tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159280162012-02-11T15:56:53.621Zbusingnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-35856161710378357852012-02-11T06:59:00.004Z2012-02-11T09:27:42.020Z

’Tis time once again for the Omnibuses Blog annual survey. New visitors may like to know that we at Omnibuses try to listen to readers and one way of doing so is via a survey. We’ve held it every February since 2009 and we feel that it’s worth repeating. There’ve been good turn outs, too.Click here to take the survey nowPlease therefore take our newest survey. We always publish the results. And

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-54362462422204151292012-02-10T06:59:00.006Z2012-02-10T07:15:05.250Z

Welsh operator reaction to the regional assembly’s recent decision to cut BSOG has included a claim from smaller operators in both Coach & Bus Week and Passenger Transport that it would now be worthwhile returning to older, step entrance vehicles. An interesting point. It would certainly save fuel and that, after all, could counter the decrease in rebate via BSOG (set to reduce to as much as in

busingnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-18210870053815405792012-02-09T06:59:00.001Z2012-02-09T06:59:00.339Z

Plymothian Transit recently highlighted the unbelievable story of locals from the somewhat unfortunately named village of Crapstone, twixt Plymouth & Tavistock. They complained to the local media that Plymouth Citybus had charged their children a penalty fare on school service 124 for being without season tickets. It wasn’t that the seasons hadn’t been issues, the pupils simply didn’t have them

busingnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-79884717084769841672012-02-08T06:59:00.005Z2012-02-08T06:59:00.057Z

Perhaps a little was revealed yesterday of the uphill struggle facing New First. Following some VOSA monitoring, First Manchester was up before the headmistress, traffic commissioner Beverley Bell. Of all the TCs, the northern of the two Bells is known for her no-nonsense attitude. Operators should rightly respect their traffic commissioner when “invited” to a public inquiry but Mrs Bell is

busingnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-23622259774605028062012-02-07T06:59:00.007Z2012-02-07T06:59:00.096Z

“In a dynamic, commercial world, getting involved in commissioning your own bespoke technical solution is a seriously risky business”. So said Capoco Design last week in a 3,700-word essay on TfL’s New Bus for London.ADL Enviro 400 as redesigned by CapocoCapoco, you may recall, was the design house that Autocar commissioned in December 2007 to produce a vision for a new Routemaster, the RMXL.

busingnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-23944146914538752382012-02-06T07:00:00.006Z2012-02-06T07:00:07.671Z

It’s the short distance fares that cop it every single time. The trials of fares increases, today on the Dorset Bus Blog

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-39370144962099711272012-02-06T06:59:00.010Z2012-02-06T07:33:42.211Z

It’s understandable that the trade press has been full of First Bus’ rebranding (First has dropped the “UK” bit, BTW, in a return to life before rail franchises). The reports major on a change of strategy from corporate to local; manifestos for passengers & stakeholders; and the First promise. You sense it’s not about the new livery, even though this is the most obvious outward sign. As Giles

busingnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-36503485090684124232012-02-05T06:59:00.000Z2012-02-05T06:59:00.743Z

It doesn’t happen often but it does happen: local councils proposing to buy their own fleets in order to compete against what they perceive to be a poorly performing incumbent commercial operation.The latest threat comes from Aberdeen, Scotland. The idea surfaced during a council debate about First’s plans to up its fares (partly, perhaps, in response to short-notice BSOG changes there). Buy a

busingnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-36314690032609284682012-02-03T06:59:00.004Z2012-02-03T06:59:00.046Z

With cuts in BSOG looming, operators have had 18 months to prepare. No matter how unpleasant the news, you can’t argue with the long lead in. But it’s now almost upon us. If an operator wishes to make changes to parts of its network, today’s the last opportunity for VOSA to accept a variation (or cancellation). That’s because the statutory 56-day lead in for registration variations or

busingnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-67201447138509915372012-02-02T06:59:00.006Z2012-02-02T07:26:05.777Z

There she was, an early 20-something girl on the platform at the terminus, her hand vainly trying to poke outside the open doors in a futile attempt to keep her cigarette smoke from entering the vehicle. Giggling she was, to a fairly nonplussed driver who must’ve been at least 15 years her senior. And then it occurred to me. How successful we’d been at banishing the groupie girl from the

busingnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-81596114051364866122012-01-31T07:00:00.002Z2012-01-31T07:03:22.542Z

Thank you for your positive comments on Sunday’s post. One reader wondered about “hits”. If you’re interested, I’ve responded here.

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-45472510836462670422012-01-31T06:59:00.005Z2012-01-31T06:59:00.047Z

The fares goss at the moment is all about Stagecoach coming out tops in the recent TAS published information on fares—especially the cost of weekly commuting by Stagecoach. Stagecoach is rightly trumpeting this fact.But the real issue is the fact that, actually, the whole industry should congratulate itself in being able to peg its fares under inflation. It’s a remarkable feat. TAS’ recent survey

busingnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-5466684324016682982012-01-30T06:59:00.010Z2012-01-30T07:36:30.218Z

First Bus is never far from the headlines these days. There’s the question of its rebranding exercise, for one thing. Its TV advert. And news that it wants to prune its UK bus business… but can’t. All it’s managed to offload so far is King’s Lynn. It ditched Bury St Edmund’s without a sale. But it wants to shift more. As the headline in Passenger Transport reads, “First struggling to find bus

busingnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-15996485964395561302012-01-29T06:59:00.012Z2012-01-29T09:48:49.741Z

