The other piece in the Nottingham bus war jigsaw is the next move from Your Bus. Out goes the original Y81 (Y82) that kicked the operator off. In comes Y100, a bus service from Southwell to Nottingham and one that competes directly with Nottingham City Transport’s 100 (though Yourbus has chosen to operate evenly between existing NCT departures). Extended to start from Newark at peak periods, the Y100 also cuts across Marshall’s 90.
Both the 90 and 100 were formerly operated by Pathfinder, a start up local service operation that survived longer-established South Notts, eventually joining it as part of NCT. Under NCT, the 90 struggled, hence its move to Marshall’s. The 100 remained and, in spite of some investment, is probably somewhat lacklustre. The $64,000 questions are, why should Your Bus jettison the Y81 in favour of a borderline route that to date hasn’t responded much to treatment? And, will NCT use this move as a good excuse to let the 100 go?
The excuse Your Bus gives regarding the Y81 is parking problems in Hyson Green. We all know that this can be a real difficulty for operators and the solution, where it’s extreme, is to increase running time and resources, neither of which Your Bus probably wishes to do.
Could traffic be nothing other than a smokescreen, though? The raison d’être for the Y81 was always to have a go at the tram. Tram-like Y81 running times seem too tight, loadings appear too inconsistent and, let’s face it, picking a fight with the tram is probably going to be nothing other than one-sided, especially when you have traffic problems as reported by Your Bus. The tram can easily put paid to such irritations.
Your Bus is also beefing up its newer combative service, between Chilwell & Beeston and Nottingham. This is aimed at a softer target than the tram, squarely at NCT’s buses. To date, NCT has been prudent in not responded. Will it now follow the Trent Barton’s regional lead and up the ante?
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Excuses, Excuses?
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13 comments:
The Y100 in substitution for the Y81 seems a strange move, especially as the Y81 / Y82 was extended as recently as October. Unless of course it is part of the still mysterious recent acquisition deal in the area, and there are wheels within wheels that we are not yet aware of?
Interesting background to the competitive situation in Nottingham in the Competition Commission case study published yesterday. See their website.
NCT won't pull out because of competition. It's simple why NCT wanted pathfinder back in the late 90's, because of competition along the Carlton road. NCT is the single operator in that part of Gedling borough. But other than be looking to pick up along Carlton road (which pathfinder don't to avoid loading problems for out bound passengers to Lowdham & Southwell) I can't see why yourbus would want to take on this part of town as Trent pulled out from the 100 route back in the 80's, they ran a service from Wollaton in the west through to Southwell & Newark via Carlton road There is logic behind NCT maintaining the
100 but not yourbus I wouldn't of thought
So Yourbus Y36 is going to "beef up services" are they going to introduce evening buses after 7pm sunday to thursdays then?
The Dunn Family seem more at home operating non-wholly urban services. The even spaced journeys to Southwell could well be to cash in on the free travel pass holders rather than to pick a fight - they might be really unlucky and win!
NCT don't seem to be suffering so far with the go2 36, their dekkas still seem fairly full while yourbus y36 are lucky at times to carry half a dozen, maybe it's quality & loyalty with NCT. This isn't the first time a bus war broke out along this route, around 89-90 it was NCT & Barton! It was originally Bartons route 33 & 40. I belive it ended with NCT told to keep out of Long Eaton in return for Chilwell. Very strange by NCT's standards to turn a blind eye to yourbus as they appear to be doing.
Its less of turning a blind eye, more problems associated with Nottinghams SQP.
Buses stopping at city centre stops MUST be registered (therefore no throwing extra buses on the route to make it every 2 minutes like they did with the 58 and Bellamys)
Bus stops also have a 5 minute window in which they can use the stop. As Yourbus are timed at the 5 minute intervals in the 36 timetable NCT can't increase the frequency of the 36 without moving the stop
I notice that NCT have registered changes to all of the Orange line times from March 27th (and 100 too). To early for timetables yet.
Yourbus success on the route has mainly been off peak, since they broadly timetable 4 - 6 minutes ahead of the NCT service, (both 20 minute headways), and usually drive a minute or so ahead. Y36 now seems to be the primary Sunday carrier of the two.
Rather than retaliate directly, I would have thought it would make sense for NCT to "put some water" between the services, mayne by increasing the frequency to 8/hr peak, 4/hr off-peak (common for GO2 services) and use use the city loop. YB may well follow suit, but they probably can't afford the extra dwell times and resources.
Should'nt worry service Y100 hundred is being withdrawn on 14th April 2011.
YourBus seem to have become the default cheap-and-nasty (I define buses where exhaust leaks into the vehicle as "nasty") operator for services that are contracted out by cash-strapped councils. A lot of Derbyshire and Notts council services have recently gone to YourBus.
There would seem some incentive for YourBus to compete against weaker rural commercial services in the hope that the incumbent pulls out and it goes to tender from the council and therefore YourBus.
2 developments have happened on the 36/Y36. NCT have now posted their new timetables. YourBus have bought flash new Mercedes buses.
I must say we are very lucky in Nottingham having the council majority owned NCT, and very innovative Trent Barton. It would be a great shame if ruthless copycats like YourBus and Premiere were able to steal the custom. Doesn't seem very fair really. Another thing is that Dunn-Line sold out to Veolia so does that mean the end-game of YourBus is to sell to the likes of Stagecoacg/Arriva/First? Now that really would be a disaster for Nottingham, and is a good reason to try to remind people to be loyal to NCT to stop this happening.
As far as selling / merging with one of the big 5 operators, YourBus are effectively a division of Rotala (with their legendary AIM listing!). Rotala are not big 5 (yet) but have expanded ruthlessly in the last few years, mainly by pushing into existing corridors operated by larger operators. Think brands such as Diamond, Central Connect, Wessex Connect etc. They have also recently purchased Chester Bus. YourBus marketing however distances themselves from Rotala and in fact call themselves a local family business
yourbus are NOTHING to do with Rotala - they use the 'local family company' slogan because they are. They are not AIM listed.
And Rotala have not purchased Chester Bus - I think you mean Preston Bus.
People should get facts straight before posting on these forums.
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