Worst bus operator in the UK

[Ivo]

We already have a thread showcasing the "best" out there (here), so now let's try the opposite - a showcase of the "worst" out there (note that "worst" and "Worst Group" are not necessarily identical). I suspect that this thread may be just a tad busier than that thread!

I am going to be predictable with my opening entries, and "vouch" for Arriva Southend and Wessex Connect. Very much second-best in the area served in both cases, with one not interested in running the service properly and the other not interested in running a service period unless it is of benefit to the larger of Bath's Universities (because they know they will get a constant revenue stream from there). However, there is another one, which I mentioned in the other thread, whose name I forget - they operate the 500 between Staines and Camberley. The time I used it, the Solo that ran the route was in appalling condition, the driver was indifferent to most passengers but rude to me (seemingly because I had a Disabled ENCTS card), the timetable may as well have not existed - and so on.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

We already have a thread showcasing the "best" out there (here), so now let's try the opposite - a showcase of the "worst" out there (note that "worst" and "Worst Group" are not necessarily identical). I suspect that this thread may be just a tad busier than that thread!

I am going to be predictable with my opening entries, and "vouch" for Arriva Southend and Wessex Connect. Very much second-best in the area served in both cases, with one not interested in running the service properly and the other not interested in running a service period unless it is of benefit to the larger of Bath's Universities (because they know they will get a constant revenue stream from there). However, there is another one, which I mentioned in the other thread, whose name I forget - they operate the 500 between Staines and Camberley. The time I used it, the Solo that ran the route was in appalling condition, the driver was indifferent to most passengers but rude to me (seemingly because I had a Disabled ENCTS card), the timetable may as well have not existed - and so on.

Rotala?

 

[Eagle]

The 500 is operated by Dickson. Who don't even seem to have a website, unlike my nomination.

 

[Ivo]

Rotala?

In case you don't know, Rotala operate Wessex Connect - who in Bath at least are pretty rubbish.

The 500 is operated by Dickson. Who don't even seem to have a website, unlike my nomination.

OK, you win

How about "Worst besides this lot"?

 

[Statto]

First Wirral & Chester, just as well First have sold the operations.
Worst operator of all time, UK North who reincarnated the GM Buses name :-x right bunch of cowboys, ended up being closed down after a fatal incident involving a Cherry Picker.

 

[ryson357]

When I was going over to chepstow the Stagecoach driver was really misable! Plus it's a rip off! I'd used to like Stagecoach more than first! But changed my mind I think First are better! In addition the livery on first buses look nicer and more attractive than the boring stagecoch livery!

 

[TheWalrus]

Stagecoach West.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

In case you don't know, Rotala operate Wessex Connect - who in Bath at least are pretty rubbish.



OK, you win

How about "Worst besides this lot"?

Rotala was my nomination.

 

[MK Tom]

Arriva Aylesbury. Nothing in it for me. A complete lack of effort on all routes except the 280 which is amazing purely because it has to run alongside Stagecoach and OBC routes in Oxford. Other than that one route all vehicles are in shocking condition and break down regularly, catching fire from time to time. The service on the 100/150 between Aylesbury and MK is abysmal and would improve greatly if transferred to the MK depot. Then we have routes like the 60 to Buckingham that are still operated with high-floor Olympians on 1 per hour frequencies with laterunning being virtually compulsory.

 

[W-on-Sea]

The worst bus companies I have travelled on in the UK (let's not talk about Eastern Europe or the Caucasus) have all closed down - which might well prove a point about the effective functioning of markets.

Four really stand out in my mind as being particularly awful (but....having seen the ancient clapped-out buses in use by several companies on a recent trip to Wolverhampton....perhaps I have experienced far from the worst: especially as I lived in Greater London in the early years of deregulation - and so was largely unaffected by it), all of them being characterised by old, dirty (even in some cases rusty), unreliable buses and negligible or non-existent customer service:

They are: Sampsons of Hoddesdon; Bexleybus; London Cityrama; and RH Buses (same livery as Bexleybus....who only had that livery because they bought a load of buses originally destined for another company that had a blue and cream livery - Eastbourne Buses, I think?). Bexleybus was possibly the worst - which given it was a subsidiary of London Regional Transport was particularly inexcusable. Thankfully it didn't last long, and subsequent similar cut-price schemes were less ambitious and better planned.

 

[ryson357]

I bet in years time first group will turn into stagecoach group.

