Transdev Blazefield

[SCH117X]

Of course if Alex Hornby was still MD we would have tweets of Mainline goes Sky Class (on selected journeys)
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Purely based on a heap of them are longer on the route they were brought in for.

As has been stated above the Witchway PVR has dropped so their are too many of them for that service and two is hardly a heap. Should they just sit in the depoot doing nothing instead?

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

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



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.

Doesn’t make SkyClass a flop, just means CityZap was killed by the new “Work from home” structure many businesses now use since covid and that WW has also had reduced frequency for similar reasons and ended up having spares.

Pride of the North doesn’t do much for local branding and seems to be used more for vehicles they know will keep moving around the depots. So for vehicles that need to stay at a particular depot to meet its requirements, no point using POTN as it dilutes local branding and is a missed opportunity to advertise local destinations

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jul 2023 ==

Of course if Alex Hornby was still MD we would have tweets of Mainline goes Sky Class (on selected journeys)

I’d have loved to see them go into Mainline livery but it does make sense to keep them as flexible as possible.

 

[JetBlast]

has been stated above the Witchway PVR has dropped so their are too many of them for that service and two is hardly a heap. Should they just sit in the depoot doing nothing instead?

There is also City Zap.

I didn’t say there wasn’t a good reason for it happening? Nor did I say they shouldn’t be reallocated?

 

[Andyh82]

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



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.

No, 2 of them have received generic Burnley livery because The Witch Way no longer runs the same frequency as it did pre-COVID when these buses were ordered

In 2019 it ran every 15 minutes, in 2023 it runs every 20 minutes

 

[Deerfold]

I didn’t say there wasn’t a good reason for it happening? Nor did I say they shouldn’t be reallocated?

But you are describing the buses as "a flop".

 

[JetBlast]

But you are describing the buses as "a flop".

They are. They procured them for a specific purpose and many aren’t serving that purpose. They haven’t been in service long either.

The business plan (assuming there was one) didn’t pan out. I wouldn’t call that a success.

 

[SCH117X]

They are. They procured them for a specific purpose and many aren’t serving that purpose. They haven’t been in service long either.

The business plan (assuming there was one) didn’t pan out. I wouldn’t call that a success.

City Zap was affected by Covid resultant home working and the railway finally gets its fares attractve for Leeds- York such that the service was no longer viable almost coincidentally with them taking on the X98/99. By using the Sky Class vehicles on that service they will be hoping to boost custom in the same way the 36 benefitted from better vehicles.

 

[Deerfold]

They are. They procured them for a specific purpose and many aren’t serving that purpose. They haven’t been in service long either.

The business plan (assuming there was one) didn’t pan out. I wouldn’t call that a success.

I think there's a lot of companies have changed their plans post-Covid. It's certainly changed how my business works - not for the worse, just significantly differently.

Transdev seem to be making good use of the buses, so I'm not sure what the flop was.

A good business knows when to change a plan. I'd be more critical of a business that bought new buses then didn't use them.

 

[Andyh82]

They are. They procured them for a specific purpose and many aren’t serving that purpose. They haven’t been in service long either.

The business plan (assuming there was one) didn’t pan out. I wouldn’t call that a success.

Bus company buys newer buses to replace older buses on a route

Hardly a unique situation, why have you got such a problem with it like it was some sort of unusual reckless behaviour?

 

[JetBlast]

Hardly a unique situation, why have you got such a problem with it like it was some sort of unusual reckless behaviour?

I don’t have an issue. I am just stating what happened. It seems the Transdev fan club has a problem is anything that isn’t seen in the perfect light.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I don’t have an issue. I am just stating what happened. It seems the Transdev fan club has a problem is anything that isn’t seen in the perfect light.

You do seem to have an issue. Look at it rationally…

They had a business plan in 2019 that was predicated on previous performance. WitchWay was a strong performer and the fleet needed replacement. CityZap was always more of a surprise that it got new vehicles.

So all ordered etc and then an event occurs that has created huge social and commercial changes throughout all industries and esp to buses. All over, we are seeing services reduced or cut to reflect lower use.

In your eyes, that makes Sky Class a flop? That they failed to incorporate that into their business plan?

I’m not a fan of the Hornby self promotion and clearly they got their sums wrong on Ribble Country. However, you seem to have based your opinion as a “flop” on that Sky Class hasn’t been able to buck the trend of home working and overall economic malaise? Bit harsh, that.

 

[WibbleWobble]

I don’t have an issue. I am just stating what happened. It seems the Transdev fan club has a problem is anything that isn’t seen in the perfect light.

I'm no Transdev/Hornby fan (moreso the opposite) but you cannot blame Transdev for "getting things wrong" when circumstances changed due to a global pandemic driving changes in how people live and work. It's like you're blaming Transdev for not being able to predict the future!

