Nottingham 'Bus War'

[MCR247]

You've got to take into account that both the 34 and the 36 have a spare bus allocated daily (as they brand for the PVR -1) and so it would only require 1 branded bus to be out of use for there to be 4 silver buses on. If this was the case perhaps it was these you just happened to see? And the Hopper fleet is based in Gotham and the only other double deckers there are the 48s and the 4s (excluding the 1s as I doubt they'd use an E400) as well as a few spares.

There is, however, more spares in recent years than there used to be.

 

[tbone]

I've read elsewhere that the fast skylink bus is happening, with Irizar i4 coaches from Red Arrow

 

[Mugby]

Could Airport - Melbourne - Swadlincote - Burton be a possibility?

Although it's perhaps more Arriva territory.

 

[tbone]

There was once a pn Arriva service from Swad via Melbourne which was withdrawn and Midland Classic once ran a service from that area to the airport, although I seem to remember that that service was withdrawn as the traffic commissioner reduced their vehicle allowance (I may well be wrong).

It could be an option though to run the third Nottingham Skylink through (currently one goes to Loughborough, one to Coalville and one turns around) as the through traffic may help make it profitable.

 

[Urobach]

I've read elsewhere that the fast skylink bus is happening, with Irizar i4 coaches from Red Arrow

Matches with what I've heard, skylink express via Clifton presumably with 72 73 and 76, with 75 repainted into new Red Arrow livery and 74 off to TM Travel

 

[nottinghamcity]

Nottingham had an OK night at the UKbus awards. As far as I can see, TB - Best driver, NCT third in same category. TB top shire operator, runner up. Nottingham City Council won environment category for electric link buses. No big category wins though this year.

 

[ag51ruk]

Matches with what I've heard, skylink express via Clifton presumably with 72 73 and 76, with 75 repainted into new Red Arrow livery and 74 off to TM Travel

Not ideal buses for airport passengers with lots of luggage on what is still effectively a local route (narrow doors, step entrance and narrow aisle)

 

[edwin_m]

Not ideal buses for airport passengers with lots of luggage on what is still effectively a local route (narrow doors, step entrance and narrow aisle)

May need to stow luggage under the floor? Which wouldn't be good if intermediate stops are planned.

 

[SCH117X]

Agree, strange choice of vehicles, a route NCT refused to operate on a commercial basis and remember Premiere and their Red Flyer.

 

[nottinghamcity]

and remember Premiere and their Red Flyer.

Beat me to it! It made me think "OK, we've got these old coaches we need something to do with. Let's start an express coach link to the airport. What could possibly go wrong?"
In fact premiere later changed over to enviro 200 single deckers and added intermediate stops as they desperately tried to make the wretched thing break even.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Matches with what I've heard, skylink express via Clifton presumably with 72 73 and 76

2 coaches plus a spare? Realistically this would only allow an hourly service, 40 mins journey time plus 10 minutes lay over at each end.

 

[edwin_m]

2 coaches plus a spare? Realistically this would only allow an hourly service, 40 mins journey time plus 10 minutes lay over at each end.

It would be 20min layover, but still not enough to increase the frequency even if it didn't ran beyond the airport.

 

[tbone]

Three coaches branded, 90 min round trip, half hourly service.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Three coaches branded, 90 min round trip, half hourly service.

Not much slack in that!

Would spares therefore be taken from the general pool - maybe substituting with a bus? Anyone know what's happening with the coaches displaced from Club Class?

 

[Robertj21a]

Well there were always numerous ordinary buses on the Red Arrow before the latest coaches arrived, so there's no reason why they wouldn't be the obvious standby anyway.

 

[tbone]

Not much slack in that!

Would spares therefore be taken from the general pool - maybe substituting with a bus? Anyone know what's happening with the coaches displaced from Club Class?

I would imagine so, that's what happens if one of the Club Class coaches is off. The only 'spare' coach is the Red Arrow branded spare as they can only go on a limited number of routes. That being said, it would have been an idea to brand a coach in a generic livery to cover Skylink express and Red Arrow from the Nottingham side in case a coach doesn't make it across.

