In the absence of more information, we can only speculate about what is going on, but for anyone who relies on a Brijan bus service, it looks like changes are on the way.
They currently run the following routes:
- the 7 between Southampton and Bishops Waltham
- the 8 from Eastleigh to Bishops Waltham via Colden Common and Hedge End
- the 8B Eastleigh market day service to Botley
- the 15 between Hamble and Hedge End
- the 17 between Bishops Waltham and Petersfield
- plus a couple of school trips
More as we get it.
Could it be something to do with the "New" owners ISLAND FORTITUDE
ReplyDeleteIt may be but IF has not changed the name of the company in any of their other UK companies!
DeleteGiven Brijan has no DDA compliant buses (AFAIK), they were either going to have to go on a spending spree pre 1/1/16, or withdraw from their scheduled services, which are mostly tendered. Given that the date of withdrawal conincides with the start of the new school year, that too suggests (sadly) that the end may be nigh.
Given that I believe Brijan sub-let Chalcroft from Xelabus, that would appear to put Xelabus in pole position to win the 7&8 tenders (heroically assuming that HCC decide to re-tender it).
Some form of clarity as to the future would be very welcome for staff and passengers alike!
I think it was last year that Go South Coast deregistered all their services from the heritage operator company names and then registered them as new routes with Go South Coast. That passed off without comment, so I presume nobody got hurt.
ReplyDeleteHowever you can't help but wonder if something else is happening here.
My money is on
ReplyDeleteXelaBus X10 replacing the 7 between Southampton and Bishops Waltham
the 8 from Eastleigh to Bishops Waltham via Colden Common and Hedge End
Taxishare replacing the 8B Eastleigh market day service to Botley
Xelabus X57 replacing the 15 between Hamble and Hedge End (complimenting the X56)
Xelabus X67 replacing the 17 between Bishops Waltham and Petersfield
(can you see a pattern to my thinking?)
As most Brijans services are operated under contract to HCC or EBC, it may be that the present owners no long wish to continue with bus operations and have therefor givin sufficent notice to the councils involved so they may find alternative operators to provide the services-As no one at present knows quite what is happening,I see no point in speculating what might happen until something more concrete is announced-It's also not fair on Brijans current operating staff to keep predicting what might or might not happen in the absence of having any evidence at present
ReplyDeleteI was told several months ago that the company had changed hands and that there were problems in the ££££££ department, one of the reasons behind the sudden cancellation of the annual open day. My source - employed by a different operator - and his chums felt that something along the lines of Velvet and Western Greyhound was happening. We shall see!
ReplyDeleteBy order High Court Velvet now in Compulsory Liquidation on petition by HMRC
DeleteIn March WG ordered in to Administration,
I read elsewhere that the accounts to 2014 are well late, beyond the nine months they get from the end of the company year, that is allowed by Companies House. It was said not to be a good sign in business circles.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning
ReplyDeleteTo correct rumours Xelabus are at final stages to purchase the bus routes, buses and staff from Brijan Tours. The Echo will be reporting this this evening and a more detailed press statement will be issued Friday 10th July 2015.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Another game of Xelabus route ping pong will no doubt ensue. Surely as the majority of the Brijan routes are HCC tendered contracts, it isn't so much a purchase of routes, but re-negotiation?
DeleteEcho report seems invisible
DeleteGood Afternoon
DeleteThe Echo have been told as we are reporting here what are the facts and as sufficient progress has been made towards the purchase as stated of routes, staff and buses that a formal press statement would be released this Friday and we politely asked them to wait.
The registrations of the Brijan services have been received by the Traffic Commissioners and this brief notification to people who read this blog is that they should see no difference in their services from September and this is especially important for students who are finishing shortly for the summer and need to plan for Autumn return.
We as a company work very hard to ensure that our customers are made aware of changes at the earliest opportunity and what has been published so far is enough to reassure them that it will be business as usual after Brijan finish on the 6th September.
As we have said details of the routes and changes will be made public after Friday 10th July 2015
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Well done Xelabus for clearing that up. Pleased to see you are passenger orientated.
DeleteI feel for the passengers and staff and thanks Xelabus for clarification - now, this might sound a bit selfish, but Brijan have been running the Football shuttles for Saints on match days - I wonder what will happen with those routes? Good luck to everyone involved
ReplyDeleteGetting to be lot of eggs in one green basket these days.Are the eggs worth having though?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Xelabus, for clarifying the position. It's definitely a case of "Goodbye Brijan", then.
ReplyDeleteGood Afternoon
ReplyDeleteThe routes will stay the same but re-numbered in part. The company will not be taking S1, 61 or the Football Park and Ride which we have heard the latter has gone to Wheelers.
Brijan will continue we understand as a coach company.
Further details on Friday 10th July
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
The way Xela bus go about this is truly "Mickey Mouse". You never speculate or comment until the deal is done. It's just not appropriate or professional ! Same situation when Xela tried to purchase Velvet. You need think about staff and customers.
