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TFL on NYE - free and plenty travel options. Up here? Nothing! *Rant*

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Howardh

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Certainly in my area, Greater Manchester, buses and trains will be shutting down in the early evening, yet Londoners get the privilege of free public transport well into the small hours on new year's eve.

Wouldn't mind if public transport up here was twice the price as long as there was some.

Monday 31 December, New Year’s Eve Buses will run a normal or modified weekday service, or Saturday service with additional early morning buses on some routes. Most buses will stop running from 6pm onwards.
- Transport for Greater Sodding Manchester

Grrrr :{
 
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rebmcr

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When I grew up in Manchester I wasn't paying the Greater London Allowance on top of my Council Tax. Neither did Greater Manchester vote for the Congestion Charging scheme (I did).

Londoners don't "get the privilege of free public transport", they get what they pay for!
 

Howardh

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When I grew up in Manchester I wasn't paying the Greater London Allowance on top of my Council Tax. Neither did Greater Manchester vote for the Congestion Charging scheme (I did).

Londoners don't "get the privilege of free public transport", they get what they pay for!
Our council tax bill here is far from cheap! But I agree, we did vote against the congestion charge so, yes, we get what we deserve. But as I said, I'd be prepared to pay more for the services on the day.
However, how many more drink-driving incidents will occur, adding to the strain and costs on the NHS, if there's no public transport and drivers are tempted to risk it?
 

yorksrob

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I don't know about Manchester, however in Leeds, part of our Council Tax pays for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which supports Metro services. I would argue that that ought to include services on NYE.
 

radamfi

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Given that TfL is going through a period of financial difficulty, is free travel a good use of resources? Most years the free travel has been sponsored but it hasn't been sponsored for a while now.
 
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Mojo

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Given that TfL is going through a period of financial difficulty, is free travel a good use of resources? Most years the free travel has been sponsored but it hasn't been sponsored for a while now.
The Revenue Control team are usually utilised carrying out duties on stations such as crowd control and other customer service duties and accordingly there would be nobody to enforce the requirement to pay even if there was one. This would probably be cheaper than paying extra additional overtime (even if they could find enough staff who wanted to do it); it also reduces the likelihood of confrontation with staff and police. Overall, it's probably more cost effective not to charge, especially given that most customers will have paid on their way in (free travel only applies after 23.45 hrs).
 

Peter Mugridge

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Given that TfL is going through a period of financial difficulty, is free travel a good use of resources? Most years the free travel has been sponsored but it hasn't been sponsored for a while now.

When did sponsorship cease? I was under the impression that it was only free because it was sponsored...
 

Termy

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The Revenue Control team are usually utilised carrying out duties on stations such as crowd control and other customer service duties

Even the IT team gets to go out and assist with operational duties on New Years' Eve. I'm going to be out and about assisting myself! :)
 

radamfi

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Certainly in my area, Greater Manchester, buses and trains will be shutting down in the early evening, yet Londoners get the privilege of free public transport well into the small hours on new year's eve.

Wouldn't mind if public transport up here was twice the price as long as there was some.

- Transport for Greater Sodding Manchester

Grrrr :{

At least the trams are running until 1 o'clock, the part of the transport network that TfGM have most say over. With a franchised bus service there would be more chance of night buses after midnight. Other than Overground, TfL has little to do with late night National Rail in London, yet many lines are running after midnight, albeit not free. So why not in GM and the West Midlands, for example?
 
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MetroCar4058

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Stagecoach will run services until 4am in the following routes 42, 43, 86, 192 & 201 although some of these services are alight only after loading in the city centre.

This is a lot better than other major cities & at least the service runs on NYD!
 

radamfi

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Stagecoach will run services until 4am in the following routes 42, 43, 86, 192 & 201 although some of these services are alight only after loading in the city centre.

This is a lot better than other major cities & at least the service runs on NYD!

But bizarrely no routes to the north and west of the city. I realise that is because Stagecoach only operate south and east, but would TfL get away with running night buses to the south and east but none to the north and west? Seeing things this way, it makes Manchester look very poor indeed. First are not even running on 1 Jan.
 

bramling

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Given that TfL is going through a period of financial difficulty, is free travel a good use of resources? Most years the free travel has been sponsored but it hasn't been sponsored for a while now.

In reality I suspect it’s free partly because it’s easier than trying to enforce revenue collection on a night where all hell breaks loose and all normal standards of respect and decency go out the window.

