• These forums have been massively 'cleaned up'. Several threads within these forums have been merged into the main "Latest" thread for each operator. There were a number of threads with minimal discussion after the original post, and the posts within some were complaints that the member had started a new thread when it could have easily fit into one of the main categorised threads.
  
• All "Latest" threads merged. Last year, we decided to split each of the main "Latest" threads by month to ease strain on our servers which was making the forum run slowly. We were not consistent in doing this, meaning that threads up until mid-2013 had been split with the rest left in one massive thread. We have encountered no major problems with the speed of the forum since we upgraded to paid hosting, so I have decided to merge all of these threads back into one again.
  
• All forums have been standardised. The threads in each forum have been replicated and re-named accordingly so that they are all the same. "Read Me" threads have been created explaining this in each forum.
  
• "Fleet News" thread from each of the forums removed. Instead, a new announcement system will be used. After the news is published, a small announcement bar will appear on the main forum index screen for 24 hours. When the news feature was first implemented in late 2013, there were concerns that these posts were somewhat obtrusive and unnecessary. My main gripe with these posts as of late has been the fact that they are quite time-consuming, and I'm often rather pushed for time when writing up the news, so this will save a few minutes for me whilst (hopefully) combating the concerns which were made some 12+ months ago.
  

(31 Dec 2014, 7:35 pm)Dan wrote Following this update, Scott (tyresmoke) suggested that he wanted to 'clean up' the "Other Operators" section of the forum, too. Scott and I discussed our plans to improve this section this evening, and we'd like to put forward our suggestions to our members to gather opinions.

Option 1 - Create alphabetical sub-forums within the "Other Operators" section

When users click "Other Operators", the list of threads would not appear immediately. Instead, five sub-forums would appear:
A - E, F - J, K - O, P - T, U - Z
All of the current threads (excluding those with no further posts from the original post) would be placed into the relevant lettered category. Once a lettered sub-forum is clicked, all of the bus operators whose company name starts with one of those letters will be displayed. The upside to this is that this would allow standardisation between the forum and our fleet list homepage, which is sorted similarly. The downside is that there would still be approximately 30 threads for some of the more common letters, although the system allows for 30 threads to be shown per page (and this can be increased if necessary).

Option 2 - Create sub-forums sorted by county within the "Other Operators" section

As above, with the categories instead being:
Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside

Option 3 - Some operator threads merged, larger threads with the most discussion remain separated

Everything is left as present, but threads similar to this one are created for all of the smaller threads with less discussion to be merged into. Larger threads, such as Procters Group, Gateshead Central Taxis, are not merged.

Option 4 - Other

Leave everything as present and don't bother at all - or an idea of your own (give feedback below if so).


Any feedback appreciated!

(31 Dec 2014, 7:40 pm)aureolin wrote Other than option 4, my preference would be option 2, but I think the 3rd option would also work. The first, imo, would look a bit messy.

(31 Dec 2014, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote My issue with the third option is that things are so unpredictable with independent bus operators...

We used to have quite a bit of discussion going on in the Pygall's Coaches thread, but since the withdrawal of the 230 and X27, we've had very little. Similarly, prior to Gateshead Central Taxis gaining a lot of Nexus contracts this year, we did not really discuss their operations at all.

If an operator suddenly turns around like both of those operators have done, where do you draw the line to either close the main thread and merge it into 'smaller bus operators' thread or conversely make a new thread completely as the company is rapidly growing?

(31 Dec 2014, 8:54 pm)Andreos1 wrote Could one or two of the ideas be merged?

Stick them into areas as suggested, but set them up in alphabetical order within those sub forums?

(01 Jan 2015, 11:08 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote My preference is option 1 based on my experince of using that format when viewing fleet lists it is easy to navigate and find what I am looking for.
Option 2 looks OK but is not ideal where an operator is based near a county boundary where local knowledge may be required in selecting the correct county. If you go with option 2 can North Yorkshire be included.
I don't like the look of option 3.

(01 Jan 2015, 12:47 pm)Michael wrote Although not based on the suggestion of updating the format of the independent operators, i have a suggestion for something else...


Can the admins please delete old threads in

Off-topic bus chat 
General off-topic chat 

Anything below a certain month of the 2014 - delete. (Maybe October, 2014ish)?

It's just some haven't had a post in them for a while... and it's pointless having them.

(01 Jan 2015, 1:25 pm)aureolin wrote I'd rather we leave the off topic forums exactly as they are, as they're for exactly that.

(01 Jan 2015, 2:30 pm)Dan wrote We'll try Option 2, then.
The "Other Operators" section shouldn't be visible to you guys now until I'm done.

If it doesn't work, it's easily sorted back to how it is at present, or to one of the alternative options.

• Unknown local spottings / Unknown operator questions
  
• Coach & Bus Live
  
• Easington School Buses
  
• A tiger liveried coach
  
• Moorsbus - The Last Year of operation ~ 2013

• Megabus
  
• Parks of Hamilton
  
• Rail Replacement Coaches