For all Routemaster enthusiasts out there, a new service has started
in Nottingham using old London Transport Routemasters.  The service is
the Number 20 from the City Centre to Arnold and back. The fare is
£1.40 each way.

The service starts near the Theatre Royal tram stop and goes north
along Mansfield Road largely following the NCT 58 route to Arnold.

The company running the service is called Nottingham and District
Omnibus.  They are part of the Bellamy Coach Co and their website is
www.bellamy-holidays.co.uk.  Their Phone number is 0115-928 8833.  The
company has four Routemasters and run a 20 minute service.

I had a couple of very pleasant journeys on almost empty buses as I
don't think the public have yet  got used to the red buses in a city
of green.

-- 
Alasdair.

On 30 Apr, 18:56, Alasdair  wrote:

>
> I had a couple of very pleasant journeys on almost empty buses as I
> don't think the public have yet  got used to the red buses in a city
> of green.
>
> --
> Alasdair.

remind me what colour Trent buses are ?

boris.winkleman@googlemail.com wrote:
> On 30 Apr, 18:56, Alasdair  wrote:
> 
>> I had a couple of very pleasant journeys on almost empty buses as I
>> don't think the public have yet  got used to the red buses in a city
>> of green.
>>
>> --
>> Alasdair.
> 
> remind me what colour Trent buses are ?

Um, Red, Blue, Green, Maroon, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Brown...

Spares are red though...

What sort of condition are they in, are they RMLs or RMs, had a nice ride on
a Routemaster in York recently, sat at the front best place on a
routemaster, good view of road and you can watch the driver, it was doing
York tours good condition as well
"Mark B"  wrote in message
news:EdCdnb44O4bg3IPVnZ2dnUVZ8hidnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> boris.winkleman@googlemail.com wrote:
> > On 30 Apr, 18:56, Alasdair  wrote:
> >
> >> I had a couple of very pleasant journeys on almost empty buses as I
> >> don't think the public have yet  got used to the red buses in a city
> >> of green.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alasdair.
> >
> > remind me what colour Trent buses are ?
>
> Um, Red, Blue, Green, Maroon, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Brown...
>
> Spares are red though...

On Mon, 5 May 2008 18:15:00 +0100, "greyprimer"
 wrote:

>What sort of condition are they in, are they RMLs or RMs, had a nice ride on
>a Routemaster in York recently, sat at the front best place on a
>routemaster, good view of road and you can watch the driver, it was doing
>York tours good condition as well

They vary.   I travelled on a 1959 RM and it was in excellent
condition whereas a 1966 model seemed much more clapped out.

-- 
Alasdair.

Just back from Nottingham where I sampled the Route 20 as it`s known.
Great to see the service attracting some "ordinary" passengers most of whom 
I noticed were Pensioners who were VERY well disposed towards the vehicle 
and it`s Conductor.

It seems the Route`s biggest drawback is the lack of an interavailability 
agreement with Nottingham City Transport for their various passes.

The vehicle I travelled on (RM758) was well driven in a sprightly manner and 
was noticeably quicker off the mark than other more modern stock from the 
Nottingham/Trent Barton fleets.

The Conductor on my journey was a retired ex-serviceman who was well able to 
work the Bus to full avail.

He had no problem with answering the usual questions......"Do you take 
concession passes...etc etc" and was also up to speed on how the route was 
going re breakdowns,traffic etc etc..

The Route 20 is certainly a positive addition to Nottinghams Public 
Transport scene and if NCT/Trent Barton had a bit of Pzazz about them they 
might consider getting involved by publicising it as a "Nottingham Heritage 
Route" and opening it up to mass marketing as a gesture to the City.

I have no connection to this company other than as a passenger but I reckon 
its worth a whirl !!

www.bellamy-holidays.co.uk is the home site I think .

"Alek Smart."  wrote in message
news:68ror0F2uk492U1@mid.individual.net...
> Just back from Nottingham where I sampled the Route 20 as it`s known.
> Great to see the service attracting some "ordinary" passengers most of
whom
> I noticed were Pensioners who were VERY well disposed towards the vehicle
> and it`s Conductor.
>
> It seems the Route`s biggest drawback is the lack of an interavailability
> agreement with Nottingham City Transport for their various passes.
>
> The vehicle I travelled on (RM758) was well driven in a sprightly manner
and
> was noticeably quicker off the mark than other more modern stock from the
> Nottingham/Trent Barton fleets.
>
> The Conductor on my journey was a retired ex-serviceman who was well able
to
> work the Bus to full avail.
>
> He had no problem with answering the usual questions......"Do you take
> concession passes...etc etc" and was also up to speed on how the route was
> going re breakdowns,traffic etc etc..
>
> The Route 20 is certainly a positive addition to Nottinghams Public
> Transport scene and if NCT/Trent Barton had a bit of Pzazz about them they
> might consider getting involved by publicising it as a "Nottingham
Heritage
> Route" and opening it up to mass marketing as a gesture to the City.
>
> I have no connection to this company other than as a passenger but I
reckon
> its worth a whirl !!
>
> www.bellamy-holidays.co.uk is the home site I think .
> Are there any other companies running routemasters, apart from the one you
mention, incidently I remember traveling on the ones GM buses were running,
143 piccadilly to Didsbury, called the piccadilly line, I often wonder what
happened to those routemasters after the service stopped, I have a timetable
for that service to remember it, anybody know where they went to
>

Although this service may be considered 'good fun' it has challenged those 
promoting integrated public transport in Nottingham.

As Bellamy's is based in Arnold, it is perhaps logical they picked the 
Nottingham - Arnold route, but if they wanted a 'fun heritage' route why not 
do a circular route linking the tourist attractions around Greater 
Nottingham, not well served by the other operators? Their route 20 is a 
direct attack on NCT and Trentbarton to some extent - it is a bus war that 
hapens to use Routemasters. NCT sees it this way and I have to agree.

Considerable investment is taking place in partnership in Nottingham, with 
raised kerbs, real time displays, integrated ticketing and bus priority from 
City. The operators are investing heavily in new low floor buses and low 
emission engines. Then along comes a RM service. The City is now pressing 
ahead with a BQP that could make a repeat Bellamy less easy?

The RMs aren't that reliable either and long gaps in service occur. I 
recommend the Vale Hotel on Arnold/Nottingham border to bus watch - the pub 
sells excellent beer and good value food.

David

On 5 May, 00:06, Mark B  wrote:
> boris.winkle...@googlemail.com wrote:
> > On 30 Apr, 18:56, Alasdair  wrote:
>
> >> I had a couple of very pleasant journeys on almost empty buses as I
> >> don't think the public have yet  got used to the red buses in a city
> >> of green.
>
> >> --
> >> Alasdair.
>
> > remind me what colour Trent buses are ?
>
> Um, Red, Blue, Green, Maroon, Purple, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Brown...
>
> Spares are red though...

And aren't NCTs mainly off white these days?

On Tue, 3 Jun 2008 03:55:27 -0700 (PDT), Stephen Allcroft
 wrote:

>And aren't NCTs mainly off white these days?

They are mainly green although some are painted different colours to
indicate the route they travel.

-- 
Alasdair.