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Post by ohdear on Jun 18, 2018 22:50:31 GMT
"You have to be a bit careful when the person being pushed is Stagecoach"
I do not think Lynxbus in Kings Lynn would agree with that as they found them a push over.
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Post by ohdear on Apr 11, 2018 7:32:08 GMT
Its just happened in Norfolk where after a local operator sold out to Stagecoach because of health problem.
A new company opened up no doubt funded by Julian Patterson and the millions he received when Go Ahead bought his Konnect company operating on the profitable sections of a route and then undercutting Stagecoach on tendered services.
Result Stagecoach withdraw, most routes now have higher fares and higher tax payer subsidies.
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Post by ohdear on Feb 12, 2018 22:39:37 GMT
Wrights may be part of the UK but were financed in a very different way. They were forever receiving EU and other subsidies on the pretext the NI economy needed support. Perhaps these subsidies are now ending
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Post by ohdear on Jan 8, 2018 11:46:58 GMT
There seems to be a very strange reluctance to try any other manufactures vehicles.
However whatever is thought of the streetdecks B&H appear to be happy with them.
When I use them to and from Eastbourne they do get up he hills so they are doing their job.
Unless anyone knows different ....................... That's the first favourable comment I've heard from someone about the Streetdecks and the hills - certainly everyone else including myself who have used the service has experienced much different where the Streetdecks are woeful at climbing the hills. They may get up their but the engines are clearly underpowered - you only have to listen to the buses going up the hills to hear this - and I'd be shocked if it's not putting considerable strain onto the engines. It's a shame we've not got a Brighton & Hove's driver's perspective about them. I was just stating fact.
As you say they do get up the hills.
B&H have had these on this route for two years or so. It has to be assumed that the are therefore happy with them.
Perhaps they have been rewarded to be happy with them.
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Post by ohdear on Jan 7, 2018 23:41:54 GMT
There seems to be a very strange reluctance to try any other manufactures vehicles.
However whatever is thought of the streetdecks B&H appear to be happy with them.
When I use them to and from Eastbourne they do get up he hills so they are doing their job.
Unless anyone knows different .......................
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Post by ohdear on Dec 28, 2017 23:41:32 GMT
From Anglia and Thames Valley Group
"Came across 6 new ADL E400MMC parked on an industrial estate in Crowland (Lincolnshire) today after a tip off from a friend.
They are for Go Ahead in London and the 3 at the front are EH175,172 and176 (YY67URC/UPZ/URE)
The number plates are partially greyed out indicating that they may not yet be taxed etc.
Trawling the internet, a picture of them has been posted on Flickr by Adam Marlow dated December 15th.
Passing through Crowland, there are now around 20 new EH class parked on the premises of Crowland Cranes - Possibly for a new tender award not yet started? Any ideas?
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Post by ohdear on Feb 4, 2017 0:25:27 GMT
Things are not getting better for Wrightbus - more recalls
25/01/2017 R/2017/023 WRIGHTBUS Streetvibe, Streetlite & Streetdeck parking brake can be released before full air pressure is achieved A9NSRVXX17360018 SA9NSRVXX17360029 01/10/2010 31/01/2017
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Post by ohdear on Dec 29, 2016 13:34:57 GMT
The big danger is the nature of plans for electrification given NR can't string wires properly at an affordable cost and the DfT have fallen in love with bi-mode trains (quelle surprise). And yet NR is a nationalised industry... so all those of you that are out there that are advocating nationalise everything which will cure all the country's ills ... be careful what you wish for. Public sector yet again proven to be wholly inefficient. Just remind us what subsidies British Rail were receiving against what the private sector are getting. If British Rail had been receiving such sums it might have been a different story
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Post by ohdear on Nov 26, 2016 15:52:03 GMT
Stagecoach in Kingston, that will take some getting used to. They've been here before! Any idea or info as to which Stagecoach company will be operating the route
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Post by ohdear on Oct 26, 2016 20:13:10 GMT
It is felt more outside London. Before deregulation a company had to run a route all day, to put it simply,provide a public service. Any losses during the quieter periods were more than covered by the profits from the busy periods. Deregulation allowed companies to run the service when they wanted to - the profit making busy periods. My last bus previously 11pm - later at weekends - became 5.45pm - so I was forced into a car and now hardly use the service. What of the loss making periods - they were moved to us local tax payers via the councils if a service was required in these periods. See what is happening in Surrey at the moment is the result. However greater a greater giveaway was still to come with the knock down sale of the NBC companies
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Post by ohdear on Aug 24, 2016 21:43:44 GMT
I think the statement from Leon Daniels when he "made it clear to the Assembly Cttee that direct purchase was not TfL's preferred way of doing things and had only done it for the NB4L as there was no other way of getting the buses built and into service". In others words no operator wanted it only the politicians keeping the Unionist sweet to ensure their support in Parliament. Another worry for Wrights is Brexit because they were covered in subsidies from the EC. Remember over £1million to develop the Streelite What other bus manufacturer got those sort of sums - answer none.
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Post by ohdear on Jul 25, 2016 21:25:57 GMT
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Post by ohdear on Jul 24, 2016 9:55:45 GMT
I think GHA Coaches is the largest bus company to collapse since National Welsh in 1992. I rode with them as recently as May 3rd, from Wrexham to Barmouth on Traws Cymru T3. I understand this is now operated by Lloyds, helped by the Welsh Assembly. I think the potential intervention from the CMA is making it harder for independents to sell out the big boys, meaning more company collapses than before. Your last sentence may be correct but doesn't apply in this case. Seems to be a combination of H&S breaches and not paying the taxman. Unless you're Vodaphone the taxman will always get you and they're relentless and don't give a stuff for the wreckage they leave behind. PS I am not advocating tax evasion just in case anyone tries to mangle my words. An attempt to get funding to cover their tax bill failed which may tell its own story. It had been noted for the last couple of years the huge expansion of this company, presumably by undercutting the opposition but as other similar companies have shown, tax bill or no tax bill, the cash situation becomes not enough to provide guarantees for further borrowing .
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Post by ohdear on Jul 21, 2016 23:40:47 GMT
The article in the latest issue of Buses magazine explains that there is high demand for second-hand three-axle Volvo B9TLs, which have been out of production for some time now. Though I am kind of surprised that a variant of the Enviro500 either isn't available or suitable. I don't think it looks too bad other than the lower front area (though Aintree's livery appears to at least disguise it partly). It's certainly not as stylish as many other buses however that doesn't seem so important for a vehicle mainly used for rail replacement and private hire work. What Ensign buy from ADL - that would be novel.
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Post by ohdear on Jul 8, 2016 22:45:25 GMT
Thanks snoggle - yes the source you quoted was where I read about. What I would like to see is a comparison of the various hybrids. Up to now the Borismaster has been able to get away with comparison with the previous buses on the route
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