SPT Tendered Routes

[duffers2324]

Thanks for the swift reply @markymark2000 that's a pity had plans for the weekend to get 1 but well thats that.

 

[Deerfold]

Thanks for the swift reply @markymark2000 that's a pity had plans for the weekend to get 1 but well thats that.

Thread about it was here:

SPT Daytripper ticket to be withdrawn

The SPT daytripper ticket is finally going to be culled. https://www.spt.co.uk/tickets/day-tickets/daytripper/ Daytripper ticket Please note the Daytripper ticket is being withdrawn from the end of 2021. The last day of Daytripper sales will be Friday 29 October 2021 and the last day...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Stan Drews]

It would appear there have been some difficulties procuring school transport contracts for the new academic year!

'Chaos' as Scots school bus routes cut last minute for first day of new term

North Lanarkshire Council said it is 'wholly unacceptable' SPT only informed them they had no buses for a number of routes on Tuesday afternoon.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

Dozens of school bus routes have been cut for pupils last minute in North Lanarkshire on the first day of term.
A total of 43 routes will not be running on Wednesdays for students attending both primary and secondary schools in the region.
It comes as Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), who organise mainstream contracts for North Lanarkshire Council, have failed to get drivers for certain routes.
North Lanarkshire Council said they were only informed of the issue late on Tuesday afternoon by SPT and branded it as "wholly unacceptable".
It is unknown why contracts for all needed bus routes have not been found but taxi contractors for Additional special needs schools have also withdrawn their contracts in the last 48 hours due to a "shortage of drivers".
Other Scottish councils have reported similar difficulties.
A statement from North Lanarkshire Council told parents and guardians: "We have been informed today by SPT, who organise mainstream school transport contracts on our behalf, that they have been unable to organise transport on a range of routes.
"SPT has not informed us specifically why they have been unable to carry out this task and their informing the council of these issues at the last minute is wholly unacceptable.
"SPT has apologised and accepted that this should not have happened. However, certainly on Wednesday August 17, the routes detailed in the table above will not run.
"In addition, a number of taxi contractors for ASN schools have withdrawn from their contracts in the last 48 hours due to a shortage of qualified drivers."
High schools affected include; Airdrie Academy, Braidhurst High, Calderhead High, Caldervale High, Chryston High, Clyde VCalley High, Dalziel High, Greenfaulds, Kilsyth Academy, Our Lady's High (both Cumbernauld and Motherwell), St Andrew's High, St Maurice's High, St Aidan's and Taylor High.

Primary schools without routes include; Condorrat, Greengairs, Holy Family, Shawhead, St Andrew's, St David's, St John Paul II, St Patrick's, St Teresa's, St Thomas' and Woodlands.

It is not known if the issue will continue past Wednesday.
The statement continued: "SPT has apologised and is committed to working with the council to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.
"Officers from our transport team will contact families affected by ASN provision directly to discuss and explore options.
"For those affected by transport issues for mainstream provision, we are appealing to parents and carers to find suitable alternative means for children and young people to get to and from school.
"We make as much use of our council fleet as possible taking account of available vehicles and drivers. However, the demand for transport far exceeds this capacity.

 

[darloscott]

It would appear there have been some difficulties procuring school transport contracts for the new academic year!

'Chaos' as Scots school bus routes cut last minute for first day of new term

North Lanarkshire Council said it is 'wholly unacceptable' SPT only informed them they had no buses for a number of routes on Tuesday afternoon.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

From contacts up there it seems to be the fall out from councils finally awarding contracts last week to start this week, and then wondering why operators couldn’t fulfill them.

 

[Stan Drews]

The latest in the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ saga…

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended | North Lanarkshire Council

Suspension of blue recycling bin service from Monday 22 August 2022

www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended​

Residents may be aware that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) failed to put in place a number of school bus contracts in time for the start of term.

While work has been carried out to reduce the number of school bus routes affected, many remain unserviced. The council has a legal duty to transport children who are eligible to school.
To assist SPT, who have sourced some additional buses but have been unable to engage drivers, some of our appropriately trained and qualified drivers will be required to drive buses for school transport. While we will seek to engage replacement drivers as quickly as possible, this means that we have taken the difficult decision to suspend collection of blue paper and card bins for the next three weeks, until Monday September 12.

 

[adrock1976]

The latest in the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ saga…

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended | North Lanarkshire Council

Suspension of blue recycling bin service from Monday 22 August 2022

www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended​

Residents may be aware that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) failed to put in place a number of school bus contracts in time for the start of term.

While work has been carried out to reduce the number of school bus routes affected, many remain unserviced. The council has a legal duty to transport children who are eligible to school.
To assist SPT, who have sourced some additional buses but have been unable to engage drivers, some of our appropriately trained and qualified drivers will be required to drive buses for school transport. While we will seek to engage replacement drivers as quickly as possible, this means that we have taken the difficult decision to suspend collection of blue paper and card bins for the next three weeks, until Monday September 12.

