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NEWS'
4:00pm Thursday 27th November 2008 in
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.”
Comments(37)
nelle2705
says...
4:25pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Leo Sayer
says...
4:27pm Thu 27 Nov 08
yeti
says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
yeti
says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
yeti
says...
4:29pm Thu 27 Nov 08
nelle2705
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
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4:32pm Thu 27 Nov 08
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man
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4:38pm Thu 27 Nov 08
cfa
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4:47pm Thu 27 Nov 08
tarot
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5:15pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Always Grumpy
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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
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..
Captain T
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6:07pm Thu 27 Nov 08
monyet
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6:14pm Thu 27 Nov 08
hog man
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6:18pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Futures
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6:44pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Inky
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7:07pm Thu 27 Nov 08
tarot
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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
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8:18pm Thu 27 Nov 08
who dat?
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8:37pm Thu 27 Nov 08
mwall
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8:53pm Thu 27 Nov 08
mwall
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8:53pm Thu 27 Nov 08
Robh
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9:04pm Thu 27 Nov 08
RF1
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11:27pm Thu 27 Nov 08
malkym1
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7:18am Fri 28 Nov 08
cfa
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7:55am Fri 28 Nov 08
Chowmai
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8:06am Fri 28 Nov 08
Opinionated Wench
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8:27am Fri 28 Nov 08
Tonyblairisthedevil
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8:51am Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie
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11:04am Fri 28 Nov 08
ourtone
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11:57am Fri 28 Nov 08
malkym1
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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
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!
PeeGee
says...
4:30pm Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie
says...
5:24pm Fri 28 Nov 08
tibbie
says...
5:41pm Fri 28 Nov 08
malkym1
says...
9:39pm Fri 28 Nov 08
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