Transdev Blazefield

[Stan Drews]

The Sunday journeys between Skipton and Grassington have been subsidised as long as I can remember, both Summer and Winter. They used to be joined onto the 66A from Keighley (going further back, the 67A). Then Transdev Burnley started running them as the 872, with a positioning journey each day from/to Burnley. Then they joined together the X43 from Manchester to Burnley, the Burnley to Skipton service and the Skipton to Grassington service with the number changing between the X43 and 872 at Burnley. Shortly after Keighley and District took over the weekday 72, they started running the Sunday service as a 72.

The Sunday 66, 72 and PendleWizz services all arrive and leave Skipton at about the same times in most hours, making connections fairly easy.

The Skipton - Grassington Sunday service (872, X43 now 72) is in fact commercially operated, and has been since at least 2015 (and I believe many years prior to that). It may be an integral part of the Dalesbus network, but it isn’t subsidised by them.

 

[HarryL]

The 19th E400 has been delivered to York in Pride of the North colours, but makes no reference to Pride of the North and looks more like an advertising/promo vehicle.

I like how the "buses people want to be seen on" slogan is put on a bus with quite tinted windows, subtle details .

 

[Deerfold]

The Skipton - Grassington Sunday service (872, X43 now 72) is in fact commercially operated, and has been since at least 2015 (and I believe many years prior to that). It may be an integral part of the Dalesbus network, but it isn’t subsidised by them.

That surprised me. It was subsidised by NYCC until 2011 and then by the Dales and Bowland CIC (when the contract passed from Keighley buses to Burnley buses). It had escaped my notice that this had become commercial - I wonder if this was when the lunchtime gap appeared.

 

[Stan Drews]

That surprised me. It was subsidised by NYCC until 2011 and then by the Dales and Bowland CIC (when the contract passed from Keighley buses to Burnley buses). It had escaped my notice that this had become commercial - I wonder if this was when the lunchtime gap appeared.

Quite possibly. The same Burnley based driver operated the Skipton-Grassington section almost every Sunday, for many years and the lunch break made it legal. Other than first/last journeys, drivers always swapped buses at Skipton, so the same driver did the Grassington bit.

 

[JetBlast]

The "new" Solos have entered service with Rosso.

https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/1346000729190891520?s=20

Some of the former WichWay deckers have been pictured with a Trent Barton bus. What is the situation there please?

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2773 BF63 HCO & Trent Barton 143 YY69 TMU - South Anston

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[cnjb8]

The "new" Solos have entered service with Rosso.

https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/1346000729190891520?s=20

Some of the former WichWay deckers have been pictured with a Trent Barton bus. What is the situation there please?

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2773 BF63 HCO & Trent Barton 143 YY69 TMU - South Anston

Explore JPT Photos' 28897 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

South Anston is a site for Alexander-Dennis and Plaxton, which explains why the TrentBarton Enviro is there, not too sure why the Transdev B9s are there. Although there is a photo of a NXWM Volvo B7RLE there so they may do maintenance on Volvos

 

[JetBlast]

South Anston is a site for Alexander-Dennis and Plaxton, which explains why the TrentBarton Enviro is there, not too sure why the Transdev B9s are there. Although there is a photo of a NXWM Volvo B7RLE there so they may do maintenance on Volvos

Could they have traded them in as part exchange for the new fleet?

 

[aswilliamsuk]

The "new" Solos have entered service with Rosso.

https://twitter.com/alextransdev/status/1346000729190891520?s=20

Some of the former WichWay deckers have been pictured with a Trent Barton bus. What is the situation there please?

Transdev Burnley & Pendle 2773 BF63 HCO & Trent Barton 143 YY69 TMU - South Anston

Explore JPT Photos' 28897 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

Likely there for refurb - all are intended to be reused in the group (two to Coastliner, three to Keighley for Dalesway, and the last few into the Hotline out of Blackburn).

 

[Ashly_Jethro]

Could they have traded them in as part exchange for the new fleet?

They’re being refurbed by ADL, including new displays and audio system, usb power, bodywork and Euro 6 engine upgrades. They’ll end up matching the two at Harrogate (obviously in different liveries)

 

[RustySpoons]

There's reduced timetables coming into operation from this Sunday due to the current lockdown. Once again, completely understandable as most buses seem to have been carrying nothing but fresh air this week.

Most service frequencies will be reduced, and fair play to them they are taking on board feedback from regular users so they can tweak things to suit as best they can.

---

The Rosso Rovers launched with little fuss on Monday, although apparently one of the Solos disgraced itself and broke down in Rawtenstall bus station on its first day in service. There's also at least one completely unbranded white Solo running around on the Rovers network. Feedback has been positive, especially the rerouting of the 8 back through Burnley Wood.

Interestingly this batch of Solos all have air conditioning units for both the drivers and passengers! Nice little luxury.

 

[JRT]

from 10 January

Blazefield Keighley, Blazefield Burnley and Flyer (LBA routes) have reduced frequency on the following in the Keighley and Leeds areas: the Shuttle 662, Aireline 60, Mainline M4 and Flyer A1. Many other routes are currently unaltered.

