A question about replacement bus services

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Councils charge to use bus bays....

[BerkshireBugsy]

I was  impressed by Buchanan (sp?) street Bus Station in Glasgow...I have only been there once but it seems the drivers have to reverse under the guidance of Banksmen - it is a very busy bus station.

[grahame]

At least they were using Bath Bus Station. Though it's no excuse for screwing up the existing bus passengers.

Glad, indeed, that they were using the bus station.  That's a sensible thing to do at the Bath end where the bus and train station are 'together'; wouldn't be sensible in Bristol - or in Chippenham - where the distance between the main bus and train stations makes use of the bus station for rail replacement impractical.

In Bath, several routes have been kicked out of the bus station to make way for rail replacement this week, and judging by the number of temporary route number sheets pasted over stops in the street outside, there's been a cascade effect on other stops too. But the chaotic scenes on Saturday in the middle section of bays (from about 3 to 12 it seemed like 'pot luck') isn't unusual.  So any "screwing up" was more of passengers kicked out than of those who remained in the usual system.

Councils charge to use bus bays....

Interesting.   Bath Bus station is owned and operated by First, I understand - indeed I've been told that the reason very few other operators use it (most having just street stops) is because of what they would have to pay First.  Is your comment a general one, ChrisB, or would other operators also have to pay the council (as well as First) in Bath?

[ChrisB]

no, a general comment, where the council (usually) own the station. In this case, other operators would pay First for their use, as you note.