Go South Coast

[Dorsetbus]

So why did Go South Coast respond competitively against Transpora when they introduced schools routes? Perhaps it's that Transpora is looking to develop a business and are prepared to price competitively?

They didn't. They registered the services first.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

They didn't. They registered the services first.

Thanks - I thought that Transpora were operating before Go South Coast on those routes?

 

[aliceh]

Thanks - I thought that Transpora were operating before Go South Coast on those routes?

If memory serves, Transpora began operating about a month before GSC because they took on the existing routes from Yellow Coaches when YC pulled out of operating a month before they had initially said. GSC registered replacement routes from the date Yellow Coaches originally said they would stop operating, but ended them rather suddenly before that date.

I seem to recall that for the month Transpora were operating the routes alone, it was on behalf of Yellow Coaches but I can't be certain (I'll leave it there, as I don't want to get into issues of registration/licensing, etc, because I will get something wrong and end up getting myself into bother!)

 

[Dorsetbus]

If memory serves, Transpora began operating about a month before GSC because they took on the existing routes from Yellow Coaches when YC pulled out of operating a month before they had initially said. GSC registered replacement routes from the date Yellow Coaches originally said they would stop operating, but ended them rather suddenly before that date.

I seem to recall that for the month Transpora were operating the routes alone, it was on behalf of Yellow Coaches but I can't be certain (I'll leave it there, as I don't want to get into issues of registration/licensing, etc, because I will get something wrong and end up getting myself into bother!)

That's how I remember it.

 

[WibbleWobble]

The Hampshire Bus Update website is reporting that Go South Coast have lost a handful of college routes to Transpora from the new academic year. Their blog post says:


Source: https://hantsbus.blog/2023/07/the-new-school-term-at-transpora/

The college routes weren't lost to Transpora. The contract was awarded to Kura, with Transpora acting as a subcontractor. The contract also includes the Dorset Community minibuses they ran until their license renovation.

Kingston Maurward bus service - Kura

ridekura.com

(Sorry, doing from mobile and page is tricky to quote!)

 

[Dorsetbus]

The college routes weren't lost to Transpora. The contract was awarded to Kura, with Transpora acting as a subcontractor. The contract also includes the Dorset Community minibuses they ran until their license renovation.

Kingston Maurward bus service - Kura

ridekura.com

(Sorry, doing from mobile and page is tricky to quote!)

Ive also heard a rumour that the contract is for 4 brand new deckers.

 

[Andyh82]

Does anyone have a list of which services run from which depot at More and Bluestar?

 

[WibbleWobble]

This is the simplified list whereby most journeys are operated by the depot concerned - there are a number of cross-overs where another depot runs some journeys on a service, particularly the m1/m2, and the Breezers during the summer.

Morebus

Bournemouth - m1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 5, 5a, 6, 6a, 12, 13, 33, 36, 80, 99, 737, U1, U2, U3, U4

Poole - m2, 3, 3x, 4, 7a, 7b, 7c, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 32, 35, 60, 70, 898, FE1, ONE

Swanage - 30, 40, 50

Lymington - 112, 119, 125, 191, 193, Cango, X1, X2, Bluestar 6, New Forest Tour Blue

Ringwood - 24, 38, Ringo, X3, X6, New Forest Tour Red

Pimperne - X8; Damory 7, 20, 49, X12

Dorchester - 31; Damory 1, 2, 5, 6, 71, 187



Bluestar

Southampton / Eastleigh - 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 35, Quayconnect, South Downs Rambler, Z00, all Unilink services

Totton - 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 17, H1, H2, T3, T4, some Salisbury Reds X7/X7R, NFT Green

 

[Andyh82]

Thanks for this. It does explain why I noticed the m1 is using Unibus deckers on most journeys but the m2 remains the regular allocation of E200MMCs, if they are run from different depots.

 

[nw1]

This is the simplified list whereby most journeys are operated by the depot concerned - there are a number of cross-overs where another depot runs some journeys on a service, particularly the m1/m2, and the Breezers during the summer.

Thanks for this, good summary.

Re routes with varying depots - In particular, a good few journeys on the 4 Mon-Fri are operated out of Southampton/Eastleigh. Not sure of the exact proportion without looking it up, but during the mid-day period, from casual observation, it seems to be about 50%. There is considerable interworking with other routes so no predictable cycle. A small number of the older double deckers from Southampton/Eastleigh used on school/college runs seem to end up doing an odd 4 return trip during the daytime.

