Wellglade Group

[Trainman40083]

I mean, The Comet did change it's route slightly in 2022 to pick up a bit of the Amberline. But yes, Chesterfield Town Centre is declining as they are redeveloping it. Hopefully when it gets complete, it could be profitable again.

But surely the route isn't just about Chesterfield as a destination? The Comets I've seen leaving Derby are notably quieter.

 

[cnjb8]

The Comet has to compete with quite a few other Trent services from Derby through to Ripley and Alfreton so that probably doesn’t help passenger numbers especially if the other services are more frequent, plus I can’t imagine many Derby to Chesterfield passengers are choosing the bus over the train

 

[YX73OUB]

Ye these are rumors so take with a pinch of salt, but I did hear the 20plate E200 MMC'S are designed for the twos and b8s going to sixes too with versa being split however unsure what plans are with comet.

From rumors I heard there no current plans to change these but is talks of a refurb but again not sure how true that is. I do seem to remember someone in the thread saying something about Nines refurbishments and some rerouting or something I'll try find the post and put below.

What was said before by another user

Again it's all hearsay and we haven't heard anything concrete but it's definitely due something newer, so much potential but it's been bludgeoned by continuous works over the last year

 

[38291018]

The Comet has to compete with quite a few other Trent services from Derby through to Ripley and Alfreton so that probably doesn’t help passenger numbers especially if the other services are more frequent, plus I can’t imagine many Derby to Chesterfield passengers are choosing the bus over the train

Mabey they should try a alfreton-derby non stop down the A38 again to try get more people to change in alfreton to go Derby as its faster by bus to derby then than alternatives such as notts mabey even Mansfield and chesterfield (not certain about that as not looked at how long those take by bus from alfreton). plus this would save time to the journey and may get some people that would choose train to get bus instead? It may save about 15minutes each way from alfreton into derby and wouldn't compete with other routes going into Ripley and possible relieve some pressure on other routes to have a faster alternative from alfreton than comet is currently to the 9.3/9.1. Mabey they could reroute the 9.3 or 6.4&X if timings allow to serve little eaton too if there bothered about continuing to serve that

 

[liamf656]

Mabey they should try a alfreton-derby non stop down the A38 again to try get more people to change in alfreton to go Derby as its faster by bus to derby then than alternatives such as notts mabey even Mansfield and chesterfield (not certain about that as not looked at how long those take by bus from alfreton). plus this would save time to the journey and may get some people that would choose train to get bus instead? It may save about 15minutes each way from alfreton into derby and wouldn't compete with other routes going into Ripley and possible relieve some pressure on other routes to have a faster alternative from alfreton than comet is currently to the 9.3/9.1. Mabey they could reroute the 9.3 or 6.4&X if timings allow to serve little eaton too if there bothered about continuing to serve that

I would personally make Comet non stop Derby to Alfreton and reroute one of the Nines routes through Little Eaton to keep it served. I think Comet could be marketed better also to attract more custom, as it seems to have been pushed into the sidelines since covid

 

[Brightsidio]

I would personally make Comet non stop Derby to Alfreton and reroute one of the Nines routes through Little Eaton to keep it served. I think Comet could be marketed better also to attract more custom, as it seems to have been pushed into the sidelines since covid

They just reinstated the hourly Sunday frequency of The Comet two years ago, and patronage is already going up, slowly but surely.

 

[YX73OUB]

I would personally make Comet non stop Derby to Alfreton and reroute one of the Nines routes through Little Eaton to keep it served. I think Comet could be marketed better also to attract more custom, as it seems to have been pushed into the sidelines since covid

Or maybe even bring back the 9.2...

 

[derbybusdepot]

The comet being hourly, and at times several trips being cancelled will also have effected patronage.

It could really do with being incorporated into the nines, and sharing the same starting point in Derby.

Personally not a fan of the new skyline logo, but thought the red arrow coaches looked smart.

