October Service Changes (Read 18,783 times)

[mojoe44]

Early morning trips on 30 now staying with TM rather than Stagecoach.

[rhole]

The 223 looks like a ridiculous route, it's going to carry air most of the time, like the 200 did before death.

A 228 kind of route, Barnsley to Rotherham, replacing one of the 22x's would be better. Barnsley to Rotherham travel is a joke. It takes 1 hour 20 mins on the 22x and its constantly late at peak times. Getting home from work I finish at 3:50 in Rotherham (Wellgate area). I have to walk and hope a X78 or X1/X10 come, annoyingly unreliable at that time, with huge gaps in the services with delays etc. I barely get to Meadowhall for 4:35-4:40 which is ridiculous in itself, to then get the X17 to Barnsley at 4:43, getting to Barnsley for 5:10. Its a juggle. The train gets me to Barnsley at the same time.

I seem to remember the 228 taking just a shave under an hour. Not everyone wants to go to Manvers or via DVC. All these express routes and direct routes, but apparently SYPTE think nobody travels between Barnsley and Rotherham, or that everyone wants to go via Manvers.

One of the 67s could serve Aldham House the shortest one that doesn't do Tankersley maybe, then Newhill served by an actual useful route like the 228, as was decades ago.

If I miss the X17 or the train at 4:50 (and I'd prefer to not get the train) then I miss the deadline for picking up my kid at school. Costing me a ridiculous £10 every 5 mins.

[mojoe44]

Early morning 1a now stays with first who are going to operate it commercially.

[simonk82701]

Interesting, as soon as First get a whiff of another company talking on some of their services, suddenly a service becomes commercial for them to operate. Just been talking to a driver, get the impression he’s ready to leave. He says the whole system needs restructuring.

[The Captain]

Sept 14, 2022 14:52:30 GMT simonk82701 said:

Interesting, as soon as First get a whiff of another company talking on some of their services, suddenly a service becomes commercial for them to operate. Just been talking to a driver, get the impression he’s ready to leave. He says the whole system needs restructuring.

Should have stayed as the 47/48, but we have the 2015 SBP rejig to thank for that.
Don't think for one minute First are interested in taking work on willy nilly.

[duncan]

Sept 14, 2022 14:52:30 GMT simonk82701 said:

Interesting, as soon as First get a whiff of another company talking on some of their services, suddenly a service becomes commercial for them to operate. Just been talking to a driver, get the impression he’s ready to leave. He says the whole system needs restructuring.

Just hang on there. Stagecoach have been pulling that stunt for years now on many many routes, then, a little later going back and asking for a subsidy as its suddenly no longer viable. So NOT a new thing and NOT a First only thing. Just following in the footsteps of the masters in this field.

[simonk82701]

Sept 14, 2022 15:01:58 GMT duncan said:

Sept 14, 2022 14:52:30 GMT simonk82701 said:

Interesting, as soon as First get a whiff of another company talking on some of their services, suddenly a service becomes commercial for them to operate. Just been talking to a driver, get the impression he’s ready to leave. He says the whole system needs restructuring.

Just hang on there. Stagecoach have been pulling that stunt for years now on many many routes, then, a little later going back and asking for a subsidy as its suddenly no longer viable. So NOT a new thing and NOT a First only thing. Just following in the footsteps of the masters in this field.

Oh, I am not disputing that many companies play the same game. All the more reason for SYPTE to improve it's due diligence processors, does a service really need subsidy or not? If a company takes on a route commercially in order to retain all the trips on a route, maybe no subsidy should be available to the operator for three months, unless a trial period is agreed with Sypte beforehand, to see how a service performs. This would prevent big operators from rushing back after a short period to ask for a subsidy. Also, the service must not be allowed to be withdrawn for this three-month period, by the operator, purely on the grounds of commercial viability alone. A service has to be given appropriate time to see how it performs, if they choose to take it on fully commercially.

Either way, changes are still talking place long after timetables should have been in general circulation in my view. Regulators need to enforce the rules, this chopping and changing and rumour is unfair to customers, who don't pay for last minute wrangles over who is going to be running/ paying for their commuter service! Yes, the Government maybe at fault for leaving extra funding announcements till the very last minute, however operators could just agree to maintain the current service level, whilst the work out what any new funding would mean. There is very little point in having a 45-day notice period if companies are still deciding how to run things 16 days before the changes are due to take effect.     

[The Captain]

Apparently Stagecoach drivers are route learning the Loxley/Wisewood extensions on the 52s.

[mojoe44]

Route changes to Stagecoach 50/50a in new Whittington, eckington and mosborough are no longer going ahead following negative feedback, however the planned change to revert to serving all stops between birley and Sheffield is still happening.