 

[Deerfold]

from 10 January

Blazefield Keighley, Blazefield Burnley and Flyer (LBA routes) have reduced frequency on the following in the Keighley and Leeds areas: the Shuttle 662, Aireline 60, Mainline M4 and Flyer A1. Many other routes are currently unaltered.

I'm sure it's something to do with the scheduling, but the Sunday M4 service has improved (as it did in the first lockdown when they ran that Sunday timetable daily).
It operates 2-hourly, which is normal, but there's 7 a day instead of 6 (first bus starts 70 minutes earlier from Burnley, last bus leaves Keighley 30 minutes later).
It's particularly annoying as it would get me into Keighley 70 minutes earlier than it is possible to do in normal times, with good connections for the first Leeds and Bradford trains, but just as that is not something I want to be doing.

 

[JRT]

I'm sure it's something to do with the scheduling, but the Sunday M4 service has improved (as it did in the first lockdown when they ran that Sunday timetable daily).
It operates 2-hourly, which is normal, but there's 7 a day instead of 6 (first bus starts 70 minutes earlier from Burnley, last bus leaves Keighley 30 minutes later).
It's particularly annoying as it would get me into Keighley 70 minutes earlier than it is possible to do in normal times, with good connections for the first Leeds and Bradford trains, but just as that is not something I want to be doing.

The M4 Sunday times had already been altered back in September, when I had occasion to travel over to Burnley.
I don't remember the change being advertised.
Normally I would check on Google maps but for some reason was showing both old and New times.
However I did check prior to travel on the Blazefield Burnley site.
Google maps is still showing the old times.

Blazefield Harrogate has reduced frequency on routes 1, 2A, 2B, 3, 6, 7 and The 36.

Harrogate Electrics Sunday Freeway promotion will be paused during the lockdown.

 

[RustySpoons]

I get that Ray Stenning will be quite rightly proud of the new Witch Way brand, it certainly is a desirable way to travel that can rival business class seating on a plane. But if someone invited me to make a journey on a 'gorgeous horny sexy desirable beast' I'd be declining. To me it just sounds like tags for a low budget adult movie and gives completely the wrong impression.



Original Tweet

That Witchway we designed is one gorgeous horny sexy desirable beast of a bus

 

[Stan Drews]

I get that Ray Stenning will be quite rightly proud of the new Witch Way brand, it certainly is a desirable way to travel that can rival business class seating on a plane. But if someone invited me to make a journey on a 'gorgeous horny sexy desirable beast' I'd be declining. To me it just sounds like tags for a low budget adult movie and gives completely the wrong impression.

View attachment 88530

Original Tweet

Imagine that you were not a bus (or transport) enthusiast, and that phrase appeared on your social media feed, and seemed to be referencing one of your local bus routes. Would it make you intrigued to what on earth it was talking about, ...and why?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Imagine that you were not a bus (or transport) enthusiast, and that phrase appeared on your social media feed, and seemed to be referencing one of your local bus routes. Would it make you intrigued to what on earth it was talking about, ...and why?

Exactly - we often know a little too much and aren't in the same place as the general public.

 

[RustySpoons]

I just feel 'horny sexy beast' is an odd choice of adjectives to use to describe a bus, whether it's an enthusiast (who knows of Stenning) or a member of the public who sees it on their twitter feed.

 

[JetBlast]

I have to agree. I don’t think the choice of words is appropriate or professional.

 

[Roilshead]

I don’t think the choice of words is appropriate or professional.

I could live with "sexy beast" up to a point, but err . . ."horny"? regardless of how inappropriate it is how can a bus be sexually aroused?? Perhaps Ray Stenning needs to reflect on the man, the clothes, and the message . . .

 

[Stan Drews]

I could live with "sexy beast" up to a point, but err . . ."horny"? regardless of how inappropriate it is how can a bus be sexually aroused?? Perhaps Ray Stenning needs to reflect on the man, the clothes, and the message . . .

I don’t think they’re suggesting the bus is aroused!

Many marketing campaigns are successful because they get people talking about the product. Whilst this is simply a tweet, it helps to highlight the fact, as it has got many of you talking!

 

[peterblue]

Yes, the choice of wording is poor. But I doubt the general public will stumble upon Stenning's twitter feed.

 

[Roilshead]

I don’t think they’re suggesting the bus is aroused!

Many marketing campaigns are successful because they get people talking about the product. Whilst this is simply a tweet, it helps to highlight the fact, as it has got many of you talking!

The Oxford English Dictionary definition of aroused is "feeling or arousing sexual excitement" or "looking like a horn" - well if doesn't look much like a horn to me, and we both agree that it can't be sexually aroused or that wasn't the designer's intended mesaage, then presumably Ray Stenning is suggesting his design is capable of stimulating sexual arousal . . . which is very odd. And what do you mean " . . . got many of you talking!", as though you're occupying some intellectual high ground here? - its got you talking as well . . . although none of us for the reason intended (I'm sure Ray Stenning's intention wasn't to generate discussion on how much of a tit he seems to have become).

