"Roland Perry" wrote in message
...
In message , at 17:06:05 on Fri, 23 Nov
2012, Graeme Wall remarked:

I believe bus replacement services have designated "bus stops",

No, they just stop on a country road somewhere near the station.

As far as you know, ever read a rail-replacement service contract?

If all the station has is a bit of passing country road, that's what they
need to use. The contract won't require the bus operator to install a bus
stop. Indeed, they don't even seem to require the bus driver to know where
the station is - on one trip I had to stand next to the driver and give
him directions.

But there are official bus stops in the High Street.

But the RRS bus is not authorised to use them.

Authorised by whom?

The RSS is not authorised, by virtue of the operator not possessing a valid
licence for the RSS to operate a local bus service, which would be obtained
from the Area Traffic Commissioners, at six weeks' notice and payment of a
fee to the Traffic Commissioners, to stop ANYWHERE for the purpose of
setting down (or picking up) passengers, other than at the places and times
specified in the Rail Replacement Contract that has been negotiated between
the Rail Operator and the Bus Operator. A bus operating other than within
the terms of its operating licence may well be regarded as uninsured by the
insurer, as it is not being used in a legal manner at the time. In practice,
a claim might be met by the Insurer - but the insurer would then chase the
operator for recompense. And the company would then chase the driver for
recompense - which would probably lead to termination of employment.

If the bus operator wanted the RSS to be able to provide a Local Bus Service
at the same time as the RSS he is supposed to be providing, he would have to

a) give six weeks notice to the TCs
b) pay a fee
c) negotiate with the Rail Operator to provide a local bus service congruent
with the Rail Operator's service ( and the contract price would have been
adjusted appropriately)
d) ensure he had provided seating capacity to carry both the rail passengers
(who would frequently fill one or more vehicles) and the anticipated numbers
who might reasonably wish to board en-route
e) devised a fares structure which would include the carriage of OAP at
"free travel" rates with reimbursement from the Local Authority
f) run the bus at the times stated in the Timetable whether or not it was
actually needed at the time stated - train comes in late? no chance of the
connecting service waiting for its passengers. Service bus must depart
punctually, otherwise the operator could find himself hauled up in front of
the TCs on an Inquiry.
g) Loads more that I can't be arsed to consider, as what has been provided
is sufficient to indicate its impracticalities.

In short - if you want the benefits of being able to get off at your local
bus stop, you get on a bus service that is licenced to do so. It matters not
a fishes tit by what means you arrive at the starting point of such a
journey - be it train, plane, walk, camel, or whatever. It also matters not
a fishes tit whether or not it passes your house on the way.

If you want the benefits of being able to travel from A to B by train, get
on a train. The train company will take you from A to B. Occasionally, in
the case of an emergency or planned engineering works, they will use a bus
or a taxi for part or all of the journey. In the case of planned
engineering works, you will have had the opportunity to be informed about
them before you start your journey. Notices are displayed at railway
stations about such works, but certain users of Usenet probably take as much
notice of these as they take of other posters' explanations on Usenet. But
the Rail Company will still facilitate your conveyance from A to B. How you
get from B to your own home is up to YOU and is your responsibilty to
arrange it.

Is that clear?

I'll save you a post...

Thought not.