South Yorkshire Bus Service Needs Improvement

[Resident]

1 hour ago, SCM1 said:

Just moved past Loxley,  was looking fwd to getting 52 into town, now i hear it doesn't exist, only a shuttle service that operates a 7pm curfew, comes very rarely, and not on Sundays, there are lots of disabled people up here, plus elderly, and i am hearing of people trying to get to Hillsborough to shop, etc(local express one are really expensive), struggling as they go, what more will people tolerate, though I am aware there have been angry meetings..

The problem with "angry meetings", petitions and the like is that they often have bigger numbers than actual bus users. 

Take the X54 as an extreme example. 

It ran from Harthill to Sheffield via Todwick, Aston, Swallownest, Treeton and Handsworth Top.

When it was reduced from 1/2 hourly to hourly a petition was submitted with over 1500 signatories from the residents of Harthill/Todwick. 

Operating figures showed that Between Harthill and Swallownest (first half of the route) there was an average of 32 passengers over the course of a WEEK, meaning for most of the day it ran through that section completely passenger less. A far cry from the 1500 that claimed to need it. 

[XPertByExperien]

11 hours ago, SCM1 said:

Just moved past Loxley,  was looking fwd to getting 52 into town, now i hear it doesn't exist, only a shuttle service that operates a 7pm curfew, comes very rarely, and not on Sundays, there are lots of disabled people up here, plus elderly, and i am hearing of people trying to get to Hillsborough to shop, etc(local express one are really expensive), struggling as they go, what more will people tolerate, though I am aware there have been angry meetings..

The 52 doesn't go up Loxley, it goes to Woodhouse via Crookes, Town and Hillsborough.

 

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by XPertByExperien

[RollingJ]

Good point, I forgot to answer this last night.

[Guest busdriver1]

11 hours ago, SCM1 said:

Just moved past Loxley,  was looking fwd to getting 52 into town, now i hear it doesn't exist, only a shuttle service that operates a 7pm curfew, comes very rarely, and not on Sundays, there are lots of disabled people up here, plus elderly, and i am hearing of people trying to get to Hillsborough to shop, etc(local express one are really expensive), struggling as they go, what more will people tolerate, though I am aware there have been angry meetings..

Having a meeting is all well and good but who are they going to complain to?

The current support being offered to Bus companies is conditional on them being able to operate 95% of  all their declared services daily that were being run at that time. 

First took the decision that because of the nationwide bus driver shortage that is worse in South Yorkshire than most areas, they could not make that commitment as failure to run the services would likely see them called before the traffic commissioners and fined or possibly have their operating  licence restricted.

This has left some areas without services and due notice was given to SYMCA that this was happening.

SYMCA have a duty to fill gaps left by commercial operators but are unable to find operators who are prepared to work with them.

There are 2 reasons why this is not happening. 1) most sensible operators are aware that the driver shortage will not go away just because a different company is looking for staff. 2) the remainder have worked for SYPTE / SYMCA in the past and no longer wish to do so.

Currently First are running their entire network without the bus service recovery grant and are unique in the area for this. 

Companies that are receiving the grant are struggling to cover services and are in danger of facing  sanctions if this continues.

The fact that it appears that the grant could be discontinued means those operators will face the same choices that First did and may well have to drastically reduce their route network as a result.

Edited February 19, 2023 by busdriver1

[Guest busdriver1]

16 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

The 52 doesn't go up Loxley, it goes to Woodhouse via Crookes, Town and Hillsborough.

 

 

The First 52a did go to Loxley through the day and did so with the support of the bus recovery grant. First are no longer in receipt of that grant for the reasons detailed elsewhere so it fell to SYMCA to fill the gap with an arrangement between themselves and the operator. 

That support was not forthcoming with passengers being told to use the 31, 61 & 62 as a replacement. The 31 does not run beyond 1918 in the evenings. The 61/2 runs every 2 hours in the evenings.  This is what SYMCA have decided to offer the public.

[XPertByExperien]

27 minutes ago, busdriver1 said:

The First 52a did go to Loxley through the day and did so with the support of the bus recovery grant. First are no longer in receipt of that grant for the reasons detailed elsewhere so it fell to SYMCA to fill the gap with an arrangement between themselves and the operator. 

That support was not forthcoming with passengers being told to use the 31, 61 & 62 as a replacement. The 31 does not run beyond 1918 in the evenings. The 61/2 runs every 2 hours in the evenings.  This is what SYMCA have decided to offer the public.

I live on the 31 route running from upper Walkley to Town via S3, when it originally ran a few years back, it ran twice an hour at 10 past and 20 to the hour, and even then it was nearly always late, apparently things are still the same! As I recall, getting the 31 from the bottom of Angel St after 4 PM (stop opposite Snig Hill cop shop) was a pain cos the Bus never turned up.

 

Edited February 19, 2023 by XPertByExperien

[HeHasRisen]

Let me go and get a pen.

[Guest busdriver1]

21 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

I live on the 31 route running from upper Walkley to Town via S3, when it originally ran a few years back, it ran twice an hour at 10 past and 20 to the hour, and even then it was nearly always late, apparently things are still the same! As I recall, getting the 31 from the bottom of Angel St after 4 PM (stop opposite Snig Hill cop shop) was a pain cos the Bus never turned up.

 

That would have been due to the " considerate" parking in Lower Walkley, one area the service misses out now for that reason. The bus was often so delayed at school time that it lost a full trip following the school time run.

