According to a brief note on Glossop.com's front page at present, Tameside operator Speedwellbus has got into a spot of bother with the Traffic Commissioner. The note reads:
The Traffic Commissioners held a public enquiry (sic) into the school bus provision at Glossopdale Community College at Golborne, Warrington on Tuesday (June 30). The Deputy Traffic Commissioner decided against the company (Speedwellbus), and curtailed the fleet to 28 vehicles (from 37). He also issued a formal warning with various undertakings. These will be disclosed by the Deputy Traffic Commissioner "at a later date". The Vehicle Operator Services Agency had conducted an investigation and a vehicle examiner carried out a visit to the service provider in December 2008 and marked his report "unsatisfactory".
If true, this will be a blow to the operator, due to start a new commercial service between Hey Farm and Manchester next month. It will be interesting to see what offenses Speedwellbus are accused of. We'll bring you more when we get it.
[Thanks to Anthony E. McKeown]
Got given a leaflet today at Mossley Station about the new S50 bus - Adult single journeys are £1 - doesn't matter how far you're going. Concessions are 50p not 80p for both OAPs and children. A weekly ticket costs £8.
However, they won't be accepting any System One tickets nor will they be sold on the bus! This seems quite unfair considering a £900 county card is supposed to give you access to the whole bus and train network in the county, especially considering Speedwell are a member of System one and accept their passes on their other buses. I hope that the GMPTE timetable doesn't contain the usual info "For travel on any service in the County, use System One tickets"
Website: www.speedwellvalue.com
Posted by: Rob | July 16, 2009 at 08:27 PM
Would have been more convenient if you could use the System One tickets on the service, but £1 for a journey from Mossley or Ashton to Manchester isn't a bad price to pay. £2 return on Speedwellbus compared to £3.50 on Stagecoach, £4 on First and £4.30/£4.60 with System One. Should be interesting to see if First/Stagecoach respond with any offers on the 350/216 services.
You can use the Speedwellbus day/weekly ticket on the S50 or 'Speedwellvalue' as they're calling it, although there's no mention on either of their sites of prices.
Also noted that the service terminates at Shudehill rather than Piccadilly Gardens, as they say it's more convenient for the Arndale, Printworks, Deansgate and Metrolink (when it re-opens). They also say that it'll be 'warm and dry' there when the weather gets bad while Piccadilly is 'wet and drafty!'
Posted by: Shaun | July 16, 2009 at 08:55 PM
You're right Shaun it is a good price. But if you've spent £900 on a County Card or £625 for a Bus saver, you're not likely to want to fork out more money to use this service. Stagecoach operate Magic buses 'frequent but low fares' and still accept System one cards.
I'll stick to my County card and catch the 1/2 hour train from Vic to Ashton and get the 350 at Ashton to Mossley - much quicker than the S50 will be.
Posted by: Rob | July 16, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Glossop Advertiser's article on this
http://www.glossopadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1125018_warning_to_bus_firm
Posted by: Markie | July 26, 2009 at 07:04 AM
Even though it is only the first day, I think that Speedwellbus may need to do some publicity to their S50 service judging by some of the loadings today.
Saw one bus leave Manchester today with not one person on board. Was surprised that they didn't have any notices in the front window advertising the £1 single fare.
Posted by: Shaun | August 03, 2009 at 09:48 PM
Some problems for the S50 service with the roadworks going on in Manchester, which has meant the service is temporarily split into two sections with service running Hey Farm-Ashton and Ashton-Manchester.
I do wonder whether there is some problems at Speedwellbus, following the 9 buses being cut from their fleet. Have noticed that there are cancellations for the 41/337, 188, 217, 309/310, 343/344, 353/354, 395/396 and S50 all scheduled for the 3rd or 5th October 2009.
This may just be Speedwellbus re-organising their registrations or perhaps they've lost GMPTE contracts on some of the services (All those cancellations except S50 are GMPTE contracted services). On the JPT Facebook page, they said that they were looking at the 343 route as one area of improvement, so could be possible that they take over the weekday service.
Posted by: Shaun | August 18, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Is the S50 still in operation??
It is listed as an operator for the school run to Mossley Hollins High School,
Posted by: Sharon | October 01, 2009 at 04:05 PM