Messages

Yes I know its a shambles but theres no point moaning over it, I know exactly what the 28 is like after commuting on it for the last 18 years, but then again I forgot PB are supposed to fill up the vehicles with Red Bull 🙄

Yes there is a point in setting a timetable, it works most of the time when theres no roadworks (planned or unplanned) or when theres no unexpected RTC etc... Are you honestly trying to imply that buses shouldn't run to a timetable? 🤔

If the 28 is that bad in terms of reliability then you would have thought nx would have considered rerouting or retimetabling the route. Or split the route like they've done with the 11A/11C

So what do you expect the buses to do? Grow wings and fly over the traffic? The 28 is a nightmare and has been for a very long time now.
Well you can't have Deckers on the 28 unless you want them to be Single Deckers...
If anything your moaning about everytime a bus is late or not getting a seat is starting to sound like the daily 4H nonsense...

Jeez who rattled your cage tonight. One minute your agreeing saying the 28 is shambles and then your attacking 2206 for posting what he has experienced. If a bus is running consistently late and experiencing issues the onus is on nx to try and rectify the issue. If not there's no point in publishing a timetable if you know it can't be adhered too

1850- 4H halesowen

In my experience, I've found that a lot (not all) of NX drivers who've never worked for another company are not very good drivers.

They're used to driving up and down main trunk roads. Straight lines. Put them in Dickens Heath or similar and you'll find there'll be plenty of scrapes on the side of their buses.

None of them seem to have the ability to reverse (again because of lack of experience).

There's terrible drivers everywhere, but to say that NXWM drivers are better than others is not true. Typically, smaller operators drivers tend to have far better manoeuvrability / navigation.

The flip side to that is, the training you receive at Walsall is excellent. You're just not trained to think for yourself as much.

I would certainly agree with that. They seem to lack knowledge of the areas they travel through. In my area diamond drivers would be happy to work their way out should be there be an incident round here, whereas nx (unsure if they are instructed too) just sit there and wait for help from control.

What I'm saying is it doesn't take a genius to work out that those drivers at a smaller independent are more likely to feel valued and stay loyal to their firm especially (purely down to the close knit community they will have). 2900 many times has told us on the forum about the awful treatment and Rotas at nx. So with such poor Working conditions why would you want to work for them? Sure they get paid more than other competitors but is it really worth it? If I went to nx I could be expected to work stupidly unsociable hours (similar to HgV driving) or I could chose the likes of landflight, claribels who run very sociable hours for employees, similar to a day time job I imagine, or even diamond. Driver I know at tividale has been working for 25 years on reincarnations of the 4H and he's never once thought of leaving because he's never expected to work a night time, and has the same Rota week on week providing consistency for him. Also I'm not going to lie the passengers that nx are a dam disgrace to human society some of them. I'm glad the WM bus partnership is ending and I'm sure the diamond drivers are too who have been forced to carry these people. I can't blame nx drivers for leaving when the customers treat them like shît.

@Simon Dunn just a heads up the front destination blinds on 20050 aren't working

Another factor to consider with 'certain' smaller companies (I am not suggesting Landflight are like this as I do not know them well) is that the standard of drivers may not be the greatest and hence their drivers won't be of interest to any HGV firms (or similar) for driving jobs there. I have plenty of experience over the years of seeing drivers being dismissed by my company for various misdemeanours and then turning up working for these certain other companies a few weeks later.

In the current climate, highly trained NXWM drivers with exemplary driving records and longer periods of service for the company will be very attractive to HGV recruiters and are more likely to be able to obtain new jobs. Those drivers who have had multiple jobs with different bus companies over a short period of time will be far less attractive so less likely to leave their bus company.

NXWM, First, Stagecoach etc having high training and employment standards are actually creating the situation where their drivers are the most attractive for other driving jobs because those companies know these drivers are of a good quality.

A bus license is a bus license at the end of the day. You must have passed a test to be able to drive these buses so that's an absolute nonsense comment. Maybe if nx didn't sack people constantly or made it a better working environment then these drivers wouldn't leave?? A smaller companies drivers are likely to be a closer knit group and feel more appreciated by their boss rather than at nx where a driver is just a number?

With the stories from @2900 it's hardly a surprise they have a driver shortage

77 very StreetDeck today with both 3302 & 3303 on there all day

Got a ride on 3302 on the full route of the 77 today. Sad that these left PN, however a couple of students on the bus seemed to be impressed with its London like look.

21225 - 4H

I'm unsure what the hell is going on with the 4H running boards. If you look there has been a few mellors that seem to do peak boards. Solos are now a common occurrence on the 4H too.

@Tony looking at bus times and the 19, was there really no service from the QE between 15:00 and 17:00? Interested to know...

The 16:00 19 from QE failed to operate. I presume it broke down at QE as 830 should have been the vehicle and was tracking as being stuck at the QE.

I went to the forum and found this: 

https://tangytango.proboards.com/thread/10377/ceased-bus-companies?page=13&scrollTo=655880

I sincerely hope this isn't true. Don't want nx ruining more of the network

The 13 no longer seems to be mellor operated.

4505- WB42

I dont know Tony, you get to travel on a rancid Solo

I don't think the vehicles used are the issue here. Arriva had some lovely branded streetlites when they ran the route and it still struggled then.