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Post by capitalomnibus on Aug 3, 2024 0:18:49 GMT
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Post by Dad91 on Aug 3, 2024 1:27:24 GMT
Best place for both 549 and W9 would b Walthamstow Avenue not too far from either of its terminuses Only thing is, space will be needed at AW when the W12 gets rerouted (and PVR increased), so depends on how long the emergency contract is for. Limited options now of routes to move south with charging infrastructure at AW for various routes - maybe the W16 could go to LI temporarily if needed? Or the W5 back to HK once it gets electrified? TFL will probably be keen to get the W9's new tender awarded quickly (and same with the 327), and maybe even negotiate for an earlier start date. I certainly doubt Stagecoach would be interested in running the W9 in the long term. AW is well placed to run the 549 as you say, but it might make sense to run from LI considering much of the route will be replaced by the W14 (so could help with driver familiarity)? that's unexpected shocking W9 Stagecoach London. Predict Stagecoach London North London I thought Go Ahead London Arriva London and Metroline go for W9 |
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Post by kmkcheng on Aug 3, 2024 2:00:51 GMT
Only thing is, space will be needed at AW when the W12 gets rerouted (and PVR increased), so depends on how long the emergency contract is for. Limited options now of routes to move south with charging infrastructure at AW for various routes - maybe the W16 could go to LI temporarily if needed? Or the W5 back to HK once it gets electrified? TFL will probably be keen to get the W9's new tender awarded quickly (and same with the 327), and maybe even negotiate for an earlier start date. I certainly doubt Stagecoach would be interested in running the W9 in the long term. AW is well placed to run the 549 as you say, but it might make sense to run from LI considering much of the route will be replaced by the W14 (so could help with driver familiarity)? that's unexpected shocking W9 Stagecoach London. Predict Stagecoach London North London I thought Go Ahead London Arriva London and Metroline go for W9 It’s not that shocking as in this sort of situation, even an operator that you not associate operating in a particular area of London maybe able to help out. We are not talking about a normal tender award. It is an emergency contract where at extremely short notice, buses and drivers were needed to run some sort of service. Stagecoach had the drivers and buses available to fulfil that criteria. |
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Post by lj61nwc on Aug 3, 2024 4:59:04 GMT
Some drivers were only messaged 6 hours ago about them no longer having a job to come to today(aware there's tupe but they won't be instant and most drivers are agency based who will now have to scrounge for other work for their drivers), however most of them had already found out through other channels.
Quite a few drivers keep mentioning there is an investigation into the operation of Sullivan Buses? which they can't comment on and the demise in the TfL side of the company is well deserved.
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Post by DT 11 on Aug 3, 2024 5:10:30 GMT
Only thing is, space will be needed at AW when the W12 gets rerouted (and PVR increased), so depends on how long the emergency contract is for. Limited options now of routes to move south with charging infrastructure at AW for various routes - maybe the W16 could go to LI temporarily if needed? Or the W5 back to HK once it gets electrified? TFL will probably be keen to get the W9's new tender awarded quickly (and same with the 327), and maybe even negotiate for an earlier start date. I certainly doubt Stagecoach would be interested in running the W9 in the long term. AW is well placed to run the 549 as you say, but it might make sense to run from LI considering much of the route will be replaced by the W14 (so could help with driver familiarity)? that's unexpected shocking W9 Stagecoach London. Predict Stagecoach London North London I thought Go Ahead London Arriva London and Metroline go for W9 If is an emergency takeover doesn’t matter how far the route runs from… |
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Post by COBO on Aug 3, 2024 6:12:16 GMT
Can't say I'm surprised the writing was on the wall for several years now. A sad los.
Surprised that a bigger operator like Metroline didn't take all Sullivan tfl bus routes and take their buses.
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Aug 3, 2024 6:18:20 GMT
Definitely, for a while the comments made by Dean on things such as TfL not willing to help smaller operators even when Uno have bidded for TfL work themselves and even Ensign who stepped up to run school extras during covid on behalf of TfL and various opeators, then at one point he said something about Sullivan not willing to invest on electric buses for TfL work has just shut the doors on bidding TfL work in the long term. Ensign who refused to bid for any TfL work who sited too much red tape says it all. This was years ago and they have stuck to their word. I believe it is for similar reasons that Rotala (Diamond) have shunned TfL work. |
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Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Aug 3, 2024 6:25:26 GMT
Only thing is, space will be needed at AW when the W12 gets rerouted (and PVR increased), so depends on how long the emergency contract is for. Limited options now of routes to move south with charging infrastructure at AW for various routes - maybe the W16 could go to LI temporarily if needed? Or the W5 back to HK once it gets electrified? TFL will probably be keen to get the W9's new tender awarded quickly (and same with the 327), and maybe even negotiate for an earlier start date. I certainly doubt Stagecoach would be interested in running the W9 in the long term. AW is well placed to run the 549 as you say, but it might make sense to run from LI considering much of the route will be replaced by the W14 (so could help with driver familiarity)? that's unexpected shocking W9 Stagecoach London. Predict Stagecoach London North London I thought Go Ahead London Arriva London and Metroline go for W9 Maybe Metroline and potentially also GA have bid for route W9 from February but would not have had the resources to take it up today. GA are already taking up route 299 today. Route W9 could replicate route 263 in 2001-02. It was surrendered by 1 operator and operated by another for less than a year (Arriva and Capital Citybus respectively) before the tender was won by Metroline. Route W9 was one of the first routes lost by LBL, to Eastern National in 1995, coincidentally also on August 3rd. EDIT : 1985, not 1995  |
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Post by joefrombow on Aug 3, 2024 6:55:08 GMT
Some drivers were only messaged 6 hours ago about them no longer having a job to come to today(aware there's tupe but they won't be instant and most drivers are agency based who will now have to scrounge for other work for their drivers), however most of them had already found out through other channels. Quite a few drivers keep mentioning there is an investigation into the operation of Sullivan Buses? which they can't comment on and the demise in the TfL side of the company is well deserved. Don't know about that and best to wait and see not speculate , but I remember everyone on here being shocked when Sullivans won the 549 as seemed a bit far compared to WH ? I think that's the last route they won and don't think it was that long ago , but suppose since 2020 a lot of operators have been handing back routes , maybe they should of done this and re-bid ? Still a few routes being awarded with Diesels albeit 3 year contracts and maybe worked out a Electric strategy from there . People slate Dean but I think it's refreshing to see a "open book" owner/director of a company , I don't understand people saying they are cowboys when they've openly said they aren't making money ? Why would they put people over profit ? Whole point of a business is to make a profit it's Tfl's who should be putting people over profit , Pretty poor from them to just text drivers though and hence why probably alot of services ran bshite last night and to be fair don't blame them I would bring the bus back right away aswell finding out over text loosing my job , Another thing though using Agency Drivers must cost a fair bit ? When I worked in Haulage would cost the company around £20 a hour for a Class 2 Driver when wages were around £10/12 a hour so sure it's a lot worst now for Bus Drivers . |
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Post by TA1 on Aug 3, 2024 7:05:43 GMT
As part of the Watford DC blockade which commenced from end of traffic last night until start of traffic Friday Morning.
Sullivans were due to operate Route 720 rail replacement (Harrow - Watford Junction) at present no buses are covering the route, but RATP have apparently stepped in and will be running services to a lesser anticipated frequency.
