Would be interesting to know which services they had won and are now handing back. Judging by that letter the Cathedral Bus and maybe the 42 as well as the 61/62.

I asked someone at the council and he said they're scrambling to find cover for the services Scarlet Band won, as most operators are at capacity.

Obviously 1 of the larger contracts referred to in the letter that they lost is the Durham Park and Ride, I reckon the other is the 84/85/95/96 which have been awarded to Weardale. (Also worth noting the 74/83 will be staying with Hodgsons).

Unless a replacement is found for the 52 and 61, the pensioners of Whitesmocks are going to be left with nothing.

(11 Oct 2022, 6:35 pm)peter wrote Would be interesting to know which services they had won and are now handing back. Judging by that letter the Cathedral Bus and maybe the 42 as well as the 61/62.

I asked someone at the council and he said they're scrambling to find cover for the services Scarlet Band won, as most operators are at capacity.

Obviously 1 of the larger contracts referred to in the letter that they lost is the Durham Park and Ride, I reckon the other is the 84/85/95/96 which have been awarded to Weardale. (Also worth noting the 74/83 will be staying with Hodgsons).

The attached shows what they won/retained.


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(11 Oct 2022, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote The attached shows what they won/retained.


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If GNE were to get them it would massively expand there services and they can push advertisements for the X21/21 etc

(11 Oct 2022, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote The attached shows what they won/retained.


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With the 9, I wonder if Arriva could merge that into the 6 and basically run the old X21/18 route through Woodhouse.

(11 Oct 2022, 7:50 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With the 9, I wonder if Arriva could merge that into the 6 and basically run the old X21/18 route through Woodhouse.

The 6 never terminates at Bishop Auckland so wouldn't that be adding a de-tour to the route?

(11 Oct 2022, 7:52 pm)Unber43 wrote The 6 never terminates at Bishop Auckland so wouldn't that be adding a de-tour to the route?

It's only a 'small' diversion through Woodhouse estate though, it used to be run by the X21 until they extended it to West Auckland

(11 Oct 2022, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote The attached shows what they won/retained.


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I don't know how true it is but I heard that Gateshead Central had won the Durham Park and Ride

(11 Oct 2022, 7:52 pm)Unber43 wrote The 6 never terminates at Bishop Auckland so wouldn't that be adding a de-tour to the route?

For reference, the left is the current X21 route, the right is the 'old' x21 route when it terminated at Tindale Tesco. They basically took the 18 route and extended it to Tesco. Then it was withdrawn and what would become the 9 was put out for tender.
I think it could be good for Arriva to go for the contract for the 9 and basically reinstate the old route, sans the stupid loop bit around Sainsburys that caused me no end of trouble with a particular driver refusing to go all the way to Tesco!

I would be surprised if the length of tender and vehicle expectations weren't given in the initial tender process. Seems he's tried to undercut other bids and then tried to hold the council over a barrel regarding the duration of the tender and left himself short
Feel so sorry for his employees getting barely 3 weeks notice. I hope they all manage to find alternative employment. .

(11 Oct 2022, 8:29 pm)123456 wrote I would be surprised if the length of tender and vehicle expectations weren't given in the initial tender process. Seems he's tried to undercut other bids and then tried to hold the council over a barrel regarding the duration of the tender and left himself short
Feel so sorry for his employees getting barely 3 weeks notice. I hope they all manage to find alternative employment. .

Any driving staff will be covered under TUPE.

Of course, depending on where they live, moving to Gateshead Central Taxis (for example) might not be a viable option given the time and cost associated with the commute to Felling.

It may be difficult to say that other non-driving staff roles spend x amount of their time doing work for that contract and I’m not sure how that would therefore impact on their ability to TUPE.


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(11 Oct 2022, 8:50 pm)Dan wrote Any driving staff will be covered under TUPE.

Of course, depending on where they live, moving to Gateshead Central Taxis (for example) might not be a viable option given the time and cost associated with the commute to Felling.

It may be difficult to say that other non-driving staff roles spend x amount of their time doing work for that contract and I’m not sure how that would therefore impact on their ability to TUPE.


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Wonder if GCT would take over their depot given they seem to be going for a lot of contracts down here.

(11 Oct 2022, 7:50 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With the 9, I wonder if Arriva could merge that into the 6 and basically run the old X21/18 route through Woodhouse.

