High Peak Bus Company / Trentbarton Split [Merged Thread]

[Deerfold]

Arriva 126/127 vs Sky link vs rail to loughborough

I think they're aiming at very different people - the Skylink doesn't stop between Leicester and Loughborough, the 126/7 stop everywhere - I certainly wouldn't catch the slow one if I was going so far.

You might see some competition between the 127/127 and Kinchbus's 2 with them all serving Quorn and Birstall.

 

[bb21]

Main market for Arriva 126/127 is Quorn/Mountsorrel/Rothley/Birstall - Leicester/Loughborough and Shepshed - Loughborough. Quorn - Loughborough is not a major battle ground as the market is small. Main market for Kinch 2 is Barrow/Sileby - Leicester/Loughborough. Main market for Skylink are interurban traffic. All mostly separate from each other.

126/127 are in fact far more convenient between Leicester - Loughborough than the train as Loughborough Midland Station is way out of town and Leicester's is not exactly in the heart of the city. The bus, with 6 departures an hour, is far more frequent than the train (5/6 trains an hour 10 years ago vs 3 these days), cheaper if you factor in Kinch's extortionate fares for a ride in Loughborough or a 15-minute walk at that end. Kinch 2 takes longer than Arriva and is only half-hourly for the same price.

The only real competition amongst these routes these days is on the Loughborough - Leicester flow, where Kinch reduced the fare on the Skylink to compete with Arriva and, if you have one of their 10-ride tickets, provide better value than Arriva. But again that one is hardly the focus for Arriva.

Along the golden mile, First 22 offers some competition to Arriva 5(A)/6, however First's real market lies along Rushey Mead area after turning off Melton Road.

Centrebus 100 cannot be a real threat to Arriva 5(A) as it only runs hourly as opposed to a 10-minute frequency Arriva runs.

Competition in Leicester is mainly on these flows atm:

• First 14(A)/94 and Arriva 14 en route to New Parks - has been going for a good few years now. Recently First lowered its single fare to match Arriva's;
• First 21A and Arriva 58(A) to Hamilton - fairly recent phenomenon owing to growth of the estate;
• First 38 and Arriva 58(A) to Humberstone and Nether Hall but not intermediately;
• First 38(A) and Arriva 53(A)/56 along Uppingham Road;
• First 38A and Arriva 53(A) en route to Thurnby Lodge - another remnant of the "war" a few years back;
• First 54 and Centrebus 54A en route to Beaumont Leys;
• First 22 and Centrebus 22A/B en route to Evington - started after First inexplicably cut the majority of evening services after 1900 in the city a while back;
• Stagecoach 48 and Arriva 153/158 en route to Leicester Forest East (including First 18 as far as Western Park);

and to a lesser extent:

• First 22 and Arriva 5(A)/6 along Melton Road;
• First 25/26 and Arriva 127 along Loughborough Road;
• First 88(A) and Arriva 47(A)/48(A)/86 along Saffron Lane;
• Stagecoach X7 and Arriva X3 en route to Market Harborough;

I would say that there is a decent amount of competition going on. Of course there is not always a market for two operators when you go deep into a residential area so competition is not really viable in those cases imo as it is best to have one operator who can operate on a sound financial basis than two neither of whom could make any money.

 

[Qwerty133]

Main market for Arriva 126/127 is Quorn/Mountsorrel/Rothley/Birstall - Leicester/Loughborough and Shepshed - Loughborough. Quorn - Loughborough is not a major battle ground as the market is small. Main market for Kinch 2 is Barrow/Sileby - Leicester/Loughborough. Main market for Skylink are interurban traffic. All mostly separate from each other.

126/127 are in fact far more convenient between Leicester - Loughborough than the train as Loughborough Midland Station is way out of town and Leicester's is not exactly in the heart of the city. The bus, with 6 departures an hour, is far more frequent than the train (5/6 trains an hour 10 years ago vs 3 these days), cheaper if you factor in Kinch's extortionate fares for a ride in Loughborough or a 15-minute walk at that end. Kinch 2 takes longer than Arriva and is only half-hourly for the same price.

The only real competition amongst these routes these days is on the Loughborough - Leicester flow, where Kinch reduced the fare on the Skylink to compete with Arriva and, if you have one of their 10-ride tickets, provide better value than Arriva. But again that one is hardly the focus for Arriva.

