tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post964916714113798865..comments2024-03-25T19:07:29.729+00:00Comments on Steve's Bus & Train Page: 2018 - Looking Into The Crystal BallSteve Whttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-70652945653212321752018-01-31T19:50:38.233+00:002018-01-31T19:50:38.233+00:00Heard tonight in bbc look east that stagecoach may...Heard tonight in bbc look east that stagecoach maybe clisung the Kings Lynn depodthe old Norfolk green. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-86896150192270654202018-01-23T18:47:36.592+00:002018-01-23T18:47:36.592+00:00The new Rail depot at Brantham is looking as if it...The new Rail depot at Brantham is looking as if it will not goahead. They have been coming up with excuses for some time. The latest one now is the level crossing. That does not sound that plausible as if it were a problem it should have come up during the initial site surveyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-39061693775546390442018-01-23T11:56:08.462+00:002018-01-23T11:56:08.462+00:00Ipswich Bus Fare Changes, They have also changed t...Ipswich Bus Fare Changes, They have also changed the zones but no detail as of yet. Whilst it does not say so I suspect the average fare will be increased<br /><br />Fares <br /><br />A new fare structure will be introduced on the town services. There will be three simple adult fare bands. These will be priced at £1.00, £1.50 and £2.00 for single fares with returns at £1.90, £2.90 and £3.80. <br /><br />The fare boundaries have been changed between the different parts of the town with the result that some fares will be lower and others higher than previously charged.<br /><br /> Full details of the new fares will be published shortly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-61172680276398428732018-01-23T08:41:38.116+00:002018-01-23T08:41:38.116+00:00It does strike me at least that the new route numb...It does strike me at least that the new route numbering, cutting out the meaningless X numbers, is sensible.Andrew Kleissnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-20643192887886255292018-01-22T09:40:07.102+00:002018-01-22T09:40:07.102+00:00Ipswich bus have published a summary of the change...Ipswich bus have published a summary of the changes but still no new timetables<br /><br />http://www.ipswichbuses.co.uk/news/detail/18-february-2018-service-fare-changesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-11813177493663772512018-01-21T10:53:46.744+00:002018-01-21T10:53:46.744+00:00The Future of Buses in the East
It is quite clear...The Future of Buses in the East<br /><br />It is quite clear that outside of the cities and very large towns that buses services are in continual decline. The response to this from bus companies it to cut services increase fares and send buses all around the house to try to cover at least parts of routes which gives slower journeys and then they charge passengers more for this<br />The decline of services is also impacting on the Concessionary passes market and now councils are baulking at the very high cost of providing schools bus services and councils are going to make cuts there. Bus companies are also facing increased completion from private cars and taxi and private hire who are increasingly offering new and competitive and innovative services. In many case if there are two people private hire is cheaper than using an infrequent and unreliable bus services which go all around the houses as well<br />Bus companies also suffer from very poor management and with very infrequent bus services that are not even reliable with high levels of cancelations of services and frequent breakdowns of buses. Using double deck buses when all they need it’s a midi bus is another cost issue<br /><br />Bus companies need to dramatically raise their game. I do not see that happening. I think we will just see more of the same this year with continued cutting of services. Bus services in many areas are now in such a poor state they are of no use to anyone that can only result in a continued decline of passenger numbers<br />I think we will see more bus companies fail this year. Ipswich buses is serious struggling in my view as are the local Go ahead companies. A lot there depends on whether the parent company will continue to support them and First Bus is not doing much better<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-85232826689843045432018-01-19T10:05:40.833+00:002018-01-19T10:05:40.833+00:00Interesting comments about Ipswich Buses here. Th...Interesting comments about Ipswich Buses here. The First Essex post alludes to trying to get what they have to work and I think that's what IB are doing. Unless you run a city bus operator, any large town or rural bus service outside of the peaks will need to be subsidised in some way shape or form. Quite simply IB is a victim as much as the motorist in trying to get about town, no one is going to pay to sit on a bus in the same traffic as they would in their car. I agree constant changes to timetables just confuse the average punter but with increasing congestion extra running time is always being added. A Stagecoach Cambridge "Citi" style cull to run core services on a frequent basis would work well in Ipswich, leaving marginal services to be less frequent and joined up and supported if required by SCC/IBC. <br /><br />The new livery is causing much debate within enthusiast circles, but does the average punter care - not really. As long as its clean inside and out and gets them from a to b. I feel IB is trying to drag itself up but let us not forget politicians are on the board...