The weekly look back on what has been published on the Registered Local Bus Services site over the last week. As always click through for more details including timetables and maps.
Last Week
A large batch of service amendments this last week, all for Transport for Cornwall services. Two cancellations from Summercourt Travel (Travel Cornwall) with the rest for Plymouth Citybus (Go Cornwall) for the start of the new school term in September. I suspect there will be quite a few more from this date to follow over the coming weeks…
| Licence | Route | Start Point | End Point | Effective | Notes | OPERATOR |
| PH0000135.262 | 2 | Humphry Davy School | Germoe | 04-Sep-2022 | Cancellation | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.300 | 3 | Penzance | Rosehill Gardens | 05-Sep-2022 | Starts/finishes at Penzance Bus Station. Timetable revised. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.222 | 5 5A | Penzance | Paul | 05-Sep-2022 | Introduce service 5A. 5 via Newlyn Coombe, 5A via Wherrytown. Revise timetable. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.223 | 8 | Long Rock | St Just | 04-Sep-2022 | Timetable revised to serve Cape Cornwall School | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.161 | 12 12A | Bude | Plymouth | 04-Sep-2022 | Buses to/from Launceston College diverted to serve Prince Philip Estate. Timetable revised accordingly. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.225 | 16 | St Ives | Penzance | 04-Sep-2022 | Service 16B withdrawn. Timetable revised. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.226 | 16A | Penzance | St Ives | 04-Sep-2022 | Revised Timetable. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.244 | 18 | Pendeen | St Ives | 05-Sep-2022 | Last journeys from Penzance & Pendeen to run 20 mins later | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.227 | 21 | Newquay Indian Queens, Fraddon |
St Austell | 04-Sep-2022 | Route revised in Newquay to serve St Columb Minor Timetable revised.. |
PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.228 | 22 | Truro | St Austell | 04-Sep-2022 | Revised timetable. Some journeys serve Brannell School at St Stephen. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH1011427.098 | 24 | St Austell Bus Station | Trevarth, Megavissey | 04-Sep-2022 | Cancellation | SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LTD |
| PH0000135.230 | 25 | Fowey | Newquay | 04-Sep-2022 | Route revised to serve Hendra & Treloggan. Revised timetable. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.231 | 26 191 | St Austell | Bodmin | 04-Sep-2022 | Withdraw services 27 & 29, add service 191 and revise route and timetable. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.232 | 27 | St Austell | Truro | 04-Sep-2022 | Revised timetable | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.233 | 30 | St Austell Town Service | St Austell Town Service | 04-Sep-2022 | Revised timetable. last journey from St Austell Hospital withdrawn | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.234 | 34 | Redruth | Lizard | 04-Sep-2022 | Weekday times revised for Helston School. Sunday times revised to provide better rail connections | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH0000135.235 | 34 | Redruth | Lizard | 04-Sep-2022 | Weekday times revised for Helston School. Sunday times revised to provide better rail connections. | PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD |
| PH1011427.100 | 395 | St. Teath Post Office, Fore Street | Truro, Lemon Quay | 04-Sep-2022 | Cancellation | SUMMERCOURT TRAVEL LTD |
This week
Next weekend see’s Stagecoach new timetables for many if its routes in and out of Exeter. There is also a season timetable starting for Filers from this Monday.