 

[richw]

W-on-sea you'll be pleased to know rh went bust on 4th october

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk 2

 

[tbone]

Premiere of Nottingham. There business plan consists of ripping of Trent Barton, their buses are a mess and ruin the good look of Nottingham's buses provided by Yourbus, NCT and Trent Barton, their fares are unsustainable and when their routes don't work they go crying to the papers about how horrible Trent have been by trying to protect their revenue. Oh, and one of their senior managers refered to all enthusiasts as "****ing bus nerds"

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Premiere of Nottingham. There business plan consists of ripping of Trent Barton, their buses are a mess and ruin the good look of Nottingham's buses provided by Yourbus, NCT and Trent Barton, their fares are unsustainable and when their routes don't work they go crying to the papers about how horrible Trent have been by trying to protect their revenue. Oh, and one of their senior managers refered to all enthusiasts as "****ing bus nerds"

And in the words of one of their drivers when I tried to photo his enviro 200
"Do that again and I'll sue you"

I was tempted to say (and in the words of Stan from off On The Buses film, kicker snatcher scene)
"See you in court Darling"

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Helms of Eastham, if only they change their ageing fleet which I doubt is happening for a while

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Helms of Eastham, if only they change their ageing fleet which I doubt is happening for a while

This lot??

 

[Aictos]

This is easy for me, Stagecoach in Peterborough are useless seeing as they introduced a 10 minute frequency service to most routes in the City BUT kinda of forgot that this would lead to increased passenger usage needing more and bigger buses not to mention more drivers.

There are some bus routes which struggle with the single deckers while others get by with double deckers, that and the fact they advertise they like to hear comments both good and bad then kinda of forget to reply...

As a example, it is impossible at the moment to run buses on a 10 minute frequency as it just doesn't work, either the bus is on time or its late with another bus on the same route playing leap frog with each other.

Once they get shot of all the single deckers and invest in more double deckers and a damn sight more drivers then the 10 minute frequency service might work but until then, I reckon they be better off cutting the service to a 15 minute frequency and built from there least then the idea of a reliable bus service might be felt by the poor passengers who have endure these muppets.

No disrespect to Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog but I'm sure they could operate a far more reliable bus service then the idiots at the moment!

 

[ATW Alex 101]

This lot??

I've had that bus a few times actually.

What i mean is, is that the rest of their fleet are old and crap. Always break down. The few of the newer ex-london buses are ok.

 

[markie73]

First Northampton must be a candidate given the decline of the operation over the past 10 years or so?ad:

 

[sprinterguy]

The aptly named "Banga Buses" in the West Midlands are always noted particularly as a cowboy operator providing a particularly ropey, dodgy service.

Only slightly better, based on outward appearance alone as I would never choose to travel with them, would be West Brom's "GRS Travel Service", including their bargain basement reliverying scheme that has involved applying plain black paint to the bottom halves of some knackered old Arriva Dennis Lances.

I have difficulty believing that any of the big operators such as First, Arriva and Stagecoach can match any small cowboy operators such as these in the shoddiness of the service that they provide.

 

[Aictos]

I bet in years time first group will turn into stagecoach group.

Like to make a bet on it? I very much doubt it will happen as I seriously doubt that the Competition Commission would permit something like that to happen as it would mean a huge monopoly on transport services provided by a First/Stagecoach merger.

It simply wouldn't be good for business as it would lead to a break down in
healthy competition between them and other companies which would seriously affect any ultimate benefit of consumers and the economy that could be made.

 

[Deerfold]

Like to make a bet on it? I very much doubt it will happen as I seriously doubt that the Competition Commission would permit something like that to happen as it would mean a huge monopoly on transport services provided by a First/Stagecoach merger.

It simply wouldn't be good for business as it would lead to a break down in
healthy competition between them and other companies which would seriously affect any ultimate benefit of consumers and the economy that could be made.

But do First and Stagecoach actually compete anywhere seriously? The only place I can think of is Manchester and then only because Stagecoach have just bought Bluebird who have some routes that compete with First.

 

[Aictos]

Yes but I still see the likes of Arriva and National Express being slightly miffed at the prospect of a First Stagecoach global giant.

 

[neilmc]

But do First and Stagecoach actually compete anywhere seriously? The only place I can think of is Manchester and then only because Stagecoach have just bought Bluebird who have some routes that compete with First.