<br /><br />As for the abysmal Carters comment, don't forget the Commercial Manager for IB is an ex-Carters man so knows that network inside out, if it is being tweaked its because its needs it. Running anything into Ipswich or Colchester is a nightmare as road networks are always short termist and nothing is planned for 10 years time.<br /><br />Whats the solution? Good question. The only financially viable version of rural bus services is core routes fed into by Community Transport (ala Lincs InterConnect) with local coach operators doing the market day runs. Town / City networks need to be simple and frequent using the most economical vehicles possible. Just look at Nottingham's Go2, Glasgow Simplicity etc. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-64594928239529040852018-01-19T09:19:38.529+00:002018-01-19T09:19:38.529+00:00I don't know . The track record of availabilit...I don't know . The track record of availability of revised timetables is very patchy . It is something bus companies and councils are very poor at<br /><br />There are changes in the Reading and Slough area starting tomorrow and the new timetables have only appeared today. A part of the problem lies with the traffic commissioners that allows changes to happen with almost no noticeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-83241917231424589372018-01-18T19:43:12.271+00:002018-01-18T19:43:12.271+00:00When are the details of service changes being anno...When are the details of service changes being announced?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-48924510805655258792018-01-17T09:21:54.983+00:002018-01-17T09:21:54.983+00:00They are currently SCC has put them out for tende...They are currently SCC has put them out for tender the closing date for submission of tenders being 29th January with the contracts starting on 19th FebruaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-71409438970537315952018-01-16T21:01:24.574+00:002018-01-16T21:01:24.574+00:00Don't bet against Norse stirring things up but...Don't bet against Norse stirring things up but bet they don't get anything!Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-17606266245645269362018-01-16T20:13:33.046+00:002018-01-16T20:13:33.046+00:00And who’s going to want to bid on a handful of sin...And who’s going to want to bid on a handful of single journey services at that time of the day!? It’s pretty obvious that Ipswich Buses/Ipswich Borough Council know what they are doing - it’s all political for votes and another way for them to give the company extra money.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293096761075742763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-8873408451515792982018-01-16T16:42:09.320+00:002018-01-16T16:42:09.320+00:00They will be going out to public tenderThey will be going out to public tenderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-477170029722052282018-01-15T19:58:30.638+00:002018-01-15T19:58:30.638+00:00At least with a subsidy going to council own...At least with a subsidy going to council owned Ipswich Buses it doesn't line the pockets of First Group share holders . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-58818200781141219602018-01-15T12:58:48.971+00:002018-01-15T12:58:48.971+00:00A few years ago it was ok for councils to subsid...A few years ago it was ok for councils to subsidise bus services so why isn't it now? After all that is why you pay taxes is it not for services to be provided ? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-81747506765602390622018-01-14T11:17:26.207+00:002018-01-14T11:17:26.207+00:00Out of Area - Update to First Berks changes
Read...Out of Area - Update to First Berks changes<br /><br /><br />Reading Buses taking over Slough Daily route 5 (also evening 4 and Sunday 6) from 20 January, <br /><br />Courtney starting a new Daily 10 (Dedworth via Windsor and Datchet to Terminal 5) and 15/15A on M-F Maidenhead & Slough via Eton Wick.<br /><br /> A week later from 30th both Reading Buses and Courtney are to run on route 2, Daily (Slough & Dedworth via Windsor).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-81384007844809306642018-01-13T11:52:25.085+00:002018-01-13T11:52:25.085+00:00The new buses were inevitable, DDA regulations are...The new buses were inevitable, DDA regulations are to blame. You can't blame them on the 3 Citaros- they were built to a much poorer quality than the demonstrator. The livery is awful, I agree the purple then that harsh "green" just don't work together without white separating them. To be honest I don't know why they bothered with the demos last year when they knew they would always end up buying cheap and cheerful stock vehicles anyway. <br /><br />I would like to see Stagecoach take over, but if they're all like the ex-Stagecoach M.D they had last year then I'm not so sure. Arriva can't manage what they already have and If threy did takeover I'd just expect some cast off Wright Streetlites from Yorkshire in a few years time. Now, Transdev would have been the best option. They know how to run a bus company, very good marketing and investment. If only they hadn't taken over Rosso! Don't get me started here on Go Ahead - it's almost the swear word of the East Anglia bus industry!zTransit UK980https://www.blogger.com/profile/10938486799939148068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-16986077713448229662018-01-12T19:08:52.914+00:002018-01-12T19:08:52.914+00:00Exactly Steve, I have been reading about proposed ...Exactly Steve, I have been reading about proposed cuts to Norfolk services and I think we may well see a similar circumstance next year. I live in South Lowestoft and the bus network has changed dramatically over the past few years a surge of buses to Kessingland in the past now there is a trickle. Now first have no competition there have been situations of 99's being cut or missed out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10896838178380664985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-26352640892351883242018-01-12T15:59:51.299+00:002018-01-12T15:59:51.299+00:00The whole situation in Ipswich with the council pr...The whole situation in Ipswich with the council propping up Ipswich Buses with handouts for late/sunday routes is a joke - it’s about time the sold up to a decent company (although who’d want them!?) Go-Ahead = poor reputation in east Anglia. Stagecoach = May not be keen and with cuts to Bury service 11 coming seems less likely. First = ruled out by competition act. Transdev = not in their area. Arriva = would make sense to tag into colchester especially as IB now run between the two towns. Although Arriva have been selling up recently so probably unlikely now. The outgoing MD appears to have ruined the company, over spending on new buses, purchasing the abismal carters operation (just look at how the carters network is being cut back every 2-3 months!) with another change for 93 in February. They should be concentrating on getting the network right in the town first and foremost! And as for the ‘new’ livery it’s awful, doesn’t inspire anyone to want to travel by bus - And what a waste of time it was having all those demo’s coming and going last year! And they even had the cheek to display the ADL enviro city decker at that event on the cornhill too! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08293096761075742763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-54451129029524283112018-01-12T11:59:34.016+00:002018-01-12T11:59:34.016+00:00Well its not working is it. It ends up with high f...Well its not working is it. It ends up with high fares and very infrequent services and very strange timetables. You are as well dramatically understating the costs of DD which are very high<br /><br />If b us companies want to continue to drive passengers away all they need to do is carry on as they are using their failed business modelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-58049255280034404772018-01-12T11:53:42.480+00:002018-01-12T11:53:42.480+00:00I think you have rose tinted glass. Most service a...I think you have rose tinted glass. Most service are now at a very basic level and reliability is poor and breakdowns frequent as are constant cuts to the services. The level of service are such that for most working people they are simply not a viable option and this is coupled with very high fares. It is simply driving passengers away from the services. Most service are barely viable and constant instability of the services is a further disincentive to use them. There will be more cuts this year that's a certainty. Without change the bus services face all but disappearing<br /><br />It probably needs some government help but the bus companies have to raise their game from the abysmally low standards they currently have.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-49965167653899174922018-01-11T20:43:41.682+00:002018-01-11T20:43:41.682+00:00Yes they all come from outside the area and kn...Yes they all come from outside the area and know the lot . Unfortunately it is a problem the county over .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-41486078496087333012018-01-11T18:49:50.631+00:002018-01-11T18:49:50.631+00:00it would be Mayhem since virtually none of the bus...it would be Mayhem since virtually none of the buses here in Norwich are euro 6 only the Streetdecks and possible some of the streetlites. we badly need a fleet modernisation tho Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-78168276460406361732018-01-11T18:01:35.830+00:002018-01-11T18:01:35.830+00:00That doesn't surprise me as Leeds Council have...That doesn't surprise me as Leeds Council have insisted all buses must be Euro6 so there will be a lot of B9's looking for a new home. Dear God can you imagine the panic if Norwich City Council did the same!!Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425346921966365551.post-6966898929558645032018-01-11T17:59:18.003+00:002018-01-11T17:59:18.003+00:00I did in the post and never mentioned Southwold. A...I did in the post and never mentioned Southwold. Are people traveling from Pontins to Southwold a problem to you in Pakefield?Steve Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852377706742868978noreply@blogger.com