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Wellglade Group

SSmith2009

Member
Joined
20 Dec 2021
Messages
573
Location
East Midlands
Of course the only reason the Comet has been diverted through Little Eaton (a downgrade imo) is the loss of Amberline (and more historically the 9.2). Would it be worth bringing in a standalone service to connect Little Eaton, Kilburn and Ripley to help with the reliability of Comet and Nines?
One way I could see an additional service working is taking over the N+D 55 (Chesterfield to Alfreton) and run it into Derby via Little Eaton every hour, would be good for driver changeovers too.

As for the nines have more layover time built into the timetable at either end.
 
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RailUK Forums

38291018

Member
Joined
31 Oct 2024
Messages
223
Location
England
One way I could see an additional service working is taking over the N+D 55 (Chesterfield to Alfreton) and run it into Derby via Little Eaton every hour, would be good for driver changeovers too.

As for the nines have more layover time built into the timetable at either end.
Not bad idea but as N+D have the 55 do u think it would make much profit for it being a trent route between the alfreton chesterfield 55.

Comet and the 55 with extension to derby all could become under the Nines brand having the current 9.1 and 9.3 making the 55 9.2 then having a 9.x instead of comet going derby non stop alfreton/ripley
 

Trainman40083

Established Member
Joined
29 Jan 2024
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4,524
Location
Derby
One way I could see an additional service working is taking over the N+D 55 (Chesterfield to Alfreton) and run it into Derby via Little Eaton every hour, would be good for driver changeovers too.

As for the nines have more layover time built into the timetable at either end.
The Nine had about 15 minutes layover in Derby, doesn't it? Saw it the other day doing a 3 point turn in Derwent Street to park up. So many side roads closed.
 

Teapot42

Member
Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
1,102
If skipping Little Eaton does save 10 minutes then a half-hourly service between Chesterfield and Alfreton is possible with four buses, along the lines of:
Dby 0900 ____ 1000 ____ 1100 ____ 1200
Alf 0935 1005 1035 1105 1135 1205 1235
Chd 1004 1034 1104 1134 1204 1234 1304

Chd 1015 1045 1115 1145 1215 1245 1315
Alf 1048 1118 1148 1218 1248 1318 1348
Dby ____ 1151 ____ 1251 ____ 1351


Combining with the 55 would be tricky as it's a tendered service. Winderworth could definitely do with something better, but not sure how to provide it without taking up too much extra resource.

Maybe tweaking the times to connect with the 9.1 to give a decent link to the East Midlands Outlet from Chesterfield could be an idea. A through service might duplicate the 9.1 too much, but there is a market I feel for something coordinated.
 

Davidsb3

Member
Joined
16 Apr 2019
Messages
150
Location
Derby, UK
If skipping Little Eaton does save 10 minutes then a half-hourly service between Chesterfield and Alfreton is possible with four buses, along the lines of:
Dby 0900 ____ 1000 ____ 1100 ____ 1200
Alf 0935 1005 1035 1105 1135 1205 1235
Chd 1004 1034 1104 1134 1204 1234 1304

Chd 1015 1045 1115 1145 1215 1245 1315
Alf 1048 1118 1148 1218 1248 1318 1348
Dby ____ 1151 ____ 1251 ____ 1351


Combining with the 55 would be tricky as it's a tendered service. Winderworth could definitely do with something better, but not sure how to provide it without taking up too much extra resource.

Maybe tweaking the times to connect with the 9.1 to give a decent link to the East Midlands Outlet from Chesterfield could be an idea. A through service might duplicate the 9.1 too much, but there is a market I feel for something coordinated.
The difference between going up the a38 and going via little eaton is only about 3 - 4 mins at most. We have always said sharing the route with the nines from Derby to Ripley does nothing to help it and hinder it as we are timetabled 2 mins behind a 9.3.

The route can get very busy north of Alfreton ( only Saturday morning around 10 to 1pm you can be getting to chesterfeild with a full bus does not make me hopeful with the versas.. the volvo will be missed alot the monet they are gone) and if the route was combined with the 55 would make a nice half hourly service there and then the comet is your connection to derby etc.
 

