Arriva Buses (including Greenline)

[Statto]

Searched for Arriva Bus, get this, click on top result View attachment 120856

Probably, the perfect description iv'e seen for the Arriva site, even when it's working normally, as the Arriva site is that bad.

 

[kez19]

This is just a question (first time last week I used Arriva in Newcastle), I was on their app and was looking up Amble (just curious), I noted on the app the X20 would go so far but then you would have to get off to get on another X20 is that right or is it a straight through bus?

Edit: on app it says to get off at Ashington bus station then walk a couple yards to get the next X20

 

[RELL6L]

This is just a question (first time last week I used Arriva in Newcastle), I was on their app and was looking up Amble (just curious), I noted on the app the X20 would go so far but then you would have to get off to get on another X20 is that right or is it a straight through bus?

Straight through.

 

[kez19]

Straight through.

Oh thank you for quick response is there a reason why the app couldn’t just say that? lol

Just to add is this similar to the likes of Alnwick and Berwick? (wouldn’t use bus as far as Berwick)

 

[NorthOxonian]

Oh thank you for quick response is there a reason why the app couldn’t just say that? lol

Just to add is this similar to the likes of Alnwick and Berwick? (wouldn’t use bus as far as Berwick)

Generally it's similar - but with the X15 and X18 you do have some short workings which only go as far as Alnwick. I think it's due to how the app is programmed to deal with split registrations - technically the X20 is registered as two routes, and the X15/X18 are also split.

 

[kez19]

Generally it's similar - but with the X15 and X18 you do have some short workings which only go as far as Alnwick. I think it's due to how the app is programmed to deal with split registrations - technically the X20 is registered as two routes, and the X15/X18 are also split.

aah understand, I just thought it was odd (also i'm not familar with areas outwith let alone Arriva on visits - ie GNE/Stagecoach I have mostly used), I did notice on some displays at Haymarket that say service X20 does state something like Ashington/Newbiggin then (onto next area) as for the question it was curiousity as on the app it states you to get off I think its called Alexandra Top (or probably best for me either at the bus station or at Wansbeck Hospital), then get the next bus (thats what confused me if I was to do something like that), but good to know that the bus is straight through.

 

[NorthOxonian]

aah understand, I just thought it was odd (also i'm not familar with areas outwith let alone Arriva on visits - ie GNE/Stagecoach I have mostly used), I did notice on some displays at Haymarket that say service X20 does state something like Ashington/Newbiggin then (onto next area) as for the question it was curiousity as on the app it states you to get off I think its called Alexandra Top (or probably best for me either at the bus station or at Wansbeck Hospital), then get the next bus (thats what confused me if I was to do something like that), but good to know that the bus is straight through.

Come to think of it, there may also be an issue with the fact the route doubles back. It enters Ashington via North Seaton and then the Woodhorn Road, and leaves along that same route. Alexandra Road Top appears to be the first stop on this double back section, which may be responsible for the app's strange behaviour. (The X18 does something similar at Alnmouth to serve the village).

 

[kez19]

Come to think of it, there may also be an issue with the fact the route doubles back. It enters Ashington via North Seaton and then the Woodhorn Road, and leaves along that same route. Alexandra Road Top appears to be the first stop on this double back section, which may be responsible for the app's strange behaviour. (The X18 does something similar at Alnmouth to serve the village).

That’s how I thought to ask the question, as I wouldn’t know the route I would guess at least ask the driver if he was going onwards would be the backup option?

As for the route, on the app it says to me get off at the station (I’m calling a station), then go about 2 ft to then get the bus on Alexandra Road Top, that’s what confused me with it stating on the app to take the X20 to that station to then walk back to get the X20 again? I appreciate your replies and thanks for the help in understanding this!

 

[Ligeraceaster]

Service X55 Leicester-Hinckley to be withdrawn from Saturday 1st October:

Leicestershire villages set to lose vital bus service into Leicester

Also heard rumour that service 14 Leicester-New Parks may be withdrawn. It is duplicating the same service provided by First with the same route number but always seems heavily patronised unlike the service above.

 

[Qwerty133]

Service X55 Leicester-Hinckley to be withdrawn from Saturday 1st October:

Leicestershire villages set to lose vital bus service into Leicester

Also heard rumour that service 14 Leicester-New Parks may be withdrawn. It is duplicating the same service provided by First with the same route number but always seems heavily patronised unlike the service above.

Would make sense for the 14 to be withdrawn given the First servce would continue to run. It doesn't make sense to be running duplicated services if you haven't got enough serviceable buses or enough drivers to be running the unduplicated services reliably.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Also heard rumour that service 14 Leicester-New Parks may be withdrawn. It is duplicating the same service provided by First with the same route number but always seems heavily patronised unlike the service above.

That is correct, from 22nd October.

 

[SSmith2009]

Service X55 Leicester-Hinckley to be withdrawn from Saturday 1st October:

Leicestershire villages set to lose vital bus service into Leicester

Also heard rumour that service 14 Leicester-New Parks may be withdrawn. It is duplicating the same service provided by First with the same route number but always seems heavily patronised unlike the service above.

Details of the 22nd October changes are now on the website:

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/changes-to-services-in-leicestershire

We’re making changes to some of our Leicestershire bus timetables from 22 October 2022.
Service 15 - Ibstock to Coalville and Ravenstone
There'll be a route change in Ibstock to better serve new housing in this growing town. Buses will now run in an anti-clockwise loop of Ashby Road, Parkdale, St Denys Crescent, Valley Road, Melbourne Road, Central Avenue, and Chapel Street. We're working with Leicestershire County Council to put new bus stops on Parkdale close to the pedestrian access through to Mill Hill Wood Way. Customers currently catching the bus from Curzon Street or on the High Street should walk through to Melbourne Road.

There will be a change to the number of journeys serving Ravenstone, with some very lightly used journeys no longer running. Buses will now serve Ravenstone between 0730 and 1730 Monday to Friday, and between 0930 and 1530 on Saturdays.

Service 16 - Coalville to Loughborough
There'll be a route change in Whitwick with buses now running along Brooks Lane, Thornborough Road, and Vulcan Way to Coalville (replacing services 29/29A). Customers travelling from Church Lane or Whitwick Day Nursery should catch service 29/29A from Hall Lane Methodist Church or outside Hermitage Leisure Centre.

Services 29/29A - Leicester to Swadlincote
There will be changes to the times of some journeys to help keep your bus on time, as well as a route change in Whitwick with buses now running along Silver Street and Hermitage Road to Coalville (replacing service 16). Customers travelling from Church Lane or Whitwick Day Nursery should catch the service from Hall Lane Methodist Church or outside Hermitage Leisure Centre. Customers travelling from Pares Lane should catch service 16 from Brooks Lane.

Services 26/26A - Leicester to Coalville
There will be minor changes to the timings of some journeys to continue coordinating with services 27 and 29/29A along Groby Road.

Service 27 - Leicester to Coalville
There will be minor changes to the timings of some journeys to continue coordinating with services 26/26A and 29/29A along Groby Road.

Service 14 - Leicester to New Parks
Sadly, we'll no longer be operating this service, and will instead focus on running more services, more frequently, on the journeys that people need the most across our network. First Leicester service 14 continues to operate between New Parks and the City Centre.

Services 31/31E/X31 - Leicester to Oadby
There will be changes to the times of some peak hour and early evening journeys to help keep your bus on time and better match changing customer demand. There will be minor changes to the timings of X31 journeys to help keep your bus on time.

Services 5/5A/X5 - Leicester to Melton Mowbray
There will be changes to the times of most journeys to help keep your bus on time, with a simpler timetable for evening journeys.

Services 6/6A - Leicester to Thurmaston
There will be changes to the route and timetable of this service to help keep your bus on time and continue to give a bus every 5 minutes along Melton Road alongside services 5/5A/X5.

Service 6 will now run as a clockwise loop around Thurmaston; from Manor Park Medical Centre buses will run fast along Newark Road, then Barkby Thorpe Lane past Asda, Highway Road, Charnwood Avenue, Sandiacre Drive, Silverdale Drive and Humberstone Lane back towards the City Centre.

Service 6A will now run as an anti-clockwise loop around Thurmaston; from Manor Park Medical Centre buses will run along Humberstone Lane, Silverdale Drive, Earl's Way, Highway Road, then Barkby Thorpe Lane past Asda and fast along Newark Road back towards the City Centre.

Customers travelling from the City Centre to Charnwood Avenue and Sandiacre Drive should catch service 6A and alight on Highway Road at Red Hill Lane, or service 6 and stay onboard as the bus passes Asda to get off as the bus travels back towards the City.

Services 55/56 - Leicester to Scraptoft
There will be changes to the route and timetable around Scraptoft and Thurnby, following customer feedback, increasing the frequency of buses from these areas to every 30 minutes.

All journeys will be numbered 56 and will run in a loop of Uppingham Road, up Station Road past the Co-op, around Somerby Road and Pulford Drive in the opposite direction to the current route, then around Covert Lane, Malsbury Avenue, Beeby Road, and Church Hill in Scraptoft village, and back along Scraptoft Lane to the City Centre.

