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Flixbus Discussion

M803UYA

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Under my stone....
Informal gentleman’s agreements are suspected at many operators across the U.K. A lot of senior managers have been colleagues in the past and still work together to ensure success for their old mates
I don't understand how that works, given that it can be interpreted as anti-competitive and can give rise to a Competition and Markets Authority investigation, meaning heavy fines. That might have been the case 30 to 40 years ago, but you can't do such things now. I recall having to fill out monthly returns in a management role detailing who I'd met from what was interpreted as the competition, even at a public meeting.

There was a Gentleman to agreement that megabus would have main student market and national express would have airport market.
This would be illegal under competition legislation.
 
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GusB

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I fear we are drifting away from the main topic. If you feel there would be sufficient interest in discussing these "Gentlemen's agreements", do please start a new thread.
 

darloscott

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I believe they collect their franchise fees as a percentage value of the tickets sold. They may not be known here (yet), but they weren't known in any of the European countries before starting up, and seem to have carved out a pretty large business quite quickly. Their falling foul of GB rules is only a minor hiccup, not that unusual of any business starting up in a new country.

I think it's worth mentioning that only one operator fell foul (of the PSVAR regs), and it was swiftly sorted when Flixbus became aware. The Turners operation out of Bristol has always been compliant, and indeed is still running.

There's no doubt that it is a tough market out there at present though, National Express has just binned almost their entire network in my North East area, to the point there is one daily coach to London and Glasgow, with nothing else left.
 

Boo_

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I think it's worth mentioning that only one operator fell foul (of the PSVAR regs), and it was swiftly sorted when Flixbus became aware. The Turners operation out of Bristol has always been compliant, and indeed is still running.

There's no doubt that it is a tough market out there at present though, National Express has just binned almost their entire network in my North East area, to the point there is one daily coach to London and Glasgow, with nothing else left.
Would McDonald's let a restaurant break the law? No as they would make a franchise manual and would have someone checking they are keeping to standards.

NX have their own team to check coaches; Filxbus let the coaches onto their network.

Uber they have a list of what cars which can be used. BM coaches was not the one with the franchise.

Filxbus has 2 members of staff at London Victoria; they should have picked up on the use of illegal coaches.

But again they're a booking agent, so don't need any PSV trained staff.
 
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richw

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Not Minor really would Macdonald's would not let a restaurant break a uk law? No as they would make a franchise Manuel and would have someone checking they are keeping to standards.
As a teenager I worked at McDs. Regularly had inspections carried out by head office employed management level to ensure the franchise was doing things correctly. Some announced, some unannounced.
 

Deerfold

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Not Minor really would Macdonald's would not let a restaurant break a uk law? No as they would make a franchise Manuel and would have someone checking they are keeping to standards. NX have there own team to check coaches. and Filxbus let the coaches onto there network. look at uber they have a list of what cars you can and can`t be used. Also BM coaches was not the one with the franchise.

Filxbus has 2 members of staff at London Victrola they should of picked up on they was running illegal coaches.

But again there a booking agent so don't need any PSV trained staff

`

Although Uber had 14,000 journeys in London operated by unlicensed drivers - so perhaps not the best example.

 

markymark2000

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Does anyone know for certain if the Flixbus expansion in the UK was headed by BM coaches? I ask since could it have been headed up by a franchisee from elsewhere (possibly another country) who just contracted to BM Coaches. If this is the case, it could be that BM Coaches saw it as the coaches didn't need to be PSVAR (perhaps they weren't clued up on the rules) and the person supposedly overseeing things wasn't around and simply entrusted the operators to do the right thing. I've seen a lot of comments about BM Coaches being the main player but do we know their actual role in this? Just an operator or an actual franchisee?

It's worth noting as well that the separate fares was a bit of a grey area and was interpreted as Flixbus were taking fares and then just contracting out the bus as a private hire.
 

