News RSS Feed


Bus cuts cause chaos

7:39am Tuesday 13th May 2008

comment Comments (24)   Have your say »


A PASSENGER says she tried to travel to York by bus on the first day of First's controversial new timetable - but the vehicle never turned up.

Lynda Madden said she ended up getting to work half-an-hour late after the Number 10 service from Stamford Bridge, which is now due to pick up passengers at 8.18am, failed to arrive in High Catton Road yesterday.

Lynda said that she and about half-a-dozen other passengers, including some youngsters wanting to get to Archbishop Holgate's School, had to wait around for the next bus, which didn't arrive until 8.48am.

"They would have been late for school as a result," she said.

She also criticised the reduction in the number of buses on the Number 10 route from Stamford Bridge to Poppleton, which means there are now only two buses an hour, running at half-hourly intervals, instead of three buses an hour, running at 20 minute intervals. She said that in the early morning, buses were already crowded with children going to school and adults going to work, and the overcrowding would worsen with only two buses an hour.

A First spokesman said: "There has been a lot of building work taking place near the Stamford Bridge bus terminus since the end of March. This has caused ongoing problems for our buses getting to and from the area, particularly early in the mornings when lorries are delivering building equipment to the site.

"This morning was one such occasion when our bus could not get to the bus stop to pick up passengers and we would like to apologise to anyone inconvienced by this. From an operational viewpoint the changes to the bus services in York went smoothly and the people of York are now benefiting from a more efficient bus service.

"However we are aware that some people are unhappy with the changes and we will continue to work with the council to listen to these concerns and to monitor the success of the new service over the next few months."

The service reductions on the route were only part of a wider range of cuts in First services across the city, which were brought in response to soaring costs and underuse of some services.


Your Say YourYork Press

SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
7:54am Tue 13 May 08

which is now due to pick up passengers at 8.18am,
The driver will have been taken off the route to service the school bus run! FarceYork don't want to lose that lucrative contract so full fare paying passengers dip out! I've seen it numerous times on the FTR route!

amigo, york says...
7:54am Tue 13 May 08

She also criticised the reduction in the number of buses on the Number 10 route from Stamford Bridge to Poppleton, which means there are now only two buses an hour, running at half-hourly intervals, instead of three buses an hour, running at 20 minute intervals. Thats a bummer, ours has gone from one every 30mins to none at all, thanks FY, now known locally as LAST YORK.

Jack Meadows, Sun Hill says...
8:08am Tue 13 May 08

Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.

Splash, At work says...
8:15am Tue 13 May 08

Yep, I was waiting for a number 16 for 40 minutes on Sunday (got to the stop about 5 mins before it was due) on Hamilton Drive and it never showed. After that I decided to walk.

It's a shame that First York seemingly aren't capable of running the service that they advertise - I'm hoping to see more routes rolled out to Veiola, a little competition might be just the kick up the backside that First need...

johngosdenfanclub, rawcliffe says...
8:27am Tue 13 May 08

this bus WAS at stamford bridge old station house between 08:05 aND 08:18 YOU ALL SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT THE BUILDING WORK AT THE TERMINUS DOESNT MAKE IT SAFE FOR BUSES TO STOP THERE UNTIL TOLD SO BY COUNCIL, IT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR PAST SEVERAL WEEKS !!!!!!

AdmiralN, York Centre says...
8:37am Tue 13 May 08

I catch the number 10 from poppleton to stamford every morning, The bus should be at 06:35 - gets to me usually 06:45-50, they cant blame the traffic at that time. Also they have two timetables. One for school termtime, and one for the holidays but i dont know anyone who goes to school and dont have the foggiest when the school holidays are. Nice one First! your the best!

Honey, York says...
9:06am Tue 13 May 08

Jack Meadows wrote:
Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.
That's because the no.10 is a very busy bus service. I use it every day and it's always packed like sardines, imagine how bad it will be now it's every 1/2 an hour!! And in Summer too when it's stifling hot on the bus, great, more sweaty armpits to press up against.
You can find out the school holidays from the First website. My step-son goes to Manor School and can now choose from getting there at 8.10am or 8.40am (I believe they start at 8.45). Why do they have separate timetables for term time when they obviously don't take school hours into account?! I really can't see the point in confusing passengers like that, it's stupid!

york_resident, York says...
9:43am Tue 13 May 08

Honey wrote:
Jack Meadows wrote: Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.
That's because the no.10 is a very busy bus service. I use it every day and it's always packed like sardines, imagine how bad it will be now it's every 1/2 an hour!! And in Summer too when it's stifling hot on the bus, great, more sweaty armpits to press up against. You can find out the school holidays from the First website. My step-son goes to Manor School and can now choose from getting there at 8.10am or 8.40am (I believe they start at 8.45). Why do they have separate timetables for term time when they obviously don't take school hours into account?! I really can't see the point in confusing passengers like that, it's stupid!
I quite agree with you Honey. It is a busy bus and to squash three lots of passengers into two buses is ridiculous. Two timetables just to add to the confusion - well done FY - superb service. When you catch the bus on the way home it is usually full of joy riding OAP's who demand their free seats. Surely extra buses early on and around rush hours would be sensible, but hey this is FY.

tonesview, york says...
9:57am Tue 13 May 08

If this is such a busy bus service, why on earth don't they put that big purple monstrocity (ftr) on it ,
and get it out of town.

