Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Bus News

[MCR247]

I don’t believe it has been officially confirmed but that is believed to be the plan. If the new buses go straight onto the 15/16s that’ll be interesting as often Nottingham City Transport (NCT) used to prefer putting brand new buses onto their most profitable routes and cascading. For example they replaced 18 month old Omnidekkas bought new for the 43 with the Enviro 400s. It used to mean a lot of repainting, though

 

[cnjb8]

I don’t believe it has been officially confirmed but that is believed to br the plan. If the new buses go straight onto the 15/16s that’ll be interesting as often NCT used to prefer putting brand new buses onto their most profitable routes and cascading. For example they replaced 18 month old omnidekkas bought new for the 43 with the enviro 400s. It used to mean a lot of repainted though

Yeah, they have been working through paining the 35 and 48 E400s to the spare livery in preparation.
To be fair all profitable routes already have the biogas buses.

 

[MCR247]

Yeah, they have been working through paining the 35 and 48 E400s to the spare livery in preparation.
To be fair all profitable routes already have the biogas buses.

They do yes, except maybe the 43? For about 8 years I think this route was their favourite for new buses.

So yes somewhat a departure from before when the 15/16 and 35 would’ve gotten hand me downs

 

[cnjb8]

They do yes, except maybe the 43? For about 8 years I think this route was their favourite for new buses.

So yes somewhat a departure from before when the 15/16 and 35 would’ve gotten hand me downs

That is true, maybe something to do with the number of buses that need replacing versus the PVR of the 43.
One point I hadn’t thought of is the Orange 34 Omnis, maybe they’re getting the ex-35 E400s?

 

[STINT47]

Why not put the new buses on the less profitable routes?

By offering better quality more people will use the bus and the services may become more profitable. Giving routes old buses every few years must create a bad impression and discourage use.

 

[Dfatcontroller]

Why not put the new buses on the less profitable routes?

By offering better quality more people will use the bus and the services may become more profitable. Giving routes old buses every few years must create a bad impression and discourage use.

New vehicle capital expenditure requires a business case to be prepared for it. This will take in to account the value of the vehicles used compared to revenue return.
The less profitable routes are therefore still profitable if older vehicles are used as vehicle depreciation is taken into account.

 

[kevjs]

Why not put the new buses on the less profitable routes?

By offering better quality more people will use the bus and the services may become more profitable. Giving routes old buses every few years must create a bad impression and discourage use.

Nottingham City Transport do generally give them a bit of a mid-life refurb as they transfer them onto secondary routes. The reg plate is often all that gives away the age of the vehicle! You certainly don't get the impression of stepping onto a clapped out old bus. The forced livery change no doubt helps with that impression!

 

[323235]

According to the Cheshire East website the new Hulleys X1 is being withdrawn on Wednesday - 2 days after starting?

 

[bobslack1982]

According to the Cheshire East website the new Hulleys X1 is being withdrawn on Wednesday - 2 days after starting?

It isn’t even shown on the Hulleys website so I don’t think it ever began.

 

[GusB]

The X1 withdrawal is already being discussed on the Hulley's thread. Please continue any discussion there to avoid any duplication across threads. Thanks.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/hulleys-of-baslow.209043/

 

[cnjb8]

A few updates around Nottingham:
From what I’ve heard, Skills are short on drivers and are having to subcontract services to Littles amongst others. They’ve also purchased some Lothian B9s.
Hammonds have got an E400 Olympus (PN08SWJ)
NCTs new biogas buses are due at the new year instead of this month as previously mentioned.

 

[43055]

Seems like trentbarton's Derby routes are starting to suffer from a possible staff shortage with numerous routes having some trips missing today. Some more notable reductions are on the Red Arrow (6 instead of 9 buses with some half hour gaps), the mickleover (between 4 and 6 buses) and the villager with only 3 buses running and some 90 min gaps!

Probably similar at other depots.

 

[ChrisC]

Stagecoach introducing quite big changes to the Nottingham-Mansfield-Chesterfield Pronto route from 4th October.
Daytime frequency south of Mansfield reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes. Same timetable Monday to Friday as Saturday. Also a big reduction in the number of buses in the evening north of Mansfield with last bus through to Chesterfield leaving Nottingham at 1840. The last departure from Nottingham to Mansfield is going to be an hour earlier at 2210.

With the late evening Robin Hood Line train services to Mansfield regularly being cancelled at weekends a 2210 departure from Nottingham is not much use for anyone visiting the theatre etc.
TrentBarton do have later departures on their Threes route but that takes well over an hour from Nottingham to Mansfield. The Pronto route always used to be the main route from Mansfield to Nottingham at all times of the day.

 

[Llandudno]

Shame that TrentBarton didn’t take over the Pronto route in its entirety instead of Stagecoach.

It seems odd that the evening journeys on such a core trunk route are not profitable, albeit marginally.
I wonder if daytime revenue will suffer if there is no evening return option available?

 

[ACBest]

I think it’s more to do with their driver shortage than anything else, as well as the fact that Mansfield depot (who operate the Pronto) are currently taking industrial action - namely work to rule.

