North Somerset Coaches - Nailsea bus company - ongoing updates (merged topics)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From Nailsea People:

An exasperated Nailsea bus company boss is threatening to report the district council to the local government ombudsman for not dealing with his transport complaints.

North Somerset Coaches has been run by David Fricker since 2007 and he has turned it into an award-winning local company based at Southfield Road.

Mr Fricker who is secretary of Nailsea Chamber of Trade & Commerce has investment in new (and some not-so-new vintage) vehicles and runs a busy timetable of local and city services as well as day trips and holiday excusions.

But his battle with North Somerset Council to get timetable information correctly displayed at bus stops used by his fleet has been long running and so far mostly unsuccessful.

And to add insult to injury this week bus stops in the town have been fitted with 'real time' electronic display board but doesn't include North Somerset Coaches.

Mr Fricker had previous requested that the new boards weren't installed until all bus services on the route could  be included.

Mr Fricker has asked the district council highways and transport chief Colin Medus: "Can you please explain why real time information in Nailsea has now been turned on, showing only First bus?"

"This anti-competitive behaviour by the council is unacceptable and I shall now be contacting the local government ombudsman...this deliberate campaign of mis-leading passengers must stop."

North Someset Coaches has already complained about inaccurate timetables and billing issues which has seen it charged for services not received.

Mr Medus has offered to meet Mr Fricker to try and resolve his concerns.

[trainer]

This anti-competitive behaviour extends through the area where these electronic displays have been installed.  They should say clearly that currently they only apply to First buses equipped with the transponders (or whatever system they use).  Clevedon had them turned on just last week and I have previously noted in Portishead only some First buses were shown giving a completely false impression. If you're a regular traveller it's bad enough, but if North Somerset really want to increase bus use (which I seriously doubt) they are not helping by starting yet another half-ready scheme which looks pretty, but gives misleading information.

A positive point is that most bus stops near me seem now to have up-to-date easy-to-read printed time-tables. All potential pax need now is to know the likelihood of the bus arriving.

[Andrew1939 from West Oxon]

Does Mr Fricker appreciate that for his buses to appear on the live information system his buses would have to be equipped with the necessary transmission equipment (at his company's expense)? Here in Oxfordshire we are now into a second generation system of Live Information systems but this only applies to Premium route services, i.e. frequent services served with full size buses. The council could not justify spending on minor routes where only a few buses call and the bus companies could not justify the matching investment in their small buses serving minor routes. We therefor have the situation that the bus I use to travel home from Oxford calls at a well used bus stop with the Live Informtion system but my bus does not appear on the display because the bus is not so equipped. I suspect something similar may be the case in Nailsea.

[trainer]

As long as that is clear to intending passengers that only some services are shown, I don't have a problem, but if the display suggests that it is comprehensive, it is misleading.  The situation in Nailsea and Clevedon is that competing companies and those on subsidised/contract services not operated by First aren't shown.  I agree that the technology needs to be fitted and paid for by the individual companies, but who is ensuring that access to the equipment is fair to all who wish to enter the market? 

[JayMac]

Does the equipment fitted to the buses have to be paid for by the operators though?

I'm fairly sure that in Bristol, the 'real time information' system was a package funded almost entirely by the city council.

It'd be interesting to find out what, if any, contribution First made toward the system in North Somerset.

[NSCoaches]

Sorry for the delay in posting our company response.

Our request last week to North Somerset Council was for the new screens not to be turned on until we all have the kit; a reasonable request and one that would have ensured passengers had correct, accurate and full information.

Unfortunately, either in the rush to "tick the box", or through total lack of awareness of their decisions, this decision by officers has left passengers worse off.

Historically, the RTI^▸ (Real Time Information (displays)) system has functioned at best "erratically" in the Avon area thanks to perseverance with an obsolete radio-based system. I understand the suppliers (VixACIS) have not been paid by the WoE authorities for some considerable time because of poor performance - but nothing appears to happen!

An award from the government's LSTF^▸ (Local Sustainable Transport Fund) pot was made to the WoE authorities last year to expand the system to small operators and give complete coverage. Last October Bristol City Council requested details of the number of on-bus units we would all require, and at Christmas we were promised fitment of units "imminently" over the festive period.

Then it became clear that the "Ticketer" ticket machines (that all small operators have) can link directly to the ACIS server without need for the expensive separate ACIS "box". The local authorities then commissioned a report from Halcrow consultants into the feasibility, and we are still waiting for their report - and for the real-time system installation.

The next we knew, installation of roadside infrastructure in Nailsea began a few weeks ago - and has been immediately turned on. Passengers are now being deliberately mis-informed and a delay in "switch-on" could have given a huge publicity boost to the scheme by demonstrating inclusive partnership working with all bus companies.

It is probably worth mentioning that not all First vehicles are fitted with the boxes, and that the roadside screens only show those vehicles - it does not show a full timetable list.

There are many issues ongoing in North Somerset at the moment and it is unfortunate that passengers are last on the list of the local authority's concerns.

