Stagecoach to overhaul its Hull bus network

[overthewater]

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull...oach-unveils/story-26938281-detail/story.html

A NEW bus network will be rolled out across Hull later this year. Stagecoach has unveiled its new Simplibus network, which will be brought into the city from Sunday, September 6.

The new system will see the Stagecoach buses having a completely new numbering system, with local services numbered between one and 16 based on area and destination. New services will be created in Hull, with a new east to west city link, a new service for Kingswood following the completion of the link road and more frequent connections to James Reckitt Avenue.

Jon Donnelly, Stagecoach's East Midland's commercial manager, said a new, simple service was crucial for Hull.

"We are doing something that is quite innovative from a city point of view, and we have tried to make it as simple as possible," Mr Donnelly said.

"We are now looking at a modern city centre, with changes going on in time for UK City of Culture in 2017. "Hull needs a bus network that goes with that modern city. "The city centre is getting a revamp, and it makes sense to look at our network and get changes in place ready for that."

The new Simplibus service will see links to the Old Town improved, with a new cross-city connecting service also providing direct connections between the east and north of the city.

Mr Donnelly said recent changes in the city, such as the opening of the link road in May, allowed the bus provider to make the changes to its network.

"This is an opportunity to provide services in a simplistic style that work like the numbering system," he said.

"We have tried to tweak our routes here and there over the past few years to keep a minority of people happy, but we want the majority to understand and make use of a punctual and simpler timetable in the future.

"We have got a lot of experience over the past 20 years, and we are trying to come up with something that will make any issues on our routes future- proof."

There will be a series of information and consultation events over the coming weeks for any people with questions about the new routes.

There will also be extra Stagecoach staff on buses across the next week talking to customers about the coming changes.

Mr Donnelly said: "It is an opportunity for people to have a say and to come forward if they see any potential problems."

The proposed new numbers

• Simplibus 1 stays the same (Boothferry Estate, Hessle Road, Interchange)

• Simplibus 2 stays the same (Boothferry Estate, Anlaby Road, Interchange)

• Simplibus 3 (Orchard Park, City Centre, Greatfield) replaces Service 13 (Orchard Park, Interchange) and Service 43 (Greatfield, Interchange)

• Simplibus 4 (Orchard Park, City Centre, Bilton Grange) replaces Service 14 (Orchard Park, Interchange) and Service 54/55 (Bilton Grange, Interchange)

• Simplibus 5 (Kingswood, Orchard Park, Interchange) replaces Service 15

• Simplibus 6 is new (Kingswood, Beverley Road, Interchange direct)

• Simplibus 7 (Kingswood, Sutton Park, Interchange) replaces Service 29

• Simplibus 8 (North Point, Sutton Park, Interchange) replaces Service 28

• Simplibus 9 (Bransholme, City Centre, Cottingham) replaces Service 110

• Simplibus 10 (North Bransholme, Leads Road, Interchange) replaces Service 30/30a

• Simplibus 11 (Kingswood, Bransholme, Interchange) replaces Service 51

• Simplibus 12 (Bransholme, Sutton, Interchange) replaces Service 32

• Simplibus 13 (Orchard Park, Bransholme, Interchange) replaces Service 10

• Simplibus 14 (Greatfield, Portobello St, Interchange) replaces Service 41/42

• Simplibus 16 (Marfleet, Victoria Dock, Interchange) replaces Service 46

Have your say

The information events will be held on:

• Monday, July 27: Greatfield, Elmbridge Parade, from 2pm to 7pm.

• Tuesday, July 28: Greenwich Avenue, from 2pm to 7pm.

• Wednesday, July 29: North Point Shopping Centre, from 2pm to 7pm.

• Thursday, July 30: Kingswood Medical Centre, from 2pm to 7pm.

• Friday, July 31: Queen Victoria Square, from 11am to 4pm.

• Monday, August 3: Orchard Park Tesco, from 2pm to 7pm.

• Tuesday, August 4: James Reckitt Avenue (East Park), from 2pm to 7pm,

• Wednesday, August 5: Princes Quay Shopping Centre, from 11am to 4pm.