I saw in local reports that it seems that drivers will be pulled from doing bins to driving buses.

Notably, there have been quite a few concerns that the bin drivers may not be qualified to drive PCV/PSV types of transport, and more concerningly, they may not have been through the Disclosure Scotland checks as it involves working in close proximity to children.

 

[Stan Drews]

I saw in local reports that it seems that drivers will be pulled from doing bins to driving buses.

Notably, there have been quite a few concerns that the bin drivers may not be qualified to drive PCV/PSV types of transport, and more concerningly, they may not have been through the Disclosure Scotland checks as it involves working in close proximity to children.

I believe the bin lorry drivers will also hold valid PCV entitlement, however they admit they don’t have the required PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) clearance, which is a requirement for all bus operators drivers running school contracts. Neither SPT or North Lanarkshire Council hold a PSV Operators Licence, so it will be interesting to see who’s O licence they are going to use.

 

[markymark2000]

I believe the bin lorry drivers will also hold valid PCV entitlement, however they admit they don’t have the required PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) clearance, which is a requirement for all bus operators drivers running school contracts. Neither SPT or North Lanarkshire Council hold a PSV Operators Licence, so it will be interesting to see who’s O licence they are going to use.

Probably use whoevers buses they are using, use their O licence and essentially 'loan' out their drivers to the bus companies.

 

[Clydeflyer]

I thought the bin crews were about to go on strike this week for an extended period... where does that leave the school buses then?

 

[Stan Drews]

I thought the bin crews were about to go on strike this week for an extended period... where does that leave the school buses then?

North Lanarkshire isn’t currently on the list of affected local authorities, but that might change if a resolution isn’t found.

 

[lastbus]

Just seen several parks of Hamilton coaches in north Lanarkshire councils yard in bellshill.

 

[markymark2000]

Milligan's, a coach operator in Ayrshire has an interesting take on things. Plenty of slating SPT for not issuing contracts but also, SPT saying that some people can't take on temp contracts in some areas because they have no permeant contract there. If that's what is going on, SPT isn't helping matters by limiting their pool of operators. Also other tweets showing that original tender bids got rejected for being too expensive (an extra £5 per day) so they put the route back out to seemingly emergency tender and it got won, same price but only for 3 months.

Whoever is doing the tendering in SPT has made a right mess here.

Tweets below from @moragmillig4n (Morag Milligan of Milligans Coach Hire)
Tweet 1:

Couldn’t apply for South Ayrshire temp school contracts as SPT said I don’t have a permanent contract within authority. Just received an email looking for cover in Glasgow & East Dumbartonshire. I don’t have contracts in theses areas either! No continuity.

Tweet 2:

We were allowed to apply for Keenan’s stuff in Feb. That was my argument. No one has given me an answer as to why we were denied the opportunity in August. #Tumbleweed Never got to apply for North Lanarkshire either.

Tweet 3:

SPT need to accept some responsibility. Operators normally know awards by May at latest. Operators can’t get drivers or coaches in the short space of time that they took to issue them this year. I already highlighted my concerns in June.

 

[Observer]

ARG Travel took over the 222 (Monklands Hospital – Coatbridge – Kirkwood – Bargeddie – Baillieston) from 30th October. The route itself is now fully subsidised and not commercial at any part of the day.

https://www.spt.co.uk/media/tlbhzli1/service-222-combined-october-2022.pdf

Of note is this:

Please note that a Passenger Journey Restriction will apply between the hours 07:50 - 17:00, Monday through to Saturday. This is to preserve the existing commercial bus services provided by United Coaches.

In practical terms a passenger shall not travel on the 222 Service specifically and only between Kirkwood & South Circular Road, Coatbridge. This applies in both directions. Passengers, as normal, can board and alight the bus (222
Service) in either area at any time, just not to travel between Kirkwood & South Circular Road, Coatbridge. This applies in both directions. This specific journey can be fulfilled using United Coaches commercial bus services.

Also earlier in October, McColl's regained the 340 (Helensburgh – Vale of Leven Hospital – Royal Alexandra Hospital) from Carr's Loch Lomond.

https://www.spt.co.uk/media/wrkfusfh/service-340.pdf

 

[sannox]

ARG Travel took over the 222 (Monklands Hospital – Coatbridge – Kirkwood – Bargeddie – Baillieston) from 30th October. The route itself is now fully subsidised and not commercial at any part of the day.

https://www.spt.co.uk/media/tlbhzli1/service-222-combined-october-2022.pdf

That seems a hard one to enforce.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Craig of Cumbernauld have two former CT Plus ADL Enviro 200s for use on service 72 between Buchanan Bus Station and Kirkintilloch, YX21RRV & YX71OJJ.

