PCL Travel
PCL Travel
(29 Jun 2017, 8:25 am)RBZ 5459 Noticed it on Sunday when I checked the times to try and photo it at the Metrocentre. Second time I've been stood for the 1600 to reach it's journey end, second time it didn't appear for me. What an outfit operation....
This time I was at the Metrocentre Coach Park after last times Newcastle no show.
(29 Jun 2017, 8:25 am)RBZ 5459 Noticed it on Sunday when I checked the times to try and photo it at the Metrocentre. Second time I've been stood for the 1600 to reach it's journey end, second time it didn't appear for me. What an outfit operation....
This time I was at the Metrocentre Coach Park after last times Newcastle no show.
(29 Jun 2017, 9:02 am)Jimmi Partly why I've never bothered getting a photo of the Sunday workings at Metrocentre/Newcastle as I did fear that this would happen on the last trip to the Metrocentre and it's a shame to see my fears being proved right.
(29 Jun 2017, 9:12 am)Tom I wonder if it was because no passengers were onboard, and there is probably no point in operating the rest of the journey (even though they should) and has just returned to the depot early from Stannington or Cowgate?
(29 Jun 2017, 9:02 am)Jimmi Partly why I've never bothered getting a photo of the Sunday workings at Metrocentre/Newcastle as I did fear that this would happen on the last trip to the Metrocentre and it's a shame to see my fears being proved right.
(29 Jun 2017, 9:12 am)Tom I wonder if it was because no passengers were onboard, and there is probably no point in operating the rest of the journey (even though they should) and has just returned to the depot early from Stannington or Cowgate?
So having eventually had the chance to try out PCL myself I must say I was very happy with the service provided and was surprised to have the 2 darts but are in a far better condition than previously and were quite decent buses for a dart.
First was on the 15 from Alnwick which was spot on time, though was a dart instead of the usual Solo - the loadings were quite low but I noticed a few people boarding in Rothbury heading to Thropton. Then I am on an unplanned trip on the M1 as I read the X14 times wrong so had a hour wait in Rothbury and this one has a good loading with several fare paying passengers, and again this dart is in a surprisingly good conditon. Far better than the vans they put on the service. Also excellent value at only £2 from Rothbury to Morpeth! (18 or so miles) Both drivers were also very friendly.
So overall I think they have 100% improved and I would say to anybody who has been put off by the incidents in the past to give them a go!
(08 Jul 2017, 3:20 pm)Tom So having eventually had the chance to try out PCL myself I must say I was very happy with the service provided and was surprised to have the 2 darts but are in a far better condition than previously and were quite decent buses for a dart.
First was on the 15 from Alnwick which was spot on time, though was a dart instead of the usual Solo - the loadings were quite low but I noticed a few people boarding in Rothbury heading to Thropton. Then I am on an unplanned trip on the M1 as I read the X14 times wrong so had a hour wait in Rothbury and this one has a good loading with several fare paying passengers, and again this dart is in a surprisingly good conditon. Far better than the vans they put on the service. Also excellent value at only £2 from Rothbury to Morpeth! (18 or so miles) Both drivers were also very friendly.
So overall I think they have 100% improved and I would say to anybody who has been put off by the incidents in the past to give them a go!
(08 Jul 2017, 3:20 pm)Tom So having eventually had the chance to try out PCL myself I must say I was very happy with the service provided and was surprised to have the 2 darts but are in a far better condition than previously and were quite decent buses for a dart.
First was on the 15 from Alnwick which was spot on time, though was a dart instead of the usual Solo - the loadings were quite low but I noticed a few people boarding in Rothbury heading to Thropton. Then I am on an unplanned trip on the M1 as I read the X14 times wrong so had a hour wait in Rothbury and this one has a good loading with several fare paying passengers, and again this dart is in a surprisingly good conditon. Far better than the vans they put on the service. Also excellent value at only £2 from Rothbury to Morpeth! (18 or so miles) Both drivers were also very friendly.
So overall I think they have 100% improved and I would say to anybody who has been put off by the incidents in the past to give them a go!
