Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Bus News

[STINT47]

Could we have the source for this information, please?

It was announced to staff earlier today, I'm not sure if it's in the public yet.

If I should not have posted the info then please accept my apologies.

 

[adrianjohnson]

Will that see a PVR reduction for Skylink Nottingham?

I wonder if the Enviros this releases will go onto Skylink Express?

 

[Andyh82]

Will that see a PVR reduction for Skylink Nottingham?

Looking at the timetable, it’d save 1 bus

 

[Andy Pacer]

Looking at the timetable, it’d save 1 bus

And presumably see the end of the long standing arrangement of Barton buses being outstationed at Kinch.

 

[43055]

I wonder if the Enviros this releases will go onto Skylink Express?

My thought as well with 1 off the Skylink and 107/108 'spare' since the frequency reduction on the Mickleover.

 

[JD2168]

TM Travel Optare Versa YD63 VDT (833) has returned to service today after a long period out of service.

 

[DDB]

It has been announced there is going to be a new bus day ticket for Derbyshire starting April 24th for 6 months. £8 for adult £6 for child £15.50 for 2 adults and 3 children. £33 for a week.

The slightly odd things about it are they have called it a Derbyshire wayfarer which already exists as a combined rail and bus ticket so that is having to be renamed. Also it is being launched during the all single fares are £2 promotion which means you need 4 journeys to break even.

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/counc...ross-the-county-for-as-little-as-6-a-day.aspx

 

[43055]

Seems that over the next 3 months or so 15 routes across Derbyshire will see more buses presumably part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

More buses for 17 Derbyshire routes - Derbyshire County Council

Bus services across Derbyshire are set to have improved timetables and, in some cases, extended routes, with the funding coming from the Government.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk

More buses for 17 Derbyshire routes​

Published: 24 April 2023
Bus services across Derbyshire are set to have improved timetables and, in some cases, extended routes, with the funding coming from the Government.

---

We were successful in gaining £47m to improve bus services in the county. Some of this money is being used to improve timetables on 17 routes. Two of these routes have already started, and another 15 will start over the next few months.

The improvements will include running additional buses at evenings and weekends, adding extra journeys during the day, running 2 an hour where currently there is only 1 for example and extending services to new destinations.

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said:

“This is great news for everyone who currently uses bus services, and we hope will tempt more people to give the bus a go.
“These improvements are all in response to people asking for more services so we are confident they will be used.
“Using the bus can be a real alternative to using the car for every journey, and for many in the county they are their only form of transport.”

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

“People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Derbyshire County Council with £47 million to boost its bus services.
“Supporting bus operators in Derbyshire with providing more services and extending timetables across 17 routes is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Derbyshire has to offer.”

Services 55 and 170, which run around the Chesterfield/Matlock/Bakewell/Alfreton areas have had additional buses running from 27 March.

Service 55 (which goes from Alfreton to Chesterfield via Tibshelf) has been extended to Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the train station every day. It has also been extended to Wimsey Way industrial estate in Somercotes morning and evenings, Monday to Saturdays, so that workers can use the bus to get to and from their jobs.

Later evening services have also been added, with the last bus leaving Chesterfield at 11:15pm (previously 6.15pm) and Alfreton at 10:15pm (previously 6:30pm). On Sundays there are 3 later services with the last bus being 11:15pm.

Service 170 (which previously went from Chesterfield to Bakewell) has been extended from New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, to the train station and there are extra evening journeys at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm from Chesterfield (previous last bus 6:15pm) and 8pm, 10pm and midnight in the other direction (previously last bus 6:15pm). These 3 late buses have also been extended from Bakewell to Matlock to fill a gap between these 2 towns Monday to Saturday.

Details of the other 15 routes are all below.

This service will start from 22 May:​

401 - Burton, Hatton, Doveridge, Uttoxeter​

Extension of the route to better serve the Dove Valley Business Park at Foston. An extra two early morning services in each direction (5.10am and 6.10am from Burton-Upon-Trent and 5.15am and 6.15am from Uttoxeter), and extra evening journeys (8.25pm and 9.25pm from Burton-Upon-Trent and 9.45pm from Uttoxeter) would also operate.

