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Post by duncan on Jun 6, 2022 17:19:31 GMT
Wasn't FSY supposed to be better under the Leicester takeover? Is repainting and rebranding the buses the only thing that's changed? Far from it, Just because it is not getting shouted about that does not mean it is not happening. Lots has changed and much of it for the better. |
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Post by duncan on Jun 7, 2022 11:26:24 GMT
Well, I was quite shocked to be charged £3 for a single fare in to the city centre from Lodge Moor recently! Haha. It sounds like the management at the depots need a good shake up. Erratic shift patterns and distrust from Managers can't be good for staff morale. Couldn't agree more. I think one possible solution to improve the management situation would be for VOSA to mandate that all controllers and managers need to drive for say 200 hours a year to maintain their job and license, unless they have a medical reason why this cannot be carried out. I have known passengers have to direct controllers because it is that long since they have done a particular route. They forget what it is like on the bottom rung, and half of them I suspect could not handle the rotas they dish out to drivers. Midnight finishes with 8:30am starts maybe legal but are totally immoral as far as I am concerned. I also agree that transport should be provided for early morning and late shifts. And last but certainly not least, back a driver up for enforcing the correct rules. Swear at them they should be able to kick you off without having to justify themselves. As for those 80p passes, scrap the beeping things. We don't get anything like that over the border in Worksop Notts. In fact it's something like £7.70 for a 3.5 mile journey return. so 7 miles in total for an adult. Yes you can get day tickets but it's still not cheap. On First there are staff buses at both depots for both early starts and late finishes and they have been there for years. As for controllers driving, they DO. The staff shortages over the last many years (they are not new, just worse) mean that they frequently drive to cover missing trips. Controllers do not sort out the rotas, that is done by people who often have never seen a bus and THAT is a problem that needs sorting out. When controllers are out driving, other staff sometimes cover for them and that is when you get issues with them not knowing routes. There are union agreements covering daily rest periods that are far in excess of the legal requirements. In the 60's there was a massive driver shortage and to a degree it was tackled by the introduction of one person operation and drafting in drivers from the commonwealth countries. |
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Post by yz1s9szg on Jul 30, 2022 0:23:26 GMT
Where is this going long term? I know this isn’t local, but Stagecoach are trialling a driverless Enviro MMC in Scotland.(2022) m.stagecoachgroup.com/media/news-releases/2022/2022-04-25.aspxHere (2018) you can see it being tested in the depot: Now it’s ready to hit the road. It will only be a matter of time before driverless buses are phased in at the local level. Drivers feel worked and treat like “robots” at times, “inhumane”, “I don’t matter”, “just a number”. But at the “very top” they don’t even want that driver in the cab. They’d rather a robot. An Artificial Intelligence that can be “programmed” how they want it. I take a bipartisan approach towards this, because whilst I’m all for the driver being in the bus, and treat well ~ I can see where it’s heading and it’s unstoppable / inevitable. I can only see it getting worst, before getting better. And “getting worst” will justify the “innovative solutions”… Once the infrastructure is installed, high speed broadband. It’s all systems go. Deadline 2030 in line with SDG’s. The same is happening in aviation with pilotless planes. www.cnn.com/travel/amp/airbus-pilotless-commercial-jets/index.htmlThey “don’t care” about the drivers, and the sooner AI can replace them, the better. I also don’t think it’s simply a case of them “not caring”. You might think “how do they sleep at night?”, truthfully, like us. They dont. But they know where it’s heading too, and they’re doing what they “see as necessary” to “get things done”. Plus money talks. It’s a system that’s so strategic and compartmentalised that the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. Pressure from top to bottom. ♻️ First Group have already been researching / investing in autonomous vehicles www.firstgroupplc.com/about-firstgroup/autonomous-vehicles.aspxSoon it’ll be a Star article “First driverless bus hits Sheffield roads”, trialled on a flagship route. Then gradually expanded. I can’t exactly see this happening next week, but in the next 2-5 year, absolutely. |
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Post by mrmoose on Aug 2, 2022 11:47:24 GMT
www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-GB/LandingPage/HaveyoursayAbout our busesBuses are the backbone of our transport network. We use them to get to work, school - to visit our favourite places, family and friends. They help to cut car use, traffic and pollution and are a big part of helping us all tackle climate change. Most of South Yorkshire’s bus network is run by private bus companies that choose where and when to run services. The pandemic has had an impact on travel patterns and the income bus companies make from fares. Government has been paying to keep services running throughout Covid-19. When this funding ends in October, bus companies plan to make changes and cuts to around a third of the bus network. Under the current bus system we have limited powers and public money to replace services. We’ve used emergency funding to keep school buses running. But the scale of planned service changes means our budget can only protect around half the network at risk. Have your say
We want to make sure we’re making the best use of our budget – the council tax you pay for public transport – to pay for bus services where people rely on them most. systraltd.welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/travelsouthyorkshire
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Post by simonk82701 on Aug 3, 2022 9:40:27 GMT
So looking at the survey information, they have funding to save around half of the 33% service cuts. That means that hopefully we should only loose around 16% of services. Some ideas:
Sunday and evening services that currently run hourly could be reduced to 2 hourly, maintaining a service for less money.