Services 84/85 - Leicester to Lutterworth or South Wigston
There will be changes to the route and timetable of this service to help keep your bus on time.

Services 86/87 - Leicester to Eyres Monsell
Sadly, we'll no longer be operating the 87 service, with all journeys now running as route 86 along Saffron Lane. Service 40 continues to connect The Exchange, Wigston Lane, and Aylestone Road as part of Leicester City Council's supported bus network.

Service 86 will have a new timetable, running every 15 minutes Monday to Friday and every 20 minutes on Saturdays. It will give a coordinated 7/8 minute frequency along Saffron Lane with services 47/48 on Monday to Friday, and a coordinated 10 minute frequency on Saturdays.

Services 126/127 - Leicester to Shepshed
There'll be a route change to 126 journeys in Whitwick with buses now running along Brooks Lane, Thornborough Road, and Vulcan Way to Coalville (replacing services 29/29A and evening journeys of Skylink).

Service 158 - Leicester to Nuneaton
There will be changes to the route and timetable of this service to help keep your bus on time. Buses will run up to every 20 minutes Monday to Friday, every 30 minutes on Saturdays, and every hour on Sundays.

Our Route 158 Day (£4.60), Week (£17.50), and 4-Week (£60) tickets will now be available to buy through the Arriva UK Bus App as well as from your driver with cash or contactless.

Service X6 - Leicester to Coventry FAST
There will be changes to the route and timetable of this service to help keep your bus on time.

Services 14 and 87 are be withdrawn but all sections of both routes are covered by other routes

Hopefully these changes improve reliability across the board and reduces the amount of smaller buses on busier routes.

No new timetables online as yet

 

[londonteacher]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know the point of the number 2 route in Chatham between the Station and Dockside which is shared with the 1 throughout its entirety?

I’m assuming it must be funded, or commercially viable to have survived the recent cuts. But as a route with many others serving the area (most by the same route) I can’t see why. Withdrawing the 100 and the 2 and adding the stops on St Mary’s Island to the 1 would not change journey times significantly (approx 5 mins) and boost patronage.

 

[duncombec]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know the point of the number 2 route in Chatham between the Station and Dockside which is shared with the 1 throughout its entirety?

I’m assuming it must be funded, or commercially viable to have survived the recent cuts. But as a route with many others serving the area (most by the same route) I can’t see why. Withdrawing the 100 and the 2 and adding the stops on St Mary’s Island to the 1 would not change journey times significantly (approx 5 mins) and boost patronage.

The number 2 is just a short working of the 1, to increase the frequency between Chatham Town Centre and Dockside (via the University main road stop) to every 10 minutes, with the 1 extending to the Strand, via the University proper and student accommodation every 20 minutes. If I remember correctly, they were originally extensions of other services, and retained the separate route numbers when they were severed from their longer-standing ends (190 and 191, but the '0' was renumbered '2'). Dockside used to part fund the service (including the most frequent evening service in the Medway Towns, largely carrying fresh air and the driver), but I believe that ceased some time ago - the evening service certainly did, not sure about any funding as a whole.

St Mary's Island (SMI) has very poor bus usage compared to the rest of the route (see why it only runs hourly, tendered at weekends), so whilst it may "only" be 5 minutes (probably nearer 10), it would be a pointless waste of time for much of the patronage, as well as being a substantial over-provision for SMI - as evidenced in previous times of more frequent services there. Rather like its larger counterpart Kings Hill, it simply hasn't generated bus patronage to any degree despite 20 years of trying.

The "recent cuts" - assuming you mean the ones at the end of August - were purely Medway Council tenders, and nothing commercial (well, one of the Hoo School bus withdrawals, which Arriva publicised under the wrong number, was a commercial change). These are, apparently, still to come.

 

[londonteacher]

The number 2 is just a short working of the 1, to increase the frequency between Chatham Town Centre and Dockside (via the University main road stop) to every 10 minutes, with the 1 extending to the Strand, via the University proper and student accommodation every 20 minutes. If I remember correctly, they were originally extensions of other services, and retained the separate route numbers when they were severed from their longer-standing ends (190 and 191, but the '0' was renumbered '2'). Dockside used to part fund the service (including the most frequent evening service in the Medway Towns, largely carrying fresh air and the driver), but I believe that ceased some time ago - the evening service certainly did, not sure about any funding as a whole.

