Competition heats up between Transdev and Connexions

[Andyh82]

So you're saying, the bus rolled back off the stand and crashed into the back wall?

 

[spuddie]

Anywhere online I can still find the picture? I've done some googling but no luck.

 

[JaJaWa]

Don't see how they have any power to remove any images?

 

[Tetchytyke]

Don't see how they have any power to remove any images?

Legal power, not much.

But as most of these photos tend to be taken by the same small band of bus spotters, there are ways of asking nicely!

 

[96tommy]

A TransDev Harrogate bus crashed with another Transdev in the bus station not long ago. Pictures can still be found on the Web

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

A TransDev Harrogate bus crashed with another Transdev in the bus station not long ago. Pictures can still be found on the Web

So Transdev weren't so concerned about airbrushing history?

 

[nesw]

I'd imagine the DVSA will be taking an interest in the incidents mentioned above.

 

[Deerfold]

Also there is local custom in West Yorkshire that Good Friday is a Saturday service despite being a bank holiday. Connexions are not running their service 38 in Leeds as its a bank holiday. First aren't running their tendered Sunday service either, so the route gets no buses on Friday.

Transdev Keighley goes along with this, but the other Trasdev companies don't so there's some odd combined services. The 66/M4 usually combine to form a roughly 15 minute service between Keighley, Airdale Hospital and Eastburn. On Friday the 66 will be half hourly. One in every 4 will be followed 2 or 6 minutes later by an M4.

 

[SCH117X]

It was the lowest part of wall at the northern end of the bus stations that the bus demolished where it forms a boundary to the Network Rail access to the station as seen in this Google streetscene view
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.9...yBTObRitz-F46hYgOg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1.

I recall HCT found it funny back in 2012 on the first day of Transdevs Versas being in service that one acquired a green stripe from one their vehicles hitting it.

 

[theblackwatch]

Still not managed to find a pic of the incident.

 

[theblackwatch]

It was the lowest part of wall at the northern end of the bus stations that the bus demolished where it forms a boundary to the Network Rail access to the station as seen in this Google streetscene view
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.9...yBTObRitz-F46hYgOg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1.

And here is a view of the wall as it is now. One of the staff I spoke to believes it belongs to Network Rail.

From what I've heard, the bus rolled out of the bottom stand into the wall.

 

[SCH117X]

Now seems to a concessionary holders battle going on. Connexions are offering reduced am peak travel (presumably in an attempt to run fewer virtually empty am peak services on the x1) while Transdev are offering a free drink for 10 journeys on Route 1. No doubt Connexions will tweet some comment about Frenchie gimmicks forgetting their M&S gift card offer. Do wonder whether M&S are aware of it and would be bothered about being connected with Connexions if they read the customer unfriendly /anti Transdev tweets they have a habit of issuing.

 

[SCH117X]

Although Connexions are withdrawing the X1C from this coming weekend they are upping the anti on the X1 from the end of May with most journeys retimed to run 5 minutes earlier i.e. 3 minutes in front of Transdevs 1A from St James Retail Park. Elsewhere they are re-routing the X52 in Ilkley to avoid the low bridge at Ben Rhydding and withdrawing their first working from Ilkley and starting it at Otley.

 

[spuddie]

Well Connexions don't appear to be denying the incident too much, they did reply to one of my cheeky tweets confirming that a now ex-employee forgot to put the handbrake on.

But then on another tweet they were taking great delight in that a Transdev bus broke down in York.....because of course connexions have a 100% fleet reliability.

 

[Bantamzen]

Well Connexions don't appear to be denying the incident too much, they did reply to one of my cheeky tweets confirming that a now ex-employee forgot to put the handbrake on.

But then on another tweet they were taking great delight in that a Transdev bus broke down in York.....because of course connexions have a 100% fleet reliability.

As only a rare user of Connexions, my only impression of them are the rattlers that they seem to schedule to operate on the X52. I thought that Yorkshire/Flying Tiger's Scania Omnis had seen better days even with their refurb until I travelled on a Connexion one between Otley & Ilkley the other week. I know not all their fleet look quite so sorry for themselves, but if they want to compete with Transdev a little bit of TLC on some of the buses wouldn't go amiss.

 

[gnolife]

Well Connexions don't appear to be denying the incident too much, they did reply to one of my cheeky tweets confirming that a now ex-employee forgot to put the handbrake on.

I'm surprised that they aren't saying that the French came along and took the handbrake off.

 

[spuddie]

I'm surprised that they aren't saying that the French came along and took the handbrake off.

