It is a little over 20 years since consumer choice was extended to the bus industry. Here is a little celebration of Sheffield's story.

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/?action=view&current=sd.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/?action=view&current=andrews.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/so.jpg?t=1164288074

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/sr.jpg?t=1164288135

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/nb.jpg?t=1164288178

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/bus.jpg?t=1164288236

From the number of bus rants on SF I’d say the 20 years of privatised buses was anything but a celebration.

From one of the finest bus transport networks in the country to the current mess brought about by Thatcher and de regulation of the buses. Celebration, more like degradation of the bus serivces

Yes, brought in by Thatcher.

"Maintained" by 'New' Labour* (sic).






* Now nine and a half years in office.

Yes, brought in by Thatcher.

"Maintained" by 'New' Labour* (sic).






* Now nine and a half years in office.

Very True!!

Hiow can anyone fault these commentw about our disgraceful bus services. IU've noticed First Mainlkine has cut the cost of fares on some routes - nbut only where there's heavy compettiong from Stagecoach which successfully undercut them and still make mega profits. #

Someone somewehre's got lots to answer for as they're coining it iin

It is a little over 20 years since consumer choice was extended to the bus industry. Here is a little celebration of Sheffield's story.

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/?action=view&current=sd.jpg

http://s32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/?action=view&current=andrews.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/so.jpg?t=1164288074

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/sr.jpg?t=1164288135

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/nb.jpg?t=1164288178

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/Slimsid2000/bus.jpg?t=1164288236


and people are moaning about todays buses being crap

I worked for SYPTE as a bus fitter for ten years, I enjoyed good working conditions, good pay & we did a good job of maintaining Sheffield's fleet of clean & sound buses, until Thatcher put a 'spanner in the works', I chose redundancy & got a decent payoff, from what my friends say who were not lucky enough to take redundancy I made the right choice.
After leaving SYPTE I briefly worked for some of the private bus company's that sprang up because of Thatchers interferance & I was appalled at the decline in working conditions, job satisfaction, the condition of the buses & the buses we were forced to send out in a dangerous condition on a regular basis, urged me to leave the industry altogether.

I worked for SYPTE as a bus fitter for ten years, I enjoyed good working conditions, good pay & we did a good job of maintaining Sheffield's fleet of clean & sound buses, until Thatcher put a 'spanner in the works', I chose redundancy & got a decent payoff, from what my friends say who were not lucky enough to take redundancy I made the right choice.
After leaving SYPTE I briefly worked for some of the private bus company's that sprang up because of Thatchers interferance & I was appalled at the decline in working conditions, job satisfaction, the condition of the buses & the buses we were forced to send out in a dangerous condition on a regular basis, urged me to leave the industry altogether.
I worked in the Stores at that time and eventually went to Amos Road from Queen Road. Its true, things were never the same.......never.

I have always blamed Ken Livingstone for the sorry state of our bus service.
We were ok doing our own thing with the cheap fares etc when he decided to pinch it for London.
It didn't work but got us noticed and that was the end of our good situation.

From one of the finest bus transport networks in the country to the current mess brought about by Thatcher and de regulation of the buses. Celebration, more like degradation of the bus serivces

They only take the p*ss because our loony left council let them.. Stop blaming thatcher for everything!

I worked for SYPTE as a bus fitter for ten years, I enjoyed good working conditions, good pay & we did a good job of maintaining Sheffield's fleet of clean & sound buses, until Thatcher put a 'spanner in the works', I chose redundancy & got a decent payoff, from what my friends say who were not lucky enough to take redundancy I made the right choice.
After leaving SYPTE I briefly worked for some of the private bus company's that sprang up because of Thatchers interferance & I was appalled at the decline in working conditions, job satisfaction, the condition of the buses & the buses we were forced to send out in a dangerous condition on a regular basis, urged me to leave the industry altogether.


Thatcher this, thatcher that...........................................

Thatcher this, thatcher that...........................................

I haven't blamed her holiness...not....I blamed Red Ken

I haven't blamed her holiness...not....I blamed Red Ken

What was it he pinched?

Didn't our Maggs deregulate the buses so that the service couldn't be monopolised like First Mainline do ... er.. I mean SYPTE did .... er......I mean ...... oooer I'm confused! :confused:

I bet the number of people on here, Sid, that'll appreciate the fine lines of those Nationals and that VR are few!