 

[ivanhoe]

May need to stow luggage under the floor? Which wouldn't be good if intermediate stops are planned.

I think the airport buses are mainly for people who work in the area of East Midlands airport which is quite large now. Given that EMA is used mainly for the holiday trade, most passengers are either going to drive or use a taxi. There will be some passengers who will use the buses but if you'd just spent over £1500 for a family to travel to Tenerife, then you'll probably factor in either airport parking or a taxi. It's a bit like the extension of Metrolink to Manchester airport. It's mainly for workers because passengers will use other means.

 

[edwin_m]

I think the airport buses are mainly for people who work in the area of East Midlands airport which is quite large now. Given that EMA is used mainly for the holiday trade, most passengers are either going to drive or use a taxi. There will be some passengers who will use the buses but if you'd just spent over £1500 for a family to travel to Tenerife, then you'll probably factor in either airport parking or a taxi. It's a bit like the extension of Metrolink to Manchester airport. It's mainly for workers because passengers will use other means.

That's certainly been so when I've used the current Skylink, which is so slow that only a public transport nerd like me would use it to catch a flight.

The previous NCT Skylink via the A453 was also largely for employees and its public sector sponsors (anyone remember EMDA) routed it through Meadows and Clifton specifically to link these deprived areas to jobs at the airport. It did have big luggage racks though.

It remains to be seen whether the new version is similar or runs with few or no intermediate stops in an attempt to pick up some air passengers.

 

[Ginga]

Plans for New Broadmarsh Bus Station, only 9 bays

http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity...._NFUL3-PROPOSED_GROUND_FLOOR_PLAN-1134599.pdf

 

[Robertj21a]

That's certainly been so when I've used the current Skylink, which is so slow that only a public transport nerd like me would use it to catch a flight.

The previous NCT Skylink via the A453 was also largely for employees and its public sector sponsors (anyone remember EMDA) routed it through Meadows and Clifton specifically to link these deprived areas to jobs at the airport. It did have big luggage racks though.

It remains to be seen whether the new version is similar or runs with few or no intermediate stops in an attempt to pick up some air passengers.

The new Skylink Express only serves a few key stops between Nottingham - EMA (including University, Clifton and Clifton South tram stop), via A453.

 

[kevjs]

The new Skylink Express only serves a few key stops between Nottingham - EMA (including University, Clifton and Clifton South tram stop), via A453.

Hopefully Victoria Embankment / Trent Bridge too - that will be handy for bus passengers from West Bridgford to interchange without heading into the city. (That what I did when heading to the Airport back in the days of bmi-baby)

 

[edwin_m]

Hopefully Victoria Embankment / Trent Bridge too - that will be handy for bus passengers from West Bridgford to interchange without heading into the city. (That what I did when heading to the Airport back in the days of bmi-baby)

Depends whether it uses Clifton Bridge, which seems likely based on the previous post.

Is there a link to information about this anywhere? I can't see it on the TB website.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Plans for New Broadmarsh Bus Station, only 9 bays

http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity...._NFUL3-PROPOSED_GROUND_FLOOR_PLAN-1134599.pdf

Link leads to Document Unavailable.

At present stands 1-12 are used for service buses and 13-16 NXP.
Bay 1 is only used by the occasional Uni bus.
Bay 2 3 per hour (Skylink)
Bay 3 9 per hour (Indigo)
Bay 4 8 per hour (i4)
Bay 5 8 per hour (Rushcliffe)
Bay 6 6 per hour (Centrelink)
Bay 7 3 per hour (Cotgrave Con)
Bay 8 4 per hour (Keyworth Con)
Bay 9 2 per per hour (18/20).
Bay 10 is the 4 per hour Y4 and how long will that last.
Bay 11 3 per hour (9 & 21)
Bay 12 1 per hour (Centrebus)

So basically 51 departures per hour. If you take an average of 6 departures per hour that's 9 stands which is presumably where the figure comes from. Looking at the above, bays 9 & 12 are massively under used, while 2, 7 & 11 are also underused. As long as they don't make it too small like Victoria & Newark.

