How clean are your buses?

[anti-pacer]

In Wakefield most of our services are run by Arriva. I have never seen dirtier buses in service. When I say "dirty" I'm talking about the mess that passengers make (tickets, cans, bottles, wrappings, food even). I often get a Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket and I'm always impressed by how clean buses are down there. The only dirty buses I see down there are Arriva, again. Trent Barton for example are near on spotless, partly due to in-service litter picks at Nottingham Broadmarsh and Derby bus stations.

Comparing Arriva with buses up here, well it's mixed. First are generally cleaner, but Transdev I find the cleanest.

Elsewhere, I've been on some pretty dirty buses in London, Glasgow, and a few times in Coventry, where strangely in Birmingham they seem clean.

What's the situation like where you are?

 

[Strathclyder]

Coming from Glasgow myself and being a frequent passenger of First, I find First Glasgow's vehicles to be quite clean most of the time. Some particular vehicles are worse than others for discarded tickets/newspapers, rubbish and the like, but their fleet is generally quite well-kept overall.

As far as the other major Glasgow operators are concerned (Stagecoach, McGill's & West Coast Motors), their buses have generally been clean and well-kept whenever I've used them, W.C.M/Glasgow Citybus in particular.

 

[anti-pacer]

Coming from Glasgow myself and being a frequent passenger of First, I find First Glasgow's vehicles to be quite clean most of the time. Some particular vehicles are worse than others for discarded tickets/newspapers, rubbish and the like, but their fleet is generally quite well-kept overall.

As far as the other major Glasgow operators are concerned (Stagecoach, McGill's & West Coast Motors), their buses have generally been clean and well-kept whenever I've used them, W.C.M/Glasgow Citybus in particular.

It was a long time ago when I last used a bus in Glasgow. 2009 in fact.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Arriva MK's fleet is filthy. Ground in dirt, unrepaired exterior and interior damage etc showing a complete lack of care and attention to detail.

OTOH I find Stagecoach are obsessively good at ensuring a quality appearance.

 

[anti-pacer]

Arriva MK's fleet is filthy. Ground in dirt, unrepaired exterior and interior damage etc showing a complete lack of care and attention to detail.

OTOH I find Stagecoach are obsessively good at ensuring a quality appearance.

Are they kept clean by passengers though Neil?

 

[cf111]

Stagecoach in the Highlands' coach fleet is filthy: the seats are normally covered in ingrained dirt and the smell of urine often accompanies you on the journey, the bus fleet tends to be better.

I had the pleasure of a Sheil Buses operated coach on the 917 Scottish CityLink service from Inverness to Portree and it was spotless, the driver was an absolute credit to the company as well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Are they kept clean by passengers though Neil?

There is surprisingly little litter - that problem is much more pronounced in London. The issue is ground-in dirt and dust all over the bus (and poor state of repair generally). For example thick dust on windowsills, grubby seats with non-matching covers etc. It seems clear that the buses are not cleaned daily or even weekly in most cases, or if they are it's a quick mop out with no attention to detail at all.

 

[J-2739]

Buses here in Barnsley are disgusting. Tickets, ripped up newspaper, chewing gum everywhere, the lot. Even the new E400 MMCs are pretty grubby now, with one even having someone's mucus scrubbed on the headrest! :-x

On the other hand, London buses are so clean from my experience that I can have my KFC on the floor!

(slight exaggeration, but...)

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Not much better in Huddersfield where you'll find mushed up newpaper, discarded bottles / cups, tickets chucked everwhere and the thing being an absolute dump. Some buses are worse than others but one thing that I'd love to see would be the flytipper(s) - as that is what they are, being forced to clean up every bus in the local area - they'd soon realise that there are others beside themselves.

Maybe doing away with the freebie rags and tickets for single journeys could be the way to go - as eventually everyone will have a smartcard.

 

[anti-pacer]

Not much better in Huddersfield where you'll find mushed up newpaper, discarded bottles / cups, tickets chucked everwhere and the thing being an absolute dump. Some buses are worse than others but one thing that I'd love to see would be the flytipper(s) - as that is what they are, being forced to clean up every bus in the local area - they'd soon realise that there are others beside themselves.

Maybe doing away with the freebie rags and tickets for single journeys could be the way to go - as eventually everyone will have a smartcard.

Would you say there is a North/South divide on this subject?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Buses here in Barnsley are disgusting. Tickets, ripped up newspaper, chewing gum everywhere, the lot. Even the new E400 MMCs are pretty grubby now, with one even having someone's mucus scrubbed on the headrest! :-x

On the other hand, London buses are so clean from my experience that I can have my KFC on the floor!

(slight exaggeration, but...)

I have found mixed scenes in London. Some buses very clean, some littered.

 

[J-2739]

I have found mixed scenes in London. Some buses very clean, some littered.

I'll be fair on Yorkshire, as they don't have the paperless Oyster card that London has.

Much of my bus travels in London were in the Southeast as well (da hood ) back in 2010, especially on the 177, 436, 63 and 53, so I probably wasn't trying well!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I reckon freebie papers (any papers) probably have 10 years at most.

 

[ivanhoe]

In Loughborough, the local operator's buses (Kinch) are usually clean but I find many, but not all ,of Arrivas buses are full of detritus, particularly from about tea time onwards. They tend to be on the longer distance routes from Leicester to Shepshed/Coalville. They all have fast turn around times but really the fault lies with passengers. It's not too hard to put cartons and newspapers in bins when you get off. To be honest, it's just as bad on trains, particularly non inter city routes.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Would you say there is a North/South divide on this subject?

I think there is, as when I've used Compass in West Sussex or even First WoE in both Bristol and in Wiltshire I've found that the buses that I used were clean. Where as back up north there's all sorts of crap being left behind.

 

[TrainfanBen]

Elsewhere, I've been on some pretty dirty buses in London, Glasgow, and a few times in Coventry, where strangely in Birmingham they seem clean.

In the West Midlands, I think Centro/TfWM incentivise operators to keep buses tidy while in service, I find generally buses to be fairly clean and tidy here in Coventry.

 

[507021]

Generally they're alright around here, not really had any complaints.

The worst I've seen is empty boxes and drinks from a KFC (or similar) meal left all over the back of a bus, that really was disgusting. I raised it with the driver who wasn't best pleased about it, because it meant he had to change to a different bus so that one could go back the depot for cleaning.

 

[anti-pacer]

I think there is, as when I've used Compass in West Sussex or even First WoE in both Bristol and in Wiltshire I've found that the buses that I used were clean. Where as back up north there's all sorts of crap being left behind.

In fairness I have seen some littered First buses in Bristol, but yeah I think it is worse up here.

I wonder why though.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In Loughborough, the local operator's buses (Kinch) are usually clean but I find many, but not all ,of Arrivas buses are full of detritus, particularly from about tea time onwards. They tend to be on the longer distance routes from Leicester to Shepshed/Coalville. They all have fast turn around times but really the fault lies with passengers. It's not too hard to put cartons and newspapers in bins when you get off. To be honest, it's just as bad on trains, particularly non inter city routes.

I used to use the 126/7 routes from Mountsorrel. I never remember them being dirty, or the 5's when I lived in Syston, and the 158's when I lived in Earl Shllton. This was between 2007 and 2012 though so maybe they're not as clean now.

Saying that, the dirtiest buses I've seen down there recently were Arriva buses, in Derby and Uttoxeter.

 

[sk688]

Here in Harrow - Pinner ( my neck of the woods )

Arriva London ( Watford ) fleet is decent , the 16 plate buses are clean and lovely ,the 11 Plate (E200) and 08 plate ( E200 ) are also good inside but the 10,59 (B9TL) and 08 plate buses rattle like hell , and are terrible internally , with the 08 plate E400 in a shocking condition , with jaded upholstery and old Arriva colours . The 55 , 59 and 10 plate buses need a refurb , but not too bad

Metroline ( Harrow Weald ) . The 16/66 plate buses are already beginning to get dirty externally , but clean inside . The 52,03,54 plate buses are horrid inside and out , as well as being extremely noisy .

