Christmas/New Year public transport 2015

[ECCOnoob 1,051]

Well ECConoob, in reply to your comments,

I have never worked for them (I assume you mean the bus companies) but I did work in public service, not the emergency services or hospitals, we had to provide the public with the 24 hour service they expect and we accepted that as part of the job. Just like the transport services should. As for having families, we all have families. I've no doubt they will be going to pubs, clubs, restaurants. They will be watching TV, using electric and gas etc and expect all those people to be working, they won't want to be with their families will they?

I've also previously worked in shops and offices but they didn't close early.

When you provide a public service, whether it's for a private or public company, you accept that unsocial hours including bank/public holidays are part of the job. Or are you saying that transport services should be run for the convenience of the staff?

 

ok, lets go through some of this shall we.

 

Firstly, not all public services are 24 hour. In fact many of them are not even full time during the week. Its about what is ESSENTIAL.

 

They don't run bus/tram service on Christmas day, New Year's day or Easter Sunday. They don't run bus/tram services 24 hours. So what does that tell us - people seem to cope perfectly well during these non operational times. Why should a small reduction in the number of hours on Christmas Eve be different. Its only 4 hours after all.

 

Of course there will be skeleton staff in various services including utilities, police and hospitals but you fail to reason why exactly do you seem to think that buses are somehow ESSENTIAL and as such transport staff are excluded from an opportunity to finish early like a big majority of the rest of the working population.

 

If we are gonna argue the toss. Why are bus drivers essential but not council workers. Why are retail staff allowed to close up early but not tram conductors.

 

Those people who work in hospitality make money from the fact that mass population is able to be "out" and using such facilities. By going into such a trade there is an automatic expectation to work unsociable hours particularly throughout holidays. Very different from someone working in transport. There are no buses after midnight on any normal weekend. All those people "out" would be finding other methods to get home. Why is Christmas Eve different.

 

Fact is, the traditional rush hour of people needing buses after 6.00 is much reduced on Christmas Eve. Why? because most people have gone home hours before. Or those people are out socialising.

 

Bus companies are not stupid. If there was a sufficient demand and profit to keep services running they would do it. Fact is, there isn't.

 

A small inconvenience for some is worth allowing drivers/staff some time off in line with others on just two days a year. Im sure people can deal with it. Just like they have done for years before.

 

If you are one of the unfortunate ones who do work in some genuinely ESSENTIAL service that much run, then I take my hat off to you. However, if you are going to be jealous about other's being off. Change your job.

 

Buses are no longer a public service. Not been since the 90s. They are a profit driven machine controlled by conglomerates. With the exception of the limp hand of the SYPTE nudging them to run some coherent public service routes most routes are purely for profit. There is no moral duty here.

[cytine 40]

ok, lets go through some of this shall we.

 

Firstly, not all public services are 24 hour. In fact many of them are not even full time during the week. Its about what is ESSENTIAL.

 

They don't run bus/tram service on Christmas day, New Year's day or Easter Sunday. They don't run bus/tram services 24 hours. So what does that tell us - people seem to cope perfectly well during these non operational times. Why should a small reduction in the number of hours on Christmas Eve be different. Its only 4 hours after all.

 

Of course there will be skeleton staff in various services including utilities, police and hospitals but you fail to reason why exactly do you seem to think that buses are somehow ESSENTIAL and as such transport staff are excluded from an opportunity to finish early like a big majority of the rest of the working population.

 

If we are gonna argue the toss. Why are bus drivers essential but not council workers. Why are retail staff allowed to close up early but not tram conductors.

 

Those people who work in hospitality make money from the fact that mass population is able to be "out" and using such facilities. By going into such a trade there is an automatic expectation to work unsociable hours particularly throughout holidays. Very different from someone working in transport. There are no buses after midnight on any normal weekend. All those people "out" would be finding other methods to get home. Why is Christmas Eve different.

 

Fact is, the traditional rush hour of people needing buses after 6.00 is much reduced on Christmas Eve. Why? because most people have gone home hours before. Or those people are out socialising.

