From the Thanet Depot routes 8 and 9 (and their derivatives) head out to Canterbury and this can make a pleasant change from trailing round Thanet all day - a chance to 'stretch your legs'. And once you get past Birchington you can it get a little bit of speed up between the villages en route. Only up to around 50mph or so as the buses all have limiters, but you do have to be wary as even in dry conditions the road can be a bit slippery - ask the Volvo B10 driver who found himself in a field before he'd even realised what was going on, it all happened so quick!
Canterbury Bus Station (good canteen - almost as good as Thanet's) is a busy little place with a large number of Bays which you drive forwards into, let the passengers off, close the doors and have a break of between 5 -14 minutes before you return. A chance to grab a coffee, go to the loo (what is it about getting out of the cab after a long drive that makes you immediately want to go to the loo?), reset the ticket machine and change the destination blinds.
Open the doors and let the customers on, not leaving this to the last minute of course, so you stand a chance of getting away on time. 5 minutes or so pass and you're ready to go (beware the last minute rush of passengers that appear from nowhere). Now procedure is procedure here. Once you've closed the doors, you put on the hazard flashers and select reverse and wait for the banksman. Study your right hand mirror and he will appear soon and see you out of the bay. Now should any late passengers arrive, usually banging on the doors while you're studying your mirrors, you are not allowed to stop and let them on. In fact you will get reported for doing so. This is to discourage passengers from banging on doors, thinking they can still get on and also to get buses away on time otherwise you'd have a queue waiting to get in! So as frustrating as it must be for passengers, please be advised drivers are not allowed to let anyone else on after this point!
And then there's a nice bus lane (or is it Crunchy Nut lane?) from the bus station to get you a little bit of a start on the traffic outside. Just mind the raised kerb on the nearside with your back wheels if don't want a nasty bump!
Friday, 2 February 2007
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
In Service
Tuesday, 23rd January 2007
Well today was the day I was let loose on the unsuspecting public. You are assigned a mentor to begin with - another driver who accompanies you round, making sure you follow the correct route, helping out with ticketing and reminding you about the timetable.
An early start, 07.14 departure from the garage on the Clockwise 'Loop' service for 3 hours. And a pretty busy start. You forget almost instantly how to find destinations etc. on the ticket machine; customers don't always ask for the next fare stage of course, they want stops in between, which I'm not familiar with. And then some ask for the fare instead, eg £1 please, so you have to ask them where they're going, which they take offence to because they get on at this stop every day and ask for a pound fare and there's not normally a problem!
That's where the mentor steps in and says '22' Andy and I just key in 22 and hooray the right destination and the right price! Good idea these mentors. Still, managed to get round the loop OK. But because this is a circular service, you have to remember to update the electronic destination indicators 4 times on every circuit - it's not just there and back! Step in mentor again - 'change the destination Andy - hit the back button three times, you should be showing Broadstairs and Ramsgate'.
But we got round ok, and only 5 minutes late! Afternoon work was a more straightforward - there and back runs on routes 8 and 'short' 9s. All in all not a bad start.
Well today was the day I was let loose on the unsuspecting public. You are assigned a mentor to begin with - another driver who accompanies you round, making sure you follow the correct route, helping out with ticketing and reminding you about the timetable.
An early start, 07.14 departure from the garage on the Clockwise 'Loop' service for 3 hours. And a pretty busy start. You forget almost instantly how to find destinations etc. on the ticket machine; customers don't always ask for the next fare stage of course, they want stops in between, which I'm not familiar with. And then some ask for the fare instead, eg £1 please, so you have to ask them where they're going, which they take offence to because they get on at this stop every day and ask for a pound fare and there's not normally a problem!
That's where the mentor steps in and says '22' Andy and I just key in 22 and hooray the right destination and the right price! Good idea these mentors. Still, managed to get round the loop OK. But because this is a circular service, you have to remember to update the electronic destination indicators 4 times on every circuit - it's not just there and back! Step in mentor again - 'change the destination Andy - hit the back button three times, you should be showing Broadstairs and Ramsgate'.
But we got round ok, and only 5 minutes late! Afternoon work was a more straightforward - there and back runs on routes 8 and 'short' 9s. All in all not a bad start.
More Ticket Machine Training
Monday, 22nd January 2007
Completed my training on the ticket machine now. It's quite a straightforward machine to use. All the routes and fare stages are programmed in, you just have to select the fare stage you are at and then where the customer wishes to go and it's single or return and bingo! a ticket.
All fare stages have a number in the machine. So you start off your trip at say Margate and as you reach the next fare stage, eg Sweyn Road, Cliftonville, you can just scroll the machine round to the next one. Putting in the destination is not too difficult. Ideally the customer states their destination and then you can either punch in the number or scroll the destination field until you find the one they want. This is not alphabetical though, it's in route order.
There are also buttons for the various one day, weekly or saver fares and separate keys to record when a passenger uses the pass or ticket.
Every driver has a key-style module which plugs into the ticket machine to record all the data on tickets issued etc. Having plugged this in, you have to enter your personal PIN number, the duty number, the running card number (the schedule/timetable for that particular vehicle for the day) and the individual trip number. Work out whether you are inbound or outbound, load the start point and away you go.
Of course it won't be as easy as that once you're in service.
Completed my training on the ticket machine now. It's quite a straightforward machine to use. All the routes and fare stages are programmed in, you just have to select the fare stage you are at and then where the customer wishes to go and it's single or return and bingo! a ticket.
All fare stages have a number in the machine. So you start off your trip at say Margate and as you reach the next fare stage, eg Sweyn Road, Cliftonville, you can just scroll the machine round to the next one. Putting in the destination is not too difficult. Ideally the customer states their destination and then you can either punch in the number or scroll the destination field until you find the one they want. This is not alphabetical though, it's in route order.
There are also buttons for the various one day, weekly or saver fares and separate keys to record when a passenger uses the pass or ticket.
Every driver has a key-style module which plugs into the ticket machine to record all the data on tickets issued etc. Having plugged this in, you have to enter your personal PIN number, the duty number, the running card number (the schedule/timetable for that particular vehicle for the day) and the individual trip number. Work out whether you are inbound or outbound, load the start point and away you go.
Of course it won't be as easy as that once you're in service.
Friday, 26 January 2007
Finished the type training
Sunday, 21st January 2007
Finished the type training today, except for the National Express coaches,
on the remaining 4 buses. (Stagecoach East Kent operates service 022 (Ramsgate-Victoria) on behalf of National Express.
The Dennis Dart Wrights are the oldest buses in the Thanet fleet but
still trundle along quite well. However, it was pretty chilly and the cab never really got anywhere close to warm. Gear selector was pretty stiff too.
The Dennis Dart Pointer is very nice to drive though - very responsive with
positive steering, ie it starts to turn as soon as you turn the wheel as opposed
to the majority which don't seem to turn until you've made a quarter
turn of the wheel first. These buses also 'kneel' at the front left to make
it easier for passengers to board.
The Scania Double-deck has a couple of funny little quirks, (eg rolling back
on hills even though it's an automatic, and becoming very lumpy when you take
your foot off the gas to cruise) but isn't that bad to drive otherwise.
The Optare Solos are the newest buses on the fleet and are more like driving
a comfy transit van. Big difference with these is that there is no overhang
at the front, so there's no guiding the front over the kerb as you pull in
to get closer when you straighten up.
Finished the type training today, except for the National Express coaches,
on the remaining 4 buses. (Stagecoach East Kent operates service 022 (Ramsgate-Victoria) on behalf of National Express.
The Dennis Dart Wrights are the oldest buses in the Thanet fleet but
still trundle along quite well. However, it was pretty chilly and the cab never really got anywhere close to warm. Gear selector was pretty stiff too.
The Dennis Dart Pointer is very nice to drive though - very responsive with
positive steering, ie it starts to turn as soon as you turn the wheel as opposed
to the majority which don't seem to turn until you've made a quarter
turn of the wheel first. These buses also 'kneel' at the front left to make
it easier for passengers to board.
