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andingmen

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  1. I have to say that my experience of the Manchester Airport direct service was very different to some. I travelled for many years on business on that service with "long haul" luggage. Yes, there was never enough luggage rack space but the staff were always understanding as long as people were trying to be considerate. I never saw a serious altercation in over 15 years. There were always a healthy number of people alighting at the airport whenever I travelled. There were overcrowding issues on rare occasions but, on a selfish basis, I was usually safely seated by that time. I found the service invariably reliable, punctual, comfortable (mostly) but above all so convenient. I never ever considered driving as an alternative. Maybe I was lucky or travelled mainly at off peak times but I for one miss it. I understand the reasons for withdrawal involve pathing issues into Manchester Picadilly but the aspect that irritates me is that, yet again, Sheffield was seen as dispensable, with little apparent objection from our local leaders.
  2. Yes, I too saw a small bunch of these glinting in the evening sunshine last night, very high in the sky over the Beauchief area. There was very little wind but they appeared to be drifting from the Abbeydale Road (south) area . Just for information, earlier in the day I had spent quite some time at the Woodseats festival and saw no sign of these type of balloons there.
  3. As someone who used to travel from Nether Edge to ride on the " bumps" in the 60's and who now lives locally, I walk past regularly. I've seen this track gradually develop and extend and watched the young ( mainly) people display amazing skills and bravery on these slopes. I recently eventually stopped and chatted to a group of lads who were spending their spare time repairing and extending the track. They seem a dedicated, polite and knowledgeable group of youngsters doing no harm to anyone and indulging in a healthy outdoor sport at their own expense. Good luck to them, I say. Let's leave them in peace.
  4. Andy C, it was actually a Stagecoach 86 bus outbound southwards from town a few weeks ago. I was waiting on London Road and idly browsing the bustimes..org on line map. (Like you, I much prefer a visual live map.) I was looking to see where all the buses were. All the other arrived as indicated on the map. There was no 86 showing anywhere on the route even on the other side of town. So I set off walking. Within maybe two minutes, an in-service 86 passed by with several passengers on board. This is why I asked the technical questions in my earlier posts. Maybe it had been at a timing point with its engine and ticket machine powered off? I have no criticism of the drivers, or bus companies, I'm just puzzled about the accuracy of the tracking system sometimes.. Thanks to all so far for their various explanations. I guess it was just a one- off. I'll continue to use busyimes. org.
  5. Thanks for that reply, Resident. Useful info to bear in mind when I'm next waiting at a bus. Just for info, the bus that sped past me mid- stop was certainly in service and the terminus I was checking was actually Lowedges. So maybe these were just examples of the kind of issues you mentioned Still, even though there seem to be some vagaries with the system, it's certainly a vast improvement on standing at a bus stop with absolutely no idea when or if a bus is likely to appear. Together with the live time display boards now at many stops, I do find the technology increasingly useful. I look forward to these being increasingly reliable too.
  6. I also try to use bustimes.org. I have to say that at the moment I find it " nearly fantastic". Most of the time it is a great way to track real time progress rather than checking timetables, which as many have already said, can be affected by factors out of the bus companies' control. In my neck of the woods, it's mainly Stagecoach and First buses. However, I've found a couple of issues with it. Can anyone answer a couple of technical questions please which may help? Firstly, are all buses in the fleets operated by these companies fitted with functional and reliable tracking devices? I ask because I recently walked away from a bus stop as the app showed no bus due and then one, not showing on the app, went past as I was walking between stops. Secondly, when buses are stationary at a terminus with the engine off does the tracker also then switch off? I'm genuinely grateful for these advances in technology but only if they are fully trustworthy.
  7. In contrast to other people's experience, I have found the Manchester Airport direct train extremely useful, popular and reliable. I have used it on business for a number of years on different days of the week, mostly in the early mornings. I for one would be extremely disappointed if it were to be removed. Firstly, for the inconvenience caused to so many travellers, especially those with significant amounts of luggage or with disability and secondly, for the message sent out that, once again, Sheffield is not considered important enough to have a direct rail link to its nearest major air hub. I'm also sad that this possible proposal appears to be so meekly accepted by many.
  8. Like many, I'd never heard of this lady. I've now looked at some information about her past and experience. I suppose one positive note is that she will have some relatively important contacts within national government. However, two other areas do concern me: Firstly, her social media outlets seem to be just full of corporate speak, sound bytes and excessive froth. Secondly, and more ominously for Sheffield, she grew up in Doncaster. After the utterly ineffective and weak city leadership of recent years and with Dan Jarvis already positioning himself for whatever format the Sheffield City Region finally takes, I fear the worst for any chance of Sheffield itself to have any meaningful say in crucial and strategic decisions in the foreseeable future.
  9. It's actually called the Attercliffe Waterside project. More detail and comments can be found here on the Sheffield Metro City forum:- https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/attercliffe-waterside.2162710/
  10. There was some information regarding the latest position with this site on the SkyscraperMetro City thread here. See post 32. From about 20 days ago. https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/uos-social-sciences-building-4fl-u-c.2195082/page-2#post-168234420
  11. For all of those providing information, particularly for Andy C for his extremely comprehensive summaries, thank you so much. It's especially welcome at this time.
  12. Yesterday, I started a new thread on HS2, specifically about the visibility, or lack of, a figurehead to lead Sheffield through the next critical stage of decision making about HS phase 2 and NPR. The mods have now decided to integrate it into this wider HS2 thread (#26 above). The only voice I have heard so far is from Dan Jarvis, the current Mayor of SCR. His contempt for Sheffield is well known - indeed in the press release I read, he could not even bring himself to mention the city's name once. On the other hand, in fairness, it is the ONLY voice I have heard locally so far. While we continue to bicker and argue about past decisions, other regions are vociferous in pushing their cases for the next stages. Where is the voice of Sheffield itself? With this disastrous lack of leadership, there is a real danger that Sheffield, and by association, the rest of S. Yorks will be bypassed entirely, not only from HS2 but also NPR.
  13. Yes, I'm aware of the history, frustrations and arguments. Personally, I would have loved the "Victoria Through" proposal. But, we have what we have. My concern is that from here on, we may lose even that and miss out on Northern East-West connectivity because of this lack of leadership.
  14. I suspect you're being a little tongue in cheek, Jim- but that's exactly the type of high profile we've lacked on the national stage - with the proviso that our champion would support the cause....
  15. I've just been reading the various national news sites about the imminent announcement. What concerns me is that, during this whole saga, Sheffield's prominence has gradually declined to the extent that we are currently included on a spur only. In my view, this was partly due to the South Yorkshire in-fighting but mainly due to ineffective leadership and representation. With phase 2 also now being "reviewed" for possible savings and integration into the NPR proposals, which again seem to stress the Manchester- Leeds link only, my concern is that Sheffield's voice will be even weaker. Whether you agree or not with HS2, if Sheffield doesn't fight for its rightful share, others certainly will - to our loss. Who exactly is or will be our champion to fight for our share of the supposed benefits? Other areas have charismatic and powerful voices doing the lobbying Just who is ours??
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