The dreaded FIRST BUS!

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 25 Jul, 2012 10:56 pm

I wonder what Blakey will make of today's bus drivers slipping standards after watching this video?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUvRGVX ... e=relatedI blame the baseball caps

Leodian · Post by **Leodian** » Wed 25 Jul, 2012 11:17 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: I wonder what Blakey will make of today's bus drivers slipping standards after watching this video?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUvRGVX ... e=relatedI blame the baseball caps I liked the video of the very capable driver that was driving the bus up Saltburn Bank in snow. He was even curteous enough to give a friendly hand signal to a car driver.

BarFly · Post by **BarFly** » Wed 25 Jul, 2012 11:22 pm

BLAKEY wrote: [This though is by no means the first time that a double decker has gone through the Amberley Road bridge and come out the other side a saloon !! The bridge is very obviously too low one would think, but I have to say that "it could happen to anybody", acutely serious though it is. I am certainly not a Health & Safety, signs-on-everything person but a look on street view and there doesn't seem to be much warning of the bridge either.I remember driving a work van under a low bridge once, the bridge being marked 12' and the van 12' 2" I think, and only realising what I had done when I heard a scrape as I went under it -- thankfully I had just hit the suspended height bars. With a bridge like this they ought to have a break-off sign approaching it or at least huge warnings at the start of the road at both ends. Admittedly every driver ought to be aware of their vehicle's clearance but it you're driving a higher vehicle than usual, you've not seen a low bridge before or you're getting complacent then accidents can so easily happen.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Wed 25 Jul, 2012 11:38 pm

BLAKEY wrote: WiggyDiggy wrote: Not all may be the fault of the drivers as I have a friend who works for First and he (along with his retired father) bemoans the company as uncaring and disrespectful towards its workforce. I don't want to seem intolerant, or a traitor to bus employees, and as is well known I've no time at all for "First" - BUT to be fair I think they are far too tolerant to the employees, particularly in regard to uniform. The uniform is of good quality and is smart when properly worn, but I'm sick and tired of seeing drivers with their own baseball caps, trainers, and shirts hanging out - to say nothing of the wearing while driving of the yellow safety jackets which are intended only for use while walking in Company and Metro premises.Also there is far too much driving with one elbow resting on the cash counter or elsewhere and steering with NO fingers at all round the steering wheel, but simply the "heel" of the other hand on the rim of the wheel. Supporters of this suicidal practice arrogantly claim that "its OK with power steering" - of course its not !!Then there's the practice of deliberate slow driving so as to become far later than necessary and miss a trip or two later on - this is difficult to prove of course but is far more prevalent than the operator would care to acknowledge.Now, as with all discussions, there's nothing more unfair than the wicked "G" word - Generalisations !! I am the first to appreciate the hard work and difficult job performed conscientously by a large number of the lads and lasses - my comments above were in respect of the dodgers with no pride - I'm afraid there are a good few of those and always have been, and Leeds has always, even in LCT days, been a rich hunting ground for those of that persuasion.Two more unrelated points spring to mind here.I have always had the greatest admiration for lady bus drivers, and I've no hesitation in saying that the vast majority drive with considerable vehicle sympathy and good road sense. In particular I admired the first ladies who began in Leeds after the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act forced LCT and the TGWU to accept the move.Those first lasses had to put up with an awful lot of chauvinist nonsense at the time.One of my real pet hates is the expensive and utterly ridiulcous practice of the route branding of vehicles which is virtually impossible to adhere to. I've seen just one of many shining examples in Morley this lunchtime. Proudly displaying its "X 84" insignia all over, and lists of the attractions of lovely Wharfedale, was one of the recent Volvo B9TLs for the Skipton service. It was about to go via the 55 route to the City and Moortown !!I'm putting up the metal shutters now, as I fear that I may have ruffled one or two feathers among the "I'm super and slick and I don't need to hold the steering wheel even on tight corners in busy town centres" brigade. One such nearly wrote me off on Sunday afternoon as I was stood at the red traffic lights in Bridge End waiting to go up Briggate - around the tight corner from The Calls came our hero in just the manner I object to - wearing a superior expression and un-necessarily far too wide. His cab window was open, as was my car window, and so I bellowed out "Get hold of the steering wheel" - I'm very glad I didn't hear the inevitable retort Blakey, you've hit the nail on the head just right there.Earlier this evening was just such an experience as you mentioned.Without wishing to put the particular driver in the spotlight,his"driving skills" left a lot to be desired.One elbow on cash tray(not wheel),all the journey.Wasn't even what I would consider to be an easily controllable bus(little dumpy Arriva,holds about 20 ? ).Gets to one downhill bit,2 bad 90deg bend after each other(both blind),first bend he meets some oncoming and has to perform a miraculous manouevre to avoid a side swipe/hitting a large hedge.......so we beat that one.1/2 mile down the road,said driver,arm on cash tray then negotiates a very tight,blind hump back bridge.....total lack of overall control should a vehicle approach from the other direction not as expected.Disgraceful driving from one entrusted to ensure the safety of his passengers.Yes,I'm certainly glad they aren't all like that.This guy gives his fellow drivers a bad reputation allround unfortunately.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 12 Aug, 2012 12:56 pm

Oh dear.....feel sorry for the West Coast mainline passengers if this turns out to be true.Is there no end to this behomoth's ambitions ?????Perhaps it'll become the Worst Coast mainline !! hee heehttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/nat ... -1-4826716

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 12 Aug, 2012 4:44 pm

somme1916 wrote: Oh dear.....feel sorry for the West Coast mainline passengers if this turns out to be true.Is there no end to this behomoth's ambitions ?????Perhaps it'll become the Worst Coast mainline !! hee heehttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/nat ... -1-4826716 Whilst I'm clearly no fan of Worst, Vermin (Virgin) Trains don't seem to have too many fans either, with many allegations of sharp practices and poor customer service on-line. Don't forget either that 49% of Vermin Trains is actually owned by Stagecoach...What is even more worrying for us in Gods Own Country is that if Vermin have lost the West Coast Main Line, they are almost certain to bid for the East Coast Main Line at the end of next year.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 12 Aug, 2012 5:11 pm

raveydavey wrote: somme1916 wrote: Oh dear.....feel sorry for the West Coast mainline passengers if this turns out to be true.Is there no end to this behomoth's ambitions ?????Perhaps it'll become the Worst Coast mainline !! hee heehttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/nat ... -1-4826716 Whilst I'm clearly no fan of Worst, Vermin (Virgin) Trains don't seem to have too many fans either, with many allegations of sharp practices and poor customer service on-line. Don't forget either that 49% of Vermin Trains is actually owned by Stagecoach...What is even more worrying for us in Gods Own Country is that if Vermin have lost the West Coast Main Line, they are almost certain to bid for the East Coast Main Line at the end of next year. Aaarrrggghhh............

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sun 12 Aug, 2012 10:16 pm

raveydavey wrote: somme1916 wrote: Oh dear.....feel sorry for the West Coast mainline passengers if this turns out to be true.Is there no end to this behomoth's ambitions ?????Perhaps it'll become the Worst Coast mainline !! hee heehttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/nat ... -1-4826716 Whilst I'm clearly no fan of Worst, Vermin (Virgin) Trains don't seem to have too many fans either, with many allegations of sharp practices and poor customer service on-line. Don't forget either that 49% of Vermin Trains is actually owned by Stagecoach...What is even more worrying for us in Gods Own Country is that if Vermin have lost the West Coast Main Line, they are almost certain to bid for the East Coast Main Line at the end of next year. I strongly suspect CrossCountry trains are in the frame to be "awarded" this deal on the evidence of many "dry runs" pre-contract award.They already operate a fairly frequent London/Edinburgh service....CrossCountry are of course,owned by the ARRIVA group.I might sound paranoid but I'm very suspicious of carve ups/secret deals behind closed doors when it comes to rail/bus services.Any company losing a franchise would probably be recompensed with some other contract of similar value.Call me cynical but lots of things happen without proper public knowledge only for details to be leaked out at a much later date.The tender process has/is ruining the railways as each competing company seeks to gain work at ridiculous margin levels to then later decimate services and staff.Such a fate came to GNER and then in turn,National Express on the ECML....I believe the powers that be have seen the folly in that particular practice by now awarding extended contracts but I'm convinced much lobbying and shenanigans goes on behind closed doors also.Still,we shall see.......

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Mon 13 Aug, 2012 9:02 am

Then, of course, there's the inevitable "privatisation" practice of repainting the trains, new uniforms etc etc - no stability, and no dignified heritage possible. Whoever was responsible for condemning the beautiful dark blue/red/gold GNER livery should be made to walk the plank - it was replaced by the insipid National White with "lines and station dots" and then, at last, what a relief to see the present civilised light grey with unpretentious purple bands and lettering. I for one fervently hope that the present franchise is continued/renewed and that all the trains become this handsome livery.On the possibility of Cross Country Trains (oh, and Virgin before them) getting control of the East Coast Main Line I just shudder - having been a victim of their overcrowding, late running, cancellations and uncomfortable trains on more occasions than I care to think about.Are you listening Dr. Beeching, Mrs.Thatcher and the rest of the "Privatisation" brigade ??

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Mon 13 Aug, 2012 11:21 am

BLAKEY wrote: Then, of course, there's the inevitable "privatisation" practice of repainting the trains, new uniforms etc etc - no stability, and no dignified heritage possible. Whoever was responsible for condemning the beautiful dark blue/red/gold GNER livery should be made to walk the plank - it was replaced by the insipid National White with "lines and station dots" and then, at last, what a relief to see the present civilised light grey with unpretentious purple bands and lettering. I for one fervently hope that the present franchise is continued/renewed and that all the trains become this handsome livery.On the possibility of Cross Country Trains (oh, and Virgin before them) getting control of the East Coast Main Line I just shudder - having been a victim of their overcrowding, late running, cancellations and uncomfortable trains on more occasions than I care to think about.Are you listening Dr. Beeching, Mrs.Thatcher and the rest of the "Privatisation" brigade ?? Yes indeed Blakey....still,we shall have to see what comes out in the wash once the new contract is awarded.My understanding is that any company taking on the new franchise will still be parented by Directly Operated Railways Ltd(parent company of East Coast Main Line Company Ltd and owned by The Department for Transport).So it's a bit complicated with a private franchisee under the supervision of a public body.mmmThe management board of DOR ltd contains several ex train sen.managers who have been involved with other train operating companies.What possible impact this could have on a future appointed franchisee is anybody's guess but the tender process is,of course,all run above board under strict governance and legal compliance !The base colour currently in use for train & railstock is intended thus to make it easy for a new franchisee to make only minor adjustments to include its own corporate logo.Personally,I was distraught when GNER lost the contract to an "underbidder" whose woeful performance wrecked what was a very reliable and well respected company.Some things,such as these,are never for the better good and cause no end of problems.Just hope that they "get it right" this time eh ?