Quote from: tank90 on August 08, 2014, 04:18:14 PMQuote from: DiamondDart on August 08, 2014, 03:25:33 PM
I disagree actually.
It's not much more complicated really-there were already 4 variations and now there are still only 4-55/H/56/H. Provided full-size buses are put onto the route, I'm sure the later journeys and provision of a (very good level of) Sunday service will be popular!
It's more complex than it's ever been if i'm going to be honest with you. Looking at some of Diamonds new timings they are hoping for no parked cars and drivers driving at 40 mph in 30 zones. I can see on the 55H and 56H's that Mason Road and Swimburne Road are going to miss out on a bus if it's late running from either end.
Also the reduction in frequency will be a night mere too. And then Parents in september who relye on the quicker frequency in the morning will struggle to get to work on time. Its a mess, Diamond have NOT listern to what I had said to them yet again. the 55 and 56 needs to be every 20 because they are not going to put full length buses on the route they will be those silly 37 seaters and 29 seaters. This new 55/56 should have been every 15 not 30 it makes it harder to get around the town, it will be a sad day as Diamond promised to improve the buses in the town this is clearly not whats happening here on the western side of town.
Tank90,
I hope you don't mind me addressing your points directly:
We have undertaken a large Network Review of the area and the changes are in keeping with what the majority of people in the area requested. That is; more buses to link Webheath to points around Redditch (inlcuding the hospital), better links to Studley, weekend buses, later running, direct services where possible. The 55/55H and 56/56H is no more complex than having a 57A and 57 or 58A and 58. I am sure that marketing material will make this clear and I hope people will be relieved at having the transport links. We will all get used to the services in time. I would also state that although you would like to see the 55/56 at every 15 minutes (and so would I), there is not the demand nor cash there to support that many vehicles.
Although I appreciate your sentence "Diamond have NOT listern to what I had said to them yet again" - we have to listen to what all the people of Redditch have asked for and we are trying to deliver that within the constraints that we have (passenger numbers etc). The new network is designed to increase passenger growth in the next year and we will monitor routes closely; making changes where required. We have run the routes and put timetables through our software so timings should not be too large an issue. If we find timekeeping issues we will resolve these as soon as we possibly can.
I believe that the increase in services to Webheath, Studley and improved links elsewhere that will soon be advertised actually prove that we are improving services.
Please rest assured that we constantly strive to improve our services; we never make decisions that we think will annoy or detract from passenger growth.
I hope, if the new registrations are accepted, you will travel and try to get a feel for the new network; then give me a shout and perhaps we could talk about them in more detail?
Thanks,
Stephen