mind as they will understand more that they are having a rough time with vehicles, and that might help reduce the stress of drivers since they are the ones who do have to put up with it, do think red arrow is slacking and even if they put a solo out...atm surprised they aint... it would help with people trusting. Even also getting some of the older coaches they had from nott+derby for a bit to try help, probably not many trained on them still but they had them in service till not that long ago. But yeah if they communicated then they will get hate but atleast its a start

Maybe things will improve when all the remaining ex Threes Versas are "refurbished". 824 should be out soon, then 820/821, but then Derby will only get 826. People complaining about so many of the routes. H1 mostly has four of the six buses on. Now I'm sure Notts and Derby are on the look out for secondhand vehicles (buses and coaches) . They have a more predictable income flow... TB won't put Solos on Red Arrow. Think N&D coaches are fully committed on contracts. There are times it seems like the Empire's new clothes. "Everything is fine"...If only

bringiton · 5 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
Maybe things will improve when all the remaining ex Threes Versas are "refurbished". 824 should be out soon, then 820/821, but then Derby will only get 826. People complaining about so many of the routes. H1 mostly has four of the six buses on. Now I'm sure Notts and Derby are on the look out for secondhand vehicles (buses and coaches) . They have a more predictable income flow... TB won't put Solos on Red Arrow. Think N&D coaches are fully committed on contracts. There are times it seems like the Empire's new clothes. "Everything is fine"...If only

yeah hopefully the Versa gets sorted soon. H1 is kinda bad at the moment, even with the additional urban that they got, especially with no versa running on there. Notts and derby would definitely be willing to get anything from their wide range of vehicles. I know they wouldn't put solos on but even so if they did it would be a vehicle in peoples eyes. Yeah n&d with the coaches do seem to be used a lot especially since they only have the 4.

I tend to look throughout the week to see how RA is doing with buses to assume how they will do when I need to get on them, I especially calculate it with if there's the spare on a Sunday, if there is it doesn't give me much hope, this week for a while the sunday was a full coach service i believe and yet I don't have much hope for tomorrow when getting it that there will be 1 a coach there and 2 a vehicle there when i arrive, luckily i plan before i leave for the bus that ill get but not many people know about bus times and hugo especially elderly people. There was a coach parked a while ago at the coach bays and this guy was moaning how he was going to miss his hospital appointment and how that coach could have taken us since it was parked there. Luckily we only had to wait 10 minutes for it but people take the every 10 minutes seriously especially older people who don't have the access to the tech who know its every ten and don't have as much advantage with planning to get the earlier one.

Trainman40083 · 5 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
yeah hopefully the versa get sorted soon. H1 is kinda bad atm even with the additional urban that they got, especially with no versa running on there. Notts and derby would deffo be willing to get anything from their wide range of vehicles. Ik they wouldnt put solos on but even so if they did it would be a vehicle in peoples eyes. Yeah n&d with the coaches do seem to be used alot especially since they only have the 4.

I tend to look throughout the week to see how RA is doing with busses to assume how they will do when I need to get on them, I especially calculate it with if theres the spare on a sunday, if there is it doesn't give me much hope, this week for a while the sunday was a full coach service i believe and yet i dont have much hope for tomorrow when getting it that there will be 1 a coach there and 2 a vehicle there when i arrive, luckily i plan before i leave for the bus that ill get but not many people know about bus times and hugo especially olderly people. There was a coach parked a while ago at the coach bays and this guy was moaning how he was going to miss his hospital appointment and how that coach could of took us since it was parked there luckily we only had to wait 10 minutes for it but people take the every 10 minutes seriously especially older people who dont have the access to the tech who know its every ten and dont have as much advantage with planning to get the earlier one