 

[voidwxrranty]

Does anyone happen to know who will now win the contract for the 189/190?

 

[Observer]

Does anyone happen to know who will now win the contract for the 189/190?

Your best bet is to see if anything appears in https://www.spt.co.uk/about-us/who-we-are/minutes-agendas/operations-committee/ later in the month as those are normally where the awards are shown, if awarded.

The Operations Committee is responsible for all issues relating to bus, rail, Subway and ferry.

 

[Stan Drews]

Does anyone happen to know who will now win the contract for the 189/190?

SPT only issued the tender last week. Bids aren’t due in until next Monday. Good luck to whoever fancies finding 4 additional late shift drivers!

 

[sannox]

SPT only issued the tender last week. Bids aren’t due in until next Monday. Good luck to whoever fancies finding 4 additional late shift drivers!

Have some not been on reduced times (for reduced money) as well (59 comes to mind), so likely additional daily resource.

 

[TUC]

The latest in the ‘you couldn’t make it up’ saga…

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended | North Lanarkshire Council

Suspension of blue recycling bin service from Monday 22 August 2022

www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk

Waste service update - blue bin service suspended​

Residents may be aware that Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) failed to put in place a number of school bus contracts in time for the start of term.

While work has been carried out to reduce the number of school bus routes affected, many remain unserviced. The council has a legal duty to transport children who are eligible to school.
To assist SPT, who have sourced some additional buses but have been unable to engage drivers, some of our appropriately trained and qualified drivers will be required to drive buses for school transport. While we will seek to engage replacement drivers as quickly as possible, this means that we have taken the difficult decision to suspend collection of blue paper and card bins for the next three weeks, until Monday September 12.

How typically 2nd rate public sector. Rob Peter to pay Paul.

 

[Stan Drews]

Have some not been on reduced times (for reduced money) as well (59 comes to mind), so likely additional daily resource.

The reply was in response to a query about the 189/190, which only runs in the evening and needs 4 buses/drivers.
There are numerous other contracts being given up, which operate during the day.

 

[PaulMc7]

Does anyone else feel like we may get to a point where some SPT tenders will be impossible to find an operator for due to the driver shortages?

 

[christopherrfc]

Spt have announced that the M3 evening journeys will no longer run as of the 29th of January.

Bus Timetables | SPT | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport

SPT subsidises local bus services in areas not served by commercial bus operators. Timetables for these services are provided below. For commercial services visit the operators' website, use the timetable finder below or call Traveline Scotland on 0871 200 2233.

www.spt.co.uk

Passengers please note, service M3 will conclude its operations on Saturday 28 January 2023 and will no longer be operating from Sunday 29 January onwards. Please note, this will result in the removal of McColl's Travel journeys only, and will not impact First Glasgow journeys operated during the daytime.

 

[Stan Drews]

Does anyone else feel like we may get to a point where some SPT tenders will be impossible to find an operator for due to the driver shortages?

It is certainly becoming much harder to find drivers to cover late shifts, so where tenders are for just eve and/or Sunday journeys, many operators are simply not bidding.

 

[PaulMc7]

It is certainly becoming much harder to find drivers to cover late shifts, so where tenders are for just eve and/or Sunday journeys, many operators are simply not bidding.

I've noticed this recently, especially with McGill's. The likes of the 153, 164, 165 etc are beginning to see cancellations in recent times. If the biggest operators are struggling, I dread to imagine how the smaller ones who can't pay drivers as much are coping with this.

 

[DC21]

I'm hoping Whitelaws have bid for the 251 contract. If they have (and win) it would practically sew up the Larkhall network, apart from Stuarts 317.

 

[PaulMc7]

I'm hoping Whitelaws have bid for the 251 contract. If they have (and win) it would practically sew up the Larkhall network, apart from Stuarts 317.

It would certainly make the service more attractive to people if an operator has most of the services in the area.

Obviously it's a bit more unavoidable now due to the driver shortages but SPT needed to work more closely with operators to make the tendered services actually worth running and attract people to use them. It's definitely an issue when you have one operator covering the tendered services and another with a fully comprehensive network in the same area. A lot of the SPT services seem like such a waste of money.

 

[DC21]

Anyone heard anything about potential bids for the First Glasgow SPT routes that they will be giving up?

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Anyone heard anything about potential bids for the First Glasgow SPT routes that they will be giving up?

SPT only issued the tender last week. Bids aren’t due in until next Monday. Good luck to whoever fancies finding 4 additional late shift drivers!

Operations Committee aren't due to meet until 27th January.

Schedule of meetings

www.spt.co.uk

 

[Stan Drews]

Operations Committee aren't due to meet until 27th January.

Schedule of meetings

www.spt.co.uk

Emergency tenders don’t normally go through the same process as the regular annual renewal cycle, which will see a report go to the Operations Committee.