Preston Bus - Lancashire County Council Contracts

[northern506]

I'm new here so unsure if making a new thread is correct, but if not feel free to move!

I've heard Preston Bus have basically lost all of their Lancashire County Council contracts - including Ribble Valley, 75, the Ormskirk town service and a few others.

Not sure who is going to take these over, but it seems a big loss for Rotala/Preston Bus.

 

[overthewater]

Could Stagecoach picked up the work? or even Transdev?

 

[northern506]

Could Stagecoach picked up the work? or even Transdev?

Some of it might be a bit out of the way for Transdev maybe - the Ribble Valley services might be a possibility though.

I've heard Blackpool Transport are taking over the 75 - again not sure how true it is.

 

[RustySpoons]

Transdev don't have any suitable vehicles available to take on the Ribble Valley network, I think they'll have enough on their plate with the LBIA routes.

Pilkingtons (Accrington based independent) have been recruiting drivers very recently so at a guess I'd say they've got some/all of the services given up by Preston Bus.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Pilkingtons have picked up Clitheroe Services 3(Clitheroe - Pimlico & Chatburn), 5(Clitheroe - Chipping including Sunday Services), 25(Clitheroe - Whalley - Brockhall - Mellor - Blackburn), 25A(Blackburn - Mellor), Holmeswood (of all companies) have picked up Clitheroe Service 2 (Clitheroe - Henthorn & Low Moor). You would have thought LCC would have just given the 2 to Pilkingtons too just so ALL Clitheroe Local Services are operated by one operator..... (the 2 to Pilkingtons too....3 ways of typing the same way to say it!).....

 

[Bungle965]

You would have thought LCC would have just given the 2 to Pilkingtons too just so ALL Clitheroe Local Services are operated by one operator..... (the 2 to Pilkingtons too....3 ways of typing the same way to say it!).....

Unfortunately that is one of the downsides (in the passengers case) of tendering.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Unfortunately that is one of the downsides (in the passengers case) of tendering.

Holmeswood probably pipped them on that...saying that though, if they do a bad enough job and Pilkingtons bid was only fractionally higher, Pilkingtons might re-gain it

 

[markymark2000]

Holmeswood (of all companies) have picked up Clitheroe Service 2 (Clitheroe - Henthorn & Low Moor).

Are Holmeswood bad at running buses? Their coaches always seem quite high spec and quite well presented, not heard anything bad before.

I've heard Preston Bus have basically lost all of their Lancashire County Council contracts - including Ribble Valley, 75, the Ormskirk town service and a few others.

Not sure who is going to take these over, but it seems a big loss for Rotala/Preston Bus.

I wonder why they have lost it. Was it just normal retendering, were the services taken off PrestonBus or did PrestonBus give them back?

 

[M60lad]

Will Prestonbus/Rotala still operate the Blackburn-Preston via Longridge service or is this one up for retender aswell?

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Are Holmeswood bad at running buses? Their coaches always seem quite high spec and quite well presented, not heard anything bad before.

I don't think they are bad at running services BUT they are terrible in terms of vehicle presentation....compare these 2... Holmeswood YJ06YRM https://flic.kr/p/2cTHjT6 and pilkingtonbus YJ06YRL https://flic.kr/p/2c6nFvV despite these 2 vehicles being sister vehicles I know which I would rather choose to travel on. Doesn't look good for a company running around scabby looking buses on contracted services.

I wonder why they have lost it. Was it just normal retendering, were the services taken off PrestonBus or did PrestonBus give them back?

I have no idea why they have lost them, but all Clitheroe services were tendered out at the same time and pilkingtonbus still have their contract for the 4/64/65/66/67

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Will Prestonbus/Rotala still operate the Blackburn-Preston via Longridge service or is this one up for retender aswell?

It appears to be up for re-tender too...Holmeswood might again be the new operator

 

[TheSel]

If Holmeswood get the Ormskirk Town Service, it wouldn't be for the first time.

 

[Andyh82]

I'm new here so unsure if making a new thread is correct, but if not feel free to move!

I've heard Preston Bus have basically lost all of their Lancashire County Council contracts - including Ribble Valley, 75, the Ormskirk town service and a few others.

Not sure who is going to take these over, but it seems a big loss for Rotala/Preston Bus.

I wouldn't say its a "Big loss", it only amounts to a few buses, and like what others have said these contracts seem to move around to different operators every time they are re-tendered.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I have never known such a pointless waste-of-money service as the Ormskirk/Aughton local - it exists only because of ENCTS not being valid on Merseyrail. If it was, literally nobody would use it. It's a gross waste of money. Yet Lancashire slash rural subsidy for unserved communities and keep this nonsense going.

(The Arriva 310 covers the parts of Aughton that aren't anywhere near the Merseyrail stations)

 

[Aaron Ashton]

I wouldn't say its a "Big loss", it only amounts to a few buses, and like what others have said these contracts seem to move around to different operators every time they are re-tendered.

I have to agree, whilst not a great loss, it'll be finance they could have done without losing (I've worked it out that it's at around 10 vehicles maybe more worth of work). I think they probably handed them back as they only really tendered for them when they operated the 280/X80 so would have been ideal for driver changes etc (a drive could catch a 280 for meal relief etc) now they have to have a vehicle drive there and park up which isn't ideal either tbh

 

[TheSel]

I have never known such a pointless waste-of-money service as the Ormskirk/Aughton local - it exists only because of ENCTS not being valid on Merseyrail. If it was, literally nobody would use it. It's a gross waste of money. Yet Lancashire slash rural subsidy for unserved communities and keep this nonsense going.