 

[Llandudno]

I think it’s more to do with their driver shortage than anything else, as well as the fact that Mansfield depot (who operate the Pronto) are currently taking industrial action - namely work to rule.

So these ‘temporary’ reductions have not been formally registered with the Traffic Commissioners?

 

[ACBest]

So these ‘temporary’ reductions have not been formally registered with the Traffic Commissioners?

I imagine they have been, yes - but it doesn’t mean they can’t or won’t be re-instated at a later date.

 

[Mwanesh]

I think it’s more to do with their driver shortage than anything else, as well as the fact that Mansfield depot (who operate the Pronto) are currently taking industrial action - namely work to rule. Trent only had a few buses on the route. The fleeet renewal would have been too much

 

[cnjb8]

Exactly, it meant Trent could remove their 2003 era Wright Solars from service while Pronto passengers benefited from more seats

 

[LowLevel]

Stagecoach introducing quite big changes to the Nottingham-Mansfield-Chesterfield Pronto route from 4th October.
Daytime frequency south of Mansfield reduced from every 10 minutes to every 15 minutes. Same timetable Monday to Friday as Saturday. Also a big reduction in the number of buses in the evening north of Mansfield with last bus through to Chesterfield leaving Nottingham at 1840. The last departure from Nottingham to Mansfield is going to be an hour earlier at 2210.

With the late evening Robin Hood Line train services to Mansfield regularly being cancelled at weekends a 2210 departure from Nottingham is not much use for anyone visiting the theatre etc.
TrentBarton do have later departures on their Threes route but that takes well over an hour from Nottingham to Mansfield. The Pronto route always used to be the main route from Mansfield to Nottingham at all times of the day.

I am always intrigued by the use of the theoretical "theatre goer" as a justification for late night public transport. I know they exist as I've been one myself but the vast majority of passengers on my trains at that time of day are groups of people who are absolutely hammered having been drinking all day, quite often throwing up all over the place and so on. I can hardly see them having left a theatre performance a short while before

I wish they'd be honest and admit we largely exist to transport large numbers of very drunk people who've been out to get wasted home with as little disruption as we can manage.

 

[ChrisC]

I am always intrigued by the use of the theoretical "theatre goer" as a justification for late night public transport. I know they exist as I've been one myself but the vast majority of passengers on my trains at that time of day are groups of people who are absolutely hammered having been drinking all day, quite often throwing up all over the place and so on. I can hardly see them having left a theatre performance a short while before

I wish they'd be honest and admit we largely exist to transport large numbers of very drunk people who've been out to get wasted home with as little disruption as we can manage.

I understand what you are saying. Whenever I go to the theatre in Nottingham I usually try to book tickets for Monday to Thursday to avoid having to travel back amongst the crowds of drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. These days I tend to park at Hucknall and use the tram but return journey is not always very pleasant. The tram stop outside the Royal Centre, and the Lace Market, after concerts at the Arena, are extremely busy immediately after a performance ends and often the first tram is too full to board. Theatre and concert goers do exist in large numbers. Years ago, when villages had buses in the evenings, there used to be a bus at 10.30pm which I used to have to run to the bus station to catch when the show finished. I think the tram with its park and ride sites have taken most of this custom now that on many routes the last bus leaves too early.

 

[edwin_m]

I understand what you are saying. Whenever I go to the theatre in Nottingham I usually try to book tickets for Monday to Thursday to avoid having to travel back amongst the crowds of drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. These days I tend to park at Hucknall and use the tram but return journey is not always very pleasant. The tram stop outside the Royal Centre, and the Lace Market, after concerts at the Arena, are extremely busy immediately after a performance ends and often the first tram is too full to board. Theatre and concert goers do exist in large numbers. Years ago, when villages had buses in the evenings, there used to be a bus at 10.30pm which I used to have to run to the bus station to catch when the show finished. I think the tram with its park and ride sites have taken most of this custom now that on many routes the last bus leaves too early.

Both NCT and TrentBarton run last buses after 2300 on most routes, and night buses on Fridays and Saturdays, which is probably pretty good compared to most cities outside London. Pronto is a bit of an outlier in that respect.

 

[Deerfold]

Both NCT and TrentBarton run last buses after 2300 on most routes, and night buses on Fridays and Saturdays, which is probably pretty good compared to most cities outside London. Pronto is a bit of an outlier in that respect.

Pronto did run until 2 or 3am at weekends as far as Mansfield until it became Stagecoach only.

 

[cnjb8]

Four new BYD D8UR/Alexander-Dennis Enviro200 EVs are on delivery at CT4N. They have 32 seats and are registered as LG71 DJD/E/F/J.

 

[43055]

From the 14th the Spondon Flyer will be temporarily withdrawn and royal Derby reduced to every 20 mins due to the ongoing driver shortages.

 

[richardderby]

I see the 59 Derby Ilkeston via Breadsall village has been cut to every two hours from 29th December. This service is popular and previously had service from both Notts & Derby and also Yourbus. It's not good for the regular users of the route, who are primarily elderly and disabled passengers.

New bus services after cancellation of Derby to Belper route

The Notts and Derby bus company made too little profit

www.derbytelegraph.co.uk

Passengers who use a Derbyshire bus route which is set to be cancelled will be able to catch buses again after the county council stepped in.

Hundreds of people who use the 71 and 72 Notts & Derby bus service between Derby city centre and Belper faced being stranded by Christmas as the company said it was no longer financially viable.

The service, which calls at Openwoodgate, Bargate, Holbrook, Coxbench and Little Eaton, will end on Christmas Eve, but now Derbyshire County Council has helped Notts & Derby to extend its other lines to cover the area.

The council-supported 59/59A and 137/8 services will serve the routes currently used by the 71 and 72 buses from Wednesday, December 29.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for highways, assets and transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said: “When we heard that Notts & Derby were going to stop running the 71/72 service we were of course very disappointed.

“We understand that the national shortage of bus drivers is adding to the challenges that bus companies are facing and the reason for the company wanting to stop the 71/72 service.

“After discussions with them we are pleased that our existing contracts with the company for the 59/59A and 137/8 service are going to be amended to take in the 71/2 route.

“We do realise that the new timetables won’t quite offer the same service to all the users of these services as before, but realistically it is the best we can do at the moment until the bus driver shortage situation improves.”

The cancellation of the original 71/72 route was announced in November as the industry deals with a nationwide driver shortage and lower passenger numbers following the coronavirus pandemic.

The new services, which will have adapted timetables which can be seen online, cover:

59/59A: Derby to Shipley View via Little Chester, Oakwood, Breadsall, Morleymoor, Smalley, Stanley Common, West Hallam and Ilkeston.

137/138: Belper to Langley via Far Laund, Whitemoor, Openwoodgate, Bargate, Holbrook, Kilburn, Denby, Loscoe and Heanor.

Amber Valley Borough councillor Ben Bellamy, leader of the Labour group, had previously called on the County Council to make funds available for new routes but said the cancellation was still concerning.

He said: "Nearly 1500 people signed the petition to save these services. Whilst it is welcome that due to their pressure, some service will remain, it is simply not acceptable to be reducing public transport at a time when a climate emergency threatens our very existence.

"They could quite easily put on smaller mini buses to keep the service hourly. As to the shortage of drivers, Notts and Derby appear to be paying less than other local bus companies.

"Ultimately this whole saga shows that the private sector cannot be trusted with public services. Ultimately, only an ambitious nationalisation of our bus services can truly deliver a service to help combat climate change and connect communities effectively."

 

[43055]

I see the 59 Derby Ilkeston via Breadsall village has been cut to every two hours from 29th December. This service is popular and previously had service from both Notts & Derby and also Yourbus. It's not good for the regular users of the route, who are primarily elderly and disabled passengers.

New bus services after cancellation of Derby to Belper route

The Notts and Derby bus company made too little profit

www.derbytelegraph.co.uk

All to do with the 71/72 being saved probably. Also someone needs to tell councilor Ben Bellamy that the 71/72 is already regularly run with mini buses (Solo's).


trentbarton from tomorrow is also reducing the 27 to hourly and suspending the 1A due to driver shortages. Personally I think the two or the H1 should be reduced first as these have higher a higher frequency.

timetable changes from Monday 13 December - trent barton

Unfortunately due to ongoing driver shortage, we will be forced to temporarily reduce service levels as detailed below.

1A | Temporarily suspended until further notice.

27 | Temporary reduction of frequency to every hour.

Whilst we are doing everything we can to resolve the current issues, recruit more drivers, and operate as close to normal, we have now reached a position where we cannot continue to attempt to manage the issue on a day to day basis. We have therefore taken the very diffcult decision to make these service reductions. This will mean that rather than unreliably delivering more services, we will deliver fewer services with greater certainty and reliability.

We appreciate your support at this time.

 

[cnjb8]

All to do with the 71/72 being saved probably. Also someone needs to tell councilor Ben Bellamy that the 71/72 is already regularly run with mini buses (Solo's).


trentbarton from tomorrow is also reducing the 27 to hourly and suspending the 1A due to driver shortages. Personally I think the two or the H1 should be reduced first as these have higher a higher frequency.

timetable changes from Monday 13 December - trent barton

71/72 is often operated with Centro’s and Solar’s too, which must be more expensive on this route that only warrants a Solo

 

[SCH117X]

Have NCT reopened Gotham garage ? Last bus from Loughborough Christmas and New Year Eves terminates there. Also does anyone know whther the book on Gotham garage that NCT referred to earlier this year as being released actually was ?

 

[Spaceflower]

I spent three months living in a north west suburb of Nottingham in 1997 and was blown away by how new and clean the buses were (Trent buses on the NG - Ripley/Heanor/Ilkeston route iirc). I was used to old rickety Go Wear double decker buses and Leyland Nationals which all had windows and seats that looked like they'd been inspired from some inner city school desk. These Nottingham buses even smelled nice.
Anyway, I went back to the area three or fours years go and was horrified at what had happened to the buses....and the place. I only visited for a day following a job offer but felt lucky to escape without a long term health problem.