 

[ChrisC]

I would personally make Comet non stop Derby to Alfreton and reroute one of the Nines routes through Little Eaton to keep it served. I think Comet could be marketed better also to attract more custom, as it seems to have been pushed into the sidelines since covid

Perhaps non stop south of Ripley might work but I think it should serve Swanwick and Ripley. The Comet does seem to be quite well used for people travelling north from these places and it does help with the Comet running direct between Ripley and Alfreton rather than the much longer route via Somercotes taken by the Nines.

 

[Mr TrainGuy]

They just reinstated the hourly Sunday frequency of The Comet two years ago, and patronage is already going up, slowly but surely.

All thanks to the council for providing funding to it.... although lots of passengers doesn't always correlate to the profits. If you've seen the passenger counts on the early/late comet runs you'd soon realise that there'd be no need to run the service any more frequently!

107 and 108 are to stay with Kinch as far as i know.

Versas would not last very long on the route and with the turn out of Alfreton Bus station being tight in versa compared to how easy it is to do in a Volvo is another factor as to why the 3 Volvos on the Comet will most likely stay until they are completely life expired (hopfulley after they have had a refurb) as again it is not a very profitable route compared to what it used to be before covid.

Think you're correct with 107/8 there.. at least it makes sense, as when the Yutongs enter service at Kinch they'll need all the diesel spares they can get, as otherwise they'll only have 2 spares that are suitable for operation on skylink Derby.

Hopefully if the Volvos do end up staying on the comet until they are fully life expired, better replacements would be able to be sourced and they could use more optimal vehicles than the ones that are currently available... or at the very least the Volvos end up with a refresh/refurb at some point between now and then.

Also, all these comet route ideas may sound good to the passenger, but I doubt any would be practical or beneficial to the company. In my opinion, the current route works fine and is proven to get decent loadings (mornings/evenings aside). Making it non-stop between points may also reduce passenger counts as believe it or not people also get on/off between the main towns, so by doing that it'd become convenient for less people.. plus if they were to do any route changes this drastic it'd have a huge announcement usually accompanied by refurbed/new vehicles, which I personally can't see happening any time soon.

 

[Teapot42]

I'm not massively familiar with the area, but looking on bustimes, the route seems fairly similar to the 9s other than Kilburn or Somercotes diversions. Running time is even the same.

It would seem to make sense to integrate it as say the 9.2, beyond Alfreton route it via Stonebroom and Morton to fix the issue with the 55.

Then, why not go radical? The Red Arrow which it split off is a premium, very limited stop route. Why not restore the Comet to this status, but extend it on to Sheffield. Clay Cross is lacking direct links, and Stagecoach don't want to target the very limited stop potential for this route. While the Comet and X17 times together come to around 1h55, cutting some stops and optimising the route could easily get that down to the point where it's viable for 4 buses with about 20 minutes recovery time on an hourly timetable.

Gives Wellglade another entry to Sheffield and a guaranteed presence after franchising as well.

 

[Trainman40083]

Elsewhere, the Notts and Derby L1 service finishes at the end of week due to low patronage.. This ran from the Royal Hospital to Heatherton/Heathfield via Mickleover. The Royal Derby service is also currently diverted in the City Centre. A section of London Road near the Spot is closed due to a sink hole.

 

[Hyebone]

A section of London Road near the Spot is closed due to a sink hole.

We can only hope it swallows up the entire city

 

[Trainman40083]

We can only hope it swallows up the entire city

I thought it might be being used to dispose of all the illegal e-bikes, given the Police activity.

 

[Brightsidio]

I'm not massively familiar with the area, but looking on bustimes, the route seems fairly similar to the 9s other than Kilburn or Somercotes diversions. Running time is even the same.

It would seem to make sense to integrate it as say the 9.2, beyond Alfreton route it via Stonebroom and Morton to fix the issue with the 55.

Then, why not go radical? The Red Arrow which it split off is a premium, very limited stop route. Why not restore the Comet to this status, but extend it on to Sheffield. Clay Cross is lacking direct links, and Stagecoach don't want to target the very limited stop potential for this route. While the Comet and X17 times together come to around 1h55, cutting some stops and optimising the route could easily get that down to the point where it's viable for 4 buses with about 20 minutes recovery time on an hourly timetable.

Gives Wellglade another entry to Sheffield and a guaranteed presence after franchising as well.

If Red Arrow was extended to Sheffield of all places, then that would mean Trent Barton could introduce a route into Sheffield alongside TM Travel. Red Arrow would even need to serve Chesterfield Coach Station should it gain the Sheffield extension!

 

[Travelmonkey]

Looks like they were training on the wheelchair lift at Meadow Road with spare 910.

Good to see the training happen. My friend had some of the TB lads helping him (or attempting too) when a different Flix contactor was trying to refuse him as he complained to the TC about them before.

 

[Np13]

Looks like N&D or TM have got a solo on loan to Littles

Just seen a red Solo with 450 John Flamsteed School on the blind in Smalley

 

[zkyx02]

Looks like N&D or TM have got a solo on loan to Littles

Just seen a red Solo with 450 John Flamsteed School on the blind in Smalley

Littles have an ex TM travel slimline solo, so could’ve been that

 

[Trainman40083]

Looks like N&D or TM have got a solo on loan to Littles

Just seen a red Solo with 450 John Flamsteed School on the blind in Smalley

Former TM Travel 1193 is all Littles, now registered B25 LTL

 

[Jackoram06]

Has 66 gone off for repaint?

 

[Trainman40083]

Has 66 gone off for repaint?

Yes

 

[Jackoram06]

Nice I bet it’ll look good when it’s back. Is there a rough timeline for other repaints such as solos and solo srs eclipses and the last versa to be painted? Would imagine ex skylinks will take priority when they’re displaced so could be a while?

 

[Trainman40083]

Nice I bet it’ll look good when it’s back. Is there a rough timeline for other repaints such as solos and solo srs eclipses and the last versa to be painted? Would imagine ex skylinks will take priority when they’re displaced so could be a while?

As far as I know, most Notts and Derby repaints are not done at the same places as Trentbarton buses are, so it should not have an impact. I'm told 66 will be green, so it will certainly get noticed. Many of the Optare Solos are in Trentbarton old red livery. Ideal to help Trentbarton out when they are short of buses.

 

[MCR247]

According to bustimes it seems Red Arrow coach 80 might’ve done a few journeys on swift on Saturday. Either that or a ticket machine has been swapped over

80 - YX65 ZHK

Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elite

bustimes.org

 

[zkyx02]

According to bustimes it seems Red Arrow coach 80 might’ve done a few journeys on swift on Saturday. Either that or a ticket machine has been swapped over

80 - YX65 ZHK

Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elite

bustimes.org

Would’ve been a n+d Centro.

 

[Trainman40083]

According to bustimes it seems Red Arrow coach 80 might’ve done a few journeys on swift on Saturday. Either that or a ticket machine has been swapped over

80 - YX65 ZHK

Volvo B11RT Plaxton Elite

bustimes.org

80 and 268 were tracking on the Swift. The actual vehicles were Notts and Derby Volvo /Centros 764 and 767 with Trentbarton ticket machines.

 

[MCR247]

Would’ve been a n+d Centro.

80 and 268 were tracking on the Swift. The actual vehicles were Notts and Derby Volvo /Centros 764 and 767 with Trentbarton ticket machines.

Thank you both

 

[Np13]

Just seen red arrow branded 900 in Derby Bus Station, reg is YB25ULS

 

[Jackoram06]

Appears on Facebook that ND have picked up 2 more coaches they’re 11 plated and come from south wales transport

 

[Trainman40083]

I understand that Jeff Counsell, former Managing Director at Trentbarton, has been appointed Area Director for Arriva North East.