I was all in favour of the "Rate subsidised" bus service and enjoyed the service it provided, but does anyone recollect the " bolshie" attitude of the bus personnel and their "one day wildcat" strikes that led to thousands of ordinary sheffield folk stranded early in the mornings and the roads being "snarled" with cars that the drivers would otherwise have left at home. I agree Thatcher did "sobotage" the bus service, but the "Union's" should take some of the blamefor the demise of our once proud reputation.

Ah, the roll call of dead local bus companies....

Sheaf Line
Don Valley Buses
Sheffield & District
South Riding
Andrews
Sheffield Omnibus
Yorkshire Terrier
Northern bus
Aston Express
Barnsley & District
Yorkshire Traction
Sheffield United Transport (SUT)

South Yorkshire Transport (SYT) lives on as First South Yorkshire
Chesterfield Transport lives on as Stagecoach East Midlands

Yes, brought in by Thatcher.

"Maintained" by 'New' Labour* (sic).






* Now nine and a half years in office.

Well said. I started @ First in 1999 and it went down hill each year until I left though Ill health in 2004 ( Thank God )

heres some old sheff busses:) :

http://www.busphotos.co.uk/SOUTH%20YORKSHIRE%20TRANSPORT-1829-JKW329W-1991.jpg

http://james5570.fotopic.net/p20264660.html

http://james5570.fotopic.net/p12338580.html

What was it he pinched?

Frank Dobson's bottom at a London Labour convention wasn't it.

Oh dear, the slander, the slander.:D :help:

Ah, the roll call of dead local bus companies....

Sheaf Line
Don Valley Buses
Sheffield & District
South Riding
Andrews
Sheffield Omnibus
Yorkshire Terrier
Northern bus
Aston Express
Barnsley & District
Yorkshire Traction
Sheffield United Transport (SUT)

South Yorkshire Transport (SYT) lives on as First South Yorkshire
Chesterfield Transport lives on as Stagecoach East Midlands

Also waht about:

Wigmores
Richardson's Coaches
Mike Groves

They only take the p*ss because our loony left council let them.. Stop blaming thatcher for everything!


Good grief, I've never heard / read the like.

Mrs Thatcher did more damage to this country and this region in particular than any other person in history. (imo) That includes hitler ...

She sold 'us' stuff that we already owned (for some time) and had invested in for centuries - water, gas, electricity, telecommunications, railways, public transport and coal, to name a few.

By 'us' I mean the wealthy. Prices have been hiked, quality has diminished and the mess is almost unfixable. The railways are a mess, energy supplies are complex and transport in sheffield is pathetic and expensive.

Meanwhile the labour party, (the sad f*cks) have done nothing to reverse this decline of community standards - that's why it's unlikely that I will ever vote for them again.

Kerslake is just thatcher in disguise, prettier perhaps, but equally keen to privatise (or 'outsource') everything he can.

The labour party has destroyed what little democracy there is left, our city has little or no leadership and planning is in the hands of Sheffield 'first' for whatever, over which the populus at large has NIL control.

As for the environment - well let just burn everything, that's a good solution.

Sheffield used to be en enlightened city which worked for the benefit of the wider population, now it's got second rate politicians, third rate transport declining educational standards.

Call this a 'moan' if you want. It's a complaint and genuine 'appreciation' of the facts.

To be honest i don't mind how old the bus is, as long as its a good service.

Every day the council reduces the amount of car parking spaces, and it feels like every day First up the prices, is it a partnership or something ?

Near where i live there is a bus stop, this bus stop is particularly exposed to the elements. There used to be a nice OLD bus stop there, took 20 people no probs, and sheltered

Now some-one has decided to erect a new shelter. This thing caters for 4 people, is very exposed to wind and rain, is a terrible design (wastes space) and if you use the seats provided... you cant see the bus coming and it goes past you.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, and i will post more in the appropriate thread when i see it.

But back to the point, if the bus stops were sensible, the prices humane, the buses on time... i wouldn't care if they were 40 years old.

I like the pricing on the back of this bus (http://james5570.fotopic.net/p12338581.html) only wish the monthly ticket was this cheap

Also remember loads of these Eager Beavers (http://james5570.fotopic.net/p14303417.html) flooding our streets particulary on the 52 route