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Connexions Buses (Harrogate Coach Travel)

tigerdoyen

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2025
Messages
5
Location
York
Connexions data is done via a Ticketer link and it automatically refreshes upto twice pre day (depending on any changes). They aren't sat there doing manual uploads each week.


Local authorities now have a statutory obligation to maintain Naptan. That came into force at the same time as BODS regulations came in. Enforcement of it is nil but the obligation is there in the hope that one day someone will enforce it. In extreme cases, you can work around this and use 'non naptan stops'. The rights of wrongs of using these is up for debate but it is something that happens.

OTC I agree there are issues there, you can however upload unregistered services to BODS while you await registration numbers. Centrebus/D&G group do this regularly then update the details on Ticketer quickly when the details are known. I don't think the OTC, Naptan nor tenders can be blamed though for the fact Connexions X12 has been registered since Feb 2023 and still doesn't send timetable data to BODS. Not even bodged data, just simply no data. That's 2.5 years late in complying. Can I ask who is to blame for this one BODS, tenders, naptan? I just want to make sure because the jist I am getting is it can't ever possibly be Connexions fault that their data is poor.
Having just had it brought to my attention that the box 'Upload to BODS' isn't ticked on X12, I guess this is the reason. Quite why no-one has brought this to our attention before sums the whole system up. It has a route registration number on the system, so why not export to BODS. Incidentally even DVSA don't know its not reporting as they have audited us on it recently and didn't bring it up as an issue.
As it turns out, the 15 people a day that use it (average age 85) won't search for the service (only those in their bedrooms checking on these things would ever know)
As operators, we now have to contend with more roadworks to reroute vehicles, unannounced roadworks where they crop up without anyone knowing they are there.
Then there's the late running to sort on a minute by minute basis to to try and ensure the buses actually run because of the mess the roads are in- who on this forum thinks my time is better used swapping bus stops around so they appear in the correct order (- BODS doesn't tell you this is wrong by the way) rather than trying our best to maintain the actual service out there? I know my thoughts
Its so easy for people like this to criticise when they aren't here seeing the full picture as with everything. The reality is that if I wanted to keep all this correct and monitor it all the time, the X4 and X12 wouldn't operate anyway as the cost of the extra person would render these fill in services uneconomic to run. Again which is the correct way of looking at this? I'm sure the 80 odd year olds would love the person who forces us to de-register the service to keep data updated!
The invitation is still there - come up and see what really goes on and why the little mistakes slip through the hoop.
 
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RailUK Forums

Shaw S Hunter

Established Member
Joined
21 Apr 2016
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3,482
Location
Over The Hill
Having just had it brought to my attention that the box 'Upload to BODS' isn't ticked on X12, I guess this is the reason. Quite why no-one has brought this to our attention before sums the whole system up. It has a route registration number on the system, so why not export to BODS. Incidentally even DVSA don't know its not reporting as they have audited us on it recently and didn't bring it up as an issue.
As it turns out, the 15 people a day that use it (average age 85) won't search for the service (only those in their bedrooms checking on these things would ever know)
As operators, we now have to contend with more roadworks to reroute vehicles, unannounced roadworks where they crop up without anyone knowing they are there.
Then there's the late running to sort on a minute by minute basis to to try and ensure the buses actually run because of the mess the roads are in- who on this forum thinks my time is better used swapping bus stops around so they appear in the correct order (- BODS doesn't tell you this is wrong by the way) rather than trying our best to maintain the actual service out there? I know my thoughts
Its so easy for people like this to criticise when they aren't here seeing the full picture as with everything. The reality is that if I wanted to keep all this correct and monitor it all the time, the X4 and X12 wouldn't operate anyway as the cost of the extra person would render these fill in services uneconomic to run. Again which is the correct way of looking at this? I'm sure the 80 odd year olds would love the person who forces us to de-register the service to keep data updated!
The invitation is still there - come up and see what really goes on and why the little mistakes slip through the hoop.

