(10 Aug 2025, 9:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I wonder what numbers journeys on the 168 are typically carrying? I imagine it must be somewhere near considerations of converting it to run as a taxibus route. Wonder what the next stop in cutting it could be, they've already cut the first and last round trips of the day and more recently created a gap in the service at lunchtime, likely to allow one driver to work the service without a changeover.
In a similar vain, I still question why what is now the 520 was converted from taxibus to a conventional bus working.
In regards to the van, it's no different to what many rural ops use on service work, the worst aspect is the anonymity of the thing, with the only indication of it operating service work is the paper destination. Given its a van, I think it's exempt from having to comply with PSVAR regs and the like so wouldn't require NSA equipment (still unsure if the rest of their fleet has the kit or not, the 23 plate Sigma certainly has nothing programmed at the very least).
sadly the data I have after this I cannot correlate accurately which is why I have not included it. However nexus spec is that 36 people must be able to board as a min for a service with a monthly outcome 1500 ish requires questions
I do honestly think that NECTA needs to look at random routes and actively ask how can we improve certain routes especially secured services (full ones)
imo part services I don't mind the funding of (to an extent) but when you see the 168 annual cost and monthly passengers numbers we need to know why how can we improve or get more on board or simply tell the public during the contract we have had 1500 passengers a month use this service if we do not have 1750 passengers use this service in the next 3 months this route will be at risk of being withdrawn... let the residents know there is risk of it being lost and place in the contract that although the service is being run at 1500 min passengers a month you must actively promote and encourage more passengers onto the service or else the last 3 month of income will not be paid if we do not see a increase of passenger numbers in the previous 9 month of patronage
we now have a culture where nexus secured services are being won but its a licence to print money with no effort to promote the service and make it viable
the 787 ran by stagecoach is a fantastic example which I think is running through the night at £50-60 an hour with a pvr of two buses and a min of 84 passengers to board (inc suitcases I think) ??? but it has BSIP funding where has the marketing been to promote that bus service...
least the 777 BSIP funded bus has 1 branded bus !