The rapid decline of Bournemouth’s Yellow Buses network

[HamworthyGoods]

There is virtually no competition to buses in that area as now SWR is only operating so few trains in the region (if it operates 3 stopping trains per hour, than it will become a strong competitor to buses along the corridor).

Now operating so few trains?
The only difference in frequency in the Bournemouth area is 1tph which formerly ran to Poole now terminates at Bournemouth.

I understand the second service each hour at Parkstone and Branksome will be restored from the December timetable change.

 

[Joe Paxton]

There is nothing on the website to indicate that services have ceased running, although this fact is mentioned on Facebook and Twitter.

I guess the administrators don't care about people who may be mislead into thinking that a bus service may be running tomorrow, and who turn up at a bus stop only to wait in vain.

I wouldn't be quite so certain about that - it may be that the YB personnel with the capabilities of updating the website are no longer there.

It's far from ideal of course to have no update on the website, but I've seen similar when other companies have collapsed. At least someone managed to put updates on Facebook and Twitter.

I imagine a few passengers might have got caught out this evening, who had planned on making their return journey on a YB service.

At least tomorrow - the day without services - is a Friday in August.

 

[miklcct]

I wouldn't be quite so certain about that - it may be that the YB personnel with the capabilities of updating the website are no longer there.

It's far from ideal of course to have no update on the website, but I've seen similar when other companies have collapsed. At least someone managed to put updates on Facebook and Twitter.

I imagine a few passengers might have got caught out this evening, who had planned on making their return journey on a YB service.

At least tomorrow - the day without services - is a Friday in August.

At least the timetables after tomorrow have been pulled already.

 

[341o2]

There is nothing on the website to indicate that services have ceased running, although this fact is mentioned on Facebook and Twitter.

I guess the amdinistrators don't care about people who may be mislead into thinking that a bus service may be running tomorrow, and who turn up at a bus stop only to wait in vain.

All the stops with depature boards were advertising that YB will not run on 4 August and from 5th services will provided by Morebus.
No announcement of no service after 1800 until I visited this forum

 

[PTR 444]

So to summarise, here are the areas in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) with no bus service today:

• Muscliffe Estate
• Townsend Estate
• Littledown Estate
• Springbourne
• Christchurch Road between Pokesdown and Iford
• Beaufort/Cranleigh Road
• Tuckton
• Branksome Wood
• Bournemouth Airport

Areas with limited service:

• Bearwood - only 1 bus per hour to Poole. No buses to Kinson or Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Kinson/West Howe/Ensbury Park - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Poole or RB Hospital. No buses to Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Iford - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Bournemouth or Lymington
• Christchurch - much reduced service with only 3.5bph operating in each direction. No buses to Southbourne, Boscombe or Castlepoint
• Somerford - only 1 bus per hour to Burton and 2 journeys per day to St Catherine’s Hill. No buses to Bournemouth
• Foxholes Estate (Dale Valley Road) - only 2 journeys per day to Poole or Bournemouth via Broadstone. No buses to Parkstone or Canford Heath

 

[antharro]

Not a huge user of buses, but I grew up in this area, and being on and seeing the Yellows around town are some of my earliest memories. Sad to see them go, especially not so long after they became an independent local company again. Hopefully they can be resurrected in some form in the future - Bournemouth just isn't right without Yellow Buses!

I guess there are reasons such as insurance and leasing issues, but it would have been neat to see More Bus run some of the Yellow's buses at least in these early days. But likely too complicated, and it seems they have their own fleet arranged anyway.

 

[broadwater]

I wouldn't be quite so certain about that - it may be that the YB personnel with the capabilities of updating the website are no longer there.

It's far from ideal of course to have no update on the website, but I've seen similar when other companies have collapsed. At least someone managed to put updates on Facebook and Twitter.

I imagine a few passengers might have got caught out this evening, who had planned on making their return journey on a YB service.

At least tomorrow - the day without services - is a Friday in August.

I was there yesterday. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) real-time info displays were displaying advice from mid-afternoon. I travelled on several buses and all drivers were advising passengers that from 18:00hrs buses would be returning to the depot, and not to buy returns. Throughout the day, passengers were wishing drivers well and good luck for the future as they alighted. A sad situation but it seemed to be handled as well as it could be and front-line staff acted in an entirely professional fashion. I hope they all find new positions and that More provides a good service in the future.

 

[deconte]

The reality and outcome is that Go South Coast (MoreBus) end up in a very advantageous position with the competition in Bournemouth eliminated. Plus they get to take over the best Yellow Buses routes , all without it costing them a penny!

 

[Snow1964]

The reality and outcome is that GSC (MoreBus) end up in a very advantageous position with the competition in Bournemouth eliminated. Plus they get to take over the best Yellow Buses routes , all without it costing them a penny !

