(26 Apr 2018, 11:21 am)S830OFT wrote Well the use of a tiny iveco minibus on the 15 with paper displaying the number is not a real improvement. The only services they run that seem to be a improvement opposed to the previous operator is the 470/473. They have much newer buses allocated and have a range of ticket types availble for them, can't say much for the rest of the services they operate.

I was being saracastic haha
It’s a pathetic service they run

(26 Apr 2018, 3:43 pm)Tom wrote I was being saracastic haha
It’s a pathetic service they run

Lol, considering the residents pay for the 15 out of their council tax the service presented is shocking. And since the Spirit Days the fares seem to be unreasonable after looking at comments on Spirit Buses facebook page. I just don't know how this route can get any worse but it won't get better by the looks of it.

---

(26 Apr 2018, 3:43 pm)Tom wrote I was being saracastic haha
It’s a pathetic service they run

Lol, considering the residents pay for the 15 out of their council tax the service presented is shocking. And since the Spirit Days the fares seem to be unreasonable after looking at comments on Spirit Buses facebook page. I just don't know how this route can get any worse but it won't get better by the looks of it.

PCL have said on their Instagram page they have a new bus

Mercedes Citaro with registration number HF55 JZU





Sent from my iPhone 7+ using Tapatalk

(29 Apr 2018, 7:36 am)TEN 6083 wrote PCL have said on their Instagram page they have a new bus

Mercedes Citaro with registration number HF55 JZU





Sent from my iPhone 7+ using Tapatalk

Great photoshop job there...  
Last owned by Go South Coast.

When I suggested to the owner that he should promote his services... this wasn't what I expected.

I also see that he's replied to people with some rather colourful language too.

They've got a Facebook page as well. https://www.facebook.com/PCL-Travel-2035668576685549/

Latest from PCL is NK62EWH, another loan from L and B. Working one of the Tuesday only services at Hexham. No route number or destination. This is a sixteen seat Renault Master and is not DDA compliant.

Charles

(01 May 2018, 10:32 am)Charles41 wrote Latest from PCL is NK62EWH, another loan from L  and B. Working one of the Tuesday only services at Hexham. No route number or destination. This is a sixteen seat Renault Master and is not DDA compliant.

Charles

So this is a service which involves being thrown in the back of a van that doesn't belong to the operator, and doesn't match legal requirements? 
....Okay then....

(01 May 2018, 1:12 pm)Jamie M wrote So this is a service which involves being thrown in the back of a van that doesn't belong to the operator, and doesn't match legal requirements? 
....Okay then....

The Convoy was out in Hexham on Saturday. Wonder if their Convoy is in Morpeth today?

(01 May 2018, 1:12 pm)Jamie M wrote So this is a service which involves being thrown in the back of a van that doesn't belong to the operator, and doesn't match legal requirements? 
....Okay then....

I ain't particularly sure on what the rules are for using vans on service work but it must be acceptable to some degree as other operators use stuff like Transit's on service work, especially in rural areas. That said, I think some of their contracted services do specify that low floor buses should be used.

(01 May 2018, 3:12 pm)Jimmi wrote I ain't particularly sure on what the rules are for using vans on service work but it must be acceptable to some degree as other operators use stuff like Transit's on service work, especially in rural areas. That said, I think some of their contracted services do specify that low floor buses should be used.

Am I right in thinking they are classed as a coach, so DDA rules don't apply until 2020?

(01 May 2018, 3:44 pm)Tom wrote Am I right in thinking they are classed as a coach, so DDA rules don't apply until 2020?

The PSVR (2000) legislation states that a vehicle that does not accommodate standing passengers can be classed as a coach. As most van style vehicles are not designed for standing passengers the coach rules do apply.
In any event the vehicle in question (16 seat Renault Master) is exempt from the PSVAR / DDA  rules as the act applies to vehicles with a capacity of 22 or greater used on regulated service routes.

PB1069957 SN PETER IAN COWELL
43 CAMERON ROAD, PRUDHOE, NE42 5AJ
New operating centre: UNIT 5A, GALAXY BUSINESS PARK, RYTON
INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, RYTON, NE21 4SQ
New authorisation at this operating centre will be: 4 vehicle(s)
Removed operating centre: UNIT, 7A RYTON INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
NEWBURN BRIDGE ROAD, BLAYDON-ON-TYNE, NE21 4SQ

Whats happening with PCL's Social Media?
The Facebook page isn't loading and the Instagram has completely disappeared.

Presumably someone had a go at them on Instagram...