| Licence | Route | Start Point | End Point | Effective | Notes | OPERATOR |
| PH1020951.086 | 1 | Exeter Bus Station | Tiverton Bus Station | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation Passengers will be offered a simpler service; Route 1, operating up to every 20 minutes Mondays to Saturdays, between Cullompton and Exeter. Buses will follow a consistent routing in Cullompton, via Exeter Road, with passengers in Bradninch seeing an increased frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes. Monday to Saturday daytimes, an hourly journey will extend beyond Cullompton to Tiverton, operating via the current Service 1A route and will therefore not serve Uffculme, Tiverton Parkway or Sampford Peverell. There are either no or minor changes to the evening and Sunday / Public Holidays timetable. NOTE: TRAVELINE HAVE NEW TIMETABLE AS FROM 28 AUGUST - PREVIOUS TIMETABLE STILL CURRENT? |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.038 | 4 | Exeter Bus Station | Cranbrook | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation: Service 4 will operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes between Exeter and Cranbrook only and will operate a co-ordinated timetable with Service Red, to provide a combined 10 minute frequency over the common section of route. Buses will operate hourly during the evening, with only minor changes to the current evening timetable. Stagecoach are also looking to operate double deckers vehicles on Service 4 in the future to provide additional capacity. On Sundays and Public Holidays, buses will operate every 30 minutes during the day offering double the frequency of departures to and from Cranbrook. Service will no longer operate beyond Cranbrook, with alternative journeys from Exeter to Honiton and Axminster offered by new service 44/44A. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.049 | 4 4A | Axminster Railway Station | Millwey Rise | 31-Jul-2022 | Cancellation Accepted - see PH1020951.038 | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.034 | 5 5C | Exeter, Paris Street | Crediton or Chulmleigh | 31-Jul-2022 | Change of stand within Exeter Bus Station | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.101 | 5A 5B | Exeter Bus Station | Hatherleigh or Winkleigh | 31-Jul-2022 | Change of stand within Exeter Bus Station | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.185 | 6 6A | Okehampton | Exeter | 31-Jul-2022 | Change of stand within Exeter Bus Station | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.070 | 9 9A | Exeter Bus Station | Sidbury/Honiton/Seaton | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation Service 9A will no longer serve the section of route beyond Seaton to Lyme Regis. Service between Seaton and Lyme Regis will be provided by another operator, with 5 journeys daily (Mon-Sat) in the Summer and 2 (Mon-Fri) in the Winter Seaton, further details are available from the relevant local transport authority. The Monday to Saturday evening frequency will be adjusted from hourly to every 90 minutes. On Sundays and Public Holidays, Service 9A will operate up to every 60 minutes between Exeter and Seaton during the day. There will be two journeys in each direction on Sunday and Public Holidays on Service 9 between Sidmouth and Honiton, which will operate under contract to Devon County Council. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.256 | 9A X9 | Seaton | Lyme Regis | 31-Jul-2022 | Cancellation Accepted. See PH1010951.070 | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.362 | 44 44A | Exeter | Axminster | 31-Jul-2022 | New Service 44/44A will operate between Exeter and
Honiton / Axminster under contract to Devon County Council, providing a
replacement for current Service 4/4A/4B. Service 44 will operate hourly, Monday to Saturday daytime between Exeter and Honiton via Cranbrook (London Road), Rockbeare, Marsh Green and Ottery St Mary. Some journeys on Service 44 will additionally serve Gittisham. Service 44A will operate up to 6 journeys per day in each direction Monday to Saturday daytimes between Exeter and Axminister, operating via Cranbrook (London Road), Whimple, Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Wilmington. On Sunday and Public Holidays, there will be two journeys in each direction on Service 44A between Exeter and Honiton. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.027 | 55 55A 155 | Exeter Bus Station | Tiverton Bus Station | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation. Change of stand within Exeter Bus Station | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.167 | 56 56A | Exeter St Davids Station | Exmouth | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation Service will be revised to operate every 60 minutes between Exeter and Exmouth via Exeter Airport. There will be a number of other minor changes to the timetable. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.036 | 57 | Exeter | Exmouth | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation. Change of stand within Exeter Bus Station | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.035 | 98 99 98E | Exmouth or Brixington | Littleham | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation. Not mentioned by SC on their web site | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1066351.028 | 302 | Woolacombe Sands | Combe Martin Wildlife Park | 25-Jul-2022 | Monday to Friday (excludes bank holidays). New registration for summer season | FILERS TRAVEL LIMITED |
