Friday well did my first internal Scottish journey (and third flixbus journey after doing Manchester a few weeks ago). Having arrived with Graeme/Tails around 11.15-20 in time for time at the Littlejohn Street side of Marschial l College now Marschial Square, at the former 20 stance H3. However there was a 15 minute delay due to a late arrival in. We drove fine and good enough down the A90. As we entered the city limits, this is where I think I could see where things started to get worse, and I think it was clear where he lost his time on the way up. What’s clear is the driver had never been to Dundee before today (I later found their satnav was programmed for the bus station).
The driver got lost and ended up reversing into Fintry Crescent. (if the locals get wind of this happening a few more windows will be smashed by the Shams – I grew up on the other side of Finlathen Bridge i.e. Hula./Linlathen and Mid….) on a road that not even Dundee buses use now but in a massively (QV XD on YouTube Only A Stones Throw Away was filmed at one of the Fintry terminus). I did wonder if he was trying a shortcut but this wasn’t the case. After returning to Forfar Road Dura St Meadowside took a wrong turn first time - When he went the second time I yelled from the back RIGHT out loud – it was clear this driver was struggling, so ran from row 11 to next to the driver. From the other enthusiasts pictures from Monday I knew Ward Road at old post office/howff Cemetery.
The driver was told to look / ask for Ward Street - a road that does not exist in the city of Dundee. I ended up giving him my spare copy of the new XD Bus Map (still in handbag from Monday with the new 18) and I offered him to the driver. (Well Ward Road east of the Constitution Road is actually Meadowside on the Dundee City A-Z Map, the new XD map, but the Codair freebie wasn’t clear even on the zoomed section.) However I had to explain we were technically back to front at this point (i.e > Aberdeen side and pointed to the other side of the road for the shelter), and the bus stop on the old Post Office got removed by DCC – to be replaced by another taxi rank that even none of the taxi working group meetings – NOW a bus is actually timed to use it., have asked DCC if they can put the flag back and also for city services too?
However after he went off to load up zero bookings, I realised he will need further help… so guided him via Commercial St Dock St Riverside and eventually (after slow traffic Broxden and Longforgan after smash other side and same side earlier) we made it to Broxden 65 minutes late.
I did tweet Ralph (tweet deleted but not by me) joking the consultancy bill would be in the post…but the tweet has disappeared ? Not deleted by me I hasten to add but I am rarely on twitter since the link between Facebook posts being reposted on Twitter – well THAT twitter account … The passengers at least – and the driver - appreciated me saving the day . But what is so wrong about me asking if he could supply the Inchinannan flixbus drivers with the new Dundee Network Map so they could find their way more easily in the short term pending the final arrangements (DBS) happening?
I hardly think, if that turns out to be standard, the competition will be quaking in their boots. BUT first days and first few weeks can be problematic i.e. M20 driven by a Cowdenbeath driver who had never been to Newcastle. But XD Drivers would have (or SHOULD normally) be shown the route (X90, Amazon and other drivers) – so why were the other half of the drivers not at least given a similar chance??? In other words – this depends on how McGills get the service to run in the interim, or continue to pretend everything’s fine?
And why is Dundee still not a bookable option even on day 6 of the service, even using Ward Road as the point for now?
