Michael_N

A further 72-hour strike is planned for July 20-22, the weekend of the Tramlines festival, if the dispute is not resolved before then, according to The Star. Surely this would have catostrophic implications on Supertram services?

Good on them for supporting their fellow tram colleagues. But how will this impact the planned replacement bus service? Also, The Star have picked up on the latest ballot result and the figures are shocking. What was the revised pay offer that Supertram had offered to have been rejected so much? 'In a second ballot held yesterday, Unite members voted 91 per cent in favour or strike action and 95 per cent for industrial action short of a strike.Unite said the revised offer still amounted to an 'insulting' pay increase of just 26p an hour when the details were analysed, and warned further strikes could follow if a better deal fails to materialise.' Read more at: https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/sheffield-supertram-strike-to-paralyse-network-after-workers-reject-revised-pay-offer-1-9238698

If you live in Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park, Supertram have said a big F.U. to people who use their services, as the replacement buses have been confirmed to run straight down City Road into the city from Manor Top. Nearest buses to use will be Eastern Avenue for the 41, City Road for the 7/8/8A/50/50A/53/73/74/74A and 120 or East Bank Road for the 1/1A/41 and 51. 'Due to a limited number of buses and bus drivers being available, replacement services are unable to serve stops along Park Grange Road.' Full details are available at: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/yorkshire/2018/june/st-strike-action

There is plenty of parking available around the University/Hospitals but this will cost you more than what the bus would. The bus still takes you direct and also has announcements of stops on the 120 route, like the tram does. A better alternative may be travel to Meadowhall, park for free and then catch the Yellow tram direct to University from there? Would save on the cost of parking for you.

Usually the Blue tram from Halfway to University that is direct and no change required, however due to engineering works until 8 August if you are planning on catching the tram, you have to catch the bus replacement service from Halfway to Birley Lane and then change onto the tram. Personally speaking, catch the Stagecoach 120 bus that starts from Halfway Park and Ride also, no need to change that way and stops at the university on Glossop Road or at the Hallamshire Hospital. Remember due to engineering works there is free parking at Halfway Park and Ride so you only have to pay for the bus/tram tickets you require. Also as a side note - remember Stagecoach Sheffield offer the '5 for a fiver' promotion on Saturday and Sundays, so any 5 people can travel together for £5 but this is only valid on Stagecoach buses. The tram is more expensive.

Can't have travelled on their during rush hour then? Charles Street junction where both the bus lane and car lane merge into 1, just before the traffic lights outside Hallam University that spend more time on red than green - causing traffic to back up to Furnival Gate Roundabout and then subsequently onto Furnival Gate and Eyre Street and also coming the other way where the o2 Academy is, with those 3 sets of lights at Norfolk Street, causing traffic to back up round to Commercial Street and onto Park Square its self.

The one thing I don't like is they have closed or reduced the capacity of the local road network through the city, gone are the multiple dual carriageways that were fully segregated from pedestrians and now we have roads that are that narrow that 2 buses can't pass each other (Charter Row). Or there are that many crossings that it causes all local surrounding roads to become backlogged due to that many pedestrian crossings (Arundel Gate). One of my main bug bears is the junction of Charter Row and Rockingham Street. They have condensed 3 separate bus stops into 1 bus stop, with a lay-by that small only 1 bus at a time can fit in, if another turns up it sticks its arse out in the carriageway and blocks the full road, right on the junction of Rockingham Street. Clearly very clever planning on behalf of Sheffield City Council. The same will happen down the other end of the city soon enough at Fitzalan Square when those changes come into effect. Left turning buses will block Commercial Street when sticking their arse end out to turn right onto Angel Street at Castle Square as the turn will be that tight and too short a distance!

What speaks volumes to me in all this, is the fact how recruitment used to be very few and far between on the trams, now it seems as if they can't either retain the existing staff or recruit the extra staff - so much so that an recruitment day is required and they have openly stated that this is the 1st time that one has been required. So somehow, I would assume the problems are more deep rooted than pay. From what has been stated it sounds like a good deal, but obviously we don't know all the details of the terms and conditions that Supertram would impose, should their employees accept this deal. Fingers crossed strike action can be averted on Monday!

Any news on how far off the service is from launching? I'm suspecting the December railway timetable changes? Works look almost complete to platforms at both Rotherham Central and Parkgate, although there are no works around the link between Parkgate and the shopping complex. Presumably some landscaping works will take place?

Don't forget the tree huggers too! :hihi:

All I can say is if it's that good of an offer and they refuse to accept it again, then there are much deeper problems at Supertram. Management tactics and bullying etc? Have heard it's not the best company to work for, and it says a lot when a few years ago you never saw any vacancies and now they're struggling to recruit staff they even need to have their 1st recruitment open day. Must be some very deep rooted problems going on behind the scenes...

So does that just leave Sheffield now solely with Hollywood Bowl, unless you count Superbowl just over the border at Kimberworth?

Park Grange Road has recently had a spate of windows smashed on cars - presumably smash and grab type crimes. Seems to be an ever increasing problem!

