There are a few diversions about in Millbrook, Midanbury and West End. This batch highlights how the different local bus operators handle diversions. Bluestar and Velvet are usually very good at publicising them in good time, the other operators less so. All three of these diversions will also be affecting First routes, but there's nothing on First's website about them. To give them their due, they do mention some of them on Twitter but surely their own website ought to be the primary channel of communication.
I've noticed an increasing trend lately for Bluestar to include at least one typo, spelling mistake or grammar error in each diversion notice they give. Look at the current Millbrook one, which mentions "Kendall Avenue". We can't complain too much because at least they are telling us about the diversions, but some basic competence in the English language wouldn't do their public image any harm. The road isn't named after an obnoxious orange reality TV 'sleb', but the beautiful town of Kendal in Cumbria, which is well worth a visit.
Perhaps the typos are included to check if we are still awake and paying attention?
ReplyDeleteI can also vouch for the splendid mint cake that also bares the name of "Kendal."
Yes Bluestar have lots of mistakes such as their service 16 pocket timetable issued to the public showing the terminus at Townhill Park as being Pinefield Drive when it should be Pinefield Road. Also where they have next stop alighting points shown on their buses as the bus moves from stop to stop,going towards Thornhill on service 18 it shows after Radcliffe Road the next stop being Television Centre. How long has that been demolished? Going towards the Avenue from the City Centre it displays Above Bar, which is correct but everyone knows the stop in either direction as The Cenotaph, and that's what most people ask for. I'm sure that regular bus users will spot more stop names not familar with them as I have done. As you state Firstbus would be better showing route diversions on their website,but even when they do it's sketchy and not always helpful. Recently the diversion on service 5 at Itchen Bridge has been a good example of being not very clear as to what is exactly happening between City Centre and Itchen Bridge in each direction. PAC
ReplyDeleteThe next stop displays are probably run off Traveline which is notorious for using out of date stop names so expect to see 'Televsion Centre' for a few more years. People still use the old stop names, for instance the Big Cheese is still called Bitterne Brewery by many people despite not being that for over 10 years - I'm told newer drivers are told this as the old stop name is still so commonly used.
ReplyDeleteAs for Cenotaph I agree, surprised its not called by the name everyone uses as Above Bar could apply to more than one stop.
Yes, Bluestar do seem to leave the job of website updates to an 18 year old from Scunthorpe! Their lack of local knowledge is amazing. I suspect the same person is in charge of their "next stop" system. Tanners Brook in Millbrook currently shows as Millbrook flyover (nowhere near!), and then they have The Sailors Return, which is long gone. The Civic Centre Police station still exists too! Its madness to release a system, before anyone with local knowledge has checked it, but they seem to be masters of this art.....
ReplyDeleteI note this morning Thursday 7th November 2013 that Firstbus on their website are now showing a route diversion in Millbrook for service 2 and 12 and in Midanbury for service 7 and 12. However there is no information as to what the diversion will be. Not much use for any intending passenger. PAC
ReplyDeleteToday 7th November 2013, I looked at the facebook page on the Firstbus website. If I were the Chief Executive of Firstbus and were reading passengers comments about the operations in Southampton,Fareham,Gosport and Portsmouth I would be mortified.
ReplyDeleteWhilst some comments I'm sure are slightly exagerated,most reflect the way their services operate in the areas concerned. It's hard to find one comment when you scroll through the site of anyone having a good word for any service operated. Whilst traffic problems are a major issue and difficult for Firstbus to overcome, cancellations seem to be a major issue as well as the attitude of some drivers in dealing with passengers. How do Firstbus and other major operators seem to receive awards for excelence of service etc,when it's clear that the general public using their services don't have this view. PAC
Phil, I wouldn't base the rubbish written by the Facebook trolls as evidence of how well or otherwise an operator is performing. If you want an independent idea of how they are performing look at the passenger focus scores which are publicly available.
DeleteThe sort of comments were the same on BlueStar until they banned customers from posting direct to their Facebook page. Sounds like Bluestar prefer to close their ears !
ReplyDeleteAnon 7/11 @ 2138, it has previously been stated here that Bluestar did this to stop them having to investigate the high number of hoax complaints that were wasting their staff time. They certainly dont close their ears and have a direct e-mail box for genuine complaints, but would prefer not to have pure fiction spread all over social media. Seems like good positive management to me!
DeleteIf you read the comments on Bluestar Facebook page you'd learn they don't even bother replying to emails now!
DeleteI think you will find quite the opposite in fact! But they only reply to the genuine comments.....
DeleteThe only positive comments about First seem to be from Michael Sebastian Todd,who keeps on with the same comment over and over,that Bluestar drivers are unfriendly and dont wait for you to be seated,neither points i can agree with!
ReplyDeleteYes I notice that Michael Sebastian Todd appears regularly on the Firstbus website and agree with you for some reason He has a dislike of Bluestar drivers. I use Bluestar buses nearly everyday of the week, and their drivers are all mainly very freindly and helpful, and let you sit before they pull away from bus stops. I'm sure there are exceptions,but this will happen with any bus operator. I also note that He sometimes replies to passengers who have had difficulty in receiving a reply from Firstbus about service operations, and the reply He gives is no more helpful and still leaves the person who made the enquiry to Firstbus just as much in the dark. An example of this is the enquiry by a potential passenger as to the routeing in Gosport of their services during the memorial service for servicemen and woman held today 10th November 2013, to which Firstbus according to the passenger gave no reply. He decided to reply to the passenger leaving the person just as much in the dark,as can be seen by the persons reply to Him. PAC
DeleteAnd least FirstBus do have social media to talk to their customers unlike Bluestar. The comment about hoax complaints being the reason stopped using Facebook shows how poor they view their customers.
ReplyDeleteI think its a very valid reason. They do also have their managersmailbox address. Do you have some kind of hidden agenda against Bluestar, by any chance?
DeleteHow nice to see that both Bluestar and Velvet will be operating certain routes on New Years Day 1st January 2014. May I thank both operators for this, and the staff that will be operating the services. I can't comment on other operators as I have no information to hand. PAC
ReplyDeleteGood on Bluestar and Velvet!!First are slow announcing theirs!I think we can probably guess ,unlike the others ,they probably wont run as normal,between xmas and new year,as usual.
DeleteI think you'll be a bit surprised then.
DeleteWas talking to a driver the other day.
Boxing day- limited service
Then it's pretty much Saturday service Fri Mon Tues Wed.
Limited service on new years day
No hidden agenda. Just say what I see. All very sad really that they feel they have to close a channel of communication to the customer. All sounds like ryanair
ReplyDeletejust to let you know the 3 will be running the same route in and out of town via ocean village
ReplyDelete