First Essex major changes in February

[TAS]

Some news on a replacement for one of First's cuts, the diversion of the 67 group of services away from Peldon village.

Hedingham's service 63 (operated under contract to Essex County Council), which currently provides an hourly service across Colchester between William Harris Way in Berechurch and Mason Road via the town centre, is to be extended southwards beyond Berechurch to Peldon and West Mersea. This doubles the PVR from 1 to 2, although the service is evidently interworked with school services.

Interestingly, Hedingham are, for an 'introductory period' incorporating it into their 'Seasiders' network of services competing with First.

 

[DragonEast]

At last. The bus market working as it should. With what looks like bus patronage in decline nationally FEx though might do well to review their longstanding attitude of taking their passengers for granted! It needs some competition perhaps to set them an example of how to attract passengers rather than put them off. If they take any notice . . . And a test for the passengers too, whether they actually want to exercise a choice, which needs a bit of effort.

What seems to make the passengers fed up more than anything is not so much withdrawing routes (which usually can -and should- be replaced by more efficient operators to everyone's benefit) but when they do their messing about with amended or partial replacement services that are predictably even less viable than what went before. It seems to resemble more than anything the spoiling tactics of a typical cowboy operation and it's nothing to be proud of. This cyclical incompetence has been going on for far too long. The shareholders might put up with being fleeced. The passengers can't just turn a blind eye.

They've already had one formal warning over their reliability in mid-Essex from the TC, apparently. They got away with their excuses and promises. Their own local drivers have expressed concern and the local police have apparently beefed up their vehicle inspection resources recently too. Time for stage 2?

 

[overthewater]

I might be worth while gathering information ON overcrowding yourself and submitting to the company, it would seems the tickets machines may not be telling the full truth.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I might be worth while gathering information overcrowding yourself and submitting to the company, it would seems the tickets machines may not be tell the full truth.

Maybe it’s me but I didn’t understand a word of that!

 

[DragonEast]

Anyone know if First are pulling out of Chelmsford, after Clacton?

A few odd things have been going on: newer fleet being transferred out over several months now, Arriva, their nearest major competitor have suddenly pulled forward with no obvious reason another service transfer in the area (to clear the decks perhaps?) and the latest service revisions and all existing timetables in mid and north Essex now all expire at the end of August. It doesn't appear related to school services which are all shown within the timetables, and which might otherwise be an obvious reason.

Essex have a longstanding and worsening resource problem with both buses and drivers, so they certainly need a significant retrenchment, with the closures of Clacton and Braintree depots being a drop in the ocean. And now being a single unit with Eastern Counties, problems at Essex are going to bring down the former too, which I can't believe the MD would allow to happen, given his background.

If anything is to happen we should find out imminently, assuming there are N&P notices and a "quickie" consultation, as at Clacton.

 

[InspectorBloke]

Anyone know if First are pulling out of Chelmsford, after Clacton?

A few odd things have been going on: newer fleet being transferred out over several months now, Arriva, their nearest major competitor have suddenly pulled forward with no obvious reason another service transfer in the area (to clear the decks perhaps?) and the latest service revisions and all existing timetables in mid and north Essex now all expire at the end of August. It doesn't appear related to school services which are all shown within the timetables, and which might otherwise be an obvious reason.

Essex have a longstanding and worsening resource problem with both buses and drivers, so they certainly need a significant retrenchment, with the closures of Clacton and Braintree depots being a drop in the ocean. And now being a single unit with Eastern Counties, problems at Essex are going to bring down the former too, which I can't believe the MD would allow to happen, given his background.

If anything is to happen we should find out imminently, assuming there are N&P notices and a "quickie" consultation, as at Clacton.

I'm not sure how you've come to that conclusion, it may be wishful thinking on your part, as you seem to gun for First Essex on here regularly.

Chelmsford have not lost any of their newer fleet. The 2016 Enviro 200 MMCs are still with Chelmsford. The 2013 Enviro 200s are still in Chelmsford, so i'm not sure what you're talking about.

The staffing issues have been compounded by the closure of Clacton and Braintree, as positions had to be made available for anyone wanting to transfer after consultation.

Arriva are not making any progress into the Chelmsford area. They are filling gaps left by EOS around Harlow and have run service 59 to Chelmsford for years.

Any N&P for changes at the end of August would be available to view now, so nothing is changing at the end of August.

 

[overthewater]

Surly Arriva would want to make inroads in that other town? Not Chelmsford. Im sure Someone else would be right in there. How Does Stephens make money ?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Surly Arriva would want to make inroads in that other town? Not Chelmsford. Im sure Someone else would be right in there. How Does Stephens make money ?

Not certain what that all means

Are you saying that Arriva would surely look to expand in Southend or Colchester - which "other town"? And are you referring to Stephensons?

Inspector Bloke has it right - it's Dragon East having his usual First Essex rant.

 

[overthewater]

Not certain what that all means

Are you saying that Arriva would surely look to expand in Southend or Colchester - which "other town"? And are you referring to Stephensons?

Inspector Bloke has it right - it's Dragon East having his usual First Essex rant.

Yes Arriva would surely be more interested in making inroads in Southend or Colchester, why bother with Chelmsford? If we were talking about Colchester Go ahead would be looking to get a slice of the pie.
So why on earth would Arriva waste is time going somewhere brand new? Question with Stephensons? There seem to be the only one making profits?