Bus companies in Bristol and Somerset face commisioner [sic] (BBC News, 3/12/10)

[whole diary]

[TheLastMinute]

From BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News...

Bus companies in Bristol and Somerset face commisioner [sic]

The biggest operator of bus services in Bristol and Somerset has been ordered to explain why its services are not running on time.

Both First Bristol and First Somerset and Avon will face a Department for Transport commisioner [sic] on charges of running unreliable services.

The company could lose its licence, be fined up to ^233,000 or be forced to suspend some of its services.

No-one from First would comment ahead of the findings.

'Tight budgets'

Dave Regwell from the South West Transport Network - which represents passenger groups and transport unions - said fines can make a difference to First.

"If the commissioner fines the company it makes things very tight for First and its budgets," he said.

The company was picked out after spot checks earlier this year on First Bristol and First Somerset and Avon.

Inspectors looked for buses which ran more than a minute early or more than five minutes late - which led to the charges of unreliable services.

In 2005 First Bristol was fined ^100,000 and in 2007 it was fined ^50,000.

On those occasions First argued traffic congestion was a factor.

Both First Bristol and First Somerset and Avon face the commisioner on Friday.

First has previously argued traffic congestion was an issue

TLM

[thetrout]

That's interesting...

I've noticed the 267 Frome - Bath services run mostly to time when I travel with First. But often travel with Faresaver or Shaftsbury and District as they operate faster services than First.

But the 234 route's time keeping is appalling! Often I stand in the cold in Trowbridge waiting for the 17:26 which is often late and when it does turn up at say 17:35 anyone with a Bus Pass or who is buying a single to Frome would know that the 234 service at 17:40 (operated by Frome Minibuses) is much quicker as it skips Rode. which often adds further delays, especially when it's run by Double Deckers.

I also use the 264/265 Bath - Warminster services daily, and there time keeping is even worse. Often 15 - 30 minutes late, it can be just as quick to walk from White Horse Business Park to Trowbridge Town Centre than wait for the bus + in this weather, walking has the added bonus of a hot drink from McDonalds onroute

[standclearplease]

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[Tim]

First buses in Bath are certainly going through a bad-patch at the moment.  I catch a bus (X39, 339, 17, 337, 319, 332) home only one stop after the bus station and the buses are rarely on time which makes me think that they are leaving the bus station late. 

They could learn a bit about right time departure from their First rail division colleagues.  But departure from the bus station is usually sloppy and almost always a minute or two late. 

[anthony215]

I regulary see buses leaving late because the drivers are too busy chatting to each other when they change over.

I dont mind if the drivers is saying that there is a problem with the vehicle or something or warning the driver, that there is say a large vehicle which is a bit diffcult to get around if the bus is traveling along a narrow road or something but sometimes it does get a bit annoying especially if you have got to make a connection.

[Tim]

The other cause of late departure is that the drive starts boarding too late so that he doesn;t have time to sell a ticket to every passenger (and deal with the clueless ones) before departure time.  It would help to have an inspector "dispatching" buses on time

[JayMac]

Often times buses leave their start point a few minutes late so as to avoid the need to 'wait time' en route. I see this happen a lot during off peak times. A bit annoying when I'm sat in the cold at the bus station at Cribbs and my 40 is parked up with drive on board ready to go at it's scheduled time.

[rogerw]

In respect of the original story I understand that the Commissioner has reserved her judgement.