It's unfortunate that you seem rather defensive on this issue. While many here may well be suitably described as keyboard warriors there are also some with genuine experience inside the industry. Like it or not the need to generate information for on-line consumption is very much a fact of every day life for operators in the 2020s. Indeed as time goes on the ability to readily access such information in a high quality manner will become just as important to maintaining a good reputation as the appearance of the fleet.

As to the time needed to correct errors the key here is attention to detail and getting things right first time. For sure BODS has its issues but equally I get the impression you are reluctant to buy in to the whole concept and as such have difficulty generating much enthusiasm for it. It's a pity.

I do however accept that passengers prime concern is reliable and safe operation of advertised services, it's just that said advertising is increasingly expected to be done on-line and BODS does play a role in that.
 

John HG1

Member
Joined
8 Jan 2023
Messages
56
Location
Harrogate
There is a particular issue in Harrogate at the moment with an outbreak of major roadworks and diversions that have plagued all operators for many months. While recognising that data should be accurate I suspect that passengers are most concerned about delays, missed journeys and poor information.
Given these sorts of issues I wonder how SMEs might cope if they are able to undertake franchising contracts. Will the authorities be more stringent in their data requirements?
 

Megafuss

Member
Joined
5 May 2018
Messages
884
Location
Spalding
There is a particular issue in Harrogate at the moment with an outbreak of major roadworks and diversions that have plagued all operators for many months. While recognising that data should be accurate I suspect that passengers are most concerned about delays, missed journeys and poor information.
Given these sorts of issues I wonder how SMEs might cope if they are able to undertake franchising contracts. Will the authorities be more stringent in their data requirements?
I'd hope the franchising authority would be directly responsible for Ticket machines as they should all have the same tickets!

I believe some local authorities already do day to day management of Ticketer for contract services.
 

Deerfold

Veteran Member
Joined
26 Nov 2009
Messages
13,676
Location
Yorkshire
Having just had it brought to my attention that the box 'Upload to BODS' isn't ticked on X12, I guess this is the reason. Quite why no-one has brought this to our attention before sums the whole system up. It has a route registration number on the system, so why not export to BODS. Incidentally even DVSA don't know its not reporting as they have audited us on it recently and didn't bring it up as an issue.
As it turns out, the 15 people a day that use it (average age 85) won't search for the service (only those in their bedrooms checking on these things would ever know)
Do you audit the ages of your passengers?

I find it worrying that you don't seem interested in any younger people catching this route (or increasing the number who do) - that's a good way for it to go by the wayside.

Incidentally, my mother checked her buses online until she died a couple of years ago - she was in her 70s - not all older people are technologically illiterate - she'd been programming computers since the 1960s (with paper tape, back then).
 

stevieinselby

Established Member
Joined
6 Jan 2013
Messages
1,656
Location
Selby
Do you audit the ages of your passengers?

I find it worrying that you don't seem interested in any younger people catching this route (or increasing the number who do) - that's a good way for it to go by the wayside.
The X12 is a route that runs all of 1 mile from the town centre, and runs two circular journeys off-peak. Without even ever having seen the bus, I could confidently predict the average age would be about 85 and that the scope for attracting younger people to it is as close to nil as you could get – I don't think Craig is off the mark there!
 

Deerfold

Veteran Member
Joined
26 Nov 2009
Messages
13,676
Location
Yorkshire
The X12 is a route that runs all of 1 mile from the town centre, and runs two circular journeys off-peak. Without even ever having seen the bus, I could confidently predict the average age would be about 85 and that the scope for attracting younger people to it is as close to nil as you could get – I don't think Craig is off the mark there!
As I mentioned, it's quite an assumption to believe that no older people track where their bus is. As time goes on and people age, it will become less and less true. Also, not everyone who struggles with walking is elderly.

It's 1.6 miles to the furthest stop on the route, around the same distance I am from my nearest town - I catch the bus as I haven't always got the half hour needed to walk.
 