With warmest thanks to readers, commenters, contributors and tipsters, here is the Omnibuses Blog 2011 year in review Less time spent writing this blog, marginally fewer posts than in previous years but an increased readership and comment levels sum up the Omnibuses Blog in 2011.From a peak of 175,000 words written in 2010, 2011 weighed in at a mere 148,000 words, about 15 per cent fewer. The

busingnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-1142196234969010982012-01-28T06:59:00.006Z2012-01-28T08:14:22.965Z

The consensus from comments received on yesterday’s post seems to be that First’s new livery, part of its essential rebranding exercise, is as insipid as it is uninspired. How did they manage to get it so wrong? Especially when this was pretty much a one-off opportunity to get it so right. A couple of people commented, in spite of what is a generally unloved nature of Barbie, that they actually

busingnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-16000170704986433052012-01-27T06:59:00.016Z2012-01-27T07:09:53.811Z

I doubt few people will shed a tear at the passing of First’s so-call Barbie livery. It’s fairly universally unloved, even among many of its managers… and certainly among enthusiasts. IMO, though, at least one variant had its merits, but that’s another story. Leon Daniels, when a First UK Bus director, nevertheless acted as an apologist for Barbie on this very blog.Perhaps not the best picture

busingnoreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-57616712183745280012012-01-25T06:59:00.008Z2012-01-25T06:59:00.068Z

The front page of yesterday’s Chester local newspaper featured what is now a high profile quarrel between a local councillor and the proprietor of Helm’s of Eastham, writes Omnibuses’ Northern Correspondent. It’s all about the new livery sported by Helm’s Chester station to city centre service, what Helm’s is now calling—ouch—the “Inter-the-City” link.Councillor David Robinson felt that the new

busingnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-12223161849032450012012-01-24T06:59:00.010Z2012-01-24T07:00:21.868Z

It almost cost the transport minister his job. It was certainly an unprecedented political crisis in a small country that most people feel is immune to the problems associated with normal life. At least things seem a little less fraught, of late. Perhaps residents are finally adjusting to the new way of delivering bus services. Perhaps the silent majority who have actually benefited from the

busingnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-38766183587590528662012-01-23T06:59:00.003Z2012-01-23T06:59:00.174Z

You ask any driver about his biggest gripe and he may well say pay, conditions or hours. He’ll probably mention communication. But he’ll possibly mention directors’ and managers’ cars, oft a bone of contention. *Buses* are our business so why should bus company executives enjoy subsidised company motoring? Why can’t they use the bus like anyone else? Wouldn’t it be beneficial if they did? Wouldn’

busingnoreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-72064946770280843382012-01-21T06:59:00.006Z2012-01-21T08:56:47.123Z

From Phil’s Purple Bus Blog comes a reminder that the VOSA registrations teams, whether regionally or now in Leeds, have never been particularly renowned for their spelling or geographical interpretation. Or for actually reading registrations. “In Buffalo [Travel] days, I once registered the evening service on route 344 through [Abbot’s (sic) Langley] entirely in German—von Hemel Hempstead

busingnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-46476014580244544662012-01-20T06:59:00.007Z2012-01-20T08:05:49.773Z

The Optare Alero was possibly the best-looking minibus ever built. It looked more like an inflated MPV than a bus. The peaked destination box (not shown here) actually enhanced the design. Alero set itself apart from all the other van-derived 16 seaters then available. It made them all look either old fashioned or like welfare vehicles. There was also little competition, perhaps the small 16-seat

busingnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-22542040238478700412012-01-19T07:00:00.004Z2012-01-19T07:00:00.920Z

Over on Dorset Bus, readers have been commenting like billyo on Damory’s decision to drop services that would’ve been won under tender to Yellow Buses. There are over 40 comments. Among them is the vexed question of whether Damory timetables should appear on their own website. Type “Damory” into Google and searchers are referred to a dedicated Damory page. Is this enough? Oh, and the 347/87 gets

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-85488261533273028092012-01-19T06:59:00.013Z2012-01-19T06:59:00.361Z

It’s been a while since we’ve run a survey but I thought the following topic might be ideal. Click here to take the survey now.It hit the news before Christmas but has subsequently re-emerged. It’s the demand by Unite (a union) that platform staff be given a £500 bonus for working the three weeks of the olympics and paralymics. And, should employers refuse, there’s the threat of industrial action

busingnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-46788707517953508252012-01-18T06:59:00.012Z2012-01-18T07:16:14.855Z

I’ve always wondered why our school days were so short when compared to our continental neighbours. From what I have seen, English pupils at a particular age always seem to be one educational step behind those from, say, France. Extra teaching time brings with it so many benefits… like learning a new language to fluency.So, the education secretary’s proposals for an extended school day may give

busingnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-55361210723069176602012-01-17T06:59:00.019Z2012-01-17T07:31:26.259Z

The essence of the story was that London supplier Abellio had been to Poland to recruit 50 drivers. Reaction on the Daily Mail website attracted over 500 responses, many of which were what you might call predictable. They were along the lines that of our current 2½mil unemployed people, at least 50 should be suitable to drive a London bus.An Abellio bus edges ahead of the iconic London service

busingnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-11767752318905163972012-01-16T07:00:00.003Z2012-01-16T07:00:02.093Z