 

[LucyP]

You're taking all this too seriously. It's what lawyers call a puff. Look up Calill -c- Carbolic Smoke Company from 1892.

(Advertising puffery is a legal advertising technique that uses 'puffed up' or exaggerated claims in general terms about a product or service that are a matter of opinion, or subjective, in nature. The claims can neither be proven nor disproven. For example, a company can claim they make the best blankets in the world)

And Mr Stenning and Mr Hornby always get carried away. It's a bus. It isn't a Rolls Royce, or business class air travel. It's a bus, with unruly kids, the person who talks too loudly into their phone, the person playing their music out loud, or loudly through their headphones. There will be the fat person who sits on top of you, the person who looks and smells like Compo from Last of the Summer Wine......

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

This is getting all a bit intense in terms of discussing what was clearly just a throwaway line in a marketing tweet.

I'd much sooner have a firm that is producing a good if not above standard product, which it is, and actively promoting it in terms of a marketing push. The alternative is the Arriva approach.... dreary, functional product, terrible marketing that culminates in a truly atrocious and counterproductive website.

I think I know which one I prefer.

 

[Deerfold]

You're taking all this too seriously. It's what lawyers call a puff. Look up Calill -c- Carbolic Smoke Company from 1892.

(Advertising puffery is a legal advertising technique that uses 'puffed up' or exaggerated claims in general terms about a product or service that are a matter of opinion, or subjective, in nature. The claims can neither be proven nor disproven. For example, a company can claim they make the best blankets in the world)

And Mr Stenning and Mr Hornby always get carried away. It's a bus. It isn't a Rolls Royce, or business class air travel. It's a bus, with unruly kids, the person who talks too loudly into their phone, the person playing their music out loud, or loudly through their headphones. There will be the fat person who sits on top of you, the person who looks and smells like Compo from Last of the Summer Wine......

Unless perhaps they're sexualising the Witch.

Innuendo that is intended to be light-hearted can be acceptable but degrading language or visuals can offend, even if intended to be humorous. A radio ad for an electrical store in which the voiceover stated "Yes, everyone's going to Budd Electrical! It's B, U, double D and we all love a double D, right? ..." was ruled against by the ASA in 2016. Whilst the ad did not contain any nudity and was not overtly sexual presented women as sexual objects by inviting listeners to focus on their bra size, which was also unrelated to the service. (Budd Electrical Ltd, 07 September 2016). Similarly a complaint about an ad for wine which featured a cropped image of a woman’s torso accompanied by the text “taste the bush” was upheld by the ASA because the combination of concealing her face and the reference to her genitalia and oral sex was considered sexual objectification (Budge Brands Ltd t/a Premier Estates Wine, 04 November 2015)

Offence: Sexualisation and objectification

www.asa.org.uk

 

[LucyP]

Bus travel is a dreary, functional product, especially a service from Burnley to Manchester. Is there anywhere in the UK worse than Burnley or a more dreary route? You have to bear that in mind when you promote your product, and so that when someone calls - what to most normal people what is just a double decker bus, parked in a grim bus station on a cloudy wet day, a "horny, sexy, desirable, beast", and claims to have designed it, when actually the bus manufacturer designed the actual physical bus, and all they did was specify the interior and exterior trim, you cannot really be expected to be taken seriously, as Roilshead correctly points out above.

 

[Andyh82]

This is getting all a bit intense in terms of discussing what was clearly just a throwaway line in a marketing tweet.

I agree

It wasn't even a marketing tweet by Transdev, it was Ray Stenning's twitter, that would only be being seen by people who either follow Ray or are aware of his personality


It must be a slow week, presumably Transdev haven't announced anything new for everyone to criticise this week.

 

[RustySpoons]

It must be a slow week, presumably Transdev haven't announced anything new for everyone to criticise this week.

It's been a while since there's been any needlessly critical comments.

Besides, I don't think Transdev have done much to warrant any criticism this last few months.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I agree

It wasn't even a marketing tweet by Transdev, it was Ray Stenning's twitter, that would only be being seen by people who either follow Ray or are aware of his personality


It must be a slow week, presumably Transdev haven't announced anything new for everyone to criticise this week.

Mind you, I did like this line

Is there anywhere in the UK worse than Burnley or a more dreary route?

Er, yes.

Clearly someone who has never travelled from Sunderland to Hartlepool, or from Wakefield to Pontefract via Normanton and Featherstone!! Christ, Burnley isn't even the worst place in Pendle let alone the UK

 

[Roilshead]

Christ, Burnley isn't even the worst place in Pendle let alone the UK

By reason of it not being "in Pendle" perhaps?

Is there anywhere in the UK worse than Burnley or a more dreary route?

Well, The Grand Wazoo has given you a few ideas - the former mining towns in the Yorkshire coalfield are all fairly grim - but have you ever visited either Craigavon or Strabane? And the section of the X43 over the tops between Burnley and Love Clough is quite pleasant.