MX09 EKT ‘arriva Midlands’ No. 3739. VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar 2 /2 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
‘Scene’ in a ‘Bus War’ on the A38
on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
The term ‘Bus War’ is much loved by newspaper editors when a fall out between competing bus companies spills over into the public domain.
‘trentbarton’ and ‘arriva Midlands’ have for many years run the X38 service jointly, providing three buses an hour between Derby and Burton on Trent and return.
The terminus in Derby has been on Victoria Street for as long as I can remember. It is not really convenient for anyone in Derby who does not live in that area requiring a walk from the bus station of several minutes depending on how quickly you walk.
The end of August and the beginning of September is a time when bus services can change. Routes change operators. New services are introduced. Timetables can be changed.
It was when I saw ‘arriva Midlands’ revised service on the X38 where they were intending running four services an hour from Derby to Burton from Derby Bus Station on their own leaving ‘trentbarton’ out in the cold and still running from Victoria Street.
This led ‘trentbarton’ to matching the four services per hour but now using a stop on Corporation Street. Closer to the bus station but still not as convenient as the bus station.
As an added incentive to intending passengers, ‘trentbarton’ announced that for the first week in September, all their passengers would travel free of charge.
‘arriva Midlands’ run a selection of mainly elderly Wright Pulsar bodied VDL SB200 saloons whilst ‘trentbarton’ run elderly Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE’s. All normally branded for the X38.
Neither company would appear to have sufficient branded buses for the revised timetable and in ‘trentbarton’s case not enough drivers because the driver I travelled with was wearing ‘Kinchbus’ uniform. I believe that some ‘Notts & Derby’ drivers may also be involved.
It all made for an interesting afternoon. There were a number of enthusiasts on the streets of both Derby and Burton on Trent recording the scene!
I think that ‘arriva Midlands’ are brave to go it alone and Derby Bus Station is a more attractive departure point than Corporation Street.
We shall have to see how it all works out.
MX09 EKT ‘arriva Midlands’ No. 3739. VDL SB200 / Wright Pulsar 2 /2 on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
‘Scene’ in a ‘Bus War’ on the A38
on Dennis Basford’srailsroadsrunways.blogspot.co.uk’
The term ‘Bus War’ is much loved by newspaper editors when a fall out between competing bus companies spills over into the public domain.
‘trentbarton’ and ‘arriva Midlands’ have for many years run the X38 service jointly, providing three buses an hour between Derby and Burton on Trent and return.
The terminus in Derby has been on Victoria Street for as long as I can remember. It is not really convenient for anyone in Derby who does not live in that area requiring a walk from the bus station of several minutes depending on how quickly you walk.
The end of August and the beginning of September is a time when bus services can change. Routes change operators. New services are introduced. Timetables can be changed.
It was when I saw ‘arriva Midlands’ revised service on the X38 where they were intending running four services an hour from Derby to Burton from Derby Bus Station on their own leaving ‘trentbarton’ out in the cold and still running from Victoria Street.
This led ‘trentbarton’ to matching the four services per hour but now using a stop on Corporation Street. Closer to the bus station but still not as convenient as the bus station.
As an added incentive to intending passengers, ‘trentbarton’ announced that for the first week in September, all their passengers would travel free of charge.
‘arriva Midlands’ run a selection of mainly elderly Wright Pulsar bodied VDL SB200 saloons whilst ‘trentbarton’ run elderly Wright Eclipse bodied Volvo B7RLE’s. All normally branded for the X38.
Neither company would appear to have sufficient branded buses for the revised timetable and in ‘trentbarton’s case not enough drivers because the driver I travelled with was wearing ‘Kinchbus’ uniform. I believe that some ‘Notts & Derby’ drivers may also be involved.
It all made for an interesting afternoon. There were a number of enthusiasts on the streets of both Derby and Burton on Trent recording the scene!
I think that ‘arriva Midlands’ are brave to go it alone and Derby Bus Station is a more attractive departure point than Corporation Street.
We shall have to see how it all works out.