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Post by ThinLizzy on Aug 31, 2021 22:22:34 GMT
Abus of Keynsham, Bristol have ceased trading, apparently after the 28th August, and had a special running day on the last day. They operated an elderly fleet of Optare Spectras on their route 349 from Keynsham into central Bristol. Apparently, they had the first ever low floor double decker in service in the UK, which was a Spectra. I’m glad I sampled the 349 earlier this year! The only time I’ve been on a Spectra I don't think they did and judging by flickr all the Spectras bar the one they have had until now which is a 52 plate were all step entrance They introduced the first low-floor Spectra a few hours before Travel West Midlands did. All of the Spectras I've seen on Flickr are LF versions |
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Post by redexpress on Aug 31, 2021 22:33:54 GMT
I don't think they did and judging by flickr all the Spectras bar the one they have had until now which is a 52 plate were all step entrance They introduced the first low-floor Spectra a few hours before Travel West Midlands did. All of the Spectras I've seen on Flickr are LF versions Indeed, registered R222AJP - pic and a bit more info here. I didn't know it was written off following fire damage in 2015. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2021 23:30:44 GMT
Abus of Keynsham, Bristol have ceased trading, apparently after the 28th August, and had a special running day on the last day. They operated an elderly fleet of Optare Spectras on their route 349 from Keynsham into central Bristol. Apparently, they had the first ever low floor double decker in service in the UK, which was a Spectra. I’m glad I sampled the 349 earlier this year! The only time I’ve been on a Spectra I don't think they did and judging by flickr all the Spectras bar the one they have had until now which is a 52 plate were all step entrance They've been running six low-floor Spectras of late - YG02 FWA/B/C, YE52 FHF, AP53 BUS and AP04 BUS. They have previously owned/operated some step-entrance Spectras though, including K159 PGO, L116 ALJ, L124 ELJ, M132 HPR, M144 KRU and S111 AJP. They did also indeed put Britain's first low-floor decker into service, with their Spectra R222 AJP at 0650 on 3rd February 1998 ( it carried wording to this effect). The story goes that when collecting his Spectra, Alan Peters found out that National Express had planned a launch event for their one-each Travel West Midlands and Travel Dundee R1/2 NEG similar Spectras, so he got his put swiftly into service to beat them them. R222 AJP was sadly destroyed in a fire a number of years back. Edit: I realise some of this has been said above - I replied after reading Page 12, not noticing there was a Page 13! |
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Post by LondonNorthern on Aug 31, 2021 23:36:07 GMT
Great information from the three of you. Many thanks and that's very interesting. I would've thought a more "popular operator" if you can put it that way like NXWM as you've mentioned would've taken on the opportunity.
One thing I'd note whilst we are on the topic of low floor/step entrance buses is why are the rules in regards to PSVAR different to school contracts compared to regular run-of-the-mill daytime route contracts? I've seen a large number of step entrance Olympians still being used across the country (mainly ones from Dublin Bus), is there a difference in regulations or are all these companies breaking regulations?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2021 0:20:57 GMT
One thing I'd note whilst we are on the topic of low floor/step entrance buses is why are the rules in regards to PSVAR different to school contracts compared to regular run-of-the-mill daytime route contracts? I've seen a large number of step entrance Olympians still being used across the country (mainly ones from Dublin Bus), is there a difference in regulations or are all these companies breaking regulations? This is something that has become a bit of a controversial subject of late. PSVAR rules affect vehicles used on scheduled services from the following dates: buses/coaches up to 7.5t from 2015, single deck over 7.5t from 2016, double deck from 2017, and coaches from the start of last year (2020). Many school contracts are known as 'closed door', which means they are only available to school/college students rather than the general public, and therefore are not registered as local bus services. A lot of operators therefore felt these were out of scope of PSVAR rules, however as the 2020 coach deadline approached, it became clear that the authorities were going to include them within scope of PSVAR as they still run to a timetable. Likewise, planned rail replacement services. Cue panic... It soon became clear that it was going to be impossible for the industry to comply with this from the beginning of 2020, due to a lack of sufficient numbers of PSVAR-compliant coaches on the market, not to mention money. November 2019 therefore saw an exemption scheme set up, giving operators extra time to comply, until the end of 2021. This was valid on the provision services carried no more than 20% of fare paying passengers (80% or more had to be children eligible for free school travel). The beginning of 2020 saw a further exemption for services procured directly by schools or colleges, or local authorities on their behalf, however these specific ones were only valid until the end of the school year (31st July 2020). Manufacturers soon begun offering PSVAR conversions, as did a number of third parties. Cue Coronavirus... Coach operators in particular have struggled due to lack of income following the March 2020 lockdown and subsequent restrictions, so closed door school contracts were exempted for a further year, through to 31st July of this year (2021). I understand a further extension is now in the process of being organised, taking operators through to March 2022. While this buys operators even more time to comply as their finances have now hopefully begun improving as the country has started opening back up, there is now talk of PSVAR itself being reviewed in 2023 to possibly start encompassing non-scheduled services such as private hires, tours and excursions. Time will tell... As for why some deckers have continued to be in use so far beyond the 2017 deadline for double deck buses, I know some single deck vehicles escaped the earlier deadlines by having seats removed to below 22, and possibly others reclassified as coaches with no standees. Perhaps this was also done with some deckers, hence their continued use? Additionally, a loophole means individual non-compliant vehicles can be used on in-scope services for up to I think 20 days per year, which is how some heritage services running over a limited period get away with it. This would obviously not be much use to regular school contracts though, so probably irrelevant here. Old step entrance vehicles do also see a lot of use with farms for transporting fruit pickers out to the fields each day, so it may also be set-ups like this you have seen. |
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Post by wirewiper on Sept 18, 2021 8:20:56 GMT
Johnson's of Henley-in-Arden and subsidiary Whittle's Coaches of Kidderminster have been taken over by National Express.