So what are they doing with National Express? Street stands like Northampton or are they thinking of squeezing them into the above 9....

 

[nottinghamcity]

Is there a link to information about this anywhere? I can't see it on the TB website.

I haven't seen anything official from any source. There isn't a VOSA registration yet either.

 

[Robertj21a]

I haven't seen anything official from any source. There isn't a VOSA registration yet either.

The launch date is end of January so they'll have to get their finger out for 56 days notice. As far as I'm aware it is stopping at Trent Bridge.

 

[kevjs]

Link leads to Document Unavailable.

At present stands 1-12 are used for service buses and 13-16 NXP.
Bay 1 is only used by the occasional Uni bus.
Bay 2 3 per hour (Skylink)
Bay 3 9 per hour (Indigo)
Bay 4 8 per hour (i4)
Bay 5 8 per hour (Rushcliffe)
Bay 6 6 per hour (Centrelink)
Bay 7 3 per hour (Cotgrave Con)
Bay 8 4 per hour (Keyworth Con)
Bay 9 2 per per hour (18/20).
Bay 10 is the 4 per hour Y4 and how long will that last.
Bay 11 3 per hour (9 & 21)
Bay 12 1 per hour (Centrebus)

So basically 51 departures per hour. If you take an average of 6 departures per hour that's 9 stands which is presumably where the figure comes from. Looking at the above, bays 9 & 12 are massively under used, while 2, 7 & 11 are also underused. As long as they don't make it too small like Victoria & Newark.

So what are they doing with National Express? Street stands like Northampton or are they thinking of squeezing them into the above 9....

As with normal planning application sites you can't link directly to them :roll:

Full details of the Broadmarsh area redevelopment at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/broadmarsharea

For the bus station go to http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/online-applications and search for "15/03034/NFUL3"

The regular bus stops (currently on Collin Street which will be pedestrianised) will be moved onto Canal Street "linking" them to the bus station more than currently - probably more than sufficient for the likes of the Rushcliffe Mainline/Villager services which only use the bus station for a rather convoluted set-down pick-up at present.

 

[ALIEN14247]

It'll be a start date of Sunday 31st January 2016.
I would expect a half hourly service running from 04:00 until around 22:30 operating from Broad Marsh and picking up/setting down at County Hall, NTU Clifton, Clifton P+R and Pegasus Business Park.
Three ex Red Arrow coaches running on a 90 minute round trip.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Here we are:

PB0002711/52 - BARTON BUSES LTD, 88A MANSFIELD ROAD, HEANOR, DE75 7BG
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Nottingham, Broadmarsh Bus Station
Finish Point: East Midlands Airport Terminal
Via:
Service Number: Skylink Express
Service Type: Limited Stop
Effective Date: 31-JAN-2016
Other Details: Daily

Also a lot of NCT changes from February.

 

[tbone]

Changes to indigo from the end of January too.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Nottingham's new Smart Card the Robin Hood card is to launch Dec 14th.

I've been on the Yourbus y4, Y5 and Nottingham Coaches Link 17 today.
.

Still not seen a launch announcement for the Robin Hood card. I wonder if is being delayed by technology issues.

Nottingham Coaches 17 cancelled from 29th January

 

[ivanhoe]

It'll be a start date of Sunday 31st January 2016.
I would expect a half hourly service running from 04:00 until around 22:30 operating from Broad Marsh and picking up/setting down at County Hall, NTU Clifton, Clifton P+R and Pegasus Business Park.
Three ex Red Arrow coaches running on a 90 minute round trip.

I wish the service well but I suspect that quite a few are going to carry a small number of passengers. Skylink Leicester-Loughborough-EMA-Derby has it just right mainly because of it being a mixture of limited stop (Loughborough to Leicester) and normal operation after Loughborough .