The Empire Grows

More success in the competitive tendering process means more routes!

I had bid on a schools service between Frampton Mansell and Cirencester which I proposed to start in Minchinhampton and number it 128. I received the call to say that our bid was successful and started to make plans for its introduction in January. I was then tactfully informed that this was an emergency tendering arrangement and that it starts on Monday! Note to self: read documents properly in the future and do not assume anything!

I also put in a bid to operate route 278 between Tetbury and Malmesbury. I knew this was a short notice arrangement and that it starts next Wednesday. It only runs two days per week and fits nicely inbetween a school bus!

Its Quads!

The cheque book fell into my hands today with disastruous consequences! Once I have this little book in my hand and a writing implement (pen, pencil or crayon) money tends to disappear from the company bank acount at an alarming rate! I am sure these two events are somehow connected.

The result of this lack of security was the arrival of another Dennis Dart (M94 WBW) and the purchase of L720 JUD. Our collection of larger darts has now increased to four.

M101 WBW has been repainted into fleet colours and fitted with a new LED destination kit and should be in service on Monday. M94 WBW will head to the painters on Friday evening!

Another Family Member

And so my enthusiasm for updating the fleet bears fruit again!

M101 WBW joins the fleet. Another Dennis Dart with Plaxton bodywork. H886 LOX has been sold for preservation to John Potter and now resides with the Stroud RE Group collection in rural Gloucestershire. It left the yard last Friday to begin its new life.

We can now afford to buy vehicles with larger capacity as the PSV seating capacity restriction in Stroud town centre is about to be lifted! HURRAH!

In other news, our bids to operate some St Peter's School buses appears to have been unsuccessful but we have a bid in for another service to the Cirencester schools which has more of a chance of being successful. We also are in line to operate route 278 (Tetbury to Malmesbury) from the beginning of December. Should have that confirmed early next week!