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What new First corporate livery? The only group wide livery I’m aware of is the electric one; but these E400MMC’s shouldn’t qualify for that. Everything else is either Essex Bus or Shuttles (in Essex obviously). Basildon will be going electric in 2025 but wouldn’t have thought they’d use the...

Wasn’t it only a few months ago Arriva simplified the Wycombe network with some significant changes to improve reliability etc? I’m sure I recall one of the local managers actually commenting on here the reasons and thought processes behind the changes stating customer feedback. Wasn’t there...

Well that is interesting! Now this purchase potentially appears to make more sense then. It’s quite a bold move though and a big risk as there’s no guarantees they’ll get anything. Go-ahead I’m sure will fight hard to keep hold of the contracts they’ve held for 15+ years. I know they still have...

Other than starting competition I can’t see how they can expand that much? The operating area isn’t great bus territory all they can really do is bid for more tenders as and when they come up - the trunk routes to Ipswich/Norwich you simply cannot compete with the train service. Even First...

I was rather surprised by that quote as well. If it was the case that Simonds was about to go under and Vectare saved them I’d understand but otherwise it seems misplaced. Norfolk certainly haven’t been following the situation between Vectare and Essex County Council! It will be interesting to...

It’s almost at though he was only brought in to be a care taker type manager to keep things afloat. If his stamp/innovations aren’t being allowed to progress; be it for fear of change from the board of directors and councillors or an un co-operative local authority then he may simply get bored...

In a coup for First Eastern Counties they’ve become an official partner for newly promoted Ipswich Town Football Club. See article below: https://www.itfc.co.uk/news/2024/may/05/town-partner-with-first-bus/ This should bring a huge boost to the commercial Park & Ride service - there even...

I’ve seen photos on Flickr (links below; courtesy parkandride2007) that Ipswich Buses appear to have acquired atleast two Enviro 200’s from Nottingham City Transport. YX63GXS/Y. https://www.flickr.com/photos/20686471@N04/53685312813/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/20686471@N04/53685544425/...

Is this First Essex trying to tighten their grip on Colchester and push Arriva out? The off peak 87 to Horkesley Heath every 20 minutes, S8 peak extentions to Colchester Hospital and the S10 hourly to Ipswich Road and St John’s - although directly linking Colchester Hospital is a novel idea.

Are the numbers 400/600 historic to these corridors pre-Triangle? Seems odd to use such high numbers when everything else in the area seems relatively low.

Also worth mentioning that this doesn’t reflect badly on the companies policies and procedures. All alcohol and drugs tests are done on a random basis unless any complaints/concerns are brought to the companies attention (as has what’s happened here). I hope the individual concerned is now left...

Indeed it carried fresh air most of the time. Bus/boat tour is a very niche market and it’s a trek out to Queensferry. Not to mention the price and the weather - also most people don’t mind sitting on a bus; the same cannot be said for boats!

The key is to make buses fashionable and desirable so people want to use them. So yes interior design and attractive liveries/brands do play their part in this. They can still be functional and do their job (like bin lorries for instance) but it’s important for buses to not just become another...

Basically you could argue the UK is becoming like the US in terms of public perception and usage of buses. Although that’s something that’s always been there it just seems to be accelerating at the moment.

What I don’t understand is why any government would want to burden themselves with having the responsibility and cost of bus services. Haven’t they got enough on their plate already that they cannot afford? Like other posters have said buses would not be immune from cuts like all other council...

You also cannot blame the big bad boy bus operators for the accelerated decline of our high streets and town/city centres. Or the increase in online shopping/deliveries and working from home. The days of the traditional bus to town services are numbered… That’s a problem for whoever runs buses...

Precisely this. There has to be some emphasis if taken into local government control that (atleast a high % proportion) of services make a profit. However I do agree the more lucrative routes should subsidise a degree of borderline of services. After all what a bus company should be selling is a...

Also worth bearing in mind the more control you give governments/councils over local bus networks the more of a political issue they’ll become every election time. I know of a local municipal in England (won’t name it) who are basically bound to not alter routes or make cuts to their network...

That’s quite unusual to hand a contract back mid-term as it loses them guaranteed income. As mentioned these complimented their network well and added value to period passes etc. Maybe their bid was too low in the first place? Seems a shame when comments on here say it’s quite a busy service -...

That makes some sense however it does seem lazy. This town service during the afternoon is more frequent than the main 88 - incorporating the extra bus into the core service could have maintained a better headway during the school times and potentially an express return service in the peaks...