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Regarding an earlier comment about capacity on the 126, I was on a long solo earlier, which I think have a higher seating capacity than the Streetlites, and it had a standing load practically after setting off. The driver had to put not in service up as it would be unsafe to run with so many standees on the motorway. This is common on a weekend. Can the capacity issues be addressed?

Simon,

Is SO65LRJ having the vinyls advertising the housing estate in Leigh removed in the future? Or at least some new vinyls on the windows as they're noticabley peeling.

I've noticed, it's when the rugby is on at home, the service from Wigan can be standing room only, which isn't ideal for being on the motorway.

Simon,

Just wondering if you could give some clarification regarding the ultra low emission bus funding for the 582. I had been advised by someone senior at First that the funding would be passed onto yourselves upon the purchase of Bolton. Is there an anticipated time scale on when these electrics will enter service and what spec are they?

Thanks.

With all due respect, that reply is arrogant. "The driver issue is at a manageable level". This is not what your drivers, nor TFGM are telling customers. Average of 13 boards a day being cut, 45 minute waits. Mini solos going on the busiest routes in GM. And regarding the drivers issue, no wonder you are short when drivers are saying they've not been paid for their holidays and are not being paid in full in general...

To quote Bob Dunns message from Bolton Depot "Firstly we want to be recognised as number one bus operator in Greater Manchester".. you've got a long while to go before that happens..

Rant over..

 An open letter in the Bolton news reiterates my point, staff shortages are causing so many trips to be dropped in Bolton and Wigan. Is it not time to drop routes which you're competing on if you cant provide services across the borough. For the sake of bus passengers..

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/18082774.letter-disappointed-diamond-buses/

Hi Simon,

The situation at Bolton just hasn't improved since my last comment, in fact, it seems to have gotten worse. Today, the 571 just didn't run, the 575 had a half hourly service and practically every other route suffered. Yesterday 3 consecutive boards on the 471 didn't run leading to delays of over 40 minutes etc etc.. If you dont have the drivers to operate routes, then the wise and honorable thing to do is to stop competing on routes which are already operated by other companies...

Thanks.

I agree - that we have had more reliability issues than we like.  Some of these reliability issues are related to roadworks, and we inherited a position were First were short of drivers.  The introduction of Our Pass has also played a part.

From day one our lost mileage % has been substantially lower than First was, and we have never been 100 drivers short - so I am not sure where that number comes from.

We have more than enough drivers now to deliver service daily - we would like more and we will continue to recruit.  From 27th October we lose some tendered services, on contact retendering and we have removed the 13 service.

So I apologise if you have had issues.  We showed our intent with the acquisition of 25 Euro 6 vehicles, and they were brought in to improve reliability.

We think we are in a much better place now, and you will start to see that daily.


Simon 

Again, without being rude, this isn't what I've been experiencing and it's what a lot of your drivers are saying. Just yesterday there where many buses dumped on stand at Bolton Interchange with no driver, with TFGM then having to run around trying to find someone to shift it off stand.  And it's not unusual to have 1, 2 or even 3 consecutive boards not running on some of the busiest services ie 471 &5 582 leading to overcrowding etc. The 100 driver figure came from just before you took over in August, and had come from people who's information is normally very reliable.

I think the new buses being brought in is fantastic, and well needed in the areas Bolton now cover.

Hi Simon,
Please don't take this the wrong way, and it's not intended to be rude, but I think it needs saying.
Services at Bolton have been appalling, a disgrace infact. 100 drivers short, buses short and boards being pulled on a daily basis. I understand you weren't necessarily expecting so many drivers to leave, and that you are having a recruitment drive, but how long can it go on for. This could take over a year to resume some sort of normality. It has now become normal to wait 40 minutes every day for a 10 minute service because you don't have enough drivers; yet you are still competing on routes that already have operators on them (ie 575, 571/2 in Bolton, just to name a few). I honestly think the decent thing to do would be to hang these up, and focus and try and improve the rest of the network,  otherwise you'll see patronage down, and it just then plays into Andy Burnhams franchising argument.

Many thanks,
A regular user.