Paper Bus Timetables - are they Back in Your Area?

[OptareLover]

During Covid, lots of paper bus timetables got discontinued.

I'm personally a collector and wondered if they'd ever come back. Are they back in your area?

They've been back in my local area (Dundee & Angus, Scotland) for quite a while now (Xplore Dundee, Stagecoach East Scotland). I think it's quite nice to have them back, especially for those who don't have any access to the internet to use apps and websites like bustimes.org for bus timetables.

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My collection can now restart!

 

[WibbleWobble]

Ones that I know of:

Cornwall (both council and First)
First Buses of Somerset, Wessex, Beeline
Brighton & Hove
Headingham & Chambers
Transport for Greater Manchester
Hampshire County Council
Go South Coast operating companies
Stagecoach "Lakes Connect"

Merseytravel is a definite no.
Bristol - there were none last summer, except for the area public transport map

 

[D6130]

The Transdev group companies in Lancashire and Yorkshire - Burnley & Pendle, Rosso, Keighley & District and Harrogate & District - all have a full range of paper timetables available.

 

[route101]

The only ones I've seen in Scotland are Citylink timetables and Lothian Country/Route Map. Apparantly McGills do printed timetable but no where to be seen.

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I was in Newcastle and to my surprise there was some Stagecoach timetables in Eldon Square Bus Station. I thought GNE would have some .

 

[OptareLover]

Ones that I know of:

Cornwall (both council and First)
First Buses of Somerset, Wessex, Beeline
Brighton & Hove
Headingham & Chambers
Transport for Greater Manchester
Hampshire County Council
Go South Coast operating companies
Stagecoach "Lakes Connect"

Merseytravel is a definite no.
Bristol - there were none last summer, except for the area public transport map

I was recently in the Lake District, therefore have the Lakes Connect timetable - both 2022's timetable and 2023's

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The Transdev group companies in Lancashire and Yorkshire - Burnley & Pendle, Rosso, Keighley & District and Harrogate & District - all have a full range of paper timetables available.

Great to hear!

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The only ones I've seen in Scotland are Citylink timetables and Lothian Country/Route Map. Apparantly McGills do printed timetable but no where to be seen.

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I was in Newcastle and to my surprise there was some Stagecoach timetables in Eldon Square Bus Station. I thought GNE would have some .

Yeah, I have a few CityLink ones from Dundee Bus Station, but I'm not sure if Stagecoach's new ones are displayed in any bus station, as they used to be. I just collect them onboard in the leaflet stands they have on the buses.

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My complaint about the new Stagecoach East Scotland timetables is that there's no route map on them, unlike previously!

 

[D6130]

Now I come to think of it, I was in Galashiels bus station at the end of February and Borders Buses had a selection of timetable leaflets in the racks....but not covering all routes.

 

[Statto]

GMPTE still publish paper timetables

Merseytravel stopped publishing paper timetables before covid hit.

I have a coupe of Lancashire County Council paper timetables, published this year too.

 

[route101]

I was recently in the Lake District, therefore have the Lakes Connect timetable - both 2022's timetable and 2023's

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Great to hear!

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Yeah, I have a few CityLink ones from Dundee Bus Station, but I'm not sure if Stagecoach's new ones are displayed in any bus station, as they used to be. I just collect them onboard in the leaflet stands they have on the buses.

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My complaint about the new Stagecoach East Scotland timetables is that there's no route map on them, unlike previously!

Last time I was in Dundee bus station , there was nothing.

Edinburgh bus station had nothing and so did Aberdeen.

 

[JKP]

Houston’s of Lockerbie had timetables for their new 101/102 in the rack at their departure stance at Edinburgh Bus Station last month.

 

[OptareLover]

Last time I was in Dundee bus station , there was nothing.

Edinburgh bus station had nothing and so did Aberdeen.

Was there any in Aberdeen? I was there last month and, well I wasn't particularly looking for any, but I didn't see any.

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Houston’s of Lockerbie had timetables for their new 101/102 in the rack at their departure stance at Edinburgh Bus Station last month.

Nice!

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GMPTE still publish paper timetables

Merseytravel stopped publishing paper timetables before covid hit.

I have a coupe of Lancashire County Council paper timetables, published this year too.

That's what a lot of operators did during Covid.

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Now I come to think of it, I was in Galashiels bus station at the end of February and Borders Buses had a selection of timetable leaflets in the racks....but not covering all routes.

My locals don't have the ones which are sadly about to get axed.

