Godson's Changes

[Matty]

I had noticed in another thread that someone said that the Godson's Enviro300 had left the fleet, I saw this bus today and got a pic of it working on the 950 to Lotherton Hall. www.flickr.com/photos/busesinwestyorkshire/3845438473/sizes/l/

[timelesstable]

Aug 22, 2009 21:48:31 GMT 1 Matty said:

I had noticed in another thread that someone said that the Godson's Enviro300 had left the fleet, I saw this bus today and got a pic of it working on the 950 to Lotherton Hall. www.flickr.com/photos/busesinwestyorkshire/3845438473/sizes/l/

I saw it in Leeds Bus Station about to do its final trip on the 950. I couldn't find the tread when I saw this before on the X16

[steve]

I have to say, as an operator of bus services, Godsons do little to promote bus travel.
Buses lacking in any fleetnames or recognisable livery (Lynxes still in Preston livery, and now this overall white E300), scruffy appearance, and poor destination displays (H27YBV on the X16 still displays 898 in the blind) don't exactly sell the service. I guess regular passengers know it's their bus coming just from recognising the scruffy heap approaching them.
I had hoped the E300 had appeared to cover for the Lynxes finally being smartened up, but this looks unlikely.
Whilst they may run their services on time, there must be some accountability for selling bus travel to the public. Surely Metro, who subsidise these routes, should do something.

[kendall17]

I'm going to stick up for Godsons because as an operator of bus services, Godsons dont have to do much to promote their services. This is done by Metro for them with timetables and emails notifying the public of who operates the Dalesbus etc.
Godson's wont exactly have the biggest marketing budget in the world (probably only have the budget to pay for their day trip brochure printing)
So what if the Lynxes look scruffy but do they do a good enough job when on the routes? Also many other companies are guilty of lack of marketing for their routes - Geldards 28B? The unsucessful Aberford/Garforth route?

At the end of the day Godson's primary income is from it's fleet of coaches and thats where the money will be spent.

[steve]

Fair comment.
I guess it's just a shame when the image of public transport is let down - and particularly when there are other small operators who really do make an effort, such as Harrogate Coach Travel, Reliance and Stephensons for example. And I suppose the enthusiast in me would just like to see a Lynx in Godsons livery!

[kendall17]

Which Godsons livery? the two tone 'Rhubarb & Custard'? the old 3 stripes? or the flames of the OVI?

I dont think the Lynxes are too permanent neither is the Enviro. They (the Lynxes) were bought for £300 each & were only to put the feelers out (imo) for the X16 and to see if it was worth while running it!

[angrycommuter]

I don't understand why all the smaller operators don't market themselves better. The X16 for Godsons could have been a stepping stone to a regular commercial service. Perhaps an hourly service to Wakefield via Ossett to provide an every 30 mins frequency with Arriva 117 or replace the 118 that was withdrawn a while back? Even Hudds Bus Co and K-Line are without a website. You can create an informative simple website for nothing. I don't know why they don't use Facebook or Twitter either. Some operators (AMPM Travel, Velvet Bus and Western Greyhound) use these social networking sites.

Geldards should be marketing their 28B a lot better. They should be shouting about their prices and trying to get a following of students to use their buses. Re-branding them with a strange name and colour scheme (like The Big Lemon) and getting involved with the student union etc. would all help.

[kendall17]

Aug 24, 2009 13:09:46 GMT 1 angrycommuter said:

The X16 for Godsons could have been a stepping stone to a regular commercial service. Perhaps an hourly service to Wakefield via Ossett

Godson's wont have done this simply because there was no tender. They would of liked some secure income without having to compete with Arriva. Also, Godson's (i presume) couldn't afford to put 4 low floor vehilces ( to compete with arriva) on the road at once just like that. Its alot easier said than done!

[Matty]

Aug 24, 2009 13:09:46 GMT 1 angrycommuter said:

I don't understand why all the smaller operators don't market themselves better. The X16 for Godsons could have been a stepping stone to a regular commercial service. Perhaps an hourly service to Wakefield via Ossett to provide an every 30 mins frequency with Arriva 117 or replace the 118 that was withdrawn a while back? Even Hudds Bus Co and K-Line are without a website. You can create an informative simple website for nothing. I don't know why they don't use Facebook or Twitter either. Some operators (AMPM Travel, Velvet Bus and Western Greyhound) use these social networking sites.

Geldards should be marketing their 28B a lot better. They should be shouting about their prices and trying to get a following of students to use their buses. Re-branding them with a strange name and colour scheme (like The Big Lemon) and getting involved with the student union etc. would all help.

Huddersfield Bus Company and I think K-Line use Twitter, but with the Centrebus name and I think the Huddersfield operations would be part of the Centrebus website so there would be no need for separate websites.

[westyorkshirebus]

Even the big bus groups don't use the web to it's full potential. The First one often doesn't get updated for ages and when it is it's just something copied and pasted from an internal notice. The Transdev companies are a bit hit and miss at times as well

In West Yorkshire most people will use the Metro website anyway

[humberside]

Aug 24, 2009 18:04:03 GMT 1 Matty said:

I think the Huddersfield operations would be part of the Centrebus website so there would be no need for separate websites.

The Centrebus website redirects to metro for details of West Yorkshire operations. All other Centrebus operations have their own website but I guess they feel that a Huddersfield website would duplicate metros

[kendall17]

Godson's Bova Magiq YJ08 NRY is back in Leeds Met Freshers colours for the next couple of weeks.

[danielnew]

Independants in West Yorks needs to look at companies like Delaine, Uno, Carousel, Nippy Bus, Go Whippet, Hedingham Omnibuses not for the website but the care and attention to the livery! Godsons were very poor with their dalesbus services this year, I had a bad experience with them, late running, rude driver, no idea of fares available, poor quality vehicle all adds to a poor reputation, put a decent smart livery and the image of the company raises significantly. Why not advertise the coaching division by applying an advert on their buses, running into Leeds it would have a big impact.

[kendall17]

Sept 24, 2009 11:50:50 GMT 1 danielnew said:

Independants in West Yorks needs to look at companies like Delaine, Uno, Carousel, Nippy Bus, Go Whippet, Hedingham Omnibuses not for the website but the care and attention to the livery! Godsons were very poor with their dalesbus services this year, I had a bad experience with them, late running, rude driver, no idea of fares available, poor quality vehicle all adds to a poor reputation, put a decent smart livery and the image of the company raises significantly. Why not advertise the coaching division by applying an advert on their buses, running into Leeds it would have a big impact.

The driver probably didn't know the route etc. There is normally either on of the Godsons brothers driving or another. That is all that do that route. What vehicle was used on the route?

Godson's are only using the Lynxes etc to put the feelers out on the stage carriage work. If unsuccessful (which the way metro are going then it is) then they wont have spent too much on them. Like i said before, Godson's marketing budget wont stretch too far, i think some of their day trip leaflets were put on the odd X16 & Dalesbus routes. Thats good enough for me.

[kendall17]

Has KW02 DRO been seen recently? Its never parked up on Sandbed Lane and i've only ever seen the Lynxes coming off the X16 recently.

[olympian]

Transbus Enviro 300 KW02DRO has been acquired, so it says on the west yorkshire buses website as it has been updated over the weekend

[kendall17]

I think it was only on short term lease though, has it been acquired for a longer lease or has it disposed of.

[kendall17]

Confirmed KW02 DRO has left the fleet.