Boo_

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Does anyone know for certain if the Flixbus expansion in the UK was headed by BM coaches? I ask since could it have been headed up by a franchisee from elsewhere (possibly another country) who just contracted to BM Coaches. If this is the case, it could be that BM Coaches saw it as the coaches didn't need to be PSVAR (perhaps they weren't clued up on the rules) and the person supposedly overseeing things wasn't around and simply entrusted the operators to do the right thing. I've seen a lot of comments about BM Coaches being the main player but do we know their actual role in this? Just an operator or an actual franchisee?

It's worth noting as well that the separate fares was a bit of a grey area and was interpreted as Flixbus were taking fares and then just contracting out the bus as a private hire.

BM Coaches never had a contract the Franchise was with. YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD who has same owner as BM Coaches
 

Boo_

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Yes they run coaches to Europe for Flixbus.

On all tickets on London to Manchester / Leeds / Liverpool
YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD is named

BALASURESH, Balasubramaniam is owner if you cross check on Companies House

he owns
YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD
LUXURY TRANSPORT LTD
B.M. COACHES AND RENTAL LIMITED
at the address
922a Uxbridge Road, Hayes, England, UB4 0RW




Screenshot_20201101-183801.png

*Mod edit* The above image is a screenshot of the Flixbus app showing the details of a journey between London and Manchester and the operator details
 
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markymark2000

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Yes they run coaches to Europe for Flixbus.

On all tickets on London to Manchester / Leeds / Liverpool
YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD is named

BALASURESH, Balasubramaniam is owner if you cross check on Companies House

he owns
YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD
LUXURY TRANSPORT LTD
B.M. COACHES AND RENTAL LIMITED
at the address
922a Uxbridge Road, Hayes, England, UB4 0RW




View attachment 85373

*Mod edit* The above image is a screenshot of the Flixbus app showing the details of a journey between London and Manchester and the operator details
Perhaps he then didn't know and understand the GB rules and assumed that it's the same as EU rules then if he runs Flix abroad.
 

Boo_

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Perhaps he then didn't know and understand the GB rules and assumed that it's the same as EU rules then if he runs Flix abroad.
He knows very well the rules I had many dealing with his coaches on Rail Replacement. He owns 4 firms one that also hires coaches to other coach firms. and he is not a one man band so others should of picked up on it.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...4686&text[search]=BALASURESH, Balasubramaniam

just seen he also owns VELA JOURNEY LTD who I did not name.

who did the Leeds to London for YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD.

Very Smart how it all linked to YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD
 

markymark2000

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He knows very well the rules I had many dealing with his coaches on Rail Replacement. He owns 4 firms one that also hires coaches to other coach firms. and he is not a one man band so others should of picked up on it.

https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...4686&text[search]=BALASURESH, Balasubramaniam

just seen he also owns VELA JOURNEY LTD who I did not name.

who did the Leeds to London for YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD.

Very Smart how it all linked to YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD
If he knows the rules then, how has he made such a mess of the rules when operating Flix buses?
 

philthetube

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Would McDonald's let a restaurant break the law? No as they would make a franchise manual and would have someone checking they are keeping to standards.

NX have their own team to check coaches; Filxbus let the coaches onto their network.

Uber they have a list of what cars which can be used. BM coaches was not the one with the franchise.

Filxbus has 2 members of staff at London Victoria; they should have picked up on the use of illegal coaches.

But again they're a booking agent, so don't need any PSV trained staff.
When I worked for National Express they used to fine operators if over age or unliveried vehicles were used, also if drivers were not in uniform.
 

RT4038

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Perhaps he then didn't know and understand the GB rules and assumed that it's the same as EU rules then if he runs Flix abroad.

More than likely. The full rules for coaches in UK only started at the beginning of this year. When the issue was raised with Flixbus, they initially stated that the rules were being complied with. I suspect that there was an assumption by Flixbus (and there have been UK operators who have fallen foul of this in the opposite direction) that the EU rules actually operate the same in all parts of the EU, which of course they don't.

Not sure why such a big deal is being made of it. The issue was resolved quite quickly.
 