Notts and Derby, only four coaches. Must be more than that, although some will never show on Bustimes. 55/56, 63 to 65, at least two 73 batch. Noticed at least one of the Tempos if not both (B1/B2 ) were still in use the other day. Re missing buses, if I see buses missing on my route, and I see the right kind of person waiting (usually not glued to their phone), I see where their bus is. Encountered a lovely lady one day, whose eyesight was that bad she couldn't even see the bus stop electronic timetable. I sat down and said "I'll see exactly where it is for you". Trouble is, I kept trying to show her on Bustimes, forgetting she was near blind. I said Yes, I can see it. You have about 10 minutes to wait... Happy passenger. But a key problem is the bus stop indicators. If they are counting down, fine. But these indicators sometimes just show a time ....and the bus still turns up. No, far too unreliable/unpredictable for me, even using Bustimes. Maybe Notts and Derby will take over Derby services. Wonder if the Threes ever got more reliable.

markymark2000 · 5 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
100% if they told people they had problems then people might have slightly more trust in them. Ik someone who got fooled by the new red versa that was running on the red arrow thinking they got new vehicles when actually 827 is over ten years old. Ik its small but that might give people hope they have new vehicles, if they actually got new vehicles it would be amazing. As well doesn't give me much hope for the new timetable changes as it suggests that they dont want to invest in new vehicles to keep the passangers happy and will reduce service frequency, yes to be more reliable, but to provide vehicles to kinch for their new timetable.

I'd say not just that but also introduce temporary timetables. RedArrow could drop to every 15 minutes and even if that is still slightly unreliable, it will be a lot less unreliable than the current timetable. Similarly for some other very high frequency routes.

bringiton · 5 Mar 2024

markymark2000 said:
I'd say not just that but also introduce temporary timetables. RedArrow could drop to every 15 minutes and even if that is still slightly unreliable, it will be a lot less unreliable than the current timetable. Similarly for some other very high frequency routes.

yeah it could especially until they get the coaches fixed and other vehicles on the road again to help free up the spares as well as ex-threes vehicles refurbished

JD2168 · 5 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
Notts and Derby, only four coaches. Must be more than that, although some will never show on Bustimes. 55/56, 63 to 65, at least two 73 batch. Noticed at least one of the Tempos if not both (B1/B2 ) were still in use the other day. Re missing buses, if I see buses missing on my route, and I see the right kind of person waiting (usually not glued to their phone), I see where their bus is. Encountered a lovely lady one day, whose eyesight was that bad she couldn't even see the bus stop electronic timetable. I sat down and said "I'll see exactly where it is for you". Trouble is, I kept trying to show her on Bustimes, forgetting she was near blind. I said Yes, I can see it. You have about 10 minutes to wait... Happy passenger. But a key problem is the bus stop indicators. If they are counting down, fine. But these indicators sometimes just show a time ....and the bus still turns up. No, far too unreliable/unpredictable for me, even using Bustimes. Maybe Notts and Derby will take over Derby services. Wonder if the Threes ever got more reliable.

The are 2 ex Red Arrow coaches at TM Travel 72 & 76, they look a bit scruffy & are mostly used on School Swimming contracts but I have seen the ex Lothian deckers on these. They are hardly ever on normal service, last I remember is one doing the 76a from Sheffield to Chancet Wood last October half term.

Trainman40083 · 6 Mar 2024

JD2168 said:
The are 2 ex Red Arrow coaches at TM Travel 72 & 76, they look a bit scruffy & are mostly used on School Swimming contracts but I have seen the ex Lothian deckers on these. They are hardly ever on normal service, last I remember is one doing the 76a from Sheffield to Chancet Wood last October half term.

Yes, several TM vehicles are used on closed contract services.

ricoblade · 6 Mar 2024

JD2168 said:
The are 2 ex Red Arrow coaches at TM Travel 72 & 76, they look a bit scruffy & are mostly used on School Swimming contracts but I have seen the ex Lothian deckers on these. They are hardly ever on normal service, last I remember is one doing the 76a from Sheffield to Chancet Wood last October half term.

Haha - A bit off-topic but I passeed a really scruffy TM Travel Single Decker in Sheffield on Sunday, made me think "what the heck is that?"!

Trainman40083 · 6 Mar 2024

ricoblade said:
Haha - A bit off-topic but I passeed a really scruffy TM Travel Single Decker in Sheffield on Sunday, made me think "what the heck is that?"!

One that Trentbarton describes life expired ? Maybe franchising will bring more fortune.

ALEMASTER · 6 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
One that Trentbarton describes life expired ? Maybe franchising will bring more fortune.

