Currently, Plymouth council is just testing the market, with no sale of its Citybus operation guaranteed. If I were a betting person, the latest twist in the Plymouth Citybus sale saga probably means there will now indeed be a sale. But to whom?
A number of councillors who to date have been obliged to remain silent owing to their interests in a potential Citybus bidder now appear free to vote and speak on the issue. This is because the council has apparently ruled out that bidder—the Taxibank consortium led by Taxifast’s John Preece. It’s understood this affects up to five councillors, enough to tip the balance easily towards a sale.
Meanwhile, the local newspaper claims that First Group has withdrawn from the bidding. This is undoubtedly because of a future intervention on the part of the OFT. The number of bidders remaining is now down to three.
First meanwhile continues to gear up for its massive competitive Ugobus Phase 3 Plymothian expansion, due on 12th October. How this will affect the sale price remains to be seen.
In somewhat bad timing on the verge of Ugobus 3, First has found itself under criticism for withdrawing some services in the Torpoint area in Cornwall, immediately west of Plymouth, reached by a bus service using a ferry. Passengers claim that First had a £600,000 council partnership deal till 2012. First states that this was for the purchase of six buses only. In reality, it seems that the original Kickstart scheme has run its course, with First now free to make necessary commercial decisions. Cornwall council has now stepped in such that Western Greyhound operates Liskeard to Torpoint, connecting with First, but without the benefit of through ticketing. Had there been through ticketing, this would of course be a one way street with Greyhound accepting commercial tickets from First; there would be no obligation on First to accept Greyhound tickets which, after all, would be of more benefit to Cornish residents.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Plymouth—Latest
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And meanwhile First are also making a nuisance of themselves in Callington, northwest of Plymouth. Western Greyhound has beaten First in the tendering for the long-standing Bude-Plymouth service, but First has apparently decided that it will continue running commercially on the Plymouth to Callington section, and have raised an objection to Greyhound's tendered service also running on this stretch. So, from last weekend, Bude to Plymouth is reduced to a rather less useful Bude to Callington, with through passengers having to change at Callington and, of course, pay seperate fares as First won't accept through tickets...
Western Greyhound have now announced that they will be restoring the through service, but not until mid-November, presumably having to wait for a commercial registration to go through.
Indeed you are right about the kickstart program in Torpoint. The money given bought the company 3 of the 5 Dennis Tridents, which First purchased the other 2 as part of the deal. This contract is lasting 7 years, but at year 5 (where we are now) they seem to have relaxed it, if not forgotten it all together!
The above is totally incorrect. The tendered section of the route is between Callington and Bude, with only evenings and Sundays to Plymouth tendered, ie Callington to Plymouth Monday to Saturday daytime is commercial and always has been.
The reason there is a delay in Western Greyhound operating to Plymouth Mon-Sat daytime, is becuase they had clearly forgotten that you need 56 days to register a local bus service (commercial). Surprised they forgot about that !
Marc Reddy
Why post as 'Anonymous' and then put your name at the foot of the post Marc ?
Because it is easier
Marc Reddy
Why then are Western Greyhound stating on all their publicity that the delay is "due to an objection raised by First Devon and Cornwall"? Are they simply lying?
Western Greyhound know they should need 56 days to register a commercial service, Transport 1985 etc. So I am not sure how I can object to legislation ?
Marc Reddy
But were they awarded the Callington to Bude tender with 56 days notice before its start date? If not, it is hardly reasonable to expect them to have registered the Callington to Plymouth section with such notice, ie. to register that bit before they were awarded the tender.
Surely you must accept that the only reason that the tender only covers Callington to Bude is that it has historically been operated as a bolt-on to a commercial service from Plymouth, and that the through service to Plymouth forms much of the route's raison d'etre? So surely, in the interests of fair competition, any operator winning the tender should be allowed to provide this link in a smooth and continuous manner too?
I don't know, but strongly suspect, that WG may have tried to register Callington to Plymouth by short notice with local autority backing, as soon as they were awarded the Bude tender, but First has selfishly blocked this.
What I do know is that passengers are currently being highly inconvenienced and are paying through the nose for two tickets. What I also know is that it seems highly implausible that WG would be telling the world that the problem is an objection by First, if it wasn't to some extent true.
The tender process allowed operators to give the normal 56 days notice, for the changes to be regsitered which is good practice. So it could have been registered at that moment, if it was to commence on the same date as the tender. The registration was received by the TC on 31 Jul 2009 (info from VOSA website).
As I have stated earlier the operator clearly forgot to give 56 days notice. At the end of the day it is the Traffic Commissioner that approves or does not approve a registration, not another operator. Therefore, I am astonished by Western Greyhound's information.
For good or bad, bus operators have to work within the Transport Act - we dont create the legislation.
Marc Reddy
Well I appreciate you taking the time to reply here Marc, and if First have genuinely not raised any kind of objections at any stage then I apologise for suggesting otherwise. It would be interesting to hear Western Greyhound's side of the story though, as obviously they are alleging that you did...
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