The Enviro 200 has been repainted (mostly):
PCL Travel: YX58DXB by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

(22 May 2018, 4:47 pm)Jimmi wrote The Enviro 200 has been repainted (mostly):
PCL Travel: YX58DXB by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Alphas have plenty destination screen sets going cheap if they need some...

• Registration number: PB1069957/24

• Licence Number: PB1069957

• Variation number: 0

• Status: New

• Service number: 51A

• Service type: Normal Stopping

• Start point: Morpeth

• Finish point: St Mary's Stannington
  Via
  Date received: 20 Jun 2018
  Effective date: 06 Jul 2018
  End date
  

• Supported by subsidies?: Yes
  

• Local authorities covered by route: Northumberland County Council
  

• TAOs covered by route: North East of England
  

(21 Jun 2018, 1:30 pm)Jimmi wrote

• Registration number: PB1069957/24

• Licence Number: PB1069957

• Variation number: 0

• Status: New

• Service number: 51A

• Service type: Normal Stopping

• Start point: Morpeth

• Finish point: St Mary's StanningtonViaDate received: 20 Jun 2018Effective date: 06 Jul 2018End date

• Supported by subsidies?: Yes

• Local authorities covered by route: Northumberland County Council

• TAOs covered by route: North East of England

More madness! I won't be surprised if he ends up with having a S1B, S1C etc alike the T1s.

According to one of the Morpeth drivers the boss is on his holidays in Tunisia. If passengers need any information they should phone Northumberland County Council.

What concerns me is that the Council can afford to subsidise these pointless versions of routes which don't carry anyone, yet, can't subsidise those which do carry passengers...

A prime example of this is the T1* routes, which serve no purpose whatsoever.
T1 - Northgate Hospital, a short walk from X14 and X15 bus stops.
T1A - Lancaster Park, originally covered by Arriva's 33.
T1B - St George's Park, doesn't warrant a bus service. Contender for a taxibus or Arriva Click-style service though.
T1C - Stobhill Grange, a very short walk from 2 and 43 bus stops.

A better way to cover the town would be to get rid of the secondary Stannington route, all of the town routes, and do as follows;
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SclhGv...75eSja4VlL&usp=sharing

I've included all of the existing routes in the map too.

PCL have acquired another Primo
PCL Travel: KX07KNZ by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Iveco GN06UEK is still with PCL but has now had the L&B names removed so looks like this could be staying with them for use on the 15/16.

(30 Jun 2018, 7:35 pm)Jimmi wrote PCL have acquired another Primo
PCL Travel: KX07KNZ by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Iveco GN06UEK is still with PCL but has now had the L&B names removed so looks like this could be staying with them for use on the 15/16.

God help passengers! It must enrage passengers on the 15/16 as they previously a top quality bus service and now it's just rubbish tbh

New in at PCL are:

Former Abellio London MPD KX06LYS (on services 15/16)
PCL Travel: KX06LYS by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Renault WX06UYP (on services A1/M1)
PCL Travel: WX06UYP by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr


Plaxton Primo KX08HMA (on service S1)

(24 Jul 2018, 6:38 pm)Jimmi wrote New in at PCL are:

Former Abellio London MPD KX06LYS (on services 15/16)
PCL Travel: KX06LYS by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Renault WX06UYP (on services A1/M1)
PCL Travel: WX06UYP by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr


Plaxton Primo KX08HMA (on service S1)

That dart must be a relief for passengers on the 15/16 as that Sunshine Coach must of been torture.

Observed LG02FFP being removed from Addison this afternoon under tow with Alpha - gone for scrap?

Is that Sunshine Coach PCL have DDA Compliant? As I noticed it is Step Entrance. And if it is allocated to routes alike the 15 it may be hard for the elderly and disabled passengers to board.

(15 Aug 2018, 7:25 pm)S830OFT wrote Is that Sunshine Coach PCL have DDA Compliant? As I noticed it is Step Entrance. And if it is allocated to routes alike the 15 it may be hard for the elderly and disabled passengers to board.

PSVAR/DDA doesn’t apply to vehicles with less than 22 passenger capacity.

I’m torn on opinion on PCL. Clearly their vehicles and presentation standards are not ideal but neither is the owner on a yacht in the Maldives whilst the pensioners of Croquetdale suffer. PCL are a marginal operator working scraps of services not profitable enough for Arriva to bother. Certainly, the output of Spirit Buses was much better, but clearly unsustainable. The issue here, I feel, is government policy on supported services more generally.

What is unacceptable, however, is dropping journies randomly on such infrequent routes. Again, much of the blame lies with PCL here, but maybe if they, or others, were paid a fair amount for the carriage of passengers it would be a better story?

