Does PCL still operate the M1 service?

(23 Jul 2019, 8:54 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Does PCL still operate the M1 service?

No

(23 Jul 2019, 9:02 pm)Jimmi wrote No

Thanks. A bus stop timetable has it on, and the bus stop timetable was apparently displayed this month.

(23 Jul 2019, 2:10 pm)Tyne_Traveller wrote Peter Cowell was driving it.

Might belong to one of the other companies that he is Transport Manager for.

(23 Jul 2019, 9:56 pm)busmanT wrote

Might belong to one of the other companies that he is Transport Manager for.

I think it might be the coach he used to use on the Wooler journeys, although he has had so many vehicles it's difficult to tell.

Also does anybody know what is happening with the 15/16?

Have any arrangements been made for Alnwick to Rothbury with service 15 finishing this month?

PB1069957/16 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Queens Head, Rothbury to Queens Head, Rothbury
Service number: 16 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

PB1069957/21 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Alnwck to Longframlington
Service number: A1 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

PB1069957/15 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Thropton, Three Wheat Heads to Cawledge Business Park, Alnwick
Service number: 15 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

(29 Jul 2019, 9:10 am)Kuyoyo wrote PB1069957/16 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Queens Head, Rothbury to Queens Head, Rothbury
Service number: 16 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

PB1069957/21 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Alnwck to Longframlington
Service number: A1 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

PB1069957/15 Cancelled
PETER IAN COWELL
Route: Thropton, Three Wheat Heads to Cawledge Business Park, Alnwick
Service number: 15 ()
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 19 Aug 2019

Guessing that is untill a tender can be found

(29 Jul 2019, 11:32 am)GNE6312 wrote

Guessing that is untill a tender can be found

Does anyone have any idea whether  these services are being taken over by another operator?

BU05HFW, AE54HYU and FJ55BXW are all in what seems to be their new Rural Link livery, identity, whatever...

PCL Travel: BU05HFW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: AU54HYU by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: FJ55BXW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

No clue what is going on with the 15/16

(13 Aug 2019, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote

BU05HFW, AE54HYU and FJ55BXW are all in what seems to be their new Rural Link livery, identity, whatever...

PCL Travel: BU05HFW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: AU54HYU by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: FJ55BXW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

No clue what is going on with the 15/16

Looks like PCL has been renamed Rural Link, as on all 3 vehicles I don't see one mention of PCL.

None of the buses operated by PCL out of Morpeth over the last few months have had any legal lettering. Is this legal?

(13 Aug 2019, 9:14 pm)coldav wrote None of the buses operated by PCL out of Morpeth over the last few months have had any legal lettering. Is this legal?

Having watched Can't Pay, We'll Take It Away, one of the High Court Enforcement Officers did confirm that company assets i.e. Vehicles are listed on a system, this allows them to know who the owner of the vehicle is...

So I believe that if it was a matter of importance it would be displayed.

(13 Aug 2019, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote

BU05HFW, AE54HYU and FJ55BXW are all in what seems to be their new Rural Link livery, identity, whatever...

PCL Travel: BU05HFW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: AU54HYU by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

PCL Travel: FJ55BXW by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

No clue what is going on with the 15/16

That livery looks like NAT group

(13 Aug 2019, 9:24 pm)S830OFT wrote

Having watched Can't Pay, We'll Take It Away, one of the High Court Enforcement Officers did confirm that company assets i.e. Vehicles are listed on a system, this allows them to know who the owner of the vehicle is...

So I believe that if it was a matter of importance it would be displayed.

Instead of going off what the telly says, do a bit of research. Regulation 45 of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981 contains provisions for markings, as detailed below.

No vehicle in respect of which, by virtue of section 17(1) of the Transport Act 1980, a certificate of initial fitness, or a certificate under section 130 of the Road Traffic Act 1960, or a certificate under section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 is required shall be used on a road unless the vehicle is marked with clearly legible characters—

(i) not less than 25 millimetres tall,

(ii) in a conspicuous position on the nearside of the vehicle,

(iii) in colours which contrast with their background, and

(iv) indicating the name of the owner (as defined in section 44(1) of the said Act of 1980 in relation to a vehicle to which that definition applies) of the vehicle and the owner's principal place of business.

Just checked VOSA, all PCL services (both commercial and subsidised) are cancelled with effect from 13 September 2019.

Today is the last day of the 15 & 16 which is the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury and Alwinton.

Is this the end of PCL?

No services have yet to be registered for Mr Cowell's new company Rural Link Limited.

Charles

(17 Aug 2019, 8:33 am)Charles41 wrote Just checked VOSA, all PCL services (both commercial and subsidised) are cancelled with effect from 13 September 2019.

Today is the last day of the 15 & 16 which is the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury and Alwinton.

Is this the end of PCL?

No services have yet to be registered for Mr Cowell's new company Rural Link Limited.

Charles

Unless he comes back under a new operators license again, I think not...

