SuperTram Mk II?

Reginal Perrin · Post by **Reginal Perrin** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 12:12 pm

Totally agree Blakey. I'd nationalise the lot. I don't care if investors lose money. Public services are just that, a service for which we already paid in spades with our rates in years gone by.Put me in charge of the council and I would fire every single person not involved in providing a direct service tot he rate payer. Equality Officer? No ta. Wages for Councillors, nope. I'd bring in some good old fashioned local socialism. Councillors would get basic expenses not a career and compensation when they get voted out. Services are provided at reasonable cost to be able to run smoothly nto for profit. Then when I'm successful I shall get on to the trains and then utilities such as water, gas and electricity.

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 12:29 pm

BLAKEY wrote: As a life long transport employee (retired) and avid enthusiast and archivist my blood boils at the maniac marketing and consultancy nonsense that has taken over the bus and train industries since that dreadful day in October 1986 - De-regulation Day - when, to put it simply but accurately, public service became profit above all else.To make matters worse the millions, yes millions, of pounds which are frittered annually on zany expensive liveries, consultants and London Underground style route networks which the publis neither understand nor want is criminal.I am sick to the back teeth of travelling in West Yorkshire on "furniture vans" where you can't see out of the windows for external Company advertising which I'm confident no one but no one takes any notice of. Perhaps the worse examples in Leeds are the new handful which are totally plastered with red and blue nonsense advertising the Belle Isle/Middleton/Rounhay Moortown services. Some new single deckers have two complete offside windows covered by solid advertising hordings - the last time I saw anyhting like this was in London in WW2 when LT were forced to operate bomb damaged vehicles with missing windows replaced by wood.Even more serious is the fact that manufacturers and operators are seemingly oblivious to the abominable build quality of most modern buses. The public now seem to simply accept vehicle sides flapping in and out, totally inadequate rear suspension where pssing over a matchstick(very slight exaggeration I admit) produces spine jangling thuds through the virually solid seats - I see though that some of the newest ones do have rather improved upholstery.Turning briefly to what others describe as the "purple slugs." here we have the ultimate in "marketing" nonsense. For a start they cost in excess of £300,000 each for 38 seats plus 5 in the "Lounge."The original plan for them to be one person operated soon disappeared when a system for everyone to pre- pay at street meters etc failed immediately.Our intelligence was insulted grossly when the articulated monsters were fitted with wheel spats, painted purple and called "streetcars" (American term for a tram) - to be propelled by a PILOT in a COCKPIT assisted eventually by - you think I'm going to say a conductor don't you ?? - a CUSTOMER SERVICE HOST. At least we and the latter official are spared the pompous title of CABIN CREW or STEWARD/STEWARDESS.I am angered and very sad indeed by all this nonsense.Like our friend above I admit to another "rant" but somebody's got to !! YES!!! BOOOM BOOOM BLAKEY both barrels lol

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 12:47 pm

BLAKEY wrote: As a life long transport employee (retired) and avid enthusiast and archivist my blood boils at the maniac marketing and consultancy nonsense that has taken over the bus and train industries since that dreadful day in October 1986 - De-regulation Day - when, to put it simply but accurately, public service became profit above all else.To make matters worse the millions, yes millions, of pounds which are frittered annually on zany expensive liveries, consultants and London Underground style route networks which the publis neither understand nor want is criminal.I am sick to the back teeth of travelling in West Yorkshire on "furniture vans" where you can't see out of the windows for external Company advertising which I'm confident no one but no one takes any notice of. Perhaps the worse examples in Leeds are the new handful which are totally plastered with red and blue nonsense advertising the Belle Isle/Middleton/Rounhay Moortown services. Some new single deckers have two complete offside windows covered by solid advertising hordings - the last time I saw anyhting like this was in London in WW2 when LT were forced to operate bomb damaged vehicles with missing windows replaced by wood.Even more serious is the fact that manufacturers and operators are seemingly oblivious to the abominable build quality of most modern buses. The public now seem to simply accept vehicle sides flapping in and out, totally inadequate rear suspension where pssing over a matchstick(very slight exaggeration I admit) produces spine jangling thuds through the virually solid seats - I see though that some of the newest ones do have rather improved upholstery.Turning briefly to what others describe as the "purple slugs." here we have the ultimate in "marketing" nonsense. For a start they cost in excess of £300,000 each for 38 seats plus 5 in the "Lounge."The original plan for them to be one person operated soon disappeared when a system for everyone to pre- pay at street meters etc failed immediately.Our intelligence was insulted grossly when the articulated monsters were fitted with wheel spats, painted purple and called "streetcars" (American term for a tram) - to be propelled by a PILOT in a COCKPIT assisted eventually by - you think I'm going to say a conductor don't you ?? - a CUSTOMER SERVICE HOST. At least we and the latter official are spared the pompous title of CABIN CREW or STEWARD/STEWARDESS.I am angered and very sad indeed by all this nonsense.Like our friend above I admit to another "rant" but somebody's got to !! That is a quality rant mate,quality.What really does wind me up is the spin that you mentioned,pilot,customer service host,streetcar etc etc etc.This sort of "dressing" is going on all over the place.The "suits" must think that if they rehash any old ideas and then put some smart ars*d verbals on it then Joe public will think theyre getting something new.Well we dont,were not as daft as the suits think we are.

