‘Scene’ today June 30th. 2014

It’s not everyday that an operator launches a new route particularly when the new route has strong links to an old route.

 

Let me explain.

 

Until the middle of January this year ‘K & H Doyle’ of Alfreton in Derbyshire operated route No. 331. This was a circuitous route that linked Alfreton through the village of Pinxton and eventually terminating at Nottingham’s Victoria Bus Station.

 

Quite suddenly on the 13th. of January this year, Doyle’s ceased trading.

 

In the aftermath almost all of Doyle’s routes were picked up by other operators, mainly ‘Stagecoach’ working out of Mansfield and ‘yourbus’. (See my ‘blog’ titled K &H Doyle Coaches. The end dated 16th. January).

 

The 331 was not ‘picked up in its entirety. The Nottingham end being run by another  operator.

 

I was intrigued to see mention of route 231 on Derbyshire County Council’s web site  that was going to be worked by ‘McEwens’ of Mansfield.

 

‘McEwens’ are a well known coach operator in Mansfield who are fairly new to bus operation. Their other routes are former Doyle routes linking Ripley with Belper and Crich.

 

They have recently become a member of the ‘Skills Coaches’ group of companies and maybe bus operation is something they will grow into. We shall see.

 

In my view it is a clever piece of scheduling to to use a ‘cut down’ route number for what is a ‘cut down’ route. No doubt that the ’31’ element will register with Pinxton’s residents.

 

Intriguingly there are other connections with Doyle’s. The bus used today on the service is a former Doyle’s bus and the driver a pleasant and helpful young man called Ian was at one time a Doyle’s driver.

 

I shall follow ‘McEwens’ rise with interest !!

 

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