Teapot42

Member
Joined
12 Jan 2022
Messages
1,102
Its so easy for people like this to criticise when they aren't here seeing the full picture as with everything. The reality is that if I wanted to keep all this correct and monitor it all the time, the X4 and X12 wouldn't operate anyway as the cost of the extra person would render these fill in services uneconomic to run. Again which is the correct way of looking at this? I'm sure the 80 odd year olds would love the person who forces us to de-register the service to keep data updated!
The invitation is still there - come up and see what really goes on and why the little mistakes slip through the hoop.
It does seem there is an issue here in that the tools necessary to create the service data are poor. I believe there are associations who represent small operators - have they explored the possibility of engaging someone to write a better tool aimed at helping their members? It should be relatively trivial for someone with experience of the necessary APIs to use something like Google Maps to allow the route to be entered (or edited) graphically, all stops on the route automatically captured and the user then given the ability to nominate timing points, deselect any stops that aren't served, correct any mistakes in the order and so on. You should then be able to interpolate the times for intermediate stops with the ability to edit these if necessary.

I don't have the necessary experience myself (I work with embedded systems rather than web or cloud based systems) but have worked with people who created similar things in the past and I can see no major obstacle to creating such a system. It would just need someone to fund the creating and on-going updates, but if done on the basis of many operators that shouldn't be a significant sum per operator.
 

citybus2500

Member
Joined
12 May 2021
Messages
184
Location
Birmingham
It does seem there is an issue here in that the tools necessary to create the service data are poor. I believe there are associations who represent small operators - have they explored the possibility of engaging someone to write a better tool aimed at helping their members? It should be relatively trivial for someone with experience of the necessary APIs to use something like Google Maps to allow the route to be entered (or edited) graphically, all stops on the route automatically captured and the user then given the ability to nominate timing points, deselect any stops that aren't served, correct any mistakes in the order and so on. You should then be able to interpolate the times for intermediate stops with the ability to edit these if necessary.

I don't have the necessary experience myself (I work with embedded systems rather than web or cloud based systems) but have worked with people who created similar things in the past and I can see no major obstacle to creating such a system. It would just need someone to fund the creating and on-going updates, but if done on the basis of many operators that shouldn't be a significant sum per operator.
Every Connnexions service also appears to have duplicated trips, and the worse thing is that the duplicates are not exact duplicates, but slightly different!

I wonder how the buses fitted with next stop are getting on, seems this is where the data is coming from. Assuming the Evoras have next stop announcements.
 

Leedsbusman

Member
Joined
9 May 2021
Messages
683
Location
Layton
It does seem there is an issue here in that the tools necessary to create the service data are poor. I believe there are associations who represent small operators - have they explored the possibility of engaging someone to write a better tool aimed at helping their members? It should be relatively trivial for someone with experience of the necessary APIs to use something like Google Maps to allow the route to be entered (or edited) graphically, all stops on the route automatically captured and the user then given the ability to nominate timing points, deselect any stops that aren't served, correct any mistakes in the order and so on. You should then be able to interpolate the times for intermediate stops with the ability to edit these if necessary.

I don't have the necessary experience myself (I work with embedded systems rather than web or cloud based systems) but have worked with people who created similar things in the past and I can see no major obstacle to creating such a system. It would just need someone to fund the creating and on-going updates, but if done on the basis of many operators that shouldn't be a significant sum per operator.
Most scheduling systems have a such a capability. I suspect though that smaller businesses manually schedule - I’ve seen running boards done in Excel at one.
 

Teapot42

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12 Jan 2022
Messages
1,102
I wonder how the buses fitted with next stop are getting on, seems this is where the data is coming from. Assuming the Evoras have next stop announcements.
They didn't when at Hulleys.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Most scheduling systems have a such a capability. I suspect though that smaller businesses manually schedule - I’ve seen running boards done in Excel at one.
That wouldn't surprise me, it's pretty basic stuff. However I suspect these are out of the reach of smaller businesses, I'm wondering if a system tailored to them which is as intuitive to use as possible has a place.
 