It makes sense to move the buses to where they are needed, and by putting them on the Mainline at least means that they are being used on services with higher demand, so covering their costs. There's nothing stopping Transdev moving them onto other similar routes should they be needed elsewhere (and provided suitable replacements are sourced).

 

[JetBlast]

It's like you're blaming Transdev for not being able to predict the future!

At what point it did I say I was blaming them or that there isn’t a good reason?

It is pretty simple. It didn’t go as expected. The reasons I didn’t go into, but they are valid. However, this doesn’t change the fact it was a failure.

Not all failures are due to negligence. But everyone here is assuming that’s what I meant?

I’m not responding any further on this matter.

 

[RustySpoons]

At what point it did I say I was blaming them or that there isn’t a good reason?

It is pretty simple. It didn’t go as expected. The reasons I didn’t go into, but they are valid. However, this doesn’t change the fact it was a failure.

Not all failures are due to negligence. But everyone here is assuming that’s what I meant?

I’m not responding any further on this matter.

It wasn't a failure though. It's still a successful route that has just changed slightly to suit current passenger demand and the spare vehicles have been repainted so they can be better used elsewhere if needed.

 

[Deerfold]

Not all failures are due to negligence. But everyone here is assuming that’s what I meant?

Yes, everyone is assuming that's what you meant. That's because of the language you used, describing the buses as a flop, doubling down and describing anyone disagreeing with you as part of Transdev's fan club. That suggested you were deliberately blaming Transdev.

You've not said anything to suggest otherwise.

 

[Simon75]

There was a rumour on here a few weeks that Transdev were going to offload Blazefield. Any update if its true or not ?

 

[GusB]

There was a rumour on here a few weeks that Transdev were going to offload Blazefield. Any update if its true or not ?

Was there? Could you quote the relevant post, please?

 

[JetBlast]

Depot rumour, so take it with a pinch of salt, but word is that all of Blazefield is up for sale due to some “financial mismanagement” (read: losing a ton of money) under the previous regime

GusB - Here you go.

 

[M60lad]

Due to a shortage of available Hotline vehicles yesterday 3 duties on 152 Hotline were operated by non-Hotline vehicles being:

508, 513 & 2429

The only problem being that with 508 being a 1 branded vehicle it didn't have 152 programmed into the destination display so it was either running round with The Blackburn Bus Company on the front or just a blank display and nothing to distinguish what route it was actually on.

 

[JetBlast]

For simplicity reasons I would have thought all buses would be configured with all destinations at the depot.

 

[RustySpoons]

Due to a shortage of available Hotline vehicles yesterday 3 duties on 152 Hotline were operated by non-Hotline vehicles being:

508, 513 & 2429

The only problem being that with 508 being a 1 branded vehicle it didn't have 152 programmed into the destination display so it was either running round with The Blackburn Bus Company on the front or just a blank display and nothing to distinguish what route it was actually on.

Generic liveried B10BLE 1102 was on it the other day too, again just showing Blackburn Bus Company on the display.

For simplicity reasons I would have thought all busses would be configured with all destinations at the depot.

You'd think so wouldn't you? Apparently this was something that was brought in under the precious CEOs reign, as branded vehicles shouldn't have any need to run on other routes so there's no need to program other destinations into the displays. However the counter argument was that the destination controllers also controlled the next stop audio information too so there wasn't any space for other destinations. Though this never seems to be an issue with the Pride of the North/Transdev Go branded vehicles that float around between depots. Long story short, who knows!? But in this day and age unless the display itself has failed whilst on service, not displaying the destination is very shoddy.

 

[JetBlast]

Apparently this was something that was brought in under the precious CEOs reign, as branded vehicles shouldn't have any need to run on other routes so there's no need to program other destinations into the displays.

I kind of get that point, but even if they never ventured off those routes, I would have thought it would be extra work to remove the unneeded routes form the system.

However the counter argument was that the destination controllers also controlled the next stop audio information too so there wasn't any space for other destinations.

This didn't really occur to me, flash storage is cheap for a while. Unless it's an old system they are running. Maybe someone who knows how those displays work will have more info.

 

[158756]

Transdev have finally got the route change they wanted in central Manchester. Buses leaving the city centre will run along Cross Street and stop opposite M&S on Market Street. This should reduce delays as well as stopping nearer the shops and closer to the inbound route.

We're changing our route leaving Manchester on Witchway

We've got a faster route leaving Manchester for you, starting 23 July.

www.transdevbus.co.uk

We know our route leaving Manchester has been really frustrating for our customers since Deansgate became one way during the pandemic.

