First Essex z3

[hansolo12345]

First have put posters up saying the z3 from Southend to Amazon Tilbury is now "Amazon staff only'

Service is here

https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/608523/

Are they allowed to do this? It appears in the public timetable and Google maps etc.

I don't work at Amazon but use this as it's cheaper than the train.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Teds]

The Z2 operated by Ensign is similarly 'Closed door' to the public which is a shame because it added a couple of evening journeys for the public previously. The information is from the Ensign website. I don't know when the change was made. The service from Custom House was always for Amazon staff only.

 

[markymark2000]

First have put posters up saying the z3 from Southend to Amazon Tilbury is now "Amazon staff only'

Service is here

https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...registered-local-bus-services/details/608523/

Are they allowed to do this? It appears in the public timetable and Google maps etc.

I don't work at Amazon but use this as it's cheaper than the train.

Thanks in advance.

They can yes. Ensign did the same with the Z2 service because it's contracted from Amazon to First Travel Solutions and the Amazon routes via FTS were all meant to be Amazon staff only. I believed as soon as First took over the route from Ensign, I thought it went to Amazon Staff Only.

Not sure if it needs to be registered though if it's only carrying staff to, or from the warehouse as I think it would fall into one of the exemptions for registering a route.

The Z2 operated by Ensign is similarly 'Closed door' to the public which is a shame because it added a couple of evening journeys for the public previously. The information is from the Ensign website. I don't know when the change was made. The service from Custom House was always for Amazon staff only.

It changed when Amazon moved the contracts to First Travel Solutions. Not sure how it was done before but when FTS took over, it all went closed door.

 

[WibbleWobble]

They can yes. Ensign did the same with the Z2 service because it's contracted from Amazon to First Travel Solutions and the Amazon routes via FTS were all meant to be Amazon staff only. I believed as soon as First took over the route from Ensign, I thought it went to Amazon Staff Only.

However, the registration needs to be changed to "schools or works".

Not sure if it needs to be registered though if it's only carrying staff to, or from the warehouse as I think it would fall into one of the exemptions for registering a route.

Depends on if fares are charged or not, and how payment is made. If it is a courtesy service, or fare payments are handled by Amazon and not First (e.g. salary deduction), then it doesn't need to be registered as it would be classed as a private hire.

 

[markymark2000]

However, the registration needs to be changed to "schools or works".

Depends on if fares are charged or not, and how payment is made. If it is a courtesy service, or fare payments are handled by Amazon and not First (e.g. salary deduction), then it doesn't need to be registered as it would be classed as a private hire.

Fares are taken by First Travel Solutions on their app. The actual operator is not responsible for taking the fares (not sure if FTS counts as an 'agent' though in this, someone may have more info). Passengers all pay the same fare too I believe (£2 single, or at least that was the cost).

Given other Amazon routes (operated on behalf of FTS) aren't all registered, I presume that it's not a requirement. Stagecoach Merseyside had the Liverpool to Omega Warrington service and this was never registered. First Manchesters route from Manchester Airport to Airport City Amazon also isn't registered and that's the same principal as above.

With that in mind, I think that First just need to cancel the Z3 registration.