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Passenger hits out at 'no change' on buses policy
4:00pm Thursday 27th November 2008
AN ANNOYED Thamesdown Transport passenger has called for change machines to be installed at bus stations after being caught out by the company’s ‘no change’ policy.
Mark Titcombe, 24, from South Marston, says during the current recession people should not be penalised for not having the right change.
His comments come months after an Advertiser investigation found that Thamesdown Transport made an extra £137,438 from customers after introducing its exact-fare policy in August 2005.
Mark believes the machines would save the company time while help passengers.
He said: “Why doesn’t Thamesdown install change machines at its bus stations, or even at some individual bus stops to aid people who don’t have the correct change?
“If the aim of the policy is to speed up travel times then this would still happen but they wouldn’t be pocketing the change as profit, which surely isn’t acceptable, especially during a recession.”
Mark was caught out by the ‘no change’ policy last week after forgetting it was in place.
He said: “With the quoted £137,000 they have made so far Thamesdown should be able to fork out on 10 to 20 change machines around Swindon.”
However, Paul Jenkins, the company’s managing director, believes that change machines only work in big cities like London.
He said: “It is true that it would help with saving time but I don’t think that would be an economic proposition for us – there are more than 1,000 stops and even if you were to place the machines on the main ones it wouldn’t give us value.
“We have considered it but they work best in a high volume environment. Fleming Way is not high volume compared to the big cities.
“It is not an economic proposition there.
“When you add in maintenance and emptying the machines it wouldn’t work – we are, instead, encouraging people to have a season ticket or network card.”
Your Say YourSwindon
Leo Sayer, Swindon says...
4:27pm Thu 27 Nov 08
yeti, swindon says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
the bus company is owned by the council and they should have never of allowed the exact fare rules anyway.
ABOLSIH THE PATHETC PRACTICE NOW!
yeti, swindon says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
the bus company is owned by the council and they should have never of allowed the exact fare rules anyway.
ABOLISH THE PATHETC PRACTICE NOW!
yeti, swindon says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
the bus company is owned by the council and they should have never of allowed the exact fare rules anyway.
ABOLISH THE PATHETC PRACTICE NOW!
nelle2705, swindon says...
4:31pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Leo Sayer wrote:Totally agree, I forgot to mention that, also their drivers seem to think they are on race tracks half the time as well. I reported a driver not so long ago regarding his driving and nothing was done. not even an apology did i get. bring back old swindon buses..
I agree, also for the little bit extra that the general public are potentially paying do you think you could make your busses run on time??
yeti, swindon says...
4:32pm Thu 27 Nov 08
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man, Wiltshire says...
4:38pm Thu 27 Nov 08
cfa, newcastle says...
4:47pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Reg Varney must be turning in his grave.
tarot, Swindon says...
5:15pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Always Grumpy, Swindon says...
5:22pm Thu 27 Nov 08
tarot wrote:Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a weekly pass if you have to use the bus every day?
I keep all my copper and silver in a pot and get fare every morning from it. the smaller the change the better.
swindonbornandbred, swindon says...
5:38pm Thu 27 Nov 08
nelle2705 wrote:I would love for you to get on my husbands bus and tell him he,s on a race track,im sure he would love to hear it.
Leo Sayer wrote: I agree, also for the little bit extra that the general public are potentially paying do you think you could make your busses run on time??Totally agree, I forgot to mention that, also their drivers seem to think they are on race tracks half the time as well. I reported a driver not so long ago regarding his driving and nothing was done. not even an apology did i get. bring back old swindon buses..
Yes some of the drivers do go a bit mad but that don,t mean to say they are all the same.
Captain T, Swindon says...
6:07pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Or just buy a travelpass
monyet, railway village says...
6:14pm Thu 27 Nov 08
hog man, swindon says...
6:18pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Futures, Swindon says...
6:44pm Thu 27 Nov 08
I have to get a minimum of 6 buses a day to get around, and the Stagecoach buses, where they give you change, are no slower than the Thamesdown ones!
