Witnessed this happening more than a few times in Burton and I really don't understand how come from a personal point of view; from a management side obviously you want to make money, but as a human that's kind of just a jerk move
Maybe the bus behind flashes it's lights to let the Arriva bus out, and vice versa.
I can't say I've seen that happen. Usually see the arriva pulling out just before the scheduled departure time, just to anger the trent driver I imagine. After all, they need those passengers somehow! Alternatively, in Loughborough today I saw a skylink Derby flashing an arriva 127 to be let out, however he flashed multiple times and the arriva did not notice / did not care. Maybe that driver wasn't in the mood for it!
May just be arriva's practices though remember...
Which street did this happen on?
Baxter Gate!
Well, that's a bit low! I don't think the 127 is a match for the Skylink. The only reason I still predominantly use the 127 to get into Leicester is because the Skylink is nearly a mile from my house.
Ah right. There weren't many people on the 127 (was an E400MMC), and a Solo wasn't far behind either... The skylinks I saw were very busy (practically full and standing), but there were a couple of open days at Loughborough University over the last week...
Just a shame that Trentbarton messed up the joint operation, by failing to regularly allocate the 2 buses required. All of this silliness could have been avoided.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Skylink's frequency was increased again. It definitely looks quite lucrative nowadays, not least being twice as frequent as it was ten years ago.
Same here. I don't travel down to Loughborough as much as I should; however, every time I do, it's always full and standing pretty much. I've never had a quiet trip!
I remember it being half hourly with the plaxton centros shaking you half to death, Skylink would probably be better with deckers before another uplift.
Question though. What will happen to bus loadings when the £2 fare ends? Will people use the train? Will the fare on the Arriva 127 be cheaper than the Kinchbus Skylink? Will people drive and use the Park and Ride? If only we had a crystal ball.
I would think Arriva Derby got a lot of passenger feedback about the X38. It certainly seems to have influenced their decision to make changes. You rightly say that Trentbarton did fail to regularly allocate the two buses required. Some days there was periods where there was no bus. My, the times they were in A garage under repair. I have to say, I can well see why Arriva have done what they have, a D running their's from the bus station is a real bonus...This will show when bad weather comes. But, I suspect this is far more than Arriva competing with Trentbarton on the X38. It gives Arriva passengers better connectivity, better value travel. It also gives potential to increase market share to the Royal Hospital. I don't mean take that business off Trentbarton, more from taxis and the private car. Ideal just as some of the main car parks are closing for around two years for a multi storey car park to be built. Will people be influenced by a really frequent reliable bus service or drive and park off site, and potentially missing a much needed hospital appointment. But you mention an unreliable TB X38 service. I'd add in a long period where both the Mickleover and V1 were unreliable too ..It doesn't take much to turn people off travelling by bus. For many, they have to walk past their car, or just call up and Uber etc. It takes one hell of a lot to get people to go back to the bus, especially if it is perceived to be unreliable.
I would definitely use a crystal ball for other purposes before this! I reckon ridership will drop across the country.
I imagine for many, there is a trade off price versus speed .
I'm curious to know the spread of opinions on this subject.
I was pondering that myself. Abbey Lane seems a bit underserved by buses. I think it would make sense to redirect the 127 via Abbey Lane and reinstate the separate full service 2 from Loughborough to Leicester via Belgrave.
I've thought a while about what you said, and thought about journeys I've made. Mostly train. For example Derby to Chesterfield. Maybe 20 minutes on the train, nearer 80 on the bus. So train won. One day, train Derby to Matlock, then bus to Chesterfield then train back. One day, train to Chesterfield, bus to Bakewell, bus to Buxton, bus to Stockport, then train home.
Didn't the X38 had a weird situation were some own operator tickets, wasn't valid on the other operator when it was a joint service?
Well, if I recall, at one time an Arriva day ticket (certain version) was valid on Trentbarton X38 and vice versa.. I think that stopped when Arriva was in competition with Your bus, and dropped their fares Inc day tickets.. At that point, I stopped using the X38 as it was harder to travel with a friend who had the other ticket. Add in then the 20 minutes frequency that was Arriva, Arriva, TB, TB and it was easier to not use the bus.
So long as revenue exceeds costs, it will be fine.
I know I would only travel with trentbarton as the buses are so much nicer, the Arriva buses are absolutely horrible. Reliability is more important than this though- as long as trentbarton's is Reliable it will definitely succeed over Arriva.
I prefer a nicely spec'd Volvo over a bare-bones VDL any day!
I saw the X38 for a period in Burton last Saturday. Loadings were pretty much evens stevens between the two operators, but neither was sustainable long term, particularly with the heavier cost trentbarton are carrying.
I predict a combined 15 minute service long term, every 30 from each operator. That may, just about be viable.
And probably both from the bus station. Difficult to tell loadings in Derby, unless you are around Curzon Street. Does it drop off in Bold Lane? I saw an Arriva X38 approaching Derby Bus Station and there was at least 12 on then, and a decent age spread. I've caught an Arriva VDL, and no issues whatsoever. It was there, it was clean and it was on time, so I caught it (as did two Trentbarton staff to Victoria Street). Is it this weekend, the car parks close at the Royal? That will live it up.
Very valid point about the cost base. One will certainly be higher than the other. The question is, is the Arriva X38 taking passengers off other Wellglade routes? That might be down to better connectivity. The overall number of passengers might have increased, due to frequency and perceived reliability. One day the road works might even be finished.
I think having gone through a long period of unreliability in many bus companies, and indeed, with the current £2 fare, most people would just catch the first bus. Unless of course, they are restricted by having a specific day ticket
And in theory, someone coming from Burton is more likely to have an operator-specific ticket for Trentbarton than Arriva, given that Arriva have no other bus services in Burton-upon-Trent, whereas Trentbarton still have two others.