| PH1020951.361 | 373 | Tiverton | Cullompton | 31-Jul-2022 | Monday to Saturday New Service 373, will be introduced between Tiverton and Cullompton under contract to Devon County Council. 11 journeys will operate daily in each direction, Monday to Saturday, between Tiverton and Cullompton via Halberton, Sampford Peverall, Tiverton Parkway, Uffculme, Willand and Kings Oak Lea Estate in Cullompton. Weekday journeys are timed to facilitate school movements to and from Uffculme School. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.044 | A | Alphington, Smithfield Road | Thornpark Rise | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation Following an initial period of operation since April, it has been agreed that night bus journeys operating on Friday and Saturday nights (early hours of Saturday and Sunday morning) between approximately 2400 and 0400 will be withdrawn on the following routes. Devon County Council will be reviewing the services with the hope to relaunch in the Autumn. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.074 | B1 B2 | Pinhoe & Science Park | Exminster, Dawlish & Teignmouth | 31-Jul-2022 | Route and timetable variation Service B1 will operate between Exminster and Pinhoe via City Centre, hourly, and Service B2 operating between Exminster and Science Park via City Centre, hourly. The new routes will provide a combined 30 minute frequency between Exminster and the City Centre on weekdays and Saturday daytimes. Service B1 will operate hourly during the evening Monday to Saturday and during the day on Sundays and Public Holidays. Evenings and on Sundays, buses will operate between the City Centre and Pinhoe only. Service B1/B2 will serve Exeter High Street in both directions and will not serve Exeter Bus Station. The current section of route 2B between Exminster and Dawlish / Teignmouth will be withdrawn, with the exception of two weekday AM peak journeys towards Exeter and two weekday PM peak journeys towards Dawlish / Teignmouth. The new routes are designed, however, to co-ordinate with Service 2 between Exeter and Exminster, which will facilitate connections for travel to and from Dawlish. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.065 | E1 E2 | Exeter Sidwell Street | Exwick | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation Following an initial period of operation since April, it has been agreed that night bus journeys operating on Friday and Saturday nights (early hours of Saturday and Sunday morning) between approximately 2400 and 0400 will be withdrawn on the following routes. Devon County Council will be reviewing the services with the hope to relaunch in the Autumn. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.052 | GREEN | Sowton | Matford Park & Ride | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation: Service Green (Matford Park & Ride – Sowton Park & Ride via City Centre): The route will operate up to every 20 minutes, Monday to Friday and Saturday daytimes. On weekdays buses will no longer operate beyond Sowton Park and Ride to Sowton Industrial Estate due to low passenger demand. Where possible, the route is timed to co-ordinate with the timetable for Service B1/B2 over the common section of route. There are also some minor changes to the timetable at the start and end of the operating day. | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.060 | I J T | Digby or Whipton Barton | Countess Wear, Digby or Topsham | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation Following an initial period of operation since April, it has been agreed that night bus journeys operating on Friday and Saturday nights (early hours of Saturday and Sunday morning) between approximately 2400 and 0400 will be withdrawn on the following routes. Devon County Council will be reviewing the services with the hope to relaunch in the Autumn. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.332 | K | Exeter City Centre | Exeter Science Park | 31-Jul-2022 | Cancellation Accepted replaced by new Service B1/B2providing new cross city connections for customers. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.321 | L | Exeter South Street | Pinhoe | 31-Jul-2022 | Cancellation Accepted replaced by new Service B1/B2providing new cross city connections for customers. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.058 | RED | Exeter, Paris Street | Honiton Road Park & Ride | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation On weekdays and Saturday daytime, the frequency is increased to operate up to every 20 minutes. Where possible, buses are co-ordinated with Service 4 to provide a 10 minute frequency throughout the day between the City Centre and Honiton Road Park and Ride. In addition to this, passengers will now be able to catch the service from all stops along the route, as the route will no longer be a limited stop service. Service will no longer operate on Sundays and Public Holidays timetable, however, passengers will be able to catch Service 4, which will operate an enhanced timetable every 30 minutes |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.334 | UNI | University of Exeter Streatham | High Street and University of Exeter St Lukes | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation Service is suspended for the summer holidays (commencing 31 July 2022) and a new timetable will apply from the start of the new academic year, which starts from Monday 26 September 2022. UPDATE** In collaboration with Exeter University, a Summer Timetable will now apply on the UNI service from 31st July. |
STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
| PH1020951.040 | X38 | Exeter Bus Station | Buckfastleigh | 31-Jul-2022 | Timetable variation. Change of bay in Exeter Bus Station. Traveline has the new timetable in place from 25 July 2022 | STAGECOACH DEVON LTD |
Social Media
16 years wasn’t a bad run. Awaiting the grim reaper from Yorkshire pic.twitter.com/XyhkpbfazR
— Marc Huws (@MarcMorganHuws) July 22, 2022
️We're showing our Pride in Redruth this weekend!️
— Go Cornwall Bus (@GoCornwallBuses) July 22, 2022
Come and chat to our team while you enjoy the day with @CornwallPride https://t.co/JBxGIbg1ZQ#CornwallPride #LoveCornwall #RedruthPride pic.twitter.com/RctODfAoMy
Welcome to First South West… pic.twitter.com/VYOs8KrvdR
— Marc Huws (@MarcMorganHuws) July 21, 2022
Old meets new pic.twitter.com/gvnvysQgBg
— Marc Huws (@MarcMorganHuws) July 21, 2022
Typical of Stagecoach work to push First (X53) out of the Exeter - Lyme Regis section and then cancel their route a few years later once they've done just that.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder how sustainable an hourly service through to Lyme Regis would be though. Clearly Covid has wiped out any slim profitability that there might have been.