 

Bus companies are not stupid. If there was a sufficient demand and profit to keep services running they would do it. Fact is, there isn't.

 

A small inconvenience for some is worth allowing drivers/staff some time off in line with others on just two days a year. Im sure people can deal with it. Just like they have done for years before.

 

If you are one of the unfortunate ones who do work in some genuinely ESSENTIAL service that much run, then I take my hat off to you. However, if you are going to be jealous about other's being off. Change your job.

 

Buses are no longer a public service. Not been since the 90s. They are a profit driven machine controlled by conglomerates. With the exception of the limp hand of the SYPTE nudging them to run some coherent public service routes most routes are purely for profit. There is no moral duty here.

 

We are never going to agree on this, you've had your say and I've had mine. So I'll finish on this note. I am not nor never have been jealous of people who are off, it was my choice to the job I did for over 20 years and I accepted the conditions that went with it. May I add that I enjoyed it, I'm now retired.

Buses are a service provided for the public and as such ARE a public service.

The alternative is that people have to use expensive taxis or buy cars. When late buses ended I know people who had to give up their jobs because they couldn't get home. Its not just about socialising is it? People have to get to and from work but never mind as long as drivers etc get time off.

I wish you and everyone on here a happy and peaceful New Year wherever you are and whatever you are doing. All the best for 2016.

[Andy C 86]

Just to remind, tonight (New Years Eve), services finish early, last buses and trams generally somewhere between 5pm and 7pm depending on operator and route.

 

Links for last bus info:

First South Yorkshire http://www.firstgroup.com/south-yorkshire/news-and-service-updates/planned-changes/christmas-and-new-year-buses-1

Stagecoach in Sheffield/Chesterfield https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/yorkshire/stagecoach-yorkshire-festive-services (note routes 43/44/50/50a/71/71a/X17 are Chesterfield buses).

TM Travel http://www.tmtravel.co.uk/christmas-2015/

 

and last trams:

http://www.supertram.com/christmas2015.html

 

On the trains last departures are generally between 6pm and 9pm although there are some later trains to Derby, Nottingham and Manchester Airport. Train times can be looked up at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Edited December 31, 2015 by Andy C

[boldforester 10]

Having approached the Interchange SY Transport stall and been confronted by 4 guys in hi-vis jackets just yakking, and patiently waiting until one of the managed a "yer, mate?" I was informed that there are no buses between Sheff and Ches on New Year's Day. Why?? It's a Bank Holiday, not a religious festival.

[Sheff2006 10]

Having approached the Interchange SY Transport stall and been confronted by 4 guys in hi-vis jackets just yakking, and patiently waiting until one of the managed a "yer, mate?" I was informed that there are no buses between Sheff and Ches on New Year's Day. Why?? It's a Bank Holiday, not a religious festival.

 

County boundary is the problem and also the fact that all the main Sheffield to Chesterfield routes are operated by Stagecoach Chesterfield who don't operate any routes (commercial or tendered) on Boxing Day or New Years Day.

 

The Sheffield Boxing Day/New Years Day buses are funded by Sheffield Council who I doubt very much would ever consider funding cross-boundary routes on these 2 days. Even the 120 isn't serving Halfway on New Years Day this year.

 

I stopped using the Boxing Day/New Years Day buses 2 years ago when they were not accepting Stagecoach weekly/monthly tickets on their own bus routes as the routes were funded by the council.

 

Sh2006.

[Andy C 86]

Having approached the Interchange SY Transport stall and been confronted by 4 guys in hi-vis jackets just yakking, and patiently waiting until one of the managed a "yer, mate?" I was informed that there are no buses between Sheff and Ches on New Year's Day. Why?? It's a Bank Holiday, not a religious festival.

 

There are trains running to Chesterfield

[boldforester 10]

Curiously enouggh, Andy, I was aware of the trains! I just wanted to save a few quid by using me bus pass on the X17!!

[Andy C 86]

Christmas and New Year is now over and services are back to normal timetables.

 

For engineering work affecting upcoming train journeys see http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

For engineering work affecting upcoming tram journeys see http://www.supertram.com

For roadworks and other issues affecting bus journeys see http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com