These additions would allow staff to get in for the early and evening shifts at Dove Valley Business Park, as well as improving links to Burton hospital for both staff and visitors.

This service will start from 27 May:​

X17 - Sheffield to Matlock via Chesterfield​

Enhancing the frequency of the route from a current hourly service to every 30 minutes between Sheffield, Chesterfield and Matlock, with every other journey also being extended onto Matlock Bath and Wirksworth.

These services will start from 25 June:​

Ilkeston Flyer - Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, Derby​

Improving the frequency of the evening service Monday to Saturday to half hourly (currently hourly from 8.40pm from Ilkeston and 8.15pm from Derby).

My15 - Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Old Sawley, East Midlands Airport​

Introduction of a new Sunday daytime service between Ilkeston and Old Sawley to better mirror the Monday to Saturday service. Increasing the frequency to half hourly between Ilkeston and Old Sawley from 9.30am to 6.30pm.

Rainbow 1 - Nottingham Eastwood Heanor Ripley/Alfreton​

Improvements to the Alfreton to Eastwood via Somercotes evenings journeys to provide improved access for employment and leisure opportunities.

This service will start from 10 July:​

Transpeak - Derby to Belper, Matlock, Bakewell and Buxton​

Enhancement of the service to include an hourly Sunday service. Currently, this only runs every 2 hours.

These services will start from 23 July:​

218 - Bakewell to Sheffield​

Extension of the hours of operation to include two additional evening return trips Monday – Saturday (7.40pm and 9.40pm from Sheffield, 8.40pm and 10.40pm from Bakewell). Currently, the last buses are at 6.40pm from Sheffield and 7.38pm from Bakewell. And an additional Sunday morning service at 8.45am from Bakewell (current first bus 9.47am) and a 7.50am from Sheffield (current first bus 8.40am).

Comet – Derby, Little Eaton, Ripley, Alfreton, Clay Cross Chesterfield​

Introduction of an hourly Sunday service from Derby between 8.05am and 7.05pm, and from Chesterfield between 9.20am and 8.20pm.

Sixes 6.1 - Derby, Belper, Wirksworth, Matlock, Bakewell​

Extending the hours of operation Monday to Saturday. The last Bakewell - Derby service will leave at 9.35pm (currently 4.35pm). The last Bakewell – Matlock service will leave at 10.45pm (currently 6.30pm) and for Derby – Matlock and Bakewell where the last service will at 10.15pm (currently 4.50pm).

Villager 1 – Derby, Royal Derby Hospital, Etwall, Hatton, Burton-on-Trent​

Addition of two new round trips on a Sunday at 6.40am and 6.15pm from Derby to Burton (currently the first bus leaves at 7.40am and there is a 2 hour 10 minute gap between 5.05pm and 7:15pm).

The enhancement provides an earlier morning departure and arrival in Derby, Etwall and Hatton, with the hourly service continuing until 7.15pm from Derby.

The earlier journey also enables connections to Royal Derby Hospital for staff shift changeovers from other early morning services arriving from Derbyshire.

This service will start from 24 July:​

185 - Fairfield Connect - Buxton town service​

Extension of the service to include the Harpur Hill area providing an hourly cross town Buxton service until 7.30pm, which would include links to the Devonshire Hospital and the southern area of the town where large scale residential development is currently taking place.

We are working hard with bus companies on the following service improvements, and will announce start dates for them as soon as we have them:

4/8/9 Burton, Swadlincote, Melbourne, East Midlands Airport​

Improving the frequency in the evenings and weekends to create a regular 15 minute frequency service between Swadlincote, Newhall and Burton.

1/1A - Chesterfield, Chesterfield Royal Hospital, Markham Vale Environment Centre & Industrial Estate, Bolsover, Shirebrook, Langwith​

Currently, only one of three buses an hour on the 1/1a serves the Markham Vale Environment Centre (MVEC) Industrial Estate with the other two services staying on the A632. This proposal would see all three buses serving the MVEC.

74/74A – Chesterfield, Brimington, Staveley, Duckmanton/Mastin Moor​

In Duckmanton, alteration of Service 74 to only serve the Mastin Moor area and provide an enhanced frequency.

