Christmas/New Year public transport 2015

[alexander874]

About a dozen people alighted the tram at Middlewood yesterday afternoon to wait for a Tramlink service that wasn't running , its incredible why people don't check to see what services are operating on days like Boxing Day .

[dutch]

A near and better than 50% sunday service should be there Christmas eve, day, boxing. Just like most other developed northern European countries. People and business will take advantage of it like they do all other days of the year.

I would bet on it that the real reason of cutting out service is because staff gets paid more, not because it is a religious sacred holy day.

If staff were paid half during religious holy days they would have kept running just fine.

Edited December 28, 2015 by dutch

[stormvixen]

 

As for Christmas Eve, last buses on Stagecoach and TM Travel were leaving around 6:30pm to 7pm. Download the Stagecoach list here: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/yorkshire/stagecoach-yorkshire-festive-services and TM Travel list here: http://www.tmtravel.co.uk/christmas-2015/

 

I travelled on the last 43 from Sheffield City Centre to Dronfield on Christmas Eve - 19:15 from Flat Street, 19:18 from Arundel Gate, there were only a handful of passengers on it and that side of town was dead, in contrast to the afternoon when town was really busy with shoppers - however the shops shut around 4pm.

 

First seem to have decide to chuck the towel in a little earlier with last departures around 5:30-6pm. List here: http://www.firstgroup.com/south-yorkshire/news-and-service-updates/planned-changes/christmas-and-new-year-buses-1#lb

 

Thanks to repeatedly pointing me to lists I know how to get and had already accessed. >.>

 

however the timetables aren't worth the paper they are written on. even on days like christmas eve/boxing day etc

 

 

 

Despite the timetables the buses started dropping off around the time I finished work. 25mins to get a bus from the bottom of ecclesall road into town - and that was at 2pm!

As has been said above it's cause and effect - people leave early to make sure they can get home. shops shut earlier to ensure their staff can get home. so much could be done to improve the whole thing!!

Unfortunately, pointing out timetables does nothing to change the reality of how it's played out in reality.

[dutch]

Thanks to repeatedly pointing me to lists I know how to get and had already accessed. >.>

 

however the timetables aren't worth the paper they are written on. even on days like christmas eve/boxing day etc

 

 

 

Despite the timetables the buses started dropping off around the time I finished work. 25mins to get a bus from the bottom of ecclesall road into town - and that was at 2pm!

As has been said above it's cause and effect - people leave early to make sure they can get home. shops shut earlier to ensure their staff can get home. so much could be done to improve the whole thing!!

Unfortunately, pointing out timetables does nothing to change the reality of how it's played out in reality.

 

I agree. I really like andy, but just coming with the timetables does not reflect reality out there. I really wonder what andy would come up with if he did not have a timetable in his hand.

If he used one to catch a bus he would be on our side here.

[Andy C]

I agree. I really like andy, but just coming with the timetables does not reflect reality out there. I really wonder what andy would come up with if he did not have a timetable in his hand.

If he used one to catch a bus he would be on our side here.

 

On Christmas Eve I got the train to work from Dore into Sheffield followed by an onward tram journey, went shopping after work (early finish) then got the 25 bus home, dropped off shopping, got changed then got another 25 bus back into town to go out for Dinner then got the 43 bus to Dronfield for a night out. All ran fine, no problem.

[cytine]

I still don't understand why buses stop early on Christmas and new Years Eve. They are normal working days not bank/ public holidays. Before anyone asks, yes I did work them, no early finishes.

[ECCOnoob]

I still don't understand why buses stop early on Christmas and new Years Eve. They are normal working days not bank/ public holidays. Before anyone asks, yes I did work them, no early finishes.

 

Maybe bus drivers and depot workers want to be able to enjoy their Christmas too.

 

Notice how most businesses and offices close up early on Christmas Eve. Some are closed up as early as midday. Notice how most shops and supermarkets also close much earlier than normal on Christmas Eve.

 

Why shouldn't bus drivers be able to have a chance of an earlier finish too?

 

I dont know how long its been since you worked for them but for me its nothing new. Its been happening for years. Early finishing on Christmas and New Years eve's. Those staff have a life too.

 

All these people banging on about disrupting people's "social" life - well what about the social life of bus/tram workers.

[cytine]

Maybe bus drivers and depot workers want to be able to enjoy their Christmas too.

 

Notice how most businesses and offices close up early on Christmas Eve. Some are closed up as early as midday. Notice how most shops and supermarkets also close much earlier than normal on Christmas Eve.

 

Why shouldn't bus drivers be able to have a chance of an earlier finish too?

 

I dont know how long its been since you worked for them but for me its nothing new. Its been happening for years. Early finishing on Christmas and New Years eve's. Those staff have a life too.

 

All these people banging on about disrupting people's "social" life - well what about the social life of bus/tram workers.

 

Well ECConoob, in reply to your comments,

I have never worked for them (I assume you mean the bus companies) but I did work in public service, not the emergency services or hospitals, we had to provide the public with the 24 hour service they expect and we accepted that as part of the job. Just like the transport services should. As for having families, we all have families. I've no doubt they will be going to pubs, clubs, restaurants. They will be watching TV, using electric and gas etc and expect all those people to be working, they won't want to be with their families will they?

I've also previously worked in shops and offices but they didn't close early.

When you provide a public service, whether it's for a private or public company, you accept that unsocial hours including bank/public holidays are part of the job. Or are you saying that transport services should be run for the convenience of the staff?

