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Post by rothlad on Jan 10, 2022 9:29:09 GMT
SYPTE are currently running a public consultation, with regards to improving the bus network across South Yorkshire. This includes: - A cap on daily and weekly fares, with free travel for all under 18s - A faster, more reliable and punctual network - A better bus experience - A new zero emission bus fleet Been noted elsewhere, that the 22X Rotherham - Barnsley and 221 Rotherham - Doncaster bus services, will be the first to be converted to electric buses in 2024, with a total of 23 vehicles. This will displace the Euro 6 vehicles onto the local Rawmarsh Circulars, due to the introduction of the forthcoming Rawmarsh Hill CAZ. This will see coverage in Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. Rawmarsh depot will also be retrofitted as part of the ZEBRA funding package. Sheffield will apparently gain 4 vehicles, for a new planned city centre shuttle service, similar to the FreeBee bus service that was withdrawn a few years ago. However, this is still in discussions due to the situation with Pinstone Street. Bus stops can't be upgraded on Arundel Gate either, unless SCC commits to funding. To have your say on the consultation, click on the following link: survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90413980/South-Yorkshire-Enhanced-Partnership-ConsultationOpen until Sunday 20th February. |
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Post by duncan on Feb 26, 2022 10:25:48 GMT
more money wasted. One of the major criteria for getting franchising approved is proof that a partnerships has not or is not working. When the failure of said partnership can be fairly and squarely laid at the feet of the local authority what chance is there? Local Politicians + transport = chaos. will we ever learn. |
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Post by simonk82701 on Feb 27, 2022 14:51:09 GMT
One of the ways money could be saved by SYPTE is to scrap the 80p SY child/young adult fayre. Half the adult fayre for all 5-18 year olds traveling in SY no matter where they live. I am fed up to the back teeth of drivers having to argue with people over the none presentation of a mega travel pass. They are more trouble than they are worth and cause delays to services. For children carrying out multiple journeys per day, either use a half price connect or child operator tickets. I live just over the border in Worksop and I think children pay 2/3 of the adult fayre, or half fayre. Free travel to and from school should continue as per guidelines. I think if you live three+ miles from school it currently is covered. It won't happen obviously but could save quite a bit I guess.
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Post by duncan on Feb 27, 2022 17:36:05 GMT
One of the ways money could be saved by SYPTE is to scrap the 80p SY child/young adult fayre. Half the adult fayre for all 5-18 year olds traveling in SY no matter where they live. I am fed up to the back teeth of drivers having to argue with people over the none presentation of a mega travel pass. They are more trouble than they are worth and cause delays to services. For children carrying out multiple journeys per day, either use a half price connect or child operator tickets. I live just over the border in Worksop and I think children pay 2/3 of the adult fayre, or half fayre. Free travel to and from school should continue as per guidelines. I think if you live three+ miles from school it currently is covered. It won't happen obviously but could save quite a bit I guess. They have plans to EXTEND the fare concessions for kids. Buying votes. |
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Post by crossscythe on Feb 27, 2022 17:38:09 GMT
It's not difficult to remember that you need a valid travel card for the child discount. If they can't remember that, then the parents shouldn't let them out on their own. Card/mobile phone payments should be axed, as they hold up the bus when they don't scan etc. Let's stick to good and proper paper tickets and coins.
The bus partnership is a fine example of meddling MPs spoiling services that work well. The X78 is the bus of choice for those travelling through the three South Yorkshire towns served by First and First invested millions in brand new, comfortable buses for this route in 2007. The MPs in 2015 forced them to bring in te X1/X10 which carts around empty seats most of the day.
The bus companies know their market better than any MP. Privatisation/de-regulation of the bus services has been for the good. Private companies know their market. I dread to think of the cuts and neglect we would have if it was left for the PTE to run.
