EasyBus in Shrewsbury - new services ?

[Baxenden Bank]

I notice that The Skiers Lodge Ltd sometimes, perhaps, trading as easyBus and easyCoach registered two new local bus services in Shrewsbury.

Service 24 from Harlescott to Shrewsbury, due to commence on 22 October https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/509264/
and,
Service 28 / 28S also from Harlescott to Shrewsbury, due to commence on 16 October.https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/508903/

Did it and will it?

There is no reference to either on WM Traveline.

Interesting is the provision of a Sunday service in Shrewsbury where presently there is none.

 

[0B00]

 

[0B00]

 

[Busaholic]

Without knowing Shrewsbury, is the reason for the Sunday service adopting a slightly different route that Arrow Retail Centre gets a weekday service on another operator's route? Timings seem very tight seven days a week in order to utilise just the one bus.

 

[philjo]

I believe that there are no other local services running in Shrewsbury on Sundays (since withdrawal of local authority funding).

 

[0B00]

Yes the 28 serves a Business Park that is deserted on a Sunday, so the 28S serves housing and shops that see a Mon-Sat Arriva service, so quite a sensible idea really.

 

[pemma]

EasyCoach have been stripped of the 436 contract due to poor performance

The 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth bus service is to be operated by Arriva from Tuesday 2 January 2018, but the timetable will remain the same.

The service is currently operated by EasyCoach, under contract to Shropshire Council, and the council has received a substantial number of complaints relating to the performance of this service.

Now, following communication with EasyCoach, Shropshire Council has been notified by EasyCoach that Saturday 30 December 2017 will be the last day on which they operate the 436 service.

Shropshire Council recognises the importance of this service to the passengers along the Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth corridor and has arranged for Arriva – the previous operator of this service – to provide the 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth service with effect from Tuesday 2 January 2018, and with no change to the current timetable.

http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/2017/...ury-bridgnorth-bus-service-tuesday-2-january/

To add a twist to this story former the GHA Coaches Manager who was Traffic Manager at EasyCoach left in November with there being an unverified report on another forum that he is currently working at Arriva's Shrewsbury depot.

There's also claims that the non-contracted 28 service hasn't been running for a month, while a 24 registration was cancelled before the service started running.

 

[gordonthemoron]

why hasn't Stelios sued them yet?

 

[0B00]

To be fair they have not had the contract 'stripped' from them. The press release issued by EasyBus and Shropshire CC explains the situation.

The former TM referred to is indeed working at Arriva Shrewsbury, I spoke to him last week before he drove off on a service 64 to Market Drayton.

 

[pemma]

To be fair they have not had the contract 'stripped' from them. The press release issued by EasyBus and Shropshire CC explains the situation.

What exactly do you think being stripped of a contract means?

The press release says Shropshire CC gave notice the contract will be terminated due to the number of complaints received about the service. If a contract was up for renewal the council wouldn't need to give any notice, as it would automatically terminate unless the council extended it.

 

[0B00]

"We have taken the reluctant decision to no longer operate the 436 service with effect from close of business on Saturday 30th December 2017. Shropshire Council were notified earlier this week."

Is that clear enough for you? That is the first line of the press release issued by EasyBus last week.

So to be clear - they told the council they were no longer running the 436. The council did NOT strip them of the contract.

I have read the press release from Shropshire CC and see nowhere that it says they terminated the contract. Here is part of it: "Now, following communication with EasyCoach, Shropshire Council has been notified by EasyCoach that Saturday 30 December 2017 will be the last day on which they operate the 436 service." - so you are wrong - it does not say the council gave notice.

 

[Busaholic]

"We have taken the reluctant decision to no longer operate the 436 service with effect from close of business on Saturday 30th December 2017. Shropshire Council were notified earlier this week."

Is that clear enough for you? That is the first line of the press release issued by EasyBus last week.

So to be clear - they told the council they were no longer running the 436. The council did NOT strip them of the contract.

I have read the press release from Shropshire CC and see nowhere that it says they terminated the contract. Here is part of it: "Now, following communication with EasyCoach, Shropshire Council has been notified by EasyCoach that Saturday 30 December 2017 will be the last day on which they operate the 436 service." - so you are wrong - it does not say the council gave notice.

You are correct, they weren't strIpped of their contract, they just chose to breach it!

 

[pemma]

Ignore.

 

[MotCO]

It may seem an odd question, but can anyone confirm that EasyBus is part of Stelios' empire?

 

[James H]

They have a licence to use the brand.

 

[enrag2000]

You are correct, they weren't strIpped of their contract, they just chose to breach it!

The full press release from Shropshire CC is as follows:


The 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth bus service is to be operated by Arriva from Tuesday 2 January 2018, but the timetable will remain the same.

The service is currently operated by EasyCoach, under contract to Shropshire Council, and the council has received a substantial number of complaints relating to the performance of this service.

Now, following communication with EasyCoach, Shropshire Council has been notified by EasyCoach that Saturday 30 December 2017 will be the last day on which they operate the 436 service.

Shropshire Council recognises the importance of this service to the passengers along the Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth corridor and has arranged for Arriva – the previous operator of this service – to provide the 436 Shrewsbury to Bridgnorth service with effect from Tuesday 2 January 2018, and with no change to the current timetable

 

[K219UHA]

Shropshire Council reviewed the performance of the 436 after a high percentages of runs on this tendered service failed to operate, they recieved a high level of compliants from the fed up general public who were left stranded more often than acceptable, inc students at SCAT College. EasyCoach had a mass walkout of staff due to number of reasons due power strugles in house. The situation was reviewed and Arriva were asked to be ready on standby to take over a number of weeks prior. The contract was reassigned due to the regular violation of the tender inc use of non complient vehicles that were too small.

They have failed to operate the 28 service since late November and now deregistered it from 12th February, Shropshire Council and dare I say the TC will be reviewing this in due course. The Sunday service operated only a few times at most.

The press statement issued by this concern and comments against Shropshire council is sour grapes.

The former manager is confirmed as a driver at Arriva Shrewsbury now.

 

[Busaholic]

Sounds like a prime candidate for referral to/ review by the local Traffic Commissioner. Might well spell the end to the 'Easybus' brand name too, for the present anyway.