Chaserider

[ellspurs]

Chaserider won't be bothered though as our current bunch of traffic commissioners are overpaid, lazy, spineless, wastes of space. The number of bus operators called up to public inqiary due to failing to operate services in line with registration is extremely low. I reported Stagecoach South Wales a few years back when they were cancelling upto 700 trips per week, and nothing happened from the Traffic Commissioner. They don't care for enforcing buses. IF they did, we would have a damn sight less cowboy operators operating buses.

When Mr Parker starts to lord over the TfWM services, will they be more strict with this do you think?

[RobertJ21a]

There will be another new bus entering service soon

It wouldn't matter if the whole fleet was renewed with new top quality buses, there's people on this thread that will moan and complain about absolutely everything.

[Jack]

2 cars and a bike. But that has nothing to do with it. I also live in London.

I wasn't replying to you, look back at what I posted...

[Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer]

It wouldn't matter if the whole fleet was renewed with new top quality buses, there's people on this thread that will moan and complain about absolutely everything.

Yep. That im afraid is what puts us drivers off enthusiasts as the bad ones always ruin it for the good ones

[Stu]

When Mr Parker starts to lord over the TfWM services, will they be more strict with this do you think?

I expect so, franchise contracts will come with performance conditions, and services will be monitored to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.

To an extent TfWM does this already with their tendered contracts - where mileage is lost and journeys don't run, operators don't get paid for them.

[Bob]

There will be another new bus entering service soon

One of the Evoras theyre expecting? 

[Capitalpotter]

It wouldn't matter if the whole fleet was renewed with new top quality buses, there's people on this thread that will moan and complain about absolutely everything.

Oh I do have some allies on here then 😁

[Capitalpotter]

I wasn't replying to you, look back at what I posted...

Apologies. It's just seemed I was being attacked from all angles

[solonightrider]

Buy a car then

Thank you for your input -  but beleive it or not in the real world some folk have to rely on daily bus services to get to work school appointments and so on, its obvious you dont then with a silly immature remark.  Do you know if i drive in order to buy a car ??  perhaps if i did i would not need to rely on a bus to turn up.  Think before you shout folk down We are currenlty still allowed free speech just about in the UK for now.

[solonightrider]

I use the 828 often for work it's a mixed bag of buses, some on time, some late, some missing altogether - as a user you want consistency. I've caught an ex Arriva solo (181) home a couple of times this week on the 1820 from Stafford and it's been fine as not very busy. Mix of new old and very old bigger vehicles generally - as long ad their fit they don't need to be brand new. It does seem odd to see brand new buses on the 826 and 827 though if the longer distance 828 is struggling.
 

the new little solos are only on loan i read somewhere. One of the new mmc was on the staffords the other day nice little motor to travel on.  The new style livery on the old arriva volvo looks a lot better than the plain red livery too.

[Capitalpotter]

Thank you for your input -  but beleive it or not in the real world some folk have to rely on daily bus services to get to work school appointments and so on, its obvious you dont then with a silly immature remark.  Do you know if i drive in order to buy a car ??  perhaps if i did i would not need to rely on a bus to turn up.  Think before you shout folk down We are currenlty still allowed free speech just about in the UK for now.

You're telling me to stop shouting folk down then saying we're allowed free speech?  Surely I'm allowed to say what I like then?

[Wumpty]

What some members have conveniently forgottenis that the same berating, bemoaning and constant criticism was rife when Arriva ran the network.

Chaserider have taken on these routes where a large operator couldn't/didn't want to continue running them. They were loss making, no prospect of improving passenger numbers and stuck between the rock of the travelling public (some who didn't use the buses!) , and the hard place of local politicians using the buses as a political stick to beat operators with and curry favour with the voting public! I don't blame Arriva for their exit and I applaud Chaserider for trying.

It is very easy to criticise bus companies for failures, though you forget that there is no other prospect waiting in the wings if Chaserider decide to cease operations. There's no competition on their routes, for a very good reason - the routes are not sustainable.

With no increase in revenue, they cannot invest in new buses to replace an ageing fleet - they are trying to upgrade the fleet slowly, but this takes time and money - both of which many posters seem to forget.

I appreciate that the bus network is a vital lifeline and in semi-rural areas, even moreso, though constantly slating them on a forum that has absolutely no influence on what happens, won't change anything.

"Go and buy a car then" - why not? If the buses are so poor and you cannot rely on them then why not?

"I can't afford to tax, insure or fuel one!" - and that's the same issue Chaserider faces - do tax, insure and fuel the buses we have, or invest in new buses, slash services to minimum frequencies and be criticised again?

