Staff and passengers left in lurch as Premiere Travel folds

“This was a cowboy firm run by a cowboy, with ununionised workers on poor wages and conditions, and running ancient bone-rattling buses. The company owner was a right aggressive bar steward. I distinctly remember being on a Peak bus coming out of Broadmarsh which was cut up by a Premiere bus forcing it to brake suddenly to avoid a collision, then Mr Premier gave the Peak driver, who was innocent and non-confrontational, such serious verbal aggression that I fully expected the cowboy to get out of his cab and attack the Peak driver. The only thing Premiere (more like Derniere) had going for it was cheapo fares, and plainly its strategy was to undercut Trent Barton in the hope that TB would cut back on services and leave Premiere the major operator, when it would then hike its fares up.

I always avoided using Derniere even if it meant an extra wait for a TB bus, as I prefer to travel with a proper professional firm with a professional workforce and modern buses. Premiere going down the tubes is no loss to Nottingham, and although I feel for the workforce left in the lurch there's a decent chance they'll be picked up by TB.”

“Totally agree with by rdc180368's comments. Trent Barton have been serving the people of Notts for decades. I use their services every day - the buses are frequent, clean and modern and the drivers are unfailingly polite and cheerful.

Siforest65's suggestion that Trent Barton are short-term, carpet-bagging opportunists is completely wrong.”

“Whats wrong with the people on this site? The lad had got himself a job and probably did a decent shift for poor wages. He's now lost his job and he has a wife and a little one to support - and all you lot can go on about is how he looks. Despicable, the lot of you. Give the lad a break for heavens sake.

I hope you get something sorted soon young man.”

“Why is Ashley wearing some beads from a Chritsmas crcacker round his neck?”

“Owain Morgan
One reason the service from Lomg Eaton to Nottingham did not run properly was because when that bus got to Attenboriugh lane traffic lights it went straight on along Nottingham road/ Queens road and would then be queuing especially when there were road works at the juntion of Meadow lane/ Queens road unlike the Trent Barton service which would turn up Attenborough lane to continue through the centre of Beeston.”

“Its always sad to see people losing their jobs. However, I live on one of the routes in Long Eaton and they hardly ever ran to an accurate schedule and the buses were massively unreliable. At least Trentbarton keep to a schedule and hardly ever have mechanical problems”

“@wortho48... This is why it's so important to have responsible, effective trade union reps in workplaces. It's essential if you ever find that your employer isn't being straight with you.”

“How sad another company who cared only about themselves and not their employees they let them carry on working and knew they would not be able to pay them their wages I find this truly deceitful .”

“Chin up Ashley and save the fake poses for someone who's interested.”

“@Siforest65... The saddest thing in this is that the people who work there are lsoing their jobs. Mr Jones and his colleagues certainly appear to have been poorly treated by the comapany's management. They are, at the very least, entitled to expect that their employer communicates with them and explains to them what is actually happening. Even yesterday, the Post carried a quote from a manager claiming that the company was up for sale because "the owner wanted to retire"! We're getting far too casual at the moment regarding the way in which we think people can be treated at work and it should stop.

Neither do I agree with your criiticism of Trent Barton. They have been running for years, invest in cleaner, more modern buses and provide an altogether more comprehensive service (including evenings and Sundays - which Premiere haven't on many of their routes). Competition is exactly that and they are fully entitled to defend themselves. You get what you pay for and I'm quite happy to have paid the difference to travel with them instead. Unless you are genuinely so hard up that you have to travel the absolute cheapest way, it seems a bit much to think that you can use a cheaper operator at times when it wants to run, but still expect another company to always be there at other times when you just might wnat to use the bus. I'll stick with supporting Trent Barton and their staff.”