Along the golden mile, First 22 offers some competition to Arriva 5(A)/6, however First's real market lies along Rushey Mead area after turning off Melton Road.

Centrebus 100 cannot be a real threat to Arriva 5(A) as it only runs hourly as opposed to a 10-minute frequency Arriva runs.

Competition in Leicester is mainly on these flows atm:

• First 14(A)/94 and Arriva 14 en route to New Parks - has been going for a good few years now. Recently First lowered its single fare to match Arriva's;
• First 21A and Arriva 58(A) to Hamilton - fairly recent phenomenon owing to growth of the estate;
• First 38 and Arriva 58(A) to Humberstone and Nether Hall but not intermediately;
• First 38(A) and Arriva 53(A)/56 along Uppingham Road;
• First 38A and Arriva 53(A) en route to Thurnby Lodge - another remnant of the "war" a few years back;
• First 54 and Centrebus 54A en route to Beaumont Leys;
• First 22 and Centrebus 22A/B en route to Evington - started after First inexplicably cut the majority of evening services after 1900 in the city a while back;
• Stagecoach 48 and Arriva 153/158 en route to Leicester Forest East (including First 18 as far as Western Park);

and to a lesser extent:

• First 22 and Arriva 5(A)/6 along Melton Road;
• First 25/26 and Arriva 127 along Loughborough Road;
• First 88(A) and Arriva 47(A)/48(A)/86 along Saffron Lane;
• Stagecoach X7 and Arriva X3 en route to Market Harborough;

I would say that there is a decent amount of competition going on. Of course there is not always a market for two operators when you go deep into a residential area so competition is not really viable in those cases imo as it is best to have one operator who can operate on a sound financial basis than two neither of whom could make any money.

Also arriva 50/a vs centrebus 140/148 vs de Coursey x6 between fosse park and town.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Has anyone any comments to make on the current High Peak service provision after their somewhat indifferent operational performance in recent times ?

 

[northwichcat]

meanwhile a Connect 88 liveried bus was on the 27 service for at least two days last week.....

Connect 88 DART on the 13:11 27B Knutsford Queensway to Macclesfield service pulled in to Knutsford Bus Station today 1 minute before the bus for the 13:15 88 Knutsford-Wilmslow-Altrincham service arrived - a Connect 88 branded Versa.

Wonder if they might have done a diagram switch so that the bus off the morning peak 07:45 Altrincham-Knutsford service which was usually operated by the Connect 88 branded DART finishes up on the 27 route instead of going to do the once a week village routes like the RR3.

 

[323235]

Has anyone any comments to make on the current High Peak service provision after their somewhat indifferent operational performance in recent times ?

The 392/393 has settled down well but the 0720/0810/1550/1620/1710 and 1720 are often late. The 1620/1720 would have a near 30 minute layover on paper and therefore go round Black Road in Macc but are often 10 minutes late arriving prior to this and appear to take 15 minutes minimum to go round Black Road with the traffic.

They seem to have stopped the constant timetable changes.

 

[northwichcat]

High Peak have suspended the 300 service today due to operational difficulties. I wonder what they mean by that. As the route usually has a morning driver and an afternoon driver, a driver not turning up should only mean the service is suspended until 13:15. Then as it's Saturday they should have buses normally used for schools/colleges available so a broken down bus shouldn't be an issue.

 

[martinsh]

Does anyone remember the navy and red livery colour scheme that ran many years ago in the Accrington area ?

Well until recently one Lancashire United Olympian was painted in this livery (think has now left the fleet).

Seen on March 29th this year

 

[northwichcat]

Next round of High Peak revisions coming up soon:

PC0001086/35 - ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD T/A Bowers Coaches, 102 CANNOCK STREET, LEICESTER, LE4 9HR
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between market place, Buxton and Bus Stn, Hanley given service number 118 effective from 01-Sep-2013.

PC0001086/38 - ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD T/A Bowers Coaches, 102 CANNOCK STREET, LEICESTER, LE4 9HR
Variation Accepted: Operating between Glossop and Chapel - En - Le - Frith High School given service number 69/69A/69B effective from 01-Sep-2013. To amend Route, Stopping Places and Timetable.

