SuperTram Mk II?

Brandy · Post by **Brandy** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 2:19 pm

cnosni wrote: 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? LOL thats an easy one chris who's got the most hair?

jonleeds · Post by **jonleeds** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 3:23 pm

Does anyone remember the Microrider bus scheme we had in the late 1980s (I think!), I thought they were great and I was surprised they cut them, there were frequent services and the smaller buses were fast and comfortable, surely it would be more efficient, especially on certain routes that are quieter to be running a couple of smaller buses which would be 80% full than having one large bus which ends up 95% empty, just from a fuel consumption perspective? Although more buses would require more drivers / manpower, but surely it is cheaper to train people for their PCV license than having to train bus drivers to drive ful length / size buses and bendy buses. I used to like the reduced size of the microrider buses which were basically just coachbuilt minibuses but they afforded a more comfortable ride and you werent trapped on a large / slow / lumbering vehicle with 50+ school kids all causing havoc at hometime! The supertram was an unbelievable and costly fiasco that they are unlikely to resurrect and if the government wants people to abandon their cars for public transport they need a viable alternative. They could provide fleets of up to date microrider buses that could have comfy seats / seatbelts / head rests and even have tv / music for passengers. Compared to travelling in your own car riding on your average bus is a often a poor experience - not to mention expensive! I think they need to provide a public transport solution which is closer to been driven in a car with all the comforts and benefits, i.e, speed / price / comfort and dignity which is all too lacking in the current system. Also did the microrider service allow you to get on / off wherever you wished as well as stopping at the usual stops? I cant remember.

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 4:55 pm

Brandy wrote: cnosni wrote: 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? LOL thats an easy one chris who's got the most hair? Well then that means im Doctor Evil,which is great because i like stroking PussyCats

Si · Post by Si » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 5:01 pm

You on the pop already? I thought I had less hair than you? I've got a scar on me 'ead, too!

Post by **cnosni** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 5:44 pm

Si wrote: You on the pop already? I thought I had less hair than you? I've got a scar on me 'ead, too! No not started yet mate,the cats got no hair so maybe im stroking you!That means Blakey has the eye patch.Glad thats all sorted

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 9:05 pm

jonleeds wrote: Does anyone remember the Microrider bus scheme we had in the late 1980s (I think!), I thought they were great and I was surprised they cut them, there were frequent services and the smaller buses were fast and comfortable, surely it would be more efficient, especially on certain routes that are quieter to be running a couple of smaller buses which would be 80% full than having one large bus which ends up 95% empty, just from a fuel consumption perspective? Although more buses would require more drivers / manpower, but surely it is cheaper to train people for their PCV license than having to train bus drivers to drive ful length / size buses and bendy buses. I used to like the reduced size of the microrider buses which were basically just coachbuilt minibuses but they afforded a more comfortable ride and you werent trapped on a large / slow / lumbering vehicle with 50+ school kids all causing havoc at hometime! The supertram was an unbelievable and costly fiasco that they are unlikely to resurrect and if the government wants people to abandon their cars for public transport they need a viable alternative. They could provide fleets of up to date microrider buses that could have comfy seats / seatbelts / head rests and even have tv / music for passengers. Compared to travelling in your own car riding on your average bus is a often a poor experience - not to mention expensive! I think they need to provide a public transport solution which is closer to been driven in a car with all the comforts and benefits, i.e, speed / price / comfort and dignity which is all too lacking in the current system. Also did the microrider service allow you to get on / off wherever you wished as well as stopping at the usual stops? I cant remember. I'm sure Blakey will correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Microriders get binned off due to the high running costs (maintenance, fuel, all those drivers, etc) compared to "normal buses"?There are places where small buses are the answer - a lot run round Otley and Ilkley for example, but in other places they simply can't cope with passenger loadings, especially on busy or arterial routes over any decent distance.Look at the "Free City Bus" - it's often standing room only with people left at the stops and I've been on it on several occassions when it's been illegally overloaded, which is an accident waiting to happen.Do they still have inspectors on buses to check tickets AND timekeeping? I can't remember last time I saw one.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Thu 13 Nov, 2008 10:07 pm

We musn't get confused here, but the events following De-regulation in October 1986 were very complicated. Until that date Metro (The West Yorkshire Council Transport Authority/Executive) was the owner and operator of all the former local authority buses and garages in Leeds, Bradford, Halifax and Huddersfield - and in the administrative area of WAKEFIELD - where they had no buses or garages, this being the province of West Riding/Yorkshire Woollen and various old established private operators.An indecently short time (around three months if I remember rightly) was allowed by the Government for Metro and others to decide which routes they would operate profitably and unaided, and which they would tender for to receive subsidy. In the end WY Metro opted establish an "arms length" company (Yorkshire Rider Ltd.) and to slim down their route network and fleet size, returning many leased vehicles not owned, and to establish high frequency minibus services on various routes - including in Leeds the incredibly busy 42 Harehills to Old Farnley and 6 curtailed to Briggate to Halton Moor. Based on the severely flawed calculation that because Ford Transit clutches and gearboxes etc etc etc etc could be bought cheaply "off the shelf" and enormous fleet of Ford Transits and Leyland Sherpa vans (hastily hatcheted by specialist firms with windows and 16 seats) were ordered - believe me they were NOT comfortable in any way, and had little or no luggage space, but put up a good show considering they were not designed for such work, especially in the hands on a huge number of newly qualified and inexperienced drivers. I also believe (Amber will remember ??) that due to the colossal orders everywhere for large numbers of such vehicles quite a proportion were not here for "D Day."A further important distinction must be made here - the nature of "minibuses" has changed completely in the last 22 years. They are no longer the converted "bread vans" that we had in 1986 and many sophisticated and splendid purpose designed models are around now. Perhaps the very finest has been the MCW Metrorider, later taken over and enormously improved by Optare. This was beautifully and very skilfully designed to incorporate an unbelievably low wide easy entrance, adequate luggage space, good head and kneeroom and gangway width. They are also handsome and neat looking and have a good performance and smooth automatic gearchange. Available in three sizes - 23,27 or 31 seats with up to 13 standing, they are a treat to drive and definitely have their place on routes where passenger loadings and/or road restrictions warrant it. I have no hesitation in this praise, even though I am an "old fashioned" lover of the live clutch and gearbox models of long ago - whose low running costs, reliability and long life in the main would have many modern engineers and accountants green with envy.Oh dear better wrap up now, just sensed several yawns and mutterings of "what time's this finish??" from all over the area LOL LOL

Si · Post by Si » Fri 14 Nov, 2008 8:59 am

Not at all, Blakey. Your posts are always interesting.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 14 Nov, 2008 9:34 am

Si wrote: Not at all, Blakey. Your posts are always interesting. Thank you kindly Si for that reassurance. Every time I pass the Kwikfit place in Bondgate, which used to be the second largest of the five Samuel Ledgard depots, I dream of the happy times I had there in the job I wanted above all others, and of the variety of magnificent well designed , long lasting and 100% reliable vehicles which provided a top class service in the area for around forty years - a service which any senior person in the town and around will confirm has been sorely missed ever since.

Si · Post by Si » Fri 14 Nov, 2008 9:48 am

BLAKEY wrote: Si wrote: Not at all, Blakey. Your posts are always interesting. Thank you kindly Si for that reassurance. Every time I pass the Kwikfit place in Bondgate, which used to be the second largest of the five Samuel Ledgard depots, I dream of the happy times I had there in the job I wanted above all others, and of the variety of magnificent well designed , long lasting and 100% reliable vehicles which provided a top class service in the area for around forty years - a service which any senior person in the town and around will confirm has been sorely missed ever since. That's true! I overheard someone reminiscing about Ledgard's buses last night in The Yeoman!Speaking of Otley pubs, you had your fair-share of places for a drink after your shift, Blakey. Ring 'O Bells, Woolpack, Bowling Green, Rose and Crown and The Junction, all opposite work!