First Essex major changes in February

[swifty]

Perhaps the others are destined (rather than heading to Cymru as was rumoured)? One to watch!

Ive heard that the other 3 (once one is back from Swansea) will be staying in FHDB. Fingers crossed for Weymouth!

 

[F Great Eastern]

Presumably, they have plans for those other 3, elsewhere.

Why sort out the X30 properly when you can do a half measure instead and leave people behind when an Enviro 200 MMC ends up subbing for a decker.

They should be sending enough to Essex to operate all X30 duties with a decker to provide a consistent experience and avoid the above inevitably happening.

Putting high spec vehicles on a service route in an allocation bag with standard vehicles is ridiculous - these are premium vehicles and a premium route needs them so that is where they should go.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ive heard that the other 3 (once one is back from Swansea) will be staying in FHDB. Fingers crossed for Weymouth!

Just reported that they’re heading to Weymuff along with the older one.

 

[baza585]

Just reported that they’re heading to Weymuff along with the older one.

Happy days. The 04 reg Scanias have done ridiculous mileages and will be OK for schools, or transfer to Hoeford for further services. If Essex don't want the 11 reg ones we will have them back like a shot.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Essex needs them for premium service that charges premium fares that deserves premium vehicles with adequate capacity which they don't have at the moment due to sheer stupidity of replacing 49 seat coaches with 36 seat buses that often have seats blocked off.

The problem is that the 3 they are getting isn't going to be enough - they need 5 at least.

 

[DragonEast]

I believe we're all 'over thinking' this. The plc's are governed by the shareholders' desire to make a profit in the short-term. It is this rather than any long term strategy which will be dictating what goes on.....

Yeah of course we all know it, it wasn't a prediction just a bit of dreaming! But I'm not sure Arriva in the south-east are quite as hopeless as everyone might think. I think they have a definite strategy in securing the Harlow - Stortford - Stansted - Braintree corridor (look for where the jobs (and profits, work commuters are regular customers, are in East Herts and West Essex, outside London - not, unless you're a brick-and-mortar retailer, in Chelmsford). But yes, Arriva will do cautious and limited expansion where they do. (Though in the present climate a commercial set up might even be a more reliable partner than a council sometimes?) But they have more than enough trouble with their present network, where they have been cautiously investing (the important bit) as well as doing the same as everyone else. Despite the loss of evening and most Sunday funding in Herts they've retained some interurban services. Only a few others have chipped in). They know better than to get into fights, as First do too. First have also got deals on their subsidised routes in Essex to use commercial fares and take some element of risk, apparently, so could be as broad as its long (ignoring perhaps the investment if it's worthwhile, which I don't think anyway reached Colchester). Go Ahead looked to be more ambitious, but might might have to wait around for the new towns, sorry garden villages, (however long that takes) if they can afford to. First just seem to me like a more traditional operation - though they tamed Arriva on Colchester -Braintree (newer) and Southend- Basildon (older) territiry, but how much did it cost them to do it? Same thing being tried by Go-Ahead, perhaps, on the runs out from Colchester to Halstead and Clacton. The devil is always in the detail. And yes it's all about profitable territory. There just ain't too much of it.

 

[F Great Eastern]

A colleague who was waiting for the X30 was approached near Chelmsford bus station by a member of Greater Anglia staff offering them a special offer between Chelmsford and Stansted Airport tickets and illustrated that the benefit of taking the train is you will always get the seat and never left behind among other things.

Meanwhile GA have started a marketing campaign for taking the train to Southend Airport and also another about taking Stansted Express - I've got both emails from them today - it seems like it might be targeted at a certain audience because a colleague in Norfolk who is also on the GA mailing list didn't get it.

It seems if First are not going to provide an adequate service and deal with the issues on that route with the appropriate supply of double deck vehicles, then GA will quite happily take advantage of the situation and it will all be the fault of First Essex.

 

[overthewater]

Why not email First that stuff? Maybe it will convince them to sort it out

 

[F Great Eastern]

My dealings with First Essex when complaining and commenting sadly have not been really positive in the past, often felt fobbed off when raising an issue so I don't bother anymore since it just falls on deaf ears.

That totally differs from First Ipswich who cannot do enough for you and seem to take feedback seriously. There's very rarely any issues with Ipswich stuff but whenever there is they are sorted very effectively and efficiently.

I was on three Ipswich vehicles this evening and every single one of them was spotless and in excellent condition with very friendly staff and First Essex could learn a lot from them - there is clearly a lot of pride and care about the Ipswich operation.

 

[Busaholic]

A colleague who was waiting for the X30 was approached near Chelmsford bus station by a member of Greater Anglia staff offering them a special offer between Chelmsford and Stansted Airport tickets and illustrated that the benefit of taking the train is you will always get the seat and never left behind among other things.

Meanwhile GA have started a marketing campaign for taking the train to Southend Airport and also another about taking Stansted Express - I've got both emails from them today - it seems like it might be targeted at a certain audience because a colleague in Norfolk who is also on the GA mailing list didn't get it.

It seems if First are not going to provide an adequate service and deal with the issues on that route with the appropriate supply of double deck vehicles, then GA will quite happily take advantage of the situation and it will all be the fault of First Essex.

Wow, ticket touting comes to the railways.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Wow, ticket touting comes to the railways.

Normally I wouldn't be a fan of that kind of thing as it's the last thing you need - however First Essex very much have made their own bed on this one.

If they provided an adequate service on the X30 route then they would never be vulnerable to things like this - but they don't so they are vulnerable.

 

[Lezlee]

A colleague who was waiting for the X30 was approached near Chelmsford bus station by a member of Greater Anglia staff offering them a special offer between Chelmsford and Stansted Airport tickets and illustrated that the benefit of taking the train is you will always get the seat and never left behind among other things.

Meanwhile GA have started a marketing campaign for taking the train to Southend Airport and also another about taking Stansted Express - I've got both emails from them today - it seems like it might be targeted at a certain audience because a colleague in Norfolk who is also on the GA mailing list didn't get it.

It seems if First are not going to provide an adequate service and deal with the issues on that route with the appropriate supply of double deck vehicles, then GA will quite happily take advantage of the situation and it will all be the fault of First Essex.

Interesting that Greater Anglia are trying to poach Chelmsford to Stansted Airport passengers, i'm not sure many would take it up and trade a 40 minute journey for one which takes an hour longer, via Liverpool Street. It's a bit dubious of them to say that you will always get a seat. Peak time trains out of Chelmsford and even some off peak trains often have standing passengers. Ok, I get that you won't get left behind but you might be standing in a doorway for your (now longer) journey.

I'm not sure that double deckers are needed all of the time for the X30 in any case. Do the services outside of the concessionary scheme times suffer overcrowding or is it specific journeys through the day? If it's the latter, which I suspect is the case, it makes more sense to run different buses appropriate to the loadings, rather than half empty ones.

 

[F Great Eastern]

I don't think they need to use double deckers on all of the journeys no - But they need probably at least three deckers for the route and a spare that are of a premium specification to justify the premium price that is being charged for such a service now.

The thing about GA is strange though because on first glance they don't have a great offer on price since there are no Advance fares on Chelmsford to Stansted Airport, but there is currently an offer for a £10 day return to Stansted to Chelmsford and kids travel for £2 each.

Now I assume what GA are perhaps advising passengers to do is selling two times day returns which effectively works out as £10 single which is the same price as a single on the X30, but with the ultra cheap child fare of £2 per single and only using the outward portion of both tickets.

I wonder if they are also trying to aim this at airport staff as well, hence the £10 return which isn't advertised anywhere as part of GA current fare promotion.

 

[Lezlee]

In the latest fleet news for First Essex, the excellent Busmopolitan blog: https://jpodgorski1.wordpress.com states that the Scania Omnicities are being sent to Clacton rather than Colchester from Chelmsford in exchange for their Enviro 200s. So it would seem that the fleet is being harmonised across Essex. Also the Optare Solos are starting to be withdrawn. I expect this will accelerate when the route changes come into force.

There seems to be some unhappiness about the route changes. Petitions have been set up about the loss of the 41/72 and there is a lot of vocalisation about Peldon, near Mersea Island losing their service. I don't expect First to back down, but it will be interesting to see if Essex CC do anything to support the services.

 

[F Great Eastern]

There always will be people upset by route changes unfortunately no matter what any operator does.

 

[Lezlee]

I think that First could help themselves better in the way the changes are communicated, the website and social media are covered but I haven't seen any on bus notices or any other 'analogue' notices which are essential for those who don't frequent the 'digital' formats. This has the effect of leading to chinese whispers about what and what isn't changing, which understandably causes anxiety among passengers.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Been confirmed to me that First Essex are getting two of the Greenline Deckers - no more.

 

[DragonEast]

First Essex taking the line of least effort, as usual. One can, I suppose, understand; the state First are in any extra effort is more than likely to be a waste of time anyway.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Other five are now confirmed as being destined for the Jurassic Coaster services.

 

[Cesarcollie]

First Essex taking the line of least effort, as usual. One can, I suppose, understand; the state First are in any extra effort is more than likely to be a waste of time anyway.

Doubt if it can be blamed on Essex. There's probably been a fierce 'bidding process' for those buses, and someone centrally will have made the ultimate decision.

 

[Anthony ross]

In the UK it's some of the biggest First Bus operations that are losing the most, Manchester and South Yorkshire in particular. These really need to be got rid of, but they need a willing buyer. The pension deficit that showed up in the Accounts this year was also a massive blow and all this is on top of their debts (and difficult trading conditions for everyone).