Dwarfer1979

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24 Feb 2025
Messages
437
Location
Leicester
Most scheduling systems have a such a capability. I suspect though that smaller businesses manually schedule - I’ve seen running boards done in Excel at one.
No they don't, at least not as part of the standard package, and this is based on the market leader in the segment that my employer uses though in my experience, as you say, many smaller operators just use Word or Excel to produce duty boards or at least all the ones we took over did (though it has been a few years since our last small operator takeover so technology and cloud based systems may have allowed more to move over to basic packages). Some newer entrants undoubtably do, I saw a demonstration of one that appeared to but the scheduling side was much less user friendly than what we currently used (they were more focussed on automatic scheduling but often they don't offer the flexibility to meet specialist requirements as efficiently as a person) so we never got to talking about costs to know how that compared. They may offer a seperate add-on but they are pretty expensive compared to the cost of the base scheduling package due to the map licenses which also means they are more user restricted than the base system. The underlying NAPTAN stop location data is pretty poor as well, the number of stops that are marked as on the wrong side of the road or attached to the nearby side road rather than the main road the bus actually runs down would surprise and it can double or triple the time required to map a route having to get right down to very detailed level to check every stop to ensure you have everything you should and not anything you shouldn't (as it is actually on the other side of the road). The whole thing, data & systems, is a mess and is never quite all set up to work as well as people think it is and it is very easy for errors to creep in because of that but we have to muddle through and deal as best we can.
 
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Leedsbusman

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9 May 2021
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683
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Layton
No they don't, at least not as part of the standard package, and this is based on the market leader in the segment that my employer uses though in my experience, as you say, many smaller operators just use Word or Excel to produce duty boards or at least all the ones we took over did (though it has been a few years since our last small operator takeover so technology and cloud based systems may have allowed more to move over to basic packages). Some newer entrants undoubtably do, I saw a demonstration of one that appeared to but the scheduling side was much less user friendly than what we currently used (they were more focussed on automatic scheduling but often they don't offer the flexibility to meet specialist requirements as efficiently as a person) so we never got to talking about costs to know how that compared. They may offer a seperate add-on but they are pretty expensive compared to the cost of the base scheduling package due to the map licenses which also means they are more user restricted than the base system. The underlying NAPTAN stop location data is pretty poor as well, the number of stops that are marked as on the wrong side of the road or attached to the nearby side road rather than the main road the bus actually runs down would surprise and it can double or triple the time required to map a route having to get right down to very detailed level to check every stop to ensure you have everything you should and not anything you shouldn't (as it is actually on the other side of the road). The whole thing, data & systems, is a mess and is never quite all set up to work as well as people think it is and it is very easy for errors to creep in because of that but we have to muddle through and deal as best we can.
Your employer must be stingy then as all the ones I’ve worked with or had demonstrated have a mapping capability.
 

Dwarfer1979

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24 Feb 2025
Messages
437
Location
Leicester
Your employer must be stingy then as all the ones I’ve worked with or had demonstrated have a mapping capability.
As I said we have a mapping capability but it wasn't part of the basic scheduling package (from the established market leading supplier) and was not, in comparison to the charge for the actual scheduling package, that cheap so may not be affordable for a smaller operator (I work for a fairly large regional independent). They may demonstrate the capability but that doesn't mean it doesn't come at an additional cost.
 

Leedsbusman

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9 May 2021
Messages
683
Location
Layton
As I said we have a mapping capability but it wasn't part of the basic scheduling package (from the established market leading supplier) and was not, in comparison to the charge for the actual scheduling package, that cheap so may not be affordable for a smaller operator (I work for a fairly large regional independent). They may demonstrate the capability but that doesn't mean it doesn't come at an additional cost.
So we agree!
 

