National Express

[sonic2009]

Are National Express coaches subject to VOSA regulations?

For example reporting changes to services, and removing stopping points.

 

[anthony263]

I must confess I am not too sure about this myself so I will be very interested in the answer

 

[DaveHarries]

In the VOSA Bus Service Registrations bulletins I have seen registrations from NatEx for their coach services. Presumably the answer, therefore, is yes.

Dave

 

[sonic2009]

Thanks. National Express have pulled the stop at Atherstone with no notice, and wondered if they had told VOSA.

 

[overthewater]

Depends on the route.if the route does not get tax back or stop every so often then no. A few long routes never pop up.

 

[sonic2009]

Tax back? What does this mean?

 

[anthony263]

Tax back? What does this mean?

re-bate from the cost of diesel I believe he means

 

[High Dyke]

This may help:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/PSV Operator Licensing Guide.pdf

2. Types of service you can run with a PSV licence
Without further formalities you can:
> carry a party of passengers for a single
payment from the organiser (this is called ‘private hire’) – the passengers must not pay separate fares to you or to anyone acting as your agent. This only applies to PSVs with nine or more passenger seats;
> run a coach service where separate fares
are charged (but passengers must travel at least 15 miles measured in a straight line from the place where they got on – unless they need to get off in an emergency);

From a Local Bus Service point of view you have to give 56 days notice of changes (subject to certain exceptions). Not certain whether coach services are also subject to the same criteria.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/Tran...cal_Bus_Service_Registration___Guide_for_.pdf

21 WHAT IF I WANT TO CHANGE THE SERVICE?
You must apply on form PSV355 to change the registration. In most cases you must allow at least 56 days, from the date the variation is registered, to the date you wish the changes to take effect. A shorter period of notice may apply in certain cases (see Part 3). But please check with the Traffic Area Office first. There is a fee for any change, which you must send with the form (see separate fee schedule).

22 WHAT IF I WANT TO STOP RUNNING THE SERVICE?
You must apply to cancel the registration, allowing at least 56 days from the date when the Traffic Commissioner accepts the application to the date when you wish the service to stop. Until that date, you must go on running the service, (a shorter period of notice may apply in some cases - see Part 3). You do not have to pay to cancel a registration.

 

[34D]

Some bits of Nat Ex (and I believe Megabus) are registered as local services. As stated, this is advantageous for fuel duty rebate.

The service that stopped at Atherstone, where did it call before and after?

 

[starrymarkb]

Tax back? What does this mean?

Bus operators can claim back some of the fuel duty paid in the course of operating local bus routes.

 

[mbonwick]

No Megabus work is registered as a local service.

 

[sonic2009]

The service in question was 461 Lichfield - London calling at Tamworth, Atherstone, Nuneaton, Coventry & London

It now omits Atherstone. I have asked National Express and they could not give me a definitive answer, they tried to say we have never served Atherstone :/

 

[cainebj]

The service in question was 461 Lichfield - London calling at Tamworth, Atherstone, Nuneaton, Coventry & London

It now omits Atherstone. I have asked National Express and they could not give me a definitive answer, they tried to say we have never served Atherstone :/

NATIONAL EXPRESS LTD, BIRMINGHAM COACH STATION, DIGBETH, BIRMINGHAM, B5 6DD
Variation Accepted: Operating between Lichfield and London given service number 461 effective from 13-May-2013. To amend Route, Stopping Places and Timetable.

Submitted to VOSA on 13th March, shown on the accepted registrations page on 18th March.

 

[sonic2009]

So they did submit it to VOSA.

 

[34D]

So they did submit it to VOSA.

You can buy a copy of what was submitted if you want to check it.

 

[sonic2009]

So they did submit it to VOSA.

You can buy a copy of what was submitted if you want to check it.

And how do I do that?

 

[overthewater]

And how do I do that?

Sending £3 to the

English and Wales office:

Hillcrest House
386 Harehills Lane
Leeds LS9 6NF
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Fax: 0113 248 9607

and telling them what registration you require, with the Ref number: PD0000738/279

For Anyone doing this for Scottish service you need this:

Scotland Office

Level 6
The Stamp Office
10 Waterloo Place
Edinburgh EH1 3EG
Phone: 0300 123 9000

Note: Local public Enquires are still held at local level: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-commissioners just ashame the Documents are not.