(15 Aug 2018, 9:01 pm)James101 wrote PSVAR/DDA doesn’t apply to vehicles with less than 22 passenger capacity.

I’m torn on opinion on PCL. Clearly their vehicles and presentation standards are not ideal but neither is the owner on a yacht in the Maldives whilst the pensioners of Croquetdale suffer. PCL are a marginal operator working scraps of services not profitable enough for Arriva to bother. Certainly, the output of Spirit Buses was much better, but clearly unsustainable. The issue here, I feel, is government policy on supported services more generally.

What is unacceptable, however, is dropping journies randomly on such infrequent routes. Again, much of the blame lies with PCL here, but maybe if they, or others, were paid a fair amount for the carriage of passengers it would be a better story?

The management at PCL isn't very good either, they appear to have forgot or not bothered to inform Northumberland County Council that afternoon journeys on service M1 no longer operate, as such anybody waiting will not be picked up even though it says on the timetable it is scheduled.

Compared to Glen Valley Tours previous allocation of a Plaxton Beaver to service 470, it is very strange at how outside of school times the versas carry pretty much fresh air. 

Im thinking maybe PCL could operate a commercial service to Newcastle by simply extending one of the Wooler services using a Versa. I could actually see it working as Arriva prove themselves unreliable when it comes to Alnwick services.

In all serious if the idea was to work maybe PCL could aim for a new attractive brand, ideal stopping places, reasonable fares, lots of advertisements of the service and also come at popular times of when passengers want to travel.

Suggestion:
Route N1 'The Northern Direct' 
Alnwick - Willowburn - Shilbottle - A1 - Morpeth - Stannington - Dinnington - Newcastle Airport - Newcastle St. Thomas Street - Central Station.


This service will replace service S1/S2 in Stannington, it will reinstate the link to Newcastle, it will allow links to Train and Flight Connections by serving Newcastle Airport and Central Station. Also will allow more choice for passengers, in particular Alnwick to Morpeth as the current X15 is always delayed for various reasons.

Fares:
It would be extremely helpful if fares were provided before travelling, as such if the service was presented alike the Stagecoach X24 service.

Ideal prices would be:
Child Single: £2 
Child Return: £3
Child Day Ticket: £5
Child 10 Journey Ticket: £10
These fares would be restrictionless, alike Go North East who allow the £1 deal on most buses...
Adult Singles and Returns: Would change between destinations...
Adult Day Ticket: £7
Adult Week Ticket: £30
Adult Monthly Ticket: £100
Also if PCL offered Town Rider tickets allowing local residents, commuters and other passengers make short hops for a reasonable price.

I honestly think if PCL want to make a success of their services they should move with the times, an example of Passenger decrease is the 15 and 16, when Spirit Buses operated the services people flocked from all over to ride the routes, that was because the service was well advertised, well reviewed and extremely reliable with Spirit providing any updates if there was any disruption. Since Spirit Buses PCL seem to have allocated a vast fleet of vehicles, large amounts of reports of delays, breakdowns and overpriced tickets. Also the allocation of Ex Sunshine minibuses which to most people would be unnoticeable as a service bus...

(15 Aug 2018, 10:01 pm)S830OFT wrote Im thinking maybe PCL could operate a commercial service to Newcastle by simply extending one of the Wooler services using a Versa. I could actually see it working as Arriva prove themselves unreliable when it comes to Alnwick services.

Suggestion:
Route N1 'The Northern Direct' 
Alnwick - Willowburn - Shilbottle - A1 - Morpeth - Stannington - Dinnington - Newcastle Airport - Newcastle St. Thomas Street - Central Station.


This service will replace service S1/S2 in Stannington, it will reinstate the link to Newcastle, it will allow links to Train and Flight Connections by serving Newcastle Airport and Central Station. Also will allow more choice for passengers, in particular Alnwick to Morpeth as the current X15 is always delayed for various reasons.

"Arriva prove themselves unreliable" - I wonder if you've given much thought to why the Alnwick services aren't always bang on time, or how often you use them and understand why? The A1 north of Morpeth is a single carriageway for much of the X15 route, and is frequently at a standstill. Morpeth traffic is also ridiculously unpredictable, and can be awful at various points of the day. Also "unreliable" - yes they're usually 5-10 minutes late, but in all the time I've used them, they've never failed to turn up. 

The N1 - I don't understand how that route would be any more reliable than the X15. The issue with the X15 is, mainly, the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick, and Morpeth itself. There also isn't an awful lot of demand for a really slow route to the Airport. Most people will get a taxi, or an express to Regent Centre and catch a Metro.