You Wait Ages For A Bus

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 9:32 pm

Just a couple of points, based on the last few posts.Firstly I can't say I'm surprised to say that once the 4ftr route changes happen at the weekend that they are looking to move to "traditional" buses and OPO outside the peaks.It's been an open secret for months that there are regularly 4's traveling around the city with no-one on board to collect fares - in fact mrs ravey has a fairly good track record of finding these hostless buses and she only uses the bus once or twice a week so goodness knows how much that is costing in lost revenue across the city. In fact on her most recent journey there was a conductor on board who simply didn't take any fares at all - perhaps they were one of the unfortunates about to be laid off? Anyone who lives on the 4 route will tell you that standard double deckers of varying vintages frequently deputise on the service now.Blakeys mention of the original Scott Hall Road Superbus reminded me that Worst must have gotten rid of the first Superbus number plate (K1YRL - the bus that featured in all the publicity material), which has been recently seen on a white VW Caddy van. I suppose having a personalised plate which reference Yorkshire Ride Limited wasn't wanted by the Worst suits.Finally, I'm surprised that the bendy buses displaced from London by Boris haven't arrived in Leeds en-masse, although I've heard a tale that a load got shipped to Malta where they are proving deeply unpopular with the locals and quite unsuited to the Maltese road network.

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 10:35 pm

BLAKEY wrote: Leodian wrote: I feel like I'm missing out as I've never been on a 'Purple Slug' bus. I must go on one before they disappear. I did go on the first bendy buses in Leeds that were on the Alwoodley run which must be over 15 years ago now. They did not seem to be around that long. With the greatest of respect Leodian I think you may be confusing two topics here. As far as I recall the first articulated buses in Leeds were those introduced on the number 1 service from Holt Park to Beeston via Headingley in around 2000. After being withdrawn ridiculously early a while ago, and lying around "stored" all over the place, six have recently resurfaced after expensive refurbishment, "disguised" as Centrebus in orange and blue, and are now used on the 95 from City to Boddington Hall - and are quite often seen too on their original number 1 route.The special vehicles which were on the Scott Hall Road routes to Alwoodley and Shadwell in the times you mention were normal single deckers but with posh seating and "branded" (I loathe that word, it belongs to baked beans and motor cars etc and not to transport sevices) as "Superbus" in quite an attractive but of course expensive liverfy of silver and blue.By dogged and stubborn intention I too have never been on an "ftr"articulated bus and never will - the word "ftr" by the way is meant to be a slick pointer to "future" - the sooner the purple slugs disappear the better for me - if I was into law breaking graffiti I'd buy a paint aerosol and letter them all "past", meaning "PAST." My reason for this dogged attitude is quite simple - I have no intention of having my limited intelligence offended by some marketing guru trying to convince me that an articulated bus with metal wheel spats and very few seats is a "streetcar" operated by a "pilot" in a "cockpit", and after the original intention to have all fares taken before boarding nose dived (sorry, just couldn't resist that), fares taken by a "customer service host" To use a popular but pertinent modern saying - "You couldn't make it up could you ??" Hi Blakey. Your comment has intrigued me about the early use of bendy buses in Leeds. I feel sure that I recall using them for a while on the Alwoodley route.raveydavey mention the K1YRL number plate. I still recall that one in use as it was such an obvious number plate.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 10:58 pm

Plenty of evidence of Superbus at http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=K1YRL& ... 66&bih=653 all inindicates it was a guided single decker and nae a bendy. Also evidence the plate was haned on to a Volvo DD

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 11:11 pm

The bendys that used to be on the number one route were Wrights built but, unless age has muddled my brain, were not the "Eclipse" style body work that the Orange / blue ones on the 95 are but an older design. I thought I had read somewhere the Centrebus copys had been imported from Bristol or somewhere similar where they had been on a university route.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 11:29 pm

BIG N wrote: The bendys that used to be on the number one route were Wrights built but, unless age has muddled my brain, were not the "Eclipse" style body work that the Orange / blue ones on the 95 are but an older design. I thought I had read somewhere the Centrebus copys had been imported from Bristol or somewhere similar where they had been on a university route. I think you read it on here but as I pointed out the Bristol buses didn't have the livery they have here in Leeds, so are almost certainly deliberately liveried to look like Centrebus whatever their source. As a customer this again puts Arriva streets ahead of first in service terms but Blakey and much more significantly Big N can comment on the poor employee relationship of Arriva

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 2:12 am

raveydavey wrote: I've heard a tale that a load got shipped to Malta where they are proving deeply unpopular with the locals and quite unsuited to the Maltese road network. I'll check on that for you Ravey, but I believe the new bendys working in Malta are built by King Long and were brand new last year, not totally sure but will be easy to find out because we ( Arriva ) are now the operators in Malta.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 2:21 am

tyke bhoy wrote: this again puts Arriva streets ahead of first in service terms but Blakey and much more significantly Big N can comment on the poor employee relationship of Arriva Can I just take a moment at this point to say, I actually really enjoy my job and can honestly say - hand on heart - that Arriva is one of the better companys of the many I have worked for.As a company, they do make every effort to meet the needs of their staff ( and not just the drivers ) but its the things like the recent publicity stunt ( remember that at the beginning of this thread ) whilst spending millions on the new vehicles and, at the same time effectivly cutting wages, that creates bad feelings amongst the troops on the ground.I guess its that age old saying - you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time etc etc, trouble is these days the more important people always appear to be the share holders and investors and the troops on the ground seem to be second best.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 10:28 am

Thanks for the clarification Big N and apologies that I misread your comments on the "publicity stunt" and the new ticket machines as an overall disgruntlement with Arriva. Two minor blots on an otherwise acceptable landscape?

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 9:49 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: Thanks for the clarification Big N and apologies that I misread your comments on the "publicity stunt" and the new ticket machines as an overall disgruntlement with Arriva. Two minor blots on an otherwise acceptable landscape? Lets just put it this way - when I was suddenly made redundant 9 years ago most bus companys were openly advertising for drivers.By a quirk of fate, after sending off the applications, i managed to get an interview with both First Leeds and Arriva Yorkshire on the same day, Arriva at Wakefield in the morning and First at Bramley in the afternoon.After going to the First interview and being told the pay structure, hours and shift patterns I informed them I wasn't interested and crossed my fingers that I would recieve good news from Arriva.The fact that I was living less than 500 yards from Bramley depot at the time was irrelivent and several days later I was offered a position with Arriva at either Heckmondwyke or Dewsbury - my choice.Choosing to turn my back on First and travel further afield was a choice I have never regretted, believe me.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sat 03 Mar, 2012 7:18 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: Blakey my memory of the bendy buses matches yours in that they first appeared on the 1 route possibly just before 2000. While I don't doubt your sources are we sure the "imposter buses" now on the 95 route in almost Centrebus livery are those buses refurbished. The initial bendy buses had a full 5 seat rear row. The current bendy's have a "big white box" replacing the 2 nearside back row and possibly the 2 penulitmate row seats. I aplogise to all interested as I have posted a monumental clanger about the "95" Bendies. I've now done some detailed research and consultation and will post the true situation very soon - when I've simplified it as its incredibly complicated - bear with us just for a while folks.