Premiere have announced the withdrawal of the Red4 with effect from the 23rd January 2011. The reason given on their Facebook page is “safety concerns”. In addition, the company have stated that the Red3 and Red5 have been “delayed until the current situation has died down”.
On a slightly different note, BargainBus have today announced that from Monday 13th December, their “introductory offer” of 50p fares will be ending, and all fares will be increased to £1.
Thanks to commenter Neil Mitchell for drawing the Red4 situation to my attention.
Trentside Traveller's Blog 
Interesting twists and turns…
On the yourbus front,
withdrawal of the Y81/y82 (always known by VOSA as Y1)
PB1086799/1
DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD T/A YOUR BUS, THE THATCH,
NOTTINGHAM ROAD, LANGLEY MILL NOTTINGHAM NG16 4HG
Operating between Bulwell and Nottingham, Frar Lane given service number Y1
effective from 21-Jan-2011.
And a service on the established Pathfinder route (which NCT have long maintained is marginal break even).
#
PB1086799/21 – DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD T/A YOUR BUS, THE THATCH, NOTTINGHAM ROAD, LANGLEY MILL, NOTTINGHAM, NG16 4HG
* Registration Accepted
* Starting Point: Newark Northgate
* Finish Point: Nottingham City Centre
* Via:
* Service Number: Y100
* Service Type: Normal Stopping
* Effective Date: 31-JAN-2011
* Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays.
The Y100 timetable is now available on Traveline. It interestingly appears to be a direct duplicate of the Pathfinder service, and such innovations as running fast from Nottingham via Morrisons and the Gedling bypass, and better serving Burton Joyce and Lowdham have not been introduced. A few peak journeys extend to Newark Northgate. The timing is the same frequency as the NCT service with between a 5 – 10 minute headway. I would expect based on this, much on-the-road competition and similar fares between the two operators.
The one thought I have had is that NCT justified the curtailment of the service in Lowdham (and to some extent Newark), as a measure to “stem the losses” the service was making. Perhaps publicising the financial vulnerability of the service may come back to haunt?
Services outside the core city have been outside NCT’s comfort zone for some time, and devoid of a Newark depot now, I guess NCT will have some hard decisions to make. Other than the 100, all other Pathfinder services have been withdrawn or transferred to other operators. One change that wouldn’t surprise me at all is a substantial increase in the 26 service to Burton Joyce, and the whole route included in the Citycard / Day rider boundary, with perhaps a measured reduction in services to Southwell.
It appears that Red 5 is to be introduced after all, only a week later than originally promised / threatened. No registration of Red3 though. Seems to be a 20 minute service, daytime only service. Can’t see if it bypasses Beeston, but certainly serves Queens Road rather than Middle Road. If it doesn’t, the timetable looks a bit tight at peak times
References:
Registration
PB1021628/87
PREMIERE TRAVEL LTD, TRENT WHARF, MEADOW LANE ,
NOTTINGHAM NG2 3HR
From: Long Eaton
To: Nottingham, Broadmarsh Bus Station
Via:
Name or No: Red 5
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 07-Feb-2011
Other Details: Mondays to Saturdays.
Timetable:
http://www.travelineeastmidlands.co.uk/em/XSLT_TTB_REQUEST?language=en&command=direct&net=em&line=11ED5&sup=%20&project=y08&outputFormat=0&itdLPxx_displayHeader=false&itdLPxx_sessionID=EMEA_98_128651546&lineVer=
Y100 No More (already?!)
After a very short running period (cancellation requested in less than 3 weeks from start of service) it looks like Yourbus have failed to make Southwell pay. Being on the wrong side of the city for me, I do not know how the loadings panned out. I can only assume that they were quite poor. It is noticeable that NCT responded quite quickly to this one. I guess the lessons from the Y36 have been hard learned.
Registration Number: PB1086799
Variation Number 1
Status Cancelled
Operator Name DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD
Service Number(s) Y100
Start Point Newark Northgate
Finish Point Nottingham City Centre
Via
Service Type Normal Stopping
Date Received 18-FEB-2011
Effective Date 18-APR-2011
End Date –
TAOs covered by route North Eastern Traffic Area
Local Authorities covered by route Nottingham City Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
N&P Reference 2091