 

[Andyh82]

Other operators that do paper timetables…

East Yorkshire Buses
Reliance
Reading Buses including Thames Valley Buses
Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel
Nottingham City Transport
Trent Barton including Kinch
Devon County Council

I believe Stagecoach do them more widely in Cumbria as well as the lakes booklet, the only one I’ve seen in Lancashire is one for the 280

Go North East stopped them when Martijn Gilbert left, although apparently they are coming back

West Yorkshire Metro have started some very basic affairs for some services only and only for that matter in Leeds and Bradford

Often even if there are any timetables getting hold of them can be a challenge with many travel shops having closed down

 

[67thave]

From my travels across England beteeen January and March, here's what I found:
Arriva issues nothing in England, though they apparently they do issue paper timetables in Wales (if eBay listings are anything to go by).
First is a mixed bag. Some areas have started to resume (such as Berkshire, which printed a timetable just after I returned to the USA), while others have nothing (York and Doncaster, for instance). One bright spot is Essex, which, while not comprehensive, has gone from issuing nothing to issuing booklets for town networks in Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Brentwood.
Go-Ahead prints timetables more or less everywhere except for Go North East. They seem to have resumed printing in the last month though.
Stagecoach is also mixed. Midlands, East Midlands, East, and Kent have given up entirely and North East and West seem to issue only when changes occur to specific routes. One bright spot is Cumbria, which continues to issue more or less a comprehensive set.
Transdev provides comprehensive paper timetables.
Municipal bus companies still print with the possible exception of Lothian.
Medium-sized and small operators still printing timetables include Lynx, Delaine, Stephensons (at least for its network around Newmarket), Sanders, Whippet, Chalkwell, Regent Coaches, Go-Coach, Compass Bus, Sullivan Buses, Vectare, Grant Palmer, TrentBarton, Kinchbus, D&G, Diamond East Midlands/Midland Classic, Reliance, Yorkshire Pullman, and Faresaver (for key routes).
Government-issued timetables are definitely still issued in Devon, Rutland, Hampshire, Surrey, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and for parts of Wiltshire.

 

[Andyh82]

Also of note is that some that do paper timetables have gone from proper glossy leaflets promoting the service, the fares, maps etc, to a ‘timetable of last resort’ such as the format of Stagecoach timetables in most areas that do them.


I find the lack of maps actually worse, as due to their large format, an online version isn’t as good as you can’t see a dull overview of a large network on a laptop screen. Many links that are available people just won’t know about.


In regards to York, First stopped them a few years before COVID, and in any case the bus travel centre at the station was closed when the ticket office moved, and more recently the Tourist Information Centre has moved to a much smaller unit in the city centre meaning bus timetables are no longer on display. They’d probably have a Coastliner booklet behind the counter if you asked.

 

[OptareLover]

Often even if there are any timetables getting hold of them can be a challenge with many travel shops having closed down

Stagecoach have them printed on buses from where I'm from, which is convenient.

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Also of note is that some that do paper timetables have gone from proper glossy leaflets promoting the service, the fares, maps etc, to a ‘timetable of last resort’ such as the format of Stagecoach timetables in most areas that do them.


I find the lack of maps actually worse, as due to their large format, an online version isn’t as good as you can’t see a dull overview of a large network on a laptop screen. Many links that are available people just won’t know about.

Ever since the Local rebrand, Stagecoach East Scotland's timetables just look so unjolly compared to what they used to be with trees and flowers on them.

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From my travels across England beteeen January and March, here's what I found:
Arriva issues nothing in England, though they apparently they do issue paper timetables in Wales (if eBay listings are anything to go by).
First is a mixed bag. Some areas have started to resume (such as Berkshire, which printed a timetable just after I returned to the USA), while others have nothing (York and Doncaster, for instance). One bright spot is Essex, which, while not comprehensive, has gone from issuing nothing to issuing booklets for town networks in Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Brentwood.
Go-Ahead prints timetables more or less everywhere except for Go North East. They seem to have resumed printing in the last month though.
Stagecoach is also mixed. Midlands, East Midlands, East, and Kent have given up entirely and North East and West seem to issue only when changes occur to specific routes. One bright spot is Cumbria, which continues to issue more or less a comprehensive set.
Transdev provides comprehensive paper timetables.
Municipal bus companies still print with the possible exception of Lothian.
Medium-sized and small operators still printing timetables include Lynx, Delaine, Stephensons (at least for its network around Newmarket), Sanders, Whippet, Chalkwell, Regent Coaches, Go-Coach, Compass Bus, Sullivan Buses, Vectare, Grant Palmer, TrentBarton, Kinchbus, D&G, Diamond East Midlands/Midland Classic, Reliance, Yorkshire Pullman, and Faresaver (for key routes).
Government-issued timetables are definitely still issued in Devon, Rutland, Hampshire, Surrey, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and for parts of Wiltshire.

thanks for the info

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I find the lack of maps actually worse, as due to their large format, an online version isn’t as good as you can’t see a dull overview of a large network on a laptop screen. Many links that are available people just won’t know about.

