do you think that there should be another bus company in sheffield to compete with first.

yes ! you might get a bloody bus then

Gotta say I live at the terminus for the 52 (Woodhouse) service and there's usually a bus there most of the time so can't complain really.

What does bug me is that it takes so long to get into town - approx 35-40 mins. I wish each alternate bus would go down the Parkway instead of all round the houses. Don't use the bus very much because i get travel sick and all the stop/starting usually means i'm well green by the time we get into town!

Train only takes 10 mins, fab - except there's only one an hour and not reliable.

Yes it would be good to give First a bit more competition in the Sheffield area.You can bet if it did happen then First would find the cash and buses to compete head on and also set up in the rivals own area.This nearly happen in Barnsley when the YorkshireTraction Group were buying up several companies.This is why the Mainline brand became First South Yorkshire after its spending spree of buying out Northern(Wigmores),Sheafline,Don Valley Buses. Looking at the present scene I think Powells look likely to disappear as its fleet looks very poor, TM Travel may develop more services.The one thing I have wondered is that I believe the PTE still own the brand name Booth and Fisher so if it had the cash it could set up again in business.... now that would be interesting!!!! However I get the feeling that the big players in the market(First,Arriva and Stagecoach) have a hush hush agreement you stay off our patch and we will stay off yours on commercial services.

How often has this question passed through my mind?

First have run all the other services off the road (like the pun? Terrible I know but it is late!) by increasing their services and now that they're the only ones they've started ditching services! It's just not on. And I'm so glad I now have my car because I have been waiting half an hour after the due time for a bus.

I have voted - it's about the only thing I can vote for at 17!!

Gotta say I live at the terminus for the 52 (Woodhouse) service and there's usually a bus there most of the time so can't complain really.

Yes but the 52 route is one of the few with competition, Yorkshire Terrier and First.

So really proves the point that having more companies running services is a good thing for price and freq, seems to be from what I've seen in Manchester anyway.

Originally posted by silverknight
Yes it would be good to give First a bit more competition in the Sheffield area.You can bet if it did happen then First would find the cash and buses to compete head on and also set up in the rivals own area.This nearly happen in Barnsley when the YorkshireTraction Group were buying up several companies.This is why the Mainline brand became First South Yorkshire after its spending spree of buying out Northern(Wigmores),Sheafline,Don Valley Buses. Looking at the present scene I think Powells look likely to disappear as its fleet looks very poor, TM Travel may develop more services.The one thing I have wondered is that I believe the PTE still own the brand name Booth and Fisher so if it had the cash it could set up again in business.... now that would be interesting!!!! However I get the feeling that the big players in the market(First,Arriva and Stagecoach) have a hush hush agreement you stay off our patch and we will stay off yours on commercial services.

Booth and Fisher, that's going back a bit isn't it. My dad's first job was at B&F in halfway.

The Registered Office plaque for Booth and Fisher is in the lobby of the Exchange Street office of SYPTE.

However, SYPTE are not allowed to run services; they can ony provide support for tendered services run by other operators. Before deregulation in '86 there was South Yorkshire Transport, which split to become the 'operating company' SYT (which then eventually became Mainline / First) and the Transport Executive itself. The deregulation bill had the effect of splitting the strategic administration of public transport from the operation of the services, and in theory made competition easier. Hmmmm.....not a good move from the doctrinaire free marketeers of Thatcherland!

Joe

Joe the thing that puzzels me is why did the PTE keep the Booth & Fisher brand name when it set up the separate bus operation South Yorkshire's Transport Limited under the Bus deregulation act which later became Mainline Ltd when it sold it? You would have thought it would have sold it or merged it into the then SYT Ltd as the Pte had bought out several Doncaster Independents which have gone into transport history.
The only thing which springs to mind is does the PTE/Booth and Fisher still own Halfway Garage which was B&F HQ and have leased it to First?

Originally posted by silverknight
Looking at the present scene I think Powells look likely to disappear as its fleet looks very poor

I'm not so sure, I think Powells core business is coach hire and there is nothing wrong with their coaches. Perhaps once the bus business has grown a bit they may buy newer vehicles.

Originally posted by silverknight
However I get the feeling that the big players in the market(First,Arriva and Stagecoach) have a hush hush agreement you stay off our patch and we will stay off yours on commercial services.

What about National Express bus division? They are looking at growing and looking out for acquisitions - they currently have Travel West Midlands, Travel Coventry, Travel Dundee, more recently Travel London (they bought the failing Connex bus company to create that one) so who fancies the creation of Travel South Yorkshire?

Who would they buy out for that one though....?