From Sunday 23 July, we'll serve a new route leaving Manchester on Red Express and Witchway. We'll no longer serve stops at John Dalton Street or Victoria Bridge Street - we'll now serve stop CZ on Market Street, opposite M&S, really handy for Deansgate and the Arndale Centre. Buses into Manchester will run the same way as they do now and serve all of the same stops.

The new route will really help us with our reliability, giving our customers a quicker journey out of the City Centre. You'll be able to plan your new journey on the Transdev Go app and find the nearest stop for you.

The changes to Deansgate are apparently being made officially permanent.

 

[SCH117X]

The 36 is reducing to a core of 15 minutes Harrogate-Leeds from Monday including when Harewood Bridge is closed

https://images.transdevbus.co.uk/downloads/230719%2036-1.pdf

 

[RELL6L]

The 36 is reducing to a core of 15 minutes Harrogate-Leeds from Monday including when Harewood Bridge is closed

https://images.transdevbus.co.uk/downloads/230719%2036-1.pdf

I can't find that pdf on the Harrogate website - although it confirms every 15 minutes for the school holiday period - but page 1 of that pdf is utter nonsense. Arrival times in Leeds are from a different version or something - still showign as every 10 minutes and attached to the wrong columns. Eg 10.55 from Harrogate arrives in Leeds at 10.39, while the 11.57 from Ripon arrives in Leeds at 14.49!

Please proof read!!

 

[SCH117X]

I can't find that pdf on the Harrogate website - although it confirms every 15 minutes for the school holiday period - but page 1 of that pdf is utter nonsense. Arrival times in Leeds are from a different version or something - still showign as every 10 minutes and attached to the wrong columns. Eg 10.55 from Harrogate arrives in Leeds at 10.39, while the 11.57 from Ripon arrives in Leeds at 14.49!

Please proof read!!

Its under News

Changes to the 36 during the summer

Over the summer, we'll be running a temporary timetable on the 36 due to the closure of Harewood Bridge.

www.transdevbus.co.uk

Changes to the 36 during the summer​

4 days ago Tue 18th Jul 2023

Over the summer, we'll be running a temporary timetable on the 36 due to the closure of Harewood Bridge.

From Mon 24 July until the end of Sun 3 September we'll be running up to every 15 minutes on the 36, along our usual route and serving all of our stops.
From Wed 26 July to Thursday 24 August, the 36 will have to divert. Towards Leeds, divert from Pannal to Harewood Bar. Towards Harrogate we'll divert after the Harewood Arms to Pannal. Buses will pick up and drop off at all stops on the diversion route. Journeys will take around 15 mins longer than usual, but if the works finish earlier than planed, we'll get back to our normal route.
Despite the longer route, we'll still have our team of friendly drivers to help you and bargain £2 fares, all through the summer until September. When our timetable goes back to normal in September, we'll have new times which will mean a more reliable service for our customers.
Your new timetables can be downloaded here, showing both the timetable we'll run when the bridge isn't shut and when it is.
Our friendly team are here to help if you need a hand. Visit Karis in Harrogate Bus Station, Morgan in Leeds Bus Station or email customer.services@transdevbus.co.uk.

 

[RELL6L]

Its under News

Changes to the 36 during the summer

Over the summer, we'll be running a temporary timetable on the 36 due to the closure of Harewood Bridge.

www.transdevbus.co.uk

Thanks. It's still wrong then!

 

[Stan Drews]

Thanks. It's still wrong then!

I wonder when the proof reader is back from holiday?

 

[SCH117X]

The 36 timetable is right in term of Leeds arrivals on line https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/harrogate/services/HDT/36?date=2023-07-24&direction=outbound although no such downloadable pdf is showing on there.

The 1055 from Harrogate arrivng 1144 and the 1157 from Ripon at 1329 to use the examples noted above.

Expect there will be a few annoyed passengers with this change being announced pretty late - notably the 0600 and 0750 from Harrogate and Leeds are replaced by journeys running 5 minutes earlier with the next journey unchanged at 0615 and 0800 respectively

That timetable is only effective Monday and Tuesday this week as Harewood Bridge is closed from 7am on Wednesday to, it is stated 6am Thursday 24 August 2023.
The first 4 workings from Harrogate on Wednesday could run over the bridge.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jul 2023 ==

The 36 pdf has now (Tuesday 25th posting) been corrected https://images.transdevbus.co.uk/downloads/230719 36-7.pdf and is now linked from the actual 36 timetable page

 

[Bayum]

Was in Harrogate for my hair bleached/coloured/cut yesterday. Parked up in Harewood and then got the 36 and went via the detour in Poole and Huby. On the bus to Harrogate, it said that electric buses were coming to the 36. Has anyone heard anything about this? I’m not trawling through 115 pages.