I was chatting to a bunch of drivers today. The talk was mainly about grievances they had with their company and how many issues needed to be addressed. However, after about 15 minutes a senior manager walked over, who hadn't heard any of the grumbling, and asked the drivers how everything was and if things were running smoothly. To a man they all smiled politely and said everything was fine and running well. To say I was a little surprised at that response is an understatement, and it got me thinking of how the conversation might have gone had the drivers mentioned everything they had been talking about. I was reminded of a sketch out of Monty Python's Life Of Brian, where John Cleese asks the Peoples Front of Judea "What have the Romans ever done for us", and then gets rather annoyed at all the achievements listed. If you haven't seen the sketch you can see it here.
So this is my adaptation of that sketch and how the conversation today might have gone....
"Hello, chaps, tell me honestly, how is everything - is it all running smoothly?"
"Well I don't know what my duties are next week yet."
"Ok well apart from not knowing your duties is everything running smoothly?"
"My bus had so many defects this morning I needed two defect cards."
"We're short of drivers again."
"The supervisor's blood pressure was so high I though he was having a heart attack." "Oh yes, Brutus, they never got that wound up in the old days."
"More drivers are leaving - even old Julius is leaving now."
"The rotas aren't working."
"Well of course the rotas aren't working - that goes without saying!"
"Passenger numbers are down." "Oh yes Tiberius, way down on 5 years ago."
"We never get the new buses."
"New timetables are terrible."
"Can never get on the right stand."
"Wages were wrong again this week."
"Alright but apart from not knowing your duties, defective buses, ranting supervisors, driver shortages, ineffective rotas, drivers leaving, less passengers, old buses, bad timetables, wrong bus stands and wages wrong is everything running smoothly?"
"Well I didn't have heating..."
"Oh heating - SHUT UP!!!!"
Friday, 11 March 2016
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
The Rumour Mill
I'm a bit old fashioned and still check things out on teletext daily. In the football section is the gossip column, which reports the various items of speculation going around. Hardly any of it actually happens but it is a good read, so I thought why not publish some of the rumours and gossip I hear. Some is believable, some isn't, some might even be true. But take it all with a pinch of salt, it's not meant to be deadly serious as I have little if no evidence to back most of this up! For legal reasons the word "allegedly" should be attached to each paragraph (thanks to Have I Got News For You lawyers).
First up is a whisper I heard that Konect might be ressurecting the 2 between Norwich and Sheringham which they abandoned last year to the consternation of many passengers. An hourly Summer service and two hourly Winter service have been suggested. That would be quite a U-turn. Will the branded buses for the 2 that were debranded be branded up again? Cue Magic Roundabout theme tune!
I have been told that two different companies are going to launch a challenge on First's University service 25 in Norwich, and even the vehicles that one company has ordered. Yeah right! I don't believe it for a second but my word it would make entertaining watching if it did happen.
Borderbus are going to take over every route that isn't nailed to the floor. Twice. The 146 is going to extend to Lincoln and the 521 is going to be extended and operated by an amphibious bus that will replace the Southwold - Walberswick ferry.
First have decided that the generic livery in Norwich is too bland, and so an idea has surfaced to repaint the generic buses in a rainbow livery encompassing all the various line colours so they can still be used on anything. Now that would be worth seeing.
Stagecoach are buying out everyone. Except Borderbus who will graciously give Stagecoach a couple of routes to make it worth the effort.
One of the Ipswich E200's released by the cessation of the 53 COULD be going to Lowestoft as a paint spare while the recent arrivals from Bristol are repainted. This is to be confirmed but possible as the 40 only requires two vehicles.
Eye opening fact of the week has to be the realisation that there are probably more years service for Anglian between the staff at Borderbus than there are between the staff at Anglian. It is more than possible.
And finally an escaped lynx was seen roaming the Norwich area earlier today. Actually that one is true as Simonds currently have on loan one of Lynx's smaller Optare Tempos, and for a couple of hours today it was operating the 85 to Surlingham. One of those TV connections is possible here. The 85, until recently operated by Anglian who linked up with Konect, owned by Julian Paterson now operated by Simonds usng a bus loaned from Lynx, owned by Julian Paterson! Anyway yours truly played the Simon King role, spotting and capturing the escaped lynx on camera!
First up is a whisper I heard that Konect might be ressurecting the 2 between Norwich and Sheringham which they abandoned last year to the consternation of many passengers. An hourly Summer service and two hourly Winter service have been suggested. That would be quite a U-turn. Will the branded buses for the 2 that were debranded be branded up again? Cue Magic Roundabout theme tune!
I have been told that two different companies are going to launch a challenge on First's University service 25 in Norwich, and even the vehicles that one company has ordered. Yeah right! I don't believe it for a second but my word it would make entertaining watching if it did happen.
Borderbus are going to take over every route that isn't nailed to the floor. Twice. The 146 is going to extend to Lincoln and the 521 is going to be extended and operated by an amphibious bus that will replace the Southwold - Walberswick ferry.
First have decided that the generic livery in Norwich is too bland, and so an idea has surfaced to repaint the generic buses in a rainbow livery encompassing all the various line colours so they can still be used on anything. Now that would be worth seeing.
Stagecoach are buying out everyone. Except Borderbus who will graciously give Stagecoach a couple of routes to make it worth the effort.
One of the Ipswich E200's released by the cessation of the 53 COULD be going to Lowestoft as a paint spare while the recent arrivals from Bristol are repainted. This is to be confirmed but possible as the 40 only requires two vehicles.
Eye opening fact of the week has to be the realisation that there are probably more years service for Anglian between the staff at Borderbus than there are between the staff at Anglian. It is more than possible.
And finally an escaped lynx was seen roaming the Norwich area earlier today. Actually that one is true as Simonds currently have on loan one of Lynx's smaller Optare Tempos, and for a couple of hours today it was operating the 85 to Surlingham. One of those TV connections is possible here. The 85, until recently operated by Anglian who linked up with Konect, owned by Julian Paterson now operated by Simonds usng a bus loaned from Lynx, owned by Julian Paterson! Anyway yours truly played the Simon King role, spotting and capturing the escaped lynx on camera!
 |
| Lynx's Optare Tempo YJ59 CEV on loan to Simonds in Norwich on the 85 to Surlingham |
Sunday, 6 March 2016
A Few Things
A nice, uncontroversial, generic post today, with a couple of things I've either seen or been sent over the last couple of days.
We'll start with Anglian, who have announced two further withdrawals on the fleetlist section of their website. The last 05 reg Scania Omnicity 460 YN05 HFF has been withdrawn, leaving only 03 reg 462 remaining. A shame that as I always preferred them to the newer Omnilinks. Also withdrawn is recently returned from Chambers Optare Solo 907. I assume this is for either mechanical or MOT reasons as another 51 reg Solo, Konect's 901 is still operating out of Beccles as seen in Southwold on Friday.
This time last year you could see Konect liveried Tridents 722 and 725 plying their trade for Anglian. This year ex London B7tl Gemini 513 is doing the honours. Normally reserved for school journeys it was out on the 88's on Friday and I managed to snap her from another bus near County Hall in Norwich.
It seems not a week goes by without Sanders appearing in Norwich with a new route number on one of their buses. However it isn't often a rare working catches my eye so there was a frantic scrambling for my camera on Friday when I saw one of Sanders DAF Lowlanders on the 10 to Stalham. It's a few weeks since I spent time in Norwich so I have no idea how rare a decker on the 10's is, but I'm fairly sure it's the first one I've seen.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear from Grahame Bessey on Fiday, who sent me pics of the Short Set in the early morning light at Lowestoft. I never need an excuse to show pics of these magnificent beasts so thanks, Grahame.
Finally some sad news. After hanging on for grim life far longer than anyone dared to hope, the final Yarmouth Olympian 34111 has been withdrawn due to a suspected twisted chassis. It is truly the end of an era, and in my humble opinion Yarmouth is the worse for it. However, two years after he sent them when we first anticipated this news, it gives me the chance to use some of Robert Appleton's excellent Olympian pics. and there are many of them which I'll use in a series of Olympian tributes throughout this last year of Olympians in public use. Appropriately we'll start in Yarmouth, with this pic of 34333, Leyland Olympian H132 FLX. New to London Buslines in 1990 this pic was taken in Yarmouth on 11th April 2011.
We'll start with Anglian, who have announced two further withdrawals on the fleetlist section of their website. The last 05 reg Scania Omnicity 460 YN05 HFF has been withdrawn, leaving only 03 reg 462 remaining. A shame that as I always preferred them to the newer Omnilinks. Also withdrawn is recently returned from Chambers Optare Solo 907. I assume this is for either mechanical or MOT reasons as another 51 reg Solo, Konect's 901 is still operating out of Beccles as seen in Southwold on Friday.
 |
| Konect Solo 901 VX51 RJZ at Southwold |
 |
| Konect liveried 513 B7tl LB02 YXE on the 88's in Norwich |
 |
| Sanders 105 DAF Lowlander YJ05 PZE on the 10 to Stalham |
 |
| 37422 looking superb |
 |
| If only all trains looked (and sounded) like that! |
 |
| 34333 H132 FLX in Yarmouth pic (c) Robert Appleton |
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Ipswich Buses Downsize
Don't you just love spin! The art of making negatives sound good. Today Ipswich Buses have been making many announcements involving services and fleet. If you read them all it sounds fantastic, better punctuality and new buses. Then you look at it again. Let's start with the services.
Now in case anyone thinks I'm an Ipswich Buses hater I'm not. In fact they have my absolute sympathy having to tolerate the utter circus that is Ipswich traffic management day in day out. So called improvements have done nothing to increase traffic flow or encourage visitors to the town. In fact more often than not Ipswich is one big jam and of course when a bus is late because of this IB gets it in the neck. Must admit I wouldn't have the patience to drive round Ipswich all the time.
So IB have taken steps to improve punctuality by extending peak journey times so services take into account the traffic and get to the destination nearer the stated time. Here is what IB say about the X1/X2/X3. Hang on what's the X2???
X1/X2/X3 – most times between 0800 and 0930 changed slightly on Mondays to Fridays. There will be one less journey to and from Greenwich but we believe that those which operate will be more punctual for you. There are also adjustments to times between 1630 and 1800 in the afternoon on Mondays to Saturdays.
So to put it another way thanks to the traffic problems in Ipswich there will be longer journeys and less buses. Not the best indictment on those who continually bugger up the roads. However there is a certain amount of triumph regarding the 13, and let's face it who can blame them...
First’s route 53 finishes at Easter, so from September we will be increasing the frequency of our route 13 to run at least every 10 minutes all day. A big thank you to our customers on this route who have stayed loyal to your locally owned company, and we will now try and make further improvements to your service.
Just one thing - shouldn't that read local PUBLICLY owned company? You can read the full service announcement by clicking here.
There is just one more paragraph I'd like to quote from the announcement. It says as follows...
We also have four brand new British built 39 seater single-deck buses entering service. These vehicles will, as usual, have e-leather seating and will bring new style to the routes they appear on. We have reviewed our operations and these new buses will replace old double-deckers. The new buses use one third less fuel, have much cleaner engines, and more accessible seats. We hope you will enjoy travelling on them!
So what are these wonder buses? I said in a post recently that IB were wanting to convert to an all single decker fleet and this is the start. So let's pick that statement apart shall we and reveal the truth. First of all let's reveal the vehicles - big fanfare - they are ADL E200's. Ah you say but obviously Ipswich Buses will have gone for the much improved E200 MMC's surely? Well rather conveniently Ipswich Buses posted a couple of pictures on their Facebook page this afternoon and advertised the fact on Twitter. Are they E200 MMC's?
Erm no they are not MMC's. They are bog standard E200's that for some reason are still being built when even ADL themselves admitted over 200 alterations and improvements were made to create the MMC. Must be dirt cheap then. But they've got e-leather seats so that's ok.
Would love to know what the vehicle is in the top left hand corner of the above pic! Bet it's not for around here though!
So to continue. Can't argue with the third less fuel as they also carry half the passengers so fuel use per passenger carried on a full load is actually more than it would be on a decker. Yes I know full loads on deckers are rare but I've certainly known them in Ipswich. More accessible seats? I think not. The people who aways sit downstairs on deckers always occupy the lower level on single deckers. So instead of escaping up the stairs those people who normally go upstairs will have to push past the numerous buggies and shopping trollies. This is nothing new as I commented on the problem when trying out the Citaros in Ipswich last year. It does not speed things up, if anything it takes longer for people to get on and off. Cleaner engines can't be disputed.
So to re-jig the spin. Suffolk County Council incomptence in dealing with traffic problems in Ipswich has forced Ipswich Buses into extending journey times and reducing services to reduce punctuality. At the same time Ipswich Buses can't afford to buy new deckers so are buying the cheapest single decker available and make it sound like everyone's on a winner! Put the Champaigne on ice!
Park & Ride Update
Since I posted about the possibility of Ipswich P&R closing the subject has got a lot of attenetion, with local media and radio getting involved. Ipswich Borough Council have been forced into issuing a statement saying thery want to keep P&R going and will do anything they can. BUT it cannot carry on in it's current form as it costs too much and savings have to be made. I still say the car parks will stay open but dedicated buses will go. Watch this space.
Now in case anyone thinks I'm an Ipswich Buses hater I'm not. In fact they have my absolute sympathy having to tolerate the utter circus that is Ipswich traffic management day in day out. So called improvements have done nothing to increase traffic flow or encourage visitors to the town. In fact more often than not Ipswich is one big jam and of course when a bus is late because of this IB gets it in the neck. Must admit I wouldn't have the patience to drive round Ipswich all the time.
So IB have taken steps to improve punctuality by extending peak journey times so services take into account the traffic and get to the destination nearer the stated time. Here is what IB say about the X1/X2/X3. Hang on what's the X2???
X1/X2/X3 – most times between 0800 and 0930 changed slightly on Mondays to Fridays. There will be one less journey to and from Greenwich but we believe that those which operate will be more punctual for you. There are also adjustments to times between 1630 and 1800 in the afternoon on Mondays to Saturdays.
So to put it another way thanks to the traffic problems in Ipswich there will be longer journeys and less buses. Not the best indictment on those who continually bugger up the roads. However there is a certain amount of triumph regarding the 13, and let's face it who can blame them...
First’s route 53 finishes at Easter, so from September we will be increasing the frequency of our route 13 to run at least every 10 minutes all day. A big thank you to our customers on this route who have stayed loyal to your locally owned company, and we will now try and make further improvements to your service.
Just one thing - shouldn't that read local PUBLICLY owned company? You can read the full service announcement by clicking here.
There is just one more paragraph I'd like to quote from the announcement. It says as follows...
We also have four brand new British built 39 seater single-deck buses entering service. These vehicles will, as usual, have e-leather seating and will bring new style to the routes they appear on. We have reviewed our operations and these new buses will replace old double-deckers. The new buses use one third less fuel, have much cleaner engines, and more accessible seats. We hope you will enjoy travelling on them!
So what are these wonder buses? I said in a post recently that IB were wanting to convert to an all single decker fleet and this is the start. So let's pick that statement apart shall we and reveal the truth. First of all let's reveal the vehicles - big fanfare - they are ADL E200's. Ah you say but obviously Ipswich Buses will have gone for the much improved E200 MMC's surely? Well rather conveniently Ipswich Buses posted a couple of pictures on their Facebook page this afternoon and advertised the fact on Twitter. Are they E200 MMC's?
 |
| One of the new E200's at ADL in Falkirk |
 |
| The interior of te E200's |
So to continue. Can't argue with the third less fuel as they also carry half the passengers so fuel use per passenger carried on a full load is actually more than it would be on a decker. Yes I know full loads on deckers are rare but I've certainly known them in Ipswich. More accessible seats? I think not. The people who aways sit downstairs on deckers always occupy the lower level on single deckers. So instead of escaping up the stairs those people who normally go upstairs will have to push past the numerous buggies and shopping trollies. This is nothing new as I commented on the problem when trying out the Citaros in Ipswich last year. It does not speed things up, if anything it takes longer for people to get on and off. Cleaner engines can't be disputed.
So to re-jig the spin. Suffolk County Council incomptence in dealing with traffic problems in Ipswich has forced Ipswich Buses into extending journey times and reducing services to reduce punctuality. At the same time Ipswich Buses can't afford to buy new deckers so are buying the cheapest single decker available and make it sound like everyone's on a winner! Put the Champaigne on ice!
Park & Ride Update
Since I posted about the possibility of Ipswich P&R closing the subject has got a lot of attenetion, with local media and radio getting involved. Ipswich Borough Council have been forced into issuing a statement saying thery want to keep P&R going and will do anything they can. BUT it cannot carry on in it's current form as it costs too much and savings have to be made. I still say the car parks will stay open but dedicated buses will go. Watch this space.
Sunday, 28 February 2016
Stagecoach Manchester and Carters Update
Not two operators you normally see in the same sentence, but both have been source of great discussion on the blog this week.
In my Ollie post on Wednesday there was much debate as to who the Olympians new to Manchester actually belonged to. My research suggested Greater Manchester Buses South, whereas others believed it to be Stagecoach Manchester, who took over Greater Manchester Buses South in 1994. So I am grateful to the Olympian Oracle, Robert Appleton, who has been in touch this evening to clarify everything. First of all he managed to find in his what I assume is a huge archive of old photos and slides a picture of one of the Canterbury Olympians in her early Manchester days. Here is 16760, originally 760, R760 DRJ now my header pic seen in March 1999 at Manchester Picadilly Gardens.
Secondly my information saying the Olympians were new to Greater Manchester Buses South was entirely correct. Those who said nay lad they were new to Stagecoach Manchester are also entirely correct. When Stagecoach took over Greater Manchester Buses South they kept the business name, and used Stagecoach Manchester as the trading name. This situation still exists, as can be seen from the most recent operating licence, which Robert has kindly sent me from the VOSA website. I hope this clears everything up and everyone's honour remains intact.
Many thanks again, Robert for your invaluable help.
Yesterday morning, showing devotion way beyond the call of duty, I set my alarm to catch the early morning breakfast show on Radio Suffolk. I had been advised by the presenter, Luke Deal, that an interview with Viv Carter would be played at 0720. So huddled under my duvet I listened in to see why Viv had decided to sell up to Ipswich Buses. Viv insisted there was no other reason to sell up bar the fact he was getting old and it was time to call it a day. Since they had had such a close relationship with Ipswich Buses over the years they seemed the obvious purchaser and so it happened.
Viv also revealed that the Carters name and livery will continue and that the operations will be run as a separate entity in house, if that's not an oxymoron, so don't expect to see IB liveried buses on the 93 just yet. He also confirmed that he would still be running the wedding/heriitage fleet. Now I know what you are all thinking.
If there was any big plan regarding the sale it wouldn't be revealed, just as much as if it was maintenance debts that made IB the obvious buyer. So as I expected we aren't much the wiser, but full marks to Luke Deal for trying to squeeze information out of Viv. I would expect Carters services to be better marketed now IB have control though. I got the distinct impression Viv was not a fan of all things computerised!
Finally on a sad note Ipswich Bus Blog broke the news last week that Soames & Sons (Forget Me Not Travel) of Otley are to cease trading in July, presumably at the end of the school year. A buyer has been sought for the firm and not found so another independent is going to disappear from the local scene. It will be interesting to see who picks up all the school work Soames carry out at present. I imagine a company not a million miles from me will have ears pricked up!
In my Ollie post on Wednesday there was much debate as to who the Olympians new to Manchester actually belonged to. My research suggested Greater Manchester Buses South, whereas others believed it to be Stagecoach Manchester, who took over Greater Manchester Buses South in 1994. So I am grateful to the Olympian Oracle, Robert Appleton, who has been in touch this evening to clarify everything. First of all he managed to find in his what I assume is a huge archive of old photos and slides a picture of one of the Canterbury Olympians in her early Manchester days. Here is 16760, originally 760, R760 DRJ now my header pic seen in March 1999 at Manchester Picadilly Gardens.
 |
| Stagecoach Olympian 16760 in Manchester March 1999 pic (c) Robert Appleton |
Many thanks again, Robert for your invaluable help.
Yesterday morning, showing devotion way beyond the call of duty, I set my alarm to catch the early morning breakfast show on Radio Suffolk. I had been advised by the presenter, Luke Deal, that an interview with Viv Carter would be played at 0720. So huddled under my duvet I listened in to see why Viv had decided to sell up to Ipswich Buses. Viv insisted there was no other reason to sell up bar the fact he was getting old and it was time to call it a day. Since they had had such a close relationship with Ipswich Buses over the years they seemed the obvious purchaser and so it happened.
Viv also revealed that the Carters name and livery will continue and that the operations will be run as a separate entity in house, if that's not an oxymoron, so don't expect to see IB liveried buses on the 93 just yet. He also confirmed that he would still be running the wedding/heriitage fleet. Now I know what you are all thinking.
If there was any big plan regarding the sale it wouldn't be revealed, just as much as if it was maintenance debts that made IB the obvious buyer. So as I expected we aren't much the wiser, but full marks to Luke Deal for trying to squeeze information out of Viv. I would expect Carters services to be better marketed now IB have control though. I got the distinct impression Viv was not a fan of all things computerised!
Finally on a sad note Ipswich Bus Blog broke the news last week that Soames & Sons (Forget Me Not Travel) of Otley are to cease trading in July, presumably at the end of the school year. A buyer has been sought for the firm and not found so another independent is going to disappear from the local scene. It will be interesting to see who picks up all the school work Soames carry out at present. I imagine a company not a million miles from me will have ears pricked up!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)