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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Sept 27, 2013 17:01:30 GMT 1
I was on the bus the other day with my grandson in his pushchair and a man got on with his wife in a wheelchair, so I moved out of the area so they could get in and just moved onto the other side of the bus with the pram still up in one of the singular seats. So, it begs the question as to why wouldn't someone move for a wheelchair, push chair or no pushchair? Are people so rude and unempathetic to wheelchair users in general? I cannot understand why anyone wouldn't move.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Sept 18, 2013 23:25:38 GMT 1
These guys are a right cowboy operator. I caught the 371 the other day to work, I work at HRI, and the driver just went straight up New Hey Road instead of going along Acre Street towards the Infirmary. I said to the driver 'you've gone the wrong way', he glanced at his destination board and said 'it says New College' and I replied 'yeah via Huddersfield Royal Infirmary', which is what the destination board said. He then replied 'life's too short', what a plank, they just seem to be making their own routes and driving wherever they see fit when they see fit!!!
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Sept 7, 2013 18:24:57 GMT 1
How is this going to effect services? Centrebus in Huddersfield seem to operate a lot of routes no other operator wants, like the 341 Stocksmoor,317 Almondbury to Lindley and the 340/342 Almondbury Circulars (I live in the Almondbury area,hence all the service quoted pass through my patch).Will Arriva be looking to maintain/improve these service or palm them off and keep the most profitable routes?
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M Card
Jul 13, 2013 12:28:08 GMT 1
Post by Kenton Schweppes on Jul 13, 2013 12:28:08 GMT 1
I'll give Metro their dues on this one, they've nailed it pretty well. Looking forward to getting mine, when its time for renewal on my annual Metro Card. I've been critical of Metro in the past but this is real progress and its looks good and is also a welcome leap into modernity.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Jun 23, 2013 0:08:16 GMT 1
And it doesn't come as a surprise that the operator in question is First either.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Jun 22, 2013 9:33:12 GMT 1
That is a decent ticket. I've been critical of Metro in the past but they are really trying to integrate ticketing and revolutionise the ticketing system in West Yorks, I'll give em that. They just need to get their fingers out on other areas.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Jun 13, 2013 18:35:48 GMT 1
Whilst electrification of the line is welcome, is it going to make things worse for the local stoppers,with the extra TPE train? There is talk of making the Victoria to Huddersfield service a skip stopper service, with the omission of stops on the route, hardly progress. Where as its a boost to have an extra service on the TPE route, what about capacity for another Huddersfield to Leeds stopper and another Manchester/Huddersfield to Wakefield stopper?
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on May 1, 2013 21:02:42 GMT 1
Great idea, but getting people out of their cars and onto the bus on a regular basis will take a bit more than a 'Catch the bus week', but its a start.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 25, 2013 19:43:50 GMT 1
This can only be a good idea, I don't support Leeds and only attend Elland Road when my team play there but it must a right ballache for Leeds fans park. Plus the buses from the city centre get stuck in traffic which kind of defeat the object of having the buses!!
Having said that go to other big cities and some ground have there own train stations and tram stations, its only in West Yorkshire where we appear badly done to in that respect.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 24, 2013 19:26:52 GMT 1
This is the kind of ridiculous and farcical situation that needs to be stopped it not good for passengers, its not good for small operators (although at times I don't have much sympathy with the one man bands) and its not good for the image of public transport in West Yorkshire. If Arriva had introduced the same service at a half hour interval from the SGI service then fair doo's, but they haven't, they just look petty and ridiculous. Its all about money and the 'benefits for customers' is just a smokescreen. The sooner the quality contracts are rolled out the better, it only gives Metro more ammunition,doesn't it? They don't so themselves and favours some operators, they really don't.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 15, 2013 19:31:26 GMT 1
Them were the days the limited stop services between Huddersfield and Leeds....top stuff.