St Mary's Island (SMI) has very poor bus usage compared to the rest of the route (see why it only runs hourly, tendered at weekends), so whilst it may "only" be 5 minutes (probably nearer 10), it would be a pointless waste of time for much of the patronage, as well as being a substantial over-provision for SMI - as evidenced in previous times of more frequent services there. Rather like its larger counterpart Kings Hill, it simply hasn't generated bus patronage to any degree despite 20 years of trying.

The "recent cuts" - assuming you mean the ones at the end of August - were purely Medway Council tenders, and nothing commercial (well, one of the Hoo School bus withdrawals, which Arriva publicised under the wrong number, was a commercial change). These are, apparently, still to come.

Thanks for the insight, I’ve just moved to St Mary’s Island and sometimes I feel lazy and don’t feel like walking to the outlet for a bus! But it does make sense!

 

[philjo]

BBC have reported that the strike action in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire has been called off as a pay deal has been agreed.

Arriva bus strike called off as pay deal reached https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-63034412

Industrial action by bus workers will no longer go ahead after a pay offer was accepted by a ballot.
Strike action affecting Arriva services in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire was called off after about 900 workers accepted a "vastly improved" pay offer, the union Unite said.
It said the new deal meant drivers' pay would rise by between 10% and 11.1%.
Arriva Bus Company said it was "very pleased" an agreement had been reached.
It means that strikes at Luton, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Ware, Stevenage and Hemel Hempstead scheduled for 30 September will no longer go ahead.
Unite said the new deal would see drivers' pay "lifted" by 11.1% in Hertfordshire and by 10.4% in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Previously Arriva had been offering pay rises of between 4% and 6%.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: "Our members secured this vastly improved deal by standing together in their union.
"As well as a percentage pay rise, the deal also includes an agreement that there will be parity on the top rate of pay within two years across the seven depots involved in the dispute."
An Arriva spokeswoman said: "We are very pleased for our customers and colleagues across the Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire regions that we have been able to reach an agreement with Unite, which brings confidence back to our bus network in this region."
Unite added that Arriva strikes in Kent, scheduled for 30 September, were still going ahead.

 

[317 forever]

Service X55 Leicester-Hinckley to be withdrawn from Saturday 1st October:

Leicestershire villages set to lose vital bus service into Leicester

Also heard rumour that service 14 Leicester-New Parks may be withdrawn. It is duplicating the same service provided by First with the same route number but always seems heavily patronised unlike the service above.

I wonder whether route X6 will be increased at least between Leicester and Hinckley to provide some replacement express bus between these points.

 

[Man of Kent]

I wonder whether route X6 will be increased at least between Leicester and Hinckley to provide some replacement express bus between these points.

No action needed in any shape or form to cover that market. The X55 ran 4 or 5 times a day with a journey time of 80 minutes. Meanwhile X6, Stagecoach 48L and Arriva 158 are all fairly close at around the 50-55 minute mark, and the latter two are both every 20 minutes.

 

[SSmith2009]

No action needed in any shape or form to cover that market. The X55 ran 4 or 5 times a day with a journey time of 80 minutes. Meanwhile X6, Stagecoach 48L and Arriva 158 are all fairly close at around the 50-55 minute mark, and the latter two are both every 20 minutes.

The X55 is mostly covered by the recently launched FoxConnect service which provides connections to Enderby P&R and Fosse Park for onward buses into Leicester.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Oct 2022 ==

I wonder whether route X6 will be increased at least between Leicester and Hinckley to provide some replacement express bus between these points.

The upcoming changes are understood to be timetable improvements to help with reliability on the X6

 

[317 forever]

The X55 is mostly covered by the recently launched FoxConnect service which provides connections to Enderby P&R and Fosse Park for onward buses into Leicester.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Oct 2022 ==


The upcoming changes are understood to be timetable improvements to help with reliability on the X6

Fox Connect may be more suitable if it therefore arrives at times requested on the day rather than according to a pre-existing timetable.

I shall look to ride route X6 instead of X55 to Hinckley. According to flickr, route X6 tends to use more interesting coaches than the X55 buses anyway.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Fox Connect may be more suitable if it therefore arrives at times requested on the day rather than according to a pre-existing timetable.

I shall look to ride route X6 instead of X55 to Hinckley. According to flickr, route X6 tends to use more interesting coaches than the X55 buses anyway.

X6 was healthily loaded when I used it yesterday.
As has been eluded to earlier, I doubt very many people would have used the X55 for end to end journeys.

 

[Geordie driver]

I have been informed the Jesmond drivers are to take indefinite strike action from the 21st of October over the way they have been treated regarding its closure.

Not sure what they are hoping to achieve, there is no way the company are going to treat them in a decent fashion.

Still, I 100% support my brothers and sisters of the Union, I might go down and join them on the picket line.

