Tomorrow in Sheffield

Although there’s still hope that it can be averted, the prospect of another bus drivers’ strike at First in South Yorkshire is bad news for its residents and the company. First in that area has seen a number of strikes over the last four years, including a three-week continuous strike two years ago. The latest is over pensions and wages. And, First is already under pressure, from South Yorkshire PTE and from Stagecoach.

Tomorrow in Sheffield, Stagecoach ratchets-up its competition with First, on a network already reported as seeing significant growth since its May 2006 launch, with one route seeing a 60 per cent passenger increase.

Stagecoach’s Sheffield network was reborn in May 2006 when it saw an opportunity to build on its purchase in December 2005 of the Traction Group, already operating in the city. The decision was triggered by what Stagecoach saw as First’s poor services and its rocketing bus fares in the city. May therefore saw improved buses and frequencies, plus an innovative fares tie-in with Sheffield Supertram, also operated by Stagecoach.

Now, a number of Stagecoach’s 10-minute frequency bus routes will be extended at the beginning and end of the day and one, the 83 (Ecclesfield – Sheffield), will be physically extended to serve Ecclesall Road, Hunters Bar & Bents Green.

On top of all this, Stagecoach has announced £1mil investment in 10 new Dennis Dart vehicles for its 88 (High Green – Hunts Green). Both the 83 and 88 have each been the subject of special fares offers, since 7 June 2006.

The pressure at First continues from South Yorkshire PTE. The PTE gave a vote of no confidence in First in January, following yet further fares increases.

South Yorkshire PTE has since January 2006 pursued a mock-quality contract (franchising) exercise. And, according to Transit, SYPTE has warned operators that failings in the delayed-till-January 2007 north Sheffield statutory quality partnership could result in strengthening the argument for quality contracts rather than partnerships (it seems SYPTE fears a redeployment of buses from other areas to the partnership routes); and operators not wishing to use the new infrastructure (surely not likely?).

SYPTE alleges operators are concerned about the partnership’s emission standards, litter removal régime, external advertising and rectification timescales. However, operators themselves might also be concerned at the delay in infrastructure works.

While tomorrow will be an interesting day in Sheffield, with all this going on in South Yorkshire, the day after tomorrow may actually be even more worth watching.