Strictly the expansion is costing them some signing on bonuses, and whatever they have had to pay other GoAhead companies for extra vehicles. Plus some administrative costs and publicity costs

But there is no direct purchase cost (Goodwill premium in accounts)

 

[Surreyman]

Strictly the expansion is costing them some signing on bonuses, and whatever they have had to pay other GoAhead companies for extra vehicles. Plus some administrative costs and publicity costs

But there is no direct purchase cost (Goodwill premium in accounts)

That's assuming that they can staff the new operation, similar thing happened in Guildford when Arriva pulled out, not many Arriva staff joined Stagecoach & they had to reduce frequencies.
I don't know what the extra PVR is but it will put pressure on parking space at Go South Coast depots.
We know that National Express have acquired Yellow Coaches & the "Engineering operation" - I am assuming that this means they are taking over the lease of Yeomans Way? - Can anyone confirm that?

 

[Western Sunset]

So to summarise, here are the areas in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) with no bus service today:

• Muscliffe Estate
• Townsend Estate
• Littledown Estate
• Springbourne
• Christchurch Road between Pokesdown and Iford
• Beaufort/Cranleigh Road
• Tuckton
• Branksome Wood
• Bournemouth Airport

Areas with limited service:

• Bearwood - only 1 bus per hour to Poole. No buses to Kinson or Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Kinson/West Howe/Ensbury Park - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Poole or RB Hospital. No buses to Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Iford - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Bournemouth or Lymington
• Christchurch - much reduced service with only 3.5bph operating in each direction. No buses to Southbourne, Boscombe or Castlepoint
• Somerford - only 1 bus per hour to Burton and 2 journeys per day to St Catherine’s Hill. No buses to Bournemouth
• Foxholes Estate (Dale Valley Road) - only 2 journeys per day to Poole or Bournemouth via Broadstone. No buses to Parkstone or Canford Heath

Also no buses beyond Bearwood, via Merley, to Wimborne.

 

[MotCO]

We know that National Express have acquired Yellow Coaches & the "Engineering operation" - I am assuming that this means they are taking over the lease of Yeomans Way? - Can anyone confirm that?

Will more have the engineering capacity to look after the extra buses they need to operate on the old YellowBus routes, if they can't take over the garage?

 

[deconte]

Re PVR query in message 219 - estimate about 30-ish. All new routes are seven days a week so intérim need of something like 90 drivers ?

 

[SSmith2009]

I don't know what the extra PVR is but it will put pressure on parking space at Go South Coast depots.
We know that National Express have acquired Yellow Coaches & the "Engineering operation" - I am assuming that this means they are taking over the lease of Yeomans Way? - Can anyone confirm that?

Maybe NX could let More use some space at yellow coaches depot to settle in the new routes?

 

[Flange Squeal]

A tweet this morning by Coach & Bus Week confirms Monday (8th August) as the date National Express take over Yellow Coaches, however they won’t be continuing the Golden Tours open top contract or (unsurprisingly) Megabus services, with those ceasing on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/cbwtweets/status/1555474516792512512

The coach division of Bournemouth Transport Limited, Yellow Coaches, is to be sold to National Express with effect of Monday 8 August 2022.

Golden Tours Bournemouth and megabus services operated by Yellow Coaches will operate for the final time this Sunday.

 

[Statto]

So to summarise, here are the areas in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) with no bus service today:

• Muscliffe Estate
• Townsend Estate
• Littledown Estate
• Springbourne
• Christchurch Road between Pokesdown and Iford
• Beaufort/Cranleigh Road
• Tuckton
• Branksome Wood
• Bournemouth Airport

Areas with limited service:

• Bearwood - only 1 bus per hour to Poole. No buses to Kinson or Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Kinson/West Howe/Ensbury Park - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Poole or RB Hospital. No buses to Bournemouth other than 2 journeys per day on route 32
• Iford - only 2 buses per hour in each direction to Bournemouth or Lymington
• Christchurch - much reduced service with only 3.5bph operating in each direction. No buses to Southbourne, Boscombe or Castlepoint
• Somerford - only 1 bus per hour to Burton and 2 journeys per day to St Catherine’s Hill. No buses to Bournemouth
• Foxholes Estate (Dale Valley Road) - only 2 journeys per day to Poole or Bournemouth via Broadstone. No buses to Parkstone or Canford Heath

Also no buses beyond Bearwood, via Merley, to Wimborne.

At least it's for one day, with Morebus picking up the main routes from tomorrow, should try & live in Arriva Merseyside & North West territory, were there's been no Arriva buses since 20th July because of the strike, & agreements to end the strike are looking further away then ever, plenty of areas have been left without a bus since

 

[Bob M]

I don't understand why More are planning a route 1 from Bmth to Christchurch. Wouldn't it be more economical just to extend their existing m2? Is there some reason why their new routes have to be separate?