BL, says...
10:59am Tue 13 May 08

Jack Meadows wrote:
Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.
Unless they're full already!

Get EYMS to run the York buses - they're great on a Sunday from Elvington! Cheap and empty with pleasant drivers :-)

Elle, York says...
11:35am Tue 13 May 08

tonesview wrote:
If this is such a busy bus service, why on earth don't they put that big purple monstrocity (ftr) on it , and get it out of town.
bring back the double decker buses, we all loved them School kids can be sent upstairs leaving downstairs for the adults. Too obvious a solution!!

tonesview, york says...
11:52am Tue 13 May 08

Elle wrote:
tonesview wrote:
If this is such a busy bus service, why on earth don't they put that big purple monstrocity (ftr) on it , and get it out of town.
bring back the double decker buses, we all loved them School kids can be sent upstairs leaving downstairs for the adults. Too obvious a solution!!
SPOT ON.

The Crack Fox, Coming at you, like a razor says...
12:35pm Tue 13 May 08

If First York wanted to save cash they could make the number 6 less regular, dont get me wrong, I use it quite a bit, but it runs every 10 mins and to be honest Im usually the only person on it

Voice of reason, York says...
12:39pm Tue 13 May 08

Jack Meadows wrote:
Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.
It is if it doesn't turn up at all!

Deltic, E.Yorks says...
12:45pm Tue 13 May 08

They have started using double deckers on the number 10 route. They usually pass my house around 9pm and 10pm when it's off peak and nobody is using it !! Good bit of planning I'm sure..

Dave McBridge, York says...
12:50pm Tue 13 May 08

If services are cut then capacity should improve on the retained services - preferably double deckers.

FTRs are a false economy and only hold one more person than a single decker, so i doubt they'd be a good solution to the probem given the price tag. Fair enough they hold more people who stand, but double deckers are cheaper and more economical.

Jack Meadows, Sun Hill says...
1:35pm Tue 13 May 08

Honey wrote:
Jack Meadows wrote: Soon as there is a change, people start moaning. Two buses an hour instead of three, is not really a great loss.
That's because the no.10 is a very busy bus service. I use it every day and it's always packed like sardines, imagine how bad it will be now it's every 1/2 an hour!! And in Summer too when it's stifling hot on the bus, great, more sweaty armpits to press up against. You can find out the school holidays from the First website. My step-son goes to Manor School and can now choose from getting there at 8.10am or 8.40am (I believe they start at 8.45). Why do they have separate timetables for term time when they obviously don't take school hours into account?! I really can't see the point in confusing passengers like that, it's stupid!
Where does your step son catch the bus from to get to manor?

Peter, York says...
2:37pm Tue 13 May 08

Lynda Madden said she ended up getting to work half-an-hour late after the Number 10 service from Stamford Bridge, which is now due to pick up passengers at 8.18am, failed to arrive in High Catton Road yesterday.

THE BUS WAS THERE AT THE STATION WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST 5 WEEKS, IF THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE SHE SAYS SHE MISSED WHY DID SHE ARRIVE 1 AND A HALF HOURS LATE, THEY ALL RAN YESTERDAY.

york_resident, York says...
2:55pm Tue 13 May 08

Peter wrote:
Lynda Madden said she ended up getting to work half-an-hour late after the Number 10 service from Stamford Bridge, which is now due to pick up passengers at 8.18am, failed to arrive in High Catton Road yesterday. THE BUS WAS THERE AT THE STATION WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST 5 WEEKS, IF THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE SHE SAYS SHE MISSED WHY DID SHE ARRIVE 1 AND A HALF HOURS LATE, THEY ALL RAN YESTERDAY.
Firstly stop shouting!
Secondly do you work for First York or something to know they all ran?
Or are you a bus spotter? lol

SilverSurfer, Surfing says...
3:03pm Tue 13 May 08

IF THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE SHE SAYS SHE MISSED WHY DID SHE ARRIVE 1 AND A HALF HOURS LATE
Read the story! She says she was "half-an-hour late".

marky, york says...
3:29pm Tue 13 May 08

Farse York what a joke
of a company.

FARSE OUT.

Peter, York says...
8:06pm Tue 13 May 08

marky wrote:
Farse York what a joke of a company. FARSE OUT.
You must work for another bus company and most likely you have been sacked from first, as you have said this a few times, and I bet I am right

silver, york says...
8:17pm Tue 13 May 08

I wonder how many of the positive comments posted here are those of bus drivers or associates. Hmmmmm

Mike C, york says...
10:17pm Tue 13 May 08

AdmiralN: I suffered with a bus timetabled to leave York 06:40, but was always late. I wrote to First suggesting an inspector turned the bus out of the depot 10 minutes earlier. Lo and behold, on time for several weeks - I like to think it wasn't coincidence!

Comments are closed on this article.




Local Advertisers


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »