NSW Bus Observations 2022.

[Merc1107]

Operators can be in a no win situation. As mentioned only recently in this thread, an operator tried to officially cut some trips from their timetables due to the driver shortage but the Unions have refused to accept this.

In the context of the industrial action that is (was?) ongoing, would the reduced timetable undermine the ability of unions to cause disruption?

[LB608]

Check this out on gametree ID 1303283699,it maybe x 1029

[booma]

Blue decker operating B1 at Wynyard at 11am approx Wednesday.

[Kiyrri]

Police were also investigating whether driver fatigue had some part to play when the bus ran into the concrete border.

In the present climate of driver shortages, company fatigue management protocols, and the relevant state/territory regulations are more important than ever. As is listening to the workforce - if they can't handle any more work1., then it's time to start cutting runs, regardless of the ramifications.
Unfortunately in certain workplaces, the practice of throwing the fatigue management protocols out the window "due to unforeseen circumstances" are a right enshrined to the depot manager under an enterprise agreement.

If there is a fatigue element at play, then we probably haven't heard the last of this.

1. Fatigue is not just tiredness, it can affect mood, and thus relationships at home, too. Someone I once met moonlighted as a bus driver years ago and secretly surveyed the workforce as part of their studies, finding shocking statistics and something of a correlation between hours worked {due to low pay} and divorces.

Even if fatigue is not the cause there will still most likely be an overhaul of most companies' protocols on driver rest; no doubt that the driver shortage will not help this matter

[Swift]

You might have more drivers if management would treat drivers as human beings and be impartial and look at the facts before judging a driver who's attracted a complaint from a random who's no different to the set who use a public restroom. Could this be karma?

[Campbelltown busboy]

You might have more drivers if management would treat drivers as human beings and be impartial and look at the facts before judging a driver who's attracted a complaint from a random who's no different to the set who use a public restroom. Could this be karma?

A operator has to set their shifts to the times that Transport For NSW set in the route service timetables for that region so if the 9:33 Hurstville bound 970 arrives into Hurstville at 9;35 and the next trip that the driver has to do is the 9:46 Cronulla bound 971 whitch would give the driver a 11 minute turn around layover for doing things like bathroom breaks or sweeping out the bus

[Merc1107]

A operator has to set their shifts to the times that Transport For NSW set in the route service timetables for that region so if the 9:33 Hurstville bound 970 arrives into Hurstville at 9;35 and the next trip that the driver has to do is the 9:46 Cronulla bound 971 whitch would give the driver a 11 minute turn around layover for doing things like bathroom breaks or sweeping out the bus

Not sure of the relevance here to Swift's post. In terms of a driver's shift, it's important to note that a bus won't necessarily do the next scheduled departure from an interchange - but there are no hard and fast rules. It all depends on EAs, established practices, fleet size, the type of work preferred, the scheduling software and even how that software is used and scrutinised.

In theory if a timetable is unattainable, then regular review processes (if there are any - is timetabling in NSW collaborative, unilateral or something in between?) ought to be identifying this before it becomes so entrenched that passengers begin to vocally complain. Drivers should be reporting the issues via formal channels (i.e. not kvetching in the mealroom) before they become entrenched too.

[Fleet Lists]

A operator has to set their shifts to the times that Transport For NSW set in the route service timetables for that region so if the 9:33 Hurstville bound 970 arrives into Hurstville at 9;35 and the next trip that the driver has to do is the 9:46 Cronulla bound 971 which would give the driver a 11 minute turn around layover for doing things like bathroom breaks or sweeping out the bus

I believe the operator sets the timetables according to the frequencies set by Transport for NSW for the various routes in the region concerned - TfNSW does not set the timetables.

Routes 970 and 971 used above are a typical example of this where on Mondays to Saturdays both routes operate fully between Hurstville and Cronulla in both directions but on Sundays with a lesser frequencies 971 buses operate from Cronulla to Miranda where they have a short break before continuing to Hurstville on route 970 and then back to Cronulla on route 971. Route 970 buses operates from Hurstville to Miranda and then back to Hurstville via route 971. TfNSW would not take such shift requirements into consideration if they set the timetables.

I also know of a case where an operator of another region advertised that new timetables would start on a certain date, only to find that TfNSW would not accept the new timetables as they did not meet the frequencies set by TfNSW.

[Swift]

Busways 237 (mo 6246?) O405 used for driver training Woy Woy today. Pity it wasn't on route service instead.

[Campbelltown busboy]

Busways 237 (mo 6246?) O405 used for driver training Woy Woy today. Pity it wasn't on route service instead.

The issue there is the age limit for route buses is 26 years and 237 is 29 years old

[Swift]

Busways 237 (mo 6246?) O405 used for driver training Woy Woy today. Pity it wasn't on route service instead.

