Wellglade Group

[Mr TrainGuy]

I don't think the ending of the £2 fare will do much, maybe a few less people would use it, but I wouldn't be surprised if profits did rise for Kinchbus/trentbarton. Meadow Road depot couldn't get any more full I don't think, maybe why they were looking at moving to a new site.

 

[43055]

Volvo 723 is in Mango livery, ex Ilkeston Flyer

Makes sense as you only need 5 out of the 6 for the X38

I mean, 743/4 went to Blackburn to have luggage racks fitted. If Kinch got a couple of those ex-mickleovers for skylink (however fleet numbers don't line up with 107-109) that could also send back their mango MMCs to trentbarton's depots. As for 727, I have seen it has been slightly sanded down (the only vehicle I've seen in the depot which has), so it probably isn't at the top of their priority list to repaint at the moment. Remember, they still don't have a date for the keyworth timetable changes. They do want 5 vehicles on the keyworth, so sending only 4 to an external source instead of 5 doesn't make complete sense to me.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Oct 2024 ==


Not any time soon. They should be for Kinch's 2, 5, 9, 11, 12 & sprint/uni routes. They are probably going to need some new MMCs quite soon at the rate at which they're gaining mileage!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Oct 2024 ==


Don't think 828 would go to Kinchbus.. predominantly because if they order electrics, doubt they'd want to spend money refurbishing an old, diesel versa, only for it to need to be refurbished back into trentbarton a few years later. Who knows, 733 was like that.

Could the keyworth changes be in November at the same time as the post about the cotgrave changing the other day?

They could outstation buses at Derby, but in any case, it would be a rather undesirable circumstance, and one that would be exacerbated if the Skylink has its frequency increased again, which is quite possible in the not-too-distant future as the capacity still needs increasing somehow (the alternative being buying double-decker buses, where you encounter Trentbarton's antipathy to 'deckers combined with a need to either rebuild the bus wash in Loughborough or wash buses in Derby - again, not ideal.)

Derby depot struggles for space already. Some of the buses are put on the road in the morning so others can move around/get out.

If they were that desparate I guess they could add overhead pantograph charging to the bus stations.. however that would also be a restriction to double deckers etc. Also a requirement with Leicester's green buses scheme, is buses have to be painted green (I think).. hopefully that doesn't damage the skylink's brand..

I can see it being increased to every 10 mins in the next year or two. Maybe if/when they get more ADLs maybe they'll buy enough to cover that frequency increase.. Maybe they will start to want deckers more to increase profits further..

If it does increase it will probably go to every 12 mins first. Hard to think 10 years ago it way every 30 mins!

Displaced buses from the new E200 MMC's:
101-104 - Possible Skylink Derby (TBC)? - 109, 174, 175 to then return to trent
105-106 - TBC
701-702 - on Swift
703 - new villager around Hucknall (connect) (temporary for roadworks)
704 - TBC
718-722 - to be for X38
723 - Mango (depot TBC)
726, 732-734 - TBC after stint on X38
740 - Mango (depot TBC)
742, 745 - TBC after X38
828- TBC after stint on X38

 

[bringiton]

Displaced buses from the new E200 MMC's:
101-104 - Possible Skylink Derby? - 109, 174, 175 to then return to trent
105-106 - TBC
701-702 - on Swift
703 - new villager around Hucknall (connect)
704 - TBC
718-722 - to be for X38
723 - Mango (depot TBC)
726, 732-734 - TBC after stint on X38
740 - Mango (depot TBC)
826- TBC after stint on X38

Your missing the old x38 liveried 742/5 as well. 703 should be leaving Hucknall in December or after the new year, can't remember which so that'll be in for a repaint soon enough

 

[m79900]

White Enviro 200MMC 277 (YX23 OTA) said to be at Sutton Junction... Just when you think they are about to go back, another arrives

To be honest, I'd just keep all of them. Well maintained diesel buses will be worth a bit in years to come, also the Solos (Wellglade wide) are getting on, so it's good to have a few more smaller buses. TM needs them anyway.

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

Could the keyworth changes be in November at the same time as the post about the cotgrave changing the other day?

That's a thought, that is if those cotgrave changes happen to be true. If they want that done by then though they will want 727 repainted imminently..

Displaced buses from the new E200 MMC's:
101-104 - Possible Skylink Derby? - 109, 174, 175 to then return to trent
105-106 - TBC
701-702 - on Swift
703 - new villager around Hucknall (connect)
704 - TBC
718-722 - to be for X38
723 - Mango (depot TBC)
726, 732-734 - TBC after stint on X38
740 - Mango (depot TBC)
826- TBC after stint on X38

Couple changes I'd make here.. 101-4 are technically still TBC, but skylink Derby seems most likely in my opinion.. Plus, 703 doesn't have too much longer left at Sutton as far as I'm aware, think it was only staying there until Hucknall's roadworks are done in November (my apologies, I hadn't realised another user had already commented about 703)

 

[SSmith2009]

Also a requirement with Leicester's green buses scheme, is buses have to be painted green (I think).. hopefully that doesn't damage the skylink's brand..

If that's the case I'm sure they'd find a way around it maybe a skylink style livery with shades of green?

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

Maybe.. depends how harsh leicester buses are with them.. they can always pull out anyway if they feel they need to!

 

[Andyh82]

Where has this suggestion come from that Skylink Derby is getting electric buses? Is there an outstanding bid in the pipeline?

 

[Trainman40083]

Makes sense as you only need 5 out of the 6 for the X38

Could the keyworth changes be in November at the same time as the post about the cotgrave changing the other day?

Derby depot struggles for space already. Some of the buses are put on the road in the morning so others can move around/get out.

If it does increase it will probably go to every 12 mins first. Hard to think 10 years ago it way every 30 mins!

Displaced buses from the new E200 MMC's:
101-104 - Possible Skylink Derby? - 109, 174, 175 to then return to trent
105-106 - TBC
701-702 - on Swift
703 - new villager around Hucknall (connect)
704 - TBC
718-722 - to be for X38
723 - Mango (depot TBC)
726, 732-734 - TBC after stint on X38
740 - Mango (depot TBC)
826- TBC after stint on X38

828 is the X38 one, high on the lifts in A garage having an engine change? Of course, there are still some Optare Versas to be allocated, displaced by the new Enviro 200MMCs on the Threes. Three should be going to TM Travel. Just think, if the X38 spat gets sorted by December, they might not need 5 Volvos. I wonder how far we are from seeing the Tempos/Scanias replaced in the training fleet?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Oct 2024 ==

Where has this suggestion come from that Skylink Derby is getting electric buses? Is there an outstanding bid in the pipeline?

Skylink Derby isn't getting electric buses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Oct 2024 ==

I don't think the ending of the £2 fare will do much, maybe a few less people would use it, but I wouldn't be surprised if profits did rise for Kinchbus/trentbarton. Meadow Road depot couldn't get any more full I don't think, maybe why they were looking at moving to a new site.

I'd think planning permission that was granted for a bus garage at Stores Road might well have expired.

 

[joieman]

Where has this suggestion come from that Skylink Derby is getting electric buses? Is there an outstanding bid in the pipeline?

They did bid for hydrogen buses in the ZEBRA 2 scheme, but it got turned down.
Perhaps it's for the better, with Britain's notoriously underdeveloped hydrogen infrastructure that has left hydrogen buses elsewhere such as Birmingham and Liverpool running on empty.

If that's the case I'm sure they'd find a way around it maybe a skylink style livery with shades of green?

Changing the colour of the Skylink would be perfectly feasible, especially if it came as the result of the procurement of a new Skylink fleet.
Interestingly, Arriva briefly ran a Skylink service of their own between Leicester and the airport via Western Parks, Field Head and the M1(whyever it went that way!), coloured green. One of the buses was the only known rigid right-hand-drive Hispano Habit in the UK.
But I thought that the green colour scheme was reserved for zero-emission buses anyway. And as I said before, I don't think painting all the buses the same shade of green benefits passengers from outside Leicester, as people would have trouble telling different operators' buses apart.

 

[tram21]

I don't think the ending of the £2 fare will do much, maybe a few less people would use it, but I wouldn't be surprised if profits did rise for Kinchbus/trentbarton. Meadow Road depot couldn't get any more full I don't think, maybe why they were looking at moving to a new site.

Yeah I don't think all the people who have moved to bus only do it for the money. If they're commuters or regular they have the mango cap so a rise in single fares doesn't matter to them. It'll cause backlash when it's removed, but in the long run I personally don't think it'll have much of a difference on the majority of routes. (Coastliner might be a different story!)

 

[cnjb8]

If they were that desparate I guess they could add overhead pantograph charging to the bus stations.. however that would also be a restriction to double deckers etc. Also a requirement with Leicester's green buses scheme, is buses have to be painted green (I think).. hopefully that doesn't damage the skylink's brand..

I can see it being increased to every 10 mins in the next year or two. Maybe if/when they get more ADLs maybe they'll buy enough to cover that frequency increase.. Maybe they will start to want deckers more to increase profits further..

The Leicester Buses brand is only for local routes I believe, so Skylink wouldn't need to turn green

 

[ChrisC]

Yeah I don't think all the people who have moved to bus only do it for the money. If they're commuters or regular they have the mango cap so a rise in single fares doesn't matter to them. It'll cause backlash when it's removed, but in the long run I personally don't think it'll have much of a difference on the majority of routes. (Coastliner might be a different story!)

The Mango cap for Trent Barton is set very high in comparison to other bus companies day and weekly tickets. £10.60 as a daily cap is very high for a single operator if you have to make any journeys before 9am. For example for travel in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire Trent Barton’s day and weekly tickets are much higher priced than Stagecoach.

 

[bringiton]

The Mango cap for Trent Barton is set very high in comparison to other bus companies day and weekly tickets. £10.60 as a daily cap is very high for a single operator if you have to make any journeys before 9am. For example for travel in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire Trent Barton’s day and weekly tickets are much higher priced than Stagecoach.

Considering most people currently use it for red arrow, if trent operate near where you live you can get from home to derby then to Nottingham and back to derby then home for 10 pound. Most of Nottingham city center car parks are quite expensive to park in for the day and thats not even including fuel costs and other costs of owning a car. Not to mention how large trents network is which you can travel on with no restrictions unlike some other operators have city boundaries and such. In my opinion its quite good value, but that's also me using red arrow 3 to 4 times a week to commute and for leisure so I might be biased.

 

[EnviroExplorer]

The Leicester Buses brand is only for local routes I believe, so Skylink wouldn't need to turn green

Without wishing to veer off topic, Stagecoach are beginning to take delivery of their new Yutongs for the 48/148 services operated from Nuneaton to Coventry and Leicester. These are understood to all be in standard Local livery, backing up your point. Besides it wouldn’t make much sense seeing buses with prominent Leicester branding plastered all over them in Coventry where it has no meaning. Arguably the same would apply in Derby too with Skylink…

 

[ChrisC]

Considering most people currently use it for red arrow, if trent operate near where you live you can get from home to derby then to Nottingham and back to derby then home for 10 pound. Most of Nottingham city center car parks are quite expensive to park in for the day and thats not even including fuel costs and other costs of owning a car. Not to mention how large trents network is which you can travel on with no restrictions unlike some other operators have city boundaries and such. In my opinion its quite good value, but that's also me using red arrow 3 to 4 times a week to commute and for leisure so I might be biased.

It may be good value for people like yourself who use Red Arrow as part of their journey. I think your opening statement that most people use it for red arrow is a bit of a sweeping statement. For people who travel away from the Red Arrow route I don’t think it is good value at all in comparison to day and weekly tickets available from other bus companies. I think charging a premium for travel before 9am is a bit much and very few other bus companies do this. I also don’t find Trent Barton’s network that extensive as over the years they have greatly reduced the number of places served in Nottinghamshire. What is really needed now in Nottinghamshire is a multi operator ticket that can at least be used on Trent Barton, NCT and Stagecoach.

 

[bringiton]

It may be good value for people like yourself who use Red Arrow as part of their journey. I think your opening statement that most people use it for red arrow is a bit of a sweeping statement. For people who travel away from the Red Arrow route I don’t think it is good value at all in comparison to day and weekly tickets available from other bus companies. I think charging a premium for travel before 9am is a bit much and very few other bus companies do this.

The before 9am extra in my opinion is a bit much. Especially as at that time you get alot of school kids commuting so they aren't hitting caps really anyway. It would only really hit for people commuting for work/getting multiple busses.
Further from red arrow theres still quite a good network and connections, as well with the before 9am cap you can use kinchbus routes as part of the cap. They do have the saver tickets, which are more central nottingham based zones which for the area its serving is quite expensive in my opinion, with the whole network 7 day ticket being 5 pounds more expensive than a 7 day mango cap. Main thing is with trent they dont do return tickets, with the day one being cheaper (pre £2 fare, now it just being cheaper to get 2 single tickets if your going to town and back), and with you being able to get any bus in the day for that price its partially worth it, just depends the routes you need to take.