The Cumbria Lakes ones has a nice big map.

 

[JD2168]

Globe Holidays have some for their services in Barnsley & Hulleys usually have some for the 257/272 in Sheffield Interchange.

 

[67thave]

Also of note is that some that do paper timetables have gone from proper glossy leaflets promoting the service, the fares, maps etc, to a ‘timetable of last resort’ such as the format of Stagecoach timetables in most areas that do them.


I find the lack of maps actually worse, as due to their large format, an online version isn’t as good as you can’t see a dull overview of a large network on a laptop screen. Many links that are available people just won’t know about.


In regards to York, First stopped them a few years before COVID, and in any case the bus travel centre at the station was closed when the ticket office moved, and more recently the Tourist Information Centre has moved to a much smaller unit in the city centre meaning bus timetables are no longer on display. They’d probably have a Coastliner booklet behind the counter if you asked.

When I was in York back in February, the tourist office had some Transdev timetables available for York city routes, Coastliner, and the Castle Line. They also carried the comprehensive Yorkshire Pullman leaflet and Reliance booklet. Additionally, I managed to snag a leaflet for Connexions service 13 on a bus in front of the train station.

As for the "timetable of last resort" element, I really didn't notice that to the same extent because American transit timetables tend to be quite barebones in terms of design. Interestingly, the quality of timetables in the USA has arguably improved in recent years as more transit agencies try to "sell the ride". Few cities in the USA have also abandoned paper timetables on a wholesale basis (off the top of my head, only New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, Norwalk (CT), and State College (PA) fit the bill). A few other places have shifted to a print-on-demand model (Chicago, Kansas City, Phoenix, Ithaca (NY), and a few suburban counties outside of Seattle come to mind), but paper timetables are still available by and large for local buses in the USA.

 

[kijeta]

Here in Newport, they have returned on Newport Bus, Cardiff Bus, and Stagecoach South Wales. Although bizarrely, only stagecoach stocks them on the vehicles.
Newport Bus paper timetables aren't even stocked at the Bus or Railway Stations. They can be collected from the depot or certain libraries (not Newport Central library, however)

 

[43055]

From my travels across England beteeen January and March, here's what I found:
Arriva issues nothing in England, though they apparently they do issue paper timetables in Wales (if eBay listings are anything to go by).
First is a mixed bag. Some areas have started to resume (such as Berkshire, which printed a timetable just after I returned to the USA), while others have nothing (York and Doncaster, for instance). One bright spot is Essex, which, while not comprehensive, has gone from issuing nothing to issuing booklets for town networks in Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Brentwood.
Go-Ahead prints timetables more or less everywhere except for Go North East. They seem to have resumed printing in the last month though.
Stagecoach is also mixed. Midlands, East Midlands, East, and Kent have given up entirely and North East and West seem to issue only when changes occur to specific routes. One bright spot is Cumbria, which continues to issue more or less a comprehensive set.
Transdev provides comprehensive paper timetables.
Municipal bus companies still print with the possible exception of Lothian.
Medium-sized and small operators still printing timetables include Lynx, Delaine, Stephensons (at least for its network around Newmarket), Sanders, Whippet, Chalkwell, Regent Coaches, Go-Coach, Compass Bus, Sullivan Buses, Vectare, Grant Palmer, TrentBarton, Kinchbus, D&G, Diamond East Midlands/Midland Classic, Reliance, Yorkshire Pullman, and Faresaver (for key routes).
Government-issued timetables are definitely still issued in Devon, Rutland, Hampshire, Surrey, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and for parts of Wiltshire.

Thanks for the list. Since Diamond has took over Midland Classic I have only seen 1 bus with some airway9 leaflets on which makes me think they don't do printed information. High Peak along with Chaserider/Select Bus services also do bus guides in a simular style to what Midland Classic did.

 

[overthewater]

With Mcgills they do print them and you should be able to find them on many of bus routes they operate. However you have to be fast as I think its a limited run. There is service changes planned for Aberdeenshire in June, so it will be interesting to see if Stagecoach Bluebird has timetables back for this period.

