(11 Jul 2017, 5:14 pm)Tom wrote 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!

Border's Buses

(11 Jul 2017, 5:55 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Border's Buses

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 wrote 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!

Which service is BB running the 267 or 464?

(12 Jul 2017, 1:27 am)Cobalt271 wrote Which service is BB running the 267 or 464?

Both

(12 Jul 2017, 3:50 am)Jimmi wrote Both

Interesting, I think that will leave them short of Buses now. Perhaps they shouldn't have shifted some of their vehicles over the Border.

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 wrote Meanwhile PCL are building a decent little operation, albeit spread over a wide area... just hope they're not expanding too quickly

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 wrote 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.

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 wrote 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

I agree. It would eat massively in to their profits, but at some point they're going to have to stop with the parking buses overnight in a layby.

Just following on from the post above replying to Scott, I started to compare the Stagecarriage model to the PCL one.
Quite interesting to compare, particularly when you throw in the vastly different Spirit model.

What sort of ticket machines dose Pcl use

Sounds to me like they are starting a new Alnwick town service

Registration number PB1069957/21
Licence Number PB1069957
Variation number 0
Status New
Service number. A1
Service type
Start point
Finish point
Via
Date received 17 Jul 2017
Effective date 04 Sep 2017
End date
Supported by subsidies? No

(17 Jul 2017, 10:32 am)Tom wrote Sounds to me like they are starting a new Alnwick town service

Registration number PB1069957/21
Licence Number PB1069957
Variation number 0
Status New
Service number. A1
Service type
Start point
Finish point
Via
Date received 17 Jul 2017
Effective date 04 Sep 2017
End date
Supported by subsidies? No

Seen on the Northumberland council website it is operating from Alnwick to Longframlington, via Newton on the Moor and Swarland.

(17 Jul 2017, 10:53 am)Tom wrote Seen on the Northumberland council website it is operating from Alnwick to Longframlington, via Newton on the Moor and Swarland.

Looking at the same source, it would appear that the 470 and 473 will be extended from Alnwick Bus Station to terminate at Alnwick Retail Park with school time journeys running to Duchess Catholic High School (that happens at present although Travelsure currently operate those school day journeys on the 470). May be wrong but looking at the times it looks like the A1 will interwork with the 470/473.

(17 Jul 2017, 11:27 am)Jimmi wrote Looking at the same source, it would appear that the 470 and 473 will be extended from Alnwick Bus Station to terminate at Alnwick Retail Park with school time journeys running to Duchess Catholic High School (that happens at present although Travelsure currently operate those school day journeys on the 470). May be wrong but looking at the times it looks like the A1 will interwork with the 470/473.

Yeah I'm guessing you are right - much improved service for Swarland and Newton on the Moor mind - currently only have one service a week by NEED.

(12 Jul 2017, 2:45 pm)jimmoc wrote What sort of ticket machines dose Pcl use

They don't.

(18 Jul 2017, 1:41 pm)omnicity4659 wrote They don't.

Oh really I didn't know that thank you

New PCL website - not sure how long it's existed for! http://pcltravel.uk

Look like a couple of Jimmis photos on there

@Tom

Pretty professional looking website it has to be said, just a pity their new site doesn't appear in Google search results atm it seems.

Fair few of the photos used are mine (plus one of Adrian's and don't know about the coach).

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

(09 Aug 2017, 11:33 am)Jimmi wrote @Tom

Pretty professional looking website it has to be said, just a pity their new site doesn't appear in Google search results atm it seems.

Fair few of the photos used are mine (plus one of Adrian's and don't know about the coach).

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

I agree it looks quite good, though there are a couple of spelling mistakes there.

I only found it when I googled the timetables and it comes up with 'a user suggested this website'

On there website it appears the 885 Hexham to Byrness no longer operates as it is no longer up. Unless they typically forgot to put the timetable up.

885 still operating as far as I'm aware, still registered on VOSA and timetable is available from other outlets, so most likely just missed off their site in error.

