(08 Nov 2016, 7:34 pm)South Tyne Lad The fact Spirit had a near 100% Reliability Rating while PCL have managed to fail on the second day is rather shocking id say.
As for VANs on the Service's, I wouldn't be surprised if one will be seen by the end of the week!

(08 Nov 2016, 7:34 pm)South Tyne Lad The fact Spirit had a near 100% Reliability Rating while PCL have managed to fail on the second day is rather shocking id say.
As for VANs on the Service's, I wouldn't be surprised if one will be seen by the end of the week!

(08 Nov 2016, 8:38 pm)Jimmi Is it bad that I've spent the last few days thinking that something would go with the connection between the 16 and M1?

Some communication between the drivers and me would have been nice, rather than 45 minutes of pacing up and down in Thropton not knowing how I was going to get home.

Me and ex London Darts are a bad omen, going back to the X---GGO examples that Arriva had.

(08 Nov 2016, 7:34 pm)South Tyne Lad The fact Spirit had a near 100% Reliability Rating while PCL have managed to fail on the second day is rather shocking id say.
As for VANs on the Service's, I wouldn't be surprised if one will be seen by the end of the week!

(08 Nov 2016, 8:38 pm)Jimmi Is it bad that I've spent the last few days thinking that something would go with the connection between the 16 and M1?

Some communication between the drivers and me would have been nice, rather than 45 minutes of pacing up and down in Thropton not knowing how I was going to get home.

Me and ex London Darts are a bad omen, going back to the X---GGO examples that Arriva had.

(08 Nov 2016, 8:02 pm)Tom Yeah it's a joke. No wonder they are failing considering they are using some crap darts and Spirit Buses used a near new E200. Think they need some newer stock as the Darts are ok for the S1 but not for the 15/16/M1.

(08 Nov 2016, 8:38 pm)Jimmi Is it bad that I've spent the last few days thinking that something would go with the connection between the 16 and M1?

Some communication between the drivers and me would have been nice, rather than 45 minutes of pacing up and down in Thropton not knowing how I was going to get home.

Me and ex London Darts are a bad omen, going back to the X---GGO examples that Arriva had.

(08 Nov 2016, 9:25 pm)Andreos1 Didn't Sprit have issues with their vehicles when they first got them? I seem to remember buses going back to the leasing company after reliability issues. A quick check of the Spirit thread might confirm either way.

I do wonder if the higher costs incurred by using modern vehicles played a part in their downfall? Suppose it's like having older, cheaper vehicles and the potential for it to be a false economy once repairs and maintenance are paid for.

Do you go for the more expensive modern vehicle that should be more reliable, but costs a fortune to hire? Or do you buy a cheaper, older vehicle and gamble on its reliability?

(08 Nov 2016, 9:37 pm)South Tyne Lad Spirit had Ceatano bodied Darts which were new around the same time as PCLs ( 2002 ) but I didn't really take notice back then about Maintenance issues.

Moving from the fleet of Darts to the single E200 will have improved the economics of the company, But Steve kept everything Local, Including the Maintenance ( He used the local Mechanic I believe ) while PCL will no doubt have a few PLCs to deal with, Which will reduce the profit of the services.  ( Might be wrong with this )


Bit of a loose loose situation imo, Newer vehicle gets more attention and provides better service, Pushing up profits but cost's more to lease.
While a Older Vehicle will be better suited economically to a lesser demand route like this, So Id say PCL are right in taking the older Darts, But just a bit TLC would keep them running a bit more reliably, Pushing up profits?

Sorry if non of this makes sense, I'm typing on my phone.

(08 Nov 2016, 9:52 pm)Andreos1 And all of that comes down to cash flow. 
It is OK having thousands of pounds tied up in assets, but you need cash to hand to finance the maintenance and titivating. 

To go back to your point about keeping it in-house. That in itself will have cost. You either have a multi-skilled driver/fitter/jack of all trades or a dedicated member of staff. That's without the costs involved in purchasing and maintaining equipment and tools. Or you pay someone to do it.

Just to tie this in with the big-boys. After de-reg in 86 (when assets were bought from the government/taxpayer), it was a good few years before the likes of United, Northumbria or Go-ahead were able to finance the purchase of new vehicles. Go-ahead's first purchase from memory was a handful of Lynx's, Alexander Olympians in and the G RTY Delta's circa 1990. That was despite having stock from the 70's on front line service. The last lot of deckers would have been the C OCN Metrobuses and C LJR Olympians 7/8 years previous.
If it takes a PLC 4 or 5 years to purchase new vehicles, you can see how difficult it is for an independent like PCL.

(09 Nov 2016, 1:25 am)James101 Is the use of vans an entirely bad thing? If one thing became clear throughout the 15/16 tendering saga it was the cost of running the routes needed to be reduced. Undoubtedly PCL could tidy up their presentation/branding to improve their public appeal, which wouldn't cost anything - but a well presented Mercedes Sprinter with a clear destination would be entirely agreeable.

(09 Nov 2016, 8:06 pm)mb134 Just a thought, I assume the ANE Volvo B10BLE/ALX300's can't have too long left with Arriva, they would be perfect for PCL in my eyes. I don't imagine that they would be too expensive, but they would almost definitely be more reliable than an ex-London dart?

Or, speaking very hypothetically here, I wonder if once Arriva take those Volvo's off the Jesmond routes, they would be tempted to use them themselves on the old Spirit network, if PCL can't make it work? (Not that I don't want PCL to make it work)

(09 Nov 2016, 8:06 pm)mb134 Just a thought, I assume the ANE Volvo B10BLE/ALX300's can't have too long left with Arriva, they would be perfect for PCL in my eyes. I don't imagine that they would be too expensive, but they would almost definitely be more reliable than an ex-London dart?

Or, speaking very hypothetically here, I wonder if once Arriva take those Volvo's off the Jesmond routes, they would be tempted to use them themselves on the old Spirit network, if PCL can't make it work? (Not that I don't want PCL to make it work)

(09 Nov 2016, 8:15 pm)Tom Yeah they are great buses despite their age!

I hope PCL travel make it work too as I would much rather an independent be running the services, but they just need to make themselves look a bit more professional.

(09 Nov 2016, 8:06 pm)Phoenix Coaches DDA regs is the main reason that can't happen !

(09 Nov 2016, 9:16 pm)James101 DDA/PSVAR compliant Mercedes Sprinters are on order to Stagecoach Kent this year and Arriva Midlands have also had one on demo. It seems sensible that a lease agreement on a Sprinter (or similar) would be much more  affordable than what would have been in place in Spirit's E200.

(09 Nov 2016, 9:30 pm)Cobalt271 Spirit ran the services commercially whereas now PCL are running it under the tendered contract so maybe there are specific demands from NCC as to what vehicles should operate.