With regards to the proposed cap on fares, I think that would only be possible if the PTE subsidised it. Insiders from First have claimed on this forum that First haven't turned a profit for years in South Yorkshire and we know that Stagecoach aren't in a good situation. If it was down to me, I'd rip up the tram tracks and used the money saved on running the super tram and the waste of space that is the tram train, in to subsidising many fares. I think West Yorkshire Metro subsidise some fares over there, as I was shocked to only be charged £1 on the First bus from Wetherby to Leeds a few weeks ago, perhaps the PTE pay for the overheads/staffing costs, optimising profit opportunity.
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Post by The Captain on Feb 27, 2022 18:29:35 GMT
It's not difficult to remember that you need a valid travel card for the child discount. If they can't remember that, then the parents shouldn't let them out on their own. Card/mobile phone payments should be axed, as they hold up the bus when they don't scan etc. Let's stick to good and proper paper tickets and coins. The bus partnership is a fine example of meddling MPs spoiling services that work well. The X78 is the bus of choice for those travelling through the three South Yorkshire towns served by First and First invested millions in brand new, comfortable buses for this route in 2007. The MPs in 2015 forced them to bring in te X1/X10 which carts around empty seats most of the day. The bus companies know their market better than any MP. Privatisation/de-regulation of the bus services has been for the good. Private companies know their market. I dread to think of the cuts and neglect we would have if it was left for the PTE to run. With regards to the proposed cap on fares, I think that would only be possible if the PTE subsidised it. Insiders from First have claimed on this forum that First haven't turned a profit for years in South Yorkshire and we know that Stagecoach aren't in a good situation. If it was down to me, I'd rip up the tram tracks and used the money saved on running the super tram and the waste of space that is the tram train, in to subsidising many fares. I think West Yorkshire Metro subsidise some fares over there, as I was shocked to only be charged £1 on the First bus from Wetherby to Leeds a few weeks ago, perhaps the PTE pay for the overheads/staffing costs, optimising profit opportunity. The X1/X10 came about from the need to do staff changeovers in Sheffield which could not be done on the Maltbys after Rotherham depot shut, the X78 became wholey run by Doncaster again |
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Post by simonk82701 on Feb 27, 2022 21:38:38 GMT
One of the ways money could be saved by SYPTE is to scrap the 80p SY child/young adult fayre. Half the adult fayre for all 5-18 year olds traveling in SY no matter where they live. I am fed up to the back teeth of drivers having to argue with people over the none presentation of a mega travel pass. They are more trouble than they are worth and cause delays to services. For children carrying out multiple journeys per day, either use a half price connect or child operator tickets. I live just over the border in Worksop and I think children pay 2/3 of the adult fayre, or half fayre. Free travel to and from school should continue as per guidelines. I think if you live three+ miles from school it currently is covered. It won't happen obviously but could save quite a bit I guess. They have plans to EXTEND the fare concessions for kids. Buying votes. I know. God help us. We all know they should remember the pass, but the number that try and get away with it is unreal. I have also witnessed genuine confusion over cross border travel. Things like trying to travel from Woodsets to Worksop for 80p. Also some drivers don't apply the rules correctly, so consistency is a problem. The whole system needs simplifying, and in my view any money saved needs to be invested in services. If it was half the adult fare between any two places, it would save drivers a heck of a lot of grief. As a person with a mobility pass. I would also pay half fare if I knew it would be put back into services. But to invest in services you have to have enough drivers willing to drive. |
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Post by crossscythe on Mar 7, 2022 18:01:05 GMT
The buses are always in crisis according to the media.
