Rotala Management - Questions & Answers

[Simon Dunn]

Metrodeckers gone up there for schools or mix of school & normal services

Schools, and other contract work.

[Buslad02]

Given the imminent expectation that the first tranche of Merseytravel franchise contract bidding is to open, is Rotala expected to pursue these opportunities? 

Folk have mentioned Arriva will not be focusing their resources on the first tranche (St Helens) and to focus on the more lucrative contracts, giving a good opportunity for a new player.. Similarly would Rotala be considering the new school franchises in Merseyside, where a whole new set up maybe required?

[Simon Dunn]

Given the imminent expectation that the first tranche of Merseytravel franchise contract bidding is to open, is Rotala expected to pursue these opportunities?

Folk have mentioned Arriva will not be focusing their resources on the first tranche (St Helens) and to focus on the more lucrative contracts, giving a good opportunity for a new player.. Similarly would Rotala be considering the new school franchises in Merseyside, where a whole new set up maybe required?

We were close to and was looking at acquiring a smaller operator in the area.  The Franchising change means there are no small Franchises.  

It is therefore difficult to see how we could build enough critical mass to operate schools only.   So we think the only avenue open is to bid for large franchises.

We are intending to look at the large franchises.   


Simon

[Buslad02]

We were close to and was looking at acquiring a smaller operator in the area.  The Franchising change means there are no small Franchises. 

It is therefore difficult to see how we could build enough critical mass to operate schools only.  So we think the only avenue open is to bid for large franchises.

We are intending to look at the large franchises. 


Simon

Many thanks for the reply and best of luck!

[Jack6101]

Hi Simon , 
I waited for the first 215 service this morning , at 6:10 , got to stop around 6:05 , by 6:40 bus never come , not a good start , hopefully better for tommrow 

[Jakemat10]

Has 30827 been withdrawn hasn't tracked since 29th nov according to bus times 

[Simon Dunn]

Has 30827 been withdrawn hasn't tracked since 29th nov according to bus times

The bus is in service today.

[Simon Dunn]

Hi Simon ,
I waited for the first 215 service this morning , at 6:10 , got to stop around 6:05 , by 6:40 bus never come , not a good start , hopefully better for tommrow

I apologise for this.  There was a loss of 45 minutes service this morning.  

[Ryan Hack]

Is it known were 20639 and 20640 will go after the Diamond Bus North West time

[IMarkeh]

I love service change weeks as it's always fun to see what mess the commercial team put into the Ticketer machines!

In this months version of Diamond Midlands commercial team can't do their job properly.....
Redditch 50 trips towards Maypole missing times at Moseley and Kings Heath timing points. Missing Digbeth Barford Street DS8 and King's Heath Institute Rd
Redditch 50A trips wrongly show up as a 50
West Bromwich 54 and Wolverhampton 61 has the wrong service number (on Ticketer external service number needs updating) and both need the publicuse box ticking.
Bilston 303 has stops in areas that the bus doesn't serve.
Kidderminster 580 towards Kinver wrongly shows as serving Kidderminster Horsefair (wocdmdga)
Evesham 540 doesn't have 2024/25 school dates set.
(Plus many, many more. I could write a book on Diamonds data errors!)

How many times do data issues need to keep being raised before you hold your commercial team accountable for their poor work? Bus open data is a legal requirement and Diamond Midlands constant errors is putting your operators licence at risk. It's unacceptable that you are being paid millions of pounds of taxpayers money on contracts, yet refuse to comply with open data laws (providing full and correct data. emphasis on correct). Diamond North West and Preston seem to do quite well and so credit to them, why then is it that Midlands team keeps making such a hash of it all? I've seen kids with spaghetti make less of a mess!

And let's be clear, it's not just passengers being screwed over here, your own punctuality stats (internally and through Analyse Bus Open Data) will be messed up because of stops being all over the place, drivers will be being misinformed too (as the data you're putting out on BODS comes from Ticketer so the same issues I am seeing, will be the same issues drivers will be having). It's just really not on and you need to sort it (as clearly your commercial team can't sort it else I would have had to report it so many times)

[Westy]

I would look at the whole year if possible.

As I said, during holiday periods, the punctionality is a lot better, during normal times, it's worse!

@Simon Dunn Scenario I described is happening today.

1536 326 is running 13 minutes late, according to Bustimes, and the 1455 left more or less on time & started to slip around Lane Head, which becomes the 1536!

[Ryan Hack]

What is the plans with A17 HLC and A19 HLC?

[Simon Dunn]

Is it known were 20639 and 20640 will go after the Diamond Bus North West time

We want to replace a number of West Midlands vehicles, at the same time, we are tendering for a lot of new work.  So it depends upon when the vehicles are released and where they are needed at that point.

[Simon Dunn]

@Simon Dunn Scenario I described is happening today.

1536 326 is running 13 minutes late, according to Bustimes, and the 1455 left more or less on time & started to slip around Lane Head, which becomes the 1536!

Thank you - we are looking at this.  It is not straight forward and it will take time.

[Simon Dunn]

What is the plans with A17 HLC and A19 HLC?

These vehicles were acquired to be part of the School Bus fleet for Manchester.  They need painting and some interior modifications.


Simon