Hopefully Go North East can take over the Hexham contracts, and I personally hope Arriva reintroduce the 33 & 44 back to Morpeth, otherwise residents will face a long walk to a bus stop, or face having no service at all.

(17 Aug 2019, 8:33 am)Charles41 wrote Just checked VOSA, all PCL services (both commercial and subsidised) are cancelled with effect from 13 September 2019.

Today is the last day of the 15 & 16 which is the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury and Alwinton.

Is this the end of PCL?

No services have yet to be registered for Mr Cowell's new company Rural Link Limited.

Charles

What exactly did you check on VOSA (or DVSA) to get this info?

We theoretically had a PCL 'A1' service Alnwick to Longframlington but over the past months the service just hasn't been turning up at its timetabled time, and our local Parish Council has failed to find out why.

All attempts to contact PCL have failed.

Your post may explain it, so I'd be happy for any info you have, or can point me to.

(17 Aug 2019, 11:02 am)zippy wrote What exactly did you check on VOSA (or DVSA) to get this info? We theoretically had a PCL 'A1' service Alnwick to Longframlington but over the past months the service just hasn't been turning up at its timetabled time, and our local Parish Council has failed to find out why. All attempts to contact PCL have failed. Your post may explain it, so I'd be happy for any info you have, or can point me to.

Type the license number PB1069957 into VOSA (linked below) and it will bring up all the registrations for services operated by PCL: https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...-services/

In regards to the A1, from my experiences and sightings they were operating some 15 journeys between Rothbury and Alnwick via Longframlington then A1 route to Alnwick Bus Station (1155 from Rothbury and 1400 from Lionheart, Alnwick)

thanks for the info

(17 Aug 2019, 8:33 am)Charles41 wrote Just checked VOSA, all PCL services (both commercial and subsidised) are cancelled with effect from 13 September 2019.

Today is the last day of the 15 & 16 which is the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury and Alwinton.

Is this the end of PCL?

No services have yet to be registered for Mr Cowell's new company Rural Link Limited.

Charles

Looks like Phoenix are taking the 15 over, can't see anything about the 16.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/537913/

(19 Aug 2019, 12:46 pm)Tom wrote

Looks like Phoenix are taking the 15 over, can't see anything about the 16.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.service.gov.uk/search/find-registered-local-bus-services/details/537913/

Timetable is on the Nexus website. Only 2 journeys weekdays between Thropton and Alnwick, morning journey starting in Newcastle and evening one finishing there. No sign of a replacement for the 16.

(17 Aug 2019, 8:46 am)S830OFT wrote

Unless he comes back under a new operators license again, I think not...

Hopefully Go North East can take over the Hexham contracts, and I personally hope Arriva reintroduce the 33 & 44 back to Morpeth, otherwise residents will face a long walk to a bus stop, or face having no service at all.

2 & 43 already covers Stobhill. X14 and X15 stop 5 minute walk from Lancaster Park.

(25 Aug 2019, 11:41 pm)omnicity4659 wrote

2 & 43 already covers Stobhill. X14 and X15 stop 5 minute walk from Lancaster Park.

I was referring to Stannington aswell, this village will be left isolated if no replacement service is provided...

(26 Aug 2019, 8:31 am)S830OFT wrote

I was referring to Stannington aswell, this village will be left isolated if no replacement service is provided...

That's our problem (Swarland) - with no PCL bus there are now no buses at all. Only way to catch a bus is to walk a mile down to the A1, cross the A1 and catch the 'real' Arriva X15 bus through Felton.

Just to prove how crazy things can be, there's talk of refurbishing the bus shelter on the Swarland side of the A1, where there will be no actual buses stopping !

I think the Morpeth area is a contender for Arriva Click, as opposed to full on bus services. A larger area can be covered with the same amount of buses but without being tied to a schedule...and can access any street.

(26 Aug 2019, 9:42 am)omnicity4659 wrote I think the Morpeth area is a contender for Arriva Click, as opposed to full on bus services. A larger area can be covered with the same amount of buses but without being tied to a schedule...and can access any street.

Thing is some people don't want the hassle, and some people like getting the bus at the same time everyday, without the need to worry about how far the bus is coming from, as it's on a set route...

As for ArrivaClick, if that bus is held up in Ashington, and a passenger wants it for 6:30am at Morpeth, then that passenger will be made late.

Wonder who would take over the 885 if PCL stop running it, GNE possibly or a local independent operator.


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(26 Aug 2019, 6:21 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Wonder who would take over the 885 if PCL stop running it, GNE possibly or a local independent operator.


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Tyne Valley Coaches would be another possibility...

(26 Aug 2019, 4:33 pm)S830OFT wrote

Thing is some people don't want the hassle, and some people like getting the bus at the same time everyday, without the need to worry about how far the bus is coming from, as it's on a set route...

As for ArrivaClick, if that bus is held up in Ashington, and a passenger wants it for 6:30am at Morpeth, then that passenger will be made late.

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.