Originally posted by silverknight
Joe the thing that puzzels me is why did the PTE keep the Booth & Fisher brand name when it set up the separate bus operation South Yorkshire's Transport Limited under the Bus deregulation act which later became Mainline Ltd when it sold it? You would have thought it would have sold it or merged it into the then SYT Ltd as the Pte had bought out several Doncaster Independents which have gone into transport history.
The only thing which springs to mind is does the PTE/Booth and Fisher still own Halfway Garage which was B&F HQ and have leased it to First?

It's a damn good question!

My next door neighbour who works for Mainline asked me this as well!

I think tomorrow I'm going to mail the legal department when I get in to the office and see if anyone there knows!

Joe

Yes Andy C I forgot about the National Express Group in my list of big players. I would guess if Yorkshire Traction Group get any more warnings off the VOSA about its poor maintenance of its Barnsley bus fleet it may sell up(as a whole or broken up into its separate divisions). Mind you I was flicking through a bus mag at the railway station last month and there was a feature on First having had warnings on a couple of its bus divisions regarding poor maintenance last year and the possible action of the VOSA cutting the number of buses it can have on its local licence. So dear readers this is another factor we have to take into account when cuts in services happen.

Originally posted by Andy C
so who fancies the creation of Travel South Yorkshire?

Who would they buy out for that one though....? More like Travel Sheffield...

Right, I'm annoyed, very annoyed... I went happily to B&Q on Queen's Road getting wood and screws for a new set of shelves.

firstly, the bus down form Bradway was 12 minutes late (or 8 minutes early) as it showed up at 1412 instead of 1400 or 1420. So that was 20 minutes waiting... I get my 8 quid of ripped off 7-day Saver.

I get my gear, look like a tourist not knowing where to find swords...

I go to the bus stop outside B&Q, happy of my new acquisitions and how annoying me banging in the walls is going to annoy the neighbours ;)
A 53 comes after about 10 mIns wait.

"Sorry I don't think I can let you in"
"Why's that ?"
"Your pieces of wood are too long"
"I beg your pardon ?"
"Naa I can't let you in"
"You what ?"
I get out walking backwards due to the indeed lopng piece sof wood I was holding. I turn around, bang 'em a bit along the door frame.
The buses departs leaving me out.
He stops the bus, and:
"Why do you kick my bus ?"
"I didn't kick your bus"
"You effing something-head, you want me to call the police"
"If you want"
"You something-head (again)"
"Don't insult me, I paid for my bus pass, let me in, I can't walk back home with this !"

I did walk... 20 mins fast paced walk, while that numpty of an insulting bus driver was stuck in the traffic jam... He passed me about 5 times, me with a huge grin on my face, him not looking at me.
He only overtook me on Heeley Bridge.

Basically, I think that I'm pretty sure that I want him, and his company of incompete and rude personnel to die in hell for all I care. Next week I'll get a 7 pound Yorkshire Terrier bus pass or a TravelMaster.
I was unable to get the bus' number as they taken off the 3 digit numbers away from above the front windscreen.

:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant:

I am on their pink website sending them a complaint which they will no doubt ignore.

Originally posted by Captain_Scarlet
More like Travel Sheffield...

Right, I'm annoyed, very annoyed... I went happily to B&Q on Queen's Road getting wood and screws for a new set of shelves.

firstly, the bus down form Bradway was 12 minutes late (or 8 minutes early) as it showed up at 1412 instead of 1400 or 1420. So that was 20 minutes waiting... I get my 8 quid of ripped off 7-day Saver.

I get my gear, look like a tourist not knowing where to find swords...

I go to the bus stop outside B&Q, happy of my new acquisitions and how annoying me banging in the walls is going to annoy the neighbours ;)
A 53 comes after about 10 mIns wait.

"Sorry I don't think I can let you in"
"Why's that ?"
"Your pieces of wood are too long"
"I beg your pardon ?"
"Naa I can't let you in"
"You what ?"
I get out walking backwards due to the indeed lopng piece sof wood I was holding. I turn around, bang 'em a bit along the door frame.
The buses departs leaving me out.
He stops the bus, and:
"Why do you kick my bus ?"
"I didn't kick your bus"
"You effing something-head, you want me to call the police"
"If you want"
"You something-head (again)"
"Don't insult me, I paid for my bus pass, let me in, I can't walk back home with this !"

I did walk... 20 mins fast paced walk, while that numpty of an insulting bus driver was stuck in the traffic jam... He passed me about 5 times, me with a huge grin on my face, him not looking at me.
He only overtook me on Heeley Bridge.

Basically, I think that I'm pretty sure that I want him, and his company of incompete and rude personnel to die in hell for all I care. Next week I'll get a 7 pound Yorkshire Terrier bus pass or a TravelMaster.
I was unable to get the bus' number as they taken off the 3 digit numbers away from above the front windscreen.

:rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant:

I am on their pink website sending them a complaint which they will no doubt ignore.

For future reference the fleet number is on every corner of the bus.

Originally posted by tango2
For future reference the fleet number is on every corner of the bus.

it's a five number at the rear and front of the bus and is inside only on mainline buses though.

for example 30771

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Captain_Scarlet
[B]More like Travel Sheffield...


why travel sheffield?
what about the rest of south yorkshire?

personally i think that the council should take over the bus services in south yorkshire and have cheap ticket's and good offers on.

i think taht a new major bus company should come to sheffield that is not already operating here such as arriva or as andy c said the ncp ones stagecoach we already know what there like and there not that good for keeping to timetables.

I think a bus company that knows where Stannington is would be cool, by Stannington I don't just mean the estates such as the Hall Park and the Liberty, but the REAL Stannington above the Sportsman.

Originally posted by Hels
Gotta say I live at the terminus for the 52 (Woodhouse) service and there's usually a bus there most of the time so can't complain really.

What does bug me is that it takes so long to get into town - approx 35-40 mins. I wish each alternate bus would go down the Parkway instead of all round the houses. Don't use the bus very much because i get travel sick and all the stop/starting usually means i'm well green by the time we get into town!

Train only takes 10 mins, fab - except there's only one an hour and not reliable.

if you walk down the hill to woodhouse mill you can catch the 23,23a,23b and the 24 which go down the parkway and run at approx every 15 minutes only takes 17 minutes to get to town but once in town only stops at ponds forge and bus station depends what part of town you want.

Originally posted by millington
why travel sheffield?
what about the rest of south yorkshire? The other large towns in SY can have thezir own bus company... There isn't a particular need to have a county wide company...
I do'nt really care what happens in roth, Dony or Dingleland, as long as Sheff gets the bus service it deserves and I don't get insulted by drivers !

First Group have announced another brilliant idea today by their Chief Executive. They plan to extend their bus services in deprived areas of the UK with 'rock bottom fares' using old buses that otherwise they say would have been taken out of service (spin for scrapped)They mention areas like Leicester,Manchester etc although no mention is made of South Yorkshire but I bet they will drop some off in South Yorkshire at the first opportunity. The news is in the Guardian newspaper among-st others.

Never had a problem with either on them on a personal level so I'm fine for things to stay as they are.

Stagecoach have allready rolled out this concept in cities such as Manchester and Glasgow, under the Magic Bus brand.

Basically they are big double decker buses that run really frequent with cheaper fares, and they tend to be the older vehicles.

Travel West Midlands buses, owned by National Express Group, have also got similar initiatives in Birmingham with a couple of routes at opposite ends of the scale - one of the routes which take in a lot of council estates has cheaper than normal buses running really frequently, and another route which comes from wealthy suburbs has been made limited stop with high quality vehicles with comfy seats, and a premium fare is charged on these.

not necessarily a brand new servcie, just an improvement of the current one offered.

Originally posted by tango2
For future reference the fleet number is on every corner of the bus. AND IT SHOULD BE INBIDE !!!! as it was !!

RIGHT ! This morning, after carefully checking the bus number (thganks to about 50 posts telling the number is outside on the corner)

Bus service 20, 61168 decided to drive through the pedestrian crossing red light on Eyre Street after turning left onto it from Moorfoot.

Stagecoach have allready rolled out this concept in cities such as Manchester and Glasgow, under the Magic Bus brand. although the concept is great ( and as far as I'm concerned, just scrap ALL new buses and only use old ones with lower fares !!! ) but these Magic buses smell like the entire engine has a bit of dirhea and goes out of the exhaust pipe.

A new one for the sake of...

Quarter to 11 ish, 60019 (20A) decided to leave me stranded at my bus stop and ignored me although I was at a bus stop and so was the bus.

Almost as many incidents as bus trips ... I can almost find you something on each and every bus I take, a bloody disgrace I've mailed to SYPTE and First (again)

Originally posted by d71146
First Group have announced another brilliant idea today by their Chief Executive. They plan to extend their bus services in deprived areas of the UK with 'rock bottom fares' using old buses that otherwise they say would have been taken out of service (spin for scrapped)They mention areas like Leicester,Manchester etc although no mention is made of South Yorkshire but I bet they will drop some off in South Yorkshire at the first opportunity. The news is in the Guardian newspaper among-st others.

Your right there.

I remeber we had some buses come from Northampton that was 24 years old and never seen a hill in there life.

yes it is then at least the bus fares might get reduced and proper services operating.:mad: