VERY Late running services

[Rob H]

Obviously I don't know official facts and figures, but the 90 was always a very good and very punctual service.
Since extended and re numbered 70, I've noticed more late runnings and on a few occasions two 70s running only minutes apart into City.

I got on 4442 on the 70 today going into Solihull and I thought it already gone and that was running 15 minutes late and before that I noticed 2 60's running together from Cranes Park to Birmingham

[domino.99]

well ALL 82(WN) are delayed for some reason anyone  have any idea why

[OH25]

the 89 I got on today got to Ladywood by Tesco and hit a dog by the traffic lights
it held the bus up and eventually another packed 89 cane followed by 2 82's and 2 87's all in a line

[Liverpool Street]

Full PVR 100% of Pershore Road were running a minimum of 10minutes late and all PVR were running in a group. Unbelievable to see about 9 inbound, 7outbound and then 10 minutes later like another 5 inbound with the addition of a breakdown at Belgrave!!! A. V. Hell... you have some explaining to do.

[Dylan4579]

53 Bunched tonight  >:( >:(

[Sh4318]

Another traffic jam on Colmore Row, which resulted in the 1910 128 (4518) turning up at 1917, the 1920 127 (4226) turning up at 1923 and the 1850, 1915, 1935 120 turning up between 1925-1935

[Stuharris 6360]

Another traffic jam on Colmore Row, which resulted in the 1910 128 (4518) turning up at 1917, the 1920 127 (4226) turning up at 1923 and the 1850, 1915, 1935 120 turning up between 1925-1935

What are AVL up to  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

[Liverpool Street]

Another traffic jam on Colmore Row, which resulted in the 1910 128 (4518) turning up at 1917, the 1920 127 (4226) turning up at 1923 and the 1850, 1915, 1935 120 turning up between 1925-1935

What are AVL up to  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

Probably booking drivers for two minutes then having an attitude problem when requesting adjustment after being 45minutes late. Biggest waste of a cool mil ever.

[Mike K]

Obviously I don't know official facts and figures, but the 90 was always a very good and very punctual service.
Since extended and re numbered 70, I've noticed more late runnings and on a few occasions two 70s running only minutes apart into City.

It's not rocket science that these routes that do a huge arc around East Birmingham and down to Solihull suffer reliability problems, they're just far too long. I can't understand why NX don't see that. If they provide useful links then split them in two but in a city that suffers the traffic problems that Birmingham does, routes that long will never run to time. The same applies to routes like the 49, and the former 69 Weoley Castle to Heartlands Hospital service.

[the trainbasher]

Another traffic jam on Colmore Row, which resulted in the 1910 128 (4518) turning up at 1917, the 1920 127 (4226) turning up at 1923 and the 1850, 1915, 1935 120 turning up between 1925-1935

What are AVL up to  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

Probably booking drivers for two minutes then having an attitude problem when requesting adjustment after being 45minutes late. Biggest waste of a cool mil ever.

It's absolutely fabulous....if you enjoy wasting money!!

[Tony]

Another traffic jam on Colmore Row, which resulted in the 1910 128 (4518) turning up at 1917, the 1920 127 (4226) turning up at 1923 and the 1850, 1915, 1935 120 turning up between 1925-1935

What are AVL up to  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

I was in the AVL room all day yesterday (an am most of next week). Perhaps you could tell me what AVL could have done here. Most of Birmingham City Centre ground to a halt yesterday afternoon, you yourself say Colmore Row was blocked.

The first two buses you mention are 7 and 3 minutes late, hardly likely to be adjusted.

The three 120 would be a mix of those starting at Dudley and Oldbury. You wouldn't adjust the Dudley one unless there was another one with it because it would have been needed to carry passengers out of Dudley Bus Station. Most of the time lost was probably between Five Ways and Colmore Row giving little scope for adjustment. There is not someone in AVL just watching one route at all time. The person watching the 120s would also be doing the 9, 51, X51, 74, 4(WA), 311/313, 529 amongst others. If the drivers haven't pressed their late button he wouldn't even notice a little bunching like that with what was happening on all routes yesterday.

Anyone can look at a screen, see which buses are late, and send radio messages to them to either run short, or private to put themselves back on time. Regulating is far more complicated than that, you have to consider where you are cutting services. If the controller would have seen those three buses and turned two of them at Five Ways to put them back on time, what would have happened if there was more than one bus load waiting for a 120 between Colmore Row and Five Ways?

[Kevin]

I have to say, yeah it is frustrating when buses are late etc... but when the whole city centre has gone tits up there is only a limited amount that can be done. Perhaps Tony could answer this, how many people actually work in AVL? As you say yourself you were there do they draft people like yourself in when it does become chaotic to try to help or do they usually have, for sake of arguement, 5 people in there doing naff all just in case?

[Liverpool Street]

I have to say, yeah it is frustrating when buses are late etc... but when the whole city centre has gone tits up there is only a limited amount that can be done. Perhaps Tony could answer this, how many people actually work in AVL? As you say yourself you were there do they draft people like yourself in when it does become chaotic to try to help or do they usually have, for sake of arguement, 5 people in there doing naff all just in case?

What about when a driver is coming up to finish and is an hour late cause AVL blatantly ignoring him? They have lives you know and I'm sure forcing your man to work an hour overtime isn't covered in "Best Practice" clause of their contract. And yet! I bet they'll adjust the late night drivers and leave ones which are soon to finish in the garage out on the road, regardless of how late and how many buses are in front!! Many a time when I was at BC over the Christmas you'd not be surprised to be 1.5 hours down, dependant of route - wait 20 odd minutes and miss a whole trip. From the drivers point of view, AVL are very anti-Driver. And it seems they enjoy giving them all the middle finger.

I've never had the chance to visit AVL, and I wouldn't want to, cause the amount of family time/functions I've missed because of their ignorance of the delay, I'd want their blood. I'm getting on a bit now so these do's mean a lot to me. Yes, I'm not bothered finishing max 20minute late, but 35, 50minutes, that's my time its eating into. Indeed you get paid for it but a poxy couple of quid Vs. Priceless time with grandkids? I know what I'd chose.

Obviously now I'm retired I don't have to worry about any of that. Oh the joys of being old :)

[Kevin]

From the drivers point of view, AVL are very anti-Driver. And it seems they enjoy giving them all the middle finger.

I've never had the chance to visit AVL, and I wouldn't want to

And I'm sure Tony would say the opposite "from AVL point of view..." I imagine it's a thankless job and without going to see the workings neither me nor you can say for definite that they are "blatantly ignoring" drivers...

...nothing personal of course

[Liverpool Street]

From the drivers point of view, AVL are very anti-Driver. And it seems they enjoy giving them all the middle finger.

I've never had the chance to visit AVL, and I wouldn't want to

And I'm sure Tony would say the opposite "from AVL point of view..." I imagine it's a thankless job and without going to see the workings neither me nor you can say for definite that they are "blatantly ignoring" drivers...

...nothing personal of course

Well if your late for all of a 5 hour portion, after making inspectors aware of the delay, and pressing the late button, and they don't even get back to ask if you can complete mileage, I'd say they're blatantly ignoring them. Oh, but 2minutes early - or the wrong journey number inputted - they're on your back quicker then you can say Adjustment!! And the times I've had the unfortunate pleasure to speak to them on the radio, their voice speaks down to you, as if you were a schoolchild, rather then a colleague. They're just pushing it further and further into the 'Us Vs. Them' working conditions.