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Post by simonk82701 on Mar 8, 2022 8:46:26 GMT
The buses are always in crisis according to the media. They are at the minute, because there are so few available drivers to actually drive! |
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Post by rothlad on Mar 18, 2022 12:37:59 GMT
It's not difficult to remember that you need a valid travel card for the child discount. If they can't remember that, then the parents shouldn't let them out on their own. Card/mobile phone payments should be axed, as they hold up the bus when they don't scan etc. Let's stick to good and proper paper tickets and coins. The bus partnership is a fine example of meddling MPs spoiling services that work well. The X78 is the bus of choice for those travelling through the three South Yorkshire towns served by First and First invested millions in brand new, comfortable buses for this route in 2007. The MPs in 2015 forced them to bring in te X1/X10 which carts around empty seats most of the day. The bus companies know their market better than any MP. Privatisation/de-regulation of the bus services has been for the good. Private companies know their market. I dread to think of the cuts and neglect we would have if it was left for the PTE to run. With regards to the proposed cap on fares, I think that would only be possible if the PTE subsidised it. Insiders from First have claimed on this forum that First haven't turned a profit for years in South Yorkshire and we know that Stagecoach aren't in a good situation. If it was down to me, I'd rip up the tram tracks and used the money saved on running the super tram and the waste of space that is the tram train, in to subsidising many fares. I think West Yorkshire Metro subsidise some fares over there, as I was shocked to only be charged £1 on the First bus from Wetherby to Leeds a few weeks ago, perhaps the PTE pay for the overheads/staffing costs, optimising profit opportunity. The X1/X10 is an interesting one. The route relaced the former 69, as a replacement for the planned ‘BRT North’ scheme that saw bus priority schemes and the creation of Blackburn Meadows Way etc. It’s also one of the reasons there is certain “pointless” bus lanes such as on Sheffield Road towards Bessemer Way roundabout. A minimum percentage needed to be hit for bus priority to gain funding, hence some oddly placed bus lanes… Was it right, probably not, but it gained SY the funding it required. Extension through to Maltby was an operational one due to staff changeovers. It’s also interesting to see how the local TCs have been relaxed in Sheffield City Centre since the X1/X10 was introduced and was allowed to run through to The Moor. Previously all out of town services had to start from Sheffield Interchange and wasn’t allowed through to The Moor. The only one that seems to still be in place as things were, was the Waingate/Exchange Place routings for services which turn off Barnsley Road prior to Norwood Road. |
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Post by dougie on Mar 18, 2022 21:36:36 GMT
It's not difficult to remember that you need a valid travel card for the child discount. If they can't remember that, then the parents shouldn't let them out on their own. Card/mobile phone payments should be axed, as they hold up the bus when they don't scan etc. Let's stick to good and proper paper tickets and coins. The bus partnership is a fine example of meddling MPs spoiling services that work well. The X78 is the bus of choice for those travelling through the three South Yorkshire towns served by First and First invested millions in brand new, comfortable buses for this route in 2007. The MPs in 2015 forced them to bring in te X1/X10 which carts around empty seats most of the day. The bus companies know their market better than any MP. Privatisation/de-regulation of the bus services has been for the good. Private companies know their market. I dread to think of the cuts and neglect we would have if it was left for the PTE to run. With regards to the proposed cap on fares, I think that would only be possible if the PTE subsidised it. Insiders from First have claimed on this forum that First haven't turned a profit for years in South Yorkshire and we know that Stagecoach aren't in a good situation. If it was down to me, I'd rip up the tram tracks and used the money saved on running the super tram and the waste of space that is the tram train, in to subsidising many fares. I think West Yorkshire Metro subsidise some fares over there, as I was shocked to only be charged £1 on the First bus from Wetherby to Leeds a few weeks ago, perhaps the PTE pay for the overheads/staffing costs, optimising profit opportunity. The X1/X10 is an interesting one. The route relaced the former 69, as a replacement for the planned ‘BRT North’ scheme that saw bus priority schemes and the creation of Blackburn Meadows Way etc. It’s also one of the reasons there is certain “pointless” bus lanes such as on Sheffield Road towards Bessemer Way roundabout. A minimum percentage needed to be hit for bus priority to gain funding, hence some oddly placed bus lanes… Was it right, probably not, but it gained SY the funding it required. Extension through to Maltby was an operational one due to staff changeovers. It’s also interesting to see how the local TCs have been relaxed in Sheffield City Centre since the X1/X10 was introduced and was allowed to run through to The Moor. Previously all out of town services had to start from Sheffield Interchange and wasn’t allowed through to The Moor. The only one that seems to still be in place as things were, was the Waingate/Exchange Place routings for services which turn off Barnsley Road prior to Norwood Road. The X1 through the Don Valley is a great example of how the public sector comes up with ambitions and then delivers something very underwhelming - full of promise about guided buses/ articulated vehicles/ dedicated infrastructure - but what we got was regular buses and a new bit of road that was open to all vehicles (which makes me wonder whether the whole scheme was only ever a smokescreen for the new road under Tinsley Viaduct) Maybe it'd have been better to finally deliver the project along the Don Valley if it wasn't at around the same time as the expensive TramTrain - we saw all of our eggs in one basket (when many other corridors in South Yorkshire could have done with a bit of investment) |
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Post by crossscythe on Mar 21, 2022 23:30:35 GMT
The Tram-Train is a complete waste of space. It's a councillor's toy train set at the expense of the public and transport users. They attract very little passenger use north of Meadowhall and play havoc with the running of the railway. They effectively compete with the train between Meadowhall and Rotherham, as they run direct but don't offer the comfort of a train, or the facilities, such as toilets and the ability to enjoy a can of beer or a glass of wine. Perhaps if they called at Templeborough, they'd hit a niche but really, they are just a nuisance. Before Tram Train, there were three direct National Rail services an hour between Rotherham and Sheffield, continuing to Adwick, Scunthorpe and Leeds. Now, there are only two, no doubt because of sharing track with the tram train. One train per hour to Doncaster isn't good enough. I think Travel South Yorkshire/Stagecoach need to call it a day. West Yorkshire PTE invest a lot more in rail services and I'd say they have an almost state of the art rail network. Trams never really work to provide the convenience of a bus service and yet drain councils in terms of infrastructure. As I said in my previous post, I'd rip it all up, and use the money saved to tender less financially viable bus services, such as the 85 to Millhouses Tesco which is a lifeline to elderly and frail people who need a direct link to the supermarket. They could work with Network Rail and Northern to re-introduce the Scunthorpe services and perhaps put on some strengthening services on the Huddersfield Line at peak times and perhaps one each way in the middle of the day, only calling at key stations like Meadowhall, Barnsley, Penistone & Honley to support the stopper and appeal to the express market.
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Post by TC60054 on Mar 22, 2022 11:27:30 GMT
The Tram-Train is a complete waste of space. It's a councillor's toy train set at the expense of the public and transport users. They attract very little passenger use north of Meadowhall and play havoc with the running of the railway. They effectively compete with the train between Meadowhall and Rotherham, as they run direct but don't offer the comfort of a train, or the facilities, such as toilets and the ability to enjoy a can of beer or a glass of wine. Perhaps if they called at Templeborough, they'd hit a niche but really, they are just a nuisance. Before Tram Train, there were three direct National Rail services an hour between Rotherham and Sheffield, continuing to Adwick, Scunthorpe and Leeds. Now, there are only two, no doubt because of sharing track with the tram train. One train per hour to Doncaster isn't good enough. I think Travel South Yorkshire/Stagecoach need to call it a day. West Yorkshire PTE invest a lot more in rail services and I'd say they have an almost state of the art rail network. Trams never really work to provide the convenience of a bus service and yet drain councils in terms of infrastructure. As I said in my previous post, I'd rip it all up, and use the money saved to tender less financially viable bus services, such as the 85 to Millhouses Tesco which is a lifeline to elderly and frail people who need a direct link to the supermarket. They could work with Network Rail and Northern to re-introduce the Scunthorpe services and perhaps put on some strengthening services on the Huddersfield Line at peak times and perhaps one each way in the middle of the day, only calling at key stations like Meadowhall, Barnsley, Penistone & Honley to support the stopper and appeal to the express market. Tram train has lower priority on the railway than Northern services, and the loss of the third train via Rotherham was a casualty of Covid and related staff issues and nothing to do with the impact of Tram Train. I could go on… |
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