Warning for feuding bus firms

Yakub Qureshi

September 08, 2006

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Buses cause a city centre jam

THE government's transport supremo has stepped into Manchester's "bus wars" and imposed a limit on the number of vehicles in the city centre.

Beverley Bell, the Traffic Commissioner for the north west, said the current situation was "totally inacceptable".

She has told bus firms they can operate a maximum number of services in the city centre. She imposed the regulation order after traffic in the city ground to a halt as dozens of buses jammed the streets.

Although there are currently restrictions on the number of buses operating in the city centre, they are only voluntary and some bus firms are said to be flouting the agreement.

The new conditions, which come into force today, will see restrictions on the number of buses which can stop or wait at the eight stands on the main bus hub at Piccadilly Gardens. At four stands, a maximum of 24 buses will be allowed to use each stand in any hour.

Drivers must leave a two-minute gap between themselves and the bus in front.

Services

At the other four stands, the maximum number of vehicles allowed is 18 per hour, with a minimum three-minute gap.

The Manchester Evening News reported on Monday that police were called in to clear gridlock in the city centre as the Stagecoach company and its Gorton-based rival UK North battled to get to the same stop in Piccadilly Gardens. The chaos affected other transport, with the Metrolink forced to suspend rush-hour services between Victoria Station and G-Mex after eight trams became stranded.

The order from Ms Bell means that any firms which ignore the new restrictions will be hauled before the watchdog to face a hearing.

If they are found guilty, they face being fined or losing their licence.

At one Piccadilly stand, Stagecoach alone has 18 buses an hour arriving and leaving the stop. UK North runs another 12 buses an hour to the stop.

Bus firms will have to rearrange their schedules to fit in with the restrictions, which will be enforced by traffic officers from the city council.

Roger Jones, chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "We have been wanting this to be done. It is great news and hopefully it will have an impact."

Neither Stagecoach or UK North was available for comment last night.

What do you think of the bus wars? Have your say.

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Ace Riley, manchester (08/09/2006 at 12:08)

The MOT people need to do a spot check on where these buses are kept and the condition of the buses .Ive seen these buses comming out of their depo spewing black smoke,I dont know how the people who live in the area put up with all the noise and smoke from these buses they are a disgusting mess.

Alan Preston, Chorlton Manchester (08/09/2006 at 13:29)

This is also affecting the bus station in Chorlton which is only used by Stagecoach. Because of the increase in the number of buses they have put on we now have traffic jams in Chorlton. Yersterday morning and this morning traffic could not move in Chorlton because there were 13 buses using a bus station designed for 4 buses, so Barlow Moor Road was brought to a standstill by greedy Stagecoach again.

Diplomat, Manchester (08/09/2006 at 14:49)

I agree Alan the buses 85/86 a purley there for monetary reasons. Most of the residents who live further up the raod can wait more than 45 mins to get to nell lane and mersey bank. As you maybe aware the 84 bus covers this route and what a long route it is from the city centre right through to withington hospital. It's obvious the 84 bus gets caught up in the gridlock expecially around tea time. I think stagecoach need to look at what is best for it's customers rather than there pockets. Also UK North buses are health hazard and are we sure they have past there MOT test I think not and a previous comment which was made about the drivers not being able to speak english is true, so it worries me if they have the appropriate licence to drive the buses in the first place. Also the night service into chorlton not chorlton bus station but further up the road is ridiculous. Thats why I got myself a car.

me, manchester (08/09/2006 at 15:06)

Just to point one thing out about buses and mots. I have worked for many years in the bus industry and can assure you that there is no way the ministry for transport would allow any bus on the road. If you feel that you have a problem while on the bus ask the driver to note it on his condition cards that by law they have to fill in. Part of all bus drivers testing is to know certain problems with buses and to refuse to take a bus out with problems. If you are so concerned about a condition of a bus you see then you could contact the ministry of transport with the companys name and either the fleet number of the bus usually numbers stuck somewhere near the top on the outside, or the registration number. The ministry for transport also do spot checks and the companies are heavily fined if they have defected buses. I agree with the bus drivers not speaking english, are you aware that they have taken a load of polish on?

Diplomat, Manchester (08/09/2006 at 15:19)

Me
Thanks for that information I will take this on board and if I feel that a bus is not running upto standard then at least I know where to complain.

Ace Riley, manchester (08/09/2006 at 15:21)

me, manchester I have been a mechanic for the last 40 years mate and i am also a time served motor engineer .I know when a engine is running rough and is in need of things like injectors Ect some of these busses are in very poor condition .And as far as the MOT is concerned ask the police how many unroadworty vehicles they stop each year and most have current MOTs ? So your theory that because the bus has a current mot its roadworthy .I suffer with a lung condition and sometimes ive been behind some of these buses and find it very hard to breath because of the very large amounts of soot being emmitted from them ."Large particulates "Is the techy term

islandr, Canada (08/09/2006 at 15:33)

Question to me, manchester
Is the polish to make the seats look nice?

Bob, Manchester (08/09/2006 at 17:54)

Alan Preston, Chorlton - Why does putting a few extra buses on a route make Stagecoach greedy? They have been serving the route for awhile and put on a good service imo, the GM Buses don't appear to be attracting many passengers as most ive seen have been empty plus most of the passenegers on the route have weekly tickets so only use Stagecoach anyway, Stagecoach have just improved there service so the stragglers don't drift to the Cowboys.

Loreto College Student, Oldham (08/09/2006 at 21:43)

Will the 85/86 bus return to piccadilly in the near future?

Alan, Manchester (08/09/2006 at 22:43)

I have seen these UK North busses on the 192 route, and seeing the condition of them, I can honestly say I would never travel on a bus in their condition, my own safety would come into account, before getting to my destination!! take these death traps off the road, at least stagecoach and trying to upgrade their busses.

E, Manchester (12/09/2006 at 08:59)

Forget moaning about the buses.. what about the fact that other people pay good money to use the metrolink, and because of a few selfish bus companies, we end up having to squeeze onto a packed tram and wait in a que for 20 minutes just to get up Mosley Street... It's ridiculous!

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