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Nottingham 'Bus War'

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Pigalle

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tbone said:
http://westbridgfordwire.com/trent-barton-invests-3-5m-new-british-buses

New bus order for Tremt Barton, Enviro 200s for the Mickleover and Nines.
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From the article:

"Inside, the new buses will feature wood effect flooring, LED lighting, visual and audio next-stop announcements and comfortable seats with extra legroom for all customers.

They will also be bursting with technology, including free superfast Wi-Fi and USB power at every seat so customers can stay connected. As if that wasn’t enough, the buses will also have two multimedia shelves on board, so customers can comfortably work or play whilst charging their devices on the move.

Jeff Counsell, managing director of at trentbarton, said: “We can’t wait to get these new vehicles on the road.

“We’ve worked closely with our friends at ADL to take these buses to a whole new level and offer passengers something exciting and unique. We’re confident in saying that these buses will be the best in the country.”"

Hmmm, I'm not seeing any mention of air conditioning. If so, from a Mickleover, perspective this is a retrograde step and IMO certainly doesn't warrant a claim of "these buses will be the best in the country".
 
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the101

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Do I detect an attempted snipe at Transdev and former TB man Alex Hornby in that? Transdev described its B5TLs on the Harrogate to Leeds route as the best in the country when they were launched and they also have the work tables at the rear.
 
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Mugby

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They may (or may not) be the best buses in the country but it'll still be standing room only on many Mickleover departures.

On a service with an average passenger/journey duration of around 15 minutes, aren't worktables something of an unnecessary gimmick?
 
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howittpie

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August bus service changes are up on the website and notice the y28 is being withdrawn from August 14th not sure if this has been reported and I has missed it.
 
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trentside

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Mitch in Notts

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trentside said:
Some long established connections broken in these changes. I'd argue the loss of the 32 between Newark and New Ollerton is a blow to the communities along the route. They certainly used to make good use of the service in both directions, though at least the ridiculous "Phoneabus" is withdrawn from Norwell.
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I have occasionally used the 32 and think it's loss is significant - and why do Caunton & Norwell suddenly warrant an hourly service? Big waste of resources. Personally the network they have created I think is awful - it's bits and pieces that terminate in odd places and give very limited trip opportunities.
 
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trentside

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Mitch in Notts said:
I have occasionally used the 32 and think it's loss is significant - and why do Caunton & Norwell suddenly warrant an hourly service? Big waste of resources. Personally the network they have created I think is awful - it's bits and pieces that terminate in odd places and give very limited trip opportunities.
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I knew one of the regular drivers in Veolia days and it was very much a community route, a real clutch of regulars and there used to be a steady traffic stream of fare payers too. I was always surprised that the morning and evening diversions via Newark College were stopped as they used to generate a fair bit of traffic.

The only non-peak through service to Newark from Ollerton, Wellow and Kneesall now is a roundabout journey via Newark. Maybe fine if you can do it for free, but not if you're paying.

Agree the network is now disjointed and confusing, particularly as some routes have different operators in the morning and afternoon which confuses Traveline!
 
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Pigalle

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Mugby said:
They may (or may not) be the best buses in the country but it'll still be standing room only on many Mickleover departures.

On a service with an average passenger/journey duration of around 15 minutes, aren't worktables something of an unnecessary gimmick?
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Maybe it's recognition of how slow the evening peak service is out of the City; it is a rare evening when I've reached the hospital in fifteen minutes. I can't speak for the morning peak as I rarely travel in it.

Seriously, though, your point on standing room is valid as the current buses are too small to cope with the loadings for large parts of the day.
 
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This makes an interesting read http://m.nottinghampost.com/how-trentbarton-became-a-60m-bus-company/story-29533533-detail/story.html

This bit is slightly mysterious
And the future of Wellglade? "I honestly don't know. Something will have to happen. . When Brian and I decided to take a back seat some years ago, we considered all the options one of which was to sell. We decided it was something we didn't want to do.
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I also notice the Y4 disappeared without a single mention on YB's website.
 
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nottinghamcity

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nottinghamcity

nottinghamcity

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Looks like the NCT 49 not starting in September after all.
PB0002362/191 - NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT LTD, LOWER PARLIAMENT STREET, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 1GG
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between City, Beastmarket Hill and Boots Factory, Fifth Avenue given service number 49 effective from 26-Sep-2016.
PB0002362/193 - NOTTINGHAM CITY TRANSPORT LTD, LOWER PARLIAMENT STREET, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 1GG
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: City, Beastmarket Hill
Finish Point: Boots Factory, Fifth Avenue
Via: Queens Drive, Electic Avenue
Service Number: 49
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 30-JAN-2017
Other Details: Monday to Saturdays including bank holiday Monday
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The routing does make it look like a commercial replacement for citylink 1
 
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ashworth

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Ginga said:
He is also saying Nct and Trent Barton are blocking progress with the Robin Hood Card on Twitter.:lol:
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Has there been any progress with the Robin Hood Card?

Right from the beginning we have been told that more operators will be included but it's not happened.
We have also been told that it will be extended beyond the current boundary but that hasn't happened yet either. I have recently read that extensions beyond the current boundary are due by the end of this year. Has anyone heard what this may mean. I would have thought buses to places like Hucknall, Stapleford, Bingham etc ought to be included but I'm not sure how much Trent Barton will want to co-operate with this especially in competition to their Mango Card.
 
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kevjs

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ashworth said:
Has there been any progress with the Robin Hood Card?