School services should be treated out of a separate pot, to maintain maximum general network
Employers could be asked to contribute for their employees to access jobs, like the 205 does
scrap the ridiculous 80p child fayre.
Ensure that any subsidy for Sunday working is not paid for busier runs on a Sunday such as a 16:00 departure hen all the shops are closing and a bus is busy.
Combine routes where posable to cover a wider area, yes it might take slightly longer to complete a route, but that's better than having no service at all.
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donc
Inspector
Posts: 591 
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Post by donc on Aug 3, 2022 12:34:15 GMT
So looking at the survey information, they have funding to save around half of the 33% service cuts. That means that hopefully we should only loose around 16% of services. Some ideas: Sunday and evening services that currently run hourly could be reduced to 2 hourly, maintaining a service for less money. School services should be treated out of a separate pot, to maintain maximum general network Employers could be asked to contribute for their employees to access jobs, like the 205 does scrap the ridiculous 80p child fayre. Ensure that any subsidy for Sunday working is not paid for busier runs on a Sunday such as a 16:00 departure hen all the shops are closing and a bus is busy. Combine routes where posable to cover a wider area, yes it might take slightly longer to complete a route, but that's better than having no service at all. I have never understood why the daytime and evening have to be the same routes, surely they could create an evening/Sunday timetable for example in Doncaster 15 and 84 could merge, 15 and 16 could merge, 15,16 or x78 could divert via Hexthorpe. It might take longer but at least it's a bus I would have thought they could have trialled it when the driver shortage started a year ago. |
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Post by The Captain on Aug 3, 2022 17:38:59 GMT
Strong rumour Powells (HCT Group) are to cease operations this Sunday.
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Post by simonk82701 on Aug 3, 2022 18:43:29 GMT
So looking at the survey information, they have funding to save around half of the 33% service cuts. That means that hopefully we should only loose around 16% of services. Some ideas: Sunday and evening services that currently run hourly could be reduced to 2 hourly, maintaining a service for less money. School services should be treated out of a separate pot, to maintain maximum general network Employers could be asked to contribute for their employees to access jobs, like the 205 does scrap the ridiculous 80p child fayre. Ensure that any subsidy for Sunday working is not paid for busier runs on a Sunday such as a 16:00 departure hen all the shops are closing and a bus is busy. Combine routes where posable to cover a wider area, yes it might take slightly longer to complete a route, but that's better than having no service at all. I have never understood why the daytime and evening have to be the same routes, surely they could create an evening/Sunday timetable for example in Doncaster 15 and 84 could merge, 15 and 16 could merge, 15,16 or x78 could divert via Hexthorpe. It might take longer but at least it's a bus I would have thought they could have trialled it when the driver shortage started a year ago. Quite agree. I was told by a junior member of office staff at our local depot that in order to continue to get paid emergency covid funding, they had to ensure that 80% of their current timetables ran. Hence why certain services that perhaps should have been withdrawn, combined or merged because of the driver shortages have not been. This will allegedly change when the funding comes to an end. E.G. what are Stagecoach East Midlands running 19 shorts to Thurcroft for, when so many full routes are cancelled? They said all this nonsense would end when the funding ended, and indicated that the 19 short only will be withdrawn, saving our depot 6 drivers a day. the 19 and 19A will operate between Worksop and Rotherham RTN just as it does now, on a combined 30 minute frequency. However the timetable will change as the is no short in the middle. Bring it on, should mean not up to 10 full trips are not cancelled per day. That and the beeping Commonwealth games, which has left us a further 5-10 drivers down depending on who you believe. I can only go on what they said and will believe it when/if it happens. Nothing is confirmed as yet! |
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Post by simonk82701 on Aug 3, 2022 18:52:51 GMT
Strong rumour Powells (HCT Group) are to cease operations this Sunday. If this happens suddenly, it will cause a problem for anyone relying on the 61/62 service. I wonder if there are any frantic contingency plans being formed by SYPTE or Sheffield city region? Or will Powells just spring it on people on Sunday with no notice? I would take a guess that they are struggling for drivers, I know of at least one who said he was going there and has now returned to Stagecoach. Maybe the high fuel price has could, I stress could tip them over. |
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Post by The Captain on Aug 3, 2022 20:03:06 GMT
Strong rumour Powells (HCT Group) are to cease operations this Sunday. If this happens suddenly, it will cause a problem for anyone relying on the 61/62 service. I wonder if there are any frantic contingency plans being formed by SYPTE or Sheffield city region? Or will Powells just spring it on people on Sunday with no notice? I would take a guess that they are struggling for drivers, I know of at least one who said he was going there and has now returned to Stagecoach. Maybe the high fuel price has could, I stress could tip them over. It's official. HCT Group closing all Yorkshire depots with all staff informed today, intention is to find an alternative operator who will take on the work and staff in the next few days. |
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Post by duncan on Aug 3, 2022 20:59:55 GMT
If this happens suddenly, it will cause a problem for anyone relying on the 61/62 service. I wonder if there are any frantic contingency plans being formed by SYPTE or Sheffield city region? Or will Powells just spring it on people on Sunday with no notice? I would take a guess that they are struggling for drivers, I know of at least one who said he was going there and has now returned to Stagecoach. Maybe the high fuel price has could, I stress could tip them over. It's official. HCT Group closing all Yorkshire depots with all staff informed today, intention is to find an alternative operator who will take on the work and staff in the next few days. Who would take a lot of their staff on? Since most are know to the major operators already for the wrong reasons I can't see it. There may be a driver shortage but..... |
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Post by simonk82701 on Aug 3, 2022 21:55:07 GMT
How is this allowed to happen at such short notice? Unless Powells are almost bankrupt, shouldn't the transfer be controlled and appropriate notice given. This is not fair on passengers and staff. It wouldn't surprise me if most services don't run over the next couple of days as drivers effectively go sod this! Am I being unfair here? I thought when the 18 was just about removed at such short notice passengers were being treated with contempt.
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Post by TC60054 on Aug 4, 2022 19:34:24 GMT
Understand closure of Powells has now been brought forwards to 1700 Friday 5th August.
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Post by duncan on Aug 5, 2022 4:56:20 GMT
How is this allowed to happen at such short notice? Unless Powells are almost bankrupt, shouldn't the transfer be controlled and appropriate notice given. This is not fair on passengers and staff. It wouldn't surprise me if most services don't run over the next couple of days as drivers effectively go sod this! Am I being unfair here? I thought when the 18 was just about removed at such short notice passengers were being treated with contempt. Do you propose forcing a company that is effectively bankrupt to keep trading despite their losses? They are bust. There is no way they could afford to keep going hence their decision to close. The council/ PTE have a legal obligation to pick up in this situation but it is not likely they will as they have more important things to spend their cash on like providing cheap fares for people who can afford to pay full fare. |
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