I wouldn't say that First and Stagecoach compete in Manchester - if you see a First bus in the south of the city it's probably a school contract. However, I've noticed service 18 now runs through to Rusholme, which appears to be a TfGM initiative to provide more cross-city workings - good news for students who live on the north side of the route. I was going to Failsworth recently and was pleased that I could use my Stagecoach Megarider in First's area on the 76, until I looked at the convoluted route and poor frequency and decided that I wouldn't know where the hell I was.

Finglands could be considered competition on the Wilmslow Road routes but a lot of their other services are off-peak ones on the routes Stagecoach don't want to cover at that time.

 

[tbtc]

But do First and Stagecoach actually compete anywhere seriously? The only place I can think of is Manchester and then only because Stagecoach have just bought Bluebird who have some routes that compete with First.

Sheffield, certainly until the Bus Partnership a couple of weeks ago.

Dearne Valley (Barnsley - Rotherham)?

Plenty of skirmishes in the past (MagicBus in Glasgow, FifeFirst in Cowdenbeath etc), but then there's not the same level of competition between *any* bus companies nowadays compared to a decade ago (remember the UK North days in southern Manchester etc)

 

[AlexS]

The aptly named "Banga Buses" in the West Midlands are always noted particularly as a cowboy operator providing a particularly ropey, dodgy service.

Only slightly better, based on outward appearance alone as I would never choose to travel with them, would be West Brom's "GRS Travel Service", including their bargain basement reliverying scheme that has involved applying plain black paint to the bottom halves of some knackered old Arriva Dennis Lances.

I have difficulty believing that any of the big operators such as First, Arriva and Stagecoach can match any small cowboy operators such as these in the shoddiness of the service that they provide.

They are an improvement on the previous incarnation, the similarly named, but different entity 'Banga Travel', run by the current manager of 'Banga Buses' father -they lost their licence at the traffic commissioner following several high profile incidents including a bus exploding as it left the depot.

http://wmbusphotos.com/Banga/E206GPV.html
http://wmbusphotos.com/Banga/E410EPE.html
A couple of fine examples above of the previous 'Banga Travel' fleet, lasting in service until 2007 in some cases when the traffic commissioner finally pulled the plug.


Some of the current fleet members, including the ex NXWM example below, are very respectable in comparison.

http://wmbusphotos.com/Banga/S240EWU.html

See a few articles below for details. I think they would be a very strong contender for Britain's Worst Bus Operator.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2009/01/19/hearing-to-decide-fate-of-banga-buses/

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2009/02/26/bus-firm-banga-looks-at-new-name/

 

[northwichcat]

But do First and Stagecoach actually compete anywhere seriously?

Stagecoach and First very much compete for Rotherham-Wickersley passengers. Although, after Wickersley First buses go off to Maltby while Stagecoach go off to Thurcroft and beyond.

http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/timetables/rotherham/43.htm
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/sou...bles/index.php?operator=26&page=1&redirect=no

 

[Harbon 1]

Arriva Midlands (or the ones that come to Barton anyway). Mostly old busses, dirty, break down a lot and an absolute rip off! I can get to derby and back from Stretton cheaper on trent's villager than I can getting into town on the X38 (which is the only time I have to use them on a regular basis, and I'm guessing that it's arriva that price this service (it's joint run by Trent Barton and Arriva, so 2 an hour it's a rip off, and the other two it's a rip off with 30% off with my mango. Well, that is when they're not 50 minutes late...).

 

[Deerfold]

Stagecoach and First very much compete for Rotherham-Wickersley passengers. Although, after Wickersley First buses go off to Maltby while Stagecoach go off to Thurcroft and beyond.

http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/timetables/rotherham/43.htm
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/sou...bles/index.php?operator=26&page=1&redirect=no

I don't think you could regard Rotherham as somewhere where the two companies seriously compete - ok there's 15-20 minutes of route above that they both serve before both going on to go much futher out - and apart from that the companies tend to stick to their own areas.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't think you could regard Rotherham as somewhere where the two companies seriously compete - ok there's 15-20 minutes of route above that they both serve before both going on to go much futher out - and apart from that the companies tend to stick to their own areas.

There's a lot of school traffic on that route though with a secondary school with around 1900 pupils on role in Wickersley that has very few (if any) designated school buses.

Also, if Stagecoach went the shortest way to Thurcroft their buses wouldn't serve Wickersley.