(28 Aug 2022, 12:53 pm)Adrian This is one of the reasons the industry will always fail to be an attractive option for people travelling.

Retail, leisure and work patterns have changed, but largely there's been a failure to adapt to them. Most town and city centres are now becoming leisure hot spots, as traditional retail is declining. This should be easy picking for bus operators, because unlike retail, people going out for food and drink generally (or I hope!) don't take their car.

Yet for many, its not worth the hassle of taking the bus on a Sunday or Bank Holiday. Frequencies are dire, demand outweighs capacity on key routes, and its generally a frustrating experience.

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(28 Aug 2022, 1:23 pm)streetdeckfan For most people (or at least everybody that I know) Sundays and Bank Holidays are just normal days now, so why are operators still treating them as if they're special?

They can say it's because there aren't enough passengers, but why is that?

On a Sunday, I lose my direct half hourly services to Newcastle and Darlington, and go from 6 buses an hour to Durham, to one. It's literally not worth the risk to try and travel by bus on a Sunday!

(28 Aug 2022, 1:34 pm)F114TML I would presume the issue lies with the drivers actually. Stagecoach offer extra benefits to drivers who work bank holidays (extra day added to holiday allowance and higher pay for that day - unsure if these benefits also apply to Sundays), presumably GNE are the same.

(28 Aug 2022, 1:29 pm)Rob44 so one on here always mentions that sundays should jist be like any other day.... well for me bank holiday mondays should be too.  Can remember the last bank holiday i go off

(28 Aug 2022, 12:11 pm)N1cholas The year 2022 and people still dont know that sunday service operates every bank holiday no matter if it is a monday or friday it will never change

(28 Aug 2022, 1:23 pm)streetdeckfan For most people (or at least everybody that I know) Sundays and Bank Holidays are just normal days now, so why are operators still treating them as if they're special?

They can say it's because there aren't enough passengers, but why is that?

On a Sunday, I lose my direct half hourly services to Newcastle and Darlington, and go from 6 buses an hour to Durham, to one. It's literally not worth the risk to try and travel by bus on a Sunday!

(28 Aug 2022, 3:12 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Not sure that is the case for the majority of the population.  Many, many workplaces still close on bank holidays.  As do a lot of the places people may need to attend e.g. non-urgent health services.  Apart from blue light services etc, retail is probably the main area that is open and even then in the main does so for much reduced hours (meaning among other things fewer staff journeys as less shifts to cover).  I suspect for a lot of people their travel needs are different with more focus on leisure trips rather than 'having to be' somewhere whether that is a workplace, meetings or an appointment.

(28 Aug 2022, 3:12 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Not sure that is the case for the majority of the population.  Many, many workplaces still close on bank holidays.  As do a lot of the places people may need to attend e.g. non-urgent health services.  Apart from blue light services etc, retail is probably the main area that is open and even then in the main does so for much reduced hours (meaning among other things fewer staff journeys as less shifts to cover).  I suspect for a lot of people their travel needs are different with more focus on leisure trips rather than 'having to be' somewhere whether that is a workplace, meetings or an appointment.

(28 Aug 2022, 4:40 pm)DeltaMan If a company has an enhanced service but they can't get enough volunteers (most drivers will want a day off too, no matter how much dosh you throw at them), then what? Are we comfortable forcing some drivers to work when they don't want to?

(28 Aug 2022, 6:12 pm)Adrian I agree. The vast majority of Mon-Fri business operations don't operate on a bank holiday, and they tend to run on a skeleton staffing, if at all.  


If the service needs to be provided, then they shouldn't be relying on volunteers. It should be a normal working day, with the bank holiday rolled up into leave entitlement, like a lot of other industries do. 

Blue light services are often cited as the example of those that work around the clock, but really the list is far greater than that; power generation, water, telecoms, broadcast, IT & network engineers, retail & hospitality, and even the security industry. They all likely want the day/night off, but you can't have a complete shutdown of the country every bank holiday or weekend.

It's not about forcing anyone to do anything, but as a service provider, you need to meet the needs of those who want to use the service.

(28 Aug 2022, 6:12 pm)Adrian I agree. The vast majority of Mon-Fri business operations don't operate on a bank holiday, and they tend to run on a skeleton staffing, if at all.  


If the service needs to be provided, then they shouldn't be relying on volunteers. It should be a normal working day, with the bank holiday rolled up into leave entitlement, like a lot of other industries do. 

Blue light services are often cited as the example of those that work around the clock, but really the list is far greater than that; power generation, water, telecoms, broadcast, IT & network engineers, retail & hospitality, and even the security industry. They all likely want the day/night off, but you can't have a complete shutdown of the country every bank holiday or weekend.

It's not about forcing anyone to do anything, but as a service provider, you need to meet the needs of those who want to use the service.

(28 Aug 2022, 4:40 pm)DeltaMan If a company has an enhanced service but they can't get enough volunteers (most drivers will want a day off too, no matter how much dosh you throw at them), then what? Are we comfortable forcing some drivers to work when they don't want to?

(28 Aug 2022, 7:39 pm)cbma06 I take it that some people want a full bus service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and have drivers work there days off and have no holiday entitlement as some people want a full service , send an email to boris and he probably make it into law so drivers can’t go on holiday with there family as passengers wants to be somewhere, bank holidays are bank holidays are there for a reason


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(28 Aug 2022, 7:41 pm)F114TML Ha! Imagine thinking bus drivers are real people with real lives and real emotions and feelings.

(28 Aug 2022, 6:50 pm)DeltaMan So, put the Bank Holiday in the working week but not mandate drivers to work them? Forward allocators will love you!

(28 Aug 2022, 6:57 pm)mb134 I'm sure getting that past a TU, without other significant compromises from operators, will be a breeze. 

I fully support BH services being better than what they currently are, but realistically it's going to be quite difficult - even just thinking about agreements for BH working.

(28 Aug 2022, 7:39 pm)cbma06 I take it that some people want a full bus service on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day and have drivers work there days off and have no holiday entitlement as some people want a full service , send an email to boris and he probably make it into law so drivers can’t go on holiday with there family as passengers wants to be somewhere, bank holidays are bank holidays are there for a reason

(28 Aug 2022, 7:41 pm)F114TML Ha! Imagine thinking bus drivers are real people with real lives and real emotions and feelings.

(28 Aug 2022, 8:09 pm)Adrian As I've said above, every time this is brought up, everyone goes straight to the extreme of interpreting it as a demand for Mon-Fri (or Sat) timetables on a bank holiday. I can never tell whether it's a deliberate ignorance of the debate of faux outrage, but hey ho.


I mean, yeah, I don't think anyone was suggesting otherwise, but it if makes you feel better...

What do you think people should do on a bank holiday, if everything closes, because no one ever has to work one? Nothing open, no pubs/bars/restaurants, no sporting events, no TV, no Internet, no electric or gas. Sounds like a fun day.