Bus firm says tram roadworks have 'decimated' Long Eaton service
A NOTTS bus company says it its Long Eaton service has been "decimated" by "horrendous" delays caused by roadworks for the new tramline and other services.
Premiere has said the time it takes its Red 5 service to travel between Nottingham and Long Eaton has doubled, with tram works on the route causing the "most disturbance".
The service is now running every 20 minutes during the day instead of every ten minutes – and an extra two buses have been put on.
Brand manager Jamie Swift said buses would now always leave on time at each end of the route, instead of running at sporadic times because of the delays.
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However, the full journey, which used to take about one hour and 20 minutes now takes two hours and 40 minutes.
Mr Swift said there are four sets of roadworks along the route that are causing problems.
Gas works that are being carried out near the Chilwell Olympia and drainage works in Long Eaton.
Buses are also held up at University Boulevard by works for utility services along the new tram line, and by the Beekeeper pub in Chilwell, where the Meadow Lane and Queens Road East junction is being widened for the tram.
Mr Swift said: "All of them combined are just causing hold-up after hold-up. The tram works are causing the greatest disturbance."
He added: "We should be running the route with seven buses but we're running it with nine, we've put on extra buses to try and ease the delays but it's not enough. The buses are just getting bunched in the queue – the customers are getting very annoyed, the drivers are getting frustrated."
Chris Deas, Nottingham City Council's project NET phase two project director, said: "The contractor for the tram project is working hard to try and minimise, as far as possible, any disruption caused, but with a construction project of this scale and with the nature of the works involved, it is inevitable that there will be some."
Councillor Richard Jackson, cabinet member for transport and highways at Notts County Council, said: "The council is doing all it can to minimise problems but, despite what people think, we don't have the power to prevent statutory bodies like major utility companies from digging up the roads when they need to.
"We do however, work with them to deal with it the best we can and most of them are pretty good at trying to co-ordinate stuff. The trouble with the tram is that it's two years' worth of works and even routine utility work is not going to wait two years until the tram works are through."
Hayley Sheffield, 22 of Sawley, said: "Normally I try to catch the train but today I saw the bus first and jumped on there. Now I wish I hadn't, I was nearly late for work."
And Paul Davidson, 29, of Tamworth Road, Long Eaton, added: "The journey time has been up to half an hour on some days and roadworks are really growing."
What do you think? E-mail your views to newsdesk@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk or call us at 0115 905 1967.
Comments
by Friartuck123
Sunday, November 11 2012, 9:52AM
“Whether there are delays or not it doesn't cost the council anything as their income stream doesn't depend on being successful. If they are running a deficit then they just hike everyone's mandatory bill.
Premiere, like all the shops involved, are private companies that depend on generating revenue to survive and offer employment opportunities.
The Council have no incentive to ensure that roadworks are co-ordinated properly. And, in most cases, don't appear to give a monkeys how their policies affect commercial enterprises. A few years ago ALL the main roads into Mansfield were dug up together. A few weeks ago both access to the M1 from Loughborough were closed simultaneously. The reply from the council is always that it isn't their problem. Although they have a highways department, paid for from our taxes, to "manage" the highways in our best interest. This management ought to involve ensuring that they don't have excessive delays, like this, which seriously damages the local economy.
As striving to build the economy, and drive inwards investment, is another function delegated to local Government.
In both cases Nottinghamshire seem to have failed.”
by Neo_MadBadger
Saturday, November 10 2012, 3:57PM
“Hackneyed, no comment on the story here then? That figures.”
by Hackneytom
Saturday, November 10 2012, 2:06PM
“@MadBadger also known as Andre on the Derby site Gotcha!I'm having a problem finding your comments on some of their stories - is somebody reporting your abuse?”
by jasie76
Saturday, November 10 2012, 1:13AM
“oh poor you Premiere Travel's brand manager Jamie Swift so you are losing money wow wee your sevices are **** and cut out bus stops in the selston area by going a different way and missing out passangers waiting for one of your buses..give me trent barton anyday least they stay intouch with you on facebook if there is going to be a hold up or they are experiencing long delays in and around Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire....”
by Neo_MadBadger
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:47AM
“Fret not Hackneyed, I have my trusty can of Raid ready.”
by Hackneytom
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:35AM
“Hello MadBsdger - or should I say BJ Mann, just looked you up and Google has put you in Nottingham you are not so bright as you are going to find out very soon, google this, we are onto you BJ "A blog dedicated to education and awareness of Internet trolls and cyberstalkers."”
by Neo_MadBadger
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:12AM
“Here's Hackneyed with another non-contribution. The last moth. He'll be around your skirting-boards or maybe on your window-ledges.”
by Hackneytom
Friday, November 09 2012, 11:15PM
“@MadBadger do you really think this story is crock? or are you just trying to look like you know what you're talking about but are really clueless?”
by jasie76
Friday, November 09 2012, 1:44AM
“hmmm I wonder how many people are moaning now because the construction work just started happening on tramlines but I bet majority of you will use the trams once the work is completed... will help cut percent off nottinghams congestion down has Nottingham roads are awful in rush hour morning and evening times....just think stress free nobody driving up your backside causing road rage stuck in hours of queues just to get from A to B and horrendous car parking fees...good money well spent least they are getting the funds back in the end of what they are putting in doing the project to make Nottingham a better place to live... people are never satisfied are they?”
by mattgaltress
Thursday, November 08 2012, 10:05PM
“The problem is that when you have any form of major construction project, you will always get disruption during it.
Wonder what the supporters of the waste of money otherwise known as the A453 project will be saying about serious disruption whilst it is happening?
In fact, here's a bright idea. Lets pull the plug on all future infrastructure projects, including that one, on grounds of disruption and see what happens. Anyone up for that?”