(26 Aug 2019, 8:28 pm)omnicity4659 wroteHow do you define success?
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 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
(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.
(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
(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.
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(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?
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(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=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.
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, 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.Ah I'd seen the odd photo of L&B vehicles appearing, wondered if they worked closely with them. Clearly they do!
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, 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.Ah now that’s interesting, and not surprising! Explains a lot about the links between the two companies.
Charles
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(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.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?
Charles
(18 Apr 2022, 8:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote They used to have the 808 contract.
(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.
(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;
(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;