Bus Operator Competition

[ECML180]

From reading through bus threads it seems to me that there are a number of knowledgeable people on the forum in areas other than trains! I was wondering if anyone would be interested in taking part in a light hearted game where each user takes on the role of an bus operator to tackle a problem set periodically on how to improve/save/develop/etc a bus service. I've seen a similar game elsewhere before and it was quite popular.

Is anyone interested?

NB Apologies if this is in the wrong section! Couldn't make my mind up between Other Public Transport & Quizzes and Games!

Question 1:
You run a service between a town centre and university, buses run every 10 minutes between the campus and town and every 10 minutes additionally around the campus, leading to a bus on campus every 10 minutes.
During the evening peak wait times of 45 minutes have been reported.
Your buses are 27 seat Optare Solos, the biggest that can fit on campus roads.
How do you deal with the excessive waiting times?

 

[harry42]

I would like to take part in this game

In response to sample question:
As buses run every 10 minutes to, I assume, just outside the campus between 16:00 and 18:00 extend these round the campus creating the frequency every 5 minutes thus reducing waiting times.

 

[ECML180]

Sorry-should clarify-the services overlap so both routes serve the campus, one extends into the town centre.

I'll make the sample question, question 1 and leave it open to anyone else interested

 

[34D]

I don't think these 'fantasy' things are appropriate for this section.

If you want to detail the exact uni, op and route, then I'm sure those of in the industry will make some suggestions.

 

[ECML180]

I'm very happy to give more details if people want, however I don't think the specific location holds much relevance and it's not designed to be a gripe about specific operators or routes more a friendly discussion/debate about how we would alter things if in the position to do so. It isn't fantasy it is a real world situation I'm drawing from here, as stated above I was unsure of the best place to put the thread and the mods are welcome to move it if they see fit.

 

[Alistair G.]

The simple answer is that they are students, so don't worry yourself with improving the service. They don't appreciate the efforts (most of them anyway, I'm sure there are some that will) and the amount that actually look at a timetable as apposed to just turning up and waiting.... 1 in.... 5000????

 

[AndyW33]

The route pattern looks very much like Loughborough.

 

[ECML180]

Probably because it is!

 

[harry42]

I think that we should compile a list of people participating, and when you get a few, ask people who want to participate to PM you instead of people arguing about students and whether it should be fantasy or not so we can actually do this game. So if you want to participate, post your user name in bold.

 

[mbonwick]

The answer to Loughborough's problem is sadly a long term on that needs to be dealt with by the uni, and that is to widen the roads on campus. Larger vehicles can then be used.

Incidentally, the Sprint Solos are B32F.

 

[harry42]

Could I start a question?

Question 2

A flagship route in your company is making high profits. A new start competitor comes along: newer buses, cheaper fares. 2 months have passed. Passenger numbers are severely dropping and the competitor is increasing their frequency to match yours.

You are loosing money.

What to do?

 

[ECML180]

The answer to Loughborough's problem is sadly a long term on that needs to be dealt with by the uni, and that is to widen the roads on campus. Larger vehicles can then be used.

Incidentally, the Sprint Solos are B32F.

Agreed, but the regularity of 12m coaches on campus means to me that Kinchbus who operate the service are being a bit wimpy! Good planning and patient drivers and a bigger vehicles could be used.

The reason I didn't specify it as Loughborough is that a 32 seater is still reasonably large, so I tweaked a bit. Also, the delays at Loughbrough (45 minutes is not unusual) are in part due to services being delayed in roadworks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Could I start a question?

Question 2

A flagship route in your company is making high profits. A new start competitor comes along: newer buses, cheaper fares. 2 months have passed. Passenger numbers are severely dropping and the competitor is increasing their frequency to match yours.

You are loosing money.

What to do?

Please do!

My answer:
Review my operation, do the newer buses come with a higher specification? Are they similar vehicles but the only difference is fares?

I try and get newer vehicles and match the price of the competitor.
I would push my day and weekly tickets, presumably as an established operator I have the strength of a network over them.

 

[mbonwick]

I wouldn't say that fullsize coaches are that regular on campus. Certainly not every day, and definitely not every 10 mins!

Length isn't the issue, width is. You will no doubt have seen the slimline Solos trying to squeeze past each other...and they're (obviously!) narrower than conventional buses/coaches.

Having been on the B10B, Solar, Eclipse and Excel when they've put appearances in, its fair to say that the drivers on them had a much harder time manouvering past things.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
In answer to Q2; come up with something the competing op doesn't have - day/week ticket, network ticket etc.

Also look at reducing fares - bottom line usually is that pax don't care about the age of the vehicle, so long as its clean and presentable. But they care a heck of a lot about cost and percieved value.

 

[ECML180]

I wouldn't say that fullsize coaches are that regular on campus. Certainly not every day, and definitely not every 10 mins!

Length isn't the issue, width is. You will no doubt have seen the slimline Solos trying to squeeze past each other...and they're (obviously!) narrower than conventional buses/coaches.

Having been on the B10B, Solar, Eclipse and Excel when they've put appearances in, its fair to say that the drivers on them had a much harder time manouvering past things.

Certainly in the areas where the width of the road is restricted the current solution(wait for the bus coming the other way) applies in general. I've seen Paul S Winsons coaches running a 10 minute frequency campus shuttle, it's not impossible. Having seen the full size cast offs from other Wellglade companies struggle around I can see that it would not be very easy!

 

[34D]

Spooky. I spent an hour today driving a full-size single decker in lieu of a slimline solo I'd ordered be changed over.

As I said to my relieving colleague "go nice and slow, and stay calm". We both did fine

 

[mbonwick]

Certainly in the areas where the width of the road is restricted the current solution(wait for the bus coming the other way) applies in general. I've seen Paul S Winsons coaches running a 10 minute frequency campus shuttle, it's not impossible. Having seen the full size cast offs from other Wellglade companies struggle around I can see that it would not be very easy!

Except its restricted for most of the length of campus.

Between Angela Marmott and the Accomodation Centre, the Slimlines are fine getting past each other but its tight for 'regular' large vehicles.
From there to Pilkington library stops, even the Solos can't get past each other without mounting the kerbs.

From the Library to past David Collett is to all intents and purposes a single lane, so again, no chance of passing each other.

Really, the only opportunites you have are at the ends of the campus - Holywell Park to Wolfson, and from the Students Union to Sir Richard Morris.


My point is that its not ideal, and while regular vehicles are fine for a day in certain circumstances, its not the sort of thing you'd consider for day-in, day-out operations.

 

[34D]

What we need is a bendy-solo

 

[Robertj21a]

Isn't the width problem on the route, at Loughborough College, not at the Uni itself ?

Robert

 

[AndyW33]

A one-way system using Ashby Road in the other direction might help a bit in the peaks to permit bigger buses but could upset more people than find it useful. Then there's the question of funding bigger buses for a limited time each day. The Solos cope for much of the time anyway.

 

[ECML180]

Except its restricted for most of the length of campus.

Between Angela Marmott and the Accomodation Centre, the Slimlines are fine getting past each other but its tight for 'regular' large vehicles.
From there to Pilkington library stops, even the Solos can't get past each other without mounting the kerbs.

From the Library to past David Collett is to all intents and purposes a single lane, so again, no chance of passing each other.

Really, the only opportunites you have are at the ends of the campus - Holywell Park to Wolfson, and from the Students Union to Sir Richard Morris.


My point is that its not ideal, and while regular vehicles are fine for a day in certain circumstances, its not the sort of thing you'd consider for day-in, day-out operations.

I think that as you say the main pinch points are between the accommododation centre and the library and then on the hill next to the library, but oncoming vehicles are always within sight on these, so you can see that you'll get through the section before the next bus, so although it isn't ideal I don't see how the size of the vehicle matters. Slimline Solos may be easier to use but even in the tight sections wider buses can pass cars, the larger vehicles usually have sense to wait!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

A one-way system using Ashby Road in the other direction might help a bit in the peaks to permit bigger buses but could upset more people than find it useful. Then there's the question of funding bigger buses for a limited time each day. The Solos cope for much of the time anyway.

I've considered this but as you say, it's likely to just cause more trouble than worthwhile. My suggestion for Loughborough would be to have a couple of vehicles run a peak only service starting at Holywell Park.

 

[mbonwick]

The easier solution would be to put an extra vehicle on campus shuttles, such that vehicles can simultaneously start from opposite ends of the campus at lecture kicking out times.

That would then take the pressure off the town services and would hopefully improve reliability.

 

[ECML180]

Time for a new question?

Question 3:
You have taken over a bus route from a competitor, 5 years ago it ran with single deckers 4 times an hour, as the vehicles aged they were replaced with newer double deckers, which had a shorter wheelbase and less seats downstairs. Since then demand has reduced and also frequency was reduced to twice an hour. A local users group has formed and campaigned for a return to single deckers, as most of the passengers are elderly and cannot go upstairs.

You now operate 3 single deckers an hour, off peak nearly all seats are taken and during the peak hours all seats are taken with able bodied passengers standing, elderly passengers are left behind as they are unable to stand.

The bus station where the service terminates has no stand space for extra departures. What do you do?

 

[harry42]

In response to question 3

You...

1) Place bendy buses on the route
2) Attempt to get another place just outside the bus station then increase the frequency.
3) As it sounds like there are a lot of older people, make OAP passes free at all times.

 

[mbonwick]

Decker operation and tell the users group they can't have it both ways - either the OAPs accept that the solution isn't perfect (but get a bus) or they find another way home.

 

[ECML180]

In response to question 3

You...

1) Place bendy buses on the route
2) Attempt to get another place just outside the bus station then increase the frequency.
3) As it sounds like there are a lot of older people, make OAP passes free at all times.

Good answer in my eyes, only I'd look at alternating departures first, eg 2 buses per hour to the Bus Station and 2 to the markets/Doby's/favour OAP location.

Decker operation and tell the users group they can't have it both ways - either the OAPs accept that the solution isn't perfect (but get a bus) or they find another way home.

While it's a perfectly suitable answer for a company where change takes a lot of effort, for me thats a risk of losing a lot of potential passengers. Still, compared to procuring new vehicles it's probably a better answer unless theres a lot of revenue to be gained.