They should just close the whole system at 2100 and not open it until midday on New Year’s Day. The state of some of the trains and stations during and after the event has to be seen to be believed - food remains everywhere and *every* body substance in copious quantities. Not sure why elsewhere would want to share in all this to be honest!
 

jon0844

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I know not everyone is going into London for the fireworks but the comments from those that do is often that it's horrific. Caged in from around 8pm and with crowd surges that ensure you'll get split up from others. Sounds like hell, especially when you've got even more fun to look forward to when they're over.
 

yorksrob

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I know not everyone is going into London for the fireworks but the comments from those that do is often that it's horrific. Caged in from around 8pm and with crowd surges that ensure you'll get split up from others. Sounds like hell, especially when you've got even more fun to look forward to when they're over.

Indeed. Find a nice pub to enjoy NYE from. It's far more enjoyable.
 

Busaholic

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I know not everyone is going into London for the fireworks but the comments from those that do is often that it's horrific. Caged in from around 8pm and with crowd surges that ensure you'll get split up from others. Sounds like hell, especially when you've got even more fun to look forward to when they're over.
My last trip to central London on NYE, over 50 years ago, was an unmitigated disaster. Refused admission to pubs, although aged 18, general rowdiness and unpleasantness culminating in one of our small group being struck in the eye by a lit firework: he was lucky not to lose his eye. It's the only day of the year when I wouldn't go anywhere near central London.
 

Ianno87

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I know not everyone is going into London for the fireworks but the comments from those that do is often that it's horrific. Caged in from around 8pm and with crowd surges that ensure you'll get split up from others. Sounds like hell, especially when you've got even more fun to look forward to when they're over.


...and judging by the TV footage, half the crowd just watch it through their phone/camera screens anyway. Why do people bother?!
 

bramling

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...and judging by the TV footage, half the crowd just watch it through their phone/camera screens anyway. Why do people bother?!

In recent years I don’t really get why people bother with Christmas full-stop. First of all two or more months of the same TV adverts excruciatingly repeated every minute (yes Morrison’s and Amazon I’m referring to you). Then followed by the recent craze of silly names for days, “Black Friday”, “Super Saturday”, “Manic Monday”, “Titanic Tuesday”, “Frantic Friday”, which contributes exactly what to anything? Meanwhile neighbours all trying to outdo each other with who has the most garish set of outdoor lights and over-decorated tree prominently displayed in the front window.

As the retail frenzy comes to an end, we then have the “Christmas getaway”, cue chaos on every form of transport - thankfully this year doesn’t seem to have been *too* bad in that respect but for the Gatwick fiasco. Then heaven help anyone who just wants to do their regular food shopping in the few days before Christmas.

Once Christmas itself arrives we then get the annual moans about no transport on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, accompanied by rants about places being closed - the “*I* don’t want to work Christmas but I expect everyone else to work so I can have access to all the services I desire” brigade. Meanwhile further chaos around shopping complexes on Boxing Day, the annual Bicester Village gridlock, and scenes of people bursting into a store to fight over a pair of shoes or a handbag. Meanwhile others now have several more days of either being bored or fed up with the relatives that they’ve had to pretend to like but secretly detest, or taking back a pile of unwanted gifts.

Then the great New Year’s Eve disgrace when it’s seemingly okay to go round trashing other people’s property, which now seems to continue into New Year’s Day too. Cue more boredom for any remaining bank holidays.

Now comes the final phase, the morose faces on the first working day back in January, wishing one had a pound for every time one cringingly hears “did you have a good Christmas?”, and the final icing on the cake - the credit card statement when it comes a few weeks down the line.

Please everyone spare a thought for those who don’t buy into this stupidity for whatever reason, or those who just want to have a quiet couple of days with the family, or those who are working most of it and just want to get on with normal life without disruption!

Bah humbug...

(I’m being a little cynical with the above, perhaps it’s those rose-tinted spectacles going on but I don’t remember it always being thus).
 
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Andyh82

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Given that TfL is going through a period of financial difficulty, is free travel a good use of resources? Most years the free travel has been sponsored but it hasn't been sponsored for a while now.
Axing NYE services would generate outrage and negative press.

Reducing loads of bus services from every 6 mins to every 8 mins and curtailing loads of buses in central London is barely noticed.
 

yorkie

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Axing NYE services would generate outrage and negative press.
I don't think it would be viable to axe it in London now, but I can't imagine it would be viable in many places. The costs would be enormous. Also it would encourage a lot more people to travel further afield and put more pressure on city centres. Also it would be extremely difficult to provide sufficient capacity for a sudden surge in demand after midnight. I think people just have to accept London is a special case really.
 