Saturday on the other hand appears to be wholly Totton.

 

[aliceh]

I noticed today from a few buses that more have added a reasonably sized "part of Go Ahead" to their logo (shown in the attached picture). Presuming the other Go South Coast brands will follow suit if they haven't already.

 

[SW Buses]

A Southern Vectis query. The current network, using Newport as a hub, was this after the Go Ahead Group acquisition or latter days of the management buyout? Early 2000’s much of the network was cross-Newport?

Thanks.

 

[cav1975]

Saw a red ex-London double deck on Southern Vectis service 9 on Monday. Is this a permanent transfer and how many are there? With its double doors and BUSES rounded it looked out of place.

 

[Eyersey468]

A Southern Vectis query. The current network, using Newport as a hub, was this after the Go Ahead Group acquisition or latter days of the management buyout? Early 2000’s much of the network was cross-Newport?

Thanks.

This was after the Go Ahead acquisition

 

[43055]

Saw a red ex-London double deck on Southern Vectis service 9 on Monday. Is this a permanent transfer and how many are there? With its double doors and BUSES rounded it looked out of place.

Possibly temporary until the new Enviro 400's arrive for route 1.

 

[MotCO]

Possibly temporary until the new Enviro 400's arrive for route 1.

If I recall correctly, some buses destined for Manchester Bee Line, which have been repainted yellow ready for service, have been operated by Morebus. Beeline starts on 28 September, so maybe some buses are moving back to Manchester to be prepped for service, have their MOTs or whatever, and maybe these are being replaced by ex-London examples.

 

[WibbleWobble]

I noticed today from a few buses that more have added a reasonably sized "part of Go Ahead" to their logo (shown in the attached picture). Presuming the other Go South Coast brands will follow suit if they haven't already.

Will most likely apply across Go Ahead. If you look at the individual websites, the logos have all been updated to include the strapline, and the Go North East and Go North West logos have changed into the new corporate style.

 

[James H]

Southern Vectis has a new logo too

 

[buscoaster]

When do the tops get put on the open top More Bus vehicles? Just wondering when my last chance is for a ride on some of the open top breezers this year?

 

[Wychwood93]

When do the tops get put on the open top More Bus vehicles? Just wondering when my last chance is for a ride on some of the open top breezers this year?

The 17th September appears to be the last date for the seasonal buses - like the 70 and 80:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/70-timetable-20230527-a0d70f1a.pdf

Ditto for the 50 to Swanage:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/50-timetable-20230527-47703ddf.pdf

However, the 50 usually goes down to an hourly service in the winter and open-tops can be seen even then.

Edit:

The New Forest Tour also ends on the 17th:

The New Forest Tour

The New Forest Tour returns for this year's summer season on Saturday 29th of June to Sunday 15th of September 2024

www.morebus.co.uk

 

[Surreyman]

The 17th September appears to be the last date for the seasonal buses - like the 70 and 80:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/70-timetable-20230527-a0d70f1a.pdf

Ditto for the 50 to Swanage:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/50-timetable-20230527-47703ddf.pdf

However, the 50 usually goes down to an hourly service in the winter and open-tops can be seen even then.

Edit:

The New Forest Tour also ends on the 17th:

The New Forest Tour

The New Forest Tour returns for this year's summer season on Saturday 29th of June to Sunday 15th of September 2024

www.morebus.co.uk

Any news on the 28 E400MMC due for the M1?

 

[Simon75]

Southern Vectis has a new logo too

There is a separate thread, but closed

Southern Vectis

Hi, can someone tell me when their summer timetable starts. Thanks

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[nw1]

The 17th September appears to be the last date for the seasonal buses - like the 70 and 80:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/70-timetable-20230527-a0d70f1a.pdf

Ditto for the 50 to Swanage:

https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/morebus/WDBC/50-timetable-20230527-47703ddf.pdf

However, the 50 usually goes down to an hourly service in the winter and open-tops can be seen even then.

Edit:

The New Forest Tour also ends on the 17th:

The New Forest Tour

The New Forest Tour returns for this year's summer season on Saturday 29th of June to Sunday 15th of September 2024

www.morebus.co.uk

Interesting the New Forest Tour extends into the second half of September but does not run in June at all.