Finally, should we mention the overheard conversation between North Somerset Council officers at a real-time meeting stating we would be excluded from the real-time project because we wouldn't pay our timetable bill? The bill in question was for 62 roadside timetables at ^8.77 per stop, when only 12 of those 62 were correct. Would you pay?

Dave

NSCoaches

[trainer]

Thank you Dave, a most informative reply.  It is appalling that a company such as yours is treated in this way and in the end we passengers suffer.  As I said earlier, we do not get a proper account of what is really happening at a bus stop with these half-ready displays.  I think your point about NSC ticking boxes is probably right.  If you are entitled to be a part of the system, how dare an officer decide for unconnected reasons to deny you that?

I know it's repeating points made previously, but this again shows that we need a competent (in all senses of the word) authority to oversee and integrate local transport to the advantage of the public and encourage good entrepreneurs to be part of a sensible scheme.

[trainer]

Further to my comments yesterday, I now have personal experience of how North Somerset Coaches (NSC) are discriminated against having fetched up in Nailsea (as you do) on an Avon Rider enjoying a day's bus riding.  At the main bus stop in the Link Road, the company is absent in any form.  As well as the absence from the electronic display there isn't even as incorrect printed timetable including their services.  I'm afraid I still haven't been able to try NSC's buses and we left behind a lady and two children waiting for a return service with no exact idea when it would arrive.

The day proved that the elechronic (sic) displays are indeed less helpful than the printed timetables, gaps (sometimes huge) were apparent in Weston and Nailsea.  The display at Anchor Road in Bristol was spot on for First and the P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) services, but I wanted the Pier Buses X7 service.  At least that appeared on the printed sheet.

Mr Fricker, please let us know how you get on with your challenge to the other NSC (Council).  They will be receiving a request from me for and explanation.

Reminder and for new readers: I have no connection to any transport undertaking

[grahame]

I was alerted to this by at TravelWatch SouthWest yesterday, where David Fricker, owner / operator of North Somerset Coaches read out the whole of the letter to passengers - my second quote that I have started.   Please check his web site for the full letter and details.
 

Service 191 will run for the last time on Wednesday 6th November 2013
Service 55C will run for the last time on Friday 8th November 2013
Services X54 and 55 will be operated by Abus of Bristol to a slightly revised timetable from Monday 11th November 2013
 
Service X5 to St. Katherine^s School is unaffected by these changes
 
Our popular day excursion programme will be expanded in 2014
 
We are currently planning the new brochure and suggestions are very welcome before we go to print!
 
To read more information about our decision
 to withdraw local bus services, please click Link

At that link ...

It is with a deep sense of sadness that I have to write to inform you that our popular and profitable bus services between Nailsea and Bristol (X54 & 55), Nailsea and Backwell School (55C), and from Bath to W eston-super -Mare (191) will be withdrawn from 8th November . The future North Somerset Coaches will concentrate on day excursions and coach hire.

Since 2008 I^ve tried to bring you the very best quality local bus services: Friendly, safe, smart drivers; clean, modern, low-emission low-floor vehicles, some with comfortable leather coach seats; the pioneering use of smart-cards; discounted peak travel for seniors; annual customer survey; hail & ride; good value affordable fares and flexible tickets and an innovative approach to service delivery with a promise of ^we always run^ even in the worst winter weather. My proudest moment was national recognition with the receipt of a ^Highly Commended^ certificate at the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) Bus Awards in 2010.

Concurrent with this commitment to deliver reliable and good quality services I^ve tried hard to support partnership working with local authorities. It is disappointing to have been excluded from meaningful involvement in many projects directly affecting you, our passengers, to the point where I feel I cannot continue.

...

Full letter - http://www.northsomersetcoaches.co.uk/lettertopassengers4.pdf

I understand that the Abus license request to take over the X54 and 55 routes was not received by the traffic commissioner 56 clear days ahead, and the registration and new operator will not be allowed to start until later in the week, even in these circumstances

[trainer]

It seems to be a pity that such a good local operator is forced out, not by fair competition from a commercial competitor (which happens as part of the way businesses work), but by alleged incompetence of local authorities to fulfill their obligations and regulation that seemingly places all the blame for poor punctuality on the operator and takes no account of prevailing circumstances.  On the railways, the separation of infrastructure maintenance and operation of services is clearly defined and understood: it is often forgotten when it comes to roads. (Catching a bus in Clevedon has been a challenge this past week with several road closures - and more to come.) 

Buses are an essential part of life for many and although the 'big boys' often provide good commercial services, a competent local firm can keep them alert to keeping fares down and offering friendly service.

[Chris from Nailsea]

This news story hasn't yet appeared on their online version, but this printed newspaper article is from the front page of the North Somerset Times, 2 October 2013:

[Chris from Nailsea]

In the interests of continuity, I've now merged a couple of topics here, to expand the context of the most recent development.

Hope this helps!  Chris from Nailsea.




By the way, and purely for the record: I do not have shares, or any other financial interest, in North Somerset Coaches, based in Nailsea. CfN.