1001 Not Out

This post is dedicated with thanks to all our contributors and commenters

This is Omnibuses2.0’s 1001th post. One-thousand-and-one, just think of that.

The palondromic number ‘1001’ is often associated with ‘many’ or ‘multitude’. A 1001 uses, 1001 items, a 1001 inventions, 1001 things to do in a lifetime, a 1001 things to do with guacamole at the office party…

We started Omnibuses2.0 in September 2003 but only picked up momentum two years later. We managed just 34 posts in the first two years—is this a record?—but, since then, we aim to post almost daily but don’t always hit that target. After all, we all know that targets and KPIs are there to be missed, aren’t they?

And even if you take the start date as September *2005*, when things really hotted up here, this is *still* the longest running blog of its kind anywhere in the world. By far. In any language. Unless you know different, Esther.

We’ve never advertised Omnibuses2.0 and (so far as we are aware) it’s never appeared in any magazine or journal. We’ve never spammed the link around groups or fora or online communities where bus people meet. We’ve never deliberately traded links with other sites. Yet we’ve seen considerable growth over the years and we like to attribute this to the wide variety of mainly up-to-date topics and a style that befits a pedantic grammarian. And we know that we’ve picked up some prestigious industry readers along the way.

Trivia

Here’s 1001 trivia about Omnibuses2.0 relating to our favourite search engine, the Scroogle Scraper (a surrogate for google.com):

Type in brands and straplines into google.com, and Omnibuses2.0 comes out third. This explains the large number of visits we get from some of the following search terms, all recent:

best company straplines; travel straplines; July sales straplines; buy into the straplines; tennis straplines; famous brands and straplines; using straplines; straplines for keeping safe; classic straplines; transport straplines; driving straplines; house development straplines; dating straplines; innovation straplines… the list goes on. And on. And on.

Type in ‘omnibuses’ and we’re first and second. Not surprising really. This generates a significant proportion of visits, especially from English speaking countries.

Type in Mercedes 608 and we’re numbers one and two, again. This is the largest single search term other than ‘omnibuses’ used to arrive here and generates results from an extraordinary mix of countries around the world.

Type in X12 Wilts and Dorset or ‘X12 Christchurch’ and we’re also in first and second placed. This, too, has generated many visits over the summer, and continues to do so. It’s one of our single most popular post retrievals via a search engine.

Type in Truronian and we’re 10th and 11th. This was once a spectacularly popular search term before and during the First take-over speculation, but has since declined.

Type in ‘bus (or coach) from Blackpool to Edinburgh’ and we emerge as second. If National Express is reading this, believe me when I say that there’s a market here. Ask yourself why passengers have to change to make this journey when google evidence suggests there’s clear demand.

Type in Darwen Optare and we’re first and second. This year, this one’s been up and down like the stock market, in terms of attracting visitors.

Type in Veolia X63 and we come out second and third. Add ‘timetable’ and we’re first. Which must be frustrating for those looking for the Brecon-Swansea timetable, and there are plenty of them. It’s hard to find that timetable online but it’s there if you look. But not on Omnibuses2.0.

Type in RMXL and we’re first and second; Routemaster RMXL and we’re third. ‘Boris Routemaster’ doesn’t do it, though, but add in ‘Capoco’ and we’re eighth. But they all still reel in the punters. And some.

Type in ‘Megabus’ and we’re nowhere. Try Magabus and we’re fifth, thanks to our typo. It’s surprising how many people also make the same error—as proven by google.com.

Type in X35 Bournemouth and we’re top. Though this accounts for few visits these days, it produced one big, big spike at the time of the controversial W&D decision to abandon the service. Similarly, X4 Salisbury comes out fourth. ‘Bath to Salisbury bus’ remains a relatively popular generator to this day, in spite of it now languishing at no. 17 but add ‘X4’ and we’re fourth.

Type in Classic Yellow Buses and we again get the top two, even ahead of Transdev Yellow Buses. The official site’s nowhere to be seen. This continues to be a popular search term, as does ‘open top bus Bournemouth’, even though that occupies the 13th spot (though this is ahead of TYB). Classic Southdown Omnibus comes in at eighth.

Type in Claire Pendrous and we see why this site is popular with those trying to find her classic bus and street lamp images—we’re seventh and eighth. Last week, someone actually typed in ‘photos of Claire Penrous herself’, which we felt was a little odd (we came first on google.com for that, BTW).

Type in Phil Stockley and we’re eighth. A moderate number arrive here chasing this name. He must be quite popular.

Unsung Hero to Vanish

The consolidation of the English bus operating industry continues apace with news that drivers from Bullock’s Coaches have this week received letters from their employer stating that Bullock’s local bus services will transfer to Stagecoach.

R Bullock & Son is the only *independent* commercial operator left on the infamous Wilmslow Road. This corridor was once held aloft as both a deregulation success and a deregulation failure, depending upon your point-of-view. It was a licence to print money, thanks principally to the number of students along it. It was home to stiff competition between Greater Manchester Buses South (latterly Stagecoach), Wall’s, and Fingland’s. It spawned Stagecoach’s Manchester's Magic Bus, as a no-frills competition spoiler. Latterly, it also saw acknowledged cowboy UK North ply the road.

Bullock’s decision leaves Fingland’s as the only competition along the corridor, a company owned by East Yorkshire. The Manchester Buses blog suggests that the little-used Bullock’s service will simply be absorbed and will therefore disappear. If so, what real need is there for the separate identity Magic Bus services?

In south Manchester, Stagecoach appears to be steamrollering its competition, following the recent purchase of other long-standing independent Mayne’s. Contrast this to the north, where First currently seems content to co-exist with its independents. In the current climate, how long is that likely to last?

Bullock’s started as a typical 1920s haulier-come-passenger transport provider. It concentrated on bus and coaches work, remaining small. Small, till deregulation, that is. It was one of deregulation’s unsung heroes, grasping the Transport Act 1985’s opportunities with both hands. It expanded considerably, with over 80 vehicles at its peak. Service work has declined somewhat since c.2001.

i Additional information and photos by Omnibuses’ Northern Correspondent

Omnibuses2.0's Guide to Safer Photography

When we last considered bus photography just over a week ago, concerning a driver who was unhappy about his bus being taken, we promised to publish a potential strategy for those who are confronted:

There’s a potential strategy for tackling drivers who feel that they are being photographed unjustly. Adopt the following attitude that is physiologically designed to take the heat out of the situation, one that should prevent escalation.

If asked why you are photographing buses...

1. State that you understand the driver’s concerns—this acknowledges what you've heard;
2. Say that you are photographing the bus, not driver, explaining that there is no reason in law why you should not do so—this lets the third party know how you feel;
3. State calmly and clearly that you intend to carry on—this gives your preferred outcome.

Repeat each time the driver asks a question, no matter the question. This simply recognises you can’t control the third party (driver) but you *can* control yourself, without inflaming matters. For example:

Driver: “Do you have permission to take photographs of me?” You: answer 1, 2, 3.

Driver: “It’s against my human rights to do that.” You: answer 1, 2, 3.

Driver: “Are you going to stop taking photos of me, then?” You: answer 1, 2, 3.

Driver: “Look, I don’t want you to take photos of me.” You: answer 1, 2, 3.

Driver: “If you don’t stop, do you want me to call the police?” Answer 1, 2, 3.

Usually, after five rebuttals or fewer, the technique works and the third party concedes and departs. Usually.

If you feel easily intimidated, timid, or you feel you are the sort to 'lose it', try having whatever you want to say ready in your mind beforehand and, visualising an exchange with an imaginary driver. Psychologists say that in stressful situations, we are programmed to feel, not think. Visualisation means that the response comes naturally and quickly to mind when needed. You've 'felt' the response in readiness.

And, follow these simple rules. Please add any more than you can think of:

Never engage in bus photography at or near a school, or at other locations where school pupils or children can be identified.

Use common sense. Stay where it’s safe, away from running lanes or roads and never place yourself or anyone else at risk.

Avoid a distracting camera flash. Check the autoflash facility is off.

Ask permission on private property. Respect a negative response.

Otherwise, if it’s your passion, just enjoy it… while you still can. After all, it’s still a free society (at the moment).

Names

It seems that over the years Stagecoach above all other Big Five operators catches the eye of the Office of Fair Trading most.

It seems from yesterday’s announcement that Stagecoach’s newly acquired Cambridgeshire Cavalier Travel business must be kept at arms length from its Peterborough and Cambridge businesses is one such example. From Stagecoach’s perspective, at least there was no requirement to divest. But the directive does impose conditions that privately Stagecoach might feel run counter to possible economies of scale.

In running Cavalier as a separate business, the OFT directs that no commercial or financial information can be passed between Cavalier and the existing Stagecoach business, that the Huntingdon & District name shall be retained, and that no more buses shall be repainted into Stagecoach livery.

Perhaps the most stringent requirement concerns a written undertaking to the OFT that Stagecoach has not transgressed any terms of the directive—to be completed every 10 days.

This is, of course, not the first time that the OFT has been prescriptive concerning Stagecoach in this part of England. When Stagecoach acquired Cambus from its management, contiguous with Stagecoach’s United Counties operation, the OFT required the sale of Stagecoach’s former United Counties depot at Huntingdon in 1997, which passed to Premier Travel. In turn, Blazefield bought the business about one year later before Blazefield concentrated in its northern operations, when the operation passed to Cavalier Travel, in 2003. Cavalier sold it back to Stagecoach in March.

g Meanwhile, the new name Darwen and the old name of East Lancs finally vanished yesterday. Darwen Holdings, having taken over East Lancs, completed its take-over of Jamesstan Investments, owners of Optare, previously announced in June. From yesterday, the combined business trades under the Optare name. Darwen’s website now points directly to Optare’s and the Darwen products—Esteem and Olympus—are now marketed as such.

Things aren't Quite Right

Things are not quite right. Seasonally adjusted DfT figures released for the January-March 2008 quarter show falls in passenger numbers, in some cases the first since 2006. This was before national free travel and operators ebullient about post-petrol hike bus demand. It’s nevertheless an early indication of recession.

Things are not quite right. Stagecoach in Kingston-upon-Hull is to make changes to nearly 20 routes, cutting two altogether, blaming increasing fuel costs and low passenger numbers. Both lost routes are subsidised and the local council now faces increases in tender costs (or passengers face a reduction in service).

Things are not quite right. Also in and around Hull, East Yorkshire and Scarborough & District has confirmed concessionary travel reimbursement failings and fuel costs are to blame for a suite of reductions, from the same date as Stagecoach’s. Some of the services are financially supported by local authorities but not all.

Things are not quite right. First in west Yorkshire is increasing its fares by an average of eight percent next week, blaming fuel increases, amid claims by the PTE that First’s fuel prices haven’t actually increased at all, because of hedging. It’s all an excuse, claims Metro PTE. First is no stranger to rebuffs from authorities over fares.

Things are not quite right. Reading Transport, with its 13-vehicle bio-ethanol fleet, increased fares by 10p last week, with predictions of more rises on the way, owing to fuel price rises.

Things are not quite right. Darwen's share price has halved over the last week and although recovered slightly is still significantly below its previous price. The result sees Darwen cutting a quarter off its asking price of its share issue to raise funding to buy Optare (Jamesstan Investments).

Things are not quite right. Inflation at an 11-year high. The threat of food and fuel swallowing up vast amounts of a family’s income.

Things are not quite right. High street spend is down by 0.4 per cent. It’s the high street rather than the industrial estate or retail park that keeps the bus service going. On the other hand, clothing and shoe retailers are cutting prices—solid high street attractors.

The Traditional Coachman

There appear to be a growing number of six-wheeler coaches but at £250,000 for a top-range Scania Irizar 14m, our Mystery Contributor wonders whether something more modest's in order...

Just a few miles from where I live is a small coach operator. He started in the 1980s when his previous employer closed up shop and he runs four or five coaches that are absolutely pristine. Until recently, they were all Bedfords, but he has now moved to Volvos, albeit still with Plaxton bodywork.

As you read this, you can probably think of firms local to you with similar profiles. The trade press seems to think that most similar firms trade at a loss, that their customer base is declining, and that the market will continue to consolidate over the next two to three years. It’s a difficult one to read—the home to school market will remain, and is the bread and butter work for many a small operator, but what of the private hires and the excursions? I believe that these markets are still there, but will come to be dominated more and more by the traditional small companies with a charismatic coachman at the wheel.

I recently spent £6 for a one-hour tour, but the coach was full and every passenger loved the trip because the driver gave a witty, informative commentary and made his passengers feel valued and entertained. No doubt this was reflected in his tips. And as he was operating several such trips every day his costs were well covered.

Contrast that with the mid-sized operators of 10-20 coaches, who struggle to recruit enough committed coach drivers, and who invest £250,000 per coach just to run new motors. I believe that these are the companies that will struggle if the threatened recession does come, as fuel costs and especially repayments eat up their declining revenue.

I sincerely hope I am right in my hope for the smaller guys for, without the Freds and Mervyns, the industry will be a poorer place. And I would trust that medium sized operators see a bright future, too. But it may not be easy for them, perhaps harder than for the traditional coachman.

Any Suggestions?

I guess that the one flaw in Merseytravel’s considerations on banning alcohol on the city region’s buses is enforcement. Any policy that can’t be enforced needs a serious rethink.

Whereas alcohol may be a significant issue on Liverpool buses, it probably isn’t the major one that disturbs passengers elsewhere. Near-riotous behaviour of children, feet on seats, littering of fast food residues, and fare-dodging are probably passengers’ top concerns. Crack enforcement for alcohol, though, and you’ve done so for all other problem behaviours.

But how? I wish I had an answer.

In a throwback to PTE-controlled days, former Merseyside operator MTL used a team of in-house mobile security staff who would respond rapidly to driver distress calls. They dressed and even acted like police. They were reputed even to have dog handlers. Not surprisingly upon take-over the new operator felt this may have been as much a liability as an advantage.

Merseytravel PTE’s current strategies include the deployment of a significant inspectorate to counter season ticket & other related fraud, a ground-breaking easy-to-use reporting system to garner hotspot intelligence, and the use of Mersytravel-sponsored police community wardens on key corridors.

Community policing is easiest at termini and interchanges, of course, rather than on buses. If the object is to catch and prosecute, with bus stops at every 400 yards, miscreants will easily disappear before anyone can reach the bus and reappear if the service is frequent, which on Merseyside it’s likely to be. If the object is deterrence, this is only as good as the visibility—you need to saturate a corridor to do so effectively. And probably mostly from 1500 to the last bus.

In my younger days I well remember accompanying a senior inspector suitably dressed in black uniform and peaked cap working a high frequency corridor (*not* in Liverpool!). He caught a small group of lads not once, not twice but thrice using their fraudulent season tickets on three consecutive buses, as they leapt off each before the inspector could catch and relieve them of their tickets. And that was in the days when the population tended to show authority towards uniforms—unlike today.

Today, it almost seems too great a challenge to crack but that doesn’t mean the industry and enforcement agencies can’t do *something*. But what? I wish I had the answers.