markymark2000

On Moderation
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11 May 2015
Messages
5,090
Location
Great Britain
It does seem there is an issue here in that the tools necessary to create the service data are poor. I believe there are associations who represent small operators - have they explored the possibility of engaging someone to write a better tool aimed at helping their members? It should be relatively trivial for someone with experience of the necessary APIs to use something like Google Maps to allow the route to be entered (or edited) graphically, all stops on the route automatically captured and the user then given the ability to nominate timing points, deselect any stops that aren't served, correct any mistakes in the order and so on. You should then be able to interpolate the times for intermediate stops with the ability to edit these if necessary.
The tools aren't amazing but most operators have chosen to use Ticketer (there are 3rd party companies who create files on behalf of operators. I don't know the cost though). The issue in most of connexions case though is not the poor tool, it's poor data entry into the tool. You have to add all of the stops into the system and if you don't enter the stops, they don't appear. Or if you use the wrong stop codes, again, they will be wrong. If you enter stop codes in the wrong order, when the data goes out to the public, the stops are in the wrong order.
If the issue was specifically an issue with the 'tool', I'd make no criticisms of Connexions. Why would I? That would be daft. Issues raised are those 100% related to Connexions and their very poor data entry into their Ticketer system.

If you have a version of the old free BODS tool, they did have a Google MyMaps integration where you pinned your stops on google mymaps and it then listed all of the stop codes for you.

The underlying NAPTAN stop location data is pretty poor as well, the number of stops that are marked as on the wrong side of the road or attached to the nearby side road rather than the main road the bus actually runs down would surprise and it can double or triple the time required to map a route having to get right down to very detailed level to check every stop to ensure you have everything you should and not anything you shouldn't (as it is actually on the other side of the road). The whole thing, data & systems, is a mess and is never quite all set up to work as well as people think it is and it is very easy for errors to creep in because of that but we have to muddle through and deal as best we can.
I agree. It is something that seems to be improving though in some areas as next stop announcements come about, and some operators take a lot more care of their data and are pushing authorities to update NAPTAN.
 

Ken H

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11 Nov 2018
Messages
6,718
Location
N Yorks
...


I agree. It is something that seems to be improving though in some areas as next stop announcements come about, and some operators take a lot more care of their data and are pushing authorities to update NAPTAN.
Does NAPTAN have audio files with the stop names or is that an operator thing? First Leeds serve Coutences Way in Ilkley. Its named after a town in France that Ilkley is twinned with. But the pronciation is dire - somehing like coo-ten-sez. Seems to me computer generated.
 

WibbleWobble

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19 Aug 2022
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.
Does NAPTAN have audio files with the stop names or is that an operator thing? First Leeds serve Coutences Way in Ilkley. Its named after a town in France that Ilkley is twinned with. But the pronciation is dire - somehing like coo-ten-sez. Seems to me computer generated.
Announcements are operator specific - some operators have custom voiceovers specially recorded (I think Transdev use a soap actress on some of their Lancashire services).
 

SCH117X

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27 Nov 2015
Messages
1,972
The last registration on VOSA for the X52 is effective 10/10/22 so the recent rerouting to follow the revised 36 route from Leeds pass Harrogate library (admittably that has not possible due tor road weesk for a good few weeks recently) has never been regsistered.
 

YorkRailFan

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6 Sep 2023
Messages
3,249
Location
York
Connexions has gained another B8RLE Evora, registered RJ74 BNF, formerly of Weavaway who had it registered as P600 LBF. Its wearing the formerly NBC livery and it looks very impressive.

The Citaro registered as BK13 XYF has been re-registered to K300 RSA and has had 'Super13' branding removed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

WKJ has also had its 'Super13' branding removed, see here: https://flic.kr/p/2rmyrnE (Not my photo, credit to original photographer)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Connexions has acquired a former Lothian OmniCity, with registration S40 GHH, still in Lothian colours, it formerly had registration SK06 AHN.
 
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tigerdoyen

Member
Joined
13 Aug 2025
Messages
5
Location
York
Connexions data is done via a Ticketer link and it automatically refreshes upto twice pre day (depending on any changes). They aren't sat there doing manual uploads each week.


