Greater Manchester Service Changes

[redstar]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes
Reading about Hulleys is very confusing. They seem to change and amend their timetable on a regular basis and then give up the X1 totally, after a short period of time. I hear that HGV drivers are in short supply, this must be spreading to buses, especially those with smaller fleets.

[Nwales Bus]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(09/09/2021 21:26)redstar Wrote:  Reading about Hulleys is very confusing. They seem to change and amend their timetable on a regular basis and then give up the X1 totally, after a short period of time. I hear that HGV drivers are in short supply, this must be spreading to buses, especially those with smaller fleets.

Hulleys announced on Facebook last week that two of their new driver recruits did not start at the company, alongside 4 other drivers leaving, resulting in a shortage for the new timetables. It’s nice to see a company being honest to customers and canceling the two new services to stabilise the network instead of missing boards on almost all routes.

It’s a problem across the whole country, can’t blame the drivers who’ve jumped ship, some lorry companies are offering great incentives at the moment alongside nearly double the hourly pay compared to Bus Companies

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(10/09/2021 08:17)Nwales Bus Wrote:  It’s a problem across the whole country, can’t blame the drivers who’ve jumped ship, some lorry companies are offering great incentives at the moment alongside nearly double the hourly pay compared to Bus Companies

I don't know if the impression I've got from using buses recently is typical nationwide but there's seems to be more women bus drivers appearing. I did see a report on the new recently where they spoke to HGV drivers and they found a rare woman driver who was very critical of what facilities HGV drivers have available e.g. the difficulties in using the toilet during a shift. It might be easier for the bus industry to attract women than the HGV industry.

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes
Some people questioned the X1/X57 timings. While it might not be relevant now yesterday evening a Megabus service heading to Manchester Airport diverted off the M6 at junction 16 and went to the airport via the A500, A34 and A555 and it did it in around 50 minutes. It shows how much fast journeys can be if they aren't scheduled to stop at most bus stops on the way.

[Mayneway]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(10/09/2021 08:17)Nwales Bus Wrote:  Hulleys announced on Facebook last week that two of their new driver recruits did not start at the company, alongside 4 other drivers leaving, resulting in a shortage for the new timetables. It’s nice to see a company being honest to customers and canceling the two new services to stabilise the network instead of missing boards on almost all routes.

It’s a problem across the whole country, can’t blame the drivers who’ve jumped ship, some lorry companies are offering great incentives at the moment alongside nearly double the hourly pay compared to Bus Companies

They weren’t honest though. The day before they posted about the X1 withdrawal they posted something and we’re asked by several passengers about the X1 as buses hadn’t turned up and drivers were telling passengers it was being dropped and D&G were taking it over, hulleys denied it saying it was all just rumours. They were anything but honest.

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(11/09/2021 10:28)Mayneway Wrote:  They weren’t honest though. The day before they posted about the X1 withdrawal they posted something and we’re asked by several passengers about the X1 as buses hadn’t turned up and drivers were telling passengers it was being dropped and D&G were taking it over, hulleys denied it saying it was all just rumours. They were anything but honest.

I noticed one woman posted saying she had been given 3 different stories - one from a Hulley's driver, one from the person manning the Hulley's phone number and another by the person managing the Hulley's Facebook feed. As you say the person managing the social feeds claimed they posted the official communication and anything which contradicted it was an unverified rumour.

[Mayneway]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(11/09/2021 10:39)knutstransport Wrote:  I noticed one woman posted saying she had been given 3 different stories - one from a Hulley's driver, one from the person manning the Hulley's phone number and another by the person managing the Hulley's Facebook feed. As you say the person managing the social feeds claimed they posted the official communication and anything which contradicted it was an unverified rumour.

They effectively denied the X1 was being dropped. When people quizzed where certain buses were and why X1’s were not tracking they were met with the very unhelpful reply of ‘everything left the depot this morning as scheduled’.
They then admitted they were going to make an announcement but couldn’t until DCC replied to their email. They then deleted the post about the X1 not being dropped and announced it was being withdrawn, and were met with some heavy criticism.

[knutstransport]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(11/09/2021 10:53)Mayneway Wrote:  They then admitted they were going to make an announcement but couldn’t until DCC replied to their email.

That post would have rung bells for those who know that the X1 was a commercial service not being contracted by local authorities.

Saying they sent an email makes me think of the IT Crowd episode where Moss couldn't remember the new emergency service phone number so he sent an email saying the office was on fire. If there's an emergency you need to speak to someone, the only excuses for sending an email is they couldn't get through on the phone or the email was a follow up to an initial phone call. People needing the bus to get to work or medical appointments can't wait until the next business day for an email response.

[Mayneway]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes

(11/09/2021 11:38)knutstransport Wrote:  That post would have rung bells for those who know that the X1 was a commercial service not being contracted by local authorities.

Saying they sent an email makes me think of the IT Crowd episode where Moss couldn't remember the new emergency service phone number so he sent an email saying the office was on fire. If there's an emergency you need to speak to someone, the only excuses for sending an email is they couldn't get through on the phone or the email was a follow up to an initial phone call. People needing the bus to get to work or medical appointments can't wait until the next business day for an email response.

My view is simple. At the point you cancel a service with VOSA, it appears on the N&P pages and anyone can see it. Tell your passengers your cancelling it then rumours can not start. All comes back to PR.

[SF07]

RE: Greater Manchester Service Changes
Travel South Yorkshire reporting that Hulleys' X57 timetable will be reduced further due to driver shortages, as of today (28th September).

Buses will run between Sheffield and Manchester Chorlton Street only, departing Sheffield at 0705, 0925, 1125, 1325, 1525 and 1745 and departing Manchester at 0655, 0930, 1130, 1330, 1530 and 1730.

https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/en-...ce-changes
https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/get...168kb).pdf