The Scania Double-deck has a couple of funny little quirks, (eg rolling back
on hills even though it's an automatic, and becoming very lumpy when you take
your foot off the gas to cruise) but isn't that bad to drive otherwise.
The Optare Solos are the newest buses on the fleet and are more like driving
a comfy transit van. Big difference with these is that there is no overhang
at the front, so there's no guiding the front over the kerb as you pull in
to get closer when you straighten up.
Friday, 19 January 2007
Leyland and Volvo Double Decks
Friday, 19th January 2007
More type training today and my first time out in the double deckers.
First off was a Leyland. I think I got the hang of this one very quickly and although the accelerator pedal was a little lively, managed to deliver (what I thought) was a much smoother drive compared to yesterday and got it up closer to 'service speed'.
Ditto the Volvo double-deck afterwards. Lovely bus to drive and a very comfortable ride, probably why they're viewed as the best buses in the garage. Cab layout is the same as the B10 so I managed to remember where everything was.
Can be a bit confusing for customers waiting at the bus stops. You can spot them from a distance see the bus, so move forward or get up ready to board, put their arms out and then notice the out of service signs as we get nearer and sail by. A glance in the mirrors after passing and they can be seen disappointedly moving back or sitting back down again.
Lots of paperwork to read and digest tomorrow and then back in the garage on Sunday. They'll be far more buses available then as we only operate two routes on a Sunday in Thanet - the 8 and The Loop.
More type training today and my first time out in the double deckers.
First off was a Leyland. I think I got the hang of this one very quickly and although the accelerator pedal was a little lively, managed to deliver (what I thought) was a much smoother drive compared to yesterday and got it up closer to 'service speed'.
Ditto the Volvo double-deck afterwards. Lovely bus to drive and a very comfortable ride, probably why they're viewed as the best buses in the garage. Cab layout is the same as the B10 so I managed to remember where everything was.
Can be a bit confusing for customers waiting at the bus stops. You can spot them from a distance see the bus, so move forward or get up ready to board, put their arms out and then notice the out of service signs as we get nearer and sail by. A glance in the mirrors after passing and they can be seen disappointedly moving back or sitting back down again.
Lots of paperwork to read and digest tomorrow and then back in the garage on Sunday. They'll be far more buses available then as we only operate two routes on a Sunday in Thanet - the 8 and The Loop.
Type Training
Thursday, 18th January 2007
Having done all my training on a single deck Daf Optare SB220, today was the start of my type training, ie learning how to drive the different types of buses in the fleet. This can be tricky during the week as nearly all the buses are out in service, so you and the instructor have to grab whatever happens to come in to the garage and is free for a couple of hours.
Today we were able to get hold of a single deck Volvo B10. A bit sharper on the brakes than I was used too, but managed to get the hang of it (the instructor may think otherwise). Have to drive a bit faster though if I'm ever likely to keep to a timetable, training school speed is a little too slow for that.
Training on the ticket machine followed in the afternoon. Operating the machine shouldn't be a problem - remembering all the various types of ticket and at what times they can be issued is going to be the tough bit.
Having done all my training on a single deck Daf Optare SB220, today was the start of my type training, ie learning how to drive the different types of buses in the fleet. This can be tricky during the week as nearly all the buses are out in service, so you and the instructor have to grab whatever happens to come in to the garage and is free for a couple of hours.
Today we were able to get hold of a single deck Volvo B10. A bit sharper on the brakes than I was used too, but managed to get the hang of it (the instructor may think otherwise). Have to drive a bit faster though if I'm ever likely to keep to a timetable, training school speed is a little too slow for that.
Training on the ticket machine followed in the afternoon. Operating the machine shouldn't be a problem - remembering all the various types of ticket and at what times they can be issued is going to be the tough bit.
The adventure begins!
Wednesday 17th January 2007
After some excellent instruction and during a break in the gale force conditions, I passed my PCV test in Ashford today. So that's the easy bit out of the way - now I can really learn to become a bus driver!
After some excellent instruction and during a break in the gale force conditions, I passed my PCV test in Ashford today. So that's the easy bit out of the way - now I can really learn to become a bus driver!
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