Local authorities now have a statutory obligation to maintain Naptan. That came into force at the same time as BODS regulations came in. Enforcement of it is nil but the obligation is there in the hope that one day someone will enforce it. In extreme cases, you can work around this and use 'non naptan stops'. The rights of wrongs of using these is up for debate but it is something that happens.

OTC I agree there are issues there, you can however upload unregistered services to BODS while you await registration numbers. Centrebus/D&G group do this regularly then update the details on Ticketer quickly when the details are known. I don't think the OTC, Naptan nor tenders can be blamed though for the fact Connexions X12 has been registered since Feb 2023 and still doesn't send timetable data to BODS. Not even bodged data, just simply no data. That's 2.5 years late in complying. Can I ask who is to blame for this one BODS, tenders, naptan? I just want to make sure because the jist I am getting is it can't ever possibly be Connexions fault that their data is poor.
Ok so - I have made a conscious effort to try and get to the bottom of some of these problems - as pointes out by 'anonymous user' on ABOD.
X12 reports ABOD shows 0% of journeys recognised. Ticketer can't answer why, so I'm now asking KPMG
X70 only shows 0.2% of journeys recognised on ABOD, Again no-one can answer why. I'm not really sure what you think could do differently here. It all shows nicely on ticketer tracking (and on the ticketer releases to Mytrip for our app and web links.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

They didn't when at Hulleys.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==


That wouldn't surprise me, it's pretty basic stuff. However I suspect these are out of the reach of smaller businesses, I'm wondering if a system tailored to them which is as intuitive to use as possible has a place.
They do now, as despite what some of the threads on here insinuate, we do try our best to stay the right side of legislation.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

No they don't, at least not as part of the standard package, and this is based on the market leader in the segment that my employer uses though in my experience, as you say, many smaller operators just use Word or Excel to produce duty boards or at least all the ones we took over did (though it has been a few years since our last small operator takeover so technology and cloud based systems may have allowed more to move over to basic packages). Some newer entrants undoubtably do, I saw a demonstration of one that appeared to but the scheduling side was much less user friendly than what we currently used (they were more focussed on automatic scheduling but often they don't offer the flexibility to meet specialist requirements as efficiently as a person) so we never got to talking about costs to know how that compared. They may offer a seperate add-on but they are pretty expensive compared to the cost of the base scheduling package due to the map licenses which also means they are more user restricted than the base system. The underlying NAPTAN stop location data is pretty poor as well, the number of stops that are marked as on the wrong side of the road or attached to the nearby side road rather than the main road the bus actually runs down would surprise and it can double or triple the time required to map a route having to get right down to very detailed level to check every stop to ensure you have everything you should and not anything you shouldn't (as it is actually on the other side of the road). The whole thing, data & systems, is a mess and is never quite all set up to work as well as people think it is and it is very easy for errors to creep in because of that but we have to muddle through and deal as best we can.
I schedule our duties using car graphs. Stuart Fillingham (now at EY) and I often joke that we are the only two people in the area left being able to do this, as the scheduling packages continue with their de-skilling of people. I agree with it to a degree, but there has to still be a knowledge for when the systems don't work. Imagine at First or the other large PLC's what would happen if Omnitimes was found to be a Putin spying tool and got outllawed (or more possible that it was hacked and couldn't be used for a period)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Connexions has gained another B8RLE Evora, registered RJ74 BNF, formerly of Weavaway who had it registered as P600 LBF. Its wearing the formerly NBC livery and it looks very impressive.

The Citaro registered as BK13 XYF has been re-registered to K300 RSA and has had 'Super13' branding removed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

WKJ has also had its 'Super13' branding removed, see here: https://flic.kr/p/2rmyrnE (Not my photo, credit to original photographer)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Connexions has acquired a former Lothian OmniCity, with registration S40 GHH, still in Lothian colours, it formerly had registration SK06 AHN.
We also have S60GHH. Both are just for schools
 
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markymark2000

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X12 reports ABOD shows 0% of journeys recognised. Ticketer can't answer why, so I'm now asking KPMG
X70 only shows 0.2% of journeys recognised on ABOD, Again no-one can answer why. I'm not really sure what you think could do differently here. It all shows nicely on ticketer tracking (and on the ticketer releases to Mytrip for our app and web links.
I can't speak on the ABODS stuff or why that isn't linking up properly, but I agree though that it is working on normal BODS now on most, if not all trips.

