Kev's Cars & Coaches

[mesub]

 Kev's is a great little bus company. They've done way better than igo.

[Kevin]

Kevs are an excellent bus and coach company providing a first class bus service to Halesowen and Hagley some another bus company based in Birmingham could learn a lot from the professionalism of this Worcestershire operator why anyone would comment they are not fit for purpose and should be embarrassed by the service they run is beyond comprehension.

Not disputing that at all, just using your logic of a bus being delayed proving that the bus company is awful

[MasterPlan]

How is the 39/39A doing? Have they managed to increase patronage since taking over from igo?

[richardjones210368]

How is the 39/39A doing? Have they managed to increase patronage since taking over from igo?

When I use it from Weoley Castle it's usually the same faces and average numbers of passengers as Igo no great change the 147 seems to carry a few more as Kevs carry on into Bromesgrove while WCC terminated in the middle of an out of town estate thus attracting Halesowen twirlies

[igogeneral]

The 39/39A is doing well at the moment with a double figure increase compared to the first week of operation as is the 19. The problem of course is that when multiple trips on a 30 minute headway service over several months are lost then passengers will search for other methods of getting from A-B so no matter who the new operator is it will take time to rebuild confidence. Since the start of our operation Kev's have lost only a handful of trips some of which have been down to vandalism especially in the Quinton, Four Dwellings area. Whatever the earlier respondent feels you cannot run a bus in service with a broken window and you cannot always have buses parked around the corner to cover for such eventualities.

New machines due 23 February but only on TfWM routes as Worcester CC have no plans for new technology at the moment. All TfWM routes operated by Kev's will be contactless.

[richardjones210368]

The 39/39A is doing well at the moment with a double figure increase compared to the first week of operation as is the 19. The problem of course is that when multiple trips on a 30 minute headway service over several months are lost then passengers will search for other methods of getting from A-B so no matter who the new operator is it will take time to rebuild confidence. Since the start of our operation Kev's have lost only a handful of trips some of which have been down to vandalism especially in the Quinton, Four Dwellings area. Whatever the earlier respondent feels you cannot run a bus in service with a broken window and you cannot always have buses parked around the corner to cover for such eventualities.

New machines due 23 February but only on TfWM routes as Worcester CC have no plans for new technology at the moment. All TfWM routes operated by Kev's will be contactless.

As a regular user of the 39 it is such a sad reflection of society that some feel its "cool" to  attack a bus and I personally thank Kevs for the professional manner they take in thier approach to this and other TfWM contracts and a big thanks to embrassing Swift for the benefit of all.

[igogeneral]

Contactless pay comes to Kev's 19, 38, 39, 39A, 39S and 42 routes on Monday 24 February. All the drivers had training so fingers crossed

[Pat]

Contactless pay comes to Kev's 19, 38, 39, 39A, 39S and 42 routes on Monday 24 February. All the drivers had training so fingers crossed

Have the new machines been bought by TfWM and given to operators as there have been quite a few operators who have switched to them in the past few weeks?

[igogeneral]

No, the machines have not been bought by TfWM. We and other smaller operators have chosen this path in order to provide users with the best possible best value options including new comfortable vehicles. In doing so we hope to increase patronage and then of course profitability. We realise that if we do not do so we will not last the test of time like so many smaller operators before us. Any suggestions that will assist are always welcome.

[MW]

No, the machines have not been bought by TfWM. We and other smaller operators have chosen this path in order to provide users with the best possible best value options including new comfortable vehicles. In doing so we hope to increase patronage and then of course profitability. We realise that if we do not do so we will not last the test of time like so many smaller operators before us. Any suggestions that will assist are always welcome.

Are the machines quite expensive then? Would you able to tell us how much a machine costs?

[Justin Tyme]

No, the machines have not been bought by TfWM. We and other smaller operators have chosen this path in order to provide users with the best possible best value options including new comfortable vehicles. In doing so we hope to increase patronage and then of course profitability. We realise that if we do not do so we will not last the test of time like so many smaller operators before us. Any suggestions that will assist are always welcome.

This is a big investment and I am sure everyone wishes you well - and also the other operators who are doing the same.

As a bus passenger, the big difference new ticket machines makes to me is that when the change is made, buses usually appear in real time on bustimes.org.  Would it be worth putting notices on buses about this, and perhaps doing a press release, pointing out that passengers will be able to see the bus they want to catch?  A press release could also remind the public of the bus services you operate.

[igogeneral]

Are the machines quite expensive then? Would you able to tell us how much a machine costs?

Sorry but that is commercial information which I am not at liberty to give.

[igogeneral]

This is a big investment and I am sure everyone wishes you well - and also the other operators who are doing the same.

As a bus passenger, the big difference new ticket machines makes to me is that when the change is made, buses usually appear in real time on bustimes.org.  Would it be worth putting notices on buses about this, and perhaps doing a press release, pointing out that passengers will be able to see the bus they want to catch?  A press release could also remind the public of the bus services you operate.

Sound idea which we hope that once the roll out is completed TfWM will pick up. If not we will do something once we are happy with reliability.

[IMarkeh]

Are the machines quite expensive then? Would you able to tell us how much a machine costs?

A good few hundred PER MACHINE. A mate of mine who runs a bus company was going to go contactless but Ticketer was quite expensive.

[metrocity]

A good few hundred PER MACHINE. A mate of mine who runs a bus company was going to go contactless but Ticketer was quite expensive.

And the rest !