DeleteWhat a remarkably immature comment. The fact that Xelabus do not fuel pointless speculation whilst detailed negotiations are probably taking place is a necessity. To do otherwise would be highly irresponsible.
DeleteWith my enthusiast hat on; it is not a surprising turn of events to be honest.
DeleteWith my business hat on; Xelabus have said far too much during a period of due diligence. The same mistake as made with the Velvet demise. With a few more quid of liquidity and a bit of time I would now have been putting in an offer based on Xela's.
Thanks for the clarification for all from Xelabus, and it would seem most of the operations they had will be covered in some form or another
ReplyDeleteWill all the operation of every routes move to Barton Park in September?
ReplyDeleteThe route changes in September 2015 has now been published and is shown for the moment on the Xelabus Enthusiast site
ReplyDeleteDo you have a link to the Xelabus enthusiast site please, I didn't know there ws one.
DeleteType in on Facebook Xelabus Enthusiasts - Reece
DeleteSome of Brijan's routes have now been registered with Xelabus, including the 17, 15, 7, and 8 according to the DVSA
ReplyDeleteDear Customer
ReplyDeleteIt can now be confirmed that the Directors of Xelabus have agreed a deal to purchase the bus routes, staff and vehicles from BRIJAN TOURS LIMITED. This latest purchase includes the following routes and the changes are as follows:
Brijan 7 - No change to route but re-numbered X10
Brijan 8 - No change to route but re-numbered X9
Brijan 15 - Route changed to operate from Hamble via Netley, Tesco, Hedge End, Botley, Boorley Green, Horton Heath, Fair Oak to Eastleigh and operate Monday to Friday. Will replace Xelabus X56 and Brijan 8B and 15.
Brijan 17 - No change to route but re-numbered X17
Brijan 505 - No change to route
Brijan 607 - No change to route but re-numbered 407
The school buses will transfer to Xelabus on 25th July and the bus services Brijan operate i.e 7, 8, 15 and 17 will continue until the registration changes on 7th September. Those buses will transfer to Xelabus then.
From 7th September Enviro single deck buses will operate the new X9 and X10 routes.
There is no intention to retain any of the Brijan vehicles within the Xelabus fleet.
New timetables and bus stop information will be available and applied mid to late August.
Please call 02380 644715 for more information.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Thanks for the information,and good news for all current passengers who use Brijan in knowing their services will be maintained-It will be nice for them to also have more modern vehicles on the services, and this remark is in no way to cast bad taste on the vehicles at present that they operate or the service they provide-Times are changing so let's go forward in a positive manner-In what has happened I look forward to the change in September, and am delighted that in the areas involved the general public still have their services-I'm also sure the revised 15 which will be X15 will be much more sensible in route between Hedge End and Eastleigh on the days it operates than the X56/8B-Nice to know it will in the main operate Monday to Friday-Look forward to the new timetables and the excelent bus stop publicity that Xelabus provide
ReplyDeleteDo we know when the contracts for these HCC tendered services expire? Were other operators allowed to tender for the Brijan contracts?
ReplyDeleteI.m sure everything has been done above board via the Council(s) involved, so why anyone would wish to know the exact details of tendering or any other aspect of anyone who at present operates a tendered service fails me, such as First,Bluestar,Wheeler's,Xelabus,Salisbury Reds,Tourist-It's quite clear for the moment any Council involved is quite happy with the arrangement or it would not permit it-
ReplyDeleteDear Customer
ReplyDeleteFor information further changes being made by Xelabus are as follows:
From 7th September 2015
Service X1 / X2/ X3 - Revised timetable and route change in Boyatt Wood.
Service X4 - The Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Eastleigh to Hedge End journeys at 1945 and 2045 which are commercial will be withdrawn owing to low use.
Service X5 - Funding for this service expires 28th August and this will be last day of operation.
Service X6/X7 - The Saturday service will operate as a Sunday service but revised timetable. Because of very low use the Hiltingbury section will not be served Saturdays.
Service X11 - Revised timetable
Service X24 - Last day of operation will be Sunday 6th September.
The service will return for Spring and Summer 2016
Service X56 - Will become part of the new X15 service.
New timetables and bus stop publicity will be available from mid August.
Customer Services
Xelabus Limited
Hello! :)
DeleteWhat changes are being made to the Boyatt Wood routes?
Thanks
Love how Xelabus allow their X24 just one minute,to get from the central station to Shirley High st.Haha.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the printed timetable in their timetable book it's 10 minutes outward and 9 minutes inward,so I don't know where you get a minute from
DeleteI got it from their website timetable.
DeleteXelabus have now deleted the timetable, and left the correct one which was always there, displayed at the top of the services list
DeleteFrom Webcheck
ReplyDeleteGary Priest's appointment as Director terminated 30/6; reported 22/7.
No replacement is noted.
A number of Brijan's double deck fleet are now being sold on eBay by Xelabus
ReplyDelete