Classic Bus North West - Red Rocket Express

[ECML180]

I wouldn't pay the asking price But for a robust vehicle and if it's as well maintained as they reckon it should do on schools contracts for a while.

 

[northwichcat]

Here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-Volv...K_Minibuses_Buses_Coaches&hash=item417b2d45a0

Doesn't seem a bad price.

£2,500 was it? Far too much to be paying for a non-DDA vehicle these days. £1,000 is about what its worth.

It looks like two x £2,500 offers were declined by the seller.
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The Traffic Commissioner has accepted the cancellation requests for the 72 and 73 routes backdated to the 20th December:

PC1108899/1 - CLASSIC BUS NORTH WEST LIMITED, 1 BRINWELL ROAD OFFICES, SOUTH SHORE, BLACKPOOL, FY4 4QU
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Fleetwood and Blackpool given service number 72 effective from 20-Dec-2013.

PC1108899/2 - CLASSIC BUS NORTH WEST LIMITED, 1 BRINWELL ROAD OFFICES, SOUTH SHORE, BLACKPOOL, FY4 4QU
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Clifton Village and Bispham College given service number 73 effective from 20-Dec-2013.

 

[34D]

£2,500 was it? Far too much to be paying for a non-DDA vehicle these days. £1,000 is about what its worth.

Scrap price is £1,500. In decent condition, ideally belted, and with a years' test then £3,000 max.

 

[burns20]

Archway Travel are to run Service 80 commercially for a 3 month trial with a reduced timetable, no buses after 8pm or on Sundays.

See Lancashire Evening Post

Afraid I don't know how to share a link on here

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Archway Travel are to run Service 80 commercially for a 3 month trial with a reduced timetable, no buses after 8pm or on Sundays.

See Lancashire Evening Post

Are Archway Travel the firm that can hire out a fire tender for special occasions, as part of their fleet ?
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Afraid I don't know how to share a link on here

Don't worry....you are not alone in that respect.

 

[Deerfold]

Afraid I don't know how to share a link on here

So long as it's not session specific, just copy it from your browser window and paste into the edit box on here (On most PCs ctrl-c will copy and ctrl-v paste).

 

[burns20]

Doing it from my phone. I don't have a computer.
Archway have now got two Yellow and route branded ex Go North East MPDs.

They have a Facebook page under Village 80

 

[robertclark125]

It's good this issue is getting sorted out about route 80. It's an even bigger pity that it came to this in the first place.

As is usual, the customer is the biggest loser.

 

[WestCoast]

Archway Travel is receiving a lot of praise for stepping forward in the local press, which is no doubt raising awareness of the firm. They haven't ran a local bus service or for a fair number of years, their specialisms being private hire and school bus routes.

Pictures of the first day and more commentary available on the Fylde Bus Blog...http://fyldebus.blogspot.co.uk/ (all credit to the author).

Also see Village 80
on Facebook.

Are Archway Travel the firm that can hire out a fire tender for special occasions, as part of their fleet ?

They are indeed.

 

[burns20]

ClassicBus North West has been bought out of Administration by Oakwood Travel of which Phillip Higgs is a director of both.

Fishy?

See Blackpool Gazette

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

ClassicBus North West has been bought out of Administration by Oakwood Travel of which Phillip Higgs is a director of both.

Fishy?

See Blackpool Gazette

Any new involvement by Philip Higgs will surely need to have official scutinity.

 

[Class20]

Archway are only running the service for an initial three month period to see if its viable to run it full time.

I agree that the Oakwood Travel business is a bit dubious.

 

[northwichcat]

ClassicBus North West has been bought out of Administration by Oakwood Travel of which Phillip Higgs is a director of both.

Fishy?

See Blackpool Gazette

Any new involvement by Philip Higgs will surely need to have official scutinity.

That's been happening a lot with businesses recently. A new restructured company emerges with the same directors as the old one but the bad debt isn't transferred from company that's been liquidated and the creditors lose out. Stylo/Barratts Shoes was an example of this when they went in to administration in 2008. However, I'm not sure what happens regarding operating licences and what the Traffic Commissioner can do if that occurs with bus companies.

 

[richw]

That's been happening a lot with businesses recently. A new restructured company emerges with the same directors as the old one but the bad debt isn't transferred from company that's been liquidated and the creditors lose out. Stylo/Barratts Shoes was an example of this when they went in to administration in 2008.

Several Home Improvement companies are a good example. I know of a home improvement company based in Devon who have a large coverage of the south west and had a lot of warranty claims coming in against them. They all of sudden went bust and reformed with a marginally different company name. The warranties are no longer honoured as a different company.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That's been happening a lot with businesses recently. A new restructured company emerges with the same directors as the old one but the bad debt isn't transferred from company that's been liquidated and the creditors lose out. Stylo/Barratts Shoes was an example of this when they went in to administration in 2008. However, I'm not sure what happens regarding operating licences and what the Traffic Commissioner can do if that occurs with bus companies.

Known as a pre-pack adminstration. There's been quite a few of those including Whittards of Chelsea as well as StyloBarrett.

That's ok for general business though how the good repute of a CPC holder stands up to that test, I don't think so!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Archway are only running the service for an initial three month period to see if its viable to run it full time.

I agree that the Oakwood Travel business is a bit dubious.

Rumours that the X70 will be recommenced, but on a much limited frequence of service and an increase in price levels.

Can anyone with localised knowledge make an updated posting.

 

[Deerfold]

http://www.redrocketexpress.co.uk/redrocket-times/

Claims it's a timetable from Easter 2014. But then also claims it restarts from Saturday 03/05/2014.

It's still claiming to be quicker than the train despite a journey time of 90 mins, which simply isn't true if you're comparing with the fast trains.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

http://www.redrocketexpress.co.uk/redrocket-times/

Claims it's a timetable from Easter 2014. But then also claims it restarts from Saturday 03/05/2014.

It's still claiming to be quicker than the train despite a journey time of 90 mins, which simply isn't true if you're comparing with the fast trains.

That timetable frequency seems much reduced from what was once launched originally. I am sure the price levels shown have been increased.

 

[Deerfold]

That timetable frequency seems much reduced from what was once launched originally. I am sure the price levels shown have been increased.

Looks to be about 3/4 of the price of an off-peak day return on the train with just 4 services a day (so not cheaper for Railcard holders). And slower (despite falsely claiming otherwise).

Even less price difference on Period returns.

With Northern's Duo tickets a couple will be 30p more expensive on the train.

I'm not impressed. I wonder if anyone else will be.

 

[jp4712]

Well, let's see if Beverley Bell is - she's the Traffic Commissioner for the North West and the Public Inquiry will be held on Thursday 24 April at 10.30 am.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...nt_data/file/298731/np-2664-28-march-2014.pdf

 

[radamfi]

I'm still vaguely interested in this service if they are still running the bendy buses.

 

[Class20]

The service is set to return with bendy buses to be used (when available). The start date has been put back as it was due to start this month but is now next month. I would think lessons have been learnt about the running of the service from its brief period of operation last year, so things are bound to change regarding prices and frequencies.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Well, let's see if Beverley Bell is - she's the Traffic Commissioner for the North West and the Public Inquiry will be held on Thursday 24 April at 10.30 am.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...nt_data/file/298731/np-2664-28-march-2014.pdf

When will the result be known normally after a Public Enquiry ?

 

[34D]

Well, let's see if Beverley Bell is - she's the Traffic Commissioner for the North West and the Public Inquiry will be held on Thursday 24 April at 10.30 am.

See https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...nt_data/file/298731/np-2664-28-march-2014.pdf

Beverley Bell - two words that strike the kind of fear into my bones that no woman except my old headmistress has managed.
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When will the result be known normally after a Public Enquiry ?

Quite potentially there and then.

Paul, does your part of Cheshire have an easy enough journey to Warrington such that your attendance could be feasible (subject to diary commitments, etc)?

 

[Deerfold]

The service is set to return with bendy buses to be used (when available). The start date has been put back as it was due to start this month but is now next month. I would think lessons have been learnt about the running of the service from its brief period of operation last year, so things are bound to change regarding prices and frequencies.

Having accurate information and honest comparisons with the competition on their web site would be a start...no lessons seem to have been learnt there so far.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Paul, does your part of Cheshire have an easy enough journey to Warrington such that your attendance could be feasible (subject to diary commitments, etc)?

My medical condition since the second stroke affliction six months ago is such that I have to be careful as to not over-exert myself. I do have a public enquiry to attend on Wednesday this week, if possible, at the Mechanics Institute in Princess Street, Manchester, at 1000 with regard to the Ordsall Chord scheme. Even though Prestbury itself has a number 19 bus service to Macclesfield and a railway station, the location of our residence on the rural boundary that abuts Mottram St Andrew, if ever a journey to Manchester is envisaged, we would normally drive to either Wilmslow or Macclesfield and then use the train, as parking in Manchester city centre is not at all cheap.

Warrington hopefully would have better priced car parking, as normally, we would go from home to there via the A537 through the Knutsford region.

 

[jp4712]

A friend of mine intends to attend as an interested spectator, so let's see.
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I learned yesterday that the redoubtable BB will not preside but instead it'll be the Deputy Commissioner - so let's see. I haven't heard any news from this morning's PI but will share when I hear something.

 

[Whistler40145]

Any further news on this yet?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[jp4712]

No, I'm waiting to hear!

 

[Robertj21a]

Beverley Bell - two words that strike the kind of fear into my bones that no woman except my old headmistress has managed.
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Quite right too. High time that somebody had the guts to say, and do, the right things rather than pussy foot around with those who are clearly up to no good.

Robert