Messages

Thanks to everyone for questions, comments and debates on here over the years when I was both with NXWM and, since 2013, with Arriva.

As some of you will know, I am both a bus professional and an enthusiast (with not enough time for the latter sadly).  I have always loved my job and the industry.

Since Feb 2018 when I came back to being an Operational Director my area has grown from being what was Midlands North and Derby to include Leicester/shire and now, since February this year, Milton Keynes as well. 

With such a large area comes an increase in workload but also less awareness of some of the details of the day to day operations - for those I trust my excellent team of managers.  I am not as close to some of the things that you all ask about as I used to be. 

I also have less time to spend on here happily reading through the various posts and threads (for my own interest) and answering questions.  Recent posts have also made me feel as if the answers I give are now fair game to be taken apart and overly criticised, rather than being the genuine attempt to answer questions as best I can.

So I will leave the site in my professional capacity and thank you all for the posts over the years - maybe getting on for 10 years I think.  I will lurk in the background reading what I can, when I can.  Stay safe all.

["considering all other forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, before using public transport"]

@Simon@Arriva the phrase essential journeys was used by HM Government for passengers such as myself using buses throughout the lockdown to access hospital treatment on what was an essential journey. Now many have returned to work the advice has moved as clearly stated in the Government advice too:
"considering all other forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, before using public transport"
therefore journeys are now being made for many that are non essential consequently as ever with everything Arriva do in The West Midlands County my perseciption from actually using our bus network this week are that your comments are fundamentally flawed.

Thank you for saying my comments are fundamentally flawed.  Always nice to be told such things when I come on here to try and answer questions for people.

Although from what I saw while out on a walk this afternoon, it is acceptable for the drivers significant other to meet her at a stop mid route to have a cigarette whilst sat in the doorway of the bus and not bothering to social distance.

Having cigarettes mid route has never been acceptable.  A couple from the same household don't have to social distance of course - nor those in a social bubble.

No it doesn't - the latest guidance issued to the public quite clearly restricts any reference to essential journeys as applying to/from/in locations in local lockdown.
;
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Yes you are correct - I was paraphrasing a bit and had my Leicester head on!

The 2A is showing as running from tomorrow on google maps, I presume this is incorrect?

Yes incorrect.

[considering all other forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, before using public transport]

As ever Arriva are totally wrong on the current Government guidance on using public transport.  The guidance changed on 4th July from only using public transport for essential journeys to:

" You can help control coronavirus and travel safely by:
working from home where possible
shopping locally and less often
considering all other forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, before using public transport
avoiding the busiest times and route
keeping your distance when your travel, where possible
washing or sanitising your hands regularly"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Where are we totally wrong?

[We have been closely following industry guidance on social distancing and from 8th July we will be changing our onboard seating guidance.Please sit one per row unless travelling with a member of your own household.This excludes Leicester and surrounding areas, where our current seating guidelines remain in place in line with the localised lockdown of the area.To protect your fellow customers and our drivers you can also follow the below steps when travelling onboard:- Please keep your face covering on for the entire journey. Face coverings must be worn onboard.- Follow our no standing policy- Pay by contactless or the app. Only use cash as a last resort and with exact fare only as our drivers cannot provide change.- Please don't travel if you feel unwell- Face away from others when sitting onboardThroughout the pandemic your and our employees' safety has been and continues to be our priority and we will continue to monitor our service levels in line with current demand and ongoing advice from public health bodies.For more information please visit: arrivabus.co.ukStay safeArriva UK Bus]

Hi Simon

Had this targeted email the other day (see below). Does the recent change of tone and capacity (excluding Leicester of course) suggest more general customers are been welcomed back? The same tone seems to be also been seen with other operators, First Kernow for example are putting summer frequencies back up for tourist routes routes with open tops from 12th July:


We have been closely following industry guidance on social distancing and from 8th July we will be changing our onboard seating guidance.

Please sit one per row unless travelling with a member of your own household.

This excludes Leicester and surrounding areas, where our current seating guidelines remain in place in line with the localised lockdown of the area.

To protect your fellow customers and our drivers you can also follow the below steps when travelling onboard:

- Please keep your face covering on for the entire journey. Face coverings must be worn onboard.

- Follow our no standing policy

- Pay by contactless or the app. Only use cash as a last resort and with exact fare only as our drivers cannot provide change.

