Preston Bus - 45

[LancasterRed]

https://twitter.com/PrestonBus/status/1185158098429894656?s=19

Well, this is certainly an interesting one. Preston Bus are looking for immediate minibus drivers.

There is a further poster (exclusive to buses) explaining that Preston Bus have had an upcoming route allocated to them and need to find urgent minibus drivers. This coincides with the new 45 route between Preston and Blackburn.

I find it interesting that Rotala have had such a critical route (serving multiple settlements that otherwise would totally lack a service) handed to them at such short notice while they lack the staff to run it. Sounds like terrible planning that could have been easily mitigated with proper management.

 

[carlberry]

https://twitter.com/PrestonBus/status/1185158098429894656?s=19

Well, this is certainly an interesting one. Preston Bus are looking for immediate minibus drivers.

There is a further poster (exclusive to buses) explaining that Preston Bus have had an upcoming route allocated to them and need to find urgent minibus drivers. This coincides with the new 45 route between Preston and Blackburn.

I find it interesting that Rotala have had such a critical route (serving multiple settlements that otherwise would totally lack a service) handed to them at such short notice while they lack the staff to run it. Sounds like terrible planning that could have been easily mitigated with proper management.

Whos planning are you questioning? If they're the only operator who's even tried to cover it at short notice its the best that anybody could do. Why has it appeared at short notice, has a previous operator stopped it at short notice for some reason, possibly because they cant get drivers? It would be useful to have the whole story before trying to lay blame!

 

[LancasterRed]

Lancashire County Council have known about Stagecoach's intention to relinquish the 4 for a while.

Preston Bus also have issues at the moment with drivers being unhappy and moving about (something numerous drivers have spoke about) while they also have the 15 extension to handle. (also an LCC tendered service)

So the blame, imo, goes to the County Council but Rotala and Stagecoach's communication can be brought into question. This thread also serves as a debate to see if anyone is to blame and how this scenario can be prevented in the future.

 

[carlberry]

Lancashire County Council have known about Stagecoach's intention to relinquish the 4 for a while.

Preston Bus also have issues at the moment with drivers being unhappy and moving about (something numerous drivers have spoke about) while they also have the 15 extension to handle. (also an LCC tendered service)

So the blame, imo, goes to the County Council but Rotala and Stagecoach's communication can be brought into question. This thread also serves as a debate to see if anyone is to blame and how this scenario can be prevented in the future.

Without somebody on the forum has a contact within the county council's transport department then it's pointless trying to blame anybody if we haven't got all the information.
If Stagecoach gave the required notice then I cant see much else they could have done.

The council would have decided if they wanted to subsidise the service and this may have taken some time and may have involved several rounds of tendering and contacts with operators. It's fairly easy to blame the council however, given the amount of money they haven't got, nothing like this is easy now.

The big question will be when Preston Bus agreed to take on the contract. If they had to usual notice then they're screwed themselves however if, as is likely, they've had next to no notice of it then it comes down to if they were the only operator who was willing to take it on at short notice. If they are then they're at least they're trying, if not then they should have been more realistic in their response to the council.

To prevent it in future you could give councils loads of money for bus services, don't allow operators to cancel services or pay drivers more. None of these are remotely likely however!

 

[Ant158]

Preston Bus are already the incumbent of the tendered Ribble Valley Network Group Of Services using mainly the Mellor Strata minibuses, which includes the 35 between Blackburn and Longridge, the new 45 is an effectively extending this route to cover Stagecoach’s pull out of running service 4. These Ribble Valley Services interlink with each other to make the best use of the limited funding available.

 

[LancasterRed]

Having seen the poster on buses again, they outright blame Stagecoach for the urgent hiring, and they now have to take it on. (see also: the 15, which ironically proved so successful they're extending it)

However, Rotala had to release a statement on the current city disruption, they will be making no contingency plans for it and expect severe delays for the next few weeks. This could get ugly.

 

[LancasterRed]

Off to a bad start - despite looking for minibus drivers there's been no success. Being ran by Optare Solos today.

Hopefully Preston Bus can get the relevant training done and get the minibuses on the route as soon as possible

 

[peterblue]

I always wondered with regards to the 15 why Preston bus just didnt extend their 14 route. They could easily extend the 14 from Holme Slack to Longsands (perhaps even ASDA?) on a 30m frequency with the same vehicle requirement.

 

[LancasterRed]

I always wondered with regards to the 15 why Preston bus just didnt extend their 14 route. They could easily extend the 14 from Holme Slack to Longsands (perhaps even ASDA?) on a 30m frequency with the same vehicle requirement.

The 15 came about because LCC forced Preston Bus into it after they cut the 14 back from Longsands to Holme Slack.

As asides:

• The assessment for the 45 bus drivers was done the day before the service started! (seen on the posters that I've mentioned prior)
• The 15 serves new areas that previous services have never touched. I'm on one now - more training is underway
• The 45 is still being operated by Solos. Maybe the 15 can be relegated to minibus operation too over time. It's not very busy.

FURTHER UPDATE: The 15 does not serve Broughton. It serves a nearby housing estate called Sunningdale but does not serve the main part of the village itself. Preston Bus, what are you playing at?

 

[peterblue]

The 15 came about because LCC forced Preston Bus into it after they cut the 14 back from Longsands to Holme Slack.

Yes, but they could have then used the same vehicle for the 15 to instead provide a 30m service for Longsands by extending the 14. The previous arrangement was frankly a bit stupid.

As asides:

• The assessment for the 45 bus drivers was done the day before the service started! (seen on the posters that I've mentioned prior)
• The 15 serves new areas that previous services have never touched. I'm on one now - more training is underway
• The 45 is still being operated by Solos. Maybe the 15 can be relegated to minibus operation too over time. It's not very busy.

FURTHER UPDATE: The 15 does not serve Broughton. It serves a nearby housing estate called Sunningdale but does not serve the main part of the village itself. Preston Bus, what are you playing at?

Not every bus on the 15 even goes that far. Some only go to Woodplumpton.

They used to run minibuses (Mellor I think?) on the 35 which the 45 replaces. And also on most of the Clitheroe network. I assume in the future (judging by PB's advertisement) that they do want to convert the 15/45 to minibus operation.

 

[LancasterRed]

Yes, but they could have then used the same vehicle for the 15 to instead provide a 30m service for Longsands by extending the 14. The previous arrangement was frankly a bit stupid.

Completely agree. Was poor planning which is the norm really.

Not every bus on the 15 even goes that far. Some only go to Woodplumpton.

At least they're clearly marked as Woodplumptons. The Broughtons being advertised as running into Broughton, then turning round before getting into the main area, is false advertisement. This is a reoccurring theme with Preston Bus. They did the same with the 88.

They used to run minibuses (Mellor I think?) on the 35 which the 45 replaces. And also on most of the Clitheroe network. I assume in the future (judging by PB's advertisement) that they do want to convert the 15/45 to minibus operation.

Yes, this will eventually happen after training is done. At least the services are running, which is impressive on short notice. The 45, having looked at the timetable, fixes the faults of the 4 and gives Preston direct fast routes to previously unserved areas which is great on LCC's part.