Road, Rail & Access Issues

[The Pole]

I don’t think I have! You said that the 34 was just behind it? No surprise that the A1 was full and the 34 half empty, then.

A lot stand back when the A1 approaches. Trust me.
If you have travelled into Leeds on a morning you'd know. I guess you haven't as you use the A1 to get to work. Presumably the airport so you're journey is a one trick pony in the opposite direction unless you want to walk from yeadon lights.
Passengers only get on the A1 if they aren't frequent passengers.
Most commuters get a weekly monthly or annual passes.
The A1 is to be fair a last resort for some if the First service is cancelled or very late.

 

[Bigman]

I got a 34 into town the other morning. An A1 passed us in Horsforth and was full so naturally my bus was rammed when we got into Leeds

 

[The Pole]

I don’t think I have! You said that the 34 was just behind it? No surprise that the A1 was full and the 34 half empty, then.

And to add when I stated chased each other into town they overtake each other. The 34 doesn't stay behind the A1 to stay empty!
The 34 normally has circa 50 seats free when it gets to horsforth sort the A1 on the day in question must have been full of airport passengers. Hence why I asked if they would get off the planes mentioned onto buses through passport control pick up baggage and get to the bus stop before it leaves at 07:55

 

[Bigman]

When I have got any of the early morning Flyer buses whether it be to Leeds or Bradford they have had loads of early doors Eastern European punters on. I had to assist a bunch of Poles with onward connections to Manchester one day.

 

[Finger66]

Clearly poles apart then! Why are they running single deckers when the route is so busy. Wouldn’t doubles on a lesser frequency be better to perhaps improve reliability. Or even a mix of singles and doubles

 

[White Heather]

With this level of service may as well have First operating the route as even they dont cancel so many in a day. The Streetdecks have greater capacity, but the problem is that airport passengers with baggage dont mix well with double deck buses - or buses with minimal luggage storage. Airport buses tend to be single deck with enhanced baggage storage which is probably why First dont bother with the airport services .

 

[lbaspotter]

To be honest I wouldn't use the Flyer A1 as a local service. When I travel up to the airport for spotting It's normally rammed with Airport passengers or workers. It dosent't need me taking up a seat
Hence I try to tend to use the local First Leeds 34 or the 27.. Now if going to Bradford the is no other option but to use the Flyer A2 & A3 services, They're normally plenty of free seats available on theses services until you get closer to Bradford City centre.

Not all Airport buses are run using single deckers. For starters just head to Manchester or Dublin.

 

[The Pole]

With this level of service may as well have First operating the route as even they dont cancel so many in a day. The Streetdecks have greater capacity, but the problem is that airport passengers with baggage dont mix well with double deck buses - or buses with minimal luggage storage. Airport buses tend to be single deck with enhanced baggage storage which is probably why First dont bother with the airport services .

And even the singles struggle with sufficient baggage space. Bags on seats, small suitcases next to passengers all adds to more standing passengers.
I was on one a while back a wheeled suitcase rolled out of the storage area down the aisle and into the doors! I had to move it and put it back so driver could open the doors

 

[Finger66]

Something clearly needs to be done. Improving reliability would you have thought been the simplest and most logical but sure there is some genuine operational reason for it. But if we can see the problems, why can’t Transdev?

 

[Aviador]

We need a rail service.

 

[Finger66]

My thoughts exactly

 

[lbaspotter]

Ding-Dong, "the next train to arrive at LBA Parkway station Platform 1 will be the 2026". oh that's only if it's running on time and the drivers aren't on strike!

I hate you butler ; Your late Again. Now get that bus out ;

 

[Aviador]

I don't share your love for buses. They're always late or don't turn up and bus drivers have been known to strike too ! People often complain if a train is just a couple of minutes late, this is the norm with buses. That's my take on things anyway.

 

[ls27]

I seem to remember that the 'airport' doesn't like double deck buses on the airport run and indeed it was at one time specified that only single deck buses could be used. I think words were said when Yorkshire Tiger put double deck buses on the service at odd times.
As lbaspotter says, Dublin has double deck buses with no real detriment even when full, although with a much more frequent timetable.

 

[Len Fish]

The problem with the airport services is that they are not dedicated airport services, they’re normal services that just happen call at the airport. If they were dedicated services they would only pick up and not set down passengers until they got to LBA and only set down in the reverse direction but from Transdev’s point of view you can see why they would want to maximise the numbers of passengers regardless of where they’re going. Also from other Forums it seems Transdev are struggling at the moment, they seem to be short of drivers ( they’re not alone in this) and the previous boss seemingly left under a cloud and a new guy has been brought in from Transdev HQ to sort things out.

 

[White Heather]

The problem with the airport services is that they are not dedicated airport services, they’re normal services that just happen call at the airport. If they were dedicated services they would only pick up and not set down passengers until they got to LBA and only set down in the reverse direction but from Transdev’s point of view you can see why they would want to maximise the numbers of passengers regardless of where they’re going. Also from other Forums it seems Transdev are struggling at the moment, they seem to be short of drivers ( they’re not alone in this) and the previous boss seemingly left under a cloud and a new guy has been brought in from Transdev HQ to sort things out.

All the bus companies are short of drivers. They will stay that way as long as they pay poorly and drivers have to take constant stick from passengers for one reason or another or have bricks thrown at them on certain routes. In the past it was a nice job, but not so much these days. The drivers dont cancel buses nor do they cause the delays but they are the ones that are in the firing line. No wonder so many look fed up.

If LBA is going to be served by normal service buses, they need to be double deckers and need to operate to schedule. I can't see why First can't consider a 34A route that continues along Victoria Road into the airport then continues back into Yeadon on the regular 34 route via Cemetery Road. It's a 10 minute divert but would provide Leeds with a proper service bus to the airport. Alternatively divert the 27 into LBA following the same route. It beggars belief that Leeds City, the main bus operator in the city, doesn't operate to the airport .

 

[lbaspotter]

Ah, now if only!
But as far I understand First Wesr Yorkshire aren't allowed to enter the airport premises due to the contract the airport have with Transdev/flyerbuses at the moment.

When First lost the contract for the old 757 route to Centrebus a long time ago. They tried operating a rival commercial service running against them into Leeds (Fast). Eventually Centrebus kicked off and got them barred from the airport and they then eventually lost the contract for the old 647/747 Bradford route.

 

[Finger66]

Did they take the hump on the old 747 service then! Sorry I really couldn't resist that one

 

[The Pole]

All the bus companies are short of drivers. They will stay that way as long as they pay poorly and drivers have to take constant stick from passengers for one reason or another or have bricks thrown at them on certain routes. In the past it was a nice job, but not so much these days. The drivers dont cancel buses nor do they cause the delays but they are the ones that are in the firing line. No wonder so many look fed up.

If LBA is going to be served by normal service buses, they need to be double deckers and need to operate to schedule. I can't see why First can't consider a 34A route that continues along Victoria Road into the airport then continues back into Yeadon on the regular 34 route via Cemetery Road. It's a 10 minute divert but would provide Leeds with a proper service bus to the airport. Alternatively divert the 27 into LBA following the same route. It beggars belief that Leeds City, the main bus operator in the city, doesn't operate to the airport .

I seem to recall years ago, West Yorkshire operated the 737 service from Leeds to LBA and also the 747, which I think went to Bradford.

Here is the proof - https://strathwood.co.uk/products/west-yorkshire-thirty-years-gone

 

[ls27]

Transdev are also in trouble on the dark side. A Public Inquiry in Warrington next month re Rosso services and have lost the Rochdale/ Bury local services to First Manchester