Source: Bus News, week 18/09/21 (Londonstransport Google group)
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Sept 18, 2021 17:53:44 GMT
Johnson's of Henley-in-Arden and subsidiary Whittle's Coaches of Kidderminster have been taken over by National Express. Source: Bus News, week 18/09/21 (Londonstransport Google group) A good local expansion for National Express. Johnsons do routes such as from Coventry to Solihull which could be absorbed into NXWM. I remember Whittle's buses being owned by East Yorkshire until the bus network was closed at the start of 2015. |
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Post by SILENCED on Oct 5, 2021 22:37:59 GMT
Johnson's of Henley-in-Arden and subsidiary Whittle's Coaches of Kidderminster have been taken over by National Express. Source: Bus News, week 18/09/21 (Londonstransport Google group) Turns out this was fake news. |
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Post by wirewiper on Oct 6, 2021 7:40:19 GMT
Johnson's of Henley-in-Arden and subsidiary Whittle's Coaches of Kidderminster have been taken over by National Express. Source: Bus News, week 18/09/21 (Londonstransport Google group) Turns out this was fake news. I reported it in good faith, from what I regard as a reliable source. |
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Post by wirewiper on Oct 6, 2021 12:42:17 GMT
Turns out this was fake news. I reported it in good faith, from what I regard as a reliable source. This is a statement from Johnson's Coaches: www.johnsonscoaches.co.uk/news/312/we-are-and-will-continue-to/The author of Bus News (my usually reliable source) got the original information from one of his usually reliable sources. Thankfully we have cleared this one up! |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Oct 9, 2021 4:36:53 GMT
It will have been worthwhile for National Express missing out on Johnson's if it means they get Stagecoach instead!
Managers are understandably on the whole too busy to respond to rumours. There can sometimes be market confidentiality such as when there are any negotiations in hand. The only other rumour I can remember refuted in recent years was when Go-Ahead stated they were not taking over McGills.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2022 21:22:43 GMT
The owners of 96 year old firm Travel Wright Ltd, of Newark, have announced their intention to cease trading in early April. www.travelwright.co.uk/"‘It is with great sadness we have to announce Travel Wright intend to close the business in early April. ‘We are looking to retire and have accordingly been looking for a buyer such that the business could continue as a going concern but unfortunately this has not happened. It has been a difficult decision to make and will be a very sad day for our family, our staff and we are sure our customers too.’ A final decision will be announced on or around 18th February. ‘We will continue to support our staff and would like to thank them for their loyalty and for helping us to achieve what we hope will be an honourable exit. It would be fantastic for the public to support us during the next 9 weeks or so – perhaps taking a last outing to the seaside, a short break or even booking a coach for a day out – we do hope so’ ‘We can categorically state our business remains solvent and we will continue to honour all of our bookings; day excursions, holidays, services, private hire and contracts up to and including Sunday 3rd April. In addition we will definitely be operating the excursion to London to see Wicked on 6th April. ‘Anyone who has a Travel Wright Gift Voucher is encouraged to use it before the end of March. We will be in touch with all of our private hire customers who have bookings beyond 3rd April in the next few weeks’ We would like to extend a huge thank to our excursion and holiday passengers, schools, private hire customers and businesses, indeed all who have supported us over the years; it will be a very sad day and we trust you will agree the end of an era in Newark. David, Colin & Paula" |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 12, 2022 9:37:48 GMT
Claribel Coaches are selling their bus operation to Rotala, who will integrate it with their Diamond operation effective from April 24th.
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Post by Busboy105 on Feb 12, 2022 10:08:27 GMT
Claribel Coaches are selling their bus operation to Rotala, who will integrate it with their Diamond operation effective from April 24th. Thats a shame. Birmingham really will have just two operators at this rate |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Feb 12, 2022 11:17:49 GMT
Claribel Coaches are selling their bus operation to Rotala, who will integrate it with their Diamond operation effective from April 24th. Thats a shame. Birmingham really will have just two operators at this rate Indeed, I think we might soon have just "National Stagecoach", Rotala Diamond and Arriva route 110 Birmingham - Tamworth. There is also Walsall Community Transport route 25 from Brownhills to Birmingham Erdington, but this of course does not reach the city centre. Mind you, all those operators do serve Erdington. |
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