DeleteNo different from Citybus tbf. Launch competitive routes against First, push yhe competition out of the city, quickly loose interest and pull out of all routes
DeleteAnon 30 July 14:21 agreed. Citybus have become a in the last few years. All the stupid "Flash" branded routes which never really lasted and as I said back when they launched it was a waste of money. Then you've got the inconsistent fleet of supposedly going all Enviro, then adding Scanias etc mainly because of their greed and taking on the Transport for Cornwall contract which they did not have the resources for nor were they prepared for.
DeleteStill plenty of stagecoach cancellations due to no drivers. Then twitters full of pictures of stagecoach buses all lined up in Birmingham ready for the Commonwealth Games, it shouldn't be allowed. People who have weekly and monthly tickets should get a refund if there bus is cancelled
ReplyDeleteI see several cancellations to GCB Camborne area routes have now appeared.
ReplyDeleteStagecoach says it is co-ordinating the times of services 4 (Exeter - Cranbrook) and Red (Exeter -Honiton Road P+R) "to provide a combined 10 minute frequency over the common section of route". The 4 leaves Exeter via Heavitree and Honiton Road and the Red runs via Whipton and Pinhoe Road so there is no "common section of route". The only point the routes have anything in common is the stop at Honiton Road P+R on inbound journeys. This could, indeed, give a 10 minute service FROM the P+R but coming back is a different story. The Red leaves from a stop in the city centre. The 4 leaves from Exeter's newish out-of-town bus station. Whichever one you choose to wait at, you will only get a 20 minute service.
ReplyDeleteBut combined it is a 10min frequency from Exeter City Centre to Honiton Road Park & Ride
DeleteBe good idea to do same with 1 and 101 from George Junction I reckon (all along 1 mutley route) every 10 mins between 2 services. I am not sure Milehouse Park and ride is that busy and service 2/2a goes right past it anyway
DeleteCant see the 2s being that useful for Park & Ride unless they divert them through the site - Its a bit of a walk from the P&R to Milehouse to catch the bus - which kind of misses the point of Park & Ride.
DeleteTrue Padbus 07:22 & note the Times clash in one direction a well
DeleteAbsolutely ridiculous people moaning about The Commonwealth Games contact work. Stagecoach tendred for the work & won the contact here in Birmingham. Personally I couldn't care less what was happening in other areas so far Stagecoach have provided an excellent service here in Brum .Stop moaning and enjoy a world class sporting event and join in our Brummie Pride
ReplyDeleteI can well understand the complaints, when your local buses are not turning up due to staff shortages and then you see buses and staff being sent up to Birmingham it is annoying. I do fee sorry for Stagecoach though as these contracts would have been quite a few years in the planning before the recent staff shortages were a thing. The contracts need to be honoured so they dont have much choice other than to take local staff.
DeleteCommonwealth games will cost millions for minimal gain and this post and others on other blogs show your arrogance and contempt for the rest of the country. So selfish and embarrassing for you and the company you represent.
DeleteWhat a totally ridiculous comment the legacy for Sandwell is immense two outdated swimming pools will be replaced the state of art Aquatic Centre in Warley which offers facilities others can only dream off as for I don't represent any company I have been a volunteer for the last 3 years with TfWM & The Commonwealth Games Delivery Unit & am very proud of bus transportation system we are delivering this week I would look in the mirror if you was you for someone who is both selfish , embrassing & Annomous !
