Transdev Blazefield

[Volvodart]

He was 70 a few days ago and other bus companies, I think about 10, have named Ray Stennings too. These are First Leicester, First Solent, Go North West, Harrogate & District, Reading Buses, Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, Uno and Warrington’s Own Buses.

 

[theblackwatch]

The opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate earlier this week was accompanied by the unveiling of one of Transdev Harrogate's fleet with 'Harrogate Heroes' branding. It was in service on the Harrogate to Knaresborough route today.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate earlier this week was accompanied by the unveiling of one of Transdev Harrogate's fleet with 'Harrogate Heroes' branding. It was in service on the Harrogate to Knaresborough route today.
View attachment 77020

Nice touch. First Kernow have the NHS hearts applied to their active fleet too

 

[SCH117X]

36 Gemini 3641 has been name Peter Melvin Smith, just hope its not fated as that was 3615.

 

[RustySpoons]

Bits of updates... There's at least one B7 in base colours for the Pendle Amphetamine service,

Alex Hornby on Twitter

“Life goes on. Preparing for continued development of our network.”

twitter.com

If you've been unfortunate to be blocked by AH, just imagine a Cadbury's Double Decker wrapper.



It appears that 2751-2753 will be in these colours, and 2750 being the fourth bus used. 2750 is currently at Bus & Coach World in Blackburn having USB chargers fitted. It has also been suggested that ex Vamooz 404 could be used too, although I think that's nothing more than a rumour at the moment.

The current operational fleet at Burnley are making use of the Ticketer machines from the mothballed fleets so contactless payments can be made. No idea at yet if they'll be rolled out across the whole fleet once the timetables get back to normal. Although the destinations on most of the buses alternate to advise contactless payments are accepted, so it may come as a bit of a disappointment to passengers if they do go back to the Wayfarers.

 

[Alexbus12]

Bits of updates... There's at least one B7 in base colours for the Pendle Amphetamine service,

Alex Hornby on Twitter

“Life goes on. Preparing for continued development of our network.”

twitter.com

If you've been unfortunate to be blocked by AH, just imagine a Cadbury's Double Decker wrapper.

View attachment 77225

It appears that 2751-2753 will be in these colours, and 2750 being the fourth bus used. 2750 is currently at Bus & Coach World in Blackburn having USB chargers fitted. It has also been suggested that ex Vamooz 404 could be used too, although I think that's nothing more than a rumour at the moment.

The current operational fleet at Burnley are making use of the Ticketer machines from the mothballed fleets so contactless payments can be made. No idea at yet if they'll be rolled out across the whole fleet once the timetables get back to normal. Although the destinations on most of the buses alternate to advise contactless payments are accepted, so it may come as a bit of a disappointment to passengers if they do go back to the Wayfarers.

It looks awful. The black with such a bright colour just doesn't work. I'm guessing they paid Stennings to come up with this..

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It looks awful. The black with such a bright colour just doesn't work. I'm guessing they paid Stennings to come up with this..

No, they got a young bus spotter with some crayons.

 

[Deerfold]

It looks awful. The black with such a bright colour just doesn't work. I'm guessing they paid Stennings to come up with this..

It's not black.

 

[Alexbus12]

It's not black.

So it isn't, I had my brightness on my phone down to low and it made it look like it is black.

 

[Bungle965]

Okay, that's enough of that.
Anyone who wishes to continue the discussion can do so in this thread
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ing-buses-to-show-support-for-the-nhs.203984/
Bungle

 

[Alexbus12]

In the 3 or so years of Vamooz, could someone give me a list of the crowdfunded trips that went ahead (excluding schools and work services)? I'm aware of the Manchester Arena tribute concert trip which went ahead. Thanks in advance.

 

[Stan Drews]

In the 3 or so years of Vamooz, could someone give me a list of the crowdfunded trips that went ahead (excluding schools and work services)? I'm aware of the Manchester Arena tribute concert trip which went ahead. Thanks in advance.

I think they quickly realised that despite the amount of people that whinge about such trips, few were actually willing to put their money where the mouth was!
However, it seemed to work fairly well as a useful tool for commercially operated school/work services, hence why it seems to have developed more in that direction.

 

[RustySpoons]

Off the top of my head there was a trip to Meadowhall in Sheffield (I believe this may have been the first trip, mostly used by the self confessed 'bus veg'), there was a trip to Scarborough and I believe one to Blackpool too. There was also a DalesBus service run from Keighley a couple of summers ago which had sold out on the app.

These are only the ones run by Transdev that I can recall off the top of my head. There may have been more.

Outside of Transdev, Cornwall Vamooz ran quite a few trips but I'm not sure on any of the others. I'd possibly argue that Cornwall has been the most successful of the crowdfunded trips.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think they quickly realised that despite the amount of people that whinge about such trips, few were actually willing to put their money where the mouth was!
However, it seemed to work fairly well as a useful tool for commercially operated school/work services, hence why it seems to have developed more in that direction.