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

pcl currently has the following fleet
OPTERE SOLO KY06 LJY
PLAXTON PRIMO KX58LJA
OPTARE SOLO M14PCL
DENNIS DART LG02FFP
DENNIS DART LG02FFR
VW TRANSPORTER R222LOT
VW TRANSPORTER SP56
OPTARE SOLO KY10
2 OPTARE VERSA 50 SEAT WITH BELTS REG TO BE CONFIRMED

(10 Aug 2017, 9:59 am)jimmoc wrote pcl currently has the following fleet
OPTERE SOLO  KY06 LJY
PLAXTON PRIMO  KX58LJA
OPTARE SOLO  M14PCL
DENNIS DART  LG02FFP
DENNIS DART   LG02FFR
VW TRANSPORTER  R222LOT
VW TRANSPORTER SP56
OPTARE SOLO KY10
2 OPTARE VERSA 50 SEAT WITH BELTS REG TO BE CONFIRMED

Guessing they are for the Wooler services? Bit big other than for school runs!

(10 Aug 2017, 10:35 am)Tom wrote Guessing they are for the Wooler services? Bit big other than for school runs!

Yes it is and mpd is no longer with pcl

(10 Aug 2017, 10:50 am)jimmoc wrote Yes it is and mpd is no longer with pcl

Solo KX06LYJ is on hire from Dawson rentals.

PCL Travel have this former Trent Barton Optare Excel in stock.


https://flic.kr/p/Wnfy8A

New 470/473 timetables are now on their website: http://pcltravel.uk/index.php/timetables

No A1 timetable yet though.

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(14 Aug 2017, 5:28 pm)Jimmi wrote New 470/473 timetables are now on their website: http://pcltravel.uk/index.php/timetables

No A1 timetable yet though.

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

Interesting - the 1255 470 from Wooler arrives Sainsburys Alnwick at 1245!

(14 Aug 2017, 8:37 pm)coldav wrote Interesting - the 1255 470 from Wooler arrives Sainsburys Alnwick at 1245!

Unfortunately after posting that, I did spot some errors, worse still the times on the 470 timetable on their site seem to differ by 5 minutes (earlier or later) to the times on Traveline's site on the stops between Wooler and Eglingham, according to Traveline the 470 departs Wooler Bus Station at 10:00, 12:00, 16:30 (seemingly is no 07:55 470 according to Traveline but 473 departs at 07:50), according to Traveline 470 departs Alnwick Bus Station at 09:00, 1300, 15:45? Traveline is saying to walk to Dispensary Street with the bus departing at 15:44 then last one at 17:20  PCL timetable claiming a 17:30 departure for that run. The times on Traveline's site match the times on the Northumberland Bus Changes PDF on Northumberland County Council's site, except they claim the 07:50 departure from Wooler whilst Traveline don't.

So, I would now advise waiting for the Nexus version of the timetable for the 470, 473 one seems right though.

(14 Aug 2017, 9:11 pm)Jimmi wrote Unfortunately after posting that, I did spot some errors, worse still the times on the 470 timetable on their site seem to differ by 5 minutes (earlier or later) to the times on Traveline's site on the stops between Wooler and Eglingham, according to Traveline the 470 departs Wooler Bus Station at 10:00, 12:00, 16:30 (seemingly is no 07:55 470 according to Traveline but 473 departs at 07:50), according to Traveline 470 departs Alnwick Bus Station at 09:00, 1300, 15:45? Traveline is saying to walk to Dispensary Street with the bus departing at 15:44 then last one at 17:20  PCL timetable claiming a 17:30 departure for that run. The times on Traveline's site match the times on the Northumberland Bus Changes PDF on Northumberland County Council's site, except they claim the 07:50 departure from Wooler whilst Traveline don't.

So, I would now advise waiting for the Nexus version of the timetable for the 470, 473 one seems right though.

The timetable for the 470 doesn't seem correct in my eyes either...

My question is where are they going to base the buses? Dump two new Optare Versas in a lay by somewhere? I hope not! Plus surely they will need a spare bus based up there