Don't think any of the Arriva buses run via Keldregate now, back in the day they all did aside for the 220, that went straight up Leeds Road to Cooper Bridge, think its still runs as well.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 14, 2013 23:42:40 GMT 1
All TVM's will print pre-booked tickets bought on line whether they are East Coast,Virgin,TPE or Northern machines. Online tickets are booked through the on line database. When you state your station to collect your tickets from and you go and pick them up the machine will contact the on line database and you'll enter your code and it'll print out your tickets.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 14, 2013 10:28:29 GMT 1
How much time does it save by not stopping between Huddersfield and Fartown Bar and Odsal and Bradford City centre? The time savings will be negligible, no point, First' time would be better spent into putting effort into other more important stuff like making services work,developing new services and more important stuff.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 13, 2013 10:38:15 GMT 1
My main issue with the X63, which I probably didn't explain properly, is that if you work in Bradford and want to get off after Fartown Bar you either have to get off at Fartown Bar and walk or get off in Huddersfield and make your way back. Where as, yeah,the 328 will pick up anyone for intermediate stops between Huddersfield and Fartown Bar, but I just don't think its necessary really. From Bradford, the X63 doesn't pick up any passengers from Fartown Bar to Huddersfield and doesn't drop off any passengers between Bradford and Odsal. From Huddersfield, the X63 doesn't drop off any passengers between Huddersfield and Fartown Bar and doesn't pick up any passengers from Odsal to Bradford. So, a passenger travelling from Bradford can get off at any stop after Odsal, therefore any stop in between Fartown Bar and Huddersfield. I just don't think there is any benefit in the bus being limited stop on certain parts of the route and for such short lengths. Another great decision by First!!!
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 13, 2013 10:36:28 GMT 1
I did actually catch the X63 from Fartown Bar last week and the driver did stop at one of the stops after Fartown Bar, so its either it stops after Fartown Bar or it doesn't. Its not at the drivers discretion, if they are using their discretion and stopping, the service might as well revert back to the 363.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 13, 2013 10:32:43 GMT 1
I must say the resprayed ALX400's in Huddersfield look quite good, but it doesn't hide the fact that their is interior is dreadful and the ride is still dire!! And you can't see the destination boards in the dark, would it have been that difficult to fit some new destination boards in the yellow LED's that other models have.Typical First. I suppose you've put forward these points for First for them to consider then? Or have you just whinged about them on here?Its a forum, this is what its for. If you'd actually dealt with First you wouldn't have made that statement. In my dealings with First they are only interested in their own problems and not what the passengers concerns are. I did approach them with a complaint once and as I said I just got a list of operational problems they face, in the end I was being complained at by First!!
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 12, 2013 20:10:56 GMT 1
I actually think the X63 is a good idea, with the 328 covering it's not like Bradford Road is now dead and it still allows people to travel to Bradford. Other than the bus station the 328 serves all the same stops as the 363 does along that route. Well, why not just increase the X6 to 2 an hour instead of introducing the X63 and keep the standard 363's? My main issue with the X63, which I probably didn't explain properly, is that if you work in Bradford and want to get off after Fartown Bar you either have to get off at Fartown Bar and walk or get off in Huddersfield and make your way back. Where as, yeah,the 328 will pick up anyone for intermediate stops between Huddersfield and Fartown Bar, but I just don't think its necessary really.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 12, 2013 19:59:09 GMT 1
I must say the resprayed ALX400's in Huddersfield look quite good, but it doesn't hide the fact that their is interior is dreadful and the ride is still dire!! And you can't see the destination boards in the dark, would it have been that difficult to fit some new destination boards in the yellow LED's that other models have.Typical First.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 8, 2013 23:03:52 GMT 1
First have just put their fares up in West Yorkshire never mind trying to cut them. And when I say raw deal from First I don't just mean in fares, some of the services cuts by First over the last few years are pretty shabby. As an example, my local service in Huddersfield the 372 service Lindley to Almondbury, in fact one of First flagship routes in Huddersfield, the service used to operate up until 11pm now the last service to Almondbury is 9pm, now that's poor. Other service cuts by First too have gone too far, plus the introduction of another limited stop service between Huddersfield and Bradford in the form of the X63, so now we have the X6 and the X63 making only 1 stop along the Bradford Road area of Huddersfield. Whilst I'm a fan of limited stop services this is taking a bit too far. Some of First's decisions puzzle me, do they run buses when its convenient for them?
As I've said in previous post's operator specific tickets get right on my nerves and just think aren't good for the network, whether they bring them down or not. Although any kind of reduction would be welcomed of course.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 7, 2013 16:47:44 GMT 1
It begs the question as to why First in West Yorkshire aren't as committed as their Manchester counterparts? West Yorkshire gets a raw deal from First.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 5, 2013 21:30:57 GMT 1
Would beg to differ that the track bed is intact on the Spen Valley line, especially at the Low Moor end, as what was Transperience (one of my former employers), is now an industrial estate. Obviously, it is not insurmountable an obstruction, but it does mean that the track bed is not complete at the moment. Also , is it not the case that Tescos at Cleckheaton encroaches on the trackbed there? I was aware of the encroachment at Cleckheaton but not at Low Moor. It still could be reopened by it is not even mentioned in Metro's Rail Plan, nor are no new stations or any re-openings of disused or new routes for that matter.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 3, 2013 19:48:18 GMT 1
Personally, I think the Spen Valley line is a good candidate for reopening, the route is wholly intact aside from a small section at Cleckheaton which shouldn't pose a insurmountable problem for reopening, its used as a cycle track at the minute. The line could be fed into the Wakefield line in the Huddersfield direction with a new curve. Stations could be opened at Liversedge, Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton and the service could go onto Leeds with a call at Bradford Interchange and New Pudsey before terminating at Leeds. This would give 2 benefits, another service to Bradford from Huddersfield (which Metro have expressed a desire for) and the Spen Valley a connection to Bradford and Leeds. If the line were to reopen Ravensthorpe station could be redeveloped into a parkway station,renamed Ravensthorpe & Thornhill Parkway, with a big car park and bus services, there is plenty of land for a car park. Platforms built in the Wakefield direction giving it 4 platforms,a small manned part time ticket office. Get Grand Central to call there with its London trains. It would also serve Dewsbury for good connections to London from Wakefield on the East Coast mainline. This could also tie in with improvement in Wakefield services, when the Kirkgate refurb has been completed, a new service from Wakefield Kirkgate to Manchester Victoria via the Calder Valley, with a new station at Elland, could be introduced along with another new station at either Horbury or Ossett again another parkway type station could be built,as after Mirfield there are no more stops on the Wakefield service leaving a big chunk of population with a train that passes through where they live but doesn't stop. The Manchester to Huddersfield stopper could be sent through to Kirkgate instead of the proposed extension to Leeds outlined in the Northern Hub programme improving services to the whole area. The current Ravensthorpe station suffers from its remote position, I'll be honest, I wouldn't use it after nightfall, it could do with some kind of radical solution. I understand this could conflict with the increased service pattern on the Trans Pennine route when its increased to 5 tph instead of the current 4 tph. But I do think something radical could make the station a major junction for West Yorkshire travel without people having to travel to Leeds to get to where they want to be. I think Ravensthorpe is too far away from anything to warrant being extended. I would open a new station in Thornhill/Saville Town on the Wakefield line near the B6117 road bridge. There is plenty of land and the road bridge could be used instead of a footbridge to cut down on costs. Horbury could have a station built at the A642 road bridge. Again, plenty of room and the bridge would negate the costs of installing a new footbridge. Just after the station, the curve to Barnsley and Sheffield should be re-instated to provide a new link from Huddersfield/Bradford to Sheffield that would be much faster than the Penistone line.I would agree with the reinstatement of the Horbury curve too. As for Ravensthorpe, its the remoteness that's what keeps passengers numbers low. It either closes or gets redeveloped. There is plenty of land around the station for a car park and some kind of turning circle for buses. Just think if the station was redeveloped,new services introduced then just maybe,it could be a success but a massive costly error if it didn't.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 3, 2013 19:39:22 GMT 1
On your idea about paying plain time,Boxing Day is still a Bank Holiday,so its double time I'm afraid, religious or not,it's the law!! I'm not aware of any law requiring paying double time on a Bank Holiday. I certainly didn't get it when I had a job that required the odd bank holiday shift. If there is a law, feel free to provide a link to anything about it.
Of course if their emplyment contract says they get it then that's different.Indeed you are quite correct. There is no law entitling employees to any extra pay on Bank Holiday, apologies for my 'faux pas'.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 2, 2013 14:12:01 GMT 1
See this is the main problem, First ticket machines include the technology for real time info but non of the other operators do,making the whole system disjointed. Either no one has it or everyone has it, its just pointless one company operating with the technology and the others just doing their own thing. This is why customers and Metro are hacked off with the bus network and expressed a desire for change. Honestly, if a normal business acted like this they would've been put out of business months ago. Its so amateurish and is not good for the network. There is need for a strategy throughout West Yorkshire to set out some objectives to be achieved asap, so what needs to happen is Metro need to develop a plan get all operators round the table, tell them what is expected and needed and see if they can take it forward. Left to their own devices the operators will not quickly implement any changes in unison or quickly enough. The thing is, Metro have set out their expectations and objectives, they're called QC's. The West Yorkshire system doesn't run off the ticket machines (or at least it doesn't have to) it is a simple box plugged into the ticket machine so it knows what journey it is working to produce real time. All Centrebus vehicles except K-Line (and I assume they will get it with their new ticket machines over the summer) have vehicle tracking fitted (and it should be working) however we hadn't got the schedules quite working to give the flow through from inbound to outbound reading (though that should be done now or very soon - certainly the base standard Centrebus output that works elsewhere has been sent to Metro). It is actually a hell of a lot of work and a very complicated job to get real time systems set up and working properly, not helped by the fact that each authority area often has different data requirements for RTI data input - so data set up in a style that works for one authority may be rejected by another despite using the same base system, not too much of an issue if you only supply to one authority but if you are supplier similar data to many authorities and each has to be slightly different in how the data is laid out it becomes almost impossible to manage. Too set this up you have to program every bus stop into every route, including a standard location code, using standard names that don't tend to have any reference to the name used on the public timetables, and allocate times for every stop for every journey. This then has to be linked to the scheduling system (assuming you have one - I suspect the main issue for the small operators is that they don't actually use a scheduling system that can be used to provide RTI data, an excel spreadsheet as many smaller operators us to produce their duty boards can't supply the info in the right form) and that data then has to be modified and fiddled with to get it into a compatible form that can export to the RTI system. An export is then produced and sent to the local authority (or their RTI system supplier) who then check it over and request changes to make it fit (for the early versions as you are setting it up this can take days or weeks of too-ing and fro-ing to get the data in the correct form, later versions should be quicker). The bigger groups can probably afford to dedicate one person to this permanently but the smaller operators probably have to incorporate this into someone else's role and it can be a time consuming process (my colleagues need about 2 months of concentrated work for a 40 vehicle pvr depot) You make some valid points there Dwarfer mate and I assume you work for one of West Yorkshire's operators, judging by your response? I understand the difficulty in getting systems to Web ADI into the main system as in my line of work we have used and had difficulty with them. Under the QC proposals would this fall into Metro's remit to control and operate any RTI system? If there is to be any improvement and for the systems to become the norm and work efficiently would it not be a good idea for Metro to take over and specialise in RTI and the more technological side of the improvements needed to take the the bus network forward. They would have more resources at there disposal and be able to manage the system easier than a small operator who do not have the man power or the expertise.
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Post by Kenton Schweppes on Apr 1, 2013 18:20:04 GMT 1
Could be the same reason the Leeds to York via Harrogate service is shown on the screens at Leeds as terminating at Poppleton so as to not confuse those wanting a quick service to York, or possibly to do with the funding for it, as it would have to be worked into the cost of the franchise. While it may be classed as two separate services (Man Vic - Tod and Tod - BBN) it would be operated as a through service. I can see it done for those reasons to as it's a longer indirect service, compared too direct services. E.g the Wakey westgate - selby train is displayed as Bradford or Bramley from Wakey/hudd. Same with the Harrogate train, displaying burley park on stands. The Blackburn -burnley - Manchester train might as well display Manchester, no faster service, only alternative travel is bus x41 or x43. If the full routes quicker than bus, then it will really pick up customers on its way. It's displayed as 'Brighouse' at Leeds on the info boards. But I agree, it may as well just be advertised to Manchester Victoria rather than Tod.
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