BusTimes.Org

[liamf656]

The rules state
"Don’t “remove from list” just because a vehicle’s been advertised for sale, was involved in an accident, or hasn’t tracked for a while."

This is often what trusted users go off when approving/disproving edits. Especially since as has been mentioned sometimes buses can be rebuilt after fires. Normally after a fire evidence comes out from staff sources in the discord saying what the plan is with the bus.

Inconsistencies happen yes but that is because there isn't a definitive guide of 17,000 pages on how to deal with each edit and there's around 50 people with permissions to approve/disprove edits. Trusted users are... Well... Trusted to make edits and approve/disprove in line with the rules and where something isn't explicitly stated, use their discretion and common sense. Where there is an inconsistency like this, it's welcome as it means trusted users can hold themselves or eachother accountable and can lead to better guidance around the rules to reduce any inconsistencies.

Thanks for the explanation, I definitely understand a bit more now!

 

[Trainman40083]

Thanks for the explanation, I definitely understand a bit more now!

I would think the same applies to withdrawn buses. To me, withdrawn means stripped for spares, heading for scrap. To others it seems to apply to a bus taken out of service which may be off the road for some time awaiting potential reuse/rebranding.

 

[greenline712]

I would think the same applies to withdrawn buses. To me, withdrawn means stripped for spares, heading for scrap. To others it seems to apply to a bus taken out of service which may be off the road for some time awaiting potential reuse/rebranding.

Back in the day in LT and LCBS a bus which was unlicensed (u) meant it was long-term unfit (major body damage; new engine required and so on) as the licence disc would be withdrawn and returned for refund. The bus "might" be returned to service later on.

A withdrawn bus (w) was expected to be disposed of; potentially for scrap or resale .... although it may become an "Xmas Tree" for spare parts. The bus would often linger for years in this state, so withdrawn but still on premises ... sometimes towed to a different garage which specialised in parts recovery.

The bus might look the same in a garage line-up, but the status would be quite different!!

 

[Baxenden Bank]

If a bus is still on the companies books, it is still in the fleet. Look at all the railway locomotives at, say, Toton for decades. No-one sees the need to instantly delete them from the fleet the minute the engine stops running. Instead they are marked as withdrawn or stored (serviceable or otherwise). When First Potteries had a vehicle fire the bus was removed from the fleet on bustimes before the wreck had been removed from the roadside! Again the 'need' by some to be 'first with the news'.

 

[Trainman40083]

If a bus is still on the companies books, it is still in the fleet. Look at all the railway locomotives at, say, Toton for decades. No-one sees the need to instantly delete them from the fleet the minute the engine stops running. Instead they are marked as withdrawn or stored (serviceable or otherwise). When First Potteries had a vehicle fire the bus was removed from the fleet on bustimes before the wreck had been removed from the roadside! Again the 'need' by some to be 'first with the news'.

Now, "first with the news" seems to be pictures of it burning.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Now, "first with the news" seems to be pictures of it burning.

Which is reasonable enough, because that is news, so long as you don't get in the way of those dealing with an incident. Or go round setting fire to things so that you can be first on the scene!

 

[M60lad]

Is there a reason why since the recent timetable change Globe Travel's 96 group of services (Wakefield-Barnsley) have stopped tracking on BusTimes and the timetables have disappeared?

 

[Hyebone]

Is there a reason why since the recent timetable change Globe Travel's 96 group of services (Wakefield-Barnsley) have stopped tracking on BusTimes and the timetables have disappeared?

Data issue with the operator most likely

 

[markymark2000]

Is there a reason why since the recent timetable change Globe Travel's 96 group of services (Wakefield-Barnsley) have stopped tracking on BusTimes and the timetables have disappeared?

As Hyebone says it's a data issue with Globe. I am told that they are aware and looking into it.

The routes can still be tracked on the operators map though https://bustimes.org/operators/globe-holidays/map

 

[stuart81]

Any ideas why First Ipswich has stopped tracking? They had service changes today so not sure if that’s caused it

 

[borage]

Any ideas why First Ipswich has stopped tracking? They had service changes today so not sure if that’s caused it

That does indeed seem to have caused it, but they're tracking again today.

 

[Bungle965]

Whilst looking for my bus this evening I noticed that all the Ticketer run services had disappeared off the map presumably an issue with their tracking?

 

[markymark2000]

Whilst looking for my bus this evening I noticed that all the Ticketer run services had disappeared off the map presumably an issue with their tracking?

Normal for a Sunday evening as Ticketer does maintenance on the portal. Sometimes it affects things more than other times.

 

[Bungle965]

Normal for a Sunday evening as Ticketer does maintenance on the portal. Sometimes it affects things more than other times.

Thanks, annoying as my bus hadn't arrived and when it came back online it said it had arrived at it's destination, I hadn't realised Blackpool had invisible buses!

 

[Bungle965]

Seems to be some issues on the website this morning, none of the Bee Network operators are showing as running any services.

 

[Trainman40083]

Seems to be some issues on the website this morning, none of the Bee Network operators are showing as running any services.

