City Transport Group Newcastle

[MarkP1]

On the back of the Go North East strikes City Transport Group will be introducing new service C4 between Washington and Heworth following a similar route to that of the Go North East number 4. It'll be starting tomorrow 8th November.

Live travel news | nexus.org.uk

www.nexus.org.uk

I wonder if other independent operators follow.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Good move, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of similar routes launched by either City Transport Group and/or another independent bus company.

 

[Andyh82]

Good move, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of similar routes launched by either City Transport Group and/or another independent bus company.

Stanley Travel have already ruled it out, stating among other things, that it takes far too long to register a service. In reality I imagine a long established name like them just wants to stay out of it. As we know very well on this forum, wading in on strike action and taking sides doesn’t go well.

City Transport however, who are pretty unknown and just do a bit of rail replacement and have no reputation either way, have nothing to lose.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Stanley Travel have already ruled it out, stating among other things, that it takes far too long to register a service. In reality I imagine a long established name like them just wants to stay out of it. As we know very well on this forum, wading in on strike action and taking sides doesn’t go well.

City Transport however, who are pretty unknown and just do a bit of rail replacement and have no reputation either way, have nothing to lose.

I agree, smaller bus companies like City Transport may get involved, but larger ones like Stanley Travel will not.

 

[pm2304877]

Good move, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of similar routes launched by either City Transport Group and/or another independent bus company.

Go Ahead or other company strikes are not a permanent fixture and small timers like this are not geared up for daily regular services, nor do they pay the drivers the full rate and they don't invest in new vehicles. Once the strike is over small company drivers want better pay and conditions and will quit.
Large cities need large operators. It's time that small time operators vacated the bus industry; their day was in post deregulation era when there was a pool of redundant drivers and vehicles.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Go Ahead or other company strikes are not a permanent fixture and small timers like this are not geared up for daily regular services , nor do they pay the drivers the full rate and they don't invest in new vehicles . Once the strike is over small company drivers want better pay and conditions and will quit.
Large cities need large operators . It's time that small time operators vacated the bus industry their day was in post dereg era when there was a pool of redundant drivers and vehicles.

Lots of small bus companies provide vital service to rural communities that the large bus companies likely wouldn't serve.

 

[northern506]

Go Ahead or other company strikes are not a permanent fixture and small timers like this are not geared up for daily regular services, nor do they pay the drivers the full rate and they don't invest in new vehicles. Once the strike is over small company drivers want better pay and conditions and will quit.
Large cities need large operators. It's time that small time operators vacated the bus industry; their day was in post deregulation era when there was a pool of redundant drivers and vehicles.

Gateshead Central Taxis pay their bus drivers more than Go North East!!

 

[GusB]

Let's not get into a debate about whether or not small operators are suitable for city services - not in this thread anyway. If anyone wishes to discuss the issue, please do so in a separate thread.

 

[DanNCL]

As far as I understand City Transport only have two buses - an ex-First ALX400 and (ironically given what City Transport are about to do) an ex-Go North East Citaro. So I wouldn't have thought any other routes would be on the cards from City Transport. But other independents in the area might see how quickly this has been approved - less than 48 hours from application to start of service - and be inclined to launch their own services.

 

[Tetchytyke]

A look on City’s website (such as it is- what a mess) suggests they were offering “pre-booked coaches” last week between Washington and Heworth.

Where are they based? I thought they were part of that weird group including Yorkshire Buses at Tockwith?

 

[YorkRailFan]

Let's not get into a debate about whether or not small operators are suitable for city services - not in this thread anyway. If anyone wishes to discuss the issue, please do so in a separate thread.

Is there an existing thread or should I start one?

 

[M803UYA]

A look on City’s website (such as it is- what a mess) suggests they were offering “pre-booked coaches” last week between Washington and Heworth.

Where are they based? I thought they were part of that weird group including Yorkshire Buses at Tockwith?

They seem to have moved from Tockwith to Newcastle.

 

[RJ]

As far as I understand City Transport only have two buses - an ex-First ALX400 and (ironically given what City Transport are about to do) an ex-Go North East Citaro. So I wouldn't have thought any other routes would be on the cards from City Transport. But other independents in the area might see how quickly this has been approved - less than 48 hours from application to start of service - and be inclined to launch their own services.