Right from the beginning we have been told that more operators will be included but it's not happened.
We have also been told that it will be extended beyond the current boundary but that hasn't happened yet either. I have recently read that extensions beyond the current boundary are due by the end of this year. Has anyone heard what this may mean. I would have thought buses to places like Hucknall, Stapleford, Bingham etc ought to be included but I'm not sure how much Trent Barton will want to co-operate with this especially in competition to their Mango Card.
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You can now add access to the City Card Cycle Hubs to your Robin Hood PAYG... You couldn't last month. (Rather handy when my City Card failed).
 
nottinghamcity

nottinghamcity

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ashworth said:
Has there been any progress with the Robin Hood Card?

Right from the beginning we have been told that more operators will be included but it's not happened.
We have also been told that it will be extended beyond the current boundary but that hasn't happened yet either. I have recently read that extensions beyond the current boundary are due by the end of this year. Has anyone heard what this may mean. I would have thought buses to places like Hucknall, Stapleford, Bingham etc ought to be included but I'm not sure how much Trent Barton will want to co-operate with this especially in competition to their Mango Card.
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It has inherited all of the functionality of the kangaroo card, in so far as day or season functionality, but it has not got the same level of acceptance across operators. I don't think EMT are accepting it, but a notice at Attenborough station refers to buying it on the train. It does seem a bit disjointed. Also acceptance of kangaroo was a SBQP requirement, it seems like robin hood card isn't.
 
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Mitch in Notts

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Nipped into Eastwood Library to pick up a new timetable for the County Council changes to the 531/728 which I use. Ha. Not had any in yet - still got the old one on display. To say they have been in the bus stop timetable displays for 17 days but aren't yet available as leaflets (yes I know they have been online for some time, but many of the pensioners who use these services don't use the internet) is very poor in my opinion.
 
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edwin_m

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The Robin Hood website is particularly poor. As far as I can see it only covers the smartcard and doesn't mention the paper tickets at all, despite these being an existing product that people are already using and including a child version. It does say that EMT accept the season tickets - but presumably not XC, so it is only useable on three out of five trains at Beeston.
 
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howittpie

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edwin_m said:
The Robin Hood website is particularly poor. As far as I can see it only covers the smartcard and doesn't mention the paper tickets at all, despite these being an existing product that people are already using and including a child version. It does say that EMT accept the season tickets - but presumably not XC, so it is only useable on three out of five trains at Beeston.
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According National Rail enquiries Cross Country accept them. When it was the kangeroo I used it on Cross Country with no problem. So is it or isn't it accepted?
 
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LowLevel

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One day and season Robin Hood tickets are valid on train services at Bulwell, Attenborough, Beeston, Nottingham, Carlton and Netherfield for both TOCs. PAYG are not as the railway has no current way of making the fare deduction. Cards are checked for validity by council staff from time to time at stations.

The ticket that can be purchased on the train is the one day ranger paper version only. This is available also from tram TVMs but not railway ones.
 
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Robertj21a

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LowLevel said:
One day and season Robin Hood tickets are valid on train services at Bulwell, Attenborough, Beeston, Nottingham, Carlton and Netherfield for both TOCs. PAYG are not as the railway has no current way of making the fare deduction. Cards are checked for validity by council staff from time to time at stations.

The ticket that can be purchased on the train is the one day ranger paper version only. This is available also from tram TVMs but not railway ones.
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So, all in all, a bit of a mess !

Not difficult to see why many of the general public struggle to understand fares, tickets etc.
 
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ashworth

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It's the Robin Hood Card PAYG that needs sorting out. The frequent Yourbus services Y5, Y28 and Y36 in the west of the city really need including. It's very frustrating when travelling with a Robin Hood Card and you have to let these buses go past whilst waiting for a NCT or Trent Barton bus to appear. It really would be good if the PAYG could be extended outside of the city boundary as soon as possible. It does work out expensive when you have to use more than one operator to travel into the city from areas just outside the boundary. Even the sorting out of the Trent Barton Mango daily cap situation currently not transferable between buses and trams would be a start.
 
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edwin_m

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The Robin Hood PAYG is inherently a flat fare system with touch-in only, even on TB buses and trams where the Mango is touch-in touch-out. So I'm not sure if it can be extended to a larger area unless the operators accepted the same flat fare for a longer distance (unlikely) or it became touch-in touch-out on all operators (or possibly all except NCT, but what about the out-boundary NCT routes - this would get very confusing!).

I believe sharing Mango caps between buses and trams would fall foul of the Competition Commission ruling that any multi-operator bus ticket must be open to all operators in the area to join. Mango as it stands is effectively two single-operator tickets on one card but I think if they shared the capping they would have to let NCT, Yourbus or anyone else take part if they want to.
 
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ashworth

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edwin_m said:
The Robin Hood PAYG is inherently a flat fare system with touch-in only, even on TB buses and trams where the Mango is touch-in touch-out. So I'm not sure if it can be extended to a larger area unless the operators accepted the same flat fare for a longer distance (unlikely) or it became touch-in touch-out on all operators (or possibly all except NCT, but what about the out-boundary NCT routes - this would get very confusing!).
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I totally understand what you are saying and agree that in its current form, where the Robin Hood Card is touch in only, any extension of the scheme would be difficult.
However, when the card was first introduced last November the following statement was made on some of the websites advertising the introduction of the card.
'Over the next year it is planned to introduce weekly fare capping, out of area travel and child and student cards.'
 
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Ginga

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Matt King has joined Trent Barton from Go South Coast as Service Delivery Manager. He is a talented young lad so they have done well to get him.
 
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edwin_m

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ashworth said:
I totally understand what you are saying and agree that in its current form, where the Robin Hood Card is touch in only, any extension of the scheme would be difficult.
However, when the card was first introduced last November the following statement was made on some of the websites advertising the introduction of the card.
'Over the next year it is planned to introduce weekly fare capping, out of area travel and child and student cards.'
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing that out. It will be interesting to see whether and how they achieve it!
 
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