Rotala Management - Questions & Answers

[Simon Dunn]

Okay thanks.

Can I ask an unrelated question? What happens in an instance like this morning when the ticket machine isn't working and the driver is unable to issue tickets and doesn't take any fares? 

What should have happened, is that the driver should have contacted the depot and asked for a replacement machine.

So I can check.  Can you confirm which service this was on, the direction and time is was travelling please.


Simon

[Rachvince53]

What should have happened, is that the driver should have contacted the depot and asked for a replacement machine.

So I can check.  Can you confirm which service this was on, the direction and time is was travelling please.


Simon

Hi
It was the 0750 from Penn, Wakeley Hill towards Wolverhampton (which starts from Belmont Road at 0744) and was on service 64. 

Thanks

[Jay71]

Any idea why the 42 service is not showing on bustimes.org?

[Simon Dunn]

Any idea why the 42 service is not showing on bustimes.org?

Thank you.  I am away at present.  I have had someone check and I am told it is tracking

[Simon Dunn]

Any idea why the 42 service is not showing on bustimes.org?

Thank you.

I have checked and I am advised of the following

"Afternoon Simon,
 
The ticket machine dropped out during the dead runt approx. 07:30.
 
A replacement ticket machine was with the vehicle at 08:20am."

[Jay71]

Thank you.  I am away at present.  I have had someone check and I am told it is tracking

Everything is working fine now

[Jay71]

30823...The left headlights are not working 

[Simon Dunn]

30823...The left headlights are not working

Thank you

[2206]

Hi Simon just something that occurred to me. Will we see next stop announcements on the Kidderminster services soon including 15a/c?

I think some vehicles at the depot should be already compliant like 21234, 32260 & 32312/13/14 & others like 20164 should be compliant by October?

Also what about sections that seem to be treated like hail & ride sections like silverwoods way, will that be announced to.

I noticed today on 21234 the route number doesn't fit the display properly as well.

[Simon Dunn]

Hi Simon just something that occurred to me. Will we see next stop announcements on the Kidderminster services soon including 15a/c?

I think some vehicles at the depot should be already compliant like 21234, 32260 & 32312/13/14 & others like 20164 should be compliant by October?

Also what about sections that seem to be treated like hail & ride sections like silverwoods way, will that be announced to.

I noticed today on 21234 the route number doesn't fit the display properly as well.

Our Next stop isn't working like we would like it to at present.  

At present the drivers select the trip in the destination blind - and it scrolls as the bus moves through service.  We are hopeful within a few weeks, the Nextstop will be a direct feed from the Ticket Machine/ and Ticket machine stops.  This will help us deal with changes and programming better.

So - to answer your question, the nextstop will only announce what is the the stop in our timetables.   We have the equipment installed to do all this, we are reliant upon Ticketer to resolve programming issues.


Simon

[B7RLE]

Simon, I have a question about the 25 and its stopping locations. For years, even back when it was the 250/251, services have been stopping at a specific location on each of Meriden Avenue and Eggington Road. These have never been listed as bus stops in your open data, and since 2023 when the 25 took over the running of the section, they haven't been listed on your website. But drivers are clearly taught that they are bus stops as if someone dings the bell on the approach to them, they will still stop at these 2 "bus stops" (as well as if someone puts their hand out there). So I want to ask, are Meriden Avenue and Eggington Road actually bus stops on the 25?

[B7RLE]

Hello again Simon, I didn't put this in what I said above as it slipped out of my mind, however I have been meaning to bring this up for months. Together between both Diamond and NXWM, the 4/4H/4M are good services to use, with amazing frequencies for what they are. One issue that does deter me and I assume many others from the 4s, specifically experiences on the 4H with Diamond, is how busy the vehicles can get at times. Its common for me to see standing on the Streetlites when I ride the 4H, and although it isn't the end of the world, I feel that there are more suitable vehicles elsewhere at Tividale. For example, there always seems to be a Versa on the 229, which I believe is overkill and would be more suitable for the 4H. Another example can be found in your Pulsar fleet, where there always seems to be some on odd routes, such as the 17 and 25. Obviously, you know more than me, however as I believe my examples show, from the outside looking in, it appears there could be full length single deckers on other services that could be swapped out for the current Streetlites on the 4H?

[Simon Dunn]

Simon, I have a question about the 25 and its stopping locations. For years, even back when it was the 250/251, services have been stopping at a specific location on each of Meriden Avenue and Eggington Road. These have never been listed as bus stops in your open data, and since 2023 when the 25 took over the running of the section, they haven't been listed on your website. But drivers are clearly taught that they are bus stops as if someone dings the bell on the approach to them, they will still stop at these 2 "bus stops" (as well as if someone puts their hand out there). So I want to ask, are Meriden Avenue and Eggington Road actually bus stops on the 25?

I am not sure of the stops.  I have asked the Commercial / Depot team.

I am advised their isn't a bus stop at this location.   They have checked the contract and it is likewise quite vague.  Based upon this, they shouldn't as things stand be picking/dropping off there.


Simon

[Simon Dunn]

Hello again Simon, I didn't put this in what I said above as it slipped out of my mind, however I have been meaning to bring this up for months. Together between both Diamond and NXWM, the 4/4H/4M are good services to use, with amazing frequencies for what they are. One issue that does deter me and I assume many others from the 4s, specifically experiences on the 4H with Diamond, is how busy the vehicles can get at times. Its common for me to see standing on the Streetlites when I ride the 4H, and although it isn't the end of the world, I feel that there are more suitable vehicles elsewhere at Tividale. For example, there always seems to be a Versa on the 229, which I believe is overkill and would be more suitable for the 4H. Another example can be found in your Pulsar fleet, where there always seems to be some on odd routes, such as the 17 and 25. Obviously, you know more than me, however as I believe my examples show, from the outside looking in, it appears there could be full length single deckers on other services that could be swapped out for the current Streetlites on the 4H?

I will talk to the depot Manager and let see what we can do to improve this.


Simon

[the trainbasher]

I am not sure of the stops.  I have asked the Commercial / Depot team.

I am advised their isn't a bus stop at this location.  They have checked the contract and it is likewise quite vague.  Based upon this, they shouldn't as things stand be picking/dropping off there.


Simon

Hi Simon,

I believe that it was custom for drivers to stop there, as, although there was never a stop there, Hansons drivers treated that section as Hail and Ride as there was no alternate stop in Wollaston originally for the 250/251 services when they were launched in the mid 2000s, same as Norwood Road in Brockmoor.