tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post1313856735202993912..comments2024-03-25T22:17:35.616+00:00Comments on Public Transport Experience: Half Full or Half Empty? Part the Secondfatbusblokehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-91942840961041572152013-12-16T09:16:43.835+00:002013-12-16T09:16:43.835+00:00There is a difference between the issues of Arriva...There is a difference between the issues of Arriva in Wales & Stagecoach in Newcastle. In Arriva's case it was a question of whether a large group can maintain effectively a small outpost in such thin operating territory without greater funding. Arriva came to the conclusion the answer was no, compounded by the fact there are a couple of smaller independents in the area who have made great success out of other services (Lloyds Coaches to the north, Richards Brothers to the south & Mid-Wales around Aberystwyth) which meant that Arriva were never likely to hold on to work if it went out to tender.<br /><br />In the case of Stagecoach in Newcastle it is a question of ownership and what appears to be state sponsored theft. Nexus (the local Transport Authority) are proposing a Quality Contract that will take over all services in their area, don't appear to be planning to pay for any of it and expect the operators to co-operate with the transition for no compensation. Stagecoach are simply making it clear they will not risk valuable assets being seized and will remove them from the area the moment it becomes likely that this may happen. If Nexus were to give any indication they would negotiate over asset transfer, indicated they had the funds & intention to pay for assets (and despite what pro-QC supporters claim, bus routes are assets with a value - as underlined by the sale of Finglands to First where money changed hands but no physical assets were involved just routes) and gave assurances that no assets other than routes would be taken over without the current owners consent the response may be different. Nexus haven't even hinted this may be in their thought processes so Stagecoach have to take a harder position to make the issues clear.<br /><br />Arriva appear to be having an issue with their website, I haven't been able to get a pdf off their site in over a month (and I am largely looking at the Midlands). This is a problem affecting all areas & routes not just an issue with the Sapphire launch. This problem has been experienced by a number of other people I know as well.dwarfer1979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-86661112665173432982013-12-15T09:48:08.356+00:002013-12-15T09:48:08.356+00:00thanks Greenline727 for this useful detail. I was ...thanks Greenline727 for this useful detail. I was aware in general terms but not suffciently "au fait" to expand what I wrote above.fatbusblokehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06833340546527596517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432323264902617108.post-6964559676791948212013-12-15T09:27:59.698+00:002013-12-15T09:27:59.698+00:00A little (recent) history . . . . the services sou...A little (recent) history . . . . the services south of Aberystwyth were originally contracted as part of Traws Cymru by the Welsh Assembly. Arriva decided to operate them commercially, and disdained the Optare Tempo's purchased by the Assembly (which have now ended up on the Cardiff Airport route). Arriva then operated the routes with any old tat (and I do mean tat), and realised that the numbers still didn't stack up, so decided to slim down the timetable. With the proposed cut in OAP reimbursement from 73% to 46% (according to some commentators), the numbers REALLY didn't stack up, so AC did the obvious thing and withdrew (in good order, giving well over 56 days notice).<br /><br />The Assembly were displeased with the commercialisation in the first place, as they now had nowhere for their toys to run . . . . The service in 2012 and 2013 had become unreliable, with breakdowns a daily occurance, and not helped by AC sending a fitter from Aberystwyth to Carmarthen to fix the old tat.<br />Hence the barely disguised pleasure at AC's withdrawal, and the refusal to negotiate.<br />It will be interesting to see how things develop. BTW . . . the only on-line timetale so far is on the Carmarthenshire website, which treats the 40 and 40C replacements as two distinct services, with only a "c" to denote through operation (and passengers need to look at two timetables to work out through journeys!). At least the times are there . . . . . greenline727noreply@blogger.com