Odd. They are showing on my device.....But of course, First Manchester which you show is a fairly small operation compared to others

 

[Bungle965]

Odd. They are showing on my device.....But of course, First Manchester which you show is a fairly small operation compared to others

I've had a quick check of Metroline and it's the same, also when searching the routes don't appear

 

[duncombec]

I've had a quick check of Metroline and it's the same, also when searching the routes don't appear

They are tracking normally on the map, which suggests somebody has had a sizeable "whoops" moment when uploading the timetable data to whichever BODS/Traveline feed Bustimes picks it up from.

 

[py_megapixel]

Odd. They are showing on my device.....But of course, First Manchester which you show is a fairly small operation compared to others

It's all TfGM services, and they've irritatingly been disappearing and reappearing seemingly at random for the last couple of days. It still has the GPS tracking data for all the buses, it just doesn't know the timetables.

Most stops in Greater Manchester have vanished as well!

There must be some sort of data issue.

 

[markymark2000]

Most stops in Greater Manchester have vanished as well!

In general (irrespective of this issue), any bus stop which doesn't have a service linked to it, will not appear on the map.

There must be some sort of data issue.

TFGM accidently added the wrong files to the folder. They put GTFS files into the Transxchange folder.

It's now fixed though on TFGMs end and should be back soon.

They are tracking normally on the map, which suggests somebody has had a sizeable "whoops" moment when uploading the timetable data to whichever BODS/Traveline feed Bustimes picks it up from.

Separate TFGM open data dataset in this instance.

 

[duncombec]

TFGM accidently added the wrong files to the folder. They put GTFS files into the Transxchange folder.

This might need explaining for those who don't have quite the same grasp of BODS background finery as you... All I'm picking up here is that they uploaded some files into a folder, but they were the wrong files... into the right folder? (or the right files into the wrong folder?)

Separate TFGM open data dataset in this instance.

Thanks -without the data being there, I couldn't see where it usually comes from!

 

[markymark2000]

This might need explaining for those who don't have quite the same grasp of BODS background finery as you... All I'm picking up here is that they uploaded some files into a folder, but they were the wrong files... into the right folder? (or the right files into the wrong folder?)

I'm not sure on the best terminology to use or best way to explain it but I'll give it a go. Essentially GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) and TransxChange are both different schemas so you deal with the files in completely different ways. That's why they are kept in separate folders. The other day, in the folder named 'TfGMtxcnew', it was full of GTFS files, and no TXC files.

 

[Teapot42]

I'm not sure on the best terminology to use or best way to explain it but I'll give it a go. Essentially GTFS (General Transit Feed Specification) and TransxChange are both different schemas so you deal with the files in completely different ways. That's why they are kept in separate folders. The other day, in the folder named 'TfGMtxcnew', it was full of GTFS files, and no TXC files.

Don't the files contain some form of header which would allow you to direct them to the correct parser? Or is it more complex than that?

I've not come across many file types that didn't have some form of header, and these days with JSON and the likes in common usage it seems odd not to have some form of identifier present.

 

[318266]

Don't the files contain some form of header which would allow you to direct them to the correct parser? Or is it more complex than that?

I've not come across many file types that didn't have some form of header, and these days with JSON and the likes in common usage it seems odd not to have some form of identifier present.

It's the kind of mistake sites like bustimes.org - which are basically just human-usable fronts for open data, with the addition of some vehicle data of infamous quality - don't account for. You expect that, for every file in the txc folder, they are txc files. Whilst it would be possible to account for it, considering there are fallback sources (BODS, in this instance, IIRC) and it is also a matter which is relatively unusual, I would wager it wasn't considered worth the effort.

 

[CMBS]

Major tracking blackout with Scottish companies using Passenger/MyTrip (since Yesterday) and Stagecoach vehicles nationwide (may be a different issue)

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

Major tracking blackout with Scottish companies using Passenger/MyTrip (since Yesterday) and Stagecoach vehicles nationwide (may be a different issue)

Services can still be tracked on the relevant companies apps

 

[Highland050261]

Major tracking blackout with Scottish companies using Passenger/MyTrip (since Yesterday) and Stagecoach vehicles nationwide (may be a different issue)

Stagecoach tracking is a different issue; it’s also down on the Stagecoach app.

 

[alex397]

A general comment that this website really is excellent. It’s made my life as an enthusiast more interesting, and easier in planning to tick off certain types or vehicles. I really wish it was around a bit earlier, when the step-entrance vehicles were starting to disappear rapidly.
It’s certainly one of the best tracking websites I’ve used. One I’ve used in Czechia comes close, with the level of detail, but it doesn’t cover the whole country, just certain urban areas.

Of note is that the Isle of Man buses can now be tracked on there.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

A general comment that this website really is excellent. It’s made my life as an enthusiast more interesting, and easier in planning to tick off certain types or vehicles. I really wish it was around a bit earlier, when the step-entrance vehicles were starting to disappear rapidly.
It’s certainly one of the best tracking websites I’ve used. One I’ve used in Czechia comes close, with the level of detail, but it doesn’t cover the whole country, just certain urban areas.

Of note is that the Isle of Man buses can now be tracked on there.

Guernsey and Jersey also, Covers Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well

 

[Highland050261]

Major tracking blackout with Scottish companies using Passenger/MyTrip (since Yesterday) and Stagecoach vehicles nationwide (may be a different issue)

The Passenger/MyTrip data has been manually disabled on Bustimes.