Western Greyhound Fire and subsequent WG general discussion.

[fgwrich]

On the PR Side, I think Trent Barton has to be the best of all the independents, closely followed by my more local Reading Buses. Trent Barton & Reading Buses both communicate very well over Facebook and Twitter, ranging from news and ticket offers, vehicle / fleet updates and constant traffic/service updates. Trent Bartons roadshows are also rather good too, and show just how a bus company can interact with their customers.

Fleet wise, got to agree with you on the Tridents - They may have served well as a temporary replacement to replace many of the vehicles lost in the fire, but now are rather unsuitable - certainly not without a good full overhaul and refurbishment. Another example being the rather odd replacement of Optare Solos with ex Go North Eastern Mini Pointer Darts - small loss of capacity, interiors are rather poor with the little tykes plastic seats.

Appropriate vehicles on the appropriate routes would help as well - I saw a single door Optare Slimline Solo pass me in Plymouth a few weeks ago, having worked the 576 from Bude - Launceston - Callington - Saltash - Plymouth. Ouch!

I think it's going to take a heck of lot to turn Greyhound around and back into a profitable reliable business again, I'm not saying it can't be done but there's a lot to improve and bringing in new blood I think could work - replacing Howarth in the process would also help I think!

 

[robertclark125]

Do people think that it may be better for WG to give up some more work, so that it can concentrate on remaining work, and build itself back up into a stronger position? I'd also consider whether the firm may find going in for private hire and tours work at some point may be a possible move.

 

[richw]

Do people think that it may be better for WG to give up some more work, so that it can concentrate on remaining work, and build itself back up into a stronger position? I'd also consider whether the firm may find going in for private hire and tours work at some point may be a possible move.

I'd say they need to reduce their routes and tenders to a smaller level, concentrating getting that back to good then re-expand.

They pulled out of the Private hire and tours work within the last decade- I went to Alton Towers in 2005 on one of their coaches.

 

[SWTH]

Private Hire & Tours aren't worth doing. Too much hassle and too time consuming to organise, not to mention the dedicated staff required for tachograph working (everything is worked to domestic rules at the moment). I did the majority of the RM private hires in 2011/12 before they too were given up on - they just weren't returning sufficient money for the effort expended.

Wheal Briton/Hopleys/Williams/Roselyn etch are all operators largely tailored to the requirements of tachograph working, it would be very hard to compete.

 

[Temple Meads]

Do people think that it may be better for WG to give up some more work, so that it can concentrate on remaining work, and build itself back up into a stronger position?

Yes, apart from the negative publicity involved, I think the loss of the 574/575 may well be a blessing in disguise.

 

[83G/84D]

I saw the rare lesser spotted 547 service today!!

486 (WK51 CAL) heading east through Sennen towards St Ives just after 3pm.

 

[SWTH]

It has run on some Sundays if a vehicle has been available. As far as I can work out it did run Bank Holiday Monday too.

 

[Busaholic]

It has run on some Sundays if a vehicle has been available. As far as I can work out it did run Bank Holiday Monday too.

Definitely ran Bank Hol Mon - may have hoped to pick up some returning from Newlyn Fish Festival, if anyone there was aware of it.

 

[South Westerly]

It has run on some Sundays if a vehicle has been available. As far as I can work out it did run Bank Holiday Monday too.

Given that Mr Howarth got well and truly rebuked by the Traffic Commissioner for trying to use the Council contract late award registration, to cover his registrations to compete with Cornwall Busways at short notice, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes if (when?) he ends up at a Public Inquiry to explain his lack of operation.
There's nothing worse that not running your services when you've put on extra services to compete with another operator.
The standard punishment seems to be a reduction in licences and a ban on registering any new services.
With Hopleys registering in competition with WGL that's all they need!

 

[richw]

Given that Mr Howarth got well and truly rebuked by the Traffic Commissioner for trying to use the Council contract late award registration, to cover his registrations to compete with Cornwall Busways at short notice, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes if (when?) he ends up at a Public Inquiry to explain his lack of operation.
There's nothing worse that not running your services when you've put on extra services to compete with another operator.
The standard punishment seems to be a reduction in licences and a ban on registering any new services.
With Hopleys registering in competition with WGL that's all they need!

Cornwall busways pulled their service 29 due to the competition making it unviable for them. WG have hardly run the competing service since according to sources in the local area. When Cornwall busways kept it going the WG service was their most punctual on time service in the service!

 

[SWTH]

Definitely ran Bank Hol Mon - may have hoped to pick up some returning from Newlyn Fish Festival, if anyone there was aware of it.

That wouldn't have been the case. The only reason it ran was because there was a bus available. Generally WGL take little to no notice of local events, with the exception of Fowey Regatta.

 

[richw]

That wouldn't have been the case. The only reason it ran was because there was a bus available. Generally WGL take little to no notice of local events, with the exception of Fowey Regatta.

The one direction once a day service wouldn't appeal to many as most would have needed to get there or get back in the first place, so would want a service with a return ticket option I'd think.

 

[Busaholic]

The one direction once a day service wouldn't appeal to many as most would have needed to get there or get back in the first place, so would want a service with a return ticket option I'd think.

Absolutely. You'd be a bit peeved if somebody had given you a lift from Perranporth, say, and you said 'it's OK, there's a bus I can get back' and it hadn't run. Even if all had gone according to plan, this 'new' 547 seemed a whimsical idea, but then so is a once-a-year 23a to Imber!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

When did it become optional for an operator to run their registered services (or not) on an apparent whim.

If they don't have enough buses, then they need to deregister some services to the point where they have enough buses to operate their remaining registered services.

Sorry but Western Greyhound is going to have to get its act together or go to the wall.

