D&G Bus

[knutstransport]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 15:46)iMarkeh Wrote:  While I do see your point. If passenger numbers drop, the service won't be deemed as necessary so in the long run could result in it being dropped. In the short term, it only matters to D&G if they won the type of contract where they take the revenue as then if passenger numbers drops, as does the amount they make on the contract.

Historically Cheshire County Council contracts were done on the basis that part of the revenue goes to the operator and part to the council with the option of ending the contract early if passenger numbers are lower than expected. I think the majority are still let on that basis, unlike TfGM contracts.

[iMarkeh]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 17:04)T42 PVM Wrote:  Well this should be interesting

PC1090231/148 Registered
D & G BUS LIMITED
Route: Wrexham General Railway Station, Station Approach, Wrexham to HMP Berwyn, Bridge Road, Wrexham via Wrexham Town Centre
Service number: 41B ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 07 Apr 2019

Well... That won't be much dead millage will it haha. Interesting how they are winning so many contracts in Cheshire and Wrexham now. They seem to be expanding well given the current message being sent out by operators that it is a difficult time for the industry.

[T42 PVM (Moderator)]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 17:34)iMarkeh Wrote:  Well... That won't be much dead millage will it haha. Interesting how they are winning so many contracts in Cheshire and Wrexham now. They seem to be expanding well given the current message being sent out by operators that it is a difficult time for the industry.

It is never a good sign when a company based so many miles away win a Contract, Does make you wonder if more local Operators did not even bid.

[Nwales Bus]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 17:34)iMarkeh Wrote:  Well... That won't be much dead millage will it haha. Interesting how they are winning so many contracts in Cheshire and Wrexham now. They seem to be expanding well given the current message being sent out by operators that it is a difficult time for the industry.

Its a Sunday contract. Better to run a bus and make money rather than having it sit in the depot all day doing nothing

[knutstransport]

RE: D&G Bus
Wrexham Council have had issues getting operators to bid for work. Remember how GHA MK2 got awarded contracts, despite Wrexham Council being an unsecured creditor of GHA?

[iMarkeh]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 17:37)T42 PVM Wrote:  It is never a good sign when a company based so many miles away win a Contract, Does make you wonder if more local Operators did not even bid.

Could this lead to the same issues as EasyCoach whereby you have to have an OC in every TC area which you have registered a service. D&G don't have an ops centre in Wales.

(06/02/2019 17:49)Nwales Bus Wrote:  Its a Sunday contract. Better to run a bus and make money rather than having it sit in the depot all day doing nothing

While I do fully agree, it is a big cost getting the bus from Crewe or Wincham plus a big cost for a spare driver (as I guess there will be a need for a changeover if it is the same or similar timetable to what D Jones did.

(06/02/2019 18:20)knutstransport Wrote:  Wrexham Council have had issues getting operators to bid for work. Remember how GHA MK2 got awarded contracts, despite Wrexham Council being an unsecured creditor of GHA?

I wonder why there are issues given how many operators have buses available. Arriva, Stagecoach, Valentine, Pats. They all have low floor vehicles available on a Sunday (based on the PVR, not taking into account maintenance days).
I am VERY surprised that D&G of all people have got the contract.
I wonder why Wrexham Council are having issues getting operators to bid. Normally loads of operators bid for contracts as they are easy money.

[knutstransport]

RE: D&G Bus
Arriva don't tend to bid for all routes. A few years back they didn't even bid for some Macclesfield evening tenders on routes where they operated the daytime service.

Since when have operators had to had operating centres in the area they run services? It would be ridiculous if an operator based at Harwarden couldn't operate Chester services but one based in Carlisle could.

[Bevan Price]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 18:29)iMarkeh Wrote:  Could this lead to the same issues as EasyCoach whereby you have to have an OC in every TC area which you have registered a service. D&G don't have an ops centre in Wales.

While I do fully agree, it is a big cost getting the bus from Crewe or Wincham plus a big cost for a spare driver (as I guess there will be a need for a changeover if it is the same or similar timetable to what D Jones did.

I wonder why there are issues given how many operators have buses available. Arriva, Stagecoach, Valentine, Pats. They all have low floor vehicles available on a Sunday (based on the PVR, not taking into account maintenance days).
I am VERY surprised that D&G of all people have got the contract.
I wonder why Wrexham Council are having issues getting operators to bid. Normally loads of operators bid for contracts as they are easy money.

They don't bid if the contract doesn't provide enough money to meet the running costs. All too many small operators have collapsed with financial problems due to taking on too many loss-making contracts.

[iMarkeh]

RE: D&G Bus

(06/02/2019 19:48)knutstransport Wrote:  Since when have operators had to had operating centres in the area they run services? It would be ridiculous if an operator based at Harwarden couldn't operate Chester services but one based in Carlisle could.

There was a rule which perhaps I may have misinterpreted but I certainly read a rule which was along the line of you need an ops centre in every area where you run services. Cross boundary services are a bit different if I read correctly.

If I have read something wrong, I apologize but that is definitely how I read it.


@Bevan, I am not saying that it wouldn't make money. They will have put in high for it I am guessing given the dead millage and driver costs etc but with how many operators are closer, you just wouldn't expect it to be won by someone based in Crewe or Northwich.

[CTL45]

RE: D&G Bus

(05/02/2019 19:42)iMarkeh Wrote:  I can't wait. It will be so funny. Another operator in Blacon.. I can see the 15s losing passengers as people will walk to the 1/1A as they can use their Stagecoach/Arriva tickets on that where as I don't think D&G will include the 15 as part of the scheme.

Basic contract conditions would ensure that D&G accept the weekday tickets. What makes you think this won't be the case here?