Jacketts Coaches currently operate the 13 and the 52 in Plymouth. As you can see from Nicks brilliant photograph the presentation leaves a bit to be desired!
©Nick Rice (cc)
To be fair to Jacketts they are slowly getting there. The reliability on the 52 has settled down nicely and their regular passengers seem to be happy again. At least one of their Darts finally has new Jackets Coaches fleetnames which look quite smart. Hopefully their buses will get working destinations at some time in the not too distant future…
Transport Illustrated: a long weekend in Borth just outside Aberystwyth, then the rest of the week near Pwllheli. As you can imagine, the Great Little Trains of Wales were at the top of the agenda
Focus Transport: Stagecoach Midlands has announced that it is investing a massive £5.6 million in 37 new single deck buses for some of its major bus routes in Northampton
Public Transport Experience: In "Newspeak" the word interchange is a pseudonym for "bus station". It can now mean anything from a lavish under-cover bus station with restaurants, comfy seating and a bevy of scantily clad dancing girls to amuse waiting passengers to a couple of shelters at the roadside
Norwich Buses: Now that Mr Patterson has taken over Suffolk based Go-Ahead subsidiaries Chambers and Hedingham, it looks like they are destined for a similar revamp\
Public Transport Experience: And the fun (?) is compounded when dozens of traders are queueing to grapple with their rising bollards on Market Day. But you can get ointment for it!
trev jackett assures me there are new blinds on order from hanover. a fair few quid too!
ReplyDeleteFrankly, if that photo is representative of Jackets, then to 'be fair' they are nowhere near 'there'. If the bus has an electronic screen, then given the value of the bus, and indeed the requirement for Jackets to have suitable financial standing, if it is broken, it is easily repaired / replaced. The software to programme it is easily bought and installed on a computer. there are plenty of small independents out there who can use electronic screens. If it's a roller blind, then blinds are easily sourced and fitted. If it's dedicated the that route, then at least a vinyl display over the blind box would look professional. If not, then at least a professionally looking boar would look better than what is there now. I believe that being post DDA, the bus has to have all its destination screens working to avoid a prohibition. Does this bus have nearside or rear paper displays, something else, or nothing?
ReplyDeleteMoving onto the bodywork, how many operators can't manage to wield a paintbrush on replaced bumpers and repaired panels.
They aren't getting there at all are they really.
Now call me fussy.......... but this bus would not tempt me out of my car to use public transport! This wouldnt be tolerated in London or other cities so why should it be allowed to happen here in Plymouth. Anonymous you are right the traffic commisioner would have something to say about no destination display, but they have a DIY one, not sure if that complies though! Bring back Target.
ReplyDeleteWell same and they are embarrassment to our city. Different colour buses and much of a cowboy company.
ReplyDeleteI used the 13s in mornings and this service is rubbish, I get confused as I cant see the destination as a bit of paper, stuck in the window. Using a ex Plymouth Citybus step Dart 119 and hope citybus moans about it. I starting to use the 16 now and much better service...
ReplyDeleteThis Company is rubbish and i have report this firm to city council as I told them Target Travel can do a much better service, even can go into Asda!!
ReplyDeleteThey are rubbish and don't used them for any private hire work, use other firms instead as the coaches are dirty, smelly and unreliable
ReplyDeleteThis Company is really a big joke and shouldn't be allow to get away with it!
ReplyDeleteThis is no worse than First Bus were running last year with marshall darts. I remember the route 3 numbers painted on the destination screen or paper in the windows and the buses still in London red and they are a large company. Target Travel also seem to have a lot of problems with there screens and several of there buses have paper numbers in the windscreen at the moment. I guess as long as the bus turns up and the bus is tidy inside that is what counts.
ReplyDeleteno matter which company runs a service, there will be people to knock it, someone quoting VOSA rules spends to much time being a busy body, don't do the european unions bidding. the bus industry is crippled by useless legislation, every company was told to buy SLF buses, now some edict says these have to have expensive modifications to destination and internal fittings, profit margins are tight enough,a paper number will suffice, i would prefer an independant operator, Jacketts or Target over go ahead or First. i travelled on the red flash, so bland inside, grey, dull, noisy air con, hard seats..........
DeleteFunny how since this photo has been the bus is now on their 318 service in okehampton
ReplyDeleteTuesday the service was being run with ex Welsh Dart CX03EBJ with working Electronic Dispkays, maybe somebody from the Council had a quite word !!!
ReplyDeleteIan Lang
Newton Abbot
Love How You All Remain Anonymous !!!!!!! Cant even be bothered to show your name, You all a waste of space
ReplyDeleteAnd I am also sure most of these comments are from an EX driver !!!
The reason for the anonymity stems from Employers' Socal Media policies that prevent their employees expressing a personal opinion.
DeleteFirst, used to have a director who would forward yahoo groups postings to the relevant MD and this often led to those posters finding themselves in offices discussing the future of their employment.
So, you can either have comment that is open where people will not say what they think and prevent constructive comments being aired on here, or you can have anon posters who can add to the discussion, and retain the job that allows them to exist.
There are of course plenty of reasons to remain anonymous, often its just convenience, not having to log in to leave a comment. We do need to all be careful what we post though. I have kept a few back that were unnecessarily abusive or made allagations against companies or individuals. Thankfully such comments are rare though.
DeleteI catch the 52 and very unreliable service at most.
ReplyDeleteSure its not you Tom
ReplyDeleteJacketts are useless and unreliable, 52s are never busy now as plympton residents are fed up with crappy service. Bring back Target Travel Buses.
ReplyDeleteThis could be true but remember Jackett's only started not long ago! They have managed to finally get into City routes, where as before they where running mostly town and country routes, they need time to sort themselves out. Being honest I would prefer PCB to have won the route, but Jackett's are not too bad! DE(Johnny)
DeleteWho is Tom?
ReplyDelete