Quote from Guardian Online:
Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg complains that private-sector bus monoplies in South Yorkshire chop and change routes and fares "on erratic whim", unlike the regulated buses of London. "It's something we keep under review - I'm afraid I can't saying anything more at this stage", the PM says.

Rather than rant about bus services (there are plenty of threads about that in the forums) what do people think about the politics involved?

Do our councillors and MPs have enough determination to do something about the whole mess?

What do you think Tony Blair meant when he responded to the question?

Meh, Blair won't do owt... He's already proved himself incapable of tackling issues people actually give a hoot about :loopy:

If it's not in Iraq or the US then he doesn't give 2 ****s about it.

Originally posted by Rich
Meh, Blair won't do owt... He's already proved himself incapable of tackling issues people actually give a hoot about :loopy:

If it's not in Iraq or the US then he doesn't give 2 ****s about it.

You forgot to mention him being up Bush's posterior! :o ;)

I think I read in the paper recently that Blair had indicated that re-regulation (my favoured option) was still a possibility, but I really can't see that happening. New Labour and the Middle England voters would see it as too much of a backward step towards public ownership.

Don't see why London should be treated anty differently to other metropolitan areas. This govt.'s transport policy has been a shambles, - epitomised by putting two-jags in charge at the outset. With a clown like him in charge we were never going to get anything other than a farce :rolleyes:

The London franchise system seems to work well, where TFL specify the routes, timetable and fares, and each route is put out to tender.

In addition to having that system, a lot of investment has been made by both the local authority in terms of subsidising extra buses, affordable fares and new ticketing methods, and the bus companies in terms of new low floor buses.

London is the only City in the UK where numbers of bus passengers is in growth.

It's about time our local mp's start to fight this fight for the people of sheffield & south yorkshire instead of cap in hand hoping for the next ministers post

I complained to worse bus when they removed the service that took my kids to school. They offered the alternative at 8.30 which would have made them late for school. Bus services are are lottery, in some regions they are good but everyone in Sheffield drives because the buses can not be relied on. I say people in Westminster should be invited to come and see what its like. It would certainly stop Ken Livingstone moaning about london transport because compared to Sheffield they have definitely got it made.

i was told on saturday that first are going to put certain fares up again in january can u imagine the uproar watch this space

Originally posted by ormester
i was told on saturday that first are going to put certain fares up again in january can u imagine the uproar watch this space

And service ''revisions'' to boot according to rumour control.

Just had a look at the VOSA site and First have registered the following changes for the Sheffield Area>>
Tesco Bus (Abbeydale) service to City and Herdings to be cancelled from end of January and also M29 to be cancelled
Powells has timetable changes planned for x7 82 and 286

First are also withdrawing service X18. This will leave the only bus to the Peak District via Abbeydale Rd/Baslow Road as the 213, operated by TM Travel once a day!

Other changes
Stagecoach - services 53 and 253 sees a timetable change
Barnsley & District - service X31 sees a route change
Hunts - service 20 sees a timetable change

Originally posted by ormester
i was told on saturday that first are going to put certain fares up again in january can u imagine the uproar watch this space

They better not put my 40p disabled bus pass rate up :mad:

Trouble is, none of the other bus companies go to Town from Stannington, so I'm stuck with Worst Mainline, FFS! :rant:

Originally posted by Rich
They better not put my 40p disabled bus pass rate up :mad:

Trouble is, none of the other bus companies go to Town from Stannington, so I'm stuck with Worst Mainline, FFS! :rant:

I think the 40p rate is set by the SYPTE, not First, so don't panic. If it was set by First, it would be at least £1 by now!

Originally posted by Rich
They better not put my 40p disabled bus pass rate up :mad:

Trouble is, none of the other bus companies go to Town from Stannington, so I'm stuck with Worst Mainline, FFS! :rant:

South Yorkshire PTE decide how much the concessionary fare is, not the bus operators. However as the bus companies operating costs and fares go up, it costs the SYPTE more to subsidise your 40p fare, so if they cannot afford to continue to support the fare that cheap, they will put it up.

Anyway, if you hate First that much, you could always travel with Yorkshire Terrier instead, however you will have to change at Hillsborough and it will cost you more!

Originally posted by Andy C
South Yorkshire PTE decide how much the concessionary fare is, not the bus operators. However as the bus companies operating costs and fares go up, it costs the SYPTE more to subsidise your 40p fare, so if they cannot afford to continue to support the fare that cheap, they will put it up.

Anyway, if you hate First that much, you could always travel with Yorkshire Terrier instead, however you will have to change at Hillsborough and it will cost you more!

And that's where the problem lies, it'll cost me more to get a Terrier to Hillsborough and then either get another bus or a Tram to Town... If they did a ticket that you could use on both the bus and the Tram then it wouldn't be a problem as I'd only have to pay once, but alas, they don't :(

Originally posted by Andy C
In addition to having that system, a lot of investment has been made by both the local authority in terms of subsidising extra buses, affordable fares and new ticketing methods, and the bus companies in terms of new low floor buses.Let's not go there ... Oyster :gag: :gag:

If the buses get "re-regulated" who will foot the bill? & how much will the directors of Wosrt mainline get??