I just can’t help myself. Following a number of comments about the apostrophe and other grammar issues, I’ve added my take, after reader views on the “Abandonment” and “ ’ ” Posts. View mine and then disagree with me, here

busingnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-74206244761790277442012-01-16T06:59:00.011Z2012-01-16T06:59:00.067Z

… but there are in parts of Nottingham. Not for the first time, there comes news of the commercialisation of a flagship airport bus service. That news is that Trent Barton is commercialising the soar-away Skylink service currently operating by Nottingham City Transport. With it comes the inevitable reaction from passengers who, from 25th March, will miss out.Skylink will no longer operate direct

busingnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-91783978887486088962012-01-15T07:59:00.004Z2012-01-15T08:03:23.378Z

Fewer people arrived at Omnibuses in 2011 by following a link from a website than from a blog. Even so, there were still 95 websites sending traffic Omnibuses’ way, almost double that of blog sites.Percentage traffic to Omnibuses from websites other than blogs in 2011We’re grateful to each website, regardless of volume dispatched in our direction. Here’s the top half-dozen which, it has to be

busingnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-5327216659038477942012-01-14T06:59:00.006Z2012-01-14T08:31:11.012Z

It probably would’ve been unheard of 18 months ago in the days when First tended to hang on to its empire come what may. Yesterday, though, First announced that from 31st March it was to pull out of Bury St Edmunds. It currently maintains a tiny presence there, an outstation of Ipswich, about 25 miles distant. First has come under increasing pressure in the town from two independents but, rather,

busingnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-77710201713138439262012-01-13T06:59:00.015Z2012-01-13T07:51:07.111Z

Waterstone’s the bookshop is dropping its apostrophe, is it? It’s not the end of the world but, for a pendant (sic) like me, it comes pretty, pretty close. Punctuation helps us navigate the written word; it assists the flow. There’s still a rôle for the apostrophe: it’s just a shame that our premier seller of the written word seems to think otherwise.It has to be said, there are plenty of

busingnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-18498540435297802772012-01-11T06:59:00.001Z2012-01-11T07:24:47.814Z

In the news before Christmas was the prospect of Brighton & Hove offering two four-hour excursions of the M25, in 2012. Seems odd but why not? A “spokesman” for B&H (who just happened to be Roger French) said, “It is not a boring road at all—you see all sorts of fascinating things”. That’s as may be. Not everyone will share his optimism but I am sure there will be enough to fill at least two full

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-81861135936586315312012-01-10T06:59:00.009Z2012-01-10T06:59:00.413Z

The last time, in 2008, it was bendies. The battleground for the next London regional mayoral election looks set to be fares. Specifically bus fares. This seems to be the significant gulf between the two mayoral candidates.When last Labour’s Ken Livingstone used fares as a major policy plank it was incredibly popular. Like Boris Johnson’s NB4L, it got the capital—and the nation—talking. That was

busingnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-31214587581178242012-01-09T07:00:00.003Z2012-01-09T07:28:11.586Z

Evening services aren’t necessarily the sink that people make them out to be. Plenty of areas can withstand commercial evening services, if the corridor has what it takes, today on the Dorset Bus Blog

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-23958096854175502792012-01-09T06:59:00.012Z2012-01-09T07:17:44.981Z

When in our “Projections: 2012” post of 3rd January we stated that for FTR,“York decides on a public competition to design a dual-staircase signature replacement double deck, known as the New Bus for York but dubbed the Yorkie Bar or Yorkmaster”we were, of course, being ironic. But the five year agreement between York council and First does, nevertheless, end in June, after which the council

busingnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-91522217769520447552012-01-08T06:59:00.015Z2012-01-14T15:06:41.524Z

Blogging is dead. That’s right. If you look at the global picture, blogs have reached their peak and had their day, several years ago. The future’s sound bites via micro-blogging such as Facebook or Twitter. Blogs, on the other hand, are hassle and hard work. Whereas traffic was once driven to blogs from blogs, that’s no longer the case. Blogrolls are passé.This is all true—if you step back and

busingnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-83611206237024589322012-01-06T06:59:00.014Z2012-01-06T06:59:00.589Z

This month, Optare has announced that it is to retire the venerable Solo, in favour of the Solo SR. The SR is the restyled, more modern looking version, with the Solo’s signature windscreen sweeping up the roofline, without an awkwardly protruding destination box to disrupt the lines. As such, the destination appears hidden (though an operator may specify a box, if required). One of the first

busingnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-48269205921559067522012-01-05T06:59:00.012Z2012-01-05T18:59:24.520Z

This is a guest post by Goride. Omnibuses welcomes contributionsBus managers are busy people. Networks to run, meetings to attend, forms to fill in, problems to resolve, bosses to placate, even payroll and HR (unless you’re unlucky enough to have to do it yourself). So is it surprising that when transport consultants come knocking on the door, no-one usually answers?Original image removed at the

busingnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-3435733224146032992012-01-04T07:00:00.003Z2012-01-04T16:53:12.433Z

Do Damory down-registrations display disappointment in Dorset? Strains in the new partnership? Today on the Dorset Bus Blog

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-61894802555149568882012-01-04T06:59:00.005Z2012-01-04T07:21:56.660Z

If there’s one thing that’s likely to come around as often as the bus itself, it’s an increase in fares. The media are giving the train operating companies a bit of a battering at the moment, for this. Buses are more local in nature and, outside London, they’ve escaped this national vilification. It’s a different story in the local media, though. A number of First and Arriva subsidiaries are

busingnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-22642942893395920832012-01-03T06:59:00.004Z2012-01-03T06:59:00.662Z

