TM Travel buses

[Michael_N]

Anyone else had the misfortunate of having to use a TM Travel bus recently? If it turns up, which is a rarity, you are grabbing onto the handle rails and praying you make it to your destination alive! That's if the driver hasn't decided to take a detour and go his own way because he was running late or simply couldn't be bothered with running the correct route. Most drivers just grunt and look at you like you've murdered their family for daring to stick your arm out and make them stop to pick you up.

 

What is it with the presentation of the vehicles. Most are battered and bruised and are they trying to become the LGTBQ+ bus operator of South Yorkshire, given the various different coloured vehicles they have in their business? Maybe a rename to Rainbow Buses would be more apt 😆

 

I'm amazed Oliver Coppard / SYMCA allows them to carry on running as they are.

Edited December 6, 2024 by Michael_N

[RollingJ]

9 minutes ago, Michael_N said:

Anyone else had the misfortunate of having to use a TM Travel bus recently? If it turns up, which is a rarity, you are grabbing onto the handle rails and praying you make it to your destination alive! That's if the driver hasn't decided to take a detour and go his own way because he was running late or simply couldn't be bothered with running the correct route. Most drivers just grunt and look at you like you've murdered their family for daring to stick your arm out and make them stop to pick you up.

 

What is it with the presentation of the vehicles. Most are battered and bruised and are they trying to become the LGTBQ+ bus operator of South Yorkshire, given the various different coloured vehicles they have in their business? Maybe a rename to Rainbow Buses would be more apt 😆

 

I'm amazed Oliver Coppard / SYMCA allows them to carry on running as they are.

I use TM's 218 service on a regular basis, and don't see what you do..

 

As to the 'presentation of the buses' , that is down to the same reason as why First (and Stagecoach, to a lesser extent) fleets in the area are older vehicles - South Yorkshire in general does not make a great profit for the company, and all operators use their older vehicles in 'low cost' areas - so as other area's get newer vehicles, the older ones get cascaded down to such locations, sometimes not being worth a repaint.

 

As to Coppard and co., they are lucky operators are prepared to offer any service.

[YorkieontheTyne]

3 hours ago, Michael_N said:

Anyone else had the misfortunate of having to use a TM Travel bus recently? If it turns up, which is a rarity, you are grabbing onto the handle rails and praying you make it to your destination alive! That's if the driver hasn't decided to take a detour and go his own way because he was running late or simply couldn't be bothered with running the correct route. Most drivers just grunt and look at you like you've murdered their family for daring to stick your arm out and make them stop to pick you up.

 

What is it with the presentation of the vehicles. Most are battered and bruised and are they trying to become the LGTBQ+ bus operator of South Yorkshire, given the various different coloured vehicles they have in their business? Maybe a rename to Rainbow Buses would be more apt 😆

 

I'm amazed Oliver Coppard / SYMCA allows them to carry on running as they are.

With an attitude like you’ve got I’m not surprised the driver “just grunts”at you. You say you pray that you “make it to your destination alive”. That’s interesting. I take it that you’re an approved and licensed examiner, or at least an instructor to make such claims. How many passengers haven’t made it to their destination alive, a rough estimate will suffice?

Please explain what the outside colour of the bus has to do with them providing a service. We had buses in Sheaf Motors, The Star, Fletchers Bread and W H Smith colours back in the day, but no one moaned, it got them to their destination.

And just to make you feel at home😆!

 

[MJ01]

18 hours ago, Michael_N said:

Anyone else had the misfortunate of having to use a TM Travel bus recently? If it turns up, which is a rarity, you are grabbing onto the handle rails and praying you make it to your destination alive! That's if the driver hasn't decided to take a detour and go his own way because he was running late or simply couldn't be bothered with running the correct route. Most drivers just grunt and look at you like you've murdered their family for daring to stick your arm out and make them stop to pick you up.

 

What is it with the presentation of the vehicles. Most are battered and bruised and are they trying to become the LGTBQ+ bus operator of South Yorkshire, given the various different coloured vehicles they have in their business? Maybe a rename to Rainbow Buses would be more apt 😆

 

I'm amazed Oliver Coppard / SYMCA allows them to carry on running as they are.

What did the bus company say when you raised those matters with them?

[Resident]

On 06/12/2024 at 18:17, YorkieontheTyne said:

With an attitude like you’ve got I’m not surprised the driver “just grunts”at you. You say you pray that you “make it to your destination alive”. That’s interesting. I take it that you’re an approved and licensed examiner, or at least an instructor to make such claims. How many passengers haven’t made it to their destination alive, a rough estimate will suffice?

Please explain what the outside colour of the bus has to do with them providing a service. We had buses in Sheaf Motors, The Star, Fletchers Bread and W H Smith colours back in the day, but no one moaned, it got them to their destination.

And just to make you feel at home😆!

 

TBH he's not wrong about the state of TM driving standards.

Stagecoach standards seem to be getting worse too. 

[RollingJ]

1 minute ago, Resident said:

TBH he's not wrong about the state of TM driving standards.

Stagecoach standards seem to be getting worse too. 

I admit I don't use TM enough to have a wide experience, but I've never felt unsafe when using the 218, which is regularly in the summer, and slightly less often in Autumn/winter, but still on a number of occasions, especially when I need Sheffield Station.

[Resident]

1 minute ago, RollingJ said:

I admit I don't use TM enough to have a wide experience, but I've never felt unsafe when using the 218, which is regularly in the summer, and slightly less often in Autumn/winter, but still on a number of occasions, especially when I need Sheffield Station.

I see them regularly pulling out without warning, contravening red lights etc. 

I have reported it on several occasions but nothing seems to get done. 

[RollingJ]

Just now, Resident said:

I see them regularly pulling out without warning, contravening red lights etc. 

I have reported it on several occasions but nothing seems to get done. 

OK - maybe I've been lucky with my drivers, then. 😀

[pfifes]

There is one particular TM Travel driver that is a dreadful driver.  Very jerky on the brakes, throwing the passengers around and sometimes going too fast.  He’s a very nice, helpful guy but a terrible driver unfortunately.

[rogets]

Sometimes drivers like to pull off before everyone has sat down

 

But i guess this due to not enough time to complete routes