Best get making plans to find alternative transport... Northern Suburbs - Middlewood into City - Walk to Leppings Lane for 35/135 direct buses into city or 97/98 into City which travel through Southey and Burngreave - Hillsborough into City - 35/57/61/62/81/82/135 buses are direct - Malin Bridge into City - 61/62/81/82 buses are direct Eastern Suburbs - Meadowhall into City - X1/X78 buses are direct. Rail also direct and scheduled to take 6 mins into Midland Station. - Carbrook/Attercliffe into City - X1 bus is direct Southern Suburbs - Halfway into City - 50/50A/120 buses are direct - Crystal Peaks into City - 72/120 buses are direct - also 7/8/8A/30/30A into City which travel through the South Eastern suburbs before reaching City - Birley/Owlthorpe - 50/50A buses are direct - also 8/8A into City which travel through Base Green and Hollinsend. - Manor Top into City - 7/8/50/50A/53/73/74/120 buses are direct - Also 41 into City which travels through Arbourthorne and East Bank Road - Arbourthorne/Norfolk Park into City - Walk to Eastern Avenue for 41 or East Bank Road for 1/1A/41/51 and 56 buses direct into City - Gleadless Townend into City - 51 bus is direct - Herdings into City - 1A/56 buses are direct

The changes and new bus stop have been in place for over a fortnight now. If you don't like buses, why chose to live near a road which has been a bus route since horse and cart days! Another NIMBY I suspect...

Sheffield and the wider South Yorkshire area has some of the cheapest bus fares in the country. Some of these fares are still even cheaper than what they were a decade ago! (FirstWeek Sheffield now £14.50, was £17.50 in 2007).

Get it reported through: https://www.fixmystreet.com When ever I've reported a problem through that site, its usually been fixed and is generally easier to report than the councils own website! Just place a pin on the map and explain what the problems are, and off it's sent to the council.

Promqueens shop in Rotherham town centre. Have a look on their website. Might be what you're looking for

This summer sees the return of rail replacement take place in various parts of the city, at different times. So now is the time to start forward planning, and look for alternative transport... https://www.stagecoachbus.com/news/yorkshire/2018/april/st-2018-rail-replacement-overview?hootPostID=0966222a301dd758ebd59b7b0d67d38b Area 1 - Hillsborough - Middlewood 26 May - 15 June 2018 Area 2 - Birley Lane - Halfway 23 June - 8 August 2018 Area 3 - Gleadless Townend - Herdings Park 10 August - 19 August 2018 Area 4 - Gleadless Townend - Halfway and Gleadless Townend - Herdings Park 25 August - 2 September and 8 - 9 September 2018 Area 5 – Donetsk Way - Halfway 10 September – 14 September

Probably easier and cheaper to park and ride at one of the park and ride sites for the tram around the city? some you pay for parking but get the cost of travel on the tram included, and some you park for free and just pay for your ticket on the tram. Depends where abouts you're coming from. Only a 5 minute walk from Sheffield Station or Fitzalan Square tram stops. Or failing that get the bus in as it's bang next door to Pond Street Bus Station.

Stagecoach 1/ First 1A to High Green - every 6 mins Stagecoach 2 to Barnsley - every 30 mins First3/3A to Meadowhall - every 10 mins Stagecoach 88 to Ecclesfield - every 10 mins If you want to get off at stop before Fir Vale lights and walk in through old Barnsley Road entrance, can also catch: First 75/76 to Shiregreen - every 6 mins All depart from Waingate / Castle Markets or Arundel Gate

It'd be nice to actually have some inward investment and some new shops opening in the Castlegate area. Such a shame to see the council let this area degenerate so much - especially considering it's much better connected than The Moor (railway, trams and bus station all in close proximity). They seem to be letting this side of the city centre die, while spending cash on The Moor. Surely this investment should be balanced and money should be spent on the entire city centre. I hate to say it but looking at the recent reports of crime hotspots produced by The Star this week, The Moor will probably become the new Castle Markets area in the next 5-10 years...

Hello fellow forumers... I'm just wanting to gauge some feedback about why people prefer to use the Bus or the Tram, as opposed to making use of both... One of the main reasons for asking is that between City and Hillsborough, the trams are generally very busy, often standing loads and turning people away at rush hour, yet the vast amount of buses travelling the same route along Langsett Road into the city are often half full, if not less busy. Working out some of the problems that I can foresee: - Buses are seen as been less reliable due to getting caught in traffic along Shalesmoor (35/57/61/62/81/82/85), Holme Lane (61/62/81/82) and Catch Bar Lane (35/85). - Buses are less frequent compared to trams (10 minute combined service on 81/82 and half-hourly combined service on 35/85 and 61/62). - Buses are cheaper than trams (£2 single on 35/57/81/82/85 [unsure of 61/62]) compared with £2.40 single on the tram from Hillsborough to City. Also offer a £1 student ticket. - Buses you can now pay Contactless for your journey (First & Stagecoach services only). - Trams are more frequent in the evening and on Sundays (10 minute combine service at these times, compared with the half-hourly 81/82 combined service). - Trams are generally cleaner and have a conductor onboard. Less chance of anti-social behaviour etc. - Trams generally have less excess time to wait at timing points, unlike buses which sometimes due to light traffic can have their engines turned off for between 3-5 minutes to catch up on their time. - Trams operated on segregated sections between Shalesmoor and University, bypassing queuing traffic and are perceived as been quicker. Just some food for thought, but interested to see what people think... My main thought is if the buses are cheaper, offer contactless payments and have a quicker journey time into the city (11 minutes opposed to 16 minutes on the tram [Hillsborough to Castle Square / Snig Hill area]), then why are the trams a more popular choice than the buses, which are generally rarely used that well between Hillsborough and City.

Bit optimistic that isn't it? Thought they needed a trainer in place who can actually drive trains, as far as I know, they haven't got one yet. Plus can the CityLinks actually be trusted to be out in service for a full days worth of work yet? Oh look, a pig just flew past the window haha :hihi:

If anything surely it will improve the look and feel of the place, as we all know the city centre is a dump that just needs bulldozing and starting fresh again... And people wonder why Meadowhall is so busy and successful!