Ladies Only Travel (LOT) gone into administration

[Andyh82]

Yet another operator to go out of business today

http://www.wymetro.com/travelnews/busalerts/Ladies_Only_Travel/

West Yorkshire Combined Authority understands that bus company Ladies Only Travel (trading as LOT) has gone into liquidation and will no longer be operating any bus services.

The Combined Authority’s Bus Services team is working hard to find alternative arrangements for the following tendered services for which it provides financial support:

• 31/32 Horsforth Town Service
• 49 Ackworth - Pontefract (one journey)
• 88 Bramley – Owlcotes Centre
• 197 Havercroft - Hemsworth
• 226 Norwood Green - Halifax
• 635 Bradford – East Bowling
• 781 Leeds - Otley
• 933 Meltham Town Service

LOT also ran Bradford City Bus as a commercial service and the Combined Authority will be talking to other bus companies about the possibility of taking over the service.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Based on that link, they operated services over quite a wide area of West Yorkshire which probably didn't help. Not listed on the Metro website are the many services they ran just in evenings and Sundays, presumably these were commercial rather than tendered services. As they were one of the last operators using ticket machines that couldn't read smartcards, I'm not sad to see them go (though I do feel for their staff, of course).

 

[robertclark125]

And obviously, anyone relying on one of those listed services this evening, may find no replacement operator is able to undertake operation tonight, but may be in a position to do so tomorrow. So, possible problems for passengers for at least the rest of the day.

 

[Andyh82]

Based on that link, they operated services over quite a wide area of West Yorkshire which probably didn't help. Not listed on the Metro website are the many services they ran just in evenings and Sundays, presumably these were commercial rather than tendered services. As they were one of the last operators using ticket machines that couldn't read smartcards, I'm not sad to see them go (though I do feel for their staff, of course).

The evening services were tenders and LOT subcontracted them back to Arriva a couple of weeks ago.

They also run a few schools services.

 

[Bungle965]

I feel like this was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. A combination of them putting in tenders at low prices for routes far away from their depot. Surely screams danger signs to the council? Evidently not!
I have seen on twitter that they have been having problems with buses and have cancelled last services of the day.
I would certainly would not say 'Good riddance' as there are plenty worst operators out there. I feel sorry for the customers of the services that they operate, as I imagine that the council will only look to find new operators for which they subsidise.
Not to mention the drivers of their services who are now unemployed, I wish them well in finding a new job.
Sam

 

[Stan Drews]

I feel like this was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. A combination of them putting in tenders at low prices for routes far away from their depot. Surely screams danger signs to the council? Evidently not!
I have seen on twitter that they have been having problems with buses and have cancelled last services of the day.
I would certainly would not say 'Good riddance' as there are plenty worst operators out there. I feel sorry for the customers of the services that they operate, as I imagine that the council will only look to find new operators for which they subsidise.
Not to mention the drivers of their services who are now unemployed, I wish them well in finding a new job.
Sam

Sadly there seems to be a ready supply of such operators desparate to race each other to the bottom.

 

[J-2739]

Sorry if I sound like a total moron, but why is it called "Ladies Only Travel"?

 

[Tetchytyke]

It grew out of a minicab business whose selling point was having only women drivers. As they grew into PCV work they rebranded as LOT.

It's a shame to see them go, they weren't a fly-by-night operation, they used decent and modern buses. But like a lot of minicab operators who get a taste for the PCV work, they simply didn't do their sums properly.

 

[SCH117X]

Yorkshire Tiger are working the 933 from Wednesday

 

[Observer]

Not surprised whatsoever, the way they were operating it was bound to happen eventually.

What samgeorge965 said is more than enough, they over expanded themselves too much and it was unfortunately going to get to a point where it all fell apart.

Too many operators are going out of business nowadays because of reckless moves like this.

Here's a recent article on them in Bus and Coach Buyer which might at least give some background into their company and their reasons for doing these contracts in the first place: http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/lot-transport/

....Managing three independent companies; Ladies Only Travel, Ladies Only Private Hire and Kid’s Only Travel, took its toll. As Jeanette explained, ‘Juggling three different businesses with three different bank accounts was too much stress.’


Last year, Jeanette made the executive decision to close the other businesses and concentrate on the service work that she does for Metro, The West Yorkshire Combined Authority. She started contract work by default in 2011 when the H10 school contract passed to her from another operator. Not knowing anything about this side of the business and whether legally she was allowed to do it, she went to Metro and asked for their advice, as she had no idea how she got paid and how it all worked. She met with Steve Wainwright and he explained how the contract would run.


The relationship was forged and LOT Transport, as the company are now re-branded, operate eleven contracts for the authority, covering West Yorkshire, including Wakefield, Leeds, Halifax and Bradford. At the time of my visit there were new contracts out to tender and LOT Transport had recently been awarded another two, the 781 Leeds to Otley service and a shopper route in Bramley.

It has been said by some of her competition that LOT Transport’s tenders are too cheap but as Jeanette explains, ‘We don’t have the overheads of some companies or a Finance Director sat in an office saying we must make this amount of profit on each service. We bid a fair price for a good job. We’re not about ripping people off.’

 

[randyrippley]

.......... as Jeanette explains, ‘We don’t have the overheads of some companies or a Finance Director sat in an office saying we must make this amount of profit on each service. We bid a fair price for a good job. We’re not about ripping people off.’
[/QUOTE

That should be the epitaph on the company's gravestone. Too many businesses think like that - and fail. There's no room for altruism when running a company.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

They also ran the 951 Huddersfield to Glossop during the 2016 Summer season. Not a bad operator although it has to be said, they've gone a bit enthusiatic with winning tenders that they didn't have enough vehicles to use. I wonder if their depot still has the fleet parked up or has the administrators been and towed them out ready for aution?

 

[Andyh82]

They had eight primos, three solos all numbered Ladies 1 to Ladies 11 and two smaller VW minibuses.

The services have all now been reallocated

31/32, 781 - Yorkshire Tiger
88 - Squarepeg
197 - Watersons
226 - TJ Walsh
635 - TLC Bradford
933 - Yorkshire Tiger (Tiger Blue)

The Bradford City Bus is up to another operator to pick up if they see fit with no Metro involveme to as it was commercial thesedays.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I'm pretty sure the Primos were leased, so there won't be much to sell off at auction.

It's sad, they just didn't do the sums and grew too much too quickly. I hope Romani can come back.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I'm pretty sure the Primos were leased, so there won't be much to sell off at auction.

The Primos were from Reays in Carlisle as they upgraded their fleet.


Out of the Primos DXC, DXD and DXE are the decent ones which could fly, DXD did squeak quite a fair bit. DXA, DXH and R444LOT were the naff ones which were sluggish, slow and could not climb hills.

Can't comment on the Solos though as I never travelled on one of LOTs.

 

[Observer]

Primos are nothing but trouble anyway, there's a reason why they always end up cheap to purchase on the second hand market, despite their age.

In a scenario where you were offered to buy one of them, just walk away and find something else.

From what I've seen, there was one from LOT that ended up withdrawn as they couldn't get a particular part for the thing any more. That's how problematic these things are.

 

[johntea]

The poor business name probably didn't help much in their favour, at one point the Bradford Travel Centre had to put up a sign at the desk saying 'You can travel on LOT services even if you're not female'

Suppose it worked for their taxi business but a bit confusing when you see it plastered on a bus!

 

[jon0844]

The poor business name probably didn't help much in their favour, at one point the Bradford Travel Centre had to put up a sign at the desk saying 'You can travel on LOT services even if you're not female' [emoji38]

Suppose it worked for their taxi business but a bit confusing when you see it plastered on a bus!

A bit? Seems like a ridiculous name. Surely whatever the name of the company itself, it could have traded as something more sensible.

Locally a taxi firm, Hatfield Cars, got bought out and it renamed as Captain Solutions. New phone number and new cards with a name that sounded more like a consultancy firm.

All the drivers thought it crazy and common sense finally prevailed when it changed the public-facing name to Captain Cars.

 

[Andyh82]

It traded as "LOT" - The full name didn't appear on buses except in the legal lettering.

Various organisations, including Metro themselves insisted on spelling out the full name and causing confusion themselves.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It traded as "LOT" - The full name didn't appear on buses except in the legal lettering.

Various organisations, including Metro themselves insisted on spelling out the full name and causing confusion themselves.

It appeared on the digital PIS screens at bus stations, which I imagine seemed like a bit of a curveball for some people!

 

[Deerfold]

It appeared on the digital PIS screens at bus stations, which I imagine seemed like a bit of a curveball for some people!

Indeed, but that was down to Metro who had Bradford Free Town Bus on the screens until recently, despite it not being Free and going round a City.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Indeed, but that was down to Metro who had Bradford Free Town Bus on the screens until recently, despite it not being Free and going round a City.

It's fairly usual in Northern cities (in the North West at least) to refer to going into the city centre as "going to town", so there is a fair chance that may have been deliberate.

 

[Deerfold]

It's fairly usual in Northern cities (in the North West at least) to refer to going into the city centre as "going to town", so there is a fair chance that may have been deliberate.

As the leaflet called it the Bradford City Bus, I suspect not.
Looking back at my tweets to Metro, I'm reminded it actually said Bradford Free Twon Bus.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's fairly usual in Northern cities (in the North West at least) to refer to going into the city centre as "going to town", so there is a fair chance that may have been deliberate.