A busy year ahead. Here’s some actual and some unlikely predictions for 2012. Can you separate the fact from the fantasy? The information from the irony?Expectations rise in the south as the first phase of BAM Nuttall’s Hampshire BRT is due for completion this spring—unless BAM delays. The £20mil 3,700 yards of reserved track with a maximum speed of 40 mph will cut commuting times between Fareham

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-55629406614784875222012-01-02T07:59:00.000Z2012-01-02T08:02:29.683Z

Thanks to everyone who suggested topics for this look back. More suggestion are hereBrian Souter is knighted while Leon Daniels & David Brown swap private/public sector seats. Alex Warner quits Greyhound. Welsh traffic commissioner knocks Clayton Jones, who fights on. First’s Giles Fearnley begins Transformation, including strong vehicle order & TV presence but sells King’s Lynn to Norfolk Green.

busingnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-30529288200392523202012-01-01T06:59:00.002Z2012-01-01T06:59:00.647Z

A very happy new year to all Omnibuses readers, with thanks again for your support this year. Here’s a picture that accompanied the Express’ account of the on-very-much-off ADL interest in Optare. Perhaps what you might call an Express bus service. The pair certainly aren’t from Optare. Perhaps they’re from the Ashok Leyland stable or perhaps I just need an eye test. Anyone got any clues as to

busingnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-71799619969364103292011-12-31T06:59:00.004Z2011-12-31T07:42:54.113Z

Who says nothing ever happens over Christmas? Almost within hours of ADL sniffing around Optare with its bag of magic beans came the rebuff. Ashok Leyland was having none of it. Ashok, currently holding a 26 per cent share and the fairy godmother to Optare’s Cinderella, was enough to send ADL packing, with a cuff on the nose. Ashok’s refusal to sell to anyone at any price should be viewed as a

busingnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-75312006755678838652011-12-30T06:59:00.002Z2011-12-30T06:59:00.580Z

Said a midlands-based public transport campaign group,“We welcome the fares increases announced for January 2012 by National Express West Midlands. We know & appreciate that conditions are tough for bus operators at the moment, and we believe that the increases will help protect the network, drivers’ jobs and continued fleet investment”Hmmm. Such a quote would be refreshing, wouldn’t it. Instead,

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-20997393802367069892011-12-29T07:00:00.002Z2011-12-29T07:03:46.483Z

During a year when an inconsequential corner of England made regional transport headlines, in the first of our retrospectives on 2011, we devote all 300 words to Dorset, today on the Dorset Bus Blog. We could so easily have written More, mentioning ex-Veolia Tempos or brand new Geminis. Meanwhile, stay tuned for 2011 in 300 words for the rest of England.

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-27792334283073476082011-12-29T06:59:00.002Z2011-12-29T06:59:00.792Z

Perhaps ADL has its eye on Optare’s new manufacturing facility. Perhaps it fears the proposed £4mil Ashok Leyland cash injection will pose a significant threat to ADL’s business like never before. Or ADL sees marketplace consolidation as a way of protecting its own business. Maybe ADL feels there’s a one-off chance it can exploit Optare’s current weakness that otherwise leaves Optare totally

busingnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-49067347825860159672011-12-28T06:59:00.001Z2011-12-28T09:46:50.536Z

2011 wasn’t the best year for new bus designs but was saved at the 11th hour by the Borismaster. Without the first prototype, this post would need to start—and finish—with the uncontroversial Tempo SR, less remarkable Irizar i6 integral and the even less remarkable Bluebird Orion 16-seater.Spending time this Christmas with my grand-sons, I gave my eldest my copy of Autocar, the one to which I

busingnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-81525818184730487762011-12-25T06:59:00.007Z2011-12-25T06:59:00.076Z

Thank you for your support this year in continuing to make Omnibuses probably the most widely read bus blog on the net. We're now taking a short seasonal break for a couple of days. I trust regular readers won't mind. In wishing all our contributors, commenters, the professional commentariat, those who kindly link here and especially readers every blessing of the season, remember that by clicking

busingnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-90376581129072061222011-12-24T06:59:00.017Z2011-12-24T07:07:56.168Z

An acquaintance of mine gets up at 0300 on Boxing Day and ventures out early, passes the nearest Next store and travels by car to a larger one where she joins the sizeable queue for the 0500 opening. Having over-spent on her card, she then returns home to bed. I hope that buyer’s remorse won’t stop her sleeping.It may seem strange to refer to Boxing Day on Christmas Eve but the two now have so

busingnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-878269863036057742011-12-23T06:59:00.009Z2011-12-23T06:59:00.091Z

I opened the Competition Commission’s final Market Investigation report online and scrolled to the very end to get a feel for the size of it. Only 134 pages, eh? That’s most unexpected, I thought. Strangely thin. Double sided with two pages on a side and that meant only 34 sheets of A4. So I decided to print four copies for colleagues as well as one for me… only to find I was deluded and that it

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-65934555495792185142011-12-22T06:59:00.009Z2011-12-22T08:19:07.577Z

Newport Bus has had its problems over the last couple of years. A change of managing director following a bust up with service 30 Newport-Cardiff partners Cardiff Bus, a new image and marketing campaign have seen an additional 80,000 passengers on board in 2011—and this in spite of a somewhat recession-hit town centre. Mind you, I calculate this to be just a one per cent increase which, if true,

busingnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-72815925638457269332011-12-21T06:59:00.008Z2011-12-21T07:04:02.600Z

We need strong indigenous bus manufacturers and bodybuilders. A sector that offers quality and choice. One that meets our needs today and can innovate for tomorrow.Yet, the sector has been shrinking in recent years, both through pre-deregulation structural changes and post-deregulation market fragmentation. Just recall some of the erstwhile builders who are no longer with us: Leyland, Bristol,

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-65177959268866769482011-12-20T06:59:00.001Z2011-12-20T06:59:00.561Z

What was it that challenger Roger French of Brighton & Hove said about The Big Lemon? “Another copycat competitor”? Well, not for much longer, it seems. This particular slice of Brighton bus actuality will shortly sour. In spite of French’s statements about competition and his welcoming of Lemon, he will no doubt be relieved to see the latest opposition pipped. Not that it was anything more than

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-32381502647557453812011-12-19T06:59:00.045Z2011-12-19T06:59:00.049Z

I’ve said before that I see no problem with people owning cars. It’s their inappropriate use that concerns me. To this statement, I feel I should add that, sometimes, owing inappropriate cars is unacceptable, too—gas guzzlers at the extreme end. And that’s why I’ve never felt comfortable with Autocar magazine. Though far more sane, balanced and reasoned than Clarkson ever will or could be,

busingnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-24935791979202322242011-12-17T06:59:00.010Z2011-12-17T09:08:18.116Z

This is a guest post by Dangermouse. Omnibuses welcomes contributionsAs most of us know First UK Bus is going through a number of high profile changes that, hopefully, will improve the company’s profile. But certain subsidiaries within the group may need much more work than others. One of these is likely to be First Edinburgh, Scotland, which requires major surgery to get the operations back into

busingnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-68157484331685119402011-12-16T06:59:00.003Z2011-12-16T07:32:17.659Z

At the end of every year since 2005 we’ve written a piece that summarises the 12 months’ of changes or milestones in exactly 300 words. 2011 will be no exception but this time we’re inviting readers to share their most memorable moments, thoughts or what they consider to have been important. What would you include? After all, there are somewhat more readers of this blog than there are 300 words!

busingnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-27368174254004099782011-12-14T06:59:00.008Z2011-12-14T07:03:50.631Z

It still seems odd to me. Our high streets have existed for centuries with businesses competing among themselves. Suddenly, in the last 20 years, they’ve an assailant in out-of-town retail parks, threatening them all. Odd because, as a family when I was younger, the town centre was the *only* place to shop and was the centre of our lives. Chains stores, some, but also many independent traders.

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-78679426486703179952011-12-13T06:59:00.003Z2011-12-13T06:59:00.073Z

Have you noticed how many white cars there are at the moment? After years in the wilderness, white seems to be having a bit of a renaissance. Indeed, in 2007, you’d be hard pressed to see any white cars on the road at all. In 2011, there are eight times the number. Some commentators feel that this is because of the “Apple effect”—gleaming white iPads and iPods. White is now beginning to outshine

busingnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-82137304377545132142011-12-12T06:59:00.012Z2011-12-12T06:59:00.620Z

Words and Arriva images by Omnibuses’ Northern Correspondent So, Brian Souter’s suggesting dedicated services for older people in order to cut the expenditure on free travel. The idea is that there’d be a lower frequency variant of existing routes that would be exclusively open to older and disabled people, free of charge. Souter suggests that these might actually travel more slowly than ordinary

busingnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-58978686488816193022011-12-11T08:59:00.001Z2011-12-11T09:18:18.636Z

“Meanwhile, National Express has said its ten bendy buses were safe—despite the mayor of London fulfilling his pledge to banish bendy buses from the streets of London.“A spokeswoman for National Express, which has ten bendy buses on the 67 Birmingham to Castle Vale route*, said there were no plans to scrap them and they would run as usual.”*—I thought the artics were the preserve of Coventry…

busingnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-71132712006032732862011-12-10T06:59:00.003Z2011-12-10T07:40:38.960Z

Today sees a different landscape in London: one (virtually) devoid of articulated buses… and the continued storage off-lease of unwanted bendies, as someone tries to figure out exactly what to do with the surplus. After all, there’s only so many that Brighton & Hove or Konectbus or Arriva Malta can take. I think Boris Johnson suggested that they be sent to some Scandinavian airport or

busingnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-85044587670140001482011-12-09T06:59:00.015Z2011-12-09T07:11:08.295Z

Amid all the pre- and post-awards drinkies, the soft lighting and chandeliers of the Hilton Hotel, I didn’t spend *all* my time at the Bus Oscars—the UK Bus Awards—socialising with Alex. Omnibuses Blog's mention of the Bus Oscars makes the pages of today's Passenger Transport—or rather Ray Stenning's comments on the Blog which, with Alex's, are viewable here. Or was it really Ray Stenning? I

busingnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-47927974386919606592011-12-08T06:59:00.003Z2011-12-08T07:35:59.641Z

We may have forgotten it but this time last year we were shivering our way through an unusually hard November and early December. Indeed, the 2010/11 winter was particularly harsh. But it was worse in Scotland, for it transpires that schools were closed up there on 41 days, according to the BBC. Are Scottish academic years the same as in England? If so, that’s about a fifth of the school year, if

busingnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-3417473168927653182011-12-07T07:00:00.003Z2011-12-07T07:17:40.290Z

Thank you for the good response to my post on almost out-of-date bread (aka A Dying Breed (not bread!) with apologies for the typo). Within the comments, there are operators of whom I’ve never heard plus many I have. Do we think we’ve reached a definitive list of pre- and post-deregulation operators?

