Greyhound's Demise?

[iantherev]

Prior to the closure of the coaching unit last year there were always spare vehicles that could be substituted if needed. Since then two Greyhound vehicles have departed for the South West and the three remaining 70 sweaters have been having work done recently. There is now very little cover for breakdowns.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

Prior to the closure of the coaching unit last year there were always spare vehicles that could be substituted if needed. Since then two Greyhound vehicles have departed for the South West and the three remaining 70 sweaters have been having work done recently. There is now very little cover for breakdowns.

so the age old First problem of trying to run a prestige service on a shoe string then?

 

[83G/84D]

Prior to the closure of the coaching unit last year there were always spare vehicles that could be substituted if needed. Since then two Greyhound vehicles have departed for the South West and the three remaining 70 sweaters have been having work done recently. There is now very little cover for breakdowns.

The two Greyhound coaches are 23316 & 23317 and are at Camborne, they seem to have replaced some other coaches that are on Rail Replacement work in Somerset at the moment.

 

[Greenback]

so the age old First problem of trying to run a prestige service on a shoe string then?

I think it's more likely that the service didn't meet First's requirement for a return of a certain percentage on their investment.

 

[NLC1072]

Does anybody know why they stopped the London - Portsmouth service? Always seemed well loaded when I was on it

 

[Temple Meads]

The two Greyhound coaches are 23316 & 23317 and are at Camborne, they seem to have replaced some other coaches that are on Rail Replacement work in Somerset at the moment.

23317 was itself on RRS work between Taunton and Bristol last week.

 

[matt_splat]

well lets just say that a Cardiff to Bristol airport coach service will continue after greyhound

a 10 plate branded airport express flyer coach pulled into BRS Airport as I left work today it was a Edwards coaches coach with national express branding on the front

 

[embers25]

well lets just say that a Cardiff to Bristol airport coach service will continue after greyhound

a 10 plate branded airport express flyer coach pulled into BRS Airport as I left work today it was a Edwards coaches coach with national express branding on the front

Nat Exp are about to launch a Cardiff-Bristol Airport service with 2 such coaches.

 

[freetoview33]

216: Cardiff - Bristol Airport

 

[Carlisle]

Does anybody know why they stopped the London - Portsmouth service? Always seemed well loaded when I was on it

When I used the Portsmouth route loadings seemed variable, however I once caught their London -Glasgow service which was full that night so I'm surprised it was axed so easily

 

[Busaholic]

When I used the Portsmouth route loadings seemed variable, however I once caught their London -Glasgow service which was full that night so I'm surprised it was axed so easily

To amend the old saying 'When the going gets tough, the tough get going and First get out'.

 

[radamfi]

Presumably the Silver Choice service was running with a decent enough profit before First took over. If First hadn't taken it over, maybe Silver Choice would still be running it now?

 

[overthewater]

I heard stories Silver choice was not at its best when First took over. I also heard on a number of days only a few people were booked to use it, so there were instead taken to Central station and placed on Sleeper.

Megabus killed Silver choice.

 

[pitdiver]

Does anybody know why they stopped the London - Portsmouth service? Always seemed well loaded when I was on it

It may well have been NX's plan to kill of any opposition to the above service when they opened ticket office on the "Hard " at Portsmouth (which as I understand subsequently closed) which stopped First's service.

RH (ex NX Coach Station Mgr)

 

[F Great Eastern]

Speaking of which:
http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/getting-to-the-airport/by-south-wales-coach.aspx

 

[F Great Eastern]

They have now withdrawn the facility to buy tickets online.

Looks like the dog and the brand will be put down for good very soon.

 

[anthony263]

Already Has. Yesterday was the final day for Greyhound and the depot at Cardiff closed for good last night. Drivers have transferred to other depots

 

[F Great Eastern]

But the service is still running between Swansea and Cardiff, so surely the brand is still there just curtailed, smaller timetable, no online bookings and all from Swansea Depots?

 

[iantherev]

The Swansea - Cardiff service has reverted to the old 100 route number. The coaches will be used initially but the Greyhound brand is dead.