It's possible the company might be able to cover what few runs Jesmond have now with managers \scabs, they miss so many runs now it might not even be noticeable to the general public.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I have been informed the Jesmond drivers are to take indefinite strike action from the 21st of October over the way they have been treated regarding its closure.

Not sure what they are hoping to achieve, there is no way the company are going to treat them in a decent fashion.

Still, I 100% support my brothers and sisters of the Union, I might go down and join them on the pocket line.

It's possible the company might be able to cover what few runs Jesmond have now with managers \scabs, they miss so many runs now it might not even be noticeable to the general public.

Who, or what, is a "scab" ?

 

[Geordie driver]

Who, or what, is a "scab" ?

Someone who crosses a pocket line to break a strike.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Who, or what, is a "scab" ?

From Urban Dictionary

scab
The term scab is a derogatory term used to refer to people who continue to work when trade unionists go on strike action.

 

[GusB]

While I'm generally supportive of anyone who feels that they have to take strike action in order to get a better deal at work, I think we should avoid the use of words like 'scab'.

It's a horrible word to use in this context, especially when there may be some people who would be happy to join in but cannot do so because they simply cannot afford it.

With energy bills and the price of food going up so steeply, there will be many people who are going to have to decide whether the best option is to support their colleagues or feed their families; it's not an easy decision to make and probably one that isn't taken lightly.

 

[David 90825]

I have attached the text of the press release from Unite concerning the forthcoming Arriva Northumbria strike. It refers to the strike as commencing on Thursday 21 October. As the Thursday is the 20th, not 21st, does anyone know if the strike will commence on Thursday 20 October or Friday 21 October?

Arriva drivers in Northumberland to strike over threatened closure of Jesmond depot

Bus drivers employed by Arriva will begin strike action later this month in opposition to the company’s plans to close its Jesmond depot. The strike will involve over 100 bus drivers, who are members of Unite,

www.unitetheunion.org

Arriva drivers in Northumberland to strike over threatened closure of Jesmond depot​

• Friday 7 October 2022
• Share

Bus drivers employed by Arriva will begin strike action later this month in opposition to the company’s plans to close its Jesmond depot.

All out strike​

The strike will involve over 100 bus drivers, who are members of Unite, the UK’s leading union. Beginning on Thursday 21 October, it will be an all-out (continuous) strike.
The drivers recorded a 97 per cent vote in favour of industrial action.

Depot closure​

The Jesmond depot is due to close on Monday 31 October. The closure threatens jobs and will result in a poorer bus service throughout Newcastle and Northumberland. The company has failed to adequately consult Unite over its plans.

Cynical Arriva​

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Arriva is cynically seeking to boost its profits at the expense of the livelihoods and well-being of its drivers and passengers.
“Our members have voted decisively to defend this depot and they will receive Unite’s total support during this dispute.”

Hugely wealthy​

Arriva is owned by Deutsche Bahn which is one of the largest transport companies in the world and is effectively owned by the German government. In the last 10 years, Arriva’s UK bus division has paid £560 million to Deutsche Bahn. Deutsche Bahn is extremely profitable, paying dividends of £5 billion to the German government during the last decade.

Last resort​

Unite regional officer Dave Telford: “Strike action will cause severe disruption to passengers in the short-term but the closure of the Jesmond depot will result in a permanent reduction in services for local bus users.
“This action is being taken as a last resort and is entirely of Arriva’s own making. The company needs to enter into constructive negotiations with Unite on alternatives to closure.”
ENDS

 

[MotCO]

Depot closure​

The Jesmond depot is due to close on Monday 31 October. The closure threatens jobs and will result in a poorer bus service throughout Newcastle and Northumberland. The company has failed to adequately consult Unite over its plans.

Is this true? In which case, surely Arriva would have realised that this would have resulted in a strike action and no service provided, and does this suggest Arriva want to withdraw from Northumbria?

 

[Robertj21a]

Is this true? In which case, surely Arriva would have realised that this would have resulted in a strike action and no service provided, and does this suggest Arriva want to withdraw from Northumbria?

Doesn't it just mean that the union would have liked more consultation - not that Arriva has done anything wrong ?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Is this true? In which case, surely Arriva would have realised that this would have resulted in a strike action and no service provided, and does this suggest Arriva want to withdraw from Northumbria?

Which bit being true or otherwise?

I'd imagine it was simply more poor Arriva management. A perfunctory bit of consultation, they reckon it's a fait accompli and the staff will meekly relocate to Blyth. They cocked this up (on a smaller scale) with the closures of Bishop and Alnwick years back.