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-46558693405676368472011-12-07T06:59:00.007Z2011-12-07T07:16:00.088Z

“Pensioners’ benefits under threat” screamed the front page of Monday’s Telegraph, with the subtitle “Free bus passes among perks that should be means-tested…”I don’t think many recipients of a free bus pass would regard them as a “perk”. A few may. Since their introduction, they’ve been elevated from “perk” to “entitlement”. People adapt to what they’ve got in the same way that, having started

busingnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-61269121445037493942011-12-05T06:59:00.004Z2011-12-05T06:59:00.048Z

The passing of Felix to Trent Barton next month marks the end of another old-establish independent bus service operator.I’m not referring to the crop of new independents that have thrived under deregulation as niche suppliers (some of whom are also selling up) but to that band of smaller operators who ran under a pre-deregulation road service licence. Some, like Felix, dated back to the 1920s.

busingnoreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-19588381008068257102011-12-04T06:59:00.004Z2011-12-04T06:59:00.700Z

Morning all. Apologies from this end and thank you for your patience. Computer problems are seemingly causing havoc and my machines have largely been out of action since Wednesday owing to internet conflicts. Friday’s posts only made it because it was pre-booked (so to speak) with Blogger. I trust matter will resolve themselves swiftly, for Monday. Yesterday, I spent OVER FOUR HOURS trying to

busingnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-44345656319493766952011-12-02T06:59:00.001Z2011-12-03T20:34:50.703Z

Omnibuses’ Norther Correspondent considers an unusual move in ChesterWith the contract ending and an opportunity to retender, small independent Aintree Coachline (or its subsidiary Helm’s of Eastham) has registered as commercial the Chester rail link.Smart move on its part. Especially near Christmas. It’s only odd that someone bigger didn’t think of it.15 years ago, a partnership comprising

busingnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-37828732208507545452011-11-30T06:59:00.010Z2011-11-30T08:30:08.500Z

Well, now. Several colleagues have reported that passengers have been asking whether their buses are on strike today. One email I’ve seen states that a passenger quizzed a member of staff and when told *everything* will operate as normal, she still asked, “Does that apply to route X?” D’oh. Reminds me of the daft questions I used to get when I was in an enquiry office.No matter how we like to

busingnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-83471312144023924802011-11-29T06:59:00.009Z2011-11-29T07:33:40.735Z

So now we know. Remember the shenanigans where Trent Barton over-registered Felix journeys on the Ilkeston Flyer and Black Cat bus services? For a matter of weeks? And appeals by Felix for passengers to stay loyal during the short period of competition?Trent Barton announced yesterday that it had purchased those very same Felix bus services. Yesterday, the Omnibuses Blog tried to speak to a Trent

busingnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-71810573475142606422011-11-28T06:59:00.003Z2011-11-28T06:59:00.435Z

The second hand bus market’s been if not flooded then certainly whelmed with newish stock that was once operated by Veolia. Someone’s got to benefit from Veolia’s decision to sell property, assets and a surprising number of vehicles that were reportedly owned rather than leased. This all in an attempt to deal with its debt as Veolia divests in the UK. An example of one beneficiary is Go South

busingnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-81688802028692048622011-11-26T06:59:00.008Z2011-11-26T08:17:37.883Z

Stagecoach is a past master at innovating and turning muck to brass and then to gold. Today’s launch of Stagecoach’s fifth Gold route features 13 brand new Scania/Enviro 400s for the impressively long Cross County X4 service, between Northampton & Peterborough (where you can head for the coast at Lowestoft on the X1). It will be no surprise to learn that the buses and the route are given the Gold

busingnoreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-4040183253554579182011-11-25T06:59:00.009Z2011-11-25T07:41:15.655Z

… major contract changes.The report may be nearly 100 pages long but there’s a lot of repetition within and the final Dorset investigation document into the school bus problems this September also includes the compete contract specification which, for those unfamiliar with LTA tendering, may be of interest. The uninitiated will find some of the obligations quite onerous and interesting.i The

busingnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-78875161462279699122011-11-24T06:59:00.013Z2011-11-24T07:33:25.425Z

Email exchanges between bus operators on its home turf gives the Tyne & Wear integrated transport authority an opportunity today to debate what its response should be.Though the Competition Commission has noted some rather unpleasant anti-competitive practices between operators in the north east, the CC isn’t changing its draft recommendations, many of which are voluntary and none of which calls

busingnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-79077104799853719842011-11-23T06:59:00.007Z2011-11-25T07:43:53.521Z

I always thought that the Central Connect brand had much potential, especially given the disparate operations the name eventually replaced. Even though the name was based on location (in the West Midlands), it seemed to imply all you expect from a bus operator: a means of connecting people to central places.The one problem with Central Connect was that its largely white buses seemed to lack

busingnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-11577305919814079262011-11-21T06:59:00.006Z2011-11-21T06:59:00.074Z

