Staffordshire Bus News

[Baxenden Bank]

Message put on the Homepage of D&G site today

Long winded and missing the point.

Staffordshire County Council could have sent out the tenders in good time to receive, review and award them to allow for the contracting (or TC registration) periods. They are a hopeless shower. If I needed to make savings it would be to County Hall staffing levels not to services people rely on. From 1st April the good ladies of Fulford will have to pay £10 each way for a taxi to do anything other than visit the pub - there being no services whatsoever in any of the villages served by that section of the 12 - which isn't proposed for re-instatement anyway. Barlastonites have a shop or two to keep them going for eight weeks or longer! Plus it isn't that far a walk to the 14 route anyway.

 

[DenmarkRail]

Long winded and missing the point.

Staffordshire County Council could have sent out the tenders in good time to receive, review and award them to allow for the contracting (or TC registration) periods. They are a hopeless shower. If I needed to make savings it would be to County Hall staffing levels not to services people rely on. From 1st April the good ladies of Fulford will have to pay £10 each way for a taxi to do anything other than visit the pub - there being no services whatsoever in any of the villages served by that section of the 12 - which isn't proposed for re-instatement anyway. Barlastonites have a shop or two to keep them going for eight weeks or longer! Plus it isn't that far a walk to the 14 route anyway.

The simple way for the council to cut bus needs to Barlastone and Wedgewood, would be by giving it an hourly train service... Even just a shuttle between Crewe and Stafford. The station is all there, just ready to be reopened... It would not be an ongoing cost either, as NetWork Rail would take it on.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The simple way for the council to cut bus needs to Barlastone and Wedgewood, would be by giving it an hourly train service... Even just a shuttle between Crewe and Stafford. The station is all there, just ready to be reopened... It would not be an ongoing cost either, as NetWork Rail would take it on.

To many E's there, in both Barlaston and Wedgwood!

However, the reopening of both, or either, stations is discussed at length in another thread (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/barlaston-norton-bridge-wedgwood-railway-stations.136159/). The cost would be significantly in excess of providing a high frequency bus service.

 

[3piece-wheel]

The timetable for the new Aimee`s 30 service Tean Cheadle Ipstones Leek as been published on Staffs Moorlands bus website. Not surprising Whiston & Foxt have lost all service but I think most passengers will be happy with the twice daily Mon/Fri trips. Use it or loose ?...

 

[Baxenden Bank]

The timetable for the new Aimee`s 30 service Tean Cheadle Ipstones Leek as been published on Staffs Moorlands bus website. Not surprising Whiston & Foxt have lost all service but I think most passengers will be happy with the twice daily Mon/Fri trips. Use it or loose ?...

From observation when I could use the service, most of the passengers to intervening points (ie not through passengers Cheadle to Leek) were going to Whiston and Foxt! But, seeing as Staffordshire County Council clearly don't care, why make a fuss if people are stranded. Ivy has moved out I understand so that's one person unaffected.

The 108 Leek to Ashbourne only runs on Saturdays according to the county council website. According to their updates page there is no 30 service, rather there is a diversion of the 108 via Ipstones.

Perhaps one day, they may condescend to update Traveline so people can get accurate, detailed, information on all the cuts / revisions. Even they promise two weeks advance notice of changes which they have, yet again, failed to achieve in practice.

They started this review months ago. Why now, with 2 working days to go, have they still not finalised things? Weather forecast: A heavy shower of ****e is passing over the midlands from the south-west and will linger over Stafford town centre for the foreseeable future.

 

[northwichcat]

D & G increasing fares from 2nd April.

Network Return fare increasing to £5.50. There's no longer a mention of £1 extra for travel on the 16/16A to Buxton.

The Potteries and Cheshire Weekly Rovers are being scrapped and replaced by a Network Weekly Rover costing £15 adult or £13 young person.

 

[DenmarkRail]

D&G to operate 28 daily services from Eccleshall to Stafford, and have also announced that they are applying for open access rights for a class 442 (hauled by a class 88) to operate from Stafford to Stoke, calling at Great Bridgeford, Norton Bridge, and Barlastone, and Wedgewood.

Have a good day.
April Fools

 

[Mitch in Notts]

The 108 Leek to Ashbourne only runs on Saturdays according to the county council website. According to their updates page there is no 30 service, rather there is a diversion of the 108 via Ipstones.

The Aimee's Travel website has new "time tabels"(lol) for the weekday 30 & 108 plus a different Saturday 108 timetable - from the 3rd April 2018. Unusually Derbyshire County Councils website is still showing the 2016 timetable for route 108.....


The Sunday service on High Peak 442 is part of Derbyshire County Councils cuts to tendered services according to this weeks 'Ripley & Heanor News' paper.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Reports are that Staffordshire are to introduce subsidy to increase service 228 I'm Kinver to half hour, with guaranteed connections to the Worcestershire service 580.

Amadán Aibreáin, someone who works at Staffordshire, reports that the contract will be awarded to anyone who is not Diamond Bus.

