Nottingham 'Bus War'

[bb21]

I will say most of it changed since the long standing MD retired and Alex Hornby arrived from Bluestar, who if you'll remember were involved in a similar turf war with Velvet (Velvet weren't duplicating routes either, but merely running a positioning move with the bus in service through Bluestar territory was enough to see unbranded Bluestar buses running 2 mins ahead)

I think we are of the same opinion. I was surprised at Alex Hornby's appointment when I first found out as his track record at Bluestar goes against pretty much all of what Trentbarton was about.

 

[WillPS]

I wonder what the drivers (some of whom, I believe, are shareholders?) think of it all?
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Crazed bus enthusiast or pretty dirty/illegal tricks from TrentBarton?

 

[trentside]

Crazed bus enthusiast or pretty dirty/illegal tricks from TrentBarton?

Having seen some of the Facebook squabbles between enthusiasts during the Bargain Bus operation, I'd imagine a crazed enthusiast.

Premiere have tweeted this picture with the caption;
"You know our campaign is gaining momentum when you see this"

Any publicity is good publicity? I don't know...

 

[tbone]

The new Red flyer livery

(C) Ginga Perry

 

[MCR247]

Are they not going to remove the NX stripes?

 

[tbone]

Are they not going to remove the NX stripes?

This is Premiere we're talking about...

And whoever said that NCT and Trent aren't getting on, the Indigo Volvos are currently being refuelled at NCT's Parliament Street depot

 

[WillPS]

I didn't say they're not getting on - I'm saying the gentlemanly relationship between the two is being tested by TrentBarton. There are longstanding contractual arrangements regarding shared facilities - at one stage NCT and TB were interested in relocating to a shared depot.

 

[tbone]

Whoever was responsible for the Unfair Fares gag, there's no denying who did this...

 

[MCR247]

Below the belt!

 

[WillPS]

Argh misuse of Trebuchet MS!!!!!! They really need to sort out their brand elements (IE get somebody in who has a better understanding than 'proficient in Publisher and Word').

 

[MCR247]

Why misuse? At lease they didn't use Comic Sans MS

 

[WillPS]

Too large. Trebuchet is great as a small legible font but when used at that size in print it looks horrific. It would be about 100 times better if they'd have hit the justify icon as well.

Frankly their whole brand image is just a bit amateurish at the moment. They need somebody to come up with a decent brand which can be applied digitally and in print/on buses. They can't just knock out images in Publisher using one font and expect it to look good. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't use a web reading font as a print reading font, and you certainly shouldn't use that same font for headings, logos etc. It just looks amateurish - they're competing with a company who do it really (if you'll excuse the pun) well so they at least need to appear competent.

 

[Jordeh]

Too large. Trebuchet is great as a small legible font but when used at that size in print it looks horrific. It would be about 100 times better if they'd have hit the justify icon as well.

Frankly their whole brand image is just a bit amateurish at the moment. They need somebody to come up with a decent brand which can be applied digitally and in print/on buses. They can't just knock out images in Publisher using one font and expect it to look good. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't use a web reading font as a print reading font, and you certainly shouldn't use that same font for headings, logos etc. It just looks amateurish - they're competing with a company who do it really (if you'll excuse the pun) well so they at least need to appear competent.

I have to agree, this is also shown in the quality of Premieres website in comparison to TB's, I'd of thought their amateurish style would have improved by now as they've grown but their unattractive marketing, liveries and website has continued.

Just been announced that Nottingham's Skylink will have wifi and the first i4 has been delivered. Must admit I don't find wifi on buses especially useful as its just as quick as a data plan but I thought TB would have spread wifi much more rapidly as they were one of the first operators with it when it was introduced on the Red Arrow.

 

[MCR247]

Premiere are really bad when it comes to brand and image. It really does make me cringe when you see a 'Red1' (for example) branded bus that's had an advert literally slapped onto the side covering half of the Red1

 

[WillPS]

The Premier logo is bad.

The Red logos are worse.

The RedFLYER logo is absolutely appalling.

Their website is clearly put together by somebody who knows nothing about how to build a website.

Even if they want to appear as a No Frills operator (which I'm not certain they do!) they need a clear, competent and consistent brand.