(08 Jul 2017, 3:55 pm)Jimmi I did a trip on PCL a few Saturdays back where I got the S1 from Morpeth to Stannington and back, M1 to Rothbury then 15 to Alnwick and I didn't have any issues although I did see one of the T1 services miss out Morpeth Rail Station. They have certainly improved recently but I still have slight fears of stuff going wrong.
I noticed that the 06 reg Solo was operating the afternoon trip on service 808 last Saturday.
Fancy some haulage on their Darts again but other stuff tends to turn up when I've used them, would quite to sample the ex Hunter Bros MPD but haven't seen it in a little while.
(08 Jul 2017, 3:55 pm)Jimmi I did a trip on PCL a few Saturdays back where I got the S1 from Morpeth to Stannington and back, M1 to Rothbury then 15 to Alnwick and I didn't have any issues although I did see one of the T1 services miss out Morpeth Rail Station. They have certainly improved recently but I still have slight fears of stuff going wrong.
I noticed that the 06 reg Solo was operating the afternoon trip on service 808 last Saturday.
Fancy some haulage on their Darts again but other stuff tends to turn up when I've used them, would quite to sample the ex Hunter Bros MPD but haven't seen it in a little while.
(08 Jul 2017, 4:39 pm)Tom Yeah I guess they don't have any set allocations then, other than the Centro on the T1s - also quite odd was R222LOT on the S1.
I wonder if the ex Hunters MPD has been withdrawn as I have never seen it or pictures of it recently
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(08 Jul 2017, 4:39 pm)Tom Yeah I guess they don't have any set allocations then, other than the Centro on the T1s - also quite odd was R222LOT on the S1.
I wonder if the ex Hunters MPD has been withdrawn as I have never seen it or pictures of it recently
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(11 Jul 2017, 5:14 pm)Tom PCL are running the Wooler services from September (470/473) but I can't remember who is doing the buses from Berwick even though I looked at the poster twice!
(11 Jul 2017, 5:14 pm)Tom PCL are running the Wooler services from September (470/473) but I can't remember who is doing the buses from Berwick even though I looked at the poster twice!
(11 Jul 2017, 5:56 pm)Tom Ah ok thank you - hopefully PCL put something decent on their services, I'm pretty sure Borders Buses will anyway.
Shame for Glen Valley though - they have had the services for ages!
(11 Jul 2017, 5:56 pm)Tom Ah ok thank you - hopefully PCL put something decent on their services, I'm pretty sure Borders Buses will anyway.
Shame for Glen Valley though - they have had the services for ages!
(12 Jul 2017, 1:27 am)Cobalt271 Which service is BB running the 267 or 464?
(12 Jul 2017, 3:50 am)Jimmi Both
(12 Jul 2017, 3:50 am)Jimmi Both
(12 Jul 2017, 10:41 am)tyresmoke Meanwhile PCL are building a decent little operation, albeit spread over a wide area... just hope they're not expanding too quickly
(12 Jul 2017, 10:41 am)tyresmoke Meanwhile PCL are building a decent little operation, albeit spread over a wide area... just hope they're not expanding too quickly
(12 Jul 2017, 11:13 am)Andreos1 There was a discussion not too long ago about the business model versus Spirits.
Two totally different models, with PCL seemingly buying older vehicles rather than renting newer.
From the outside in, it seems to be working.
(12 Jul 2017, 11:13 am)Andreos1 There was a discussion not too long ago about the business model versus Spirits.
Two totally different models, with PCL seemingly buying older vehicles rather than renting newer.
From the outside in, it seems to be working.
(12 Jul 2017, 12:27 pm)Charles41 Logistically speaking it would probably serve PCL well to open an outstation in the Alnwick area. If they currently have one vehicle tied up on the old Spirit service, then they'll probably need another two for the Wooler run.
I think PCL are now Northumberland County Council's largest contractor for subsidised bus services.
Charles
(12 Jul 2017, 12:27 pm)Charles41 Logistically speaking it would probably serve PCL well to open an outstation in the Alnwick area. If they currently have one vehicle tied up on the old Spirit service, then they'll probably need another two for the Wooler run.
I think PCL are now Northumberland County Council's largest contractor for subsidised bus services.
Charles