TfGM response to my most recent letter regarding reductions and changes in 181, 182 and 59 bus services

14974633459_2c3f4820ffDetails: 181, 182 and 59 Bus TfGM response to my recent letter

As these are all commercial services delivered by First Bus there is little TfGM can do – see above letter.

I will continue to speak out to maintain these and other services so those without cars or those who cannot walk to the tram stop can make the journeys they need when they need.

408 Bus service – response to me raising no service between 2.15pm – 16.02pm

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Good Morning Councillor Sykes,

I have had discussions with Rosso regarding the afternoon peak gap on service 408 (1415 to 1602 from Oldham towards Shaw).

At the moment they don’t have a bus available to provide an additional journey but I am aware of plans to make some revisions to the local school bus network which could potentially free up a vehicle at approximately 1535 in Oldham.

Rosso have provided a price to provide an additional journey but given that this would require an extra bus it would be difficult to justify.

I’d like to see where we get to with the potential school bus changes – if this is a possibility, and as we’d be using existing resources the price would be likely to be much lower.

Regards – Nick O’Neill, Service Planning Officer, Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BG.  Direct Line 0161 244 1580.  Office Fax 0161 244 1310

Talking Bus and Tram Stops

tfgm

Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BG

Dear Dr Lamonte,

Talking Bus and Tram Stops

I am writing to you with another suggestion for improving our public transport services for passengers with a visual impairment.

I understand that Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership in 2015 received a £10 million award to introduce new technology to improve public services.  Under the City Verve Project, this will include the introduction of talking bus stops, which also permit interaction with passengers.

At present, announcements of bus and tram arrivals are visual and therefore of no use to passengers with a visual impairment.  This causes them considerable inconvenience.

Surely it must be possible to make announcements on a public tannoy at tram and bus stops as happens at railway stations?  I know announcements are available at bus stands in bus stations but this requires the pro-active intervention of the passenger pressing a button, which is fine if they can see the stand and can see the button.

Please can I ask where we are in relation to the introduction of talking bus and tram stops and what proposals are in place to roll this provision out across the network?

I shall look forward to your response.

TfGM Suicide Prevention – Staff Training and Messaging

tfgm

Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BG

Dear Dr Lamonte,

Suicide Prevention – Staff Training and Messaging

Following World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September), I am writing to you with a special request.

You may be aware that tragically suicide is the most common cause of death amongst young males.  Regrettably some individuals chose to commit suicide in front of a moving public transport vehicle.  Not only does this result in loss of life, it can cause injury or death, and well as trauma, to the driver and passengers; disrupt services; and put a vehicle out of commission.

Samaritans have been working extensively with Network Rail, Translink and the wider rail industry to support those contemplating suicide and using the network.  As part of the “We Listen” campaign, at rail stations around the country, posters have gone up advertising the availability of the Samaritans free helpline number 116 123 so that the general public can call the helpline as a “positive, empowering first step in seeking help and taking control of their lives”.  Station and other rail staff have also accessed training to support those they see in need of help.

My request is that we look to engage Metrolink and bus operators with this scheme by asking Samaritans to train the staff of operators and that we display posters in our bus stations and tram stops, and on our buses and trams.

I shall look forward to your response.

Metrolink must link us directly to Piccadilly Station as promised back in 1989!

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Letter sent below (28 Sept 16) is self-explanatory about this very important issue for Oldham Borough

Dr Jon Lamonte, Chief Executive, Transport for Greater Manchester, 2 Piccadilly Place, Manchester M1 3BG

Dear Dr Lamonte,

I am writing regarding the future routing of Oldham’s Metrolink service, which has been the subject of a number of discussions between Oldham officers and members in the past.

My concern is that now there have been service changes in Metrolink trams stopping at Shaw and Crompton only go to East Didsbury or to Exchange Square, there is no longer any direct Metrolink connection to the principal city-centre railway station, Manchester Piccadilly.

Whilst I welcome the increase in service frequency from Shaw and Crompton to Victoria to every six minutes, I note that there is a disconnect with the twelve minute service from Victoria to Piccadilly.

This appears to be completely contrary to the aims outlined in the original business case, namely a desire to enable passengers from Shaw and Crompton, one of the busiest Metrolink stops in the network, and other stops on the Rochdale-Oldham line, to directly access both the Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly railway stations.

Members expressed concerns to TfGM most recently back in January this year when Transport for Greater Manchester Committee considered a report on the Metrolink 2017 procurement process which included a plan showing both of Oldham’s Metrolink services (from Shaw and from Rochdale) being routed through Exchange Square, meaning no direct connection to Piccadilly Rail Station or to Shudehill and Market Street.  We were assured that the plan was for illustrative purposes only, that it was intended to provide TfGM with a common position from which to assess operator bids and that it did not reflect final services patterns.

Before January this year I personally have raised the issue of a direct link to Piccadilly on more than one occasion at TfGM meetings in both 2014 and 2015.

The procurement process will have moved on and I am now seeking reassurance in advance of your report to TfGMC on 11th November that the proposed service pattern will include a direct service from Oldham to Piccadilly Rail Station.

The phase 1 scheme to convert the Oldham Rochdale Loop Rail Line to Metrolink operation was based on the understanding that it would provide Oldham and Rochdale with a direct through link to Piccadilly Rail Station.  In my view, the GM agreement made in 1989 in respect of this direct connection remains in place, and the new Metrolink 2017 contract provides the opportunity for TfGM to meet this original commitment and ensure that Oldham has a direct Metrolink connection to Piccadilly Station.

If this opportunity is missed, Oldham will be the only Greater Manchester district not to have a direct link by rail or Metrolink to Piccadilly Rail Station and London train services once the Ordsall Chord rail link opens next year.  I have raised this matter at Oldham Council meetings and colleagues of all parties and all are in agreement and consider a direct link to Piccadilly as essential in order to maximise access to employment, transport and leisure opportunities for our residents.

Put simply, is it not possible to run a direct service to Piccadilly via Victoria and then to continue that service onto East Didsbury with the service on the return run being in reverse?  This will provide the direct service and also allow passengers using the tram from stops of the East Didsbury line better access to Piccadilly.

Furthermore will the Second City Crossing not soon make the connections still better with Oldham-Rochdale passengers able to access South Manchester line stops, and residents in South Manchester able to travel directly to Victoria?

I understand we have now made arrangements for Peter Cushing to brief senior officers and members on 7th October in advance of the report to TfGMC on 11th November, but I would like confirmation before then that a permanent direct link from Oldham to Piccadilly Rail Station will be included in the new Metrolink contract when it comes into effect next year.