- Please don't travel if you feel unwell

-  Face away from others when sitting onboard

Throughout the pandemic your and our employees' safety has been and continues to be our priority and we will continue to monitor our service levels in line with current demand and ongoing advice from public health bodies.

For more information please visit: arrivabus.co.uk

Stay safe

Arriva UK Bus

The Government advice remains that public transport should be used only if essential and we support that.  However, as more lockdown restrictions are eased, more people will be using the bus and we wanted to send out a message that reinforces what needs to happen when they travel and what they can expect.

[(1) How much have you applied for?]

Earlier this year the government announced £30m to local authorities to support and restore lost bus services. I submit a freedom of information request to Staffordshire County Council asking how much they have applied for and the specific details of their application. Their response to my questions are below:

(1) How much have you applied for?
Staffordshire County Council has applied for £583,372

(2) At the time of this FOI request (27/06/2020) has the funding been approved?
No

(3) What specific bus routes or corridors will be subsidised in Staffordshire? (I have grouped these)
South Staffordshire
1 Cannock – Walsall (2 Hourly)
7 Stafford – Moss Pit (Hourly)
9 Stafford – Highfields (Hourly)
12 Stafford – Doxey (Hourly)
H Stafford – Hospital (Hourly)
26 Cannock – Pye Green Circular (Hourly)
60A Cannock – Lichfield (2 Hourly)
70 Cannock – Wolverhampton (2 Hourly)
74 Stafford – Cannock via Brocton (2 hourly)
75 Stafford – Cannock via Penkridge (2 hourly)
811 Lichfield – Burton via Fradley, Alrewas & Barton (2 hourly)
825 Stafford – Lichfield via Rugeley (2 hourly)
765 Tamworth – Lichfield via Whittington (Hourly)

North Staffordshire
2 Stapenhill – Burton – Horninglow (Hourly)
16 Leek – Cheddleton – Hanley (additional journeys) infill
16 Buxton- Leek (1 return journey) infill
32 Uttoxeter – Upper Tean (Hourly(
109 Leek – Macclesfield (2 return journeys)
228 Kinver – Merry Hill (Stourbridge) (90 min)
401 Uttoxeter – Burton via Tutbury (2 Hourly)
Swift Uttoxeter – Ashbourne (2 Hourly)

(4) Will you be supporting daytime, evening and Sunday services?
It is proposed to use 100% of the funding to restore a daytime Sunday/Bank Holiday service following routes that currently have a Monday to Saturday commercial service in place.

(5) Will Great Wyrley, Landywood and Cheslyn Hay have reinstated evening and Sunday bus services?
The funding is to be used as in 4

(6) When will operators be able to start new supported services or journeys?
No proposed date presently as award of funding has not yet been confirmed.

Very interesting Lee and well done for following up in the interest of bus users in your area.

Thats interesting thanks. Do you agree the 2A would be more suitable? Especially given they used to fund the 2E so not sure why they chose the 1 in their intent.

Personal view, I think the 2 would be best option.

Are you even planning on bringing the 1 back anyway?

The 1 is suspended due to Covid but the registration remains live.

@Simon@Arriva According to SCC following my FOI request they state one of the Sunday routes they are looking to reinstate is the number 1. Do you have much say over this? It would make much more sense for it to be the 2A as this would cover Cheslyn Hay, Landywood and Great Wyrley rather than just Wyrley.

Hi

Not much sway on this.  The tender will come out and people will bid.  The County will put out what they want.  Sometimes we can propose alternatives but not always.

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/coronavirus/important-service-information---midlands/

Staffordshire changes from 4th July now in this link.

Simon could you utilise one of the large poster frames at Cannock station (by the steps) for either the latest updates to service frequencies and/or a list of which services depart from which stand (including 67, 71, X51)? There used to be one there. I know there are destinations on the back of RTPI displays. Cheers.

I will ask marketing what is possible.

@Simon@Arriva Will you be reducing the service levels in Leicester considering the lockdown which will be happening here from Thursday and Saturday?

No we won't be reducing but we have postponed our planned increase that was due to start this weekend.

Interesting. Can you confirm that the former Sapphire 1 route wont be operated by clapped out threadbare knackers? Also have TFWM relaxed emissions restrictions on the 2? As it seems to be permanently run with 15/16 year old Darts?

All I have seen on the 2 are Solos but I am not in Cannock daily.  Yes, the emissions rule was relaxed.