|
Post by redbus on Dec 25, 2018 21:50:02 GMT
Without asking too many details, what approx premium would there be on, say, working an ordinary Bank Holiday? Many operators will also offer bonuses on other days during the festive period i.e Boxing Day and New Years Eve. When LT ran bus services in the 1970s on Christmas Day , I think drivers got effectively paid quad time. They only worked half the normal hours yet got pad double time for a full days work. Services only ran from about 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with I think two shifts, one from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the other from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This meant the service level was double between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
|
|
|
Post by ibus246 on Dec 25, 2018 22:58:44 GMT
At Metrobus for our Fastwsy 10 Christmas Day service, there never has been any shortage of drivers willing to work and it’s always been covered handsomely. However I think the rate of pay is the main attractor. There is always a rush to get on the waiting list for the Christmas Day duties in late October Without asking too many details, what approx premium would there be on, say, working an ordinary Bank Holiday? In the region of £25-£30 p/h
|
|
|
Post by busaholic on Dec 26, 2018 0:25:03 GMT
Many operators will also offer bonuses on other days during the festive period i.e Boxing Day and New Years Eve. When LT ran bus services in the 1970s on Christmas Day , I think drivers got effectively paid quad time. They only worked half the normal hours yet got pad double time for a full days work. Services only ran from about 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with I think two shifts, one from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, the other from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This meant the service level was double between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. I don't know about the pay levels. You're right about the principle, they were all straight shifts, so no provision had to be made for meal breaks, but I believe they were nearer five hour shifts, so perhaps 60-65% of a normal average shift. The run-out would be between 9 and 11 a.m., with buses returning between 2 and 4 p.m., made easier by virtually every route only having the one operating garage for that day only, whereas most trunk routes normally had two, sometimes more. The routes were tailored somewhat to these restrictions, providing some less usual termini to get maximum efficiency from the schedule. In effect, you'd get a full service operating in one direction from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and in the other direction from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., taking those times from the two respective termini, but there'd be shorts at the beginning and end to try to get some sort of service going in the other direction too. I'm probably not explaining it very well, but if you've ever attempted to construct a bus schedule you might understand what I'm getting at: i did produce one schedule for Xmas Day 1970. I think it was the 12.
|
|
|
Post by snowman on Dec 26, 2018 7:13:37 GMT
Without asking too many details, what approx premium would there be on, say, working an ordinary Bank Holiday? In the region of £25-£30 p/h At one time Sunday’s were double pay, bank holidays were at least double and Christmas Day was triple time I suspect these rates have been watered down over the years
|
|
|
Post by ronnie on Dec 26, 2018 9:40:24 GMT
I was out yesterday in the evening - took Uber (what else). Was going to a friends place on the south bank
I must say traffic on the highway surprised me - it was quite slow to be honest on both sides and almost seemed like a working day morning traffic.... loads of people out and about. I must confess that if buses / tube were running footfall would have been there. It’s only a matter of time before some services start running
|
|
|
Post by southlondonbus on Dec 26, 2018 12:36:23 GMT
No with TFL finances. The amount of free travel and season tickets i doubt it would make much in revenue.
|
|
|
Post by sid on Dec 26, 2018 13:03:30 GMT
No with TFL finances. The amount of free travel and season tickets i doubt it would make much in revenue. Just like many routes don't on the other 364 days of the year.
|
|
|
Post by redbus on Dec 26, 2018 13:24:23 GMT
I was out yesterday in the evening - took Uber (what else). Was going to a friends place on the south bank I must say traffic on the highway surprised me - it was quite slow to be honest on both sides and almost seemed like a working day morning traffic.... loads of people out and about. I must confess that if buses / tube were running footfall would have been there. It’s only a matter of time before some services start running I agree with southlondonbus Christmas Day service won't happen any year soon. I can't say demand looked to be any more yesterday than in previous recent years and no service was introduced even when finances were in a better state. It just was not a priority. With the current financial climate there is no chance, and if I am being honest even though I think there should be buses (and tubes) on Christmas Day I would not introduce then in the current financial climate if I were Mayor.