Howardh

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I take no notice too of Xmas, it's hard enough just looking after mum without all the hassle of decorations, presents, trees and gawd knows what. So it sails past unnoticed and I'm all the happier for it. All I did this year was put some nibbles out for mums carers when they pop in. Also had a cold so glad there were a couple of days with nowhere to go!

What I did do was book and pay for my five short hols so that's done, save for the last hol as I'm waiting for confirmation of Holland's fixture with Norn.
 

mmh

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Certainly in my area, Greater Manchester, buses and trains will be shutting down in the early evening, yet Londoners get the privilege of free public transport well into the small hours on new year's eve.

Which has always just been a pretty meaningless gesture.

Wouldn't mind if public transport up here was twice the price as long as there was some.

- Transport for Greater Sodding Manchester

Grrrr :{

Just use a taxi and stop whinging.
 

bb21

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TBF if other cities have the same size of crowds (or even those a tenth of the size London sees) to disperse on NYE then the LAs will probably be forced into doing something/commercial operators will probably see opportunities.
 

bramling

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I take no notice too of Xmas, it's hard enough just looking after mum without all the hassle of decorations, presents, trees and gawd knows what. So it sails past unnoticed and I'm all the happier for it. All I did this year was put some nibbles out for mums carers when they pop in. Also had a cold so glad there were a couple of days with nowhere to go!

I wish it was possible for it to sail by unnoticed for me! Things busy at days/times they wouldn't normally be busy. Hassle at work at certain times. Problem people seemingly everywhere. Etc. Etc.
 

jon0844

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I think people have huge pressure and expectations on how to celebrate Christmas and New Year. It's not so much because of advertising either, but more likely social media that pressures everyone into doing so much and having such a big/great time.

You need to compete with your peers and have the best decorations, food, drink, presents, glamorous clothing and selfies etc.

No wonder, as said above, you go somewhere to watch fireworks and then film it to supposedly watch later instead of then. And of course you can't watch the film later as even on a decent phone it will still be crap compared to what you could have just seen on the TV (multiple cameras in better positions).

Christmas can easily be celebrated without huge expense or fuss, and without the need to be like Scrooge.
 

Aictos

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In reality I suspect it’s free partly because it’s easier than trying to enforce revenue collection on a night where all hell breaks loose and all normal standards of respect and decency go out the window.

They should just close the whole system at 2100 and not open it until midday on New Year’s Day. The state of some of the trains and stations during and after the event has to be seen to be believed - food remains everywhere and *every* body substance in copious quantities. Not sure why elsewhere would want to share in all this to be honest!

Including wall to wall vomit and crap in train toilets as I discovered a few years ago when I came in to work New Years Day and had to clean a Class 317 toilet with this decoration!

You are right though because I agree it's easier to have free travel then try to enforce revenue collection when everyone is as pissed as a newt!
 

bramling

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I think people have huge pressure and expectations on how to celebrate Christmas and New Year. It's not so much because of advertising either, but more likely social media that pressures everyone into doing so much and having such a big/great time.
You need to compete with your peers and have the best decorations, food, drink, presents, glamorous clothing and selfies etc.

I don't doubt you're right, however IMO this is all pretty distasteful!

No wonder, as said above, you go somewhere to watch fireworks and then film it to supposedly watch later instead of then. And of course you can't watch the film later as even on a decent phone it will still be crap compared to what you could have just seen on the TV (multiple cameras in better positions).

The lucky ones are those who have access to private locations (e.g. roof of tall buildings) which have a good view of the fireworks. Nonetheless, having done this once (and been paid for the pleasure!) I wouldn't bother making a special trip for it.

Christmas can easily be celebrated without huge expense or fuss, and without the need to be like Scrooge.

Quite so, this is how I remember it a decade or two ago - apart from a bit of fuss over last-minute present buying I remember a calm and relatively subdued week or two, not like the frenzy we see nowadays. I do get the impression this frenzy has peaked slightly, perhaps because people are simply fed up with it, as the last year or two hasn't been *quite* so manic as the couple of years before that. Christmas 2016 was one which springs to mind as having been particularly excruciating, seemed to go on forever.
 

yorksrob

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I think that as the railway already has xmas day and boxing day off, it should run to the timetable on all other days including NYE.

What next - shutting down early because there's a world cup match on ?
 

Peter Mugridge

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I remember someone telling me that years ago there was always free travel on New Year's Day all day in London. I don't have any recollections of this, but was this true?

I don't remember it ever being all day, only for the small hours of the morning. I think it usually kicked in from 22.00 or 23.00 on the 31st until about 06.00 on the 1st.
 
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