Bristol Community Transport going into administration

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

As announced on Points west this Tuesday lunchtime. The M1 metrobus may well be saved but many of the smaller services probably not.

[grahame]

As announced on Points west this Tuesday lunchtime. The M1 metrobus may well be saved but many of the smaller services probably not.

"Many a true word written in jest" ... I saw comment the other week that with "Bus Back Better" we'll have marvellous bus infrastructure but nothing will be left to run on it!

[JayMac]

All BCT's scheduled services continue to operate. Only BCT's community transport operations, Dial-a-Ride and minibuses for groups, have ceased operations today.

Bad news for the less able, who rely on those community services. But it's incorrect to say that BCT is ceasing all operations. Yet... The parent company HCT Group does appear to be struggling, having closed its operations in Yorkshire and cut community routes in London in the past few weeks.

https://twitter.com/Bris_CT/status/1562085757220802561?t=2RR7i1fSVLpZ4j7esxr4EA&s=19

[chuffed]

Thank you for that clarification. Lets hope Points West also make this clear in tonights bulletin.

[JayMac]

If HCT do fold completely that's bad news for the Channel Islands. They're the sole operator of buses on Jersey and Guernsey.

[eightonedee]

I have checked HCT's last filed accounts at Companies House (for the year ended September 2020, filed in September signed off and filed last September)- they indicate that there are problems, with overdue tax payments and payments due to DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) that were under negotiation for payment by instalments. It shows a loss of £10m on £120m turnover, and they are "qualified" - the accountants consider that there is a risk that it cannot survive as a going concern.

A new charge in favour of Big Issue Social Enterprises was registered in June, the third charge they have taken, and there are also two in favour of HSBC, which indicates that someone is putting together some emergency finance to try to see them through a difficult patch.

Keep your fingers crossed - I guess they have had to cut back activities that continue to lose money to try to stabilise the financial position

[JayMac]

BCT parent, HCT Group, is in talks with Stagecoach over the sale of its London tendered bus services.

https://www.route-one.net/business-deals/hct-group-in-talks-with-stagecoach-over-london-routes/

There does seem to be a bit of a fire sale going on at HCT Group at the moment.

[chuffed]

As I thought  BCT stop running the m1 metrobus tomorrow. No service over the weekend. First take it over from Monday. All the other bus services cease tomorrow. No guarantee from Weca that alternative operators can be found.

from Travelwest...

m1 and other bus services not operating 3rd and 4th September
Disruption to services is also likely on 2nd September.
This page was last updated on 01/09/2022 at 14:20.

JUMP TO:
m1 metrobus service
Other services run by the HCT Group
Summary of changes
M1 METROBUS SERVICE
HCT group, which operates the m1 metrobus service, has informed us, that regrettably, it will be unable to operate the service after Friday 2nd September. The future of the service, however, has been secured and operations will be transferred to First Bus, which will start operating the service from Monday 5th September to a slightly revised timetable.

We ask that passengers be aware that there may be disruptions to some late evening journeys on Friday 2nd September and that there will be no service on Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th September due to the transfer of staff and buses.

For the new m1 timetable effective from Monday, 5th September, visit the link below
M1 UPCOMING TIMETABLE

OTHER SERVICES RUN BY THE HCT GROUP
The bus operator HCT group (operating as ‘Bristol Community Transport’) also operates bus services 52, 53, 54, 55, 62, 505, 506, 511, 515 and 516 across the Combined Authority area and North Somerset. The group has informed us, that regrettably, it will be unable to operate those services after Friday 2nd September.

The West of England Combined Authority is currently working hard to try and secure an alternative operator for these services however from the 3rd September these services will cease operating.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Friday 2nd September
Normal service although some disruption may occur with late evening services (check messages on real time displays at bus stops and social media)
Saturday 3rd September
No metrobus m1 service
Other HCT group bus services no longer in operation from this day
Sunday, 4th September
No metrobus m1 service
Monday 5th September
metrobus m1 full service resumes operating to a revised timetable