National Bus & Coach Operations

[James101]

And the winner of the ‘Pride’ livery 2018 goes to....


  5E6A6EF3-5924-44AC-847A-2316FB374482.jpeg (Size 437.97 KB / Downloads 49)


Taken from First Kernow’s Facebook

[Kuyoyo]

Megabus

Delivery has commenced on the latest batch of Elite I-bodied Volvo B11RTs - these are set to replace the original batch on Megabus work from Rugby depot.

Of the original batch, 54202 has been repainted and is presently running in plain Megabus Blue with just front 'Megabus.com' logos. It is rumoured to be joining the MegabusPlus fleet - replacing one of the B12BTs on the Barnsley-worked turns. At present however, these turns have been sub-let to Stotts of Milnsbridge - along with the 3 coaches (54052/77/79).

[pbjd]

Specialist Leisure Group have gone into administration, this includes big names like National Holidays and Shearings.

[streetdeckfan]

Specialist Leisure Group have gone into administration, this includes big names like National Holidays and Shearings.

Such a shame, I was planning on going on a National Holiday once the lockdown was over.

[cbma06]

Wasn’t Stagecoach interested in purchasing National Holidays a few years back?.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TEN 6083]

https://abtamag.com/2020/06/23/leger-hol...ngs-brand/

Leger Holidays revives Shearings brand


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

[streetdeckfan]

https://abtamag.com/2020/06/23/leger-hol...ngs-brand/

Leger Holidays revives Shearings brand


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

I've heard from friends that work there that Hays Travel have bought the National Holidays brand, although it hasn't been announced yet

[tyresmoke]

I've heard from friends that work there that Hays Travel have bought the National Holidays brand, although it hasn't been announced yet

Yes I heard the same around the time they collapsed, so that all makes sense.

[streetdeckfan]

Yes I heard the same around the time they collapsed, so that all makes sense.

I'm surprised they haven't officially announced it yet, especially with them telling Hays staff a week ago (although I don't know if the people I know were supposed to know yet!)

[tyresmoke]

National Express have resumed operations today on a very much reduced network. Megabus will follow on Friday again on a very reduced schedule.
Also announced yesterday was the addition of Flixbus to the UK domestic network, initially running on three routes out of London, to Portsmouth via Guildford, Bristol and Birmingham. These services start tomorrow!

[tyresmoke]

I've stuck a timetable together for the Flixbus UK operations and will (attempt to) keep it updated as the schedules change and expand.
Initially they're running 3 routes from London - to Portsmouth via Guildford, Bristol and Birmingham.
Services run Thursday to Monday initially, and will be operated by two operators, BM Coaches of Hayes and Turners Coachways from Bristol. Vehicles are expected to be in the distinctive green Flixbus livery. I've used Flixbus in Europe, where they run a huge operation and they're a typically well organised German run operation so expect routes to be expanded quickly in the UK as we travel more and more.

Schedule attached below...

[tyresmoke]

While I am on with looking at the coach restarts should we make a list of the current National Express & Megabus services within the North East from the restart after the enforced Covid-19 period of no service. It will be interesting to see how both networks evolve as they adapt to changing passenger demand.

Megabus network restarted on 03 July 2020
M12 0515 Newcastle - London VCS 1230 - calls Sunderland (0555), Middlesbrough (0630)
M12 1700 London VCS - Newcastle 0005 - calls Middlesbrough (2250), Sunderland (2325)
M20 1255 Newcastle - London VCS 2010 - calls Durham Uni (1340)
M20 1000 London VCS - Newcastle 1700 - calls Durham Uni (1625)
M36 0755 Newcastle - Bristol 1640 - calls Sunderland (0835)
M36 1240 Newcastle - Bristol 2120 - calls Middlesbrough (1340)
M36 0850 Bristol - Newcastle 1730 - calls Middlesbrough (1630)
M36 1330 Bristol - Newcastle 2215 - calls Sunderland (2135)

National Express network restarted on 01 July 2020
905 1120 Newcastle - London VCS 1955 - calls Sunderland (1155), Middlesbrough (1240), Darlington (1310) - operated by Go North East
905 2250 Newcastle - London VCS 0620 - calls Sunderland (2320), Middlesbrough (0005), Darlington (0035) - operated by NX West Midlands
905 1230 London VCS - Newcastle 2035 - calls Darlington (1850), Middlesbrough (1920), Sunderland (2005) - operated by NX West Midlands
905 2200 London VCS - Newcastle 0525 - calls Darlington (0345), Middlesbrough (0410), Sunderland (0455) - operated by Go North East
910 0820 Newcastle - Birmingham 1400 - calls Sunderland (0850), Middlesbrough (0935) - operated by Go North East
910 1500 Birmingham - Newcastle 2040 - calls Middlesbrough (1925), Sunderland (2005) - operated by Go North East

[tyresmoke]

While I am on with looking at the coach restarts should we make a list of the current National Express & Megabus services within the North East from the restart after the enforced Covid-19 period of no service. It will be interesting to see how both networks evolve as they adapt to changing passenger demand.

Megabus network restarted on 03 July 2020
M12 0515 Newcastle - London VCS 1230 - calls Sunderland (0555), Middlesbrough (0630)
M12 1700 London VCS - Newcastle 0005 - calls Middlesbrough (2250), Sunderland (2325)
M20 1255 Newcastle - London VCS 2010 - calls Durham Uni (1340)
M20 1000 London VCS - Newcastle 1700 - calls Durham Uni (1625)
M36 0755 Newcastle - Bristol 1640 - calls Sunderland (0835)
M36 1240 Newcastle - Bristol 2120 - calls Middlesbrough (1340)
M36 0850 Bristol - Newcastle 1730 - calls Middlesbrough (1630)
M36 1330 Bristol - Newcastle 2215 - calls Sunderland (2135)

National Express network restarted on 01 July 2020
905 1120 Newcastle - London VCS 1955 - calls Sunderland (1155), Middlesbrough (1240), Darlington (1310) - operated by Go North East
905 2250 Newcastle - London VCS 0620 - calls Sunderland (2320), Middlesbrough (0005), Darlington (0035) - operated by NX West Midlands
905 1230 London VCS - Newcastle 2035 - calls Darlington (1850), Middlesbrough (1920), Sunderland (2005) - operated by NX West Midlands
905 2200 London VCS - Newcastle 0525 - calls Darlington (0345), Middlesbrough (0410), Sunderland (0455) - operated by Go North East
910 0820 Newcastle - Birmingham 1400 - calls Sunderland (0850), Middlesbrough (0935) - operated by Go North East
910 1500 Birmingham - Newcastle 2040 - calls Middlesbrough (1925), Sunderland (2005) - operated by Go North East

From Monday 13 July, more journeys will be added to the National Express network due to high demand. See below for additions in our region:

905 0655 Newcastle - London VCS 1510 - calls Sunderland (0725), Middlesbrough (0815), Darlington (0850)
905 1630 London VCS - Newcastle 0045 - calls Darlington (2300), Middlesbrough (2330), Sunderland (0015)

The 910 has been adjusted to depart Newcastle 0805, Sunderland 0840, Middlesbrough 0930, arriving into Birmingham at 1400 as now.
The return 910 still leaves at 1500, however adjusted times in our region to Middlesbrough 1940, Sunderland 2020 and into Newcastle at 2055

[streetdeckfan]

Cheltenham based JG Travel Group - which also includes Just Go! Holidays and Omega Breaks - has announced that National Holidays is being revived after it acquired the brand.

Looks like Hays weren't buying them after all, wonder if they had second thoughts

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...d-18590824

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

[Malarkey]

Cheltenham based JG Travel Group - which also includes Just Go! Holidays and Omega Breaks - has announced that National Holidays is being revived after it acquired the brand.

Looks like Hays weren't buying them after all, wonder if they had second thoughts

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...d-18590824

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

Hays weren't in a position financially to buy National Holidays as they lost over a £1million in cancellations of holidays at the start of lockdown and have only just started to take booking again for later in the year and next year, so very much in a position of recovery right now as a business and would of been a massive financial risk to take at this time when things are very uncertain from what my sister told me as she works for them in the sales side of business.

Hopefully things work out well for JG Travel Group with this acquisition.

[streetdeckfan]

Hays weren't in a position financially to buy National Holidays as they lost over a £1million in cancellations of holidays at the start of lockdown and have only just started to take booking again for later in the year and next year, so very much in a position of recovery right now as a business and would of been a massive financial risk to take at this time when things are very uncertain from what my sister told me as she works for them in the sales side of business.

Hopefully things work out well for JG Travel Group with this acquisition.

I have friends who work for Hays and they were told by management that Hays were buying them, that was a month or so ago so my guess is JG put a higher bid into the administrators, or Hays decided it was too high of a risk at the moment and pulled out, plus the fact that Tyresmoke heard similar rumours suggests it wasn't just office gossip.

I'd honestly expect National Holidays to do extremely well, especially since foreign travel doesn't seem to be likely for quite some time yet. Wonder if the deal included the fleet of vehicles so they can get back on the road fairly quickly

[James101]

Chronicle have their finger on the pulse with this bang up to date image to go with the National Holidays story:

  41F2AF62-C4C2-4273-9A0E-3DCF763137AA.jpeg (Size 411.86 KB / Downloads 24)

[tyresmoke]

I have friends who work for Hays and they were told by management that Hays were buying them, that was a month or so ago so my guess is JG put a higher bid into the administrators, or Hays decided it was too high of a risk at the moment and pulled out, plus the fact that Tyresmoke heard similar rumours suggests it wasn't just office gossip.

I'd honestly expect National Holidays to do extremely well, especially since foreign travel doesn't seem to be likely for quite some time yet. Wonder if the deal included the fleet of vehicles so they can get back on the road fairly quickly

JustGo tend to use hired operators rather than operate their own fleet so assuming they go down the same line here then I don’t think the old fleet will reappear in one operation at least.

[tyresmoke]

New schedule for the Flixbus operations from tomorrow.
Route 063 London to Portsmouth via Guildford has been removed.
Route 020 London to Birmingham is extended to Manchester and renumbered 023, timetable changes too with upto 4 journeys each way
Route 041 London to Bristol has extra journeys added over the weekend, running up to 4x a day

[tyresmoke]

Flixbus are making changes to their network again from Thursday 6 August... some adjustments to times on route 023 to Manchester and a new route linking London to Meadowhall & Leeds twice a day. I'm sure it won't be too long before we see them in our region too.