90/90a - Yew Tree area, Chesterfield, Barrow Hill, Staveley​

Extension of the Service 90 to serve Duckmanton and Markham Vale Environment Centre every hour, and the 90a to serve the new residential estates being constructed off Inkersall Road. There will also be a direct links to MVEC from Clowne for the first time.

 

[Skymonster]

It has been announced there is going to be a new bus day ticket for Derbyshire starting April 24th for 6 months. £8 for adult £6 for child £15.50 for 2 adults and 3 children. £33 for a week.

The slightly odd things about it are they have called it a Derbyshire wayfarer which already exists as a combined rail and bus ticket so that is having to be renamed. Also it is being launched during the all single fares are £2 promotion which means you need 4 journeys to break even.

https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/counc...ross-the-county-for-as-little-as-6-a-day.aspx

OK, having tried the new Wayfarer arrangements today here‘s my thoughts / advice.

I think the potential for confusion (and thus for being penalised by the railway) has been increased by there now being two products named Wayfarer - one that is bus only, and another that is valid on bus and train. I bought my Wayfarer [for bus and train] today on a local bus and the ticket I managed to get the driver to give me - after first being offered other options that were cheaper [and presumably bus only] - was issued / printed “Derbys Wayfarer Bus and Train”. Clearly there is another (cheaper) ticket that is valid only on buses. When I boarded an EMR train the guard said “oh, that’s what they look like”. Clearly it will take a while to bed in but train guards will undoubtedly be looking for a ticket that mentions Train. If you buy one that is only valid on buses, be prepared for there to be a problem, even if there is a little leeway granted initially (and I am not suggesting that there will be).

 

[Llandudno]

I agree I would have come up with a different name for the new bus only Wayfarer.

But if one ticket says Bus Wayfarer and the other ticket says Train & Bus Wayfarer then I don’t suppose there is too much of an issue.

Mind you last week I showed a ‘traditional’ scratch off Wayfarer, which have been in existence for 30+ years and the ticket barrier staff at Glossop and a Stagecoach bus driver on the Hayfield to New Mills bus had never seen one before!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Apr 2023 ==

Seems that over the next 3 months or so 15 routes across Derbyshire will see more buses presumably part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

More buses for 17 Derbyshire routes - Derbyshire County Council

Bus services across Derbyshire are set to have improved timetables and, in some cases, extended routes, with the funding coming from the Government.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk

Well done Derbyshire CC for securing this govt money and using it to improve existing, established services rather than staffing the money on next to useless DRT schemes or some random new services running through the middle of nowhere that may only be of any use to sheep!

 

[johnnychips]

Mind you last week I showed a ‘traditional’ scratch off Wayfarer, which have been in existence for 30+ years and the ticket barrier staff at Glossop and a Stagecoach bus driver on the Hayfield to New Mills bus had never seen one before!

!

I thought the Derbyshire Wayfarer was not valid on trains Dinting - Glossop - Hadfield, even though they are in Derbyshire.

 

[peterblue]

I thought the Derbyshire Wayfarer was not valid on trains Dinting - Glossop - Hadfield, even though they are in Derbyshire.

That's correct. It's also not valid on Stagecoach (GM) buses within Hadfield/Glossop either despite both being in Derbyshire

 

[Llandudno]

That's correct. It's also not valid on Stagecoach (GM) buses within Hadfield/Glossop either despite both being in Derbyshire

Blimey, I was lucky then as I travelled on the train from Glossop to Hadfield and return!

I have just checked the Derbyshire County Council website and it appears as though Derbyshire Wayfarers can be used within Derbyshire on all Stagecoach services including those in the Glossop area, but it looks as though you can’t buy them on board Stagecoach buses in the Glossop area.

I guess now that £8 bus only Derbyshire Wayfarer is in operation there may be a few more takers on Stagecoach buses to/from Glossop - more so when the £2 fare promotion ends.

 

[AY1975]

I thought the Derbyshire Wayfarer was not valid on trains Dinting - Glossop - Hadfield, even though they are in Derbyshire.

I seem to recall that they were valid there back when the Derbyshire Wayfarer (known as the Derbyshire Day Discoverer for its first few years) was first introduced in the 1980s. