Our latest vehicle but by no means the newest. Bought simply to enable the last of the Varios to leave! I don't think she will be with us for long - possibly just up until the summer holidays.
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Photo Number 7 - M588 UBA
Our latest vehicle but by no means the newest. Bought simply to enable the last of the Varios to leave! I don't think she will be with us for long - possibly just up until the summer holidays.
Monday, 20 April 2009
Window Shopping
An excursion to the local MAN dealership in Swindon with a surprisingly enjoyable test drive in the Palxton Centro pictured above. The search for vehicles continue but I have to say I am tempted! It looks likely that one or two new vehicles will be joining us later this year!
The Calm Before The Storm 2
And so another school term begins! We have not re-tendered for route 5 from Thomas Keble School to Miserden due to a number of reasons (which I will not go into here) but be assured that my comments have been noted by several of the involved parties! Needless to say, therefore, I am very happy that we no longer operate this service!
This has led us to be temporarily embarressed by being overloaded with drivers! But two new contracts to Sir William Romney's School in Tetbury should start in September and the commencement of driver CPC training means that they will not be under-utilised for long!
This has led us to be temporarily embarressed by being overloaded with drivers! But two new contracts to Sir William Romney's School in Tetbury should start in September and the commencement of driver CPC training means that they will not be under-utilised for long!
Two Down One To Go!
After my previous rant about the Mercedes Vario, I have now sold the two at the farm (R630 YOM and R816 LFV). They departed on Friday to an unknown home! It is rumoured that R816 LFV will see further service but I hold out little hope for R630 YOM.
R629 YOM is away at Swanbrook to see if they want to buy it, but as I cannot now offer the buy one get two free deal, they might! In the meantime we have M588 UBA on loan to us from Swanbrook - a standard Mercedes 814D with no computerised engine management system!
Also worthy of note is the departure of L101 HHV to the great scrapyard in the sky! After donating many parts and its rear end to its sister L118 HHV there was no further use. L101 HHV RIP.
R629 YOM is away at Swanbrook to see if they want to buy it, but as I cannot now offer the buy one get two free deal, they might! In the meantime we have M588 UBA on loan to us from Swanbrook - a standard Mercedes 814D with no computerised engine management system!
Also worthy of note is the departure of L101 HHV to the great scrapyard in the sky! After donating many parts and its rear end to its sister L118 HHV there was no further use. L101 HHV RIP.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Bloody Varios!
And now I have had enough! Cotswold Green owns three Mercedes Varios and we have another one on hire. How many of these masterpieces of unnecessarily complicated engineering were available for service on Saturday? NONE! How many were available for service today? ONE!
And so R630 YOM has been sent to the farm in disgrace, soon to be joined by R816 LFV whilst I consider what punishment should be metered out. Selling them appears to be the only practical solution although I have several volunteers should a more destructive approach seem suitable!
But what to replace them with?
And so R630 YOM has been sent to the farm in disgrace, soon to be joined by R816 LFV whilst I consider what punishment should be metered out. Selling them appears to be the only practical solution although I have several volunteers should a more destructive approach seem suitable!
But what to replace them with?
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Another Brace Of Darts
And so, after thawing out the cheque book, I have been off again on a little spending spree to pander to my hobby of changing the fleet every five minutes!
Two more Dennis Darts enter the fold (N464 TPR and N468 TPR), this time with East Lancs bodies.
One of these will replace L101 HHV, destined soon to make its final journey, and the other because why buy one when you can have two at twice the price!
Myself and Glyn drove the pair back from Bournemouth (Transdev Yellow Buses) today at a sedate pace!
I may also have forgotten to mention that we have sold F705 BAT to Ebley Coaches who, in their own individual style, have not bothered to paint it or remove the vinyls!
Two more Dennis Darts enter the fold (N464 TPR and N468 TPR), this time with East Lancs bodies.
One of these will replace L101 HHV, destined soon to make its final journey, and the other because why buy one when you can have two at twice the price!
Myself and Glyn drove the pair back from Bournemouth (Transdev Yellow Buses) today at a sedate pace!
I may also have forgotten to mention that we have sold F705 BAT to Ebley Coaches who, in their own individual style, have not bothered to paint it or remove the vinyls!
Snow & Grit
Now that I have calmed down I feel able to write about the battle that we have been fighting against mother nature. For anybody who cannot guess the result, we lost!
Snow in Gloucestershire generally only appears in quantities that hinder rather than prevent bus operation but, for what seems like the most part this month, we became a late morning/early afternoon bus operator! This applies to what I shall now refer to as the week of unpleasantness at the beginning of the month. Even where routes did operate it was not always possible to access all of the villages - Frampton Mansell, Sapperton and Miserden being obvious examples.
The gritting of the roads all but ceased during this particular week as, aparently, grit could not be delivered to the distribution depots due to high demand! This lead to the interesting situation of gritting only taking place on 'A' roads when we needed it most. Only route 54 benifitted in part from this arrangement!
Gritting has been a 'hot topic' locally during January as freezing temperatures and the consequent appearance of ice caused us nearly as much difficulty as the snow. Particular problems with the road between Frampton Mansell and Sapperton, which during winter months remains sheltered from sunlight, was avoided on occasions and claimed a victory against us when it captured the 128 service at 0800 and refused to let it pass until around 1100! With the aid of the local constabulary and the 54A service, the passengers were able to complete their journey.