As we look forward to Hampshire’s very own BRT; as plans for BRT in Birmingham progress; and as the Luton-Dunstable BRT gets under build, we must ponder why BRT has such a bad press in the public’s eyes… and what we can do. BRT—it’s just buses, innit. If it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck… Buses simply aren’t sexy enough to woo beleaguered motorists, or so the public believes. In spite

busingnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-85256015015798300222011-11-19T06:59:00.002Z2011-11-25T07:45:28.054Z

Tomorrow at noon, the Saturday repeat of BBC Radio 4’s classic comedy panel game I’m Sorry I haven’t a Clue is aired. I heard it on its first broadcast on Monday night, of course I did, but others also have till next Monday to catch up on the BBC iPlayer. This episode was recorded in Guildford. Among the usual chairman’s remarks on the host town was this parody of an old bus joke:“A famous

busingnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-13489220300606685252011-11-18T06:59:00.016Z2011-11-18T07:27:55.477Z

Few of the dozen or so online comments about last week’s Nottingham City Transport incident have much sympathy for the victim.This was an event where a driver had to brake sharply to avoid a crash. In the process, a seven year old fell from her inward facing seat that was in the wheelchair area. Mother landed on top of her. The youngster sustained quite a deep cut.Sympathy or not, this does raise

busingnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-23521689846060795862011-11-17T06:59:00.011Z2011-11-17T07:38:59.404Z

In old news, the new bus for London’s likely to star alongside Daniel Craig in the forthcoming Bond movie, Skyfall. Money’s no object, so no doubt one of the celebrities will blown up in some part-CGI-part-real stunt or other. My guess it’ll be the bus, not Craig. And to think there are still so many old Routemasters they could have used instead à la Clarkson : ) Only joking.Well I remember

busingnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-18699971846257284082011-11-16T06:59:00.008Z2011-11-16T07:54:06.792Z

This week sees quite a mini-bonanza in top jobs. And interesting ones, too. Passenger Transport advertises three directorships; Coach & Bus Week three managers and one directorship; and Route One, two managers and a directorship.As you might expect, there’s an element of crossover. One of the directorships appears in all three journals and two of the manager vacancies in both the weeklies. Some

busingnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-53444164623705324672011-11-15T06:59:00.003Z2011-11-15T07:49:58.022Z

The BRT naysayers are back. On the cusp of pre-launch material for the Gosport-Fareham busway, the BRT detractors can’t help themselves with their predictions of doom about the A32 congestion-busting initiative.Fine if you want to go from Gosport to Fareham but useless if you want to go anywhere else, they say. But, isn’t that the point? A quick bus service twixt two adjacent towns, serving a

busingnoreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-63344018403519839652011-11-14T20:38:00.006Z2011-11-15T07:50:17.470Z

Many thanks for all the significant numbers of emails advising me that Blogger seems to have thrown a wobble. Am grateful for them all. It’s like when the electricity goes out: everyone thinks that someone will have phoned and it ends up that nobody does. It’s better to let me know.May I assure everyone that the blog is not down, just somehow got its knickers in a twist. Neither will it be on

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-22661030392347604652011-11-11T07:00:00.002Z2011-11-11T07:29:24.941Z

On 11th November 2009, we reported live via a series of blogposts on an epic journey around Birmingham’s Outer Circular service 11. By using the Elevenbus website, there’s a brief synopsis of the journey where, if you chose, you can pick the Omnibuses 11 post or posts that are most appealing to you. Those posts are among my favourites on Omnibuses.

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-40985797491089088722011-11-11T06:59:00.010Z2011-11-11T07:11:33.966Z

Be guarded what you say in emails! They’re a matter of record though they never seem to feel like it. Although the Competition Commission is unlikely to change its recommendations, the revelation following recent discoveries of emails between operators in the north east (and elsewhere) suddenly gives the £25mil investigation into the local bus market the edge it never had.Rather late in the day,

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-36208736425456207162011-11-10T06:59:00.002Z2011-11-10T06:59:00.809Z

This is a guest post by regular reader & commenter Daddysgadgets. Omnibuses welcomes contributionsWe have recently noted, some may say celebrated, the 25th anniversary of the deregulation of local bus services. So, out of all this, how has the passenger faired? In particular, what of the lot of the inter-urban passenger? Recent attempts to rationalise my increasingly unwieldy collection of

busingnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-52451453148164846572011-11-08T07:00:00.004Z2011-11-08T07:27:52.103Z

Further to yesterday’s post, the correct pronunciation of Damory is Dammory (sic). Dam (as in a barrier to water). More (as in a W&D bus). Ee (as in ee by gum). Dam. more. ee. Equal stress or emphasis on each syllable. I suppose that the best indicative spelling for this pronunciation might be Dammory with two Ms, as Damory (one M) implies Dame, not Damm. The link to a Dorset Life article as

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-15523660344105574142011-11-08T06:59:00.008Z2011-11-10T21:43:15.227Z

A fear of a knock on the door from and a dawn raid by the OFT will usually guard against operators making inappropriate contact with competitors. Indeed, operators will usually be guarded when they need to speak to neighbours, even going to the lengths of securing such meetings with PTEs or local transport authorities present. It can be very dangerous territory indeed and there are stories where

busingnoreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-8453111991823449092011-11-07T06:59:00.014Z2011-11-07T07:09:13.620Z