|
|
|
Post by sid on Dec 26, 2018 14:14:38 GMT
I was out yesterday in the evening - took Uber (what else). Was going to a friends place on the south bank I must say traffic on the highway surprised me - it was quite slow to be honest on both sides and almost seemed like a working day morning traffic.... loads of people out and about. I must confess that if buses / tube were running footfall would have been there. It’s only a matter of time before some services start running I agree with southlondonbus Christmas Day service won't happen any year soon. I can't say demand looked to be any more yesterday than in previous recent years and no service was introduced even when finances were in a better state. It just was not a priority. With the current financial climate there is no chance, and if I am being honest even though I think there should be buses (and tubes) on Christmas Day I would not introduce then in the current financial climate if I were Mayor. But it is obviously just one day a year and if there is a demand then surely TfL are obligated to provide a service regardless of their financial position? The money being lost on unviable services on the other 364 days of the year should surely be of greater concern? I read in another post that some HD buses were stored in the car park at Stanmore, I can't help thinking they could be put to better use on the 140.
|
|
|
Post by redbus on Dec 26, 2018 19:27:57 GMT
Indeed the money being lost on the other 364 days is the greater concern, it is the roof falling in! That's why my priority would be to address that, not provide a Christmas Day service, at least initially. Once the roof is fixed then I'd look at matters such as providing a Christmas Day service.
|
|
|
Post by busaholic on Dec 27, 2018 21:10:23 GMT
Indeed the money being lost on the other 364 days is the greater concern, it is the roof falling in! That's why my priority would be to address that, not provide a Christmas Day service, at least initially. Once the roof is fixed then I'd look at matters such as providing a Christmas Day service. Quite, but it might be worth TfL politely enquiring of the bus providers if they could come up with ideas of providing a limited Christmas Day service on key corridors without TfL having to foot the bill, saving peripherals like publicity. You never know until you try, and it could earn Brownie points for certain operators!
|
|
|
Post by redbus on Dec 28, 2018 0:03:12 GMT
Indeed the money being lost on the other 364 days is the greater concern, it is the roof falling in! That's why my priority would be to address that, not provide a Christmas Day service, at least initially. Once the roof is fixed then I'd look at matters such as providing a Christmas Day service. Quite, but it might be worth TfL politely enquiring of the bus providers if they could come up with ideas of providing a limited Christmas Day service on key corridors without TfL having to foot the bill, saving peripherals like publicity. You never know until you try, and it could earn Brownie points for certain operators! Although this sounds attractive I do have some reservations :-
- I am unconvinced the Operators would willingly provide such a service foc to TfL. TfL are already squeezing the Operators for every penny they can, so I just don't see the resources being available to do this unless you have loads of drivers willing to work for nothing.
- The above point leads into Christmas Day being the most anti-social day to ask drivers to work, so I think they should actually be well rewarded for doing so, and that would be impossible if the Operator cannot recover the costs.
- I think there is fair amount of pent-up demand for a bus service on Christmas Day. If your suggestion came about, the resultant bus service would I believe prove to be woefully inadequate, and the pressure on TfL to step in and pay for an expanded bus service in future years would be irresistible. That's fine once the roof is fixed on the 364 days, but in the meantime would be very problematic.
- I think there has to be some sort of tube service in conjunction with any bus service.
On the other hand if you don't ask the Operators, you have no chance of a positive answer! Perhaps part of the solution would be some form of sponsorship, but who would be willing to pay for such sponsorship is another matter.
|
|
|
Post by ibus246 on Dec 28, 2018 2:15:34 GMT
Must just add here that two of our (Metrobus) Fastway 10 early Christmas morning trips to Gatwick had to leave people behind as they were so full. Surely TfL can provide a limited service to Heathrow - judging by the 10 situation I’ve no doubt they’d be used.
|
|
|
Post by sid on Dec 28, 2018 9:34:41 GMT
Must just add here that two of our (Metrobus) Fastway 10 early Christmas morning trips to Gatwick had to leave people behind as they were so full. Surely TfL can provide a limited service to Heathrow - judging by the 10 situation I’ve no doubt they’d be used. There are also reports of heavy loadings on the RT service on the 430 between Putney and Roehampton.
|
|
|
Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 28, 2018 13:32:09 GMT
Must just add here that two of our (Metrobus) Fastway 10 early Christmas morning trips to Gatwick had to leave people behind as they were so full. Surely TfL can provide a limited service to Heathrow - judging by the 10 situation I’ve no doubt they’d be used. There are also reports of heavy loadings on the RT service on the 430 between Putney and Roehampton. Of which how many were genuine commuters I wonder. You can't use that an example for a Christmas Day service.
|
|