Indeed and was discussed at length at the start of March. Phil Stockley gave a detailed explanation of the genesis and evolution of the concept at post #299.

 

[Alexbus12]

Off the top of my head there was a trip to Meadowhall in Sheffield (I believe this may have been the first trip, mostly used by the self confessed 'bus veg'), there was a trip to Scarborough and I believe one to Blackpool too. There was also a DalesBus service run from Keighley a couple of summers ago which had sold out on the app.

These are only the ones run by Transdev that I can recall off the top of my head. There may have been more.

Outside of Transdev, Cornwall Vamooz ran quite a few trips but I'm not sure on any of the others. I'd possibly argue that Cornwall has been the most successful of the crowdfunded trips.

Interesting, I wasn't aware that Cornwall had that many trips running. I see Firsts Vamooz W reg "coach" is currently for sale, so I'm guessing that's the end for that branch?

 

[RustySpoons]

Just checked the app, forgot I had it! The only trips are Transdev schools, the BooHoo service and one school service in Cornwall.

I can't find any option on the app to suggest a trip, which I'm sure there was at some point.

 

[Alexbus12]

Just checked the app, forgot I had it! The only trips are Transdev schools, the BooHoo service and one school service in Cornwall.

I can't find any option on the app to suggest a trip, which I'm sure there was at some point.

The website still advertises that they'll run services on sports matches, events and private hire.. Maybe that needs updating to reflect the way they're now operating it, unless of course, they still do plan on doing events etc.

 

[RustySpoons]

It could be quite a lucrative market post-covid considering the state of the coaching industry at the moment.

 

[SCH117X]

They did run a Harrogate - Wetherby races one as some work colleagues used it. Also they ran to at least one years Showbus, or at least the vehicles did!

 

[Alexbus12]

They did run a Harrogate - Wetherby races one as some work colleagues used it. Also they ran to at least one years Showbus, or at least the vehicles did!

Was the Harrogate one busy?

 

[SCH117X]

Was the Harrogate one busy?

If you mean the one to Wetherby races I gather my work colleagues were the only passengers; Showbus no idea.

 

[RustySpoons]

I think the Showbus trip (in 2017) was more of a PR thing to get both Vamooz operators at the time together. Transdev and Reading Buses I believe, with Transdev sending 404 and one of the second hand gop eyed Presidents down.

 

[RustySpoons]

A potential tease of the next generation CityZap livery?

Think a few people have been getting excited because the mockup shows a three axle E400, but going off what we already know I think that'll be unlikely.

Alex Hornby on Twitter

“We are committed to our investment in British manufacturing with 19 new double deckers for #Witchway & @cityzapbus. They’ll feature a high customer spec, with well-spaced seats: we remain determined to rehabilitate our network and provide buses that people want to be seen on.”

twitter.com

 

[Alexbus12]

A potential tease of the next generation CityZap livery?

Think a few people have been getting excited because the mockup shows a three axle E400, but going off what we already know I think that'll be unlikely.

Alex Hornby on Twitter

“We are committed to our investment in British manufacturing with 19 new double deckers for #Witchway & @cityzapbus. They’ll feature a high customer spec, with well-spaced seats: we remain determined to rehabilitate our network and provide buses that people want to be seen on.”

twitter.com

View attachment 77618

I assume the new Witchway and Cityzaps will both be the same spe ?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I assume the new Witchway and Cityzaps will both be the same spe ?

By tweeting about both services in the same tweet, that might suggest so. States that he's hoping to have a mock up of the Witch Way to share.

 

[Alexbus12]

States that he's hoping to have a mock up of the Witch Way to share.

Ooh, I seem to recall him stating Wichway was receiving a refresh livery? Tbf, the current one is still very smart.

 

[SCH117X]

Surely the fact Alexander Dennis were copied into the original tweet by Alex Hornby is a big clue as to what the vehicles are. A tweet from yesterday is interesting with the weeks Small Talk shown including the fact that they broke even over a 4 week period'; of course it could be that 4 week period excluding the day of the monthly lease payments.

 

[RustySpoons]

Surely the fact Alexander Dennis were copied into the original tweet by Alex Hornby is a big clue as to what the vehicles are. A tweet from yesterday is interesting with the weeks Small Talk shown including the fact that they broke even over a 4 week period'; of course it could be that 4 week period excluding the day of the monthly lease payments.

I thought the same. Considering most of the current active fleet is running around carrying fresh air most of the day they can't be bringing much money in at all.

Although the fact a lot of the fleet has been SORNd and around half the staff will be being payed with the government furlough will have cut costs, but I wondered if they've managed to get a break in repayments for the leased vehicles?

 

[Bwsbro]

Burnley Bus Company branded Optare Versa YJ17FVU has been been given a new Burnley Hero’s livery

 

[RustySpoons]

Burnley Bus Company branded Optare Versa YJ17FVU has been been given a new Burnley Hero’s livery