Hulleys of Baslow

[SF07]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow
Hulleys did post something on Facebook but the post has been deleted.

This is what was said:

Quote:We’re sorry.

In mid-June we registered new services: the X1 from Ashbourne to Manchester, and the X72 from Chesterfield to Matlock via Bakewell on Monday to Saturday evenings, to provide direct links to new places. At that time, we had more than enough Drivers and more still applying for jobs.

Everything was ready to roll, the process of recruiting more Drivers continued while a small number had left. At the end of last week however, a number of Drivers expected to return to work from sickness absence indicated they wouldn’t be doing so. Other new Drivers who were expected to start this Monday informed us they no longer be joining, and another Driver fell ill.

All of this in just two days for any Operator would be challenging. For a small Operator such as Hulleys, with the best will in the world we were put in an impossible situation. We do not like letting people down and so we’re presented with two options: to try and run all services but cancel journeys at short notice as and when we were unable to cover them, or cut back our network to a level where we have sufficient staff to cover all journeys every day.

For the purposes of stability, we have decided to change our network. From this Thursday the X1 and X72 will not run. The X70 will run every 2 hours on Sundays. The X57 will terminate at Chorlton Street on Sundays and not run through to Manchester Airport. Seasonal services X71, X98 and X99 will also be withdrawn, but as we are aware of passengers having purchased period return tickets on the X98 the 1730 from Ingoldmells will run this Saturday.

We’re sorry that we’ve been forced to make these changes at such short notice and for letting people down. It is not a decision that has been taken lightly or with any pleasure. We want to continue to do our very best for the most with the resources available and we feel this is the best way to do that.

We now need to concentrate our efforts on recruiting staff and providing the best possible service we can, and for that reason we are unable to answer any queries about this here. Passengers intending to travel on the X1 should contact Staffordshire County Council on 03001118000 or email contactus@staffordshire.gov.uk

[dounowhoiam]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow
Whilst it is understandable in such a difficult climate with less drivers avaliable (for example retiring or changing professions) it is such a shame to see the X1 get cancelled with no concrete plans on the future of this route.

I had actively emailed Hulleys requesting the costs as it would have been a much more convenient way for me to travel to Macclesfield from near to where I live (would have also ran later and on Saturdays), and I would have used it to travel further on the route.
Like with the CityZap (when that ran Manchester to Leeds) and X57 that I can get to Glossop (morning pit stop) to Sheffield, these buses had/have passengers that wouldn't necessarily commute due to expensive train fares or difficulty/inability to drive.

Personally it is hoped that in the future they do explore this again and as a side note they are able to work a deal with SystemOne / GetMeThere for their X57 in Greater Manchester so that they get some form of reimbursement (however minute it may be) rather then them running virtually empty between Manchester and the Airport.

[KXW212]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow
Just to summarise the Macclesfield area changes
X1 withdrawn
108 and 109 reinstated, with the previous timetables.
108 operated by D&G
109 operated by Aimees (initially as a free service)

[Mrboo]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(08/09/2021 19:49)dounowhoiam Wrote:  Whilst it is understandable in such a difficult climate with less drivers avaliable (for example retiring or changing professions) it is such a shame to see the X1 get cancelled with no concrete plans on the future of this route.

I had actively emailed Hulleys requesting the costs as it would have been a much more convenient way for me to travel to Macclesfield from near to where I live (would have also ran later and on Saturdays), and I would have used it to travel further on the route.
Like with the CityZap (when that ran Manchester to Leeds) and X57 that I can get to Glossop (morning pit stop) to Sheffield, these buses had/have passengers that wouldn't necessarily commute due to expensive train fares or difficulty/inability to drive.

Personally it is hoped that in the future they do explore this again and as a side note they are able to work a deal with SystemOne / GetMeThere for their X57 in Greater Manchester so that they get some form of reimbursement (however minute it may be) rather then them running virtually empty between Manchester and the Airport.

I could never see a market for the X57 to airport as soon they be locked out as would have to be allowed by TFGM to take local passenger's within TFGM area and it unclear if they would alllow it and would also be locked out of local tickets run by TFGM. due to Bus Franchising in Greater Manchester it unclear if that bit of route would be worth having to have a permit. Now they do need to get added to system one travel but if they was to stop at more stops along Hyde road they would get a number of passengers if they was on system one as locals would use the service. .

