Staff Passes on independents

[wibble]

I have a First bus staff pass and obviously have no problems using it with the big bus groups in West Yorkshire, but do you have any issues using it on independents?

Personally I always feel cheeky. However I will always ask.. I regularly have no issues with TJ Walsh. TLC let me on once but with a 'my colleague might not let you back from nowt comment.'

I am about to try it with Ross travel who don't touch first bus territory so it was running through my head a bit and wondered whether it's just me feeling cheeky and really they'll pretty much always let you on when using passes with independents?

[dennisthemenace504]

Dec 31, 2016 11:33:06 GMT 1 wibble said:

I have a First bus staff pass and obviously have no problems using it with the big bus groups in West Yorkshire, but do you have any issues using it on independents?

Personally I always feel cheeky. However I will always ask.. I regularly have no issues with TJ Walsh. TLC let me on once but with a 'my colleague might not let you back from nowt comment.'

I am about to try it with Ross travel who don't touch first bus territory so it was running through my head a bit and wondered whether it's just me feeling cheeky and really they'll pretty much always let you on when using passes with independents?

It all depends on whether, the Independent company have an agreement with the big groups.

When, I first started in this industry, and applied for my Arriva Staff pass, it stated on the application form, who accepted the pass. Obviously First West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire, were on there, along with Yorkshire Traction (later Stagecoach Yorkshire), Huddersfield Bus Company, (was allowed because it had been part of Tracky/Stagecoach and staff had been used to the privilege), Keighley and District, Harrogate and District, Yorkshire Coastliner (on these 3, it was only valid up to West Yorkshire Boundary, fare payable to continue), but, also valid on Black Prince (who were an Independent company).

K-line (before Arriva took over Centrebus), Centrebus Leeds, Halifax Joint Committee, Ross Travel, Stotts, TLC, BL Travel, weren't valid on Arriva services.
But, if they showed staff pass, and asked if they could travel on it, then 9 times out of 10, they'd get a yes, and mentioned to them, that another driver may refuse in the future as Arriva passes weren't valid on their services, etc.

You may have got on my TLC bus, cos, there's at least 4 of us, who will accept other operators staff passes, even though, our staff passes aren't valid on their services.