I'm sure they have a few self driving 20 year old Geminis going spare. They seem to only be running about 3/4 of the 6 as it is.

(11 Oct 2022, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote The attached shows what they won/retained.


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Thanks Dan, will be interesting to see who the council gets to pick them up. While the Durham contracts could go to an independent or GNE or ANE respectively, the Bishop Auckland services 9, 81/89, 104, 35A and Ferryhill/Spennymoor services 111/113/115 are a bit more awkward. There's also the 108/109 and 112 not mentioned there. Likewise I wonder what will happen with the 16 in Darlington. 

The fact that GCT lost the 104 makes me think they've focused on the Durham services, most likely given it's a shorter distance for them. Other than Weardale, or unless GCT do fancy going south of Durham I can't really think who else would want those services. Really you'd have been better with Hodgsons getting the 84/85/95/96 and Weardale picking up the Bishop/Ferryhill/Spennymoor services

Reckon DBC will finance Arriva to run service 16 in Darlington or will it be lost? It seems to have very low patronage

such a shame to see scarlet band cease traiding, such a helpful company with friendly drivers. another good company gone

(12 Oct 2022, 3:39 pm)JoshP wrote Reckon DBC will finance Arriva to run service 16 in Darlington or will it be lost? It seems to have very low patronage

Funding had just been secured in the last few weeks to support the continuation of service 16 for another 2 years

I understand GCT have won the P&R contract and medium to long term is to operate Electric Buses

I would say short term but there is a queue for buses

But short term there is plenty of spare Euro6 standard buses

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But the distance from Felling site to (Durham) A194 and A1 is about the same distance from Killingworth or North Shields to Felling (time wise)

I'm assuming they'll be leasing a few buses to use on the Park & Ride until the electrics arrive.

Unless they said they will do electric and argue the case with a supplier issue and to mitigate it they do euro6

(11 Oct 2022, 11:06 pm)peter wrote Thanks Dan, will be interesting to see who the council gets to pick them up. While the Durham contracts could go to an independent or GNE or ANE respectively, the Bishop Auckland services 9, 81/89, 104, 35A and Ferryhill/Spennymoor services 111/113/115 are a bit more awkward. There's also the 108/109 and 112 not mentioned there. Likewise I wonder what will happen with the 16 in Darlington. 

The fact that GCT lost the 104 makes me think they've focused on the Durham services, most likely given it's a shorter distance for them. Other than Weardale, or unless GCT do fancy going south of Durham I can't really think who else would want those services. Really you'd have been better with Hodgsons getting the 84/85/95/96 and Weardale picking up the Bishop/Ferryhill/Spennymoor services

Hodgsons and Weardale best placed for the Spennymoor/Bishop services, the 115 in particular carries few, but works with the 111. Possible Sprinter territory. Perhaps GCT might aim for the north west Durham operations off their park and ride pool..

(19 Oct 2022, 7:45 am)54APhotography wrote Hodgsons and Weardale best placed for the Spennymoor/Bishop services, the 115 in particular carries few, but works with the 111. Possible Sprinter territory. Perhaps GCT might aim for the north west Durham operations off their park and ride pool..

Going off the Durham bus timetable site, this is supposedly who has what of the County Durham tenders.

9 - Weardale
35A - Hodgsons
40/40A/41 - Gateshead Central Taxis
42 - Gateshead Central Taxis
47 - Gateshead Central Taxis
52/53 - Gateshead Central Taxis
59 - Arriva (running as 58)
61/62 - Gateshead Central Taxis
70/71/72 - Hodgsons
74/83 - Hodgsons
81/89 - Hodgsons
84/84A/85/95/96 - Weardale (with revised timetable)
99 - Weardale
104 - Hodgsons
108/109 - Weardale (service is reportedly revised in some form, ignore the DCC timetable as it's an old Scarlet Band one)
111/115 - Weardale
113 - Hodgsons
239 - Arriva (running as X21)
PR1/PR2 - Gateshead Central Taxis

The site is also listing the Aycliffe Town Bus 17 as being ran by Scarlet Band (alongside many of the previously awarded contracts to SB) but now also have timetables with the new awardees except the 17, can only assume its either not yet been awarded or Hodgsons are retaining it.

112 is commercially operated so unless DCC step in to fund it, it will not be running beyond next Friday.