Nationwide, people say "I'm going into town" rather than "I'm going to city" if they're off to their nearest centre- "city" is only used in my experience if the city being visited is (a) bigger than the nearest urban centre, and (b) further away, where people may say "I'm off to the city". Even London tends to be called "town" by those living in places like Barnes or Kingston.

When Metro launched the free buses, they were all given the correct labels based on the status of the area: Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Halifax were Free Town Buses; Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield were Free City Buses. Over the years this has changed with Halifax being withdrawn completely (despite being the most needed, due to the topography of the place!) and Leeds/Bradford no longer being free. The issue of Bradford being on the PIS incorrectly probably came about with the change in operator, and was simply put into the system wrongly. Another quirk is the rather sorry state of the vehicles used on the Dewsbury buses, with 51-plate swb Darts which are branded as FreeCityBus along with an ex-London dual-door swb Dart (rear door only used when the ramp is needed) which is still in plain red. :roll:

 

[Deerfold]

Nationwide, people say "I'm going into town" rather than "I'm going to city" if they're off to their nearest centre- "city" is only used in my experience if the city being visited is (a) bigger than the nearest urban centre, and (b) further away, where people may say "I'm off to the city". Even London tends to be called "town" by those living in places like Barnes or Kingston.

When Metro launched the free buses, they were all given the correct labels based on the status of the area: Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Halifax were Free Town Buses; Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield were Free City Buses. Over the years this has changed with Halifax being withdrawn completely (despite being the most needed, due to the topography of the place!) and Leeds/Bradford no longer being free. The issue of Bradford being on the PIS incorrectly probably came about with the change in operator, and was simply put into the system wrongly. Another quirk is the rather sorry state of the vehicles used on the Dewsbury buses, with 51-plate swb Darts which are branded as FreeCityBus along with an ex-London dual-door swb Dart (rear door only used when the ramp is needed) which is still in plain red. :roll:

I don't remember there every being a Halifax Free Town Bus, though there have been various charging routes. The current one is the poorly promoted TJWalsh service linking Ovenden and the station with a loop of the town centre.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I don't remember there every being a Halifax Free Town Bus, though there have been various charging routes. The current one is the poorly promoted TJWalsh service linking Ovenden and the station with a loop of the town centre.

To be honest, I don't remember one either, but assumed perhaps incorrectly that if Dewsbury got one then surely they must have tried one in Halifax! If there was one (and I vaguely remember talk of one being withdrawn) it didn't last long. It seems odd that it was Leeds and Bradford that began charging considering that they're the bigger places, but both routes were painfully slow and long-winded in one direction for certain trips- the obvious example being station transfer in Bradford- very handy from Interchange to Forster Square, but in the opposite direction one could walk it 3 times before the bus you'd have been on got there!

 

[northwichcat]

It traded as "LOT" - The full name didn't appear on buses except in the legal lettering.

Various organisations, including Metro themselves insisted on spelling out the full name and causing confusion themselves.

The problem was they didn't have a separate 'trading as' name on their licences so as far as councils or the Traffic Commissioner would be concerned they weren't called 'LOT' it was just a name they put on their buses like 'Sapphire' is used on Arriva buses but Sapphire aren't considered as a bus operator.

 

[Deerfold]

To be honest, I don't remember one either, but assumed perhaps incorrectly that if Dewsbury got one then surely they must have tried one in Halifax! If there was one (and I vaguely remember talk of one being withdrawn) it didn't last long. It seems odd that it was Leeds and Bradford that began charging considering that they're the bigger places, but both routes were painfully slow and long-winded in one direction for certain trips- the obvious example being station transfer in Bradford- very handy from Interchange to Forster Square, but in the opposite direction one could walk it 3 times before the bus you'd have been on got there!

All the free buses were funded 50% by the town council and 50% by Metro. Leeds City Council were the first to withdraw funding

Halifax had a bus that ran every 7/8 minutes,effectively meeting every train around 2000. It was very popular with commuters arriving in the morning and evening to get to the top of town. It ended following a dispute about the amount it received from Metrocard users for such a short journey. This was run by Arriva.

 

[northwichcat]

All the free buses were funded 50% by the town council and 50% by Metro. Leeds City Council were the first to withdraw funding

Presumably that means Calderdale and Kirkless councils were willing to increase council tax to keep the funding for free buses going while Leeds and Bradford councils weren't.

 

[Deerfold]

Presumably that means Calderdale and Kirkless councils were willing to increase council tax to keep the funding for free buses going while Leeds and Bradford councils weren't.

As there are none running in Calderdale that seems unlikely. The current free services are funded by Wakefield and Kirklees councils and Metro.

Raising council tax is not the only option for the councils - some other service may not have been funded.