Dismal bus service (From York Press)
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Dismal bus service
10:40am Friday 12th October 2012 in Letters By Readers' letters
IN RECENT weeks I have observed an increase in complaints on your letters page regarding bus services operated by First, and would like to add my latest experience.
On the evening of October 4, after a visit to York Hospital, I left at the end of visiting time to catch the 8.10pm No6 bus to Clifton Moor.
This bus never turned up, but another was due at 8.40pm. This arrived at 9pm (20 minutes late).
Also at the bus stop were three other passengers (all over retirement age), one of whom eventually decided to make other arrangements to get home having waited for too long already on a chilly night.
After speaking on the phone with First the following morning, I was politely told the 8.10pm bus never arrived because a driver rang in sick at short notice. The second bus was late was because it had to take on fuel.
It is not good enough to leave elderly people waiting for nearly an hour out in the cold just after hospital visiting time.
Isn’t it time someone with some clout, eg council and traffic commissioners, sorted out First? Their performance is dismal.
Mr C Duckels, Reighton Avenue, Clifton, York.
•THE article headlined “Big bus changes in York” (The Press, October 6) says the No14 connecting Beckfield Lane with York is to run early evenings and Sundays.
Well, on the time-table it states the last bus is in Beckfield Lane at 5.45pm. I hardly call that the evening; and no buses on Sundays and Bank Holidays. I don’t call this much of an improved service.
J M Bradley, Jute Road, Acomb, York.
Comments(3)
oswaldcobblepot
says...
2:53pm Fri 12 Oct 12
If a bus is late there is a reason for it, people don't understand that buses get stuck in traffic and at roadworks too. Likewise they are also affected by cost saving and staffing cuts which means that if someone rings in sick at short notice then yes a bus might be missed off, just as when someone does the same in a shop - the shop will open late.
Noone likes to be left stranded and especially in bad weather but it doesn't matter who the bus service is, they will still get stuck in the same traffic and have the same isses.
A bus driver was once telling me a story about a passenger, he was driving into Selby and got stuck at the toll bridge which was open to allow a boat through. A passenger walked to the front of the bus and started complaining stating that he was going to be late because of the bus, the driver explained that the toll bridge was open to which the passenger replied 'well next time I will get a taxi'.
Need I say more.
Magicman!
says...
3:15am Tue 16 Oct 12
--
As for the experience regarding the number 6, whatever happened to contingency measures? A spare driver or two ready in case they're suddenly called to service? a bus or two not on maintenance schedules that's already filled with fuel and ready for dispatch if and when needed?
Back in the early 2000's when First provided the buses for Huntington School, and often used clapped out Leyland Olympians that broke down - if a bus broke down outside the school at 3.40pm the driver would ring to the depot and be told it'd be about 50 minutes for another bus to come. 50 minutes from james street to huntington school just outside the afternoon peak - you're not telling me it'd take 50 minutes to go along Lawrence Street, Foss Islands Road, Layerthorpe, Malton Road, New Lane, and Huntington Mill Hill? no, they'd have been busy ringing up for another driver.
Stevie D says...
12:46pm Fri 12 Oct 12
That was the original timetable, before the council stepped in to fund evening and Sunday services. The last bus to Beckfield Lane leaves town at 7pm, and back from Beckfield Lane at 7.30pm. Buses run almost hourly on Sundays. See getdown.org.uk/b/14-
y for the full timetable.