Green LCT Buses

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 27 Jul, 2008 1:06 am

Trojan wrote: BLAKEY wrote: I don't want to sound like a traitor, and I hate having to say this, but I've just had my annual few days in Belgium and have travelled around all over on what must be one of the finest transport networks in the World. Trains are run by the Belgian state, spotless and politely and smartly staffed, with clockwork precision. Buses and trams in Flemish Flanders are run by the state owned "de Lijn" organisation. Services are frequent - all the staff are immaculate and helpful - and the fares are so cheap as to be unbelievable. There are only two main fares on the buses and trams (and on the only trolleybus route in Belgium, sadly again dieselised for good recently) - two zones 80 cents (about 65p at present) and anywhere else One euro 50 cents (about £1.20 just now) Virtually all tickets are sold in shops and offices etc and anywhere but on the vehicle - this excellent system shines out in the minimum time at stops - aided of ocurse (here I go again) by anything between two and five doorways on the vehicles - Metro, Arriva, First and the rest here please note !! We travelled the entire length of Belgiums' coastline (not that long) from the French border to Zeebrugge on a tram. You could get on and off at will at no extra cost. Unfortunately it was a dreadful day for weather (in March) We travelled the entire distance from Ostende down to the French border up to Zeebrugge and back to Ostende (exploring a Russian submarine in Zeebrugge in the process) we were frozen through and walking along the front at Ostende were attracted by the sea food stalls. There were cauldrons with what were described as Warme Wallocks. Which looked and smelled like some kind of spicy fish stew. We got a couple of cups - they were whelks - like eating rubber bands But the tram trip was great! Sorry you had such a bad time Trojan - I was very liucky with the weather earlier this week and the "Kusttrams" were packed despite being every ten minutes. I know what you mean about the "cauldrons" as there were some similar ones about 12 inches in diameter on various tables (on OTHER tables I hasten to add) and I heard that they contained mussels - I tried not to even look again.

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sun 27 Jul, 2008 10:04 am

Had my first journey on a purple slug on Friday but not in Leeds, in York. I knew I was going so did a little research which included finding out for an extra 2.40 on your rail ticket from Leeds station you can travel all day on the buses in York. You can also buy tickets in shops all over York.Was fairly impressed with the interior and the "real time" information provided. Was not impressed by the conductress who needed her mobile phone to calculate the total for the 3 £2.90 return fares my colleagues required. Look like they employ on the minimum wage.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Sun 27 Jul, 2008 11:02 am

tyke bhoy wrote: Had my first journey on a purple slug on Friday but not in Leeds, in York. I knew I was going so did a little research which included finding out for an extra 2.40 on your rail ticket from Leeds station you can travel all day on the buses in York. You can also buy tickets in shops all over York.Was fairly impressed with the interior and the "real time" information provided. Was not impressed by the conductress who needed her mobile phone to calculate the total for the 3 £2.90 return fares my colleagues required. Look like they employ on the minimum wage. I'm afraid that I remain continuously infuriated by the appalling service which "First" provides - its all self congratulating arrogant boasting not backed up where it counts - on the buses. With every respect for the proportion of the staff who do their jobs well and try hard, in general the staff discipline is wicked. Its all very well having one edition after another of "designer" uniforms and zany publicity and liveries and obliterated views from the windows, but too many staff are wearing yellow "garage yard" jackets, trainers, civilian baseball caps etc etc. Ther amount of on vehicle advertising and publicity is so excessive and haphazard that it defeats the object, and I doubt if any passenger or passer by really takes any notice.To return to the "purple slugs" I take great exception to "First"s condescending and patronising insolence in thinking that they can put wheel spats on an articulated bus and expect me to believe that it is a "streetcar."