Delete@richard jones no offense but im sure most people on this blog care as much about a swimming complex in Warley as you do in bus services in our area ref 31/07/2022 2051. Im sure it means a great deal to you as you have made it clear by your views of wm area which fair enough as you live there and have said you have been volunteering for cg, but unfortunatley when im waiting for a bus as my car is in for service my first thoughts are not of a new pool ill proberbly never use near yourself but im going to be late again for work ,and in the south wests busiest time of year with mass influx of tourists sending drivers/e400mmc to the event means when a bus does turn up its a optare solo or e200 so please understand and appreciate that views of a blog in the south west and other parts of country may vary from your own. Everybody is entitled to there opinion however on this occasion our views differ
DeleteYet again another Anonymous comment from an individual who hasn't the guts to publish thier indendity yet states everyone is entitled to an opinion. May I remind you Stagecoach PLC as it then was signed a legally binding contract to provide bus transportation to Commonwealth Games which it has been fullfiling excellently. If the company has to amend operations elsewhere and has made a commercial decision to do so that under Transport Act 1986 & Buses Act 2019 unless you are waiting for a tendered service from a County Council that is quite clearly an strategic decision by Stagecoach and nothing whatsoever to do with me or the CGDU or Transport for West Midlands & suggest you direct your comments to your local Stagecoach operating company and not me as personally I could care less you were waiting at a bus stop that is Stagecoachs responsibility not ours. I suggest you watch the games and enjoy the example we have set instead of critising it.
DeleteSorry Richard, but the fact that the commenter chose to remain anonymous is irrelevant as his opinion still Cleary stands. He made it clear he understands you have a different viewpoint, and are entitled to it, but as this is a local transport blog, most of the readers will understand the fact that our services are suffering due to a lack of drivers, and this is made worse when so many buses and drivers from the region were then sent to Birmingham. For the vast majority of people across the country, the games will have no lasting legacy. Many will enjoy the sport while its on but thats it.
DeleteI don't blame Stagecoach in anyway for this. The planning behind big events like this would have started years ago at a time when staff shortages were not a thing. Stagecoach clearly have to manage the best they can to fulfil the contracts they have signed. If you read local news across the country from the areas who have sent buses to the games and you will see plenty of passengers complaining. If you are late to work because your bus hasn't turned up due to staff shortages, and yet you see drivers from your area and buses are being supplied to Birmingham you have every right to be angry.
This may be a South West blog but having lived in Torquay for 16 years until 2018 I have no time for those moaning about a lack of drivers due to the Commonwealth Games. Quite simply that is just rubbish when I lived in Wellswood Stagecoach Devon was constantly cancelling 22s due to staff shortages. Many times the Barton 31 & Watcombe 34 were missing journeys. People are simply using the games which have been truly excellent as a whipping boy. The problem lies with Stagecoach & it is to them the comments should be addressed and is quite simply of no consequence to us in Birmingham. NXWM & Diamond Bus rarely cancel services here users of buses in Devon should be asking why to thier operators are and stop blaming The Commonwealth Games for thier problems simple.
DeleteI dont think anyone is blaming the games for the staff shortages which have been ongoing for months. Its just that the games has made the situation even worse for a while. At least it will be over soon and we can get our buses and drivers back. Enjoy your new sports facilities once its all over.
DeleteI do not accept that our Commonwealth Games have made anyone's situation worse in any form. Service revisions reflect a companies delivery on commercial services and its the operators decision to operate what is commercially viable not Transport for West Midlands. The delivery of bus transportation for the games has been on the whole an unqualified sucess thanks to our partnership with Stagecoach or to give its traditional and legal name MIDLAND RED (South) and of course it has of course its Warley & Edgbaston roots. As for your description of our new sports facilities as a competitive lane swimmer & SLT member I have been undertaking test events since May to ensure the Sandwell Aquatic Centre to give its correct name was a sucess mind you Adam Peaty carries off his speedos far better than me I grant you that.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who was in Birmingham City Centre on the 21st November 1973 I have reported Plymothian Transit to West Midlands Police for publishing a hate crime online
ReplyDeleteOn reviewing the comment that had been left - I agree it was inappropriate and has been removed.