 

[OptareLover]

Here in Newport, they have returned on Newport Bus, Cardiff Bus, and Stagecoach South Wales. Although bizarrely, only stagecoach stocks them on the vehicles.
Newport Bus paper timetables aren't even stocked at the Bus or Railway Stations. They can be collected from the depot or certain libraries (not Newport Central library, however)

In Scotland, they stock them on the vehicle too

 

[LUYMun]

Stagecoach South have started to reprint paper timetables. The two I know of are the route 700 "Coastliner" and some of the Guildford local bus services. I believe Aldershot will receive a new batch following their network changes from 7 May.
White Bus Services, Carlone Buses and Safeguard still print individual routes' paper timetables. White Bus in particular had Surrey County Council paper guides when I rode on them a few times, but I haven't seen these post COVID.
Falcon Buses have also been printing network timetables in paper form for a while, though I haven't seen them in recent times.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Metrobus in and around Crawley have a comprehensive selection of individual route timetables. Avaliable from the excellent Travelshop and Waiting Room at Crawley Bus Station
Also picked up a selection at Three Bridges and Crawley Station leaflet racks

 

[Nammer]

No paper timetables for First Solent services since before covid. Everything has to be downloaded & printed from online. Not much use if you don't have a printer!

 

[Parebunks]

Oxford Bus Company/Thames Travel still produce a full set, which is very easily available around Oxford. Stagecoach Oxfordshire (and West more generally) is variable - they reprint when timetables change, but even those can be quite hard to get hold of, and normally require asking the driver, though these are still 'real' leaflets. Arriva of course have nothing, but some independents/community operators are fairly good - First and Last Mile have rather nice, widely available leaflets, despite only running two short and infrequent routes. As pointed out elsewhere, Reading still do a full range of leaflets, whilst First in Bristol is awful, though their travelshop in Bristol did provide me with a PDF printout for the X39.

 

[jkkne]

Go Ahead North East are back in print and are now printed and designed in house.

Suppose it makes it easier for them to react to their service changes doing it that way and lower the cost base. They still look ok…their app is far better

 

[OptareLover]

No paper timetables for First Solent services since before covid. Everything has to be downloaded & printed from online. Not much use if you don't have a printer!

or don't have access to the internet and don't want to walk half an hour to a bus stop!

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Moffat & Williamson only have PDF prints which you get online.
I don't know if there's other ones, but the only one I've seen for actual leaflets is the 88.

 

[burns20]

Lloyds Coaches have started to print and distribute paper timetables, starting with routes X28 and 39, as well as takeover responsibility for bus stop timetable information in Powys and Ceredigion.

 

[route101]

National Express no longer do the leaflets but will print out a timetable for you on A4.

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Go Ahead North East are back in print and are now printed and designed in house.

Suppose it makes it easier for them to react to their service changes doing it that way and lower the cost base. They still look ok…their app is far better

None were in Eldon Square a few days where you expect to see them.

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In Scotland, they stock them on the vehicle too

Which means you have to be travelling on the route before you can pick a timetable up.

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From my travels across England beteeen January and March, here's what I found:
Arriva issues nothing in England, though they apparently they do issue paper timetables in Wales (if eBay listings are anything to go by).
First is a mixed bag. Some areas have started to resume (such as Berkshire, which printed a timetable just after I returned to the USA), while others have nothing (York and Doncaster, for instance). One bright spot is Essex, which, while not comprehensive, has gone from issuing nothing to issuing booklets for town networks in Basildon, Colchester, Chelmsford, and Brentwood.
Go-Ahead prints timetables more or less everywhere except for Go North East. They seem to have resumed printing in the last month though.
Stagecoach is also mixed. Midlands, East Midlands, East, and Kent have given up entirely and North East and West seem to issue only when changes occur to specific routes. One bright spot is Cumbria, which continues to issue more or less a comprehensive set.
Transdev provides comprehensive paper timetables.
Municipal bus companies still print with the possible exception of Lothian.
Medium-sized and small operators still printing timetables include Lynx, Delaine, Stephensons (at least for its network around Newmarket), Sanders, Whippet, Chalkwell, Regent Coaches, Go-Coach, Compass Bus, Sullivan Buses, Vectare, Grant Palmer, TrentBarton, Kinchbus, D&G, Diamond East Midlands/Midland Classic, Reliance, Yorkshire Pullman, and Faresaver (for key routes).
Government-issued timetables are definitely still issued in Devon, Rutland, Hampshire, Surrey, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and for parts of Wiltshire.

Lothian have stopped individual route timetables.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 May 2023 ==

With Mcgills they do print them and you should be able to find them on many of bus routes they operate. However you have to be fast as I think its a limited run. There is service changes planned for Aberdeenshire in June, so it will be interesting to see if Stagecoach Bluebird has timetables back for this period.

I find it odd they wont put them out at Buchannan Bus Station, particularly a 901/906 booklet.

 

[overthewater]

I find it odd they wont put them out at Buchannan Bus Station, particularly a 901/906 booklet.

Lets be fair here, SPT have now removed the timetable racks. Does Braehead still have them?

 

[jkkne]

Images of the new GNE timetables. If anyone is interested in getting their hands on them might be worth asking the designer themselves

https://twitter.com/garyhunter91/status/1646596249490018304?s=61&t=RgZ-0JREqxsRglur0m7y8g