 

[Statto]

I don't understand why More are planning a route 1 from Bmth to Christchurch. Wouldn't it be more economical just to extend their existing m2? Is there some reason why their new routes have to be separate?

I suspect, it's because Morebus have registered the ex Yellowbus routes services on an emergency registration, so can't merge or extend existing routes Morebus operate yet.

Morebus could well revise the network in due time, but need the sufficient notice period to do it.

 

[PTR 444]

Also no buses beyond Bearwood, via Merley, to Wimborne.

That only leaves a very small unpopulated area along Magna Road completely unserved*. Merley still has a regular half-hourly service (Morebus 4), albeit going to Poole rather than Bournemouth.

*Apart from 2 journeys per day in each direction on route 32, but they aren’t really much use to most passengers.

 

[BenS123]

One thing I don't really get is why morebus just kept the route numbers exactly the same as the yellows instead of maybe adding a prefix, meaning they now have 2 route 4s, 2 route 5s, 2 route 6s etc.
I know there always were 2 of each of these routes but having them under the same company just makes it a bit confusing.

 

[341o2]

If Morebus are operating former YB 1 to Christchurch, presumably the section to New Milton will not be operated. Tesco New Milton will still have the C32/33 and Morebus 119, but no evening or Sunday service

 

[BenS123]

If Morebus are operating former YB 1 to Christchurch, presumably the section to New Milton will not be operated.

https://www.morebus.co.uk/we-will-be-running-extra-routes states "The section that used to operate to Highcliffe & New Milton will not run, but customers can use the existing more bus X1/X2 routes." regarding the 1a.

 

[d70g]

One thing I don't really get is why morebus just kept the route numbers exactly the same as the yellows instead of maybe adding a prefix, meaning they now have 2 route 4s, 2 route 5s, 2 route 6s etc.
I know there always were 2 of each of these routes but having them under the same company just makes it a bit confusing.

Expect a significant route revision and renumbering in the near future now that more have a near monopoly.

 

[BenS123]

Expect a significant route revision and renumbering in the near future now that more have a near monopoly.

Isn't the only major route that morebus don't operate in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) now the First X54? If so that is extremely worrying.

 

[miklcct]

Isn't the only major route that morebus don't operate in BCP now the First X54? If so that is extremely worrying

Yes. The X54 is now the only route within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) which isn't operated by morebus, which is in competition with morebus's 30 and 31.

The X54 is a year-round service and the 30 & 31 are summer-only.

morebus has now obtained a complete monopoly over the region.

 

[Snow1964]

Maybe NX could let More use some space at yellow coaches depot to settle in the new routes?

There would have to be some sort of short term usage agreement agreed with the administrators anyway, otherwise all the parked yellow buses would need to be moved out asap.

 

[Andyh82]

Lots of towns and cities have a monopoly operator, or at least a near monopoly. Bournemouth’s situation where two operators had significant networks was relatively rare

 

[PTR 444]

Lots of towns and cities have a monopoly operator, or at least a near monopoly. Bournemouth’s situation where two operators had significant networks was relatively rare

Although presumably nowhere with as large a population as Bournemouth? I asked this earlier in the thread which nobody has yet answered:

Does the demise of YB now make Bournemouth the largest town within Great Britain to only have one local bus operator?

 

[BenS123]

I must admit a lot of tourists came into the travel shop while I was there and I think at least 30% of enquiries in there were regarding confusion about having 2 completely separate operators with only 1 ticket valid on both (the getting about ticket)

Does the demise of YB now make Bournemouth the largest town within Great Britain to only have one local bus operator?

Trivia: Largest place in the UK that is served entirely by one bus operator only?

What is the largest place/village/town/city in the UK that is served entirely by one bus operator only? I am struggling to think of many and the only ones that i can think of are villages but there must be some larger places as well? I don't expect there to be any cities but there must at least...

www.railforums.co.uk

Looking at this thread I'd think so

 

[PTR 444]

I must admit a lot of tourists came into the travel shop while I was there and I think at least 30% of enquiries in there were regarding confusion about having 2 completely separate operators with only 1 ticket valid on both (the getting about ticket)

Trivia: Largest place in the UK that is served entirely by one bus operator only?

What is the largest place/village/town/city in the UK that is served entirely by one bus operator only? I am struggling to think of many and the only ones that i can think of are villages but there must be some larger places as well? I don't expect there to be any cities but there must at least...

www.railforums.co.uk

Looking at this thread I'd think so

That’s what I thought when I was reading that thread yesterday