Inky, W Swindon says...
7:07pm Thu 27 Nov 08
tarot, Swindon says...
7:10pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Always Grumpy wrote:I only get the bus three times a week one way, so no not really.
tarot wrote:Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a weekly pass if you have to use the bus every day?
I keep all my copper and silver in a pot and get fare every morning from it. the smaller the change the better.
PeeveD, Swindon says...
8:18pm Thu 27 Nov 08
who dat?, Swindon says...
8:37pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Nu Lie-bore MPs in this town -both supporters of the Robber McBroon and his stealth taxing of everything that moves!
Funny old world!
Anyway , why doesn't TT operate a no fares day once a month to compensate for the money grabbing?
mwall, swindon says...
8:53pm Thu 27 Nov 08
mwall, swindon says...
8:53pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Robh, Swindon says...
9:04pm Thu 27 Nov 08
RF1, Swindon says...
11:27pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Reg Varney must be turning in his grave.
Only since 16/11 :-)
malkym1, Highworth on the Hill says...
7:18am Fri 28 Nov 08
cfa, newcastle says...
7:55am Fri 28 Nov 08
"Olive you silly cow"
www.onthebusesfanclu
b.co.uk
No joke check out this website.
Chowmai, Swindon says...
8:06am Fri 28 Nov 08
These can then. in turn, be used to pay other fares.
Would it not be possible for Thamesdown to do that. OR, instead of a weekly bus pass do a 'trip based' bus pass for those who dont travel enough in one week to warrant a bus pass.
Opinionated Wench, Swindon says...
8:27am Fri 28 Nov 08
Tonyblairisthedevil, says...
8:51am Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie, swindon says...
11:04am Fri 28 Nov 08
ourtone, says...
11:57am Fri 28 Nov 08
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
the bus company is owned by the council and they should have never of allowed the exact fare rules anyway.
ABOLISH THE PATHETC PRACTICE NOW!
The Council do own Thamesdown but they are legally not allowed to have any control over running the buses.
Thamesdown is run by a board of directors, most of whom aren’t Councillors.
malkym1, Highworth on the Hill says...
2:43pm Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie wrote:Exactly Tibbie - a moneyless bus system using pre-charged cards, could be available at po's, bus station, etc. As to putting change machines at the bus station - great idea - the druggies and winos will smash them up -grab the money - and go and buy more booze from the offies flogging it to under age kids and more hash from the expanding network of cannabis factories!
what about using a network card then.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
3:05pm Fri 28 Nov 08
malkym1 wrote:Malky, she's suggesting using a "NetworkCard", which is exactly the system you suggested and is already in place and working wonderfully! You can top them up at any PayPoint machine, or (I believe, don't quote me) on the bus itself for up to £15.
tibbie wrote: what about using a network card then.Exactly Tibbie - a moneyless bus system using pre-charged cards, could be available at po's, bus station, etc. As to putting change machines at the bus station - great idea - the druggies and winos will smash them up -grab the money - and go and buy more booze from the offies flogging it to under age kids and more hash from the expanding network of cannabis factories!
Why people are moaning I don't know. You'd lose less by paying a £10 deposit down for a NetworkCard than you would losing your change on the bus. It's moaning for the sake of moaning.
PeeGee, Swindon says...
4:30pm Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie, swindon says...
5:24pm Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie, swindon says...
5:41pm Fri 28 Nov 08
5:24pm Fri 28 Nov 08
I use the bus daily and I will be getting a network card far easier than making sure that you have the correct amount of change for your fare and besides you can also use them to purchase day rider tickets as well
malkym1, Highworth on the Hill says...
9:39pm Fri 28 Nov 08
Your sayYourSwindon
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Passenger Mark Titcombe wants change machines installed for bus passengers
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nelle2705, swindon says...
4:25pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Thamesdown Transort please treat your customers like customers and not as your personal bank.