The Community Speaks: Should Buses run on Christmas Day?

[the trainbasher]

Because I'm such a heartless b*****!

Seriously, for me Christmas isn't really the same since my father passed away. That's why I'd rather work on Christmas Day if I could.

[Liverpool Street]

Christmas day should be EVERYONES rest day, no exceptions.

That's a different case, I'm saying "everyone" in the case of none-emergency service. Obviously when signing up to Emergency jobs you know Christmas day is a working day. For bus drivers? Hardly the same league is it Dave. How about you sign up and work 14 hours on Christmas? You seem eager enough to ;-) (This is all in good fun and nothing malicious mate)

Forgive me LS, but you DID say "everyone - no exceptions" ;-)

I've worked xmas day in the past - as a non-essential role, but my presence was required. It wasn't a 14 hour shift but I do have a 16 hour xmas eve on the railway to my credit - is that close enough? ;-)

I'm old. Leave me alone!

Credit where credit's due, fair play. You wouldn't get me even out my slippers on Christmas Day/Boxing Day haha

I'd happily go to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day!

Christmas Day should, like other bank holidays, have a minimum of a Sunday bus service.

What should those who can't or don't drive do? No buses means those people are housebound (I mean look at the extortionate fares taxi companies charge on Christmas day!)

If other places do it, why shouldn't the west midlands do it? The demand is there so why not untap it?

I wouldn't. I don't think there should be any level of service on Christmas Day

Sh4318 - Sorry to change the subject but, 4318 is a shed. I caught it from Selly Oak to Northfield yesterday evening... horrible bus.

And I agree with you.

[Isle of Stroma]

I'm old. Leave me alone!

So what's my excuse? :-)

Credit where credit's due, fair play. You wouldn't get me even out my slippers on Christmas Day/Boxing Day haha

When my youngest has flown the nest, I will demand that at least one quality boozer is open on xmas day - so I can have a drink with my dinner & not have to cook. Of course, bus services would then be mandatory - as all East Birmingham pubs are sh!te!

[Sh4318]

Christmas day should be EVERYONES rest day, no exceptions.

That's a different case, I'm saying "everyone" in the case of none-emergency service. Obviously when signing up to Emergency jobs you know Christmas day is a working day. For bus drivers? Hardly the same league is it Dave. How about you sign up and work 14 hours on Christmas? You seem eager enough to ;-) (This is all in good fun and nothing malicious mate)

Forgive me LS, but you DID say "everyone - no exceptions" ;-)

I've worked xmas day in the past - as a non-essential role, but my presence was required. It wasn't a 14 hour shift but I do have a 16 hour xmas eve on the railway to my credit - is that close enough? ;-)

I'm old. Leave me alone!

Credit where credit's due, fair play. You wouldn't get me even out my slippers on Christmas Day/Boxing Day haha

I'd happily go to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day!

Christmas Day should, like other bank holidays, have a minimum of a Sunday bus service.

What should those who can't or don't drive do? No buses means those people are housebound (I mean look at the extortionate fares taxi companies charge on Christmas day!)

If other places do it, why shouldn't the west midlands do it? The demand is there so why not untap it?

I wouldn't. I don't think there should be any level of service on Christmas Day

Sh4318 - Sorry to change the subject but, 4318 is a shed. I caught it from Selly Oak to Northfield yesterday evening... horrible bus.

And I agree with you.

Lol. I caught it on the 70 last year, seemed to be in ok shape, saying that, I know nothing about engines... Not even the one in my own car

[Liverpool Street]

I'm old. Leave me alone!

So what's my excuse? :-)

Credit where credit's due, fair play. You wouldn't get me even out my slippers on Christmas Day/Boxing Day haha

When my youngest has flown the nest, I will demand that at least one quality boozer is open on xmas day - so I can have a drink with my dinner & not have to cook. Of course, bus services would then be mandatory - as all East Birmingham pubs are sh!te!

Haha! You do make me laugh!