To be fair if you know who to speak to, it doesn’t have to take the full notice period to register a route.

 

[Megafuss]

As far as I understand City Transport only have two buses - an ex-First ALX400 and (ironically given what City Transport are about to do) an ex-Go North East Citaro. So I wouldn't have thought any other routes would be on the cards from City Transport. But other independents in the area might see how quickly this has been approved - less than 48 hours from application to start of service - and be inclined to launch their own services.

Let's see if they will be able to cancel it as quickly....

 

[Geordie driver]

Let's see if they will be able to cancel it as quickly....

I had thought about this, one would assume if you can register a route at very short notice you can cancel it at very short notice?

Or just not run the services you have registered, this seems permissable now?

The GNE thread is locked.

I am all in favour of this service, helps the public and puts pressure on GNE.

 

[Flange Squeal]

A look on City’s website (such as it is- what a mess) suggests they were offering “pre-booked coaches” last week between Washington and Heworth.

Where are they based? I thought they were part of that weird group including Yorkshire Buses at Tockwith?

The City Transport website has a copyright footer stating ‘City Transport Group Ltd’, while the Yorkshire Buses website proclaims they are “a part of the Yorkshire Travel Group”. So it sounds like it’s a case of two seperate companies overseen by two seperate ‘Groups’, rather than both belonging to the same overall group, although I’m not sure what other operating companies actually make up each of the two ‘Groups’ besides City Transport and Yorkshire Buses respectively.

 

[34D]

and small timers like this are not geared up for daily regular services, nor do they pay the drivers the full rate

City Transport were advertising something like £18 per hour not long ago (or it might've been 16).

 

[DanNCL]

City Transport's ex-GNE Citaro has been in use on the c4 today. From what I've heard it's gone down well with the locals.

A look on City’s website (such as it is- what a mess) suggests they were offering “pre-booked coaches” last week between Washington and Heworth.

They originally planned to launch it as a pre-booked only service as hence the adverts as such on their website; they'd originally thought that was all they were permitted to do. Nexus told them earlier this week that that wasn't the case hence the change.

Where are they based? I thought they were part of that weird group including Yorkshire Buses at Tockwith?

The City Transport website has a copyright footer stating ‘City Transport Group Ltd’, while the Yorkshire Buses website proclaims they are “a part of the Yorkshire Travel Group”. So it sounds like it’s a case of two seperate companies overseen by two seperate ‘Groups’, rather than both belonging to the same overall group, although I’m not sure what other operating companies actually make up each of the two ‘Groups’ besides City Transport and Yorkshire Buses respectively.

City Transport were based somewhere in West Yorkshire but recently relocated to the North East. I'm not sure of the exact loaction of their depot (assume it's shared premises) but they have a registered office in Newcastle. I have no idea why the word 'Group' is in their name as they're not a group.

I am all in favour of this service, helps the public and puts pressure on GNE.

100% agreed here.

Stagecoach have been watching carefully but I can't share anything else at the minute...

City Transport were advertising something like £18 per hour not long ago (or it might've been 16).

 

[GusB]

The following details show up when searching DVSA

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/view-details/licence/572146

Contact details
AddressClavering House, Clavering Place, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE1 3NG, GB

Operating centreVehiclesTrailers
OLD CONTROL TOWER, OLD AIRFIELD, TOCKWITH, YO26 7QF, GB30
McDermid Ltd c/o O'Brien Storage, DURHAM ROAD, BIRTLEY, CHESTER LE STREET, DH3 2TB, GB 3 0

 

[DanNCL]

The following details show up when searching DVSA

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/view-details/licence/572146

The O'Brien Storage site is also used by JH Coaches although isn't the latter's main site in Birtley. I think a couple of haulage firms use that site too.

 

[RJ]

Go Ahead or other company strikes are not a permanent fixture and small timers like this are not geared up for daily regular services, nor do they pay the drivers the full rate and they don't invest in new vehicles.

Round here the national operator offers something like £12.50 an hour which hundreds of people are happy to work for, while at least one small operator offers in excess of £20 an hour basic for a 40 hour week. I think in having preconceptions, you may be missing out on opportunities.

Good on City Transport and I hope the venture goes well for them.

 

[317 forever]

They should consider expanding their network using former Go-Ahead London stock

 

[RJ]

From word of mouth the service is popular with locals and people have been waxing lyrical about it.