PC0001086/48 - ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD T/A Bowers Coaches, 102 CANNOCK STREET, LEICESTER, LE4 9HR
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Glossop, Henry Street and Chapel-En-Le-Frith High School given service number 69A effective from 01-Sep-2013.

PC0001086/51 - ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD T/A Bowers Coaches, 102 CANNOCK STREET, LEICESTER, LE4 9HR
Variation Accepted: Operating between Buxton (Market Place) and Manchester (Central Coach Station) given service number Transpeak 4 effective from 01-Sep-2013. To amend Route, Stopping Places and Timetable.

PC0001086/61 - ERIC W BOWERS COACHES LTD T/A Bowers Coaches, 102 CANNOCK STREET, LEICESTER, LE4 9HR
Variation Accepted: Operating between Macclesfield Bus Station and Stockport Bus Station given service number 392/393 effective from 01-Sep-2013. To amend Timetable.

Although, I think the 118 service should be REGISTRATION not CANCELLATION, given it's currently operated by Wardle Transport.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Although, I think the 118 service should be REGISTRATION not CANCELLATION, given it's currently operated by Wardle Transport.

I wonder if the cancellation actually refers to the solitary 118 Monday to Saturday journey that High Peak run at 1645 from Buxton to Leek during the term times only of the University of Derby (Buxton Campus).

 

[northwichcat]

I wonder if the cancellation actually refers to the solitary 118 Monday to Saturday journey that High Peak run at 1645 from Buxton to Leek during the term times only of the University of Derby (Buxton Campus).

According to the Derbyshire CC website High Peak are taking over Monday-Saturday services for Buxton-Hanley from Wardle on 1st September with Wardle continuing to run the Sunday service.

 

[northwichcat]

A High Peak Transpeak double decker went under a low bridge in Stockport today: http://www.itv.com/news/granada/story/2013-07-27/six-injured-in-bus-crash/

Six people have been taken to hospital, after a bus hit a railway bridge - ripping off its roof. Emergency crews were called to the crash in Stockport at 1.39pm this afternoon.

Six people have been taken to hospital, after a bus had its roof ripped off in Stockport.

The bus hit a bridge on George's Rd this afternoon.

Fire crews rescued three men and three women from the mangled top deck.

Police say it is "sheer luck" that none of them were seriously injured

 

[BuhSnarf]

A High Peak Transpeak double decker went under a low bridge in Stockport today: http://www.itv.com/news/granada/story/2013-07-27/six-injured-in-bus-crash/

That bridge looks like it's low enough that you'd know your bus isn't going to fit?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Qwerty133]

bus involved is fleet number 904.

 

[gnolife]

I think the driver, on a service heading toward Buxton knows that George Street, while off-route, makes a handy shortcut for the limited stop TransPeak, when operated using a single decker to get from the A6 southbound to Stockport Bus Stn while the normal route, taking a left into Mersey Square then heading straight into the bus station, is partially blocked. However, thrre is clear signs on the A6 saying that there is a low Bridge on George Street, so I don't rate the driver's chances of keeping his job very highly.

 

[Shrimper]

When I learnt to drive buses around Manchester, not going down Georges Road was in bus driving 101 to the extent we were required to sign an acknowledgement we would not drive down there in ANY company vehicle on our first day.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Does the railway bridge have the minimum height requirement sign affixed to it, clearly on view to road users ?

Incidentally, what route does the TransPeak normally use to access Stockport bus station, when coming from Manchester along the A6.

 

[dggar]

Does the railway bridge have the minimum height requirement sign affixed to it, clearly on view to road users ?Incidentally, what route does the TransPeak normally use to access Stockport bus station, when coming from Manchester along the A6.

Pretty Clear, here is the Google Maps Street view

 

[Flying Snail]

Even in a single decker you would need to stay out from the edge of the road, the old transpeak coaches would have just made it under the centre of the arch.

It is clear from the bloke in the street view image that the edge of the arch would have been at around eye level for the driver. How he could have missed the obvious lack of clearance is mind boggling, especially as it appears he stayed left and hit the lower part.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Last Saturday afternoon, at the end of my omnibus travelogue that I report red on another thread, the High Peak service 61 from Buxton to Glossop was in a most tasteful livery of green and light green rather than the garish orange and blue one.