To be fair whilst TM's fleet looks beat up and scruffy with some absolute bone shakers on the road, all are perfectly well maintained - you rarely actually see a broken down TM bus!

The issue at TM seems to be not having enough buses available to run the full service - so many cancellations!

Trainman40083 · 6 Mar 2024

ALEMASTER said:
To be fair whilst TM's fleet looks beat up and scruffy with some absolute bone shakers on the road, all are perfectly well maintained - you rarely actually see a broken down TM bus!

The issue at TM seems to be not having enough buses available to run the full service - so many cancellations!

Then that suggests TM Travel repairs a bus so that it doesn't fail, whilst Trentbarton knows it will be back

Mollman · 7 Mar 2024

Trainman40083 said:
One that Trentbarton describes life expired ? Maybe franchising will bring more fortune.

I guess the argument is that with a fully depreciated vehicle it is cheaper to run a service. With franchising a borderline profitable service will become loss making given the expectation of new(er) vehicles being used (and probably higher driver and overhead costs).

Trainman40083 · 7 Mar 2024

Yutong demonstrator YD73 FTP is now in Derby. (Pictured below)

bringiton · 7 Mar 2024

YD73 FTP, no ticket machine in but the inside looks quite nice

Trainman40083 · 7 Mar 2024

bringiton said:
YD73 FTP, no ticket machine in but the inside looks quite nice

No one expects the comfy chair

GusB · 7 Mar 2024

Please remember to include a description to accompany any images you post to the forum. There are some forum members who have visual impairments and without a description, your posts don't make any sense. You should also indicate whether or not the photo is your own work and if its someone else's, they should be credited accordingly; also bear in mind that you must seek permission before including anyone else's work.

Similarly, please avoid posting screenshots of text from sources such as social media - text should be copied and pasted and enclosed within quote tags, along with a link to the source.

JD2168 · 7 Mar 2024

ALEMASTER said:
To be fair whilst TM's fleet looks beat up and scruffy with some absolute bone shakers on the road, all are perfectly well maintained - you rarely actually see a broken down TM bus!

The issue at TM seems to be not having enough buses available to run the full service - so many cancellations!

It makes me think that the former Lothian E400’s we’re not the best purchase with alternatives like ex London B9TL’s or ex Lothian B9TL’s would have been a better choice as we know B9’s can cope with hills around Sheffield well. Some of the E400’s sound a bit rough.

tram21 · 7 Mar 2024

Just a reminder to anyone interested that NCT's electric buses will be launched in Old Market Square from 10am-3pm tomorrow!

https://www.nctx.co.uk/Electric-Launch

Trainman40083 · 9 Mar 2024

Did anyone hear anymore about the running of Nottingham Victoria bus station (pictured below)? I recall the Council were looking at savings there.

Let us have a picture of a Nottingham City Yutong at Trentbarton Bridge depot . Today saw a number of them displayed in Market Square

kevjs · 9 Mar 2024

Yeah, 8 of them.

At least three 1/2 rows have sufficient legroom for us tall people rather than the usual 1!

So much space has been left for wheelchairs and prams it means nearly all the seats a quiet a bit step up though.

Photo is of the buses, 2 each in Blue Line 39, Pink Line 30, Red Line 50 and Generic

Close up on the front of the network spare

And onboard at the top of the steps - only one row of standard seats in lower saloon.

JD2168 · 10 Mar 2024

The new buses look smart but the problem for me is the lack of normal seats on the flat floor compared to the layout with a diesel bus which is not good for elderly passengers & people who struggle with stairs or steps.

Cesarcollie · 10 Mar 2024

JD2168 said:
The new buses look smart but the problem for me is the lack of normal seats on the flat floor compared to the layout with a diesel bus which is not good for elderly passengers & people who struggle with stairs or steps.

That’s nothing to do with electric vs diesel. Government and certain lobby groups are trying to ‘encourage’ operators to have two wheelchair spaces and/or separate buggy spaces. It makes things very difficult for ambulant disabled and elderly passengers, but unfortunately their voices don’t seem to be loud enough. I think this specification may even be a condition of Zebra funding.

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