New Sheffield Bus Network- good or bad for the public?

[Andy C 86]

The 25 would gain more traffic at the Bradway end, and possibly at the Woodhouse end too, if it operated every 10 minutes instead of every 20.

 

I know, it alternates with the 25A, in theory, with service intervals timetabled at 8 minutes, then 12 minutes. In practice that rarely happens and you can often wait for 20 minutes, then a 25A First is accompanied by a 25 Stagecoach as they play leapfrog with one another.

 

At least that's what they do until about 7pm and at weekends. Then the 25s and 25As disappear and leave it to the extended 53 from Low Edges. As the trip from Bradway into the city by 25/25A is slow, and the 53 even slower, it's hardly surprising that car owners prefer to use them.

 

(The train from Dore is better if the walk up the hill can be tackled. Car park construction work has started this week, at long last - only 16 weeks or so to go according to the plan.)

 

I've mixed views. We were told the 25/25A would be properly co-ordinated to give a 10 minute interval service combined with First and Stagecoach agreeing the running times, however there does often seem to be a random 8/10 minute interval and also random late running, although this may be down to traffic congestion that can fluctuate wildly, especially that in the morning at Meadowhead caused by cars on the school run.

 

We did of course have a fast bus from Bradway into town - the 293 - until it was withdrawn last October due to low passenger numbers. There is one of your problems - like local pubs, shops, community centres etc - use them or lose them.

 

Do remember what we used to have though - the number 75 every 20 minutes during the daytime and every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays. That was well used even though it went a longer route and was less frequent than the current 25/25A!

 

In terms of car v bus, you must remember up to a few years ago anyone that commuted into town used the bus as the obvious choice because parking was difficult and expensive. Now there is loads of parking and lots of empty spaces and the various multi stories are competing with some quite good season ticket deals.

 

In the evening as mentioned we once had the 75 every half hour, that got replaced by a 25A every half hour - although the 25A proved quite unreliable. Now we have the 53 every 20 minutes and reasonably reliable. Although it does seem like it is taking ages going via Low Edges it is only actually 5 minutes longer at most. And given the number of Bradway people actually using it, I think we are lucky to still have an evening service!

[tbtc 10]

So the golden routes get shiny new buses, that will really get more people on.

 

Surely this is a good thing?

 

The 52 regularly sees passengers standing (at all times of day), so surely double deckers are A Good Thing?

 

The 25 would gain more traffic at the Bradway end, and possibly at the Woodhouse end too, if it operated every 10 minutes instead of every 20.

 

I know, it alternates with the 25A, in theory, with service intervals timetabled at 8 minutes, then 12 minutes. In practice that rarely happens and you can often wait for 20 minutes, then a 25A First is accompanied by a 25 Stagecoach as they play leapfrog with one another

 

Well, if they ran it twice as often then it ought to get more passengers, yes, but then you'd just complain that they run "two buses every twenty minutes".

[1978 14]

Well, if they ran it twice as often then it ought to get more passengers, yes, but then you'd just complain that they run "two buses every twenty minutes".

 

Ah, but that's the point! 25 is Stagecoach. 25A is First. Both run a 20 minute interval service with no co-ordination between them - that's competition. 2 buses every 20 minutes, in theory, but both companies will miss one out if it suits, and the only competition is to run one just in front of the other! Ticket pricing just confuses everyone, in particular infrequent users who might become frequent users.

 

Logical management of a bus SERVICE would be to provide a co-ordinated 10 minute interval service, preferably by one operator. Competition maybe politically correct, but practically it doesn't really work for bus passengers.

[tbtc 10]

Ah, but that's the point! 25 is Stagecoach. 25A is First. Both run a 20 minute interval service with no co-ordination between them - that's competition. 2 buses every 20 minutes, in theory, but both companies will miss one out if it suits, and the only competition is to run one just in front of the other! Ticket pricing just confuses everyone, in particular infrequent users who might become frequent users.

 

Logical management of a bus SERVICE would be to provide a co-ordinated 10 minute interval service, preferably by one operator. Competition maybe politically correct, but practically it doesn't really work for bus passengers.

 

The Woodhouse - Bradway service gets a bus every ten minutes - buses get stuck in congestion (Meadowhead, Woodseats etc), you complain that this is because it's badly co-ordinated.

 

But there are plenty of routes with ten minute services run by one company (the 51 being a good example) which see buses catching up the one in front etc.

 

And now there's one simple ticket valid on both the First and Stagecoach services. Simple, eh?

[F1fan 10]

The First 120 still offers a poor service with buses often turning up every 20 minutes rather than every 10. I am guessing that a major factor in this the old buses on the route, unlike Stagecoach who use those really fast green buses. The First buses seem to break down an awful lot, at least 3 times in the last 2 weeks in one area, and 5 times since September.

In comparison to the Stagecoach 120 it's a pretty poor service that is frequently late and often breaks down.

[Guest busdriver1]

Logical management of a bus SERVICE

 

And there is the real problem, under the current legislation there is no such thing as a bus service, and for the last 30+ years there have only been bus businesses.

The two routes are run in accordance with the requirement of the bus de-regulation act, that makes it illegal for operators to co-ordinate times and / or fares.The exception is if a local authority brokers a deal.

[Andy C 86]

The Woodhouse - Bradway service gets a bus every ten minutes - buses get stuck in congestion (Meadowhead, Woodseats etc), you complain that this is because it's badly co-ordinated.

 

But there are plenty of routes with ten minute services run by one company (the 51 being a good example) which see buses catching up the one in front etc.

 

And now there's one simple ticket valid on both the First and Stagecoach services. Simple, eh?

 

Except on the new timetable the timetable has become very random, there is no 10 minute / 20 minute clockface service anymore..... each operators service is every 15-25 minutes and the journey times fluctuate from one departure to the next!

[Andy C 86]

Time for a quick plug again for the new night buses.... the N25 is saving me a lot of money compared with using taxis so I would like to see it continue!

 

The new night buses run Friday and Saturday night, departing West Street at 00:15, 01:15, 02:15 and 03:15.

 

Routes

N25 - LOWEDGES via Heeley, Woodseats and Meadowhead

N52 - WOODHOUSE via Attercliffe, Darnall and Handsworth

N88 - CHAPELTOWN via Firth Park, Shiregreen and Ecclesfield

 

Flat fare of £2.50 single applies to all passengers.

 

City centre boarding points

West Street opp Wick at Both Ends

West Street by job centre (near West Street Live)

Leopold Street outside All Bar One (opp Leopold Square)

Pinstone Street, stop closest to Moorhead

Charter Row (N25 only)

Moorfoot (N25 only)

Arundel Gate (N52 and N88 )

Edited November 23, 2012 by Andy C

[hello1964 23]

First are a disgrace. What is the real reason for these reduced cost citywide tickets? Anyone know?