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Post by londonbuses2018 on Aug 2, 2024 21:27:32 GMT
Maybe just maybe TFL has been ringing Metroline, GAL and Arriva my concern is the school routes from 2nd Sept
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Post by moz on Aug 2, 2024 21:33:44 GMT
Reminds me of when London Easylink went bust. No service on the 185 until Blue Triangle organised the emergency service. Hopefully with Sullivan informing TfL of their intention not to run the TfL services, something can be organised for tomorrow. Blue Triangle had at least a couple of buses running the 185 before the last Easylink motor got back to the garage as they were running extras on the 53 at the time. By the following morning most if not all the service was covered. Moz
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 2, 2024 21:36:43 GMT
Maybe just maybe TFL has been ringing Metroline, GAL and Arriva my concern is the school routes from 2nd Sept Plenty of time to find a school operator within a month
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Post by Red Dragon on Aug 2, 2024 21:36:44 GMT
I foresee difficulties on the W9 with unfamiliar drivers, especially around Highlands Village. They'll get yellow signs up there if they have any sense
Funnily enough, they're managing to put on a better service on the W9 than there has been in a while. 2 buses out vice 3, and only 20 minutes late...
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Post by londonbuses184 on Aug 2, 2024 21:43:02 GMT
I never rated Sullivan as a TFL company anyways and I'm glad that all these routes will have new companies. Their maintenance is by far the worst in the whole of London when you look at first impressions and initial attractions, it is not pleasing to the public. I've seen many times where the blinds for the 298/299/389/399/W9 were broken all the time. So for me good riddance and glad TFL have cut ties with them. Interesting to see what happens tomorrow.
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Post by londonbuses on Aug 2, 2024 21:44:30 GMT
I've heard that the 549 and W9 are going to Stagecoach, this is not confirmed though so take this with a pinch of salt.
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Post by greg on Aug 2, 2024 21:44:31 GMT
Wow… what news to a night out! I start work at 6:30am tomorrow and luckily away from the Barnet area, coincidental and yet amazing lol
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Post by lj61nwc on Aug 2, 2024 21:45:33 GMT
I never rated Sullivan as a TFL company anyways and I'm glad that all these routes will have new companies. Their maintenance is by far the worst in the whole of London when you look at first impressions and initial attractions, it is not pleasing to the public. I've seen many times where the blinds for the 298/299/389/399/W9 were broken all the time. So for me good riddance and glad TFL have cut ties with them. Interesting to see what happens tomorrow. Their rail replacement routes had better blinds than their contracted routes. They even printed out blind inserts for the Watford DC Line replacement when Metroline didn't. Odd choice of money expenditure there
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Post by busoccultation on Aug 2, 2024 21:46:58 GMT
I've heard that the 549 and W9 are going to Stagecoach, this is not confirmed though so take this with a pinch of salt. Was already confirmed by a Stagecoach driver on The Londoner Facebook group who is usually reliable with the informations on this, just need Stagecoach to sort out everything they can for the 549 & W9 as soon as they can.
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Post by Red Dragon on Aug 2, 2024 21:48:40 GMT
I never rated Sullivan as a TFL company anyways and I'm glad that all these routes will have new companies. Their maintenance is by far the worst in the whole of London when you look at first impressions and initial attractions, it is not pleasing to the public. I've seen many times where the blinds for the 298/299/389/399/W9 were broken all the time. So for me good riddance and glad TFL have cut ties with them. Interesting to see what happens tomorrow. Sullivans was pretty good until Covid - friendly drivers, well-specced vehicles etc. It all went downhill during Covid, although perhaps their blind banditry was a sign of things to come.
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Post by sp17 on Aug 2, 2024 21:49:54 GMT
For all the critics of Sullivan, I tell you this, you’re all being pretty harsh without knowing the ins and outs. There’s a lot more to this story; the so called neglect comes from loss of revenue, if they are not paid how are they meant to maintain the standard TfL set? Not wanting to convert the garage to an electric is another thing but the reality is electric buses aren’t going to last long term, every industry expert knows this but won’t admit it because it doesn’t fit the “script”. The industry as a whole is broken like everything else in this country. I feel sorry for Dean but he’s been pushed here; like many others who have come and gone. We only know what Dean has been posting. I don’t want to sound too harsh but some of his social media posts have been far from professional and not what you would really expect from a TfL contractor. He’s saying what everyone else is thinking but won’t say. Do you think experienced engineering managers really believe electric buses are the future? This isn’t the same as switching from coal to diesel, there’s so many problems with electrics that no one would dare admit. Not being paid is also unprofessional; it’s a breach and causes distrust and a loss of respect. TfL clearly have no money but the son of a bus driver is insistent that every tender needs new buses, it’s ridiculous. Why are Volvo B9s with a shelf life of 20 years being withdrawn at 7 years old. Why are 2016 deckers leaving London? It’s all a joke really. Suited to the big corps who just shut up and play ball.
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Post by londonbuses184 on Aug 2, 2024 21:50:43 GMT
I never rated Sullivan as a TFL company anyways and I'm glad that all these routes will have new companies. Their maintenance is by far the worst in the whole of London when you look at first impressions and initial attractions, it is not pleasing to the public. I've seen many times where the blinds for the 298/299/389/399/W9 were broken all the time. So for me good riddance and glad TFL have cut ties with them. Interesting to see what happens tomorrow. By the way the only sympathy I have with Sullivan is the drivers. Many of them gonna find themselves stranded for now in short notice. Hopefully they'll find now routes soon.
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Post by lj61nwc on Aug 2, 2024 21:55:43 GMT
He’s saying what everyone else is thinking but won’t say. Do you think experienced engineering managers really believe electric buses are the future? This isn’t the same as switching from coal to diesel, there’s so many problems with electrics that no one would dare admit. They are the future for Londoners for at least the next 14 years with thousands out on the road now . Range issues were/are a problem in the first few batches of EV buses as TfL rushed to the scene, but without TfL rushing so early, I dont think the EV bus industry would've advanced as far as they have now in terms of effiency and range etc. Not being paid is also unprofessional; it’s a breach and causes distrust and a loss of respect. Strongly agree, I made the same point initially but now I'm wondering if TfL were witholding funds due to an inadaquate service TfL clearly have no money but the son of a bus driver is insistent that every tender needs new buses, it’s ridiculous. Might want to check out the latest tender updates... Why are Volvo B9s with a shelf life of 20 years being withdrawn at 7 years old. Why are 2016 deckers leaving London? It’s all a joke really. Suited to the big corps who just shut up and play ball. It's not like they're heading straight to the scrap yard. They serve a much more peaceful life in the home counties and beyond where the operating company (Stagecoach, Arriva, Go Ahead, Metroline) or leasing companies see fit. TfL don't pay for the whole life of a bus when issuing a tender with new buses, they just pay est. maintanence cost the operating company thinks they will need for the next 7 years or however long said contract is
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Post by matthieu1221 on Aug 2, 2024 22:00:23 GMT
For all the critics of Sullivan, I tell you this, you’re all being pretty harsh without knowing the ins and outs. There’s a lot more to this story; the so called neglect comes from loss of revenue, if they are not paid how are they meant to maintain the standard TfL set? Not wanting to convert the garage to an electric is another thing but the reality is electric buses aren’t going to last long term, every industry expert knows this but won’t admit it because it doesn’t fit the “script”. The industry as a whole is broken like everything else in this country. I feel sorry for Dean but he’s been pushed here; like many others who have come and gone. We only know what Dean has been posting. I don’t want to sound too harsh but some of his social media posts have been far from professional and not what you would really expect from a TfL contractor. I'd be very interested to see what the claimed 130k unpaid by TfL by their June meeting is actually all about. We know from FOIs that TfL has been scrutinising Sullivans for a while now due to poor performance. Was payment withheld from them as a result?
We need TfL's side of this though we might never get this (although I'm sure people will go digging with FOI requests if nothing of substance comes out in a press release). Dean Sullivan is (understandably) not going to release a press release detailing the actual reasons for the exit if it doesn't reflect particularly well of the business (and from a previous FOI and anecdotal evidence from some on here, it doesn't seem to have been particularly flattering).
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Post by adl on Aug 2, 2024 22:01:08 GMT
217 is heading to Arriva AR.
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