Other five are now confirmed as being destined for the Jurassic Coaster services.

or what is left of the coaster services

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

or what is left of the coaster services

The X51 and X53 are pretty substantial operations and the X54 is still going to run, despite the hyperbole and inaccuracy of the Soton bus blog.

The Omnidekkas have been well worked on those routes and a move onto some less strenuous will suit them.

 

[DragonEast]

Doubt if it can be blamed on Essex. There's probably been a fierce 'bidding process' for those buses, and someone centrally will have made the ultimate decision.

I wasn't thinking of the ex-Green Line vehicles - the majority being transferred within the region where there is a need for them seems sensible on many levels. At least FHD&B seem to have a strategy. Not sure about FEx though!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I wasn't thinking of the ex-Green Line vehicles - the majority being transferred within the region where there is a need for them seems sensible on many levels. At least FHD&B seem to have a strategy. Not sure about FEx though!

They are sort of tied to what is available. New investment in Bristol is freeing Darts and some of those have headed to Essex to help eliminate Solos? Aside from the X30 (which I think has been done to death), not certain what strategy is lacking? Perhaps that it isn't evident as there are a large number of cascades waiting to occur across the group?

 

[stuart81]

Aside from the X30 (which I think has been done to death)

Here Here!!!

 

[delticdave]

Normally I wouldn't be a fan of that kind of thing as it's the last thing you need - however First Essex very much have made their own bed on this one.

If they provided an adequate service on the X30 route then they would never be vulnerable to things like this - but they don't so they are vulnerable.

Please forgive my ignorance, but just what is wrong with the combined X10 / X30 service to/ from Chelmsford to Stansted, other than replacing coaches with buses?
As for taking the train instead, a through service could be provided via Stratford but it's unlikely to be profitable.
(As could a Southend to Stansted, airport to airport train, & since Anglia will soon have a large surplus of EMU's it might even happen...........)

Back to buses, if the Scania are transferred away, maybe the 36 could revert to more comfortable buses?

DC

 

[F Great Eastern]

It's been covered in-depth before but:
- Shortage of capacity (coach with almost 50 seats replaced with 33 seats)
- Often in practice seating capacity is less as seats blocked up with luggage.
- Paying £10 single to often stand or occasionally not being able to board.
- Poor timetabling of the X10 which does little to relieve the pressure on the X30 on combined section.

 

[DragonEast]

I suspect any hope of improvement from First Essex, in comfort or quality is pretty well a lost cause. It isn't their priority, which is if they can't eliminate the competition then to keep them in their place. Actually not that much different from their peers; and they're very successful at it. The only trouble is that in their version it's inefficient and wasteful (and expensive), so often ends up at the bottom of the recycling heap (which it deserves) and doesn't do much for anyone's morale. (I'm not sure whether they've ever thought that perhaps the competition don't want it and are happy to leave them lumbered with their mess?) The passengers rather, and not unusually, end up as the pawns in this territorial game. Perhaps in a pale imitation of Stagecoach, they tend to cede territory when they can't win it.

I can't see where their passenger growth is coming from, either; though declines are easier to predict, perhaps, with the collapse in bricks-and-mortar shopping. Though in most areas around the country I suspect that growth comes from outside the bus companies like local government and transport authority initiatives, which probably makes most of our local Shire county councils a lost cause!

 

[nesw]

The First 37 in Brentwood is being unneccessarily re-routed missing out a major residential area and breaking long standing, well used links. The new route is via roads with parking problems, more congestion on the Ongar Rd (as evidenced by Google Traffic) and 5 minute layover. First say that it will be more reliable as it'll no longer interwork with the 351 bus to Chelmsford (they said a few years ago this was the only way to make it viable).

Needless to say that many users are concerned and the bus user group has organised a meeting with First. I'd imagine that they'll claim it's working well, then realise how much revenue is being lost and either deregister or put in a variation to return to the current route.

http://www.meeja.biz/bbarua/buses.html#37change

Given that the Network Planners at First Essex are expirienced, I have never seen such a badly thought out change for many years.

 

[DragonEast]

I fear between having their strings pulled by Head Office and their collars felt by the Traffic Commissioners, passenger convenience hardly gets on their radar these days. (Or at least it's farmed out to Norwich, so nowt to do with us then). Don't know where they think their money is coming from? Manna from heaven (or developers and the county council, the closest they get) perhaps?

In fairness they do seem to operate with greater frequency and over longer hours than their peers, but something has to give and it seems to be reliability and routing. It's tough choices. I think they are moving in the right direction, but there are a few faux pars en route, as it were. Sometimes, like all of us, it seems they try to be too clever and bite off more than they can chew.