I do rely on buses, as well as own a car, and face the same issues as some members on here do, though I don't sound off moaning with no viable solution to the problem.

IF, and only IF, I was Chaserider reading these posts (which I doubt they do), I'd take the tack that there's no appreciation for what they do and their resources and efforts would be best employed elsewhere in the group.

[Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer]

What some members have conveniently forgottenis that the same berating, bemoaning and constant criticism was rife when Arriva ran the network.

Chaserider have taken on these routes where a large operator couldn't/didn't want to continue running them. They were loss making, no prospect of improving passenger numbers and stuck between the rock of the travelling public (some who didn't use the buses!) , and the hard place of local politicians using the buses as a political stick to beat operators with and curry favour with the voting public! I don't blame Arriva for their exit and I applaud Chaserider for trying.

It is very easy to criticise bus companies for failures, though you forget that there is no other prospect waiting in the wings if Chaserider decide to cease operations. There's no competition on their routes, for a very good reason - the routes are not sustainable.

With no increase in revenue, they cannot invest in new buses to replace an ageing fleet - they are trying to upgrade the fleet slowly, but this takes time and money - both of which many posters seem to forget.

I appreciate that the bus network is a vital lifeline and in semi-rural areas, even moreso, though constantly slating them on a forum that has absolutely no influence on what happens, won't change anything.

"Go and buy a car then" - why not? If the buses are so poor and you cannot rely on them then why not?

"I can't afford to tax, insure or fuel one!" - and that's the same issue Chaserider faces - do tax, insure and fuel the buses we have, or invest in new buses, slash services to minimum frequencies and be criticised again?

I do rely on buses, as well as own a car, and face the same issues as some members on here do, though I don't sound off moaning with no viable solution to the problem.

IF, and only IF, I was Chaserider reading these posts (which I doubt they do), I'd take the tack that there's no appreciation for what they do and their resources and efforts would be best employed elsewhere in the group.

Well said. Doesn't help with getting new buses on a area not making much money when the rent for delta way went up from £44K a year to £90K a year. 

On an a fleet more or less from arriva which were the knackered buses while arriva took all the decent ones it hasn't left Chaserider much wiggle room at all. 

With a money margin as it is Chaserider have actually put in a massive upgrade into Cannock with a bunch of newer buses unlike Arriva which ran a lot of old stuff i.e the darts. Only major upgrade cannock got was the mk2's brand new for pye greens which eventually just went to pot and they went on anything. Plus the saphire streetlites for the 1&2. 

Meanwhile Chaserider have invested in the evoras for the 60 plus the 2 for the 74 & the remaining ones still waiting on delivery & The mmc's.  

[Wumpty]

Well said. Doesn't help with getting new buses on a area not making much money when the rent for delta way went up from £44K a year to £90K a year.

On an a fleet more or less from arriva which were the knackered buses while arriva took all the decent ones it hasn't left Chaserider much wiggle room at all.

With a money margin as it is Chaserider have actually put in a massive upgrade into Cannock with a bunch of newer buses unlike Arriva which ran a lot of old stuff i.e the darts. Only major upgrade cannock got was the mk2's brand new for pye greens which eventually just went to pot and they went on anything. Plus the saphire streetlites for the 1&2.

Meanwhile Chaserider have invested in the evoras for the 60 plus the 2 for the 74 & the remaining ones still waiting on delivery & The mmc's. 

Exactly this!!!!

For some context, I own and use a 2008 diesel car - it's no looker but it does what I want it to do.

I tax it, insure it, fuel it, pay clean air zone charges and carry The Duchess and the family in it knowing full well there are better cars around, but why would I knowing that it gets a hammering 7 days a week, it carries all of my work kit in it in a quasi-van fashion and I repair it when it breaks down.

Point is, I have a CHOICE to make a change, as do the travelling public, and the operators, but I don't. That's my choice.

[RobertJ21a]

Exactly this!!!!

For some context, I own and use a 2008 diesel car - it's no looker but it does what I want it to do.

I tax it, insure it, fuel it, pay clean air zone charges and carry The Duchess and the family in it knowing full well there are better cars around, but why would I knowing that it gets a hammering 7 days a week, it carries all of my work kit in it in a quasi-van fashion and I repair it when it breaks down.

Point is, I have a CHOICE to make a change, as do the travelling public, and the operators, but I don't. That's my choice.

Blimey, 3 posts in a row that make more sense than dozens before. Just a shame that the moaners won't read, or even understand!
Perhaps these same people never understood why Arriva thought it was best to just give in......