Wellglade Group

[YX73OUB]

713 is on long term loan to Sutton as a replacement for 496

 

[Trainman40083]

713 is on long term loan to Sutton as a replacement for 496

Quality.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 20:41 ==

Did those white , former Red Arrow coaches ever get sold? (82 and 88)

 

[jondr3]

Does anyone else find TM Travel's decline under Wellglade quite striking?

This was once a 100+ vehicle operation, yet now it's less than half that size and appears increasingly reliant on second hand fleet transfers. In recent years TM Travel has lost a significant amount of work. Most recently, services 9A and 70A transferred to First South Yorkshire from 12 April, while the M44, M45 and M55 moved to SMT Bus & Coach from 26 July

The 218 "Peak Line" is perhaps the best example of missed potential. Around a decade ago there appeared to be genuine ambition for the route, with the refurbished Scania L94 Solar fleet receiving distinctive Peak Line branding, upgraded interiors and next stop announcements. Much of that investment and identity has now disappeared, with only a handful of branded bus stop flags and a small section on the TM Travel website remaining as evidence of what the route once represented (https://www.tmtravel.co.uk/218/)

Likewise, the 30 was once promoted as "Sheffield's Line 30", operating every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and often carrying standing loads. Today it runs every 30 minutes and passenger numbers appear to have declined to the point where a Solo could probably cope with peak-time demand. Both seem a shadow of their former selves today.

With South Yorkshire franchising on the horizon, what do people think TM Travel's future looks like? Could franchising provide stability, or is the operator destined to continue shrinking?

I feel TM aren't going to survive the next few years and they'll be lucky if franchising saves them. Unreliable services and a lack of direction within the company have definitely put people off from using their buses. Wellglade just seem to use the TM brand as a dumping ground for buses that are redundant from the sister fleets and the only recent investment they've had is two new Streetlites.

 

[liamf656]

I feel TM aren't going to survive the next few years and they'll be lucky if franchising saves them. Unreliable services and a lack of direction within the company have definitely put people off from using their buses. Wellglade just seem to use the TM brand as a dumping ground for buses that are redundant from the sister fleets and the only recent investment they've had is two new Streetlites.

Quite - and since Wellglade acquired them way back in 2010 they have been treated to just 6 brand new buses (in 2013 and 2015)! It's a shame really as before then they had a smart fleet of buses with regular investment

 

[YX73OUB]

Quality.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 20:41 ==

Did those white , former Red Arrow coaches ever get sold? (82 and 88)

They were still at Langley Mill last week

 

[callum3490]

Quality.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Wednesday at 20:41 ==

Did those white , former Red Arrow coaches ever get sold? (82 and 88)

The last post on Odyssey coach sales on facebook on 22nd august said 2 sold 2 remaining.

 

[Trainman40083]

The last post on Odyssey coach sales on facebook on 22nd august said 2 sold 2 remaining.

Saves seeing that advert again, maybe .

 

[zkyx02]

Did those white , former Red Arrow coaches ever get sold? (82 and 88)

where did they all end up? I know 2 are at Littles & 1 was sold to Stanton’s of Stoke, but I can’t say I’m shocked to see these struggling to sell, not the most reliable of Volvos.

 

[Trainman40083]

where did they all end up? I know 2 are at Littles & 1 was sold to Stanton’s of Stoke, but I can’t say I’m shocked to see these struggling to sell, not the most reliable of Volvos.

Well, you mentioned 3. Sounds like two recently sold and probably the two.Red Arrow ones unsold . Did one or two end up with an operator in the Southern Counties? I'm sure I have seen a picture of one in white ... Hampshire/Sussex area.

 

[38291018]

According to bustimes edit history and the images given on the edit, 716 is now been renumbered 9314 and had the vinal applied to the paint now
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

 

[Trainman40083]

According to bustimes edit history and the images given on the edit, 716 is now been renumbered 9314 and had the vinal applied to the paint now
Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3

Wonder what the white coach to the left is?

 

[Qwerty133]

Wonder what the white coach to the left is?

One of the ex red arrow Scanias which have been recently advertised for sale in stock white (tyres not included).

 

[derbybusdepot]

Wonder what the white coach to the left is?

76 (FJ10 OXS), last with TM

 

[Trainman40083]

One of the ex red arrow Scanias which have been recently advertised for sale in stock white (tyres not included).

Ah right. There are only two in white. 72 is at Chequers Road, so probably 76 from TM Travel. Think 74 has replaced it . I guess the group must lease the tyres.

 

[YX73OUB]

Ah right. There are only two in white. 72 is at Chequers Road, so probably 76 from TM Travel. Think 74 has replaced it . I guess the group must lease the tyres.

They do, a deal with Michelin.

 

[Trainman40083]

They do, a deal with Michelin.

My memory hasn't totally faded yet then.

 

[py_megapixel]

Out of curiosity how does selling a bus without tyres physically work? Does the buyer have to arrange to have their own tyres fitted on the seller's premises?

 

[Trainman40083]

Out of curiosity how does selling a bus without tyres physically work? Does the buyer have to arrange to have their own tyres fitted on the seller's premises?

Visions of a bus being dragged along the road with no wheels. Maybe they have to buy them from the tyre provider. At one point, only the tyre company could touch the tyres, when they needed work.

 

[TR673]

Out of curiosity how does selling a bus without tyres physically work? Does the buyer have to arrange to have their own tyres fitted on the seller's premises?

The cost of the tyres is calculated based on age/wear and added onto the price of the bus so they get sold with it. Depending on how good the tyres are, it could be a couple of £K or-so.

Presumably the contract between the tyre provider and the operator deals with how the price is calculated and the cost passed on once the vehicle is sold.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

The cost of the tyres is calculated based on age/wear and added onto the price of the bus so they get sold with it. Depending on how good the tyres are, it could be a couple of £K or-so.

Presumably the contract between the tyre provider and the operator deals with how the price is calculated and the cost passed on once the vehicle is sold.

Or, if the tyres fitted are new and in good condition the operator & tyre supplier may swap them out an older set (which would reduce the cost to the purchaser). The important point in this is that, if the operator has a tyre contract, then they do not own the tyres and so can't sell them as they remain the property of the tyre company throughout their life and are often refurbished and recut to allow them to be reused more than once before they need to be properly disposed of through recycling.