(17 Aug 2019, 8:33 am)Charles41 Just checked VOSA, all PCL services (both commercial and subsidised) are cancelled with effect from 13 September 2019.

Today is the last day of the 15 & 16 which is the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury and Alwinton.

Is this the end of PCL?

No services have yet to be registered for Mr Cowell's new company Rural Link Limited.

Charles

Looks like Phoenix are taking the 15 over, can't see anything about the 16.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/537913/

(19 Aug 2019, 12:46 pm)Tom

Looks like Phoenix are taking the 15 over, can't see anything about the 16.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/537913/

Timetable is on the Nexus website. Only 2 journeys weekdays between Thropton and Alnwick, morning journey starting in Newcastle and evening one finishing there. No sign of a replacement for the 16.

(17 Aug 2019, 8:46 am)S830OFT

Unless he comes back under a new operators license again, I think not...

Hopefully Go North East can take over the Hexham contracts, and I personally hope Arriva reintroduce the 33 & 44 back to Morpeth, otherwise residents will face a long walk to a bus stop, or face having no service at all.

2 & 43 already covers Stobhill. X14 and X15 stop 5 minute walk from Lancaster Park.

(25 Aug 2019, 11:41 pm)omnicity4659

2 & 43 already covers Stobhill. X14 and X15 stop 5 minute walk from Lancaster Park.

I was referring to Stannington aswell, this village will be left isolated if no replacement service is provided...

(26 Aug 2019, 8:31 am)S830OFT

I was referring to Stannington aswell, this village will be left isolated if no replacement service is provided...

That's our problem (Swarland) - with no PCL bus there are now no buses at all. Only way to catch a bus is to walk a mile down to the A1, cross the A1 and catch the 'real' Arriva X15 bus through Felton.

Just to prove how crazy things can be, there's talk of refurbishing the bus shelter on the Swarland side of the A1, where there will be no actual buses stopping !

(26 Aug 2019, 9:42 am)omnicity4659 I think the Morpeth area is a contender for Arriva Click, as opposed to full on bus services. A larger area can be covered with the same amount of buses but without being tied to a schedule...and can access any street.

Thing is some people don't want the hassle, and some people like getting the bus at the same time everyday, without the need to worry about how far the bus is coming from, as it's on a set route...

As for ArrivaClick, if that bus is held up in Ashington, and a passenger wants it for 6:30am at Morpeth, then that passenger will be made late.

(26 Aug 2019, 6:21 pm)TEN 6083 Wonder who would take over the 885 if PCL stop running it, GNE possibly or a local independent operator.


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Tyne Valley Coaches would be another possibility...

(26 Aug 2019, 4:33 pm)S830OFT

Thing is some people don't want the hassle, and some people like getting the bus at the same time everyday, without the need to worry about how far the bus is coming from, as it's on a set route...

As for ArrivaClick, if that bus is held up in Ashington, and a passenger wants it for 6:30am at Morpeth, then that passenger will be made late.

Read more into the ArrivaClick scheme, you can book the journeys in advance and they're very reliable, more than standard buses. If it was rolled out in Morpeth, then Ashington would have nothing to do with it, apart from being the home depot. There'd be minibuses based throughout Morpeth, for dispatch at quite literally the touch of a button.

ArrivaClick is also more flexible, meaning that previously if you say, wanted to go from Pegswood to Northgate, you wouldn't have to change buses in Morpeth or even go into Morpeth, as it would take you direct.

It's been a success in Liverpool, Leicester and Sittingbourne. It'll certainly work in Morpeth, Stannington, Pegswood and surrounding areas.

(26 Aug 2019, 8:28 pm)omnicity4659

Read more into the ArrivaClick scheme, you can book the journeys in advance and they're very reliable, more than standard buses. If it was rolled out in Morpeth, then Ashington would have nothing to do with it, apart from being the home depot. There'd be minibuses based throughout Morpeth, for dispatch at quite literally the touch of a button.

ArrivaClick is also more flexible, meaning that previously if you say, wanted to go from Pegswood to Northgate, you wouldn't have to change buses in Morpeth or even go into Morpeth, as it would take you direct.

It's been a success in Liverpool, Leicester and Sittingbourne. It'll certainly work in Morpeth, Stannington, Pegswood and surrounding areas.

(27 Aug 2019, 4:24 pm)GuyParkRoyal New registrations for Rural Link taking over services from PCL Travel.

Registration number Operator name Service number Start point Finish point
PB2021997/1
New RURAL LINK LTD 51 () St. Mary's, Stannington Morpeth
PB2021997/4
New RURAL LINK LTD 613 () Whittonstall Hexham
PB2021997/2
New RURAL LINK LTD T1A (T1C, ) Morpeth Bus Station Morpeth Bus Station
PB2021997/3
New RURAL LINK LTD 882 () West Woodburn Hexham
PB2021997/5
New RURAL LINK LTD 885 () Byrness Hexham

(27 Aug 2019, 4:54 pm)TEN 6083 So they are taking over their own services as it’s basically the same company with the same owner and the same drivers but with a different name


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I'm not suprised in the slightest, although I'm sure his luck will run out sometime...

(27 Aug 2019, 4:54 pm)TEN 6083 So they are taking over their own services as it’s basically the same company with the same owner and the same drivers but with a different name


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That sums it up the only real change is Rural Link is set up as a limited company and PCL as a sole trader business. It appears that the service bus work will now be under Rural Link with an operators licence for three vehicles. PCL still have their separate licence as well.

(28 Aug 2019, 9:37 am)Charles41 Only real change is that the Saturday only 882 would now appear to be extended to West Woodburn rather than Colwell.

Yesterday at Hexham we had a minibus belonging to L & B Travel working the 613 to Whittonstall. No service number was displayed and nothing to say the vehicle was being operated by PCL. Only realised it was PCL as I recognised the driver. On the 885 Byrness run was a step entrance coach which appeared to be driven by Mr Cowell. Neither vehicle was DDA compliant.

Mr Cowell is the sole shareholder and director of Rural Link Limited. He is also sole director and shareholder of North East Limited. The accounts for this company are currently overdue as noted on the Companies House website.

Charles

(28 Aug 2019, 10:35 am)Jimmi Same as Tuesday a fortnight back then, vans are exempt from PSVAR compliance (DDA) although unless FJ55BXW has a wheelchair lift it won't comply come January 2020: https://flic.kr/p/2gWtnKY

Appears to be no S2 registered on there unless it's part of the S1 registration (or 51 as it appears on there) although I often question if the S2 actually still runs anyway.

Anything below 22 seats doesn't need to be DDA compliant.

I can't see one of them older Caetano's having a lift in the front (couldn't say for sure though!) and it certainly doesn't have a door in the nearside.

(28 Aug 2019, 9:37 am)Charles41 Only real change is that the Saturday only 882 would now appear to be extended to West Woodburn rather than Colwell.

Yesterday at Hexham we had a minibus belonging to L & B Travel working the 613 to Whittonstall. No service number was displayed and nothing to say the vehicle was being operated by PCL. Only realised it was PCL as I recognised the driver. On the 885 Byrness run was a step entrance coach which appeared to be driven by Mr Cowell. Neither vehicle was DDA compliant.

Mr Cowell is the sole shareholder and director of Rural Link Limited. He is also sole director and shareholder of North East Limited. The accounts for this company are currently overdue as noted on the Companies House website.

Charles

No sign of the 815?