|
Post by Pilot on Aug 25, 2019 17:46:45 GMT
Worst one is when you arrive early 3 minutes and the other driver just stands outside out of principle until his time to go, I think there needs to be a rule or something or give 5 minutes extra pay for driver to be 5 early and be ready to depart early as well due to headway service. But on some routes I know where driver can easily arrive 10 minutes early for changeover and sometimes they do...but the other driver knows the deal so won't be nowhere near bus stop because doesn't want to take over due to the fact that there is too much running time, even if you waste time checking ramp and doing all paperwork you're still gonna be mega early.
|
|
|
Post by DT 11 on Aug 25, 2019 17:53:32 GMT
I usually tell them how long I’m waiting for over the PA, there really is no need to select how many minutes. In fact it isn’t an option to choose how many minutes. Those who don’t listen then thats there problem because there is always one. The 160 has lots of running time during the peaks that isn’t needed in the school holidays, I always explain over the PA that I must run the bus on time and that there is less traffic on the road during school holidays and no one comes up asking questions because I’ve told them what’s going on. In addition for the last few weeks the 160 towards Sidcup has not been serving Middle Park or Kingsground, instead following the 321, B15 & B16 via Eltham Hill. Have to loose 8-10 minutes, so what I do is park at the first stop on Eltham Hill and advise people how long the bus will wait and that they can get as many buses in an hour for £1.50 if the bus is delaying them. The ones who get the message immediately start looking for the 321, but still after announcing that I get stupid questions after turning the engine off after explaining what’s happening. Overall of it was on normal route they wouldn’t be getting anywhere any faster! -Is this the last stop? -Are you going to Eltham? “Yes I did just announce I’m waiting for 10 mins”, this was after 8 people had already got off and got the 321! This person got off and waited for the next 321 which arrived a minute before I left that stop! -Is the bus brokendown? -Why are we not going anywhere? “I just announced twice I’m waiting for 10 mins” “I can hear my own voice loud on the PA as well” When will it be going back to normal route? It's good that you announce how long you wait for. Not every driver does this, which is why I think it should be mandatory. Announcing the fact that the bus will be held is great, but if I end up waiting for so long that two or three other buses that I could have taken have gone by then it's kind of useless information. Speaking as a NX driver its understandable that passengers do get annoyed at the changeovers that occur outside the garage for routes 21, 171, 172, 436, 453 & N171. We are given ample time to reach the changeover point however one big issue we face is crossing New Cross Road. Also as you can imagine there are several routes that changeover and all are high frequency routes with a lot of buses on them (i.e 453) so at times it is inevitable that a majority of buses are changing drivers at the same time so I fully understand your experience. What doesn't help is a few things, as it is the school holidays traffic is quieter so there is quite a bit of early running going on. The general rule is to not get to the changeover point more than 3 minutes early but of course you can’t expect the next driver to be there 3 minutes early as they aren't exactly expected to be there then but to be fair the majority of drivers do get there a couple of minutes before to changeover. Unfortunately some drivers as is the case elsewhere are a law into themselves, they always arrive to the changeover point early (I have personally had a 453 driver arrive to the point 8 minutes early than the changeover time which just takes the biscuit shall we say) and then you have the same drivers who always arrive late when taking over a bus. Its sad to hear of your experience as it puts our company and garage in a bad light and I apologise on their behalf for your bad experience. As for your comment regarding the lack of announcements, we are constantly being reminded by management for need to do PA announcements to engage with passengers regarding delays or diversions of any sort to the journey. I hope this helps to restore your faith in NX operations. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate the efforts made by you and your colleagues and I understand that it can be difficult at times. Overall NX drivers have done pretty well making announcements over the last year or two. My average experience is never normally as bad as the one I described above, but fairly often buses will have to wait a long while until the driver arrives to take over the bus even during school term time. And I also understand that crossing New Cross Road is a nightmare, but surely drivers should be at the bus stop a few mins before the scheduled time anyway? E.g. if scheduled to take over a bus at 13:50, arrive at 13:45. I think that would annoy passengers a little less, except for cases like your 453 service arriving 8 mins early. On a personal note Nathan whenever I pass through New Cross occasionally I do try to avoid the routes with changeovers outside NX and the 21 & 453 in the summer horrible routes to travel on, overall arriving early too early on a changeover isn’t acceptable, drivers arriving late isn’t acceptable either. Whenever doing 99 & 229 as occasionally I do these routes whenever I’m coming off for break I get there on the exact time written, others don’t and arrive very early and if its me taking over well they can wait until I arrive because some drivers are so stupid not to read the time card, then have the cheek to ask where was I I just called the controller, so I ask how long you waiting and show them what it says on my time card as well as there own, I shouldn’t and nor should any other driver have to continuously hold back for some lazy idiots who wants to come off early leaving the next driver to deal with the controllers. Overall I’m not a fan of live changeovers.
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Aug 25, 2019 22:33:08 GMT
Well...Bank Holiday Sunday once again! That means night buses will be busy but on Sunday night schedules so most heading out of town will be moving at a lively pace between stops. Especially in West London!
|
|
|
Post by richard on Aug 25, 2019 22:39:49 GMT
Well...Bank Holiday Sunday once again! That means night buses will be busy but on Sunday night schedules so most heading out of town will be moving at a lively pace between stops. Especially in West London! I've just seen a packed 29 passing Camden Road heading towards Wood Green even though its a bank holiday its odd on a Sunday
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Aug 25, 2019 22:51:13 GMT
Well...Bank Holiday Sunday once again! That means night buses will be busy but on Sunday night schedules so most heading out of town will be moving at a lively pace between stops. Especially in West London! I've just seen a packed 29 passing Camden Road heading towards Wood Green even though its a bank holiday its odd on a Sunday It's like a Saturday night - lots of people go out on the Sunday preceeding a BH Monday!
|
|
|
Post by galwhv69 on Aug 26, 2019 9:06:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by george on Aug 26, 2019 9:13:59 GMT
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Aug 26, 2019 9:36:30 GMT
Drivers are not paid to be at the changeover earlier than their scheduled time, so if a driver does turn up early he is doing so of his own accord. I try and arrive about 3 early to take over as a matter of courtesy when I can (obviously not always possible when you are arriving in a ferry) but we as drivers are not paid to be there early. That's intesting. At Abellio exactly 40 minutes is docked for a break, but in practice the break is usually a bit or a lot longer so a few minutes waiting for a bus to take over is paid time. It was similar at Metroline though sometimes the break was precisely 40 minutes. How does it work at Go Ahead? Is the entire break unpaid right until the minute you're meant to depart regardless of length?
|
|
|
Post by wirewiper on Aug 26, 2019 9:48:50 GMT
I've just seen a packed 29 passing Camden Road heading towards Wood Green even though its a bank holiday its odd on a Sunday It's like a Saturday night - lots of people go out on the Sunday preceeding a BH Monday! Especially when the weather is as Mediterranean as it is now. Then there's also the matter of getting a few dozen people home from a small street party in West London somewhere.
|
|
|
Post by 6HP502C on Aug 26, 2019 10:22:12 GMT
I got the N136 to Piccadilly Circus. Buses coming out of town were heaving - the 36X, N136, N171 etc carrying full loads.
There was a Harrow Weald bound N18 in front which had about 85 people on board on departure from Trafalgar Square. I got on on Regent Street by which time it har about 100 people on board and people were piling on both doors. I'd estimate there were around 45 people standing downstairs by Oxford Circus.
The bus was leaving behind up to around 20 people at almost every stop all the way to Harrow Road. It was heavily overloaded to the point where the bus was scraping against the road when going around bends. There was a very swift driver change.
I got off at Willesden Junction where it was still packed out. Another bus 4 minutes behind was just as crowded. Helpfully an empty bus started in service at Willesden going towards Sudbury.
The N207 was just as crowded coming out of town but the westbound buses seemed to be packed from Marble Arch!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2019 11:30:33 GMT
Drivers are not paid to be at the changeover earlier than their scheduled time, so if a driver does turn up early he is doing so of his own accord. I try and arrive about 3 early to take over as a matter of courtesy when I can (obviously not always possible when you are arriving in a ferry) but we as drivers are not paid to be there early. That's intesting. At Abellio exactly 40 minutes is docked for a break, but in practice the break is usually a bit or a lot longer so a few minutes waiting for a bus to take over is paid time. It was similar at Metroline though sometimes the break was precisely 40 minutes. How does it work at Go Ahead? Is the entire break unpaid right until the minute you're meant to depart regardless of length? At Go Ahead the entire break is unpaid unless you are doing a spreadover (at Go Ahead it's a duty longer than 9.15 spread). Then you get paid at a reduced rate (it's something stupid like £6 something an hour) for however long your duty is over 9.15 or however long your break is over 40 mins, whichever is the lesser.
|
|
|
Post by rif153 on Aug 26, 2019 12:31:52 GMT
That's intesting. At Abellio exactly 40 minutes is docked for a break, but in practice the break is usually a bit or a lot longer so a few minutes waiting for a bus to take over is paid time. It was similar at Metroline though sometimes the break was precisely 40 minutes. How does it work at Go Ahead? Is the entire break unpaid right until the minute you're meant to depart regardless of length? At Go Ahead the entire break is unpaid unless you are doing a spreadover (at Go Ahead it's a duty longer than 9.15 spread). Then you get paid at a reduced rate (it's something stupid like £6 something an hour) for however long your duty is over 9.15 or however long your break is over 40 mins, which ever is the lesser. Does it work out better to do a spreadover then? I'd often wondered why so many of the Q drivers I've spoken to like spreadovers, but it does work out better for the pocket.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2019 13:29:44 GMT
At Go Ahead the entire break is unpaid unless you are doing a spreadover (at Go Ahead it's a duty longer than 9.15 spread). Then you get paid at a reduced rate (it's something stupid like £6 something an hour) for however long your duty is over 9.15 or however long your break is over 40 mins, which ever is the lesser. Does it work out better to do a spreadover then? I'd often wondered why so many of the Q drivers I've spoken to like spreadovers, but it does work out better for the pocket. It works for some people and not for others. If you live close to the changeover point it can work out well for you. Some people may go to the gym on their breaks etc. At my garage, most of the spreadovers are on separate rotas, and on the route I drive there is also a separate spreadover rota. That one is quite popular because the drivers on that rota only work weekdays and get every weekend off. In terms of money, it doesn't always make a huge difference because the break is paid at such a low rate. For it to pay well you need to have a break that is a considerable length, imo over around 3.5 hours. Depending on how long the duty is the amount it will pay a week could be up to £100 a week (for a very long 4h break), or as low as £50 a week (for a shortish 2.x hour break) in spreadover allowance. Red Arrow routes always pay very well on spreadovers as a large proportion of those duties end up being around 13 hours spread, or even more than that, with 5+ hour breaks.
|
|
|
Post by rif153 on Aug 26, 2019 13:52:40 GMT
I wonder what TfL will do for the Notting Hill Carnival once the 94 has been cutback. My guess is the 94 extras will start from Marble Arch, and go as far as Notting Hill Gate/Shepherd's Bush, although that isn't great. The 94 is packed from Oxford Circus today, and having no route from Oxford Street to Notting Hill Gate on carnival day would be apalling.
|
|
|
Post by Hassaan on Aug 26, 2019 13:54:32 GMT
It was heavily overloaded to the point where the bus was scraping against the road when going around bends. There was a very swift driver change. B5LHs do appear to be prone to that, some of the Metroline ones I've had start scraping the ground on bends (and the massive rear on humps) at about 80% loaded. Maybe more heavily wedged buses are what is needed to encourage faster driver changeovers at garages that have problems with them
|
|