Transdev Blazefield

[Leedsbusman]

What would be the minimum notice that should be given to a new operator to start a service? I cannot imagine that any new operator for York’s local services could meet a 15 September deadline. When Transdev started there were a few incidents where drivers went the wrong way including one that I was on that had to turn around at Acomb fire station!

Though as customers of EY’s services into North Yorkshire have found, that can happen even when there is much more notice! In fairness it can happen when a new driver starts with a new employer too.

New contracts start on 2nd September.

 

[96tommy]

If the WYIS report of the Leeds - York service being boosted is correct that will require at least three vehicles.

Is it known what the details of what this "boost" is, are buses going to 3 per hour between Leeds and York?

 

[Seehof]

The new operator must know well in advance before the notice is issued. I see from post 4297 EY’s notice was 7 days before the service started. Surely, you cannot obtain vehicles and train staff with just 7 days notice!

 

[Leedsbusman]

The new operator must know well in advance before the notice is issued. I see from post 4297 EY’s notice was 7 days before the service started. Surely, you cannot obtain vehicles and train staff with just 7 days notice!

It depends on the circumstance. I believe the bidders have been told the outcome and are now in a mandatory 10 day standstill period pending formal contract award at which point I’m sure they will reveal themselves.

It’s all very last minute. If as a customer you are anxious about what happens, email [email protected] and ask them when details of the changes will be made available to customers.

 

[SCH117X]

Is it known what the details of what this "boost" is, are buses going to 3 per hour between Leeds and York?

Yes, the indication by WYIS is every 20 minutes. Presumably a 20-40 interval between York and Malton.

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Staff might transfer under TUPE regulations as neccessary.

 

[dodecahedron67]

Transdev attempted to buy out Reliance Buses of Sutton-on-Forest. Source: Reliance contacts

 

[RustySpoons]

Transdev attempted to buy out Reliance Buses of Sutton-on-Forest. Source: Reliance contacts

When was this?

 

[WAB]

Transdev attempted to buy out Reliance Buses of Sutton-on-Forest. Source: Reliance contacts

This does not surprise me. Reliance have two of the better routes north of York, and I imagine EY had eyed them up too.

 

[dodecahedron67]

This does not surprise me. Reliance have two of the better routes north of York, and I imagine EY had eyed them up too.

Yes they had. Both approaches told where to go (back home)

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When was this?

Recently. Apparently big French bosses not happy with all expenditure on new Rawcliffe depot just for it to be massively underused

 

[Seehof]

So what might they do with the depot now or will they restructure again? Back to Malton garage?!

 

[Delenn]

Apparently big French bosses not happy with all expenditure on new Rawcliffe depot just for it to be massively underused

What I want to know is if they aren't happy with all the expenditure, why is the architect of it still in his position?

 

[Andyh82]

Yes they had. Both approaches told where to go (back home)

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Recently. Apparently big French bosses not happy with all expenditure on new Rawcliffe depot just for it to be massively underused

How many layers of bus industry gossip is there between ‘the big French bosses’ and yourself?

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So what might they do with the depot now or will they restructure again? Back to Malton garage?!

I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to start being so dramatic

It’s worth remembering that the previous depot was compulsory purchased, they had to move

There are many operators up and down the country that are entirely reliant on tenders, at least Coastliner have solid commercial work on top

 

[SCH117X]

What about the 14?

Also cancelled

PB0001873/82 YORKSHIRE COASTLINER LTD, PROSPECT PARK, BROUGHTON
WAY, HARROGATE, HG2 7NY
Operating between Foxwood Lane Shops and Haxby West Nooks given service
number 14 effective from 01 September 2024

As is the school service that triggered the largely less than successful Vamooz

PB0001746/107 HARROGATE & DISTRICT TRAVEL LTD, PROSPECT PARK,
BROUGHTON WAY, STARBECK, HARROGATE, HG2 7NY
Operating between Ripon Bus Station and St Aidens School/St John Fisher School
given service number S36 effective from 01 September 2024.

 

[dodecahedron67]

How many layers of bus industry gossip is there between ‘the big French bosses’ and yourself?

I mean some of what I know has come from the former Coastliner now Harrogate GM

 

[Leedsbusman]

What I want to know is if they aren't happy with all the expenditure, why is the architect of it still in his position?

Perhaps because they are happy after all?

 

[Stan Drews]

Yes they had. Both approaches told where to go (back home)

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Recently. Apparently big French bosses not happy with all expenditure on new Rawcliffe depot just for it to be massively underused

I know there were some discussions a number of years ago, prior to the incorporation of the current entity, when like many similar family run business one generation is looking to relinquish control and consider their options. At the time there was a fairly close relationship between the two after the collapse of the Stephensons business when Transdev loaned and then sold some buses to Reliance. Nothing came of the discussions which were perfectly amicable, and the business happily continues under the reins of the next generation.
No drama and all perfectly normal in business, but it’s Transdev so there often has to be a conspiracy theory!

 

[RustySpoons]

Yes they had. Both approaches told where to go (back home)

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Recently. Apparently big French bosses not happy with all expenditure on new Rawcliffe depot just for it to be massively underused

Interesting. If they weren't happy with the spending on Rawcliffe I can't see how they'd happy with even more spending buying out another operator.

 

[WAB]

Interesting. If they weren't happy with the spending on Rawcliffe I can't see how they'd happy with even more spending buying out another operator.

5 or 6 all day boards with a fair amount of traffic plus a couple of school runs, fleet and drivers included in the package, would be a pretty good deal as far as North Yorkshire goes.

 

[Delenn]

Perhaps because they are happy after all?

Exactly. That's what I was getting at. We know they are happy to dump CEOs, so if they weren't happy with what he spent on Rawcliffe, he'd have gone by now.

 

[Seehof]

I personally wish Transdev well. Once they got over the staffing problems they have provided a good reliable service on the York locals with friendly staff. They were, of course, hit by Covid but now they seem to have attracted a lot of full fare paying passengers. However, I hear that EY have boosted numbers by over 10% on the 12 since they took that route on.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Also cancelled


As is the school service that triggered the largely less than successful Vamooz

Thought so, just hadn't seen it discussed. EY is in prime position to pick up the 14 as they already run the 12 (which the 14 shadows for a large part of its route) and they can use the same vehicles and drivers as they do for the 12.

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Also, what would happen to the York & Country E200mmcs, would they be transferred elsewhere in Transdev or used to boost service on Coastliner? I vaguely remember single decker buses being used on Coastliner between Leeds and Tadcaster/York to boost capacity around a decade or so ago.

 

[Leedsbusman]

Thought so, just hadn't seen it discussed. EY is in prime position to pick up the 14 as they already run the 12 (which the 14 shadows for a large part of its route) and they can use the same vehicles and drivers as they do for the 12.

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Also, what would happen to the York & Country E200mmcs, would they be transferred elsewhere in Transdev or used to boost service on Coastliner? I vaguely remember single decker buses being used on Coastliner between Leeds and Tadcaster/York to boost capacity around a decade or so ago.

I suspect if they have won the contracts the E200MMCs will stay.
If they have lost the will move somewhere else.
We don’t yet know which of those is the true scenario despite all the bluster on here!

 

[Delenn]

We don’t yet know which of those is the true scenario despite all the bluster on here!

Yes, there is an awful lot of stuff on here I know to not be true. Eventually, it'll all come out.

 

[Andyh82]

Thought so, just hadn't seen it discussed. EY is in prime position to pick up the 14 as they already run the 12 (which the 14 shadows for a large part of its route) and they can use the same vehicles and drivers as they do for the 12.

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Also, what would happen to the York & Country E200mmcs, would they be transferred elsewhere in Transdev or used to boost service on Coastliner? I vaguely remember single decker buses being used on Coastliner between Leeds and Tadcaster/York to boost capacity around a decade or so ago.

You really think they’d use mini E200MMCs on Coastliner?!

 

[RustySpoons]

Info from Paul Turner, Transdev's commercial director

Blackburn are expecting 1861 from Harrogate, 278, 292 and 293 from Idle and B9s 2774 to 2778 and 3613 from Harrogate and Keighley. These ten will see off 1063, 1103, 1700, 1735, 1755, 2763, 2425 and 2426.

Burnley will gain 2422/3 from Keighley and 2425/6 from Blackburn.

Keighley gain 3616-3628 and 3639-3641 from Harrogate these will likely release school buses from the 272x 273x and 278x for disposal. Two of 1717-1723 will move to Team Pennine - a couple of others will join the initially with 2752/3 coming the other way once their school buses land. We should also be able to remove 1729-1733 later this year. 2025 should see the removal of the remaining Presidents, B10s and BMCs - but that’s for another day.

Harrogate will be getting its 39 electrics soon. The eCitaros will be 1001-1020, E400EVs 2201-19. 801-8, 2101-6, 2427/8 and 1853-6 will make up the rest of the fleet. Of the others 1702-5 1834, 1837-9 3614 are for disposal, the rest for cascade. 2 of the Hybrid Citaros will join Harrogate to replace 2 more B7RLEs on X99 workings.

Team Pennine - 10 E400s replace 2723, 2752/3, 2742-4, 2782. 2x B7RLEs from Keighley plus 1857-60 from Harrogate will provide the rest of the fleet for the new school contracts (15 workings v 8 before) with some extra ones from Keighley will we wait for the incoming buses. School wise we should have 1SD, 8DD (inc 2746) at Waterloo and the rest at Elland. We should also move 69 from Keighley.

Idle - 13 hybrids due in November/December. Versas 238-243, 274-7 off lease.

York and Malton - 1867 and 1871 are due to enable an increase in Coastliner to every 20m between York and Leeds with a funding from NYC. This should start late October all being well.

1866 at Blackburn is likely to get a much needed repaint - that is the last single decker in Pride of the North livery, 2723, 2763 will be disposed of so that just leaves 2764 in that livery.

 

[YorkRailFan]

You really think they’d use mini E200MMCs on Coastliner?!

For short hops such as between Leeds and Tadcaster, yes.

 

[stevieinselby]

Also, what would happen to the York & Country E200mmcs, would they be transferred elsewhere in Transdev or used to boost service on Coastliner? I vaguely remember single decker buses being used on Coastliner between Leeds and Tadcaster/York to boost capacity around a decade or so ago.

I believe that the York & Country E200MMCs are leased rather than owned, in which case they would probably be returned to the leasing company at the end of the contract. I can't see any other smaller buses in their fleet that are approaching retirement age so no obvious place for them to go. Although they did use Versas when they ran the 844 between Leeds and York a few years ago, I can't see them using small E200MMCs on such a high profile and demanding route.

 

[Andyh82]

For short hops such as between Leeds and Tadcaster, yes.

Why not go the whole hog and use the Mellors

 

[YorkRailFan]

Why not go the whole hog and use the Mellors

I wouldn't do that, but Transdev does use them on the DalesBus service between Bradford and Malham on a frequent basis.

 

[SCH117X]

As per posting 4345 York is to gain B7RLEs 1867 and 1871 from Harrogate

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Also note the comment at the end

"That’s most of it - as I say subject to change and some short term cover moves as we have 8 extra PVR from September hence why we have hung onto a few vehicles which should have gone in the spring cascade!"