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Post by western on Nov 2, 2017 11:02:17 GMT 1
I can see fun and games with the 9.30 departure to Manchester. Due to depart at 9.30 but Bus Passes are not active until 9.30! Could be a riot!
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Post by dennisthemenace504 on Nov 2, 2017 18:15:36 GMT 1
I can see fun and games with the 9.30 departure to Manchester. Due to depart at 9.30 but Bus Passes are not active until 9.30! Could be a riot! Ticket machine may be set to accept free passes, 1 or 2 minutes earlier than 0930, or drivers may have been told to input manually.
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BG12
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Posts: 71
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Post by BG12 on Nov 5, 2017 12:17:34 GMT 1
Don’t get why they haven’t used double deckers on this? Reckon it will be very popular and may struggle to cope with demand.
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Post by dennisthemenace504 on Nov 5, 2017 12:22:19 GMT 1
Don’t get why they haven’t used double deckers on this? Reckon it will be very popular and may struggle to cope with demand. Would you fancy rocking and rolling with the wind over Saddleworth Moor?
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Nov 5, 2017 13:38:28 GMT 1
Don’t get why they haven’t used double deckers on this? Reckon it will be very popular and may struggle to cope with demand. There are no spare double deckers in the fleet There are spare single deckers in the fleet
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SF07
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Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Nov 5, 2017 16:40:35 GMT 1
Transdev have just announced that the service will run on Boxing Day
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Post by passenger859 on Nov 5, 2017 17:40:32 GMT 1
Used it today from Manc Chorlton Street to Leeds Corn Exchange. Quite impressed. More convenient than train too as I wanted to be in east central Leeds near markets.
More pleasant journey than I've had on Sundays of late sardined on a packed Transpennine Express train where most of seats seem to be pre reserved on Sundays.
Obviously complete bargain at £1. Will probably use it once or twice a week going forward, even when promotion period finishes.
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Post by SCH117X on Nov 5, 2017 18:12:14 GMT 1
Don’t get why they haven’t used double deckers on this? Reckon it will be very popular and may struggle to cope with demand. There are no spare double deckers in the fleet There are spare single deckers in the fleet Even so do you really think they would use double-deckers on it if they some available? The 36 gets speed restricted in strong winds and the M62 hardly suffers from lack of wind
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Post by gledhill56 on Nov 5, 2017 20:42:18 GMT 1
Can’t recall First using double deckers on the M60 service between Halifax and Trafford Centre/Manchester, possibly for the same reasons. I’d certainly prefer a single decker given how windy it can get along the moorland section.
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Post by deerfold on Nov 5, 2017 21:25:22 GMT 1
Can’t recall First using double deckers on the M60 service between Halifax and Trafford Centre/Manchester, possibly for the same reasons. I’d certainly prefer a single decker given how windy it can get along the moorland section. They definitely used them for the few months that the 561 extended to the Trafford Centre.
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andy1
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Post by andy1 on Nov 5, 2017 21:50:15 GMT 1
Double deckers were staple vehicles for the 556/562 Hx to Oldham/ Manchester service from late 1988# till May 1992 and the A672 is a higher road than the M62 ! i recall in the early 90s experiencing the worst winds i have driven in on the top road,past Windy hill and the mast to Denshaw , buffeting the bus a 1st generation Olympian all over the road, into the path of oncoming Artics!!! quite terrifying. # short notice tender from Yelloway, in 1992 incorporated on running boards with 528 service which had to be single deck.
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SF07
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Posts: 3,216
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Post by SF07 on Nov 6, 2017 0:59:36 GMT 1
Can’t recall First using double deckers on the M60 service between Halifax and Trafford Centre/Manchester, possibly for the same reasons. I’d certainly prefer a single decker given how windy it can get along the moorland section. Remember catching an Alexander Royale on the M60 service on Deansgate in Manchester and caught a few 562s between Oldham and Halifax using either MCW Metrobus or Leyland Olympians in the early 2000s before First's Oldham depot switched to Mercedes Benz 0405 Optare Primsa vehicles.
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77syk7
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Post by 77syk7 on Nov 8, 2017 17:39:51 GMT 1
Could we have an update on how this new route is operating - anyone been for a ride?
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Post by SCH117X on Nov 8, 2017 19:23:34 GMT 1
According to Transdevs tweets yesterday 98% on time and a retweeted one today states 29 passengers on the 1030 to Manchester today.
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Post by Marcus on Nov 8, 2017 20:31:51 GMT 1
Left Leeds on the 17:30 for Ainley top with all but 3 seats free. Still on time despite the traffic and queues at the junction. Went towards Leeds earlier in the day from Mount at 12:30, 15 minutes late. I’d say around 10-12 seats were filled.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Nov 8, 2017 20:52:04 GMT 1
Are many people, or indeed anyone at all besides enthusiasts, using the Ainley Top stops as yet?
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Post by stevieinselby on Nov 8, 2017 22:23:33 GMT 1
Are many people, or indeed anyone at all besides enthusiasts, using the Ainley Top stops as yet? While there are few people who live within easy walking distance of Ainley Top, it does offer good journeys from Huddersfield and Halifax by connecting buses. Huddersfield to Leeds takes on average about 105 minutes by 202, 203, 220 or 229 – or 15 minutes to Ainley Top on the 501 and then 30 minutes to Leeds, so even allowing plenty of connection time, you could do the journey easily in under an hour, saving yourself 45 minutes on the direct but circuitous local buses, albeit only hourly rather than the more frequent Arriva services. Huddersfield to Manchester takes almost 2 hours on the direct 184, or about 75 minutes changing at Ainley Top, at the same hourly frequency. Halifax is less clear-cut to Leeds – the direct 508 only takes 80 minutes, and the longer journey to Ainley Top means that going by ZAP will take just over an hour – still quicker, but not by as much. On the other hand, it is more clear-cut to Manchester as there is no direct service at all. I think it will take a little bit of time for people to cotton on to the option to get the 501 and join the ZAP at Ainley Top, but there is lots of potential for them to pick up plenty of non-enthusiasts from there.
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Post by SCH117X on Nov 8, 2017 23:09:09 GMT 1
Surprised they have not sought to tie in the Ainley Top local services with a through ticket offer; afterall they have a Leeds Plus tie in with First off the 36 (at least) and with Yorkshire Tiger for travel from within Harrogate Plus Zone to LBA.
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Post by jdodger08 on Nov 8, 2017 23:25:03 GMT 1
Why have they made it hourly! Should have been half hourly at least. But it's a new service and they are testing the waters I suppose.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Nov 8, 2017 23:30:36 GMT 1
Nobody is going to catch a bus to Ainley Top to enable them to catch a bus. Let's rule that out straight away, we did all that weeks ago when the service was announced. I know people on forums like these like to suggest complicated schedules but even the most pro-bus people won't do such a thing.
It'll either be locals, or people being dropped off by car, or people parking their car in the area. I was wondering if any of these groups, particularly locals had partaken in this option yet.
The timetable leaflet suggests there is free parking in the area, although I'm not sure if it really did take off with commuters if that would last long. It would be like roads near train stations.
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Post by guyarab on Nov 8, 2017 23:32:33 GMT 1
Used it today from Manc Chorlton Street to Leeds Corn Exchange. Quite impressed. More convenient than train too as I wanted to be in east central Leeds near markets. More pleasant journey than I've had on Sundays of late sardined on a packed Transpennine Express train where most of seats seem to be pre reserved on Sundays. Ij Obviously complete bargain at £1. Will probably use it once or twice a week going forward, even when promotion period finishes. Will you travel on it going in reverse too?
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Nov 8, 2017 23:33:26 GMT 1
Why have they made it hourly! Should have been half hourly at least. But it's a new service and they are testing the waters I suppose. Because that would be 8 buses worth of resources being used on a new service. If it didn't take off you'd be chucking Transdev's profits in the bin. Half the posts in this thread think it will be an absolute disaster so that'll be why they've started slowly.
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Post by gooderson1 on Nov 8, 2017 23:36:55 GMT 1
Another problem is that the First service linking Huddersfield and Halifax(every 10 minutes) stops a good 10/15 minute walk from the City Zap stop at the plastics factory taking into account walking up or down the hill to the roundabout then crossing the busy roundabout. Fine in the summer but not the best walk in the winter or in the darkness. Unfortunately there does not appear to be a better location at Ainley Top for the services to stop close together.
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Post by guyarab on Nov 8, 2017 23:49:16 GMT 1
I understand Burnley Bus Company's CityZap branded 1871 failed in Manchester this morning, being replaced by Versa 273. Their 2750, Volvo B7TL/Wright Gemini also came into Leeds displaying 'CityZap Manchester Fast'. A 'decker on the route? Seems the operator had problems today.
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Post by neukit on Nov 8, 2017 23:50:15 GMT 1
Another problem is that the First service linking Huddersfield and Halifax(every 10 minutes) stops a good 10/15 minute walk from the City Zap stop at the plastics factory taking into account walking up or down the hill to the roundabout then crossing the busy roundabout. Fine in the summer but not the best walk in the winter or in the darkness. Unfortunately there does not appear to be a better location at Ainley Top for the services to stop close together. You can actually reach the 503 bus stops more easily on foot, without the need to go via the roundabout, as there are steps down from the bridge behind the Cedar Court Hotel. Google suggests a 7/8 min walk. However, as has been pointed out, I think they see it more as location where people will park & ride by using the local streets etc, or be dropped off/picked up by friends/relatives.
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