 

[34D]

No Megabus work is registered as a local service.

M90 etc through Dunfirmline?

If you're right I apologise, but I'd be surprised if that wasn't.

 

[overthewater]

M90 etc through Dunfirmline?

If you're right I apologise, but I'd be surprised if that wasn't.

Megabus does operate the the M91 and is registered as a local service.

http://www.citylink.co.uk/timetables/Summer13/Edin2Inver.pdf

plus a few other like that.

 

[northwichcat]

One other thing about services being registered as local services is if it's done then the 'coach service exclusion' for over 60s passes doesn't still apply.

 

[overthewater]

One other thing about services being registered as local services is if it's done then the 'coach service exclusion' for over 60s passes doesn't still apply.

doest matter in Scotland since the passes are allowed on express coach network. Oap love going up on the non stop Glasgow - Inverness services

 

[mbonwick]

M90-2 are a bit of an oddity in the Megabus network.
Although they are operated using Megabus vehicles, and through tickets are available (thanks to Stagecoach's stake in Scottish Citylink), it is actually a Citylink service and it's not uncommon to see the Citylink Panthers out on it.

 

[185]

At Selwyns, the 383 National Express used to be most stops from Galashiels to Dalkieth in the borders, similarly the old 327 to Weymouth was local stops between Dorchester and Glastonbury. Both those services filled gaps between local service buses.

On the Wirral, the 550 London-Liverpool had two services a day which extended beyond Liverpool through the tunnel to Hoylake. NX's Network Inspector (North) would often hide in his van in obscure places to ensure the service actually ran. He was once photographed in a pub car park by one driver who posted the picture literally everywhere, leading to the modern day equivalent of 'Blakey' almost being suspended. The NX South West inspector was also reported for blocking a stop in the village of Radstock, near Bath, the Bristol service driver rang control stating he could not serve the stop as "Some idiot in a white van was blocking the stands".

 

[34D]

One other thing about services being registered as local services is if it's done then the 'coach service exclusion' for over 60s passes doesn't still apply.

The exclusion does in fact still apply, as changes were implemented approx 5 years ago including a requirement that if at least half the seats were reservable then ENCTS free travel doesn't apply.

 

[Welshman]

the nx south west inspector was also reported for blocking a stop in the village of radstock, near bath, the bristol service driver rang control stating he could not serve the stop as "some idiot in a white van was blocking the stands".

Like it!

 

[WestCoast]

Not directly relevant to the above, but had a ride on a late night Manchester Airport to Birmingham service (325) the other day and the driver was playing his own music. While I didn't particularly mind it, is this really supposed to happen? I've never heard it before on a scheduled coach in the UK. The safety announcements they now have, while very professional sounding, get a bit tedious after being repeated for the umpteenth time.

 

[radamfi]

I hardly ever travel by National Express when the radio isn't on! I don't think I've heard a driver play their own music though.

 

[northwichcat]

I've only once heard music being played on a National Express service on a service where Haytons Coaches was the franchisee.

As for own music - the closest I've heard to that is on former Middlewich based operator Niddries Coaches where the son of the owner had recorded cover versions of pop songs - they were terrible!

 

[W-on-Sea]

I was on a service (registered as a local bus route, but under a temporary contract that has just expired operated by coaches by a local independent operator, Ridgeway Coaches) near Swindon a couple of weeks ago, on which the driver was playing his own music - a lot of 60s pop, with quite a few songs by Herman's Hermits - for the duration. For an hour on a scenic trip through the Vale of White Horse it was tolerable...

Back in the early days of LT tendered routes, in the late 80s, it wasn't unusual for Ensignbus to run DMSs on the 145 or 62 routes in East London with pop music blasting out of the speakers on both decks. (These buses had a loudspeaker system, as they were also used on tourist services in Central London). But a DMS is a long way in terms of comfort from anything on National Express, now or then...