amber · Post by **amber** » Sun 27 Jul, 2008 9:29 pm

BLAKEY wrote: tyke bhoy wrote: Had my first journey on a purple slug on Friday but not in Leeds, in York. I knew I was going so did a little research which included finding out for an extra 2.40 on your rail ticket from Leeds station you can travel all day on the buses in York. You can also buy tickets in shops all over York.Was fairly impressed with the interior and the "real time" information provided. Was not impressed by the conductress who needed her mobile phone to calculate the total for the 3 £2.90 return fares my colleagues required. Look like they employ on the minimum wage. I'm afraid that I remain continuously infuriated by the appalling service which "First" provides - its all self congratulating arrogant boasting not backed up where it counts - on the buses. With every respect for the proportion of the staff who do their jobs well and try hard, in general the staff discipline is wicked. Its all very well having one edition after another of "designer" uniforms and zany publicity and liveries and obliterated views from the windows, but too many staff are wearing yellow "garage yard" jackets, trainers, civilian baseball caps etc etc. Ther amount of on vehicle advertising and publicity is so excessive and haphazard that it defeats the object, and I doubt if any passenger or passer by really takes any notice.To return to the "purple slugs" I take great exception to "First"s condescending and patronising insolence in thinking that they can put wheel spats on an articulated bus and expect me to believe that it is a "streetcar." I'm Afraid it's gone to pot since we left, Blakey, but if we think Leeds standards are poor they are "first" class to the standards in Stirling where we visit often but I forget there are shareholders to consider and I'm not one of them.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 28 Jul, 2008 9:33 am

amber wrote: I'm afraid that I remain continuously infuriated by the appalling service which "First" provides - its all self congratulating arrogant boasting not backed up where it counts - on the buses. With every respect for the proportion of the staff who do their jobs well and try hard, in general the staff discipline is wicked. Its all very well having one edition after another of "designer" uniforms and zany publicity and liveries and obliterated views from the windows, but too many staff are wearing yellow "garage yard" jackets, trainers, civilian baseball caps etc etc. Ther amount of on vehicle advertising and publicity is so excessive and haphazard that it defeats the object, and I doubt if any passenger or passer by really takes any notice.To return to the "purple slugs" I take great exception to "First"s condescending and patronising insolence in thinking that they can put wheel spats on an articulated bus and expect me to believe that it is a "streetcar." I'm Afraid it's gone to pot since we left, Blakey, but if we think Leeds standards are poor they are "first" class to the standards in Stirling where we visit often but I forget there are shareholders to consider and I'm not one of them. YES INDEED, and to cap it all the boss of the outfit , Mr. Moir Lockhead, is now "SIR" for services to public transport !!!!At least we can't fault them on the slogan that greets you as you board the mobile advertising hoardings - "TRANSFORMING TRAVEL" !!!!

Terrym · Post by **Terrym** » Tue 29 Jul, 2008 10:48 am

Hi everyone,I have read the comments made on this post regarding the drop in standards from "The good old days"I would suggest that standards started to drop with some of the large operators on the day of de-regulation.Suddenly we had companies who had to answer to shareholders and not just knock on the council office door for a few more quid.If proof is needed of this just have a look at how many buses Yorkshire Rider refused to pay the lease on and sent them back to the relevant hire companies.Look at how many depots were closedI have worked for one of the very few remaining ex N.B.C. companies which is still privately owned. Whilst the majority of the buses have been upgraded over the past few years we still have drivers who are on less than £8 per hour,shifts which are 11 and 12 hours long but still only pay 9 hours, and a work force who are sick to the back teeth of passengers telling them "We Pay Your Wages".I started driving buses in 1974 and at that time there was a waiting list to get into the driving school, bus driving was a respected job, nowadays bus driving is the job to go for if you cannot get anything else.

chamusdarrach · Post by **chamusdarrach** » Tue 29 Jul, 2008 3:24 pm

Now here's a (totally impractical) thought !!Every so often, bus company employees go on strike, for variuos reasons, wouldn't it be great if, for once, it was the passengers that boycotted the bus services for a day, just think of all the lost revenue, and the publicity that would gain !!!Ok, I know that would never happen, but it might be the only way to get First to actually run its services the way they should be done, without putting cost savings at the fore..

Uno Hoo · Post by **Uno Hoo** » Wed 30 Jul, 2008 8:16 pm

Terrym wrote: Hi everyone,I have read the comments made on this post regarding the drop in standards from "The good old days"I would suggest that standards started to drop with some of the large operators on the day of de-regulation.Suddenly we had companies who had to answer to shareholders and not just knock on the council office door for a few more quid.If proof is needed of this just have a look at how many buses Yorkshire Rider refused to pay the lease on and sent them back to the relevant hire companies.Look at how many depots were closedI have worked for one of the very few remaining ex N.B.C. companies which is still privately owned. Whilst the majority of the buses have been upgraded over the past few years we still have drivers who are on less than £8 per hour,shifts which are 11 and 12 hours long but still only pay 9 hours, and a work force who are sick to the back teeth of passengers telling them "We Pay Your Wages".I started driving buses in 1974 and at that time there was a waiting list to get into the driving school, bus driving was a respected job, nowadays bus driving is the job to go for if you cannot get anything else. I remember well the first day of deregulation. Driving through Morley on my way to Wakefield, Black Prince buses were out in force, and on the way home in Pudsey was an ex-London DM or DMS painted in an attractive light blue / grey livery with "Airebus" fleetnames. I thought it was a very apt name. The good impression didn't last long, though, as the company bought loads of clapped-out ex-Edinburgh Fleetlines, didn't bother repainting them, and lost any credibility as an operator. The tow wagon was kept busy. Caught one from Leeds to Pudsey once, and even though I'm a bit of a bus enthusiast, I'd had enough of this one after about half a mile. The engine had a fuel injector failure, and the stink in the lower saloon was stomach-churning, and diesel fuel ran all over the floor. Airebus went out of business very shortly afterwards. Anyone else remember them?

georgie · Post by **georgie** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 12:27 pm

drapesy wrote: I remember the 45 - it was a strange route that seemed to take for ever. I know it took in Wortley, on Lower Wortley Lane - Kirkstall Bridge Road, Shaw Lane in Headingley and Lidgett Lane in Moortown. exactly where it started and finished I've no idea!!! I think it later becme the 95 - perhaps with a modification to the route? The '45' started outside the Capitol in Meanwood and went via Headingley, Armley Ridge Road, Whingate and down toOldfield Lane. This was the service I used in 1946 when I was working in Armley aged 14

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 05 Nov, 2008 10:36 pm

georgie wrote: drapesy wrote: I remember the 45 - it was a strange route that seemed to take for ever. I know it took in Wortley, on Lower Wortley Lane - Kirkstall Bridge Road, Shaw Lane in Headingley and Lidgett Lane in Moortown. exactly where it started and finished I've no idea!!! I think it later becme the 95 - perhaps with a modification to the route? The '45' started outside the Capitol in Meanwood and went via Headingley, Armley Ridge Road, Whingate and down toOldfield Lane. This was the service I used in 1946 when I was working in Armley aged 14 The 45 had a long and varied history, with many route and number changes. It originally ran from Kellet Crescent (Dixon Lane) to Meanwood Capitol. By the time I drove on there in 1969 - 73 it was a very long and enjopable route. It started at Wortley Ringways and then via Whingate, Headingley, Meanwood, Stonegate Road, King Lane, Gledhow Valley Road, Easterley Road, Boggart Hill, Kentmere Avenue, Seacroft (old bus station) to Stanks Kelmscott Green. A small hourly diversion (one bus in three) via the Askets was numbered 64, and the main route later renumbered 95.Until it became one man operated in the late 1960s only a relatively small number of drivers, those with "all types" licences, could work on there as it was operated with live gearbox and clutch buses. The last generation of these, somewhat strange but functional. had centre doorways and smoking only in the rear saloon and various "standing" allowances in one part and another. There were 2 Guy Arabs, 3 AEC Reliances and 3 Leyland Tiger Cubs - hills like Cockshott Lane were a nightmare. A further similar pair came later but with semi automatic (2 pedal) gearboxes.All that remains of the route now is the 38 - this has been extended from Ringways to the White Rose Centre but severly curtailed at the eastern end to Moortown and Oakwood. How times change eh ??I have two very interesting photos of a Blackpool Corporation single decker at Headingley in The War - headlamps masked for the black out - which was on loan to LCT and was on the 45 route to Meanwood.