[Stuharris 6360]

I hate to play the religion card, but shouldn't we keep one day a year as special, when we join with our families, go to church, eat, drink and get merry without having to worry about working.

There are 364 other days for the buses to run, so why add an extra day to it.

[domino.99]

I'd happily go to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day!

Christmas Day should, like other bank holidays, have a minimum of a Sunday bus service.

What should those who can't or don't drive do? No buses means those people are housebound (I mean look at the extortionate fares taxi companies charge on Christmas day!)

If other places do it, why shouldn't the west midlands do it? The demand is there so why not untap it?

Where the bloody hell would they go?!?!? It's XMAS DAY no were is open except for a few pubs!

[the trainbasher]

I'd happily go to work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day!

Christmas Day should, like other bank holidays, have a minimum of a Sunday bus service.

What should those who can't or don't drive do? No buses means those people are housebound (I mean look at the extortionate fares taxi companies charge on Christmas day!)

If other places do it, why shouldn't the west midlands do it? The demand is there so why not untap it?

Where the bloody hell would they go?!?!? It's XMAS DAY no were is open except for a few pubs!

Don't forget hospitals plus some employers still have people working christmas day. Plus places of worship open Christmas day, as do people who want to visit relatives who've passed away.

[Liberator9]

Certainly not! Multi-cultural or not buses should not be operating on Christmas day as well as shops shouldn't be open! It's bad enough pubs and such open at that time, something I'm against, but these companies do anything for cash! Christmas day should be EVERYONES rest day, no exceptions. So I'm very anti on this subject. Left wingers, challenge me at your peril!

~ And why has this subject cropped up again?! I strongly remember arguing about this some time ago.

Fully agree with LS here - can we not just have one day a year when everything is shut, and people can have a rest day! Sundays are becoming ever busier - starting to feel as hectic as a Saturday - never used to be, as my parents say. Drivers, engineers etc. should not have to come in and work on that day either - they deserve a day with their families to rest, and forget about work. aka Enjoy themselves! Although our increasingly commercialised world will probably strive to change that.

[andy]

No No No No No No........when are people going to allow themselves the luxury of doing nothing without the constant feeling they should be doing something??

[Stu]

The last thing I want to do on Christmas Day is go on a bus.  :o

Its the one day of the year when I'm happy to just stay in all day with my family and not worry about having to go anywhere.

[gc802002]

Yeah LS last year. But surely as society has got more of a 24/7 culture what use is a second city that doesn't provide a Christmas day bus service yet places like Liverpool do?

Not sure how busy Liverpool will be, but just as a side note, The Capital doesn't even offer a service on Christmas Day!!

Personally I think Xmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day should be no service , and here is Scotland I would add the 2nd January to that list, but I believe in your neck of the woods it's just a normal day.

[tc]

Some odd places see a service on Christmas Day:

Harlow - Network Harlow Routes 133, 309 & 510 operating houry/2-hourly almost 24-hour service for Stansted Airport
Keighley - Vintage buses
Crawley - Metrobus Route 10 every 30-50 mins - 24-hour service for Gatwick Airport
Poole & Bournemouth - More Route m1 - every 60 mins
Isle of Wight - Southern Vectis Routes 1, 3, 5, 7 & 9 - every 60-120 mins
Manchester - Stagecoach Route 43 - every 60 mins
London - No Service

[Cheese]

Yeah LS last year. But surely as society has got more of a 24/7 culture what use is a second city that doesn't provide a Christmas day bus service yet places like Liverpool do?

Not sure how busy Liverpool will be, but just as a side note, The Capital doesn't even offer a service on Christmas Day!!

Personally I think Xmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day should be no service , and here is Scotland I would add the 2nd January to that list, but I believe in your neck of the woods it's just a normal day.

Aren't the Liverpool ones primarily aimed at hospitals? The services go to places like Alder Hey etc, for staff and visitors but also provide links elsewhere. I'm sure a mate of mine did a bash round there on Christmas Day a few years ago when he worked in Bootle.

[makkacdt]

yes to take me to work. if I have to work it everyone can. bloody humbug!!!!!!!