(26 Aug 2019, 8:28 pm)omnicity4659 wrote

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.

How do you define success?

From what I've heard on the grapevine, there isn't an operator out there who makes money from demand responsive travel, in our industry.

It's very early days, and whilst there may be an interest in it, the initial cost of the research and development (for the app etc) will put them back a few years, before it makes any sort of profit.

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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, 4:24 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote 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

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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(27 Aug 2019, 4:54 pm)TEN 6083 wrote 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 wrote 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.

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, 9:37 am)Charles41 wrote 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

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.

(28 Aug 2019, 10:35 am)Jimmi wrote 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 wrote 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?

New timetables online for Rural Link services on Nexus' website including some route & timetable changes: https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables?tid=187&title=

The licence for PCL Travel has now been revoked although the Rural Link licence is still in place.

Section 2.8 – Licences Revoked Without a Public Inquiry

PB1069957 SN PETER IAN COWELL
43 CAMERON ROAD, PRUDHOE, NE42 5AJ
Registered Bus Services running under this licence have also been revoked with
immediate effect.

PCL is in the news again, once again for overcrowding with their minibus allocations...
https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/18...villagers/

Your wording is a little misleading, They're providing a 16 seater as contracted, however passenger demand is higher than anticipated, and the council are in talks with them to remedy the situation.

I've updated (as best I can!) the PCL fleet list - https://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/list....eratorF=90&priorityF=&soldF=
I'm not 100% certain that all of the vehicles listed are still there... the business is known as Rural Link Ltd now of course, I'll look into getting it changed.
Interestingly they only have authorisation for 3 vehicles yet the timetables would suggest they operate 4 on a Tuesday with services 613, 885 and the two Morpeth buses running.
Is one of the Hexham runs sub-contracted out?

(14 May 2020, 2:52 pm)tyresmoke wrote I've updated (as best I can!) the PCL fleet list - https://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/list....eratorF=90&priorityF=&soldF=
I'm not 100% certain that all of the vehicles listed are still there... the business is known as Rural Link Ltd now of course, I'll look into getting it changed.
Interestingly they only have authorisation for 3 vehicles yet the timetables would suggest they operate 4 on a Tuesday with services 613, 885 and the two Morpeth buses running.
Is one of the Hexham runs sub-contracted out?

They regularly use stuff belonging to L&B Travel particularly on those Hexham runs on a Tuesday, an example showing one on the 885 fairly recently: https://flic.kr/p/2ghHmKN have seen them pop up in Morpeth a few times as well.

Solo M14PCL (V470GBF) is long gone I believe, they've had a few different MPDs of late but keeping up with them is a challenge. Don't think there's Primo's in service anymore but could be mistaken

(14 May 2020, 3:09 pm)Jimmi wrote They regularly use stuff belonging to L&B Travel particularly on those Hexham runs on a Tuesday, an example showing one on the 885 fairly recently: https://flic.kr/p/2ghHmKN  have seen them pop up in Morpeth a few times as well.

Solo M14PCL (V470GBF) is long gone I believe, they've had a few different MPDs of late but keeping up with them is a challenge. Don't think there's Primo's in service anymore but could be mistaken

Ah I'd seen the odd photo of L&B vehicles appearing, wondered if they worked closely with them. Clearly they do!
I'm guessing there is still lots of vehicles sat in a yard somewhere from when the old licence was revoked and moved to the new licence.
There's a few missing vehicles (especially Primos!) if anyone knows what happened to them:
M14PCL (V470GBF) Solo
KX06LYS Mini Dart
KX08HLM Primo
KX08HMA Primo
KX08OLB Primo
KX58BHN Centro

The Tuesday only 613 has recently been operated by Mollys Taxis which is a sister company to L&B Travel. They have been using an eight seater Ford Transit that operates on Durham County Council Hackney Carriage plates.

I believe a lot of the Rural Link vehicles have gone. There is a black Primo that has been parked up out of use in their yard for some time now. A Dart tends to be used on the other Hexham services.

Charles

I been checking Companies House, one of the directors of L&B Travel and Mollys Taxis was appointed a director of Rural Link late last year. Peter Cowell remains a director and sole shareholder of Rural Link.

Charles

(14 May 2020, 8:16 pm)Charles41 wrote I been checking Companies House, one of the directors of L&B Travel and Mollys Taxis was appointed a director of Rural Link late last year. Peter Cowell remains a director and sole shareholder of Rural Link.

Charles

Ah now that’s interesting, and not surprising! Explains a lot about the links between the two companies.

Spotted what I think was KX06 LYS on the S1 the other day, has been painted plain white with "Rural Link" in bold blue lettering on the front. Will try and get a photo from the car later.

Companies House shows that Peter Cowell is no longer the controlling shareholder in Rural Link Limited. The company is now owned by William Campbell one of the directors and shareholders of L&B Travel Limited of Ryton. Mr Cowell remains a director of Rural Link Limited.

Charles

A recent addition here is Optare Solo YB06 VOM (previously with The Eden with the reg VIA 923)
Rural Link: YB06VOM by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Other motors I've seen over the last few months include MPD SJ53 AWX and VW YX06 CUK
Rural Link: SJ53AWX by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Rural Link: YX06CUK by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

A recent addition is Ex the  Eden solo MX55 WCZ

Most recent Notices and Proceedings states Rural Link are facing possible disciplinary action from the Traffic Commissioner.

Charles

(04 Jan 2021, 7:07 pm)Charles41 wrote Most recent Notices and Proceedings states Rural Link are facing possible disciplinary action from the Traffic Commissioner.

Charles

They must be going for a guiness world record, pretty sure they've had trouble a few times. Does anyone know what this misdemeanor is for?

Does anyone remember there being a PCL service in Cowgate?

(18 Apr 2022, 8:52 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Does anyone remember there being a PCL service in Cowgate?

They used to have the 808 contract.

(18 Apr 2022, 8:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote They used to have the 808 contract.

Yeah, I think it was after that. Has the 808 been around since 1995? Phoenix have ran it since about 2018, I wonder if another operator might take it over soon, it was operated by Howard Snaith for a while though I believe. On Saturday I missed the 808 when a different minibus was allocated I didn't recognise.

(18 Apr 2022, 9:01 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Yeah, I think it was after that. Has the 808 been around since 1995? Phoenix have ran it since about 2018, I wonder if another operator might take it over soon, it was operated by Howard Snaith for a while though I believe. On Saturday I missed the 808 when a different minibus was allocated I didn't recognise.

It's probably been operating in some format ever since long-distance bus services rose to prominence in the 1920s.

Here is a timetable from 1984;

(18 Apr 2022, 9:32 pm)MurdnunoC wrote It's probably been operating in some format ever since long-distance bus services rose to prominence in the 1920s.

Here is a timetable from 1984;

Thanks for that. Be interesting to see if the 808 service lasts much longer. Frustrating to miss it on Saturday because of the allocated minibus.

---

(18 Apr 2022, 9:32 pm)MurdnunoC wrote It's probably been operating in some format ever since long-distance bus services rose to prominence in the 1920s.

Here is a timetable from 1984;

Does that contain all timetables from 1984?