The upshot of the gritting debate was the publicising of the policy that no bus route in Gloucestershire is prioritised nor is likely to be in the near future!
My earlier reference to 'having calmed down' refers to the lack of takings for the week of unpleasantness. Not a good week for Cotswold Green! We may have saved on fuel but not on wages or standing costs (rent, insurance etc) so a little financial pain has been experienced! Not to worry though as we are now catching up and will be firmly back on track by the end of the month!
Snow in Gloucestershire generally only appears in quantities that hinder rather than prevent bus operation but, for what seems like the most part this month, we became a late morning/early afternoon bus operator! This applies to what I shall now refer to as the week of unpleasantness at the beginning of the month. Even where routes did operate it was not always possible to access all of the villages - Frampton Mansell, Sapperton and Miserden being obvious examples.
The gritting of the roads all but ceased during this particular week as, aparently, grit could not be delivered to the distribution depots due to high demand! This lead to the interesting situation of gritting only taking place on 'A' roads when we needed it most. Only route 54 benifitted in part from this arrangement!
Gritting has been a 'hot topic' locally during January as freezing temperatures and the consequent appearance of ice caused us nearly as much difficulty as the snow. Particular problems with the road between Frampton Mansell and Sapperton, which during winter months remains sheltered from sunlight, was avoided on occasions and claimed a victory against us when it captured the 128 service at 0800 and refused to let it pass until around 1100! With the aid of the local constabulary and the 54A service, the passengers were able to complete their journey.
The upshot of the gritting debate was the publicising of the policy that no bus route in Gloucestershire is prioritised nor is likely to be in the near future!
My earlier reference to 'having calmed down' refers to the lack of takings for the week of unpleasantness. Not a good week for Cotswold Green! We may have saved on fuel but not on wages or standing costs (rent, insurance etc) so a little financial pain has been experienced! Not to worry though as we are now catching up and will be firmly back on track by the end of the month!
Friday, 23 January 2009
Busy Busy
I know it has been a long time since I posted and have been reminded by several people recently and so to redress the balance I begin the long process of catching up with recent events!
The fleet has not changed much except for accident damage to L101 HHV and L118 HHV causing them to remain out of service for some time. L118 HHV is booked for surgery within the next couple of weeks but L101 HHV could take a bit longer!
To cover for the absence of the Northern counties twins we have had to resort to hiring a vehicle from Next Bus Vehicle Rentals otherwise known as Faresaver! We have hired a Mercedes Vario which has changed identies from V251 BNV to PSV 444, back to V251 BNV and now T436 EBD.
We have aquired another Mercedes minibus (N969 NAP) but this was bought as a non runner and will gradually disappear as it donates various parts to its sisters!
The fleet has not changed much except for accident damage to L101 HHV and L118 HHV causing them to remain out of service for some time. L118 HHV is booked for surgery within the next couple of weeks but L101 HHV could take a bit longer!
To cover for the absence of the Northern counties twins we have had to resort to hiring a vehicle from Next Bus Vehicle Rentals otherwise known as Faresaver! We have hired a Mercedes Vario which has changed identies from V251 BNV to PSV 444, back to V251 BNV and now T436 EBD.
We have aquired another Mercedes minibus (N969 NAP) but this was bought as a non runner and will gradually disappear as it donates various parts to its sisters!
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
The Empire Grows
More success in the competitive tendering process means more routes!
I had bid on a schools service between Frampton Mansell and Cirencester which I proposed to start in Minchinhampton and number it 128. I received the call to say that our bid was successful and started to make plans for its introduction in January. I was then tactfully informed that this was an emergency tendering arrangement and that it starts on Monday! Note to self: read documents properly in the future and do not assume anything!
I also put in a bid to operate route 278 between Tetbury and Malmesbury. I knew this was a short notice arrangement and that it starts next Wednesday. It only runs two days per week and fits nicely inbetween a school bus!
I had bid on a schools service between Frampton Mansell and Cirencester which I proposed to start in Minchinhampton and number it 128. I received the call to say that our bid was successful and started to make plans for its introduction in January. I was then tactfully informed that this was an emergency tendering arrangement and that it starts on Monday! Note to self: read documents properly in the future and do not assume anything!
I also put in a bid to operate route 278 between Tetbury and Malmesbury. I knew this was a short notice arrangement and that it starts next Wednesday. It only runs two days per week and fits nicely inbetween a school bus!
Its Quads!
The cheque book fell into my hands today with disastruous consequences! Once I have this little book in my hand and a writing implement (pen, pencil or crayon) money tends to disappear from the company bank acount at an alarming rate! I am sure these two events are somehow connected.
The result of this lack of security was the arrival of another Dennis Dart (M94 WBW) and the purchase of L720 JUD. Our collection of larger darts has now increased to four.
M101 WBW has been repainted into fleet colours and fitted with a new LED destination kit and should be in service on Monday. M94 WBW will head to the painters on Friday evening!
The result of this lack of security was the arrival of another Dennis Dart (M94 WBW) and the purchase of L720 JUD. Our collection of larger darts has now increased to four.
M101 WBW has been repainted into fleet colours and fitted with a new LED destination kit and should be in service on Monday. M94 WBW will head to the painters on Friday evening!
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