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DD12 wrote: ↑

16:44 Wednesday 29th January 2020

I see on First's website, the timetable for the 32S now shows arrival time at Green Lane as 16.08 instead of 16.01, and this is good because it's more realistic.

However, the bus then does a 37 back to Crowngate, and the latest 37 timetable still shows the departure time from Green Lane as 16.01 (So does the traveline timetable).

So, that results in people having a 7 minute wait at Green Lane or Northwick for the 37 to Crowngate, if the 32S finishes on time.

However ! -- there is the potential for the 32S arriving early at Green Lane (16.01) if conditions allow,
and First recently changed the 37 timetable format to a "there and back" layout, so does that mean the driver WILL depart from Green Lane at 16.01 if he/she can, (to get back to Crowngate ASAP), - or SHOULD he/she wait until 16.08 and should the "published" timetables modified ??
(Tim ?)

The next duty is then a 44 ( - which I think is good and sensible !)

I see what you mean, but I note the 32S running anything up to 10 minutes late along Grange Avenue some afternoons; interesting to see how it runs during school holidays (next week?) on the tighter timing. In any case, as a driver I was told to follow the times shown on the running card unless instructed otherwise by a company official / Inspector. Running early is a disciplinary offence and nowadays the ticket machine talks to a satellite and will report the exact time to the second at any location. The old instruction still stands, "there is usually a reason for running late, but no excuse for running early which is why drivers must wait time at all timing points.

The Saturday 37 timings are still at the over tight 25 minute round trip with the same bus noted becoming late as the day progresses, so that needs changing too.

managed to get myself a ride on the 37 this morning. there was a fairly decent amount of passengers on the outbound journey but not as many traveling into town.

Charliedaffin wrote: ↑

12:12 Saturday 1st February 2020

managed to get myself a ride on the 37 this morning. there was a fairly decent amount of passengers on the outbound journey but not as many traveling into town.

The 09-54 (37) working from Green Lane this morning was full and standing by St Georges Square, but the journey one hour later at 10-54 didn't pick up a single passenger anywhere on the Northwick Green loop!

Is the bus wash out of order? Both buses in use on the 37 and those used on other routes all plastered with mud/road grime with more or less opaque windows - car owning potential bus passengers will love that!

I don't think that the wash has been working for a couple of weeks now.

Charliedaffin wrote: ↑

12:12 Saturday 1st February 2020

managed to get myself a ride on the 37 this morning. there was a fairly decent amount of passengers on the outbound journey but not as many traveling into town.

Did you get your zero-value ticket? Drivers are under instruction to issue all passengers with a special ticket at zero value so that numbers are correctly recorded.

AdamH wrote: ↑

07:54 Sunday 2nd February 2020

Charliedaffin wrote: ↑

12:12 Saturday 1st February 2020

managed to get myself a ride on the 37 this morning. there was a fairly decent amount of passengers on the outbound journey but not as many traveling into town.

Did you get your zero-value ticket? Drivers are under instruction to issue all passengers with a special ticket at zero value so that numbers are correctly recorded.

i dont think i did. i was the only passenger who wouldve paid anyway as everyone else had a bus pass!

got another free 37 ride today, this time on 63066, got my ticket aswell this time

The 37 has been using the main Ombersley Road direct to Green Lane for a couple of days because of extensive roadworks between the junction of Beckett Road and Northwick Road/ Northwick Green. Contractors have also been replacing paving slabs with tarmac on pavements in Leabank Drive and other roads nearby.

Some time ago there was much discussion locally about the 37 bus service being extended to take in the new Cherry Trees development, supported by money allocated by the builders to increase frequency and build the new bus bay and shelter as a new terminus on the Ombersley Road north of the current Green Lane turning point. I wish to report that the services-only road off Green Lane directly opposite Bevere Close into the development has now been 'officially' barred to any traffic with two substantial bollards cemented in place, effectively preventing buses (or ambulances and fire engines) using this access. No changes to the 37 route possible now without a heavy digger to remove the barrier!

That new 'terminus' bus bay is only served by the 303 which has been subject to withdrawal and subsequent heavy subsidy by Worcestershire County Council and therefore living on the knife-edge of complete withdrawal if takings don't improve if, and when, the Covid 19 crisis comes to an end.

Thanks for the update Tim.

This looks to me like an ongoing bad use of "public" money, -- perhaps the thinking is that it's likely that the land to the east of the A449 will become housing very soon (?) and that the Claines roundabout can be used to turn the buses around (?)

-- How dangerous do our regular drivers think that would be !?!??!

-- Or perhaps they could turn right and drive along a semi-circle through my imagined new housing, - in which case the new bus bay on the A449 would be in the wrong place !!

That there seems STILL to be no joined-up thinking about bus provision to suit most new housing and other developments ( - at this very late stage in the environmental crisis) is alarming, -- but then I don't care too much, due to my short remaining lifespan !!

With all this in mind it needs to be noted that the Tory councillors currently in power on the county council HATE busses or any form of alternative of public transport....