 

[northwichcat]

RE D&G - at a quick look through I think the net PVR reduction at the end of the month is minus 7? Open to corrections here. I've not included closed contracts and the Alton Towers services which I presume are staying the same. Any ideas if anything is due to be leaving the fleet?

According to the fleet list on their website 2 x Darts have been withdrawn and DG64 BUS (Solo SR) and YX11 CNF (Enviro 200) have moved to Adderley Green with YX09 FMG (Enviro 200) moving in the opposite direction. Not sure of the reason for swapping the Enviro 200s, YX11 CNF is fitted with air horns while YX09 FMG isn't but they are both baby Enviro 200s.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Staffordshire have updated their website. Some late notice changes to Scraggs 44 and 50 services which have not yet appeared in N & P. Posted on-line after the changes took place. How useful!

Derbyshire still showing the old 108 timetable.

 

[ag51ruk]

Staffordshire have updated their website. Some late notice changes to Scraggs 44 and 50 services which have not yet appeared in N & P. Posted on-line after the changes took place. How useful!

Derbyshire still showing the old 108 timetable.

Derbyshire have changed the maintainer of their website from the excellent FWT to a company called GRM - updates have been few and far between since then

 

[Robertj21a]

Derbyshire have changed the maintainer of their website from the excellent FWT to a company called GRM - updates have been few and far between since then

I'm fairly sure that GRM is largely the same people who were at FWT.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Derbyshire have changed the maintainer of their website from the excellent FWT to a company called GRM - updates have been few and far between since then

I'm fairly sure that GRM is largely the same people who were at FWT.

I was aware of problems at FWT. I didn't realise that they did the Derbyshire site and had assumed it was in-house. I did notice that updates to the 'forthcoming changes' pages were simply not happening and simply assumed that the relevant person had retired / been made redundant with no replacement in place. The 'on-line timetable library' was being regularly updated however.

I guess nobody told Derbyshire, given the short notice nature of the finalisation of revised timetables, and the Easter break. I note that it has now been updated.

 

[Volvodart]

I'm fairly sure that GRM is largely the same people who were at FWT.

https://www.grmmapping.co.uk/Employees-buy-out-FWT-UK-data-business

Other parts went to Pindar Creative:-

https://www.pindarcreative.co.uk/news/20171016-Pindar-Creative-acquire-FWT.html

 

[ag51ruk]

I was aware of problems at FWT. I didn't realise that they did the Derbyshire site and had assumed it was in-house. I did notice that updates to the 'forthcoming changes' pages were simply not happening and simply assumed that the relevant person had retired / been made redundant with no replacement in place. The 'on-line timetable library' was being regularly updated however.

FWT ran the bus timetable/map section of the website (on derbysbus.info) since at least 2007 - their logo has been on the site since then. Before that, they produced the maps that are included in printed timetable books, and I suspect the rest of the books as well, but the website was maintained by the Council's Public Transport Unit.

 

[daodao]

To many E's there, in both Barlaston and Wedgwood!

However, the reopening of both, or either, stations is discussed at length in another thread (https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/barlaston-norton-bridge-wedgwood-railway-stations.136159/). The cost would be significantly in excess of providing a high frequency bus service.

Another example of lack of joined up thinking regarding expenditure on public transport is in the Cannock area, where all Sunday and most evening buses have been withdrawn since 1/4/18, but the local rail line is being electrified (the posts are already up, but not the wires), no doubt at a cost that is many times the annual subsidy for the withdrawn bus services.

 

[atraindriver]

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[atraindriver]

<deleted>

 

[davehsug]

First Potteries making alterations to 11 routes. Looks more like timing alterations rather than cuts for a change though.
Also despite my post about D & G increasing fares the other week, I'm still being charged £2 when i catch the 16. Not complaining, I must have missed something!

 

[James101]

Porthill & Wolstanton to be left without a bus service for 8 weeks

https://www.firstgroup.com/potterie...s/current-issues/closure-porthill-high-street

Link to First's bulletin explaining the two areas, which usually enjoy 4 buses per hour, are being diverted due to roadworks. First are pretty damning of the council regarding their diversion and lack of support in providing a shuttle. It's the first I've heard of it, so presumably it's not been well publicised. I'll venture down there tomorrow to watch chaos ensue, presumably.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Porthill & Wolstanton to be left without a bus service for 8 weeks

https://www.firstgroup.com/potterie...s/current-issues/closure-porthill-high-street

Link to First's bulletin explaining the two areas, which usually enjoy 4 buses per hour, are being diverted due to roadworks. First are pretty damning of the council regarding their diversion and lack of support in providing a shuttle. It's the first I've heard of it, so presumably it's not been well publicised. I'll venture down there tomorrow to watch chaos ensue, presumably.

I think it is a good that First are taking a firm line and making a public comment. They did so similarly when the 3 (Hanley to Crewe) was going to be cut in half with no service between the two parts. Eventually a sensible work around was agreed - escorted buses if I recall correctly.

Others may suggest that it is the operators responsibility to work around disruptions, just as a shop would have to work their deliveries around disruptions. This seems to be the attitude far more often nowadays. Contractors do not build it into their price for the job because they have not been asked to do so. Council spokesmen often just rely on 'buses are operated commercially it is nothing to do with us', which is partially correct but ignores the needs of those public transport users who have no realistic alternative. The ultimate outcome of the council line is that people simply start to ask 'what is the purpose of the council, they cost a fortune every year but no longer give you anything back for the money - no roads repaired, bins collected when they can be bothered, no libraries, no buses, no swimming pools etc.

Reading the statement, it seems one option would be to send your two largest buses into the diversion route from opposite ends, get them stuck in the middle due to parked cars or whatever. Engines off, newspapers out. True gridlock ensues. Not my problem guv, just following the councils official signed diversionary route which is clearly inadequate. Council / police responsibility to prevent obstructions on the highway which they have clearly failed to do.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Some service revisions from First Potteries in June. Details taken from Notices & Proceedings.

I know no more than this:
8 / 8A / 98 Route and Timetable revised 11/06/2018
21 / 21A Timetable revised 11/06/2018
23 / 23A Timetable revised 11/06/2018
25 Timetable revised 11/06/2018
101 Timetable revised 11/06/2018

Also:
5 from 16/06/2018 as a recent variation not yet in N & P.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

An article in The Sentinel on 7 May 2018 reported that the council are looking for operators to run three services from June. With a free bus thrown in!
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/new...public-transport-operators-needed-run-1435037

The services affected are currently operated by Scraggs:
44 Hanley to Stanley,
50 Hanley to Caverswall,
90 Tunstall to Ball Green.

The article features a tiresome quote from the Cabinet Member for Regeneration Daniel Jellyman reminding us that services are operated commercially by operators and nothing to do with the council, neglecting the real purpose of local government - to provide services which are not commercial. Such services including libraries, schools and, according to legislation, bus services!

Also features a quote from Scraggs Operations Supervisor Paul Owen "We may be able to run the 44 up to Stanley if we're allowed to charge customers £1. But I don't know if it's legally possible to charge bus pass holders".

 

[carlberry]

Also features a quote from Scraggs Operations Supervisor Paul Owen "We may be able to run the 44 up to Stanley if we're allowed to charge customers £1. But I don't know if it's legally possible to charge bus pass holders".

A better statement would be 'If the local council had a realistic reimbursement settlement (instead of trying to give away old vehicles) we'd be willing to run the service commercially'.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

A better statement would be 'If the local council had a realistic reimbursement settlement (instead of trying to give away old vehicles) we'd be willing to run the service commercially'.

Service 44 crosses the boundary into Staffordshire. They withdrew their funding on 1 April. It may, or may not, be terminating at Light Oaks presently, or it may be requesting voluntary donations of £1 from any ENCTS holders still on the bus after that point.

The purpose of including the quote was to highlight that Mr Owen really ought to already know whether he can legally charge £1 to pass holders!

 

[James101]

https://www.firstgroup.com/potterie...tes/news/changes-services-monday-11-june-2018

First have taken their tiny hammer out again to chip away at the network.

21A & 23A effectively withdrawn outside of the peaks. These corridors have now had the frequency halved throughout compared to 18 months ago.

25 Summer timetable down to every 20 mins this year, was 15 min headway previously IIRC. This should free up 6 Geminis over summer, though in reality it’ll probably be worked by E300s and the Geminis onto peak 101s & 32s.

A single daily return journey on the 8B, last seen around 2 years ago is oddly generous from First, though looking at the timings these could just be rerouted existing 8A journies.

 

[Thin man]

Note that d&g have revised service 1A from monday 4th june to operate via rowan village in meir which suggests withdrawal or some change to the scraggs 50

 

[Baxenden Bank]

https://www.firstgroup.com/potterie...tes/news/changes-services-monday-11-june-2018

First have taken their tiny hammer out again to chip away at the network.

21A & 23A effectively withdrawn outside of the peaks. These corridors have now had the frequency halved throughout compared to 18 months ago.

25 Summer timetable down to every 20 mins this year, was 15 min headway previously IIRC. This should free up 6 Geminis over summer, though in reality it’ll probably be worked by E300s and the Geminis onto peak 101s & 32s.

A single daily return journey on the 8B, last seen around 2 years ago is oddly generous from First, though looking at the timings these could just be rerouted existing 8A journies.

The times are up on Traveline. The 8B journeys simply replace 8A journeys so they get a two-hour gap in service - not that many people in those 5 bed mansions down to Endon use the bus, but it does remove connection opportunities into the 18 to/from Leek.

However, WMTraveline doesn't include Brown Edge in it's pdf timetable so you wouldn't know it operated unless you already knew it operated (if you see what I mean). Another secret bus service in Stoke alongside the unregistered ones operated by taxi companies.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Note that d&g have revised service 1A from monday 4th june to operate via rowan village in meir which suggests withdrawal or some change to the scraggs 50

That should prove interesting given the very narrow roads in the immediate vicinity!