Stephensons of Easingwold

[Anthony ross]

How did connexions come to that conclusion after only 2 days of operation on the 181

 

[Andyh82]

I think they were expecting the tender, and therefore the money from NYCC to start at some point this week, rather than next week.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think they were expecting the tender, and therefore the money from NYCC to start at some point this week, rather than next week.

Doesn’t paint Conn in the best light. Would point to someone else getting the gig?

 

[SCH117X]

I suspect NYCC tolerate Connexions rather than welcome them after the way they abandoned the 56 and 57 mid term.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Doesn’t paint Conn in the best light. Would point to someone else getting the gig?

Almost certainly.

I wouldn't criticise Connexions too much for it, all big bus operators are exactly the same.

Why run at a loss to keep the seat warm for someone else?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Almost certainly.

I wouldn't criticise Connexions too much for it, all big bus operators are exactly the same.

Why run at a loss to keep the seat warm for someone else?

I don't criticise them at all. Running a vehicle costs c.£350 a day so a pair of them with little revenue to be had - they'd be silly to continue on that basis. It just struck me as a) odd to start running without any commitment from NYCC and b) a poorly worded statement from them in which what was a perfectly sensible business decision didn't play particularly well (IMO).

 

[Volvodart]

Of course, to cover themselves they could have said they were offering to run it until the council decided what was happening with the service.

 

[darloscott]

Believe new tenders should start on Monday morning, short term until mid February pending more tendering for long term contracts. Just hope in the case of the 181 that the damage isn't done to patronage by not running the rest of this week

 

[Stan Drews]

Believe new tenders should start on Monday morning, short term until mid February pending more tendering for long term contracts. Just hope in the case of the 181 that the damage isn't done to patronage by not running the rest of this week

When Utopia went tits up last summer, it didn't seem to create the same widespread fuss, and the villages along their main commercial routes were without any real transport option for a lot longer than the villages on the 181 are likely to be. The 42 service that did eventually reappear seems to be doing okay, although it isn't running as frequently as the previous Utopia service.
It looks like the 181 will get the same timetable reinstated, so I'm sure the lack of buses for a few days won't negatively impact much on loadings.

 

[SCH117X]

Connexions have been awarded the 181 on a temporary basis until the contracts are sorted out in February.

 

[Stan Drews]

Connexions have been awarded the 181 on a temporary basis until the contracts are sorted out in February.

...and Coastliner have been awarded the 194 for the same period.

Both start from tomorrow.

 

[backontrack]

...and Coastliner have been awarded the 194 for the same period.

Both start from tomorrow.

Glad to see the 194 resurface.

I wonder if this could mean an expansion of the Little Explorers brand...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Glad to see the 194 resurface.

I wonder if this could mean an expansion of the Little Explorers brand...

It is only until February.....

 

[backontrack]

It is only until February.....

But they may well decide to go for the tender and if they do then I imagine they'll win it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

But they may well decide to go for the tender and if they do then I imagine they'll win it.

Just thinking we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves in terms of branding

 

[backontrack]

Just thinking we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves in terms of branding

Maybe, but I imagine that they would want to expand the brand, possibly with the 29/31/31X.

 

[SCH117X]

The 194 has a school run so a larger vehicle is presumably necessary taking out of the "Little Explorer" concept. They have been using one of the LE branded Darts on the 29.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Maybe, but I imagine that they would want to expand the brand, possibly with the 29/31/31X.

Why would they want to expand the brand especially as it's operated by another depot? Perhaps they'd go for a bespoke brand instead?

The 194 has a school run so a larger vehicle is presumably necessary taking out of the "Little Explorer" concept. They have been using one of the LE branded Darts on the 29.

Guess it's all hands to the pump. Think I read there's a Keighley decker in York to release a single deck for these additional workings?

 

[backontrack]

Why would they want to expand the brand especially as it's operated by another depot? Perhaps they'd go for a bespoke brand instead?

Perhaps. I like the Trent Barton approach.

 

[SCH117X]

Why would they want to expand the brand especially as it's operated by another depot?

The 21 operated by Starbeck (Harrogate), replacing the 1A between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge/Roecliffe, is a Little Explorer service; whilst not shown as such on timetables it is shown on the destination displays of the Versas (at least) that normally operate it. It was announced as forming part of the Little Explorer but if the intention was to base a Dart or two at Starbeck to work it that was superseded by the acquisition of the 42.

 

[darloscott]

Worth remembering the 194 is only a tender and will never be expanded beyond the current timetable.
If they’re running the 29/31/31X commercially long term then I wish Transdev good luck with that, I hope they can drum up some growth as they’re not the strongest services.

 

[Anthony ross]

It's been announced today from a post I see on Facebook York Pullman have purchased the trading name telephone number website and alol future bookings of stephensons

 

[backontrack]

It's been announced today from a post I see on Facebook York Pullman have purchased the trading name telephone number website and alol future bookings of stephensons

That's a twist and a half.

Good luck to them.

 

[darloscott]

It's been announced today from a post I see on Facebook York Pullman have purchased the trading name telephone number website and alol future bookings of stephensons

Procters have launched another brand in protest, York City Coaches is their latest name in use.

 

[SCH117X]

Procters have launched another brand in protest, York City Coaches is their latest name in use.

Barking. On the other barking subject that has arisen following Stephenson's collapse Reliance have seen sense and cancelled their Easingwold-Helmsley(-Kirbymoorside) duplicates of Transdevs replacements services that originate at/return to York

 

[TUC]

From Connexions Facebook page:

Won't Connexions be tied to the usual 8 week notice period?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Won't Connexions be tied to the usual 8 week notice period?

Not in these circumstances.

Interestingly, just stopped at Hopwood Park services and Stephensons’ Centro CN07FTC was parked up, running on trades. With it was Nippy Bus YO53ZNG and a pair of ex Yellow Buses Levantes FJ60HYN/HYO.

Destination(s) unknown!

 

[backontrack]

Here's a Little Explorers potential network map (that's if Transdev bring the 29/31/31X services into that network):

 

[83G/84D]

Not in these circumstances.

Interestingly, just stopped at Hopwood Park services and Stephensons’ Centro CN07FTC was parked up, running on trades. With it was Nippy Bus YO53ZNG and a pair of ex Yellow Buses Levantes FJ60HYN/HYO.

Destination(s) unknown!

Never know what you might find parked in motorway services. Last year I saw a E400/ E500 for overseas stopped in one on the M5 south of Birmingham.

A topic worth its own thread?

 

[SCH117X]

Here's a Little Explorers potential network map (that's if Transdev bring the 29/31/31X services into that network):

View attachment 42190

Ignores the 21