I’ve heard it pronounced several ways by those who don’t know: Dame-ory is the most popular mispronunciation but there’s also Damm-*ore*-ee, with emphasis as in Bally*mor*e. My maternal grandparents were from Blandford Forum but in spite of the family link, I’ve never fathomed exactly why the word Damory is so popular in the town. No one else seems to know either. Suffice to say that there are

busingnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-71598361869578569772011-11-06T06:59:00.006Z2011-11-06T06:59:00.038Z

As if it isn’t difficult enough being a bus driver, these days. The occupation is (obviously) unsupervised and drivers can therefore find themselves in positions where they are wrongly accused.On Friday, a Gloucestershire newspaper ran a story of a one-woman protest that involved a disgruntled passenger standing in front of a Stagecoach Gold bus. She’d been refused access. Neither side would

busingnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-40711626316326283272011-11-04T07:00:00.002Z2011-11-04T07:00:00.735Z

There’s an accompanying case study regarding out-of-town developments on today’s the Dorset Bus Blog

busingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-33866028164070470862011-11-04T06:59:00.014Z2011-11-04T06:59:00.450Z

We’ve created a monster. Humans have lived in Britain, in Torquay as it happens, for over 44,000 years (if you believe the news this week). Some might say that the average age in Torquay *is* 44,000 ; ) but not me.No matter how nice the climate is in Torquay, humans soon spread east, west and north. But it’s only in the last 55 years that humans have been able to spread rather more quickly, when

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-77588609628252846902011-11-02T06:59:00.005Z2011-11-02T06:59:00.527Z

This is a guest post by Country Bus. Omnibuses welcomes contributionsSomeone asked recently in these hallowed columns ‘what is an enthusiast’? Not an easy question to answer as bus enthusiasts come in many guises and are not that easily defined.He (or she) may be a transport enthusiast whose interests range beyond rubber tyres to steel wheels, be they trams, trains, or even tram-trains. It has

busingnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-78233535200525867132011-10-31T06:59:00.006Z2011-10-31T07:12:00.544Z

A modest family reunion for a landmark birthday saw six of us over three generations wanting to get to the city centre during the following morning. We were staying at my son’s and the distance was precisely 1.4 miles. Someone suggested the bus. I knew it would be a mistake for I could guarantee the total fare would be high. But it would save two cars and it was mid-morning, so the car parks

busingnoreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-37405105151297703192011-10-30T06:59:00.002Z2011-10-30T21:23:40.684Z

I’m not usually awake at 0200 in the morning and this morning was no exception. Night Buses, where they run, are nevertheless flourishing at that time. But it’s interesting to note that at the switch between British summer time and Greenwich mean time (officially at 0200 today), bus timetables will have gone into reverse at this time. Theoretically, there are two departures at 0200, for example.

busingnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-73522411866966616332011-10-29T07:59:00.003+01:002011-10-29T09:16:11.003+01:00

The reasoning behind Trent Barton’s actions on its joint services with Felix are beginning to emerge. Though there is still a high degree of speculation, it appears that Felix may have wanted to sell but not necessarily, if at all, to Trent Barton. The most likely purchaser may have been Premiere, whose main competitor is, of course, Trent Barton. Hence one very good reason why Trent Barton has

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-910442028405095382011-10-28T06:59:00.003+01:002011-10-28T07:50:55.698+01:00

Southern Vectis operates its service 1 every 7½ minutes twixt Newport and Cowes. There are occasions when the Mini Pointer Darts cannot cope with loadings, at least as far as the Newport suburbs and the hospital. Swapping to a bigger bus is nevertheless impossible. Upon arrival at Cowes, the service has to negotiate a tight manoeuvre from the highway, under an archway, into the Red Jet terminal

busingnoreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-79462861576047891402011-10-27T06:59:00.004+01:002011-10-27T08:13:55.083+01:00

There’s been a lot of comment on roadworks recently.Here’s a good example of a bus company getting it right.It’s an occasion where the operator knows well in advance and has publicised matters accordingly. The web notification even advises passengers to check out bus and stop notices should the roadworks over-run. A sensible precaution, I’d say.Chaos in Boscombe during roadworks in 2010. Here are

busingnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-53133376395874745222011-10-26T06:59:00.010+01:002011-10-26T07:47:05.001+01:00

Deregulation is 25 years old, today. All that I wish to say about deregulation’s really been said before on this site. If you wish to re-read some or all of it, try any of these in particular:» Images of Dereg» For those under 40» Saturday 25 October 1986» Forgotten Dereg» Anyone for Tennis?» A Dereg Postscript» Dereg in BournemouthI would add, though, a conversation I had in Deregulation Week

busingnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-7753896992413253982011-10-20T06:59:00.006+01:002011-10-20T08:22:34.540+01:00

Dorset has few independents left these days. A particular and unique set of circumstances has reduced the number of operators on either commercial or contracted work to but a handful. Look wider and there are more. The number’s naturally declining, though, as proprietors sell out or simply give up under the weight of recessionary burdens. Selling out is an option if they’ve nurtured their

busingnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15928016.post-26487858836441427032011-10-19T06:59:00.009+01:002011-10-19T07:18:31.328+01:00

It was no surprise to see Konectbus had scored a passenger satisfaction rating of 97 per cent in the recent Passenger Focus audit of Go Ahead bus operators. 97 per cent. It couldn’t do much better. A small operation such as this will inevitably rank higher, no matter the group owner. There will (or should) be a loyal local following. Small operators are made for this.It was no surprise to see

busingnoreply@blogger.com21