ReplyDeleteI have heard from a colleague who used to drive for Stagecoach in another part of the country until he retired. He has been asked to come back and fill one of the driving vacancies. It's an unusual move to 're-hire' pensioners, but it shows that Stagecoach are tackling the problem that they now find themselves in.
ReplyDeleteOf course the games has caused more Stagecoach cancellations, how can it not with so many drivers away. Drivers report 40 away. The LA has reported the operator to the Traffic Commissioner. Just read local press reports about the situation in Exeter. As for Torbay more services are cancelled now than ever before.
ReplyDeleteThe Birmingham Commonwealth Games are nothing whatsoever to do with regional Stagecoach companies. The contract is actually being provided by Midland Red (South) Limited who have provided the full quota of 590 buses. Operational matters in Stagecoach Operating Companies are matter for local management to answer for. The OfTC is also responsible for ensuring registered services are compliant Issues outside the West Midlands Combined Authority are not the responsibility of Transport for West Midlands or The Birmingham Commonwealth Games Delivery Unit. Its time others outside the WMCA woke up to simple fact services are the responsibility of Stagecoach & any operational matters is nothing whatsoever to do with The Birmingham Commonwealth Games which conclude on Monday sadly.
ReplyDeleteContributors to Graham's blog will be delighted to know Stagecoach vehicles will be returning to thier original operating companies from Tuesday onwards as we start to run down the games shuttle services tonight. Midland Red (South) Limited have done an excellent services and we confidentialy say the sucess and legacy of The Commonwealth Games will be enjoyed in Birmingham & Sandwell for years and years to come having just spoken to our inspirational Mayor I understand we will be confidentaly bidding for next year's Eurovision Song Contest from the NIA perhaps Stagecoach will be our preferred supplier next May......
ReplyDeleteIf Stagecoach ever pull this stunt again, they should be forced to sub-contract their local bus services to other operators and give the passengers free rides. The hit to their profits might concentrate their minds somewhat.
DeleteI think describing Stagecoach as "pull this stunt again" is frankly ridiculous. I was just speaking to our elected Mayor as the games are winding down today and we both are very pleased with the sheer professionalism that Midland Red (South) Ltd have delivered. If our proposed bids for World Athletic Games or Eurovision Song Contest come to fruition Stagecoach would be welcomed back to Birmingham as a strategic partner. As for local services any operator can register services under Transport Act 1986 there is obviously not the demand in the areas you describe and as here in Worcestershire passengers get the service they deserve frankly.
DeleteIt's hardly a 'stunt'. Do you really think that Stagecoach hasn't done everything in it's power to cover both the CG commitments and it's own local day to day work? Of corse they have. The CG contracts will pre-date al the current driver shortage problems, the bus and parts supply problems, the after-effects of COVID, WFH changes and everything else that's going on. Who are these 'other operators' you seem to think have a big pool of spare buses and drivers just sitting around?
DeleteI agree that its not a stunt by stagecoach. Like you say they clearly have done a great job with the contracts in very difficult circumstances, as G says - these contracts would have pre dated any of the staffing issues many operators are currently facing. Having said that though passengers have been annoyed to see that drivers have been sent up country when there are not enough to run all the services locally. It will be good to get the drivers back operating services as they are clearly needed. But well done to Stagecoach for managing this massive contract as it does seem to have gone very well.
DeleteWell just heading home from the big A after Musical Youth, what passes now for UB40 & Kevin as his Dexys. Thank you to everyone who supported our games & I hope I answered all our critics constructively. From when I returned to Brum in 2018 from Torbay after being invited to join the games delivery team I think after all our hard work I think we pulled its off & despite Graham's sarcastic and derogatory comments I like many others look forward to the legacy of the Sandwell Aquatic Centre as our local swimming pool & as for Stagecoach tomorrow we all sit down for a post mortem of the games I doubt there will be many comments against them perhaps in future contacts better synergies across thier operating companies may be wise. I hope I have given you an insight into our games I was born by St Chad's in the centre of the City but my heart will always be In Wellswood. Thank you Graham for publishing my posts and to everyone for reading them.
ReplyDelete