nohands

Yet more useful information from Andy C. Thanks.

Surprised that Stagecoach were not there as it will be a major problem for bus users. Presume that the tramlink will run into Hillsborough as there is little point heading for Middlewood. How about a direct bus to town during the works?

To be honest, I don't care too much who is to blame. This is a problem with public transport. Great at making bold claims, spending public money and not delivering. Never have this problem with the car.

However, the NHS appears not to be over managed. https://www.hsj.co.uk/comment/debunked-myths-about-nhs-managers/5083805.article Research by the King's Fund shows that across the UK the proportion of managers in the workplace is 15.4%, but the NHS spends 1-2%on Managers. Recent figures show just over 30,000 managers in the NHS, around 400,000 nurses, therapeutic and scientific staff and about 45000 consultant level doctors.

Will they extend the tram link from Middlewood to Hillsborough?

We already have Sheffield City Region, who have a director and a squadron of Assistant Directors. Don't know who they are directing but it sounds like they are well financed. In lieu of a mayor, who are they answerable to?

So since Stagecoach have taken over the Stocksbridge service they have cut the evening frequency from 3 buses to town, to 1 as far as the tram. And we thought First were bad.

No, it was not a maximum 4 per hour pre-Stagecoach. There were 4 per hour in the off peak (2x57 and 2x58), plus the 201. However in the peak there were additional 57 buses - up to every 10 minutes and a half hourly 58a. Then Stagecoach came with a high frequency service and undercut First; as soon as First pulled out Stagecoach put their fares up. However as these are the standard Stagecoach fares, it was not just as a result of Stocksbridge services. Anyway, the business case for the tram was predicated on lower staff costs, lower fuel costs and increased attractiveness. Problems with platform ticketing led to the introduction of conductors, increasing staff costs. Stagecoach cited increased cost of electricity for splitting the tram/bus tickets some years ago. Reduced reliability has affected the attractiveness. Overall the tram is in a mess. Substantial investment is required and at the moment it does not look, from the outside, as though that is justified.

14 years ago there were, in the off peak, 2 57s per hour and 2 58s, plus the 201 to Sheffield. In the peak hour there were additional 57s and the 58A, giving about 8-10 at the busiest times. Although they were not reliable, it was faster than the current situation.

I think the bus side have made more effort, but for reasons already stated above, the trams are not able to connect with the bus. The idea of there being a 7 minute interchange penalty at Middlewood, when all goes to plan, shows how inefficient the change is. After 10 years the interchange has not improved, but the alternatives have been taken away. A few years ago, SYPTE said that they had a plan to stop the gradual service reductions; since then there have been two reductions to the evening service to Stocksbridge and now it looks like there will be further reductions to the daytime service.

So, if they are consulting, how about having an option of re-introducing direct buses to Sheffield? Another option could be continuing to run the buses every 10 minutes, especially as the buses and trams do not connect with any regularity.

You make a good point for Stagecoach running the buses through to Sheffield, or at least Hillsborough, as you have said the tram is inflexible and waiting for fare paid passengers might affect the takings of other passengers later on the route.

OK, so comparing the "much more popular service" now compared with the situation before Stagecoach came along in 2007, there are now fewer buses between Stocksbridge and Sheffield in peak hours, slightly more (7v5) in the off peak and fewer in the evening and Sundays. Added to this, journey times have increased due to the interchange penalty at Middlewood and when there is disruption on the tram the SL service has difficulty.

I have given up on that bus service. When it was introduced the TramLink had a dedicated pool of drivers who did seem to make an effort. This helped when things went wrong. Plus there was a proper service in the evening. However fares have risen faster than inflation whilst the service deteriorates. In the end I became fed up watching the tram leave as the bus pulls into the stop at Middlewood. A direct bus service, even if only at peak times would help.