There isn't anything on their Facebook, so could it be possible that they are changing their services, and haven't registered the new ones yet? The fact they've just got a pretty much brand new E200 must mean they aren't stopping?

No those services are definitely being withdrawn, should be a press release over the weekend. They are being withdrawn because of the withdrawal of promised grant money as a result of government cutbacks. Also maintaince costs were an issue.

However they are hoping to get back up and running next summer after applying for more funding, and they are looking into a Christmas Shopper service too.

It's a shame as these commercially operated routes were a really good initiative. The problems they had with the initial vehicles wouldn't have helped. It shows that rural communities do need support for bus services and the government must make them a special case.

(24 Jul 2015, 11:07 pm)Tom wrote No those services are definitely being withdrawn, should be a press release over the weekend. They are being withdrawn because of the withdrawal of promised grant money as a result of government cutbacks. Also maintaince costs were an issue.

However they are hoping to get back up and running next summer after applying for more funding, and they are looking into a Christmas Shopper service too.

I thought the service was a commerical operation.

The only grant they should get is BSOG, and I wasn't aware that was being cut? Their operations are certainly 100% commercial.

Could it be the council reducing what it reimbursed them for concession passes?

(25 Jul 2015, 6:41 am)Greg in Weardale wrote Could it be the council reducing what it reimbursed them for concession passes?

I thought that the formula remains the same regardless of what Northumberland County Council want to do, doesn't it?

(22 Jul 2015, 3:11 pm)Cock Robin wrote Sister of the one now with Stagecarriage (FUH).

Registration wise yes, length wise more like a sister to Coast & Country's MX14FUT

(25 Jul 2015, 6:27 am)aureolin wrote The only grant they should get is BSOG, and I wasn't aware that was being cut? Their operations are certainly 100% commercial.

Trying to remember what he put on Facebook - he had some sort of start-up business grant which only lasts a year and he was trying to raise support to keep the services going.

No, one of the problems with bus services, both commercial and supported, is that in many areas councils are reducing what they pay for passes because of the cuts imposed on them by the government. Such cuts in payment for passes caused the demise of Pennine of Skipton last year, and is putting financial strain on many companies. The government introduced the free passes, but has never fully reimbursed councils for funding them, hence austerity has caused councils to cut what they pay for use of passes and subsidy for non commercial routes. Also one way of reducing what they have to pay for passes is to cut services so pass holders have no buses to use!

So, going back to eezypeazy's post on the 15 July 2013.......has he been proven right?

'Much as I Iike Rothbury and its environs (and who wouldn’t?), this just doesn’t look viable to me.'

It's a shame to see Steve and the company go so soon, it's been a great year of operation. There's been the ups and downs, he's done a great job.

(25 Jul 2015, 7:36 am)GX03 SVC wrote It's a shame to see Steve and the company go so soon, it's been a great year of operation. There's been the ups and downs, he's done a great job.

so with all of this happening, does this mean spirit buses may not exist anymore?

(25 Jul 2015, 8:02 am)buss14 wrote so with all of this happening, does this mean spirit buses may not exist anymore?

All the routes are being cancelled from September, so yes.

Such a shame it didn't work out the way everyone had hoped. I'm lead to believe the summer season has been good, but obviously with the winter season on the horizon it's probably best to wind down now. Obviously the cost of maintaining the two Darts he had didn't help, which lead some days to having to borrow buses from Rothbury Motors to keep running. It's a shame he couldn't somehow gain contract work from NCC as a result of them looking elsewhere to replace Howard Snaith as this would have been guaranteed income however I suppose if long term the rest of the work isn't viable all year round then would it be worth it?

As these services seem like a lifeline to a lot of the local communities they serve, would there be any possibility of the residents getting together to put some money forward to help, if they value the service as much as it looks like they do?

If that isn't an option, could Arriva maybe look into operating a couple of the routes, such as the 14S?

(25 Jul 2015, 9:48 am)mb134 wrote As these services seem like a lifeline to a lot of the local communities they serve, would there be any possibility of the residents getting together to put some money forward to help, if they value the service as much as it looks like they do?

If that isn't an option, could Arriva maybe look into operating a couple of the routes, such as the 14S?

Why would Arriva operate them.  If they were viable, I would have thought Arriva would have been operating them long before Spirit.

(25 Jul 2015, 9:56 am)citaro5284 wrote Why would Arriva operate them.  If they were viable, I would have thought Arriva would have been operating them long before Spirit.

I was thinking they could operate the 14S, as they operate the regular 14. I'm sure that some of the routes are viable, I can't see them not being. If a small independent can operate the service for this long, with no additional funding, or massively profitable routes to subsidise, I'm sure Arriva can take a couple on without too much of an impact?

(25 Jul 2015, 10:00 am)mb134 wrote I was thinking they could operate the 14S, as they operate the regular 14. I'm sure that some of the routes are viable, I can't see them not being. If a small independent can operate the service for this long, with no additional funding, or massively profitable routes to subsidise, I'm sure Arriva can take a couple on without too much of an impact?

For a company to only operate for a year thou, I would not consider it been that long.  I am lead to believe a lot of research was done with surveys etc, so how come after a year, the services are being withdrawn.

Don't be too sure about the impact, things that look on the outside not to be much can have quite an impact inside the business, when you start multiplying the cost over a year.

(25 Jul 2015, 9:56 am)citaro5284 wrote Why would Arriva operate them.  If they were viable, I would have thought Arriva would have been operating them long before Spirit.

Arriva could cross subsidise but they don't have any sense of community spirit, they're just there to please the shareholders.

(25 Jul 2015, 10:12 am)Cock Robin wrote Arriva could cross subsidise but they don't have any sense of community spirit, they're just there to please the shareholders.

Not like you to be so cynical, Cock. 

(25 Jul 2015, 10:12 am)Cock Robin wrote Arriva could cross subsidise but they don't have any sense of community spirit, they're just there to please the shareholders.

Isn't cross subsidising illegal ?

(25 Jul 2015, 10:09 am)citaro5284 wrote For a company to only operate for a year thou, I would not consider it been that long.  I am lead to believe a lot of research was done with surveys etc, so how come after a year, the services are being withdrawn.

Don't be too sure about the impact, things that look on the outside not to be much can have quite an impact inside the business, when you start multiplying the cost over a year.

I completely get that, because of the amount of research done, it is a bit worrying that after a year all services are being withdrawn, however I am still positive that one or two must be making some money, or at least break even? 

If they are all losing massive amounts of money, then fair enough, but as an example, when the 14S operates, Ashington have all of their MPD's and Streetlite's in the depot, not exactly gas guzzlers, surely they would be better off trying, as the communities rely on these services?

Very sad to hear the services haven't worked out.

Its always sad to see routes cancelled buts its inevitable.

If they could start again I wonder of they would just do a Thropton-Rothbury-Alnwick route, as that seems to me the only remotely viable one of the lot

(25 Jul 2015, 10:41 am)mb134 wrote I completely get that, because of the amount of research done, it is a bit worrying that after a year all services are being withdrawn, however I am still positive that one or two must be making some money, or at least break even? 

If they are all losing massive amounts of money, then fair enough, but as an example, when the 14S operates, Ashington have all of their MPD's and Streetlite's in the depot, not exactly gas guzzlers, surely they would be better off trying, as the communities rely on these services?

They may break even with a small operator like Spirit, but companies like Arriva have massive overheads. They won't touch them.

(26 Jul 2015, 1:59 pm)RobinHood wrote They may break even with a small operator like Spirit, but companies like Arriva have massive overheads. They won't touch them.

could a different operator take over these routes for example travelsure or glenvalley?

is there going to be a date when the services will stop

(26 Jul 2015, 11:39 pm)buss14 wrote is there going to be a date when the services will stop

No mention of cessation of services on their website:- http://www.spiritbuses.co.uk

Services cancelled on 19th September so that'll be the last day

It is such a shame that they are ceasing operations. The company is very well regarded locally, perhaps residents of the Coquet Valley can come up with a scheme to keep the company going.

To give an example, the Rose and Crown pub at Slaley (near Hexham) was threatened with closure. The locals formed a cooperative (Slaley Community Assets Limited) which purchased the pub and now runs it. I believe a similar situation occurred with the Jazz Café in Newcastle following the death of the owner.

Charles