Edited February 19, 2023 by busdriver1

[Annie Bynnol]

The  Bus Recovery Grant has been extended until 30 June 2023 for operators who can show they are running at 80% or more of pre-COVID-19 mileage levels.

 

The £2 bus fare cap has been extended until June 30th 2023.

The list of bus companies and bus routes included in the £2 bus fare cap scheme include:

First South Yorkshire Ltd1a, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 41, 50, 50a, 50b, 51, 52, 52a, 54, 55, 56, 57, 57a, 58, 59, 64, 64a, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 81, 82, 84, 84a, 84b, 87, 87a, 95, 95a, 97, 98, 115, 116, 120, 139, 140, 141, 142, 205, 208, 216, 272, 404, 429, 441, 455, 466, 472, 474, 481, 481a, 482, 490, 490a, 490h, 490n, 492h, 492m, 492r, 608, 616, 627, 629, 654, 655, 718, 719, 721, 723, 730, 731, 751, 752a, 763, 763a, 764, 765, 772, 779, 780, 782, 784, 785, 786, 798, 798a, i4, X1, X4, X5, X10, X78

 

Hulleys of Baslow  48, 49, 55, 63, 110, 111, 170, X70, 171, 172, 173, 257, 271, 272

 

TM Travel  8, 8A, 9, 9A, 20, 21, 24A, 29, 30, 30A, 31, 41, 55, 81, 117, 142, 150, 181, 218, 252, X7, X54

 

Stagecoach Yorkshire1, 2, 2a, 6, 7, 7a, 8, 8a, 9, 11, 12, 20, 21, 21a, 22, 22X, 25, 26, 26a, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 28c, 32, 43, 44, 52, 57, 59, 59a, 57a, 61, 62, 66, 67, 67a, 67b, 67c, 72, 72a, H, 74, 75, 76a, 83a, 86, 88, 93, 95, 95a, 94a, 120, 130, 135, 136, 137, 201, 203, 208, 218, 218a, 219, 219a, 221, 223, 226, 408, 409, 410, 412, 416, 420, 422, 725, 783, X19 and elsewhere 5, 15, 16, 25, 25a, 50, 50a, 39, 51, 51a, 54, 54a, 56a, 65, 65a, 66, 74, 74a, 77, 77a, 80, 80a, 90, 169, 170, 216, 217, 470, M1, M4, X17

 

Also available in most English regions except London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire which have their own way of doing things.

Edited February 19, 2023 by Annie Bynnol

[Guest busdriver1]

1 hour ago, Annie Bynnol said:

The  Bus Recovery Grant has been extended until 30 June 2023 for operators who can show they are running at 80% or more of pre-COVID-19 mileage levels.

 

The £2 bus fare cap has been extended until June 30th 2023.

The list of bus companies and bus routes included in the £2 bus fare cap scheme include:

First South Yorkshire Ltd1a, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24, 41, 50, 50a, 50b, 51, 52, 52a, 54, 55, 56, 57, 57a, 58, 59, 64, 64a, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 81, 82, 84, 84a, 84b, 87, 87a, 95, 95a, 97, 98, 115, 116, 120, 139, 140, 141, 142, 205, 208, 216, 272, 404, 429, 441, 455, 466, 472, 474, 481, 481a, 482, 490, 490a, 490h, 490n, 492h, 492m, 492r, 608, 616, 627, 629, 654, 655, 718, 719, 721, 723, 730, 731, 751, 752a, 763, 763a, 764, 765, 772, 779, 780, 782, 784, 785, 786, 798, 798a, i4, X1, X4, X5, X10, X78

 

Hulleys of Baslow  48, 49, 55, 63, 110, 111, 170, X70, 171, 172, 173, 257, 271, 272

 

TM Travel  8, 8A, 9, 9A, 20, 21, 24A, 29, 30, 30A, 31, 41, 55, 81, 117, 142, 150, 181, 218, 252, X7, X54

 

Stagecoach Yorkshire1, 2, 2a, 6, 7, 7a, 8, 8a, 9, 11, 12, 20, 21, 21a, 22, 22X, 25, 26, 26a, 27, 27a, 27b, 28, 28c, 32, 43, 44, 52, 57, 59, 59a, 57a, 61, 62, 66, 67, 67a, 67b, 67c, 72, 72a, H, 74, 75, 76a, 83a, 86, 88, 93, 95, 95a, 94a, 120, 130, 135, 136, 137, 201, 203, 208, 218, 218a, 219, 219a, 221, 223, 226, 408, 409, 410, 412, 416, 420, 422, 725, 783, X19 and elsewhere 5, 15, 16, 25, 25a, 50, 50a, 39, 51, 51a, 54, 54a, 56a, 65, 65a, 66, 74, 74a, 77, 77a, 80, 80a, 90, 169, 170, 216, 217, 470, M1, M4, X17

 

Also available in most English regions except London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and West Yorkshire which have their own way of doing things.

In short ALL services will continue to be fare capped across England. The only difference to the areas you mention is the Mayors are taking the credit for the scheme there but the money comes from the same source. Wales has already announced that they are to continue with support for operators but Scotland have said they definitely will not. 

There are 2 schemes here and it is easy to get them confused. BFCG Bus Fare Cap Grant is the scheme to cap fares at £2 per single journey and nearly all operators are party to it. 

The BRG Bus recovery grant is the support to maintain services and is very conditional and several operators have declined to participate, and its looking like more will follow.