• Thursday, August 6: St Stephen's shopping centre, from 11am to 4pm.

• Friday, August 7: Paragon Interchange, from 11am to 5pm.

 

[WatcherZero]

If I was a Hull resident I would feel a bit insulted....

 

[Busaholic]

If I was a Hull resident I would feel a bit insulted....

Pray, why?

 

[overthewater]

The number changes should also reduced the amount of duplication service numbers with EYMS

 

[duffers2324]

Is it just me or does this seem like a bit of copying job with a very similar idea to the Simplicity network that First have in Glasgow since 2013.

 

[overthewater]

Is it just me or does this seem like a bit of copying job with a very similar idea to the Simplicity network that First have in Glasgow since 2013.

Really?

isnt that a copy of the Overground? from 2001? which is a copy of Stagecoach Citi Network from 1999?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Really?

isnt that a copy of the Overground? from 2001? which is a copy of Stagecoach Citi Network from 1999?

Which was a copy from the Overground concept pioneered in Bristol in the late 1980s/early 1990s.....

 

[Robertj21a]

I give up - any offers for pre-1980s.......

 

[overthewater]

I give up - any offers for pre-1980s.......

I bet someone could name one

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I give up - any offers for pre-1980s.......

Was there some network of horsedrawn buses "ye olde simplified transitory system" from 1852? (Joke!!)

 

[Robertj21a]

Neigh.....

:roll:

 

[Stan Drews]

I bet someone could name one

Weren't Glasgow's trams colour coded, and also numbered simply?

 

[transmanche]

I bet someone could name one

London Country's SuperBus network in Stevenage, from the 1970s?

 

[johnw]

Simplicity or Simpli or the recent pulse branding at First Leeds - which looks and sounds like it only serves the hospital - its poor branding.
At least Cambridge Citi sounds like a brand, is designed well and looks like a coherent brand.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

The same thing happened in Grimsby last year.
New buses were brought in with the same Simplibus branding, so the Hull plan is just a copy. In Grimsby local services got renumbered 1-10, 12 & 20. Some minor improvements with more buses calling at the hospital and running later on some services followed but the timetable wasnt updated to show several buses.
It did cause confusion as the 3 was renamed the 53 and the 13 to the 3 causing some to wait for long periods.
But it didn't stay confusing for long.
Also an over simplified curcuit board style map was introduced alongside the street map.

It does sound like good news as the Simplibus seams to have worked here.
And Hull's buses have been changimg alot this year.

 

[Andyh82]

This brings to an end the long established 'Frequento' then I presume.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

This brings to an end the long established 'Frequento' then I presume.

If it is to be Simplibus there'll be every 10mins I guess.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Simplicity or Simpli or the recent pulse branding at First Leeds - which looks and sounds like it only serves the hospital - its poor branding.
At least Cambridge Citi sounds like a brand, is designed well and looks like a coherent brand.

That Pulse branding seems to have been inspired by the Worthing Pulse, shame that we didn't have Stagecoach in Leeds the branding would have worked a treat.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That Pulse branding seems to have been inspired by the Worthing Pulse, shame that we didn't have Stagecoach in Leeds the branding would have worked a treat.

Or Salisbury Pulseline?

However, as Frequento disappears, Frequenta appears in Darlington as part of a rebrand of high frequency services by Arriva NE.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

When will marketing types realise that mis-spelling words on purpose isn't clever or "kewl"...? :roll:

 

[317 forever]

Or Salisbury Pulseline?

However, as Frequento disappears, Frequenta appears in Darlington as part of a rebrand of high frequency services by Arriva NE.

If I didn't know better, I'd think that Arriva adopting Frequenta branding deterred Stagecoach from keeping their Frequento branding!

Simplicity is also used for some Go North East services in Sunderland, even though Stagecoach also operate there. Likewise, First Simplicity branding in Glasgow also meets Stagecoach buses there.

 

[eymslloyd]

I was part of planning these changes and i'd like to add that many of these numbers are the KHCT ones from the 1990s, for example the 32 was the 12 and the 15 was the 5! It was the East Midlands MD's idea aswell!