The future of the 16 in Darlington is currently unknown although its being said that its not running after next week but unsure if the service has a future with another company despite the service recently gaining funding for another 2 years. The 16 is not operating this week due to "unforseen circumstances" but will apparently be running for its finial week of service next week according to Connect Tees Valley.

*have omitted some from the list such as Crook 84 & Bishop 87 which retain current operators or had previously been awarded. Unsure on works services such as 945/952/969.

Scarlet Band to close after 102 Years on the 29th October 2022
https://cbwmagazine.com/scarlet-band-to-...102-years/

A post online said that vehicles including Optare Solos and Versas, plus ADL Enviro200s, had been placed up for sale “priced for enthusiasts to purchase a vehicle for preservation from a company with 102 years of history" and that they were priced “for preservation not operators” with some vehicles “available costing three figures.”

(23 Oct 2022, 1:13 pm)Malarkey wrote Scarlet Band to close after 102 Years on the 29th October 2022
https://cbwmagazine.com/scarlet-band-to-...102-years/

A post online said that vehicles including Optare Solos and Versas, plus ADL Enviro200s, had been placed up for sale “priced for enthusiasts to purchase a vehicle for preservation from a company with 102 years of history" and that they were priced “for preservation not operators” with some vehicles “available costing three figures.”

Sounds a bit dodgy, surely if they could sell them to other operators, they would. 

That gives me the impression that their vehicles are barely roadworthy to the point where another operator wouldn't touch them!

Does anyone have a fleet list for scarlett band?

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Looking at Flickr it seems the majority of the fleet is between 09-62 plate. Some aren't even 10 years old yet.

(23 Oct 2022, 2:13 pm)Unber43 wrote Does anyone have a fleet list for scarlett band?

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Looking at Flickr it seems the majority of the fleet is between 09-62 plate. Some aren't even 10 years old yet.

https://buslists.uk/fleet.php?ownerid=190

(23 Oct 2022, 1:34 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Sounds a bit dodgy, surely if they could sell them to other operators, they would. 

That gives me the impression that their vehicles are barely roadworthy to the point where another operator wouldn't touch them!

Well people don't call them 'Scabby Band' for nowt.

(19 Oct 2022, 12:38 pm)Jimmi wrote Going off the Durham bus timetable site, this is supposedly who has what of the County Durham tenders.

9 - Weardale
35A - Hodgsons
40/40A/41 - Gateshead Central Taxis
42 - Gateshead Central Taxis
47 - Gateshead Central Taxis
52/53 - Gateshead Central Taxis
59 - Arriva (running as 58)
61/62 - Gateshead Central Taxis
70/71/72 - Hodgsons
74/83 - Hodgsons
81/89 - Hodgsons
84/84A/85/95/96 - Weardale (with revised timetable)
99 - Weardale
104 - Hodgsons
108/109 - Weardale (service is reportedly revised in some form, ignore the DCC timetable as it's an old Scarlet Band one)
111/115 - Weardale
113 - Hodgsons
239 - Arriva (running as X21)
PR1/PR2 - Gateshead Central Taxis

The site is also listing the Aycliffe Town Bus 17 as being ran by Scarlet Band (alongside many of the previously awarded contracts to SB) but now also have timetables with the new awardees except the 17, can only assume its either not yet been awarded or Hodgsons are retaining it.

112 is commercially operated so unless DCC step in to fund it, it will not be running beyond next Friday.

The future of the 16 in Darlington is currently unknown although its being said that its not running after next week but unsure if the service has a future with another company despite the service recently gaining funding for another 2 years. The 16 is not operating this week due to "unforseen circumstances" but will apparently be running for its finial week of service next week according to Connect Tees Valley.

*have omitted some from the list such as Crook 84 & Bishop 87 which retain current operators or had previously been awarded. Unsure on works services such as 945/952/969.

Just to confirm the 112 and 969 will be withdrawn

(24 Oct 2022, 7:01 pm)peter wrote Just to confirm the 112 and 969 will be withdrawn

Seems as if all the remaining works services are being withdrawn as no journeys are listed for services 945 & 952 run by Ferryhill Village Travel after this Friday.

[quote="streetdeckfan" pid="287321" dateline="1666532092"]

Sounds a bit dodgy, surely if they could sell them to other operators, they would. 

That gives me the impression that their vehicles are barely roadworthy to the point where another operator wouldn't touch them!

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I've seen a few buses they run a few of them are in good condition but it surprises me why they aren't selling them to other operators