Also need to remember trent/wellglade are quite a small company compared to other companies so the price to network access could be made higher (any lower and they could risk loosing more money than they earn) or of had more restrictions on it like bigger operators tend to have.

 

[YX73OUB]

That's a thought, that is if those cotgrave changes happen to be true. If they want that done by then though they will want 727 repainted imminently..

Couple changes I'd make here.. 101-4 are technically still TBC, but skylink Derby seems most likely in my opinion.. Plus, 703 doesn't have too much longer left at Sutton as far as I'm aware, think it was only staying there until Hucknall's roadworks are done in November (my apologies, I hadn't realised another user had already commented about 703)

Roadworks in Hucknall finish in December.

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

Roadworks in Hucknall finish in December.

Oh my apologies. I wasn't fully sure if I'm being honest with you!

 

[YX73OUB]

Oh my apologies. I wasn't fully sure if I'm being honest with you!

They should've been finished earlier, but they started later.

 

[Trainman40083]

Roadworks in Hucknall finish in December.

They will probably find another key road to dig up

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2024 ==

Does anyone know why that white unregistered Volvo /EvoRa is at Langley Mill, or the white Enviro 200MMC at Sutton (277 YX23 OTA)? Are Volvos being seriously considered for new bus orders? Suggested from Meadow Road depot that crash victim Sixes Versa 836 may be a write off. I thought it might just need a new front.....I'm told 836 had a crash last year, but I don't remember that

 

[ChrisC]

They will probably find another key road to dig up

They have already found one which will probably cause more disruption than the current one in Hucknall.

The mini roundabout, at Moor Bridge between Hucknall and Bulwell, is due to be replaced by traffic lights. Also new bus lanes are to be installed in the area. It was announced a few months ago that this work was to begin before Christmas unless anyone has heard different recently. This could cause major delays on the Trent Barton Threes route between Hucknall and Nottingham.

 

[m79900]

They will probably find another key road to dig up

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Oct 2024 ==

Does anyone know why that white unregistered Volvo /EvoRa is at Langley Mill, or the white Enviro 200MMC at Sutton (277 YX23 OTA)? Are Volvos being seriously considered for new bus orders? Suggested from Meadow Road depot that crash victim Sixes Versa 836 may be a write off. I thought it might just need a new front.....I'm told 836 had a crash last year, but I don't remember that

If they were considering new Volvos, which routes would be likely candidates for them? Sixes, Comet, Swift?

 

[tram21]

If they were considering new Volvos, which routes would be likely candidates for them? Sixes, Comet, Swift?

They would be perfect for those routes, the sixes & swift in particular

 

[Trainman40083]

If they were considering new Volvos, which routes would be likely candidates for them? Sixes, Comet, Swift?

I guess it depends upon if they are a future with ADL, but those three routes would be a good start. Maybe even Skylink Derby. I am led to believe both white buses mentioned came from Transpora Bristol, via Mistral

 

[43055]

Your missing the old x38 liveried 742/5 as well. 703 should be leaving Hucknall in December or after the new year, can't remember which so that'll be in for a repaint soon enough

Added 742 & 745. I kind of like how 703 is going round Hucknall still fully branded!

828 is the X38 one, high on the lifts in A garage having an engine change? Of course, there are still some Optare Versas to be allocated, displaced by the new Enviro 200MMCs on the Threes. Three should be going to TM Travel. Just think, if the X38 spat gets sorted by December, they might not need 5 Volvos. I wonder how far we are from seeing the Tempos/Scanias replaced in the training fleet?

Changed 826 to 828.

 

[liamf656]

I am led to believe both white buses mentioned came from Transpora Bristol, via Mistral

You sure about the Evora? It has no reg plates and both Transpora examples are in service with them.

 

[Trainman40083]

You sure about the Evora? It has no reg plates and both Transpora examples are in service with them.

I shall check my source. I suspect you have checked Transpora North West fleet . They also had an operation in Bristol that got shut down/closed. Now if someone was to get sight of the build plate, chassis number or body number........

 

[Mollman]

I shall check my source. I suspect you have checked Transpora North West fleet . They also had an operation in Bristol that got shut down/closed. Now if someone was to get sight of the build plate, chassis number or body number........

The ones in the North West came from Bristol post closure

 

[Trainman40083]

Enviro 200MMC 277 at Sutton is a warranty loan vehicle.