Stop changing your allocations!

I felt it would be good to get off my chest...and for once, this is a rant regarding First SY...

In October 2012 First changed the allocation of Cross-City route 51 (Charnock - City - Lodge Moor) to Volvo B7TL Double decks transferred from Leeds. At the time it was all good and there was a good allocation of double deckers every day whilst there were still two at York for repaits & paint cover.

When the two (37022/31 (YJ06XKL/W)) arrived at Sheffield there was a week of more or less double decker operation with 14 or 15 Geminis and the odd decker from elsewhere. So when you see a revamped 51 with new buses in the new livery, you'll get more passengers.

So First then think its suitable to then plonk (technical terms there) Volvo B10BLEs in the OLD colours on a route with a growing passenger base because First made the route look good. Add in some older buses in old colours which look tatty & tatty interiors - and guess what happens.

As time progressed, there were more and more being put on Monday-Friday and even now Saturdays.

So then we get to February 2013 - even newer buses in centenary colours to celebrate 100 years of buses in Sheffield. Add those into the equation and we have two batches of Geminis which look very smart as the supposed "allocation" to the route...and then we've got Volvo B10BLEs which seriously need a lick of paint, LED destinations and a retrim - before they even START to help the Geminis

And now we come to today, a regular Saturday without a football match on the route. I knew something was wrong when I ended up with a B9TL this morning! As the day progresses...there's only 3 deckers on - the centenary buses, and the odd one out which I got this morning.

So why does the allocation have to keep changing? By doing that, the route's reputation is being shattered - the buses don't look as nice. Just make one allocation and STICK WITH IT. The odd day is alright, but when its a regular occurance, it is what is known as a fucking joke.