 

[F Great Eastern]

They always were 100, even when operating Cardiff to Swansea as Greyhound before being extended to Bristol Airport.

I hear that 4th April could be the last rites of the brand completely, but it will limp on until then.

First are still refering to it as Greyhound service on their website even with the cut back route, but say all material is only correct up till 4th April.

 

[traveller1]

They always were 100, even when operating Cardiff to Swansea as Greyhound before being extended to Bristol Airport.

I hear that 4th April could be the last rites of the brand completely, but it will limp on until then.

First are still refering to it as Greyhound service on their website even with the cut back route, but say all material is only correct up till 4th April.

So what is going to happen post 4th April? Cymru Clipper?

 

[F Great Eastern]

New Timetable from 5th April

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/assets/pdfs/wales/greyhound/gh0504leaflet.pdf

The greyhound brand will live on for another while, and the coaches will stay for another while, but clipper tickets will not be valid on the service and can be bought onboard.

 

[traveller1]

New Timetable from 5th April

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/assets/pdfs/wales/greyhound/gh0504leaflet.pdf

The greyhound brand will live on for another while, and the coaches will stay for another while, but clipper tickets will not be valid on the service and can be bought onboard.

Do you mean clipper tickets WILL be valid on this service? That is my intepretation? Thanks.

 

[anthony263]

Clipper tickets are valid but they cannot be issued on the greyhound or on local buses. There is a notice in Bridgend bus stn stating that the south & west wales day ticket which is valid on all of First's bus services is now valid on the greyhound.

All services operating via Cardiff Bay

 

[traveller1]

Clipper tickets are valid but they cannot be issued on the greyhound or on local buses. There is a notice in Bridgend bus stn stating that the south & west wales day ticket which is valid on all of First's bus services is now valid on the greyhound.

All services operating via Cardiff Bay

Really good to hear the the first south wales ticket (£7/day) is now valid on the Greyhound. A smart move.

However there is lots of confusion with the recent announcements. I originally read it as the £5.50/day clipper ticket were sold and valid on the X70 and 100. I hope that is the case, as it would be a good show from FC. The new timetable for the 100 definitely mentions clipper tickets sold on the 100 - they say ride all day for £5.50 on the latest timetable. Driver on the old X7 yesterday told me they would not be selling clipper tickets All this confusion needs addressing!
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Clipper tickets are valid but they cannot be issued on the greyhound or on local buses. There is a notice in Bridgend bus stn stating that the south & west wales day ticket which is valid on all of First's bus services is now valid on the greyhound.

All services operating via Cardiff Bay

No not all - some still via Leckwith it looks like!

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

well it looks like the new timetable is working wonders.... 3 days in and today I saw one journey leave Swansea 10 mins late.... and another later journey leave Cardiff 20 mins late...

 

[Robertj21a]

well it looks like the new timetable is working wonders.... 3 days in and today I saw one journey leave Swansea 10 mins late.... and another later journey leave Cardiff 20 mins late...

Clearly still 'Transforming Travel'.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

was told by a greyhound driver today that the 100 is changing it's timetable YET AGAIN on 15th June... and with this change the coaches are being withdrawn and replaced by buses.

Does anyone have any more info?

certainly seems as though it could be the death of the Greyhound this time round.. death by a 1000 cuts... and changing the timetable more often than their socks!

 

[anthony263]

The greyhound service is to be operated by normal buses but fitted with leather coach seats. The timetable also takes into account the withdrawel of service X7O with the 100 now also service Pencoed services.


Cant say too much more however on a public domain.

 

[Teflon Lettuce]

The greyhound service is to be operated by normal buses but fitted with leather coach seats. The timetable also takes into account the withdrawel of service X7O with the 100 now also service Pencoed services.


Cant say too much more however on a public domain.

seen the new timetable now and can see a major problem if it's going to be operated by buses.

The service will be given the same time to get from swansea to cardiff yet there will be an extra stop... buses are usually restricted to 55mph whilst coaches can do 62.5 seeing as though the service already struggles at times to keep to time I foresee another timetable change in the very near future.