The issue there is the age limit for route buses is 26 years and 237 is 29 years old

It was nice to see such a low fleet number anyway.

[Linto63]

While 26 is in theory the absolute maximum, Busways has a Scania L113, that remains in regular service in region 7, only a few months shy of 27 while another 11 have or will before the end of the year, clock up 26 years of service.

[Campbelltown busboy]

While 26 is in theory the absolute maximum, Busways has a Scania L113, that remains in regular service in region 7, only a few months shy of 27 while another 11 have or will before the end of the year, clock up 26 years of service.

I've seen photos on Facebook of Transdev using 30 year old Volvo B10Ms on route service in region 13

[Fleet Lists]

Their oldest three in the fleet m/o 9114, m/o 9116, m/o 9117 are 29 years old.

[Campbelltown busboy]

It was nice to see such a low fleet number anyway.

Here's a bit of trivia about 237 besides being a 12/93 build it was delivered new to Campbelltown depot in early 1994 along with 234 236 and 238 I got comment replied in a Busways enthusiast Facebook group post that included a photo of 234 by a former Busways driver that was based at Campbelltown depot at the time that 4 out of the 6 O405s in the 234-239 number range where new to Campbelltown with 235 and 239 being new to Glndenning

[Swift]

Ahh so I saw a Camp David original.(My nickname for Campbelltown.)

[Campbelltown busboy]

Ahh so I saw a Camp David original.(My nickname for Campbelltown.)

The funny thing is the name of that former Busways driver that replied to my comment on the photo of 234 in that Facebook group is actually Dave

[Randomness]

Their oldest three in the fleet m/o 9114, m/o 9116, m/o 9117 are 29 years old.

Can confirm these are still on regular route services. 9116 even still has those rope pull bells.

[pgt]

So the last week or two I've noticed that the Keolis Downer Northern Beaches (R8) buses - at least the 114 and 144 - appear to have been shuffled around with respect to which depot and what buses operate those routes.

Until now on weekdays it had been almost exclusively North Sydney buses operating the 144 and most 114 services, and almost all Brookvale buses on the 144 on weekends.
Now I've seen mostly Brookvale buses on the weekdays, but with the addition of the North Sydney articulated buses on the 114 and 144, whereas they were almost exclusively seen on the 100 before (which now only sees a few articulated buses).

Biassed since I use the 144, but admittedly having articulated buses on the 144 makes more sense sometimes when there's a heap of school kids causing people to be left behind on Military Road heading towards Chatswood... not helped when there's traffic and/or you have cancelled services.

Wonder what prompted the change though - somebody actually reading Opal data?
(Normally don't see changes until school holidays start).

[ScaniaGrenda]

I asked ages ago however never received a response to my question, one of the Port Stephens Coaches / Newcastle Coaches hybrid buses has been MIA for the past couple of months now, m/o 9431. Use to be frequently seen in tandem with 8367 MO doing the Newcastle University to Nuspace shuttle & return (and vice versa). However m/o 9431 has been replaced with a non-hybrid bus 9172 MO, 2003 B12BLE ex Ventura Melbourne on the Nuspace run.

I haven't seen it down on the roads in Newcastle or anyway in a couple of months now, still showing as registered with another 4 months remaining, does anyone know where it is or what is going on with it or whether it is no longer in PSC possession?

[Linto63]

Wonder what prompted the change though - somebody actually reading Opal data?

Could be any one or a combination of a number of things, such as increased summer loadings on the beach services, reshuffling to allow for staff shortages etc. Or could as suggested be the operator analysing the Opal data and trying to reduce over crowding.

[boronia]

Noticed this today:

DSC00154 (Small).jpeg (133.23 KiB) Viewed 669 times

How many STA Bustechs got into service with the badge on the header panel?

[ScaniaGrenda]

Noticed this today:
Snip - (See Quoted post)
How many STA Bustechs got into service with the badge on the header panel?

Just 2250 ST, it was the first K280UB Bustech VST for then STA NSW and was displayed at the 2013 Sydney Bus Expo.

I saw it two weeks ago heading to Marrickville on the 423 (Another bus I'd been chasing).

2660 was Displayed at a Gold Coast Bus expo according to another members photo however at the time it didn't have the bustech badge like 2250 and I'm not sure if it does.

[Ray]

Went for a wander through Carrington St Wynyard at lunch time today - only one bus on the whole street. I wonder if the whole street is being quietly wound down as a bus terminal so that the council can install another of their famous pedestrianised areas. It's a long way from how it was in the heyday.

[Swift]

Sydney losing yet more of it's charisma that made it an experience.
I can remember Eppings departing from Carrington St before it became the preserve of Military Rd and Northern Beaches runs only.