RATP Soveriegn ( Harrow ) The 11 Plate E200s are lovely , well maintained and recently refurbed , like the 09 plate E200 . 13 Plate and 65 plate B5LH also clean and well maintained . Probably the best maintained buses .

Overall order would be : RATP Soveriegn , Metroline , Arriva

No Stagecoach , Tower Transit , Go-Ahead or Red Arrow etc round here though and First London are long gone

 

[anti-pacer]

Here in Harrow - Pinner ( my neck of the woods )

Arriva London ( Watford ) fleet is decent , the 16 plate buses are clean and lovely ,the 11 Plate (E200) and 08 plate ( E200 ) are also good inside but the 10,59 (B9TL) and 08 plate buses rattle like hell , and are terrible internally , with the 08 plate E400 in a shocking condition , with jaded upholstery and old Arriva colours . The 55 , 59 and 10 plate buses need a refurb , but not too bad

Metroline ( Harrow Weald ) . The 16/66 plate buses are already beginning to get dirty externally , but clean inside . The 52,03,54 plate buses are horrid inside and out , as well as being extremely noisy .

RATP Soveriegn ( Harrow ) The 11 Plate E200s are lovely , well maintained and recently refurbed , like the 09 plate E200 . 13 Plate and 65 plate B5LH also clean and well maintained . Probably the best maintained buses .

Overall order would be : RATP Soveriegn , Metroline , Arriva

No Stagecoach , Tower Transit , Go-Ahead or Red Arrow etc round here though and First London are long gone

I think that maybe Northerners are just dirtier as it seems a have the most littered buses.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

In fairness I have seen some littered First buses in Bristol, but yeah I think it is worse up here.

I wonder why though.

I think it might be down on how some people treat their local area, as someone else has said on the thread that buses in Barnsley were filthy - this could be down to how the local kids have been brought up not to look after the area in which they live, this habit is then passed onto the next generation who in turn will no doubt pass it onto the next and before you know it the local buses have become a mobile household waste site.

On a late night journey on the 363 that I took in the summer (a single deck no doubt) the near seating footwell was covered in bits of half eaten unwanted kebab or burger, mushed in chips and a discarded can that had been stamped on complete with a ruined copy of the Metro that has been stepped on - needless to say the bus had slowly turned into a bio-hazard.

 

[Bletchleyite]

On a late night journey on the 363 that I took in the summer (a single deck no doubt) the near seating footwell was covered in bits of half eaten unwanted kebab or burger, mushed in chips and a discarded can that had been stamped on complete with a ruined copy of the Metro that has been stepped on - needless to say the bus had slowly turned into a bio-hazard.

Can't say I ever saw than in MK - it is simply a lack of basic dusting and mopping that makes our buses get so filthy inside.

The outsides aren't much better - often mucky and many dented panels.

It shouts loudly "we're going to get your money anyway, we don't care". Yet that attitude will get nobody out of their car in a town where the car is king. If we want to get more people on buses in MK, it needs a Trent Barton type of attitude - make it really, really good and publicise it well.

And sweep the floor. Please.

FWIW, I noticed the same effect on the Conwy Valley 150 last week. It wasn't just a bit worn out, which I can sort-of accept when a refurb is due soon - it was filthy - not with passengers' litter, simply with nobody having been bothered to clean it properly.

Yet LM's 350s are always spotless give or take passenger litter at times (and how worn the /1s are getting - but again that's because they are due a refurb). Why can they do it but others can't? They've got a lot of units to clean. Is there a corporate attitude problem at Arriva? I can't help but get that feeling - XC gives a similar feeling of "we don't give a stuff".