(The Arriva 310 covers the parts of Aughton that aren't anywhere near the Merseyrail stations)

That's a bit harsh. It provides employment, and photo opportunities!

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's a bit harsh. It provides employment, and photo opportunities!

My Dad uses it, but only because he can't use his bus pass on the train. If he could use it on the train I'm certain he would do that instead.

(He could easily afford the fare or the petrol, but if you're a former bank manager you're too tight for that )

 

[Aaron Ashton]

I have never known such a pointless waste-of-money service as the Ormskirk/Aughton local - it exists only because of ENCTS not being valid on Merseyrail. If it was, literally nobody would use it. It's a gross waste of money. Yet Lancashire slash rural subsidy for unserved communities and keep this nonsense going.

(The Arriva 310 covers the parts of Aughton that aren't anywhere near the Merseyrail stations)

LCC has boosted tendered services recently to the tune of £1.5M to reinstate Evening & Sunday services, albeit probably not to the most logical spending

 

[Ant158]

Holmeswood to also restart the Clitheroe to Accrington Service, and the 280 to return to hourly (presumably with Stagecoach still) between Clitheroe and Skipton, plus Sunday service. Are all the Clitheroe locals getting Sunday services?

 

[S&CLER]

Has anyone any information about the 315 Ormskirk-Town Green-Downholland-Haskayne-Halsall-Southport, or the 337 and 347 Ormskirk/Southport to Chorley services?

 

[markymark2000]

Has anyone any information about the 315 Ormskirk-Town Green-Downholland-Haskayne-Halsall-Southport, or the 337 and 347 Ormskirk/Southport to Chorley services?

315 is already with Stagecoach.

 

[Aaron Ashton]

Holmeswood to also restart the Clitheroe to Accrington Service, and the 280 to return to hourly (presumably with Stagecoach still) between Clitheroe and Skipton, plus Sunday service. Are all the Clitheroe locals getting Sunday services?

It'll be the old 14 which is Clitheroe - Whalley - Great Harwood - Rishton - Accrington - Royal Blackburn Hospital =)

 

[Hardcastle]

The 280 will stay with Stagecoach. They had drivers training the route last week.

 

[randyrippley]

all part of a major restoration of previously cut services

Details - Lancashire County Council

www.lancashire.gov.uk

The improvements due to be introduced from Sunday 19 July are as follows:

In Lancaster:

To restore a Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service on Lancaster City local routes, linking The Vale, The Marsh, The Ridge and Lancaster East estates with the city centre.

To restore a Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service between Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale through the Lune Valley.

In Wyre and Fylde:

To introduce a Monday to Saturday daytime service link between Fleetwood, Poulton and Staining. This would restore a direct link between Fleetwood and Poulton as well as incorporating local resident's requests for a link between Staining and Poulton. The allocation would be used to match developer funding secured through the planning process which is available to kick-start the whole new service.

In Chorley and South Ribble:

To strengthen and extend the existing Monday to Saturday daytime Service 119 between Chorley and Astley Village, extending the service through to Leyland, and restore links for the unserved parts of Buckshaw Village as well as reconnecting a direct bus service to Chorley Hospital from throughout the whole extended route.

In Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire:

To restore a Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service between Preston and Ormskirk via Tarleton.

To support the weekend daytime Service 300 between Liverpool, Haskayne, Halsall and Southport. This routes through the western rural communities of West Lancashire linking with Southport and Liverpool.

In Preston, Ribble Valley and Pendle:

To strengthen the existing Monday to Saturday daytime Service 280 link between Clitheroe, Gisburn, Barnoldswick, Earby and Skipton, increasing the frequency from two hourly to hourly on this section and to restore a Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service throughout the whole route between Preston, Clitheroe and Skipton.

In Ribble Valley and Hyndburn:

To restore a Monday to Saturday daytime service link between Clitheroe, Whalley, Great Harwood, Rishton, Accrington, Oswaldtwistle and Royal Blackburn Hospital.

In Burnley, Hyndburn and Rossendale:

To restore a Sunday and Bank Holiday daytime service between Rawtenstall, Water and Burnley and Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Blackburn.

 

[preston85]

New Ormskirk - Preston service starts this Sunday (as 2A). Looks like 280 Sunday service starts this weekend too.

 

[Anthony ross]

Who will be operating the 2a

 

[preston85]

Who will be operating the 2a

Stagecoach; integrated with 2 to form a 30 min service to Tarleton

 

[preston85]

Has anyone any information about the 315 Ormskirk-Town Green-Downholland-Haskayne-Halsall-Southport, or the 337 and 347 Ormskirk/Southport to Chorley services?

Unfortunately Holmeswood will be running the 112, 114, 337 and 347. 112 extended back to Croston and Bretherton. 119 extended to Preston via Leyland (still Tyrers).

 

[Hardcastle]

Seems a little odd that the Preston area timetables shows to commence this Sunday but the publicity says 19/7 especially when we are told not to use public transport unless it's essential atm.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seems a little odd that the Preston area timetables shows to commence this Sunday but the publicity says 19/7 especially when we are told not to use public transport unless it's essential atm.

People do have jobs on Sundays!