Si · Post by Si » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:17 pm

cnosni wrote: Si wrote: cnosni wrote: Si wrote: Don't worry, Blakey. You and cnosni are ranting for all of us!!! Come on then Si,lets have a rant from yer!! You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...I've ranted several times on here, I think, usually marketing aimed (Budweiser, McDonalds, Harry Ramsden's to name a few.) Then you have been strangely silent about Carlsberg then. I dunno...I started the "Tetley's to close" thread........But you're right, Chris. These people do think Joe Public is stupid, but the boot's on the other foot. How could anyone think calling a bus driver a "pilot" is a good idea? Jeeeeeeez... I know what marketing executives are like...I used to work in advertising. I'll give you an example: as a creative bod, I had to come up with ideas for advertising a well known bed brand. They said focus groups had shown that there was great interest in the interior construction of their beds. Really? I thought. I went along to a market research meeting. Members of the public were shown board after board of written information about the beds. Eventually, a board with a full colour illustration of a cut-away bed was shown. The members of the public awoke from their bored stupor, and leaned forward to take a look. This is what "proved" the fact that the public were interested in the inside of a bed. Say no more...

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:36 pm

Well like i have always said, Chris could sort the problems we have here in Leeds with one arm tied behind his backBut sod that for a lark if he joins forces with BLAKEY we could have a smoothly running country in hours!And if Si jumps in thats it,WORLD DOMINATION over night lol

simonm · Post by **simonm** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:40 pm

Off topic a bit, but have you looked at the plans for the new Armley leisure centre? They no longer have changing rooms, but changing villages!!

Si · Post by Si » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:42 pm

Very funny, Brandy!!!

Si · Post by Si » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:44 pm

simonm wrote: Off topic a bit, but have you looked at the plans for the new Armley leisure centre? They no longer have changing rooms, but changing villages!! WHAT!!!!!!! I told you, they're all nuts!!!

Igor Belanov · Post by **Igor Belanov** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 1:53 pm

"The obsession with any new route serving St James' Hospital is another bugbear. The place is already served every couple of minutes by a dozen bus routes, so why does every new additional public transport idea have to be funnelled into such a restricted area?"This obsession stems from Leeds Teaching Hospitals' desire to centralise all services at Jimmy's, selling off the vast majority of the LGI site to raise more money. Despite the fact that much of the LGI is perfectly functional and that it is a more compact site and better working environment than Jimmy's, obviously if thousands of extra staff and patients are going to be heading to Jimmy's this is going to cause some problems.I work at Jimmy's now and I have to agree that it is as well served by public transport as can be expected, though not as easy for many staff to get to as the LGI.

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 2:11 pm

Brandy wrote: Well like i have always said, Chris could sort the problems we have here in Leeds with one arm tied behind his backBut sod that for a lark if he joins forces with BLAKEY we could have a smoothly running country in hours!And if Si jumps in thats it,WORLD DOMINATION over night lol Me,Balkey and Si contemplating world domination.But which one is which?