[knutstransport]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(08/09/2021 23:22)KXW212 Wrote:  Just to summarise the Macclesfield area changes
X1 withdrawn
108 and 109 reinstated, with the previous timetables.
108 operated by D&G
109 operated by Aimees (initially as a free service)

That's surprising as the old timetables had the 108/109 interworked and it means D&G have less work than last week or compared to Monday. Are D&G also short of drivers?

[KXW212]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(09/09/2021 06:56)knutstransport Wrote:  That's surprising as the old timetables had the 108/108 interworked and it means D&G have less work than last week or compared to Monday. Are D&G also short of drivers?

No idea abut D&G staffing. The 'cross Leek' facility is now broken again (it was always that way anyway) and just reverts back, with the 108/109being separated again. This could always be a temp measure until such time as Staffs CC formally retender them, or Hulleys come back (unlikely).

[SF07]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow
As well, as the Sunday changes to the X57, which will see journeys run between Sheffield and Manchester city centre only, the late Friday and Saturday evening journeys on the X57 between Sheffield and Manchester are also now suspended until further notice. So last journeys will be 1730 from Sheffield and 1945 from Manchester.

http://www.derbysbus.info/times/timetabl...202021.pdf

[knutstransport]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(09/09/2021 07:49)KXW212 Wrote:  No idea abut D&G staffing. The 'cross Leek' facility is now broken again (it was always that way anyway) and just reverts back, with the 108/109being separated again. This could always be a temp measure until such time as Staffs CC formally retender them, or Hulleys come back (unlikely).

With the 108 being a different operator to the 109 it means there's no option of buying one ticket for a Macclesfield to Ashbourne return journey. Pass holders aren't affected but they are the ones perhaps more likely to be put off by having to change.

[knutstransport]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(09/09/2021 01:15)Mrboo Wrote:  I could never see a market for the X57 to airport as soon they be locked out as would have to be allowed by TFGM to take local passenger's within TFGM area and it unclear if they would alllow it and would also be locked out of local tickets run by TFGM.

The X57 is an obvious attempt to rival South TPE trains, they even offer discounts to railcard holders. One issue with targeting the student market is international tourists can arrive at the start of term with a lot of luggage so they aren't passengers you'd want travelling on an ordinary bus. It's different if you have vehicles with a special airport layout like the Dublin airport buses which are deckers with half of the lower deck being luggage racks, rather than seating. However, Hulleys seem to use any saloon they have on the X57.

For international tourists arriving in the UK wanting Manchester city centre, they'll normally choose an option - bus, train or tram and then just get the first service. A constraint they have is they use stand A at the airport bus station, with A, B and C usually being used for coaches and notices at those stands advising passengers to check the relevant operator's website for departure times and tracking information. A further constraint is they'd need to ensure the destination display clearly states it goes via the city centre to get to Sheffield, rather than the message on the display focusing on the snake branding.

[knutstransport]

RE: Hulleys of Baslow

(08/09/2021 18:28)SF07 Wrote:  Hulleys did post something on Facebook but the post has been deleted.

It seemed to a response to this message posted on D&G's website, which has also been deleted.

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Since September 2020 D&G Bus Ltd has operated these Macclesfield - Leek - Ashbourne services under contract to Staffordshire County Council.

During the Summer of 2021 another bus company, Hulleys of Baslow, decided to introduce a new commercial service between Ashbourne and Macclesfield, extending to Manchester Airport from 6th September 2021.

As a result Staffordshire County Council instructed D&G to reduce its contracted service to run only between Cauldon Lowe and Rudyard from the same date. D&G accepted this, although a change in our service from the same date was, in our opinion, premature and we felt that time should be allowed for the new operator’s service to settle down.

Subsequently Hulleys service will be withdrawn after 8th September due to driver shortages.

D&G is currently discussing options with Staffordshire County Council as to whether the D&G service should change again. As soon as a decision is reached details will be posted on our website.

D&G will be restoring service 108 to run between Leek and Ashbourne via Waterhouses and Cauldon Lowe, and Staffordshire County Council is currently out to tender for a replacement service 109 to operate from Leek to Macclesfield from Thursday 9th September.

We apologise for any disruption caused to our passengers, but this is out of our control and none of this was caused by D&G Bus. D&G Bus is working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to minimise disruption following the short notice withdrawal of the commercially provided X1 service.
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