Minutes:
The Sub-Committee was provided with the following bus operator updates:
First
· Provided an update on services struggling for reliability due to congestion; particularly those services affected by the works on the Headrow in Leeds.
· The training scheme for bus drivers was ongoing and First reported that they had put a lot of resources into training.
· Progress on mobile ticketing was now at 35%.
· First reported that the service in Calderdale was not fully staffed which made timetabling difficult.
Arriva
· Arriva were in the process of rolling out disability awareness training which focussed on hidden disabilities.
· A small cascade of buses was forthcoming form Arriva’s Leeds operation.
· Arriva provided an update on specific services including the 228 service as well as discussing their October timetable changes.
Following the bus operator updates members of the Sub-Committee had the following questions and comments:
· A member wished to observe the driver session training and provide feedback. First stated that they would be happy with this in principle, but would need to check with the individual trainers.
· Members raised the issue around the bus fleet in Calderdale with newer buses consistently being distributed in Leeds. Operators responded that the funding for new buses was tied to Leeds which made it difficult to distribute them more evenly.
· Members wished to raise questions regarding Yorkshire Tiger. Arriva committed to passing the queries onto Yorkshire Tiger and it was noted that in future it would be helpful if a representative from Yorkshire Tiger attended the meeting.
· Representatives from the Combined authority informed members of the Sub Committee that they had held meeting with Yorkshire Tiger regarding concerns over the standard of service and had discussed plans to improve.
· Members queried the process around real time updates as they were often unreliable.
Northern
· Northern outlined their performance from the last period with 83% of trains running to time. It was acknowledged that this was not good enough.
· Northern detailed their upcoming timetable changes which included an express service to Blackpool and a train from Halifax to Hull.
· Northern explained that some of their franchise commitments on the Calder Valley line would not be met due problems with capacity around the Manchester stations which would require infrastructure investment to resolve.
· Northern announced that new diesel trains would be operating the 21 November.
· Pacers would be retained into the new year as Northern’s new trains were late from their suppliers.
· All new trains would be delivered by May 2020 and the pacers would be removed form service by that date.
Following Northern’s operator update members of the Sub-Committee had the following questions and comments:
· Members questions centred around Sowerby Bridge station regarding ease of access and connectivity as well as the traffic congestion in the area.
· Members also raised an issue with the reduction in services which call at Sowerby Bridge and Mytholmroyd. Services calling at those station was due to decrease from 3 trains an hour to 2 trains an hour.
Resolved: That the operator updates and the Sub Committee’s feedback be noted.