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Post by mark on Aug 3, 2024 7:53:37 GMT
Some drivers were only messaged 6 hours ago about them no longer having a job to come to today(aware there's tupe but they won't be instant and most drivers are agency based who will now have to scrounge for other work for their drivers), however most of them had already found out through other channels. Quite a few drivers keep mentioning there is an investigation into the operation of Sullivan Buses? which they can't comment on and the demise in the TfL side of the company is well deserved. I wouldn’t have thought TUPE applies as there won’t be a seamless transfer of the contract from Sullivan to another operator. |
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Post by lundnah on Aug 3, 2024 7:55:19 GMT
If you go to the TfL website and check the status of any of the affected routes, you get this message
Routes 217 298 299 327 389 399 549 W9 may be subject to journey cancellations due to an operator ceasing bus operations in London.
This is unhelpfully less informative than the two emails TfL sent me last night, which said
The operator of bus routes 217, 298, 299, 327, 549 and W9 has withdrawn from running TfL Bus services in London, and as a result there will be an impact to these services from Saturday 3 August until further notice. We are planning to run as many services as possible, but please allow more time for your journey.
The operator of bus routes 389 and 399 has withdrawn from running TfL Bus services in London, and as a result we will be unable to operate these services from Saturday 3 August until further notice.
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Post by mark on Aug 3, 2024 7:56:28 GMT
Some drivers were only messaged 6 hours ago about them no longer having a job to come to today(aware there's tupe but they won't be instant and most drivers are agency based who will now have to scrounge for other work for their drivers), however most of them had already found out through other channels. Quite a few drivers keep mentioning there is an investigation into the operation of Sullivan Buses? which they can't comment on and the demise in the TfL side of the company is well deserved. Don't know about that and best to wait and see not speculate , but I remember everyone on here being shocked when Sullivans won the 549 as seemed a bit far compared to WH ? I think that's the last route they won and don't think it was that long ago , but suppose since 2020 a lot of operators have been handing back routes , maybe they should of done this and re-bid ? Still a few routes being awarded with Diesels albeit 3 year contracts and maybe worked out a Electric strategy from there . People slate Dean but I think it's refreshing to see a "open book" owner/director of a company , I don't understand people saying they are cowboys when they've openly said they aren't making money ? Why would they put people over profit ? Whole point of a business is to make a profit it's Tfl's who should be putting people over profit , Pretty poor from them to just text drivers though and hence why probably alot of services ran bshite last night and to be fair don't blame them I would bring the bus back right away aswell finding out over text loosing my job , Another thing though using Agency Drivers must cost a fair bit ? When I worked in Haulage would cost the company around £20 a hour for a Class 2 Driver when wages were around £10/12 a hour so sure it's a lot worst now for Bus Drivers . Is he being honest? There is no mention in his statement that the meeting with TfL was primarily called to address the appalling performance by Sullivan on its contracts. Poor vehicle availability and a driver shortage were issues totally within his control but he appears not to have done anything to address them for months. |
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Post by DE20106 on Aug 3, 2024 8:01:09 GMT
If you go to the TfL website and check the status of any of the affected routes, you get this message
Routes 217 298 299 327 389 399 549 W9 may be subject to journey cancellations due to an operator ceasing bus operations in London.
This is unhelpfully less informative than the two emails TfL sent me last night, which said
The operator of bus routes 217, 298, 299, 327, 549 and W9 has withdrawn from running TfL Bus services in London, and as a result there will be an impact to these services from Saturday 3 August until further notice. We are planning to run as many services as possible, but please allow more time for your journey.
The operator of bus routes 389 and 399 has withdrawn from running TfL Bus services in London, and as a result we will be unable to operate these services from Saturday 3 August until further notice.
The 389/399 is especially unhelpful is it’s used primarily by - using the politest terms possible here - a slightly elder demographic who use it as a lifeline to go shopping. They will no doubt have no idea that their 389/399 won’t be running and will just be standing on the pavements (as it’s most hail and ride) waiting there for it to inevitably not turn up! |
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Post by ServerKing on Aug 3, 2024 8:06:20 GMT
It's not over yet. A bus war is brewing, Sullivans new X17 route will go head to head with Arriva's 217 using new electrics  XL24SUL spotted on The Ridgeway near Chase Farm Hospital yesterday   |
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