Edited December 28, 2015 by cytine

[ECCOnoob]

Well ECConoob, in reply to your comments,

I have never worked for them (I assume you mean the bus companies) but I did work in public service, not the emergency services or hospitals, we had to provide the public with the 24 hour service they expect and we accepted that as part of the job. Just like the transport services should. As for having families, we all have families. I've no doubt they will be going to pubs, clubs, restaurants. They will be watching TV, using electric and gas etc and expect all those people to be working, they won't want to be with their families will they?

I've also previously worked in shops and offices but they didn't close early.

When you provide a public service, whether it's for a private or public company, you accept that unsocial hours including bank/public holidays are part of the job. Or are you saying that transport services should be run for the convenience of the staff?

 

ok, lets go through some of this shall we.

 

Firstly, not all public services are 24 hour. In fact many of them are not even full time during the week. Its about what is ESSENTIAL.

 

They don't run bus/tram service on Christmas day, New Year's day or Easter Sunday. They don't run bus/tram services 24 hours. So what does that tell us - people seem to cope perfectly well during these non operational times. Why should a small reduction in the number of hours on Christmas Eve be different. Its only 4 hours after all.

 

Of course there will be skeleton staff in various services including utilities, police and hospitals but you fail to reason why exactly do you seem to think that buses are somehow ESSENTIAL and as such transport staff are excluded from an opportunity to finish early like a big majority of the rest of the working population.

 

If we are gonna argue the toss. Why are bus drivers essential but not council workers. Why are retail staff allowed to close up early but not tram conductors.

 

Those people who work in hospitality make money from the fact that mass population is able to be "out" and using such facilities. By going into such a trade there is an automatic expectation to work unsociable hours particularly throughout holidays. Very different from someone working in transport. There are no buses after midnight on any normal weekend. All those people "out" would be finding other methods to get home. Why is Christmas Eve different.

 

Fact is, the traditional rush hour of people needing buses after 6.00 is much reduced on Christmas Eve. Why? because most people have gone home hours before. Or those people are out socialising.

 

Bus companies are not stupid. If there was a sufficient demand and profit to keep services running they would do it. Fact is, there isn't.

 

A small inconvenience for some is worth allowing drivers/staff some time off in line with others on just two days a year. Im sure people can deal with it. Just like they have done for years before.

 

If you are one of the unfortunate ones who do work in some genuinely ESSENTIAL service that much run, then I take my hat off to you. However, if you are going to be jealous about other's being off. Change your job.

 

Buses are no longer a public service. Not been since the 90s. They are a profit driven machine controlled by conglomerates. With the exception of the limp hand of the SYPTE nudging them to run some coherent public service routes most routes are purely for profit. There is no moral duty here.

[cytine]

ok, lets go through some of this shall we.

 

Firstly, not all public services are 24 hour. In fact many of them are not even full time during the week. Its about what is ESSENTIAL.

 

They don't run bus/tram service on Christmas day, New Year's day or Easter Sunday. They don't run bus/tram services 24 hours. So what does that tell us - people seem to cope perfectly well during these non operational times. Why should a small reduction in the number of hours on Christmas Eve be different. Its only 4 hours after all.

 

Of course there will be skeleton staff in various services including utilities, police and hospitals but you fail to reason why exactly do you seem to think that buses are somehow ESSENTIAL and as such transport staff are excluded from an opportunity to finish early like a big majority of the rest of the working population.

 

If we are gonna argue the toss. Why are bus drivers essential but not council workers. Why are retail staff allowed to close up early but not tram conductors.

 

Those people who work in hospitality make money from the fact that mass population is able to be "out" and using such facilities. By going into such a trade there is an automatic expectation to work unsociable hours particularly throughout holidays. Very different from someone working in transport. There are no buses after midnight on any normal weekend. All those people "out" would be finding other methods to get home. Why is Christmas Eve different.

 

Fact is, the traditional rush hour of people needing buses after 6.00 is much reduced on Christmas Eve. Why? because most people have gone home hours before. Or those people are out socialising.

 

Bus companies are not stupid. If there was a sufficient demand and profit to keep services running they would do it. Fact is, there isn't.

 

A small inconvenience for some is worth allowing drivers/staff some time off in line with others on just two days a year. Im sure people can deal with it. Just like they have done for years before.

 

If you are one of the unfortunate ones who do work in some genuinely ESSENTIAL service that much run, then I take my hat off to you. However, if you are going to be jealous about other's being off. Change your job.

 

Buses are no longer a public service. Not been since the 90s. They are a profit driven machine controlled by conglomerates. With the exception of the limp hand of the SYPTE nudging them to run some coherent public service routes most routes are purely for profit. There is no moral duty here.

 

We are never going to agree on this, you've had your say and I've had mine. So I'll finish on this note. I am not nor never have been jealous of people who are off, it was my choice to the job I did for over 20 years and I accepted the conditions that went with it. May I add that I enjoyed it, I'm now retired.

Buses are a service provided for the public and as such ARE a public service.

The alternative is that people have to use expensive taxis or buy cars. When late buses ended I know people who had to give up their jobs because they couldn't get home. Its not just about socialising is it? People have to get to and from work but never mind as long as drivers etc get time off.

I wish you and everyone on here a happy and peaceful New Year wherever you are and whatever you are doing. All the best for 2016.