Give it time....they probably will

I wonder what Connexions reaction would be if a French transport operator approached them saying we would like to invest in your company so you can fund new vehicles, improve services and generally improve your image, all management and staff will still be locally based you just have French ownership....would they really say no?

 

[Stan Drews]

...if a French transport operator approached them saying we would like to invest in your company...

Are the French really that stupid?

 

[96tommy]

Anyone know what the problem with CityZap B7TL's are.Their reliability seems to be struggling quite a bit

 

[SCH117X]

Although Connexions are allegedly a low cost operation, the Keighley Kday ticket (£4.20, £4.90 before 9.30) makes the 62 cheaper than the X52 for a lot of journeys. With the axing of the 0725 from Ilkley and starting it from Otley from the end of May Connexions will only not have a working from Ilkley until 0925 and the last from Harrogate is 1630. Transdev in comparison have a 0734 and 0837 from Ilkley and a 1740 from Harrogate. Really seems that Connexions aim to survive on the concessionary passes! EDIT: What I meant to include was a comment that I cannot see how Connexions can continue to display "The Original and the Best" on their destination screens given that Transdevs service between Ilkley and Harrogate will clearly be the better one, and the Original has always been questionable as their have been services between the two towns previously; West Yorkshire Road Cars ultra lengthy 76 Skipton-Tadcaster, Harrogate Independent Travels 88 Harrogate-Skipton and Harrogate & Districts X50 York-Skipton.

 

[SCH117X]

Ooops, looks like someones in trouble. From todays NE of England Notices & Proceedings
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ment_data/file/613797/np-2266-12-may-2017.pdf

Section 5.1 – Notice of Public Inquiries to be Held
Public Inquiry (74385) to be held at Hillcrest House (Leeds), LS9 6NF, 386 Harehills Lane, LEEDS, on 25 May 2017 commencing at 10:30 PB1003659 SN HARROGATE COACH TRAVEL LTD Director(s): JONATHON CRAIG TEMPLE, JULIE KAREN TEMPLE, COLIN TEMPLE SECTION 3, SOUTHFIELD LANE, TOCKWITH, YORK, YO26 7QP
S17 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) Sch.3 - Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) S26 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 26 (The Transport Act 1985) S28 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985) S155 (The Transport Act 2000)
Section

Section 26 covers non operation of services, unfit vehicles, intentionally interfered with another operators service , operated a local service in a dangerous manner or with serious misconduct

Section 28 is the power to disqualify operators

 

[NorthernSpirit]

WYCA will have to find other operators to cover some of the tendered work if Connextions goes to the wall, no idea what NYCC or CoY Council will do.

Then again it'll be their own fault through petty squabbling with Transdev.

 

[SCH117X]

WYCA will have to find other operators to cover some of the tendered work if Connextions goes to the wall, no idea what NYCC or CoY Council will do.

Then again it'll be their own fault through petty squabbling with Transdev.

Would think tendered work anywhere will go to other operators; the problem will be the commercially operated X4 and X12 in Harrogate which NYCC decided were unviable to continue subsidising, and possibly the 13 in York which First gave up on. Obviously the loss of the X1, X6, X6A, X70 between Harrogate and Wetherby, and the X52 will simply have a comment of "Alternative services are provided by Transdev".

 

[Andyh82]

WYCA will have to find other operators to cover some of the tendered work if Connextions goes to the wall, no idea what NYCC or CoY Council will do.

Then again it'll be their own fault through petty squabbling with Transdev.

I think you've jumped about 10 steps forward coming to that train of thought. Not everyone who goes in front of the traffic commissioners loses their licence and closes down!

 

[SCH117X]

I think you've jumped about 10 steps forward coming to that train of thought. Not everyone who goes in front of the traffic commissioners loses their licence and closes down!

Is the Section 28 part of the inquiry automatically applied to all cases ?

 

[Stan Drews]

Is the Section 28 part of the inquiry automatically applied to all cases ?

No, it's inclusion simply allows the TC to apply a sanction if they see fit, after the PI, and it obviously outlines the level of 'punishments' that can be given.

 

[ChrisPJ]

What actually is alleged to have been done wrong?

 

[Statto]

I think the incident at Harrogate bus station was the catalyst for the TC to become involved.

 

[SCH117X]

I think the incident at Harrogate bus station was the catalyst for the TC to become involved.

Could explain the section 26 but the section 17? Presumably if Section 17 is upheld then it would be difficult not for Section 28 not to be so.

 

[SCH117X]

I understand Mr Temple has taken to Facebook over this, do not have access myself but apparently is claiming its due to a lack of timekeeping during the Harrogate Christmas Market at the beginning of December and wondering why Transdev were not equally picked on.