 

[MCR247]

That resized Red1 picture at the top makes me cringe every time!

 

[Ginga]

Numbers on Red 1 up by 12% since Trent Barton put up prices

Prices on Indigo , Calverton Connection and Cotgrave buses go up on 1st April (not a joke).

Calverton to Nottingham is already £4.90 for a Two Trip , Red 7 is £3.50.

Red 3 Nottingham - Keyworth starts in May. Its every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday . It replaces the Nottingham to Keyworth part of the Notts bus 51 and 52 Services and is Interworked with them.

Also Improvements to Red 8 in May.

 

[Deerfold]

Red 3 Nottingham - Keyworth starts in May. Its every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday . It replaces the Nottingham to Keyworth part of the Notts bus 51 and 52 Services and is Interworked with them.

I'm not sure I understand this bit.

Does it replace the 51 and 52 on this section of route or does it interwork with them?

 

[Ginga]

Replaces 51 and 52 on the Nottingham to Keyworth part , then some buses will carry on to Upper Broughton as either a 3.1(51) or 3.2(52).

I think some Schools Contracts are interworked with it.

 

[bb21]

Replaces 51 and 52 on the Nottingham to Keyworth part , then some buses will carry on to Upper Broughton as either a 3.1(51) or 3.2(52).

I think some Schools Contracts are interworked with it.

Err. Now they're stealing TB's route-numbering mechanism too?

 

[trentside]

Err. Now they're stealing TB's route-numbering mechanism too?

They've already got the 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3.

As I understand it, the 51 and 52 are council supported, so presumably Premiere are taking the Nottingham to Keyworth section on commercially - as it isn't permissible for a tendered service to abstract revenue from a commercial service.

If this proves to be correct information, does anyone see another Cotgrave saga coming?

 

[Heinz57]

Further update over on the Felix side of things...

03 is currently in Langley Mill having some work done do it, ready for an MOT in a week or two. Apparently there was about 3 sparkies on it t'other day.
I'm not sure if 56 had a problem last week but I spotted it pulled over in Stanley with a Paliden behined it swapping passengers over.

The Felix Solos are up for sale. Not sure about the Volvo and the dart. Apparently Trent were interested in the Volvo to use as a trainer.

I'm not sure if the coaches have been moved from Stanley yet but I havn't seen any there at all this week.

Looks to me like now Swifture have bought Felix and its name, they're dumping the name Swiftsure and usuing Felix (better rep) because I seen a coach the other day, Swifture vehicle (deffinatly not an ex-Felix) with all Swiftsure logos, liveries and designs but instead of saying 'Swifture' it said 'Felix'.

Looked awful, if thats what they plan on doing then I reckon they should use the full red livery with gold stripes as worn by the Felix coaches, and at the back where the cat used to be, put the Swifture birdy logoey thingy there. That won't look half bad I reckon.

 

[Ginga]

Two of the buses for Red 3 have come they are Scania Solars and are Red .

A extra Trident is being put onto Red 5 this week .

Kangaroo prices are going upto £4 ( was £3.70).

Trent Bartons Skylink Mango prices to Long Eaton are £1.13 and £2.25 to Ema.

 

[WillPS]

Second price rise inside of a year - but it's still a decent value product.

 

[bb21]

Trent Bartons Skylink Mango prices to Long Eaton are £1.13 and £2.25 to Ema.

So cash fare of £1.50 and £3 respectively? Not too bad I reckon.

 

[MCR247]

I haven't heard anything official about the LEX, I presume its staying for a while?

 

[tbone]

I haven't heard anything official about the LEX, I presume its staying for a while?

No, it's been deregistered on VOSA, I think they are handing out leaflets saying something along the lines of "thank you for travelling with Long Eaton Xprss", there were some on 665 when it was on promo duties in Long Eaton yesterday

 

[bb21]

Do you have a copy of the leaflet? Can you scan it and upload it here?

 

[tbone]

Do you have a copy of the leaflet? Can you scan it and upload it here?

Sadly not, but you can make it out on this picture here:http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattburley0/6857574300/in/photostream/

 

[Deerfold]

Surprising there's nothing on the website. Trentbarton are usually very good at that sort of thing.