Given June is significantly warmer on average than September (something like 21C vs 19C for the mean max in southern England) and has considerably longer days, that's quite surprising. Has it never run in June?

 

[Towers]

If I recall correctly, some buses destined for Manchester Bee Line, which have been repainted yellow ready for service, have been operated by Morebus. Beeline starts on 28 September, so maybe some buses are moving back to Manchester to be prepped for service, have their MOTs or whatever, and maybe these are being replaced by ex-London examples.

These would be the Omnidekkas I presume, running in Poole in allover yellow? I had wondered if they’d been painted as some sort of concession to the former Yellow Buses routes, your explanation seems far more likely!

I also observed a ‘straight from London’ Optare Esteem running in So’ton yesterday, again complete with TfL roundels and Go Ahead London fleetnames. I didn’t get the chance to see what the situation was with the destination screen, a very quick Hanover installation upon arrival I presume? Unless they’re having temporary blinds made up? Swindon & Vectis liveried kit also still in evidence of course.

 

[cav1975]

These would be the Omnidekkas I presume, running in Poole in allover yellow? I observed a ‘straight from London’ Optare Esteem running in So’ton yesterday, again complete with TfL roundels and Go Ahead London fleetnames. I didn’t get the chance to see what the situation was with the destination screen, a very quick Hanover installation upon arrival I presume? Unless they’re having temporary blinds made up? Swindon & Vectis liveried kit also still in evidence of course.

The Southern Vectis red double decker had London style destination blinds with correct Southern Vectis route information visible.

 

[OptareOlympus]

When do the tops get put on the open top More Bus vehicles? Just wondering when my last chance is for a ride on some of the open top breezers this year?

Week commencing 11 Sep for the 14xx and 18xx fleets. The Swanage 17xx roofs are going back on on 18th Sep. For the 60/70/80, next week will be the last full week of open top operation. As mentioned above, the 50 at Swanage continues all year with the half tops.

To note though, the original plan was that the three 18xx used on the 60 would not have their roofs refitted again. However, impending vehicle shortages throughout September and October may have changed that plan. Given that morebus will be hiring double deckers from Cardiff Bus to cover the shortage, I think it's safe to assume all roofs will be going back on now.

 

[Towers]

The Southern Vectis red double decker had London style destination blinds with correct Southern Vectis route information visible.

Interesting! I was going to ponder if they’d dug up some blinds from their old kit of years back, but it seems unlikely it’d fit in the enormous blind arpertures of new stuff!

 

[gka472l]

At least three have been delivered to Poole depot, 1713/4/6....info from the Go South Coast Facebook group....they're in a new style livery and have both M1/M2 branding on

Any news on the 28 E400MMC due for the M1

 

[Flange Squeal]

Interesting the New Forest Tour extends into the second half of September but does not run in June at all.

Given June is significantly warmer on average than September (something like 21C vs 19C for the mean max in southern England) and has considerably longer days, that's quite surprising. Has it never run in June?

I was always under the impression that it was to do with Brockenhurst College term dates, which has a network of college routes. The 'Term Dates' page on the Brockenhurst College website says term this year, for example, ended on 29th June.

Term Ends for Students Thu 29th Jun

The New Forest Tour starting soon afterwards (this year on 1st July) then gives something for drivers to do over the summer, before going back onto the college routes when the college resumes. The tour routes run until 17th September this year though, where as the college's website says autumn term starts 11/12th September, so there appears to be a week's overlap there. What I understood to be the case therefore makes sense at the start, but appears to possibly fall apart at the end...

 

[nw1]

I was always under the impression that it was to do with Brockenhurst College term dates, which has a network of college routes. The 'Term Dates' page on the Brockenhurst College website says term this year, for example, ended on 29th June.

The New Forest Tour starting soon afterwards (this year on 1st July) then gives something for drivers to do over the summer, before going back onto the college routes when the college resumes. The tour routes run until 17th September this year though, where as the college's website says autumn term starts 11/12th September, so there appears to be a week's overlap there. What I understood to be the case therefore makes sense at the start, but appears to possibly fall apart at the end...

Ah ok, thanks.

Never realised colleges break up so early for summer.

I went to a school sixth-form rather than college, but in the lower sixth we broke up something like 14 July.