Ok so - I have made a conscious effort to try and get to the bottom of some of these problems - as pointes out by 'anonymous user' on ABOD.
I've been watching closely and some of your updates recently are sorting out some of the long standing issues with the data, for this I commend you for looking into it all. Whoever this anonymous person is must be helping flag the issues so thank you to them too. It's not perfect but certainly improving, I think it's a shame it took posting on such a public forum for the issues to be looked at. A look back at your previous consumer feedback spreadsheet provided by BODS suggests that feedback was provided previously and wasn't being sorted, but in any case, it's good that time is now being put into making the data correct.

I may be misunderstanding how your website works (and so correct me if I am wrong) but you implied earlier that the website/app was taking it's timetable data from BODS, and if that is the case, your website will be benefitting from more accurate data too so that is good.
 

tigerdoyen

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Joined
13 Aug 2025
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5
Location
York
I can't speak on the ABODS stuff or why that isn't linking up properly, but I agree though that it is working on normal BODS now on most, if not all trips.


I've been watching closely and some of your updates recently are sorting out some of the long standing issues with the data, for this I commend you for looking into it all. Whoever this anonymous person is must be helping flag the issues so thank you to them too. It's not perfect but certainly improving, I think it's a shame it took posting on such a public forum for the issues to be looked at. A look back at your previous consumer feedback spreadsheet provided by BODS suggests that feedback was provided previously and wasn't being sorted, but in any case, it's good that time is now being put into making the data correct.

I may be misunderstanding how your website works (and so correct me if I am wrong) but you implied earlier that the website/app was taking it's timetable data from BODS, and if that is the case, your website will be benefitting from more accurate data too so that is good.
Unfortunately, as I've pointed out - I correct things when I get time - and this is the important bit - when I actually know the are faults. BODS has a reporting system and I correct what I can on there. Much of it is because it can't comprehend that we use driver duties on ticketer rather than bus running boards which they have been sorting out for about two years now...
 

ACBest

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30 Aug 2011
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346
Location
Lincoln
Even if you do use bus running boards on Ticketer, they won’t export to BODS - I should think that’s one of their most requested features by now!
 

Shaw S Hunter

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3,482
Location
Over The Hill
Even if you do use bus running boards on Ticketer, they won’t export to BODS - I should think that’s one of their most requested features by now!
So how does bustimes pick up bus working numbers from Transdev, most of Go Ahead and a fair smattering of other operators, though none in London?
 

Ballyheigue

Member
Joined
11 Sep 2025
Messages
313
Location
Leeds
I just feel sorry for all the small company owners as they don't really have the time to sort all the ins and outs of bus data out yet are expected to. They should be allowed an exemption because like Craig says, he's working shed loads just to keep the company going which clearly is no good for work life balance. As a side note, if it wasn't for the likes of Connexions with their significantly lower overheads and owners willing to step in to do the driving, you wouldn't see those links deemed uneconomical by bigger companies such as the X52! Giving smaller operators breaks from non essential regulation such as timetable tracking data helps them keep going, keep on at them with red tape and you'll soon see more small company owners think sod this, I'm off, Cumbria Classic Coaches probably thought exactly that.
 

SCH117X

Established Member
Joined
27 Nov 2015
Messages
1,972
As a side note, if it wasn't for the likes of Connexions with their significantly lower overheads and owners willing to step in to do the driving, you wouldn't see those links deemed uneconomical by bigger companies such as the X52! .
Would suggest if the X52 ceased its quite likely the extension of the 62 would occur again
 

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