 

[anti-pacer]

I think it might be down on how some people treat their local area, as someone else has said on the thread that buses in Barnsley were filthy - this could be down to how the local kids have been brought up not to look after the area in which they live, this habit is then passed onto the next generation who in turn will no doubt pass it onto the next and before you know it the local buses have become a mobile household waste site.

On a late night journey on the 363 that I took in the summer (a single deck no doubt) the near seating footwell was covered in bits of half eaten unwanted kebab or burger, mushed in chips and a discarded can that had been stamped on complete with a ruined copy of the Metro that has been stepped on - needless to say the bus had slowly turned into a bio-hazard.

What I don't get is litter in Birmingham and London is shocking in parts but public transport by and part remains clean. Despite living 10 miles from Barnsley I don't know it that well so don't know what its areas are like. Are ALL buses bad or just some?

Transdev in Keighley are generally clean by the way.

 

[sk688]

What I don't get is litter in Birmingham and London is shocking in parts but public transport by and part remains clean.

You've obviously not used the Bakerloo line , then

 

[anti-pacer]

You've obviously not used the Bakerloo line , then

I have but I must admit, it's probably one of the least used lines for me. When I lived in Banbury I used it all the time to get to Marylebone.

I think the tube has got cleaner though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

With regard to Arriva in Yorkshire, Heckmondwike depot seem more house-proud than Wakefield (both can be compared between Wakey and Dewsbury as 268A is a Hecky route whereas 126/127 is Wakefield- both are "MAX" routes). Likewise there's a big difference between how clean a First bus from Halifax depot is compared to Huddersfield. The big problem though, is the local kids. I try my best to avoid being on buses between 3 and 4pm so that I'm not caught in the crossfire of a chip-throwing battle!

 

[sk688]

The bakerloo is pretty disgusting with the manky seats , state of disrepair and graffiti on the trains , despite the refurb which has improved them somewhat , unreformed sets are horrid . Central or Jubilee are much better , hell even the 73s on the Picaddily are better ( assuming they are running of course )

 

[anti-pacer]

With regard to Arriva in Yorkshire, Heckmondwike depot seem more house-proud than Wakefield (both can be compared between Wakey and Dewsbury as 268A is a Hecky route whereas 126/127 is Wakefield- both are "MAX" routes). Likewise there's a big difference between how clean a First bus from Halifax depot is compared to Huddersfield. The big problem though, is the local kids. I try my best to avoid being on buses between 3 and 4pm so that I'm not caught in the crossfire of a chip-throwing battle!

Do they drivers not intervene when chips are being thrown about?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Do they drivers not intervene when chips are being thrown about?

Most drivers are probably scared of intervening. And bus companies tell them not to leave the cab, to protect themselves (and the takings).

 

[GatwickDepress]

Arriva MK's fleet is filthy. Ground in dirt, unrepaired exterior and interior damage etc showing a complete lack of care and attention to detail.

To be honest I think it depends on the routes. The Sapphire-branded Wright Pulsars used on the 5/6 routes tend to be better maintained than the Mercedes-Benz Citaros on the 300, which themselves are substantially better maintained than whatever they drag out of the garage for the 4 and 14. I've noticed a couple of buses from Telford have arrived which tend to be used on the 8 and 1 services. They're currently in a great condition - but for how long...

Stagecoach seem to vary wildly depending on division. Stagecoach in Hastings were fairly awful for cleanliness until they got their new buses. They seem to have a bit more pride in the fleet now.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The 4 and 7 are my local routes - we get the absolute dross on the 4, but even the electric buses on the 7 get dirty in places (like dust on the windowsills) that makes it clear that Arriva really do not give a monkey's.

I don't like the Sapphire concept at all, it is horribly cheap and chavvy compared with Stagecoach Gold, but suspect they look a bit cleaner because leather/fake leather seats are easier to clean.

The 300 is the Council's prestige route, so I suspect the contract mandates higher standards.