Is this a hope for the future...or is there another more mundane reason for the green and white colour scheme ?

 

[northwichcat]

Last Saturday afternoon, at the end of my omnibus travelogue that I report red on another thread, the High Peak service 61 from Buxton to Glossop was in a most tasteful livery of green and white rather than the garish orange and blue one.

Is this a hope for the future...or is there another more mundane reason for the green and white colour scheme ?

Possibly they've acquired a second hand bus and not repainted it yet. There was an ex-Holmeswood Coaches Solo which High Peak were using in the metallic green livery they'd acquired it in a while back.

 

[Robertj21a]

Both buses allocated to the 61 are green and have been for a long time.

Robert

Last Saturday afternoon, at the end of my omnibus travelogue that I report red on another thread, the High Peak service 61 from Buxton to Glossop was in a most tasteful livery of green and white rather than the garish orange and blue one.

Is this a hope for the future...or is there another more mundane reason for the green and white colour scheme ?

 

[323235]

High Peak have not amended the 392 timetable error which I alerted them to 2 weeks ago and they acknowledged which is making me very annoyed. They have a 1450,1510 Saturday Only listed then a 1610 NS and 1710. The 1510 should in fact be the 1550 with a Saturday Only note.

The 1550 having been changed to 1610 on weekdays after my correspondence through Fix My Transport to allow the Stockport College students they offer a 50% discount to who finish full time courses at 4pm to use the service. The 1620/1625 391 and 393 up until last March were always very full so the case was their to bring an after 4pm bus back. They added it very promply to their revised timetable and registration.

 

[johnnychips]

Last Saturday afternoon, at the end of my omnibus travelogue that I report red on another thread, the High Peak service 61 from Buxton to Glossop was in a most tasteful livery of green and white rather than the garish orange and blue one.

Is this a hope for the future...or is there another more mundane reason for the green and white colour scheme ?

Hi Paul

I thought the 61 bus had been in this nice green livery for at least two years.

 

[martinsh]

Is this the one you mean ?

If so, it's been in this livery since in was new to Bowers.

[ Looking at Flikr, it appears to always run on the 61, though the livery isn't specific to it ]

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Is this the one you mean ?

If so, it's been in this livery since in was new to Bowers.

[ Looking at Flikr, it appears to always run on the 61, though the livery isn't specific to it ]

Indeed it is...this is the very one to which I alluded in my posting. I still feel it is a most tasteful livery scheme.

 

[northwichcat]

Is this the one you mean ?

If so, it's been in this livery since in was new to Bowers.

[ Looking at Flikr, it appears to always run on the 61, though the livery isn't specific to it ]

Was that bus originally delivered to the Huddersfield Bus Company - it looks like the livery they had before they switched to the generic Centrebus livery.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

High Peak have not amended the 392 timetable error which I alerted them to 2 weeks ago and they acknowledged which is making me very annoyed. They have a 1450,1510 Saturday Only listed then a 1610 NS and 1710. The 1510 should in fact be the 1550 with a Saturday Only note.

The 1550 having been changed to 1610 on weekdays after my correspondence through Fix My Transport to allow the Stockport College students they offer a 50% discount to who finish full time courses at 4pm to use the service. The 1620/1625 391 and 393 up until last March were always very full so the case was their to bring an after 4pm bus back. They added it very promply to their revised timetable and registration.

Is this the new P1/392/393 mini-folded timetable that is dated 1st September 2013 ?

 

[323235]

I'm unsure whether its incorrect in their but it is shown incorrectly on High Peak's website and on TfGM's website (High Peak version used)

 

[johnnychips]

Last Saturday I was at Ashbourne Bus Station (an excellent optimistic description) at about 1700, and I saw a High Peak bus with service number 1 to somewhere like 'Black Lane' - certainly not the name of a town or village. Unfortunately I had to jump on my Buxton bus before it completely registered in my head. I couldn't find a no. 1 on the Derbyshire CC website (unless I've missed something obvious, which is possible at my age).

There is a 101 to Thorpe at that time, but I would have expected it to show 'Thorpe' if it were that service.

Any ideas?