tfbg2011006: Vannin Link and Northern Link

Thanks DMN.

Quite a bit of news from the company.

• First of all the strong winds on the Isle of Man have caused disruption to Vannin Link. After drivers being concerned after the first few journeys this morning, the route was diverted via Laxey instead of the Mountain Rd. This will remain in place tomorrow. This however has caused delay at times, an extra vehicle in use at the peak time. Wind has also seen transfer of several buses between Northern Link and Vannin Link delayed until Thursday, with the disruption to the Ben-My-Chree sailings.
  
  
• We are also pleased to announce that with the continued growth of Northern Link, we are establishing a new depot, in Manchester (Cheetham Hill). This will also see the launch of a large range of routes, in stages, with the first services commencing Tuesady January 3rd.
  
  
• Additionally we have placed an order between Wright and Optare, with 26 new vehicles. These will be delivered between Late December and February next year. 10 Optare Versas are the first to be delivered, these will be split to replace older buses in Blackpool and Preston. We have also placed an order with Wright for 10 VDL SB200 Pulsar 2s, and 6 Volvo B9TL Geminis. These vehicles will all be for Manchester or Bolton.
  

A further update to Vannin Link route 145, although winds have improved today and tomorrows services will continue to route via Laxey owing to snow fall over the mountain, all other services are unaffected.

Once again todays route 145 service has been diverted. The first journey in either direction did operate, but it was found conditions were still unsuitable. Service should resume to normal tomorrow.

This weeks accounts and fleet

Thanks DMN.

The keys to Cheetham Hill depot were handed over to Northern Link today, with the first residents for Manchester moving in. Between vehicles being stored before schools work and vehicles destined for Manchester, Preston Frenchwood was getting a bit full, so it was a welcome relief as the first 10 Plaxton Pointers were moved south today. The remaining Pointers will be moved tomorrow, with Pulsars, Geminis and Citaros being moved once completed at Bootle.

A couple of alterations to the Boxing Day and New Years Day services, on Boxing day the service 208 does operate (previously stated it does not) and on New Years Day service 217 does operate and service 231 does not operate (unlike previously stated).

A day early, for obvious reasons, here is the Company Profile update and accounts for this week.


Merry Christmas to everyone!

Vannin Link are pleased to announce we are now working with LMT Ellan Vannin to provide a heritage bus service for the Jurby Transport Museum. The service will commence during January, operating on Sundays , and will also operate on Saturdays from April. Vannin Link will be using our restored Dennis Darts (16/22/27/31/37/40) along with LMTs Olympians (66/67) and Lynxs (1/2). The prospects are good and we are looking forward to working with LMT more in the future!

This weeks update. There has been a big change in the general fleet numbering system, with a 4 digit system, 1000-1999 for general double decks, 2000-2999 for general single decks. 3000-3999 New deliveries, Express Link buses and reseves 6000-6099 Airport Link. There are vehicles with other designations.

Yesterday was a busy day for the company with the start of operations from Manchester Cheetham Hill depot. This currently operates routes 239, 255,258,260,262,265 and A5, with more routes building from here in the next few weeks. This also saw the launch to service of Wright Pulsars with the company, with a large number of new vehicles on order or planned. We also launched the Articulated Mercedes Citaro into use, on the Airport Link service A5.

Yesterday also saw the first buses from Ormskirk depot, initially starting with Merseytravel school tenders, which ran well with our step entrance fleet.

A couple of news updates from the company, first of all, the new vehicle order calender for the company up until April:

1350-1357 (MX61 NTA-H) Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini, 30 Jan-26 Mar
1510-1515 (MX12 NLA-F) ADL Trident 10.2m Enviro 400, 26 Mar-9 Apr
2552-2567 (CX61 CTC-CX12 CTT) VDL SB200 Wright Pulsar 2, 9 Jan-2 Apr
3307-3319 (MX61 EEL-MX12 EEY) Optare Versa V1110, 16 Jan-26 Mar
3330-3336 (MX12 NLA-G) Optare Versa V1040, 19 Mar-2 Apr

Also on the new bus front, the company has recieved 2 Optare Olympus demonstrators, one with Volvo B9TL chassis, one with Olympus chassis. Their trials began today and will continue for the next few days.Both started work today in Preston, operating on double deck allocated routes, 220, 229, 230 and 232 through the day. The Volvo chassied vehicle ended the day in Bolton, both will work their way to Bolton and Manchester in the next few days before a decision is made as to which to purchase, both for mainland and IOM operation.

In other news, later in the year the company will be holding two depot open days, first Vannin Link will have an open day at our Summer Hill workshop in Douglas, we would hold it at Homefield but there is no outside space. It will be held on Sunday July 22nd, prior to the Manx Heritage Transport Festival. We will also be holding an open day at Bolton depot on August 5th. We would like to invite other companies to bring some of their buses, in particular members of their heritage fleet.

LMT would certainly be interested in attending your open days, for the Isle of Man event we would be like to send semi-operational Leyland Olympian 67 BMN-67-M and for the Bolton event we would like to send two members of our Heritage Fleet - Leyland Olympian SHE 621Y and Leyland Titan (B15) T598 NUW 598Y. I will also be in attendance at both events.

Cheers,

Liver Travel will happily attend the Bolton event! We will attend with:

VDL SB200CS Wright Pulsar 2
MX12 FRA

MAN 18.240 ADL E300
MJ61 CKA

Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2
MJ61 KRA

And from our heritage fleet:

Volvo B10B Alexander Strider
M388 VWX, preserved as CMT Buses 2070.

Dennis Dart SLF Marshall Capital
R401 XFL, preserved as Halton 84.
T618 PNC, soon to be preserved as Liver Travel 1.
T623 PNC, soon to be preserved as MTL 7623.

Thanks

Thankyou to everyone's offers for the open days, and they are all gladly accepted. Further details will be announced closer to the time.

This weeks profile and Accounts:

we will bring 3 of our mercs to the bolton day as we are planning a tour round the uk with them but that bit is still in the planning atm

Unfortunately LanTrav, we would prefer if you did not send 3 for the event, 1 or 2 would be accepted. We are trying to display a wide variety of vehicles, and keep 'duplication' to a minimum. We would happily welcome a third (or even fourth) vehicle from you, but we would rather have different types.

Cheers!

This weeks updates:

Would we be able to have the third merc under cover? we would pay for the storage

DMN 33-1 wrote:Would we be able to have the third merc under cover? we would pay for the storage

You would not have to pay at all, however it is likely (not certain) it would have to be Preston.

thats fine depending on if i can get my vintage bus i may have that and the 2 mercs

This weeks updates

The Crusaders you reserved from LMT are now available for delivery:

P809 YCW
P811 YCW
P812 YCW
P816 YCW
P817 YCW

These are fitted with LEDs and can be delivered to your depot, total cost payable is £22,500.

Pleasure doing business with you

Thanks N606, pleasure doing business, we will transfer £22,500 over to your account and would like them initially delivered to our Ormskirk depot.

Cheers!

No problems, we'll get them delivered to you tomorrow afternoon.

Cheers.