Can't imagine their standards of service, if accurately reflected here, are winning them many passengers.

Certainly glad I'm not on holiday there this year waiting for an hourly service not to turn up, and perhaps not the next one either, or even for the rest of the day.

 

[Goldfish62]

When did it become optional for an operator to run their registered services (or not) on an apparent whim.

If they don't have enough buses, then they need to deregister some services to the point where they have enough buses to operate their remaining registered services.

Sorry but Western Greyhound is going to have to get its act together or go to the wall.

Can't imagine their standards of service, if accurately reflected here, are winning them many passengers.

Certainly glad I'm not on holiday there this year waiting for an hourly service not to turn up, and perhaps not the next one either, or even for the rest of the day.

It is of course, not optional, and never has been to run a registered service. If DVSA (formerly VOSA) carries out a monitoring exercise the TC can impose a fine for every bus that doesn't run or runs outside the 7 minute window of tolerance.

Western Greyhound are behaving disgracefully and letting their passengers down. Not once have they published cancellations on their website. This is obviously a cynical attempt to avoid the attention of DVSA/TC.

They once showed all other operators in Cornwall the way to do it. Now they're amply demonstrating the way to go out of business very quickly.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Given that Mr Howarth got well and truly rebuked by the Traffic Commissioner for trying to use the Council contract late award registration, to cover his registrations to compete with Cornwall Busways at short notice, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes if (when?) he ends up at a Public Inquiry to explain his lack of operation.
There's nothing worse that not running your services when you've put on extra services to compete with another operator.
The standard punishment seems to be a reduction in licences and a ban on registering any new services.
With Hopleys registering in competition with WGL that's all they need!

And of course in his usual fashion it wasn't his fault and he publicly blamed the TC for refusing his late registration, even though she would have been wrong to accept it.

As you say, if there is a PI I can't wait to hear him try to explain that one - you really don't want to mess with Sarah Bell!

 

[SWTH]

All I can now say is that as an ex-employee leaving the yard for the last time last night was a huge relief

I left with 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' playing loud in my car.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

According to Cornwall Busways FB page, they're now entering the fray between Par, St Blazey and Snozell from 13th Oct

 

[CC 72100]

All I can now say is that as an ex-employee leaving the yard for the last time last night was a huge relief

I left with 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' playing loud in my car.

Just out of interest, are you moving to another bus company, or onto different things?

 

[richw]

Just out of interest, are you moving to another bus company, or onto different things?

A previous thread he asked about FGW medicals, so may indicate where he has gone.

 

[SWTH]

Different things. No progression or career prospects in the bus industry.

 

[CC 72100]

Different things. No progression or career prospects in the bus industry.

Best of luck with it all !

 

[South Westerly]

According to Cornwall Busways FB page, they're now entering the fray between Par, St Blazey and Snozell from 13th Oct

Hopleys, Cornwall Busways, and now First too?????

 

[455driver]

A previous thread he asked about FGW medicals, so may indicate where he has gone.

Not another bloomin bus driver joining the rail community! :roll:

Seriously, I do wish you well with your new career SWTH, it is a hundred times better on the rails than the roads.

 

[richw]

Not another bloomin bus driver joining the rail community! :roll:

Seriously, I do wish you well with your new career SWTH, it is a hundred times better on the rails than the roads.

I don't know that's definitely what he is doing though. Putting 2 + 2 together from the thread he asked questions about his medical. Might be getting an assumption wrong.

 

[83G/84D]

Not another bloomin bus driver joining the rail community! :roll:

Seriously, I do wish you well with your new career SWTH, it is a hundred times better on the rails than the roads.

Maybe. It depends what railway company you work for, some are better than others. I speak from experience (although I am not going to say on here what rail companies I have worked for and how good or bad they are / were).

 

[SWTH]

It certainly is a job in the rail industry - conductor for FGW.

Thanks folks

 

[CC 72100]

It certainly is a job in the rail industry - conductor for FGW.

Thanks folks

Ah so you got it in the end? Well done and best of luck!

 

[455driver]

It certainly is a job in the rail industry - conductor for FGW.

Thanks folks

Well done, have you got that silly grin off your face yet? I remember it took me about a week to stop smiling when I got my job on the railway!

When I get down there we might actually see each other.*

* this isnt meant as a threat!

 

[SWTH]

Day 1 done, silly grin still in place!

Even though it's been just the induction day, the difference in how the bus and rail industry see/deal with similar issues (H&S, training, etc) is phenomenal.

Where are you moving to 455driver?

 

[richw]

According to Cornwall Busways FB page, they're now entering the fray between Par, St Blazey and Snozell from 13th Oct

Cornwall Busways seem to be showing Western Greyhound how to run a service even if you haven't a bus to run.

Yesterday they hired a taxi company's minibus private hire for the day, and then carried the passengers free of charge.

Please note that Service 30 will be operated by a KP Cabs minibus today, due to essential maintenance being undertaken on one bus & the other receiving accident damage repairs.

Example Post to their Facebook page include

Waiting for the bus and a min bus turns up. He tells me this is number 30. Our bus is off the road. Already shows more effort than western greyhound. So I asked for a return ticket he said "no bus no charge" love this company. May it flourish.

They provide daily updates including mentioning any roadworks that might impact their operations or delay their services.
Cornwall Busways are certainly very open with their passengers over Facebook, compared to Western Greyhound who deleted their page and have no social media interaction with passengers. Nearly all comments on their Facebook compliment them on their customer service and communication with many passengers comparing to the polar opposite of WG.

Their buses are old (R reg's) yet through customer service their passengers are apparently happy from everything I can see and have heard about them.