Trainman40083

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29 Jan 2024
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4,524
Location
Derby
The difference between going up the a38 and going via little eaton is only about 3 - 4 mins at most. We have always said sharing the route with the nines from Derby to Ripley does nothing to help it and hinder it as we are timetabled 2 mins behind a 9.3.

The route can get very busy north of Alfreton ( only Saturday morning around 10 to 1pm you can be getting to chesterfeild with a full bus does not make me hopeful with the versas.. the volvo will be missed alot the monet they are gone) and if the route was combined with the 55 would make a nice half hourly service there and then the comet is your connection to derby etc.
You'll love the Versas.... Just as good as a Solo. ;)
 

Teapot42

Member
Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
1,102
The difference between going up the a38 and going via little eaton is only about 3 - 4 mins at most.
Might still be possible, but cutting the recovery time a lot.
if the route was combined with the 55 would make a nice half hourly service there and then the comet is your connection to derby etc.
Problem there is the Comet takes about half an hour, while the 55 takes 55 minutes. Leaving half an hour apart they'll pretty much arrive together at the end. If the service could tolerate slowing down then you could do the Wingerworth route on one service and the Tibshelf part on the other to even things out a bit. I almost wonder if the Wingerworth part could be a stand-alone service, and the Tibshelf part run as a variant of the 1.
 

Brightsidio

Member
Joined
7 Nov 2024
Messages
35
Location
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Might still be possible, but cutting the recovery time a lot.

Problem there is the Comet takes about half an hour, while the 55 takes 55 minutes. Leaving half an hour apart they'll pretty much arrive together at the end. If the service could tolerate slowing down then you could do the Wingerworth route on one service and the Tibshelf part on the other to even things out a bit. I almost wonder if the Wingerworth part could be a stand-alone service, and the Tibshelf part run as a variant of the 1.
I’m surprised that a full journey from Chesterfield to Alfreton on the 55 takes exactly 55 minutes.
 

Teapot42

Member
Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
1,102
I’m surprised that a full journey from Chesterfield to Alfreton on the 55 takes exactly 55 minutes.
The current timetable is a compromise. Hulleys ran it with 3 buses, but also served the hospital in Chesterfield and Morton. I can't recall if it also served the station towards the end - it certainly did at one point.

One reason for the delay in tendering seemed to be finding a compromise someone would operate for the money on offer. As with the 84, what ended up being tendered was inferior to what Hulleys offered.
 

Andyh82

Established Member
Joined
19 May 2014
Messages
4,546
On the new Red Arrow coaches I notice there is a toilet door that says ‘this is not a toilet’. Am I presuming that it actually is a toilet due to the coaches being the same spec as the FlixBus ones and that is just not in use?

Secondly, the new Notts & Derby depot looks ridiculously big, the drivers almost need a bus to reach their bus. Is there plans for anything else to use this site?
 

SSmith2009

Member
Joined
20 Dec 2021
Messages
573
Location
East Midlands
Secondly, the new Notts & Derby depot looks ridiculously big, the drivers almost need a bus to reach their bus. Is there plans for anything else to use this site?
Thought this too unless it's to allow for further expansion if the opportunity arises or moving FlixBus onto that site.
 

Trainman40083

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29 Jan 2024
Messages
4,524
Location
Derby
On the new Red Arrow coaches I notice there is a toilet door that says ‘this is not a toilet’. Am I presuming that it actually is a toilet due to the coaches being the same spec as the FlixBus ones and that is just not in use?

Secondly, the new Notts & Derby depot looks ridiculously big, the drivers almost need a bus to reach their bus. Is there plans for anything else to use this site?
Yes, the Yutong coaches are a standard design. You get a toilet, even if you don't want one Maybe the Notts and Derby depot would be ideal for electric buses. Plenty of room.for charging equipment without affecting day to day operations.
 

38291018

Member
Joined
31 Oct 2024
Messages
223
Location
England
On the new Red Arrow coaches I notice there is a toilet door that says ‘this is not a toilet’. Am I presuming that it actually is a toilet due to the coaches being the same spec as the FlixBus ones and that is just not in use?

Secondly, the new Notts & Derby depot looks ridiculously big, the drivers almost need a bus to reach their bus. Is there plans for anything else to use this site?
Mabey they don't have facilities to do toilet drops (as I think they do flix somewhere else not 100% sure though) and that it adds cost so they just don't bother opening it on redarrow
 

Trainman40083

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29 Jan 2024
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4,524
Location
Derby
Mabey they don't have facilities to do toilet drops (as I think they do flix somewhere else not 100% sure though) and that it adds cost so they just don't bother opening it on redarrow
I thought they had put a toilet drop in Derby B garage for the Flixbus. But the Red Arrow journey is only about 35 minutes, so not so much of an issue.
 

StavBered

Member
Joined
13 Jan 2026
Messages
81
Location
Derbyshire
Secondly, the new Notts & Derby depot looks ridiculously big, the drivers almost need a bus to reach their bus. Is there plans for anything else to use this site?
I have seen a couple of transpeak citaros in the past parked up in the site so maybe they're "lending" space for other operators to use their facilities?
 

Trainman40083

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29 Jan 2024
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4,524
Location
Derby
I have seen a couple of transpeak citaros in the past parked up in the site so maybe they're "lending" space for other operators to use their facilities?
Transpeak is part of High Peak, which is 50 % Wellglade. They used to park a couple of buses at Meadow Road and have driver changeover there. Now it seems to be done at the Notts and Derby depot.
 

Dwarfer1979

Member
Joined
24 Feb 2025
Messages
437
Location
Leicester
Transpeak is part of High Peak, which is 50 % Wellglade. They used to park a couple of buses at Meadow Road and have driver changeover there. Now it seems to be done at the Notts and Derby depot.
The High Peak Derby outstation has always been with the Notts & Derby part of the depot rather than Trent so it is logical that they moved with N&D.

I suspect this is simply that was the size of the site available, rather than a deliberate choice by N&D. That site, and the neighbouring ones, have appeared to be empty for several years so may well (particularly if only for a short-term deal) have been available for comparatively low rent if it is just until the main depot is redeveloped so you end up with more space than you need for no extra cost.
 

Trainman40083

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29 Jan 2024
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4,524
Location
Derby
The High Peak Derby outstation has always been with the Notts & Derby part of the depot rather than Trent so it is logical that they moved with N&D.

I suspect this is simply that was the size of the site available, rather than a deliberate choice by N&D. That site, and the neighbouring ones, have appeared to be empty for several years so may well (particularly if only for a short-term deal) have been available for comparatively low rent if it is just until the main depot is redeveloped so you end up with more space than you need for no extra cost.
I suspect the site was the one that suffered badly from the flooding in Derby, a few years ago.. At one point, I think the plan was to use Stores Road site ...more latterly used for car and van storage. Maybe that site will now be sold off.
 

YX73OUB

Member
Joined
24 Jul 2024
Messages
531
Location
East Midlands
Would make sense to make comet part of the nines brand really. Huge amount of layover time at Derby as it takes just over an hour each way.

If merging the Harlequin and V3, which brand would you get rid of? Every 30 to Willington, hourly to Burton.
There are no plans to tamper with or add to / do anything with the nines.

It's a shame as there's a lot I would like to see sorted / achieved on there, it's a great success story.

I believe that there is a toilet drop at Meadow Rd.

Also regarding 480/3 no comment @Trainman40083 - similar stance for 496.
 

Trainman40083

Established Member
Joined
29 Jan 2024
Messages
4,524
Location
Derby
There are no plans to tamper with or add to / do anything with the nines.

It's a shame as there's a lot I would like to see sorted / achieved on there, it's a great success story.

I believe that there is a toilet drop at Meadow Rd.

Also regarding 480/3 no comment @Trainman40083 - similar stance for 496.
I can't see you getting replacements for your lovely Solos.
 

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