Transdev Blazefield

[JetBlast]

Especially in view of the fact in the closing years of municipal management it felt as though almost every Rosso bus was a different colour (and not in a good sense), I wondered whether this had been a situation for a while.

I used to use Rosso for casual use. When it was municipal I always found it to be fine. It wasn’t anything special, it was low frills but it was fairly reliable. As soon as Transdev took over it went to the wall fairly quickly, it was a lottery! After a a number of occasions of being late meeting friends for a drink I stopped using the bus all together.

 

[RustySpoons]

Wonder if TfGM have reported them for failing to run their contracts some time back? They were losing rather a lot of mileage during evenings!

Also remember that the LCC tendered services that ran under the Ribble Country and Little Hotline banners were technically Rosso routes. There were daily cancellations on those services too.

 

[Goldfish62]

Given TfGM's role in Goodwins ceasing to provide tendered bus services recently it wouldn't come as a surprise if they'd reported to the traffic commissioner! I could be wrong and it might be passengers who were affected sending a steady stream of reports which cumulatively provide enough evidence?

We'll find out when the inquiry report is published.

In the case of Stagecoach South West it was a combination of complaints from the council, user groups and the public which prompted the commissioner to launch an investigation.

 

[M60lad]

Considering the remaining B10BLEs at Burnley are supposedly withdrawn now are there any plans to withdraw/replace the remaining ones at Blackburn (Intack) and if so what will they will be replaced with?

 

[RustySpoons]

Considering the remaining B10BLEs at Burnley are supposedly withdrawn now are there any plans to withdraw/replace the remaining ones at Blackburn (Intack) and if so what will they will be replaced with?

There's been talk of the Keighley Shuttle B7s moving to Blackburn, how true this is I'm not sure. By all accounts those B7s are pretty knackered now!

 

[Andyh82]

There are a lot of changes coming up in the next few years with electric buses at Keighley, at Flyer and at Harrogate and what they keep in the fleet from the Rochdale operation, so there could be many transfers of buses

 

[SCH117X]

The Keighley Shuttle B7RLEs are 18 years old so I would expect along them with the 19 year old ones at Harrogate (1701-1705 and the already withdrawn 1800) to be withdrawn upon electrics arriving. The newest at those depots are the 14 year old ex Burnley ones at Harrogate (1853-1861/1871).

 

[northernchris]

There's been talk of the Keighley Shuttle B7s moving to Blackburn, how true this is I'm not sure. By all accounts those B7s are pretty knackered now!

They certainly are knackered! Although in fairness they seem fairly reliable considering their age, and a repaint and internal tidy up would make a big difference

 

[Andyh82]

Isn’t the Flyer network getting electric buses as well, so I’d guess those Versas would be a shoe in to move to Blackburn

 

[Delenn]

Isn’t the Flyer network getting electric buses as well, so I’d guess those Versas would be a shoe in to move to Blackburn

I believe that the Flyer upgrade has been delayed, as there is talk of them leaving Idle and having all the electric stuff fitted at a new place. (Can't remember where I saw that - I'll try to find it).

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

There's been talk of the Keighley Shuttle B7s moving to Blackburn, how true this is I'm not sure. By all accounts those B7s are pretty knackered now!

I’d certainly take it with a pinch is salt. It’s been a well known fact at Blackburn for some time that they’re earmarked for replacement by Harrogate B7s; whether or not the changes at Rochdale now alter that plan, I’m not too sure.

Isn’t the Flyer network getting electric buses as well, so I’d guess those Versas would be a shoe in to move to Blackburn

Any stock originally from 464 will likely get scrapped or returned to the leasing company due to appalling reliability, the ex Keighley ones however, particularly the 16 plates that match the 6&7 fleet may well get cascaded.

I believe that the Flyer upgrade has been delayed, as there is talk of them leaving Idle and having all the electric stuff fitted at a new place. (Can't remember where I saw that - I'll try to find it).

That does make sense, Idle is more of a storage area than anything else with it not having any engineering facilities. Pointless spending any money on infrastructure or even the lease for that matter when operations could easily move to Harrogate for example where they’re already getting the equipment. Didn’t Harrogate also run the LBA services some years ago pre-tiger?

 

[HarryL]

There's a suggestion in the Keighley News that Transdev has signed a partnership deal with an advertising company. Does this mean they intend to start putting ads on their buses? Transdev has always made a thing about not putting ads on their buses, almost been a signature for them in the past.