Flange Squeal

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Yes they run coaches to Europe for Flixbus.
I thought the international journeys were for BlaBlaBus (formerly Ouibus)? Certainly the coaches I've seen were branded YPIJ and BlaBlaBus/Ouibus, however they might have worked for Flixbus as well I guess. I use the past tense because in today's London and the South East of England Traffic Commissioner's Notices & Proceedings.... I don't think the international journeys are running at the moment, but will be interesting to see if they are carrying BM legals when they resume!

Section 2.8 – Licences Revoked Without a Public Inquiry

PK2018778 SI YOUR PARTNER IN JOURNEY LTD

Director(s): BALASUBRAMANIAM BALASURESH
922A UXBRIDGE ROAD, HAYES, UB4 0RW
Registered Bus Services running under this licence have also been revoked with immediate effect.
 

Boo_

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They don't need a operators licence as they are acting as booking agents. So long as pickup and drop off is about 18 or is miles apart can't remember off top of my head anyone can run a express long-distance service so Long they use a licensed operator to actually run the service.
 
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Flange Squeal

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They don't need a operators licence as they are acting as booking agents. So long as pickup and drop off is about 18 or is miles apart can't remember off top of my head anyone can run a express long-distance service so Long they use a licensed operator to actually run the service.
If this is in reply to my post above, the licence revoked was that of operator YPIJ, not FlixBus.
 

ainsworth74

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So what is the current status of Flixbus in the UK? I'm pondering if I need to change the thread title :lol:
 

Flange Squeal

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So what is the current status of Flixbus in the UK? I'm pondering if I need to change the thread title :lol:
FlixBus have decided to “discontinue our domestic services in the UK for now to ensure your safety”, so sounds like they’ve left it open for a potential future return. That said, the Temsas that had been in use are now for sale (with the sales advert mentioning ‘multiple’ and having a photo with FlixBus still selected on the blinds).


So YPiJ has had its license revoked. Is this a separate licence to BM?
Yes, separate companies and O-licences, but same named company director. I believe Luxury Transport Limited is also related in a similar manner, and possibly others.
 

ainsworth74

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carlberry

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Sighs of relief from NatEx and Megabus, I guess?
I cant imagine Flixbus was something had concerned them much recently!

FlixBus have decided to “discontinue our domestic services in the UK for now to ensure your safety”, so sounds like they’ve left it open for a potential future return. That said, the Temsas that had been in use are now for sale (with the sales advert mentioning ‘multiple’ and having a photo with FlixBus still selected on the blinds).



Yes, separate companies and O-licences, but same named company director. I believe Luxury Transport Limited is also related in a similar manner, and possibly others.
In normal times a transport company saying they were discontinuing their services to ensure safety wouldn't have been expected to reappear!
 

Boo_

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If this is in reply to my post above, the licence revoked was that of operator YPIJ, not FlixBus.

Both YPLI and Flixbus don`t need a licence as they can use BM licence or any other coach firm who they hire to run a trip for them. Flixbus did go for one but withdrawn before it was given.

They are Selling tickets for services round Xmas
 
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Flange Squeal

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FlixMobility appear to be advertising for a number of UK management positions, is a return imminent?
Looks like this thread can have its name changed (again!). Typing in various combinations of destinations into the journey planner on https://www.flixbus.co.uk shows up a number of routes from next Thursday (15th April). These are the routes that have been identified so far, but it's all a bit trial and error as there's been no announcement or map as yet, so the actual routes may well be longer than those below.

Edinburgh Airport to Dunfermline
via Inverkeithing

Luton Airport to Dunstable

London Victoria to Bradford

via Finchley Road, Sheffield (Meadowhall) and Leeds

London Victoria to Bristol
via Hammersmith, Heathrow and Bristol University

London Victoria to Derby
via Finchley Road, Fosse Park, Leicester and Loughborough

London Victoria to Manchester
via Finchley Road and Birmingham

London Victoria to Swansea
via Heathrow, Newport, Cardiff, Bridgend and Swansea University
 

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