[simonk82701]

I have it on good authority that information should start to be released by SYPTE around midday on Tuesday, if this happens, that gives people ten days or less to make any alternative arrangements. Things continue to move, and changes could still happen between now and then. I know we often say this at every timetable change but, I have never seen such chaos as this, if it was not so serious, it would be funny. How on earth can changes still be negotiated up to 10 days before a major change like this? People will never get out of their private cars, until the whole system is completely overhaled, and some sort of reliable service restored. You cannot plan more than a few hours ahead in some cases. Operators need to seriously think about how they are going to make the job more attractive without necessarily spending tons more money. One good start would be, don't have a driver in the office for every little thing! SYPTE and other stakeholders must improve their oversight on their contractors. I am not convinced that passenger numbers are still down because of Covid. I think it's more a reliability issue. People need to know that their bus to work will run. At the minute. there is no guarantee of that because of driver shortages and poor planning. Not to mention the expense.

[donc]

Sept 15, 2022 18:47:11 GMT simonk82701 said:

I have it on good authority that information should start to be released by SYPTE around midday on Tuesday, if this happens, that gives people ten days or less to make any alternative arrangements. Things continue to move, and changes could still happen between now and then. I know we often say this at every timetable change but, I have never seen such chaos as this, if it was not so serious, it would be funny. How on earth can changes still be negotiated up to 10 days before a major change like this? People will never get out of their private cars, until the whole system is completely overhaled, and some sort of reliable service restored. You cannot plan more than a few hours ahead in some cases. Operators need to seriously think about how they are going to make the job more attractive without necessarily spending tons more money. One good start would be, don't have a driver in the office for every little thing! SYPTE and other stakeholders must improve their oversight on their contractors. I am not convinced that passenger numbers are still down because of Covid. I think it's more a reliability issue. People need to know that their bus to work will run. At the minute. there is no guarantee of that because of driver shortages and poor planning. Not to mention the expense.

Well look at Doncaster on 15 August all buses were supposed to be diverted due to Cleveland Street remodelling for 6 months. The date of this works changed to 26 September, on Sunday 14 August First diverted all the buses via Waterdale both ways then on Tuesday 16 August they decided to send them back on the original route for 5 weeks without telling anyone even the First shop said they hadn't received any info until around 9am, today they diverted them again inbound via Waterdale due to works on Cleveland Street, why on earth do they keep moving them its simple Cleveland Street is going to be closed for 6 months then one way so just change the timetables in August and be done with it, instead we have this nonsense of buses keep changing routes no one knows where to catch the damn buses.

First seem to have no clue how to deal with a simple diversion let alone sort out a whole driver shortage, fund crisis and decide what's a profitable route.

People going into Doncaster at the moment have no idea which way the bus will go inbound or outbound and no one gives a damn it's just everyone else fault.

[duncan]

Sept 15, 2022 19:02:42 GMT donc said:

First seem to have no clue how to deal with a simple diversion let alone sort out a whole driver shortage,

There is not a bus company in the country that is anywhere near fully staffed. How would you suggest they sort it out? The biggest issue being talked about is the publics attitude to the driving staff. Should First ban the public from their buses?

[The Captain]

Sept 15, 2022 21:08:54 GMT duncan said:

Sept 15, 2022 19:02:42 GMT donc said:

First seem to have no clue how to deal with a simple diversion let alone sort out a whole driver shortage,

There is not a bus company in the country that is anywhere near fully staffed. How would you suggest they sort it out? The biggest issue being talked about is the publics attitude to the driving staff. Should First ban the public from their buses?

Another big problem is keeping experienced management that can handle all the bumps in the road and know when to lean on staff and when to back off, it helps if you know your fleet and network inside out and I'm afraid there's not many these days.

[simonk82701]

Sept 15, 2022 21:08:54 GMT duncan said:

Sept 15, 2022 19:02:42 GMT donc said:

First seem to have no clue how to deal with a simple diversion let alone sort out a whole driver shortage,

There is not a bus company in the country that is anywhere near fully staffed. How would you suggest they sort it out? The biggest issue being talked about is the publics attitude to the driving staff. Should First ban the public from their buses?

90% of the public are okay. There are two major things that would improve things for drivers:

1. When things do happen the police need to act on it. I am sick of reading about service suspensions because of antisocial behavior. When things do happen, the driver must be supported, not questioned or made to feel undervalued.

2 I agree with the captain, senior management need to learn their network, yes that means actually DRIVING, looking at problems before they get too big. Don't plan a route where the speed limit has to be breached to run it on time. Listen to driving staff and implement changes to times, and rotas where necessary. Oh, and don't take 6 months over it. do it! The passengers and drivers at the Cole face often can solve problems and tell management how to fix them, honestly, truthfully and politely. Listen and learn and treat your drivers as people not numbers.

If traffic controllers are daft enough to cancel an hourly bus service for three hours in a row because of shortages, the driver on the first one out is going to get grief, so don't do it! Use your common sense and cancel a more frequent service. This has happened to me as a passenger. Drivers are a operator's biggest asset, manners cost nothing.        

[tomtom11928]

Sept 12, 2022 19:15:55 GMT mojoe44 said:

Stagecoach changes in South Yorkshire from the 2nd of October as follows:

Sheffield

1a – City – Herdings – award of early morning tendered trips from First. Ecclesfield depot will run this service.
6 – Rerouted to serve Greystones Road and Bents Green, replacing First service 83. Timetable revised.
25 – Revised timetable with all journeys terminate at Bradway (Mother Redcap). Longford Road will no longer be served. Award of tendered evening trips from First. Stagecoach will operate all journeys on this service.
30 – Crystal Peaks – City - Hallamshire Hospital: gain of early morning tendered trips from TM Travel (one on Mondays to Fridays, four on Saturdays). Holbrook depot will run this service.
44 – Rerouted via Prospect Road instead of Dronfield bypass. Sheepbridge Industrial Estate will still be served at peak times.
50/50a - Chesterfield to Sheffield; Times changed. Buses will serve all stops between Birley and Sheffield.
50 – rerouted to use West Street instead of Ravencar Road in Eckington and between Eckington and Mosborough to use Rotherham Road/Station Road instead of Windmill Greenway/High Street.
50a – rerouted to use Stone Lane instead of Highland Road in New Whittington, West Street instead of Ravencar Road in Eckington and between Eckington and Mosborough to use Rotherham Road/Station Road instead of Sheffield Road/High Street.
52 – Monday to Saturday evening timetable revised.
57 – A revised timetable and route will be introduced, with buses operating every half hour Monday to Saturday daytimes and hourly in the evenings and on Sundays. Stagecoach will operate all journeys on this service. The route towards Stocksbridge will be as follows: as current 57 as far as Dykes Hall Road, then Langsett Avenue, A6102 Middlewood Road, Carr Road, Wood Royd Road, Armitage Road, Lee Avenue, Bocking Hill, Nanny Hill, Manchester Road, Hole House Lane, Shay House Lane, Pot House Lane, Cedar Road, Coal Pit Lane, Brackenmoor Lane, Victoria Road, Hole House Lane, Manchester Road, then Park Drive, Sitwell Avenue, or Smithy Moor Lane depending on terminus. Towards Sheffield - Unsliven Road or Moorland Drive, Oaks Avenue, Rydal Avenue, Park Drive then Manchester Road, Hole House Lane, Shay House Lane, Pot House Lane, Cedar Road, Coal Pit Lane, Brackenmoor Lane, Victoria Road, Hole House Lane, Manchester Road, Nanny Hill, Bocking Hill, Lee Avenue, Armitage Road, Wood Royd Road, Carr Road, A6102 Middlewood Road, Langsett Avenue, Dykes Hall Road and resume current 57 route. Evening and Sunday buses will serve both the Leisure Centre and Unsliven Bridge. During Monday to Saturday daytimes they will alternate to match the current hourly provision to each.
72/72a – Route formalised to serve Tankersley Lane and Olympus Way with minor timing changes.
80/80a - Revised timetable on Monday to Friday afternoons.
83a – Service revised to operate every 30 minutes. First service 83 will no longer run. Sunday 83 will operate as 83a.
86 – Chapeltown - City – award of early morning and evening tendered trips from First. Stagecoach will operate all journeys on this service.
120 – Revised timetable in the evenings and on Sundays.
137 – Rotherham – Sheffield via Kimberworth, Wincobank, Meadowhall and Grimesthorpe: gain of Monday to Saturday daytime tendered service from First. Rawmarsh depot will run this service.
SL1/SL1a – Service withdrawn (see service 57 for replacement).

Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Dearne Valley

21 – Rotherham – Harthill via Whiston, Swallownest, Aston and Wales: gain of Monday to Saturday daytime tendered service from First. Rawmarsh depot will run this service.
72/72a - Route formalised to serve Tankersley Lane and Olympus Way with minor timing changes.
135 – Rotherham – Chapeltown via Kimberworth: gain of Monday to Saturday daytime tendered service from First. Rawmarsh depot will run this service.
137 – Rotherham – Sheffield via Kimberworth, Wincobank, Meadowhall and Grimesthorpe: gain of Monday to Saturday daytime tendered service from First. Rawmarsh depot will run this service.
220 – Service withdrawn.
222 – Service withdrawn (see 223 for a part replacement).
223 – Newhill – Wath – Wombwell – Aldham House: gain of new Monday to Saturday daytime tendered service, running hourly. Provides a partial replacement for First services 22a/22c (which are withdrawn) in Newhill and for service 222 at Aldham House. Route is from Newhill via Quarry Hill Road, Sandygate, Burman Road, Doncaster Road, Biscay Way, Montgomery Road, Church Street, West Street, Biscay Way, Station Road, Manvers Way, Dearne Valley Parkway, Wath Road, Park Street, High Street, Barnsley Road, Pearson Crescent, Aldham House Lane, Wilson Street, Barnsley Road, High Street, Park Street, Wath Road, Dearne Valley Parkway, Manvers Way, Station Road, Biscay Way, Montgomery Road, Church Street, West Street, Biscay Way, Doncaster Road, Burman Road, Festival Road and Cemetery Road to Quarry Hill Road. Rawmarsh depot will run this service.
X10 – The last two remaining journeys are withdrawn.

What is the 21 in Rotherham? The last time I saw a 21 in Rotherham was a good 10 years ago at least.