Keighley bus operator in groundbreaking sponsorship deal

TRANSDEV – which operates Keighley Bus Company – has signed a groundbreaking sponsorship deal that will see it promote attractions and…

www.keighleynews.co.uk

TRANSDEV – which operates Keighley Bus Company – has signed a groundbreaking sponsorship deal that will see it promote attractions and businesses across its network.


The firm has partnered with Adverta Transport Advertising in what's believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in the UK.

Transdev, which runs a fleet of more than 500 buses in Yorkshire and Lancashire, will spotlight destinations along its routes as part of a drive to raise awareness of – and encourage more people to use – sustainable travel, whilst providing a boost for attractions.

The firm has ten depots in the region and in addition to Keighley Bus Company its brands include Harrogate Bus Company, Burnley Bus Company, Blackburn Bus Company, Flyer, Coastliner, Team Pennine, York & Country and Rosso.

Adverta – originally formed as AdBus in 1986 – is one of the UK’s largest bus and tram advertising specialists, with a client base of 25 transport companies.


It was acquired by the Yorkshire-based outdoor advertising firm CP Media in December last year.

Under its new owner, Adverta is now expanding its offering to include bus sponsorship.

 

[Deerfold]

There's a suggestion in the Keighley News that Transdev has signed a partnership deal with an advertising company. Does this mean they intend to start putting ads on their buses? Transdev has always made a thing about not putting ads on their buses, almost been a signature for them in the past.

They've certainly had then on the rear of buses in Keighley.

 

[Delenn]

And they have the John Lewis decals on a Coastliner and a 36.

 

[Andyh82]

There's a suggestion in the Keighley News that Transdev has signed a partnership deal with an advertising company. Does this mean they intend to start putting ads on their buses? Transdev has always made a thing about not putting ads on their buses, almost been a signature for them in the past.

The news story suggests the deal doesn’t involve just slapping any old advert from Global Media on the sides of the buses

 

[SCH117X]

They did have adverts slapped on the side of some vehicles in the immediate pre Alex Hornby period, usually in the case of Harrogate B10BLEs not level.

 

[Delenn]

The article makes it sound interesting. Promoting places to travel by bus is a good idea.

 

[RustySpoons]

There's a suggestion in the Keighley News that Transdev has signed a partnership deal with an advertising company. Does this mean they intend to start putting ads on their buses? Transdev has always made a thing about not putting ads on their buses, almost been a signature for them in the past.

Keighley bus operator in groundbreaking sponsorship deal

TRANSDEV – which operates Keighley Bus Company – has signed a groundbreaking sponsorship deal that will see it promote attractions and…

www.keighleynews.co.uk

I wonder if Stenning will get his knickers in a twist at something not advertising the bus being applied to his designs...?

Calling is 'sponsorship' does sound like a different way of saying 'bus advertising' to me, but as long as it's done right and actually promotes businesses or organisations on the route that particular bus serves it might not be too bad. Though even after reading the article I'm not sure what is particularly groundbreaking about it.

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

They did have adverts slapped on the side of some vehicles in the immediate pre Alex Hornby period, usually in the case of Harrogate B10BLEs not level.

Some B10s were still receiving ads not that long ago. I remember 569 getting an advert for Nelson & Colne College just before covid and before that, a few of Blackburns B10s certainly had a stint of getting rear ads. If fact, the funniest one I remember is a Burnley B10 advertising Blackburn Rovers of all things!

I wonder if Stenning will get his knickers in a twist at something not advertising the bus being applied to his designs...?

Calling is 'sponsorship' does sound like a different way of saying 'bus advertising' to me, but as long as it's done right and actually promotes businesses or organisations on the route that particular bus serves it might not be too bad. Though even after reading the article I'm not sure what is particularly groundbreaking about it.

It doesn’t look like Stenning has had much to do with the company since Alex Hornby left; it's all in house work by the looks of things. So even if he did, I doubt they’d care.

Plus, it will likely be in the same fashion as the John Lewis adverts at Harrogate and Malton where they’re more incorporated into the livery, rather than shoved into a clip frame or plastered all over.

Think the more “groundbreaking” side of it comes from advertising destinations of a route on the vehicles that serve it, rather than just having any random old rubbish on there. Makes it a lot more relevant and may well increase the ads’ performance

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The article makes it sound interesting. Promoting places to travel by bus is a good idea.

When Team Pennine launched a few years ago, the on-board announcements would mention businesses at certain stops... presumably this was paid for by said businesses rather than just decided on by whoever did the script? Otherwise why mention one restaurant as opposed to the other one across the road?

 

[Deerfold]

When Team Pennine launched a few years ago, the on-board announcements would mention businesses at certain stops... presumably this was paid for by said businesses rather than just decided on by whoever did the script? Otherwise why mention one restaurant as opposed to the other one across the road?

I doubt most were.

Lidl in Silsden was announced until a passenger pointed out the store was an Aldi.

 

[Delenn]

Lidl in Silsden was announced until a passenger pointed out the store was an Aldi.

 

[RustySpoons]

Plus, it will likely be in the same fashion as the John Lewis adverts at Harrogate and Malton where they’re more incorporated into the livery, rather than shoved into a clip frame or plastered all over.

Yeah that's what I'm hoping it'll be. And not advertising car dealerships that may feature en route!

 

[JetBlast]

I am surprised to see a Witchway now pained in Burnley Colours (with Manchester branding). Looks like the batch of Sky Class buses was a flop.

https://twitter.com/bus_vids_manc/status/1676607892420534274?s=46&t=JiZRzTNc38vw-5FftuP1Bg

 

[Ancelljb]

I am surprised to see a Witchway now pained in Burnley Colours (with Manchester branding). Looks like the batch of Sky Class buses was a flop.

https://twitter.com/bus_vids_manc/status/1676607892420534274?s=46&t=JiZRzTNc38vw-5FftuP1Bg

The other side of the vehicle has Skipton branding as shown here.

I believe 2014 is being painted as well, as there is a lower PVR on the X43 than previous, so this allows flexibility to use the vehicles on some of the busier Mainline runs. If I can find the tweets/messages stating this, they will be tagged and quoted here.

 

[Deerfold]

The other side of the vehicle has Skipton branding as shown here.

I believe 2014 is being painted as well, as there is a lower PVR on the X43 than previous, so this allows flexibility to use the vehicles on some of the busier Mainline runs. If I can find the tweets/messages stating this, they will be tagged and quoted here.

It (or one very like it) appears on the M4 from time to time.

 

[Andyh82]

I am surprised to see a Witchway now pained in Burnley Colours (with Manchester branding). Looks like the batch of Sky Class buses was a flop.

https://twitter.com/bus_vids_manc/status/1676607892420534274?s=46&t=JiZRzTNc38vw-5FftuP1Bg

what do you mean by "looks like the batch of sky class buses was a flop"

or is it just the usual thing in this thread where every action is criticised? I'm sure some double decks on the Mainline is what people wanted

 

[RustySpoons]

..

I am surprised to see a Witchway now pained in Burnley Colours (with Manchester branding). Looks like the batch of Sky Class buses was a flop.

https://twitter.com/bus_vids_manc/status/1676607892420534274?s=46&t=JiZRzTNc38vw-5FftuP1Bg

Not at all. Just the reduced PVR for the X43 doesn't need as many buses and bigger capacity is required on the Mainline. Two of them have been repainted into Burnley colours. Still got their Sky Class interiors, which confuses and dilutes the brand somewhat, but it's a much better use of vehicles.

 

[158756]

what do you mean by "looks like the batch of sky class buses was a flop"

or is it just the usual thing in this thread where every action is criticised? I'm sure some double decks on the Mainline is what people wanted

Well, I think it's true that demand for the X43 has fallen since they were ordered, certainly it doesn't support the same frequency it used to, hence why the buses are available for other use. Of course you can't really blame Transdev for not predicting the pandemic, but with the benefit of hindsight the Sky Class buses were probably a mistake. Even more so if you consider the Yorkshire examples, purchased for a route which no longer exists and then transferred to a route deemed unviable by its previous operator.

 

[JetBlast]

I believe 2014 is being painted as well, as there is a lower PVR on the X43 than previous, so this allows flexibility to use the vehicles on some of the busier Mainline runs. If I can find the tweets/messages stating this, they will be tagged and quoted here.

Isn’t that why the pride of the north livery is for?

what do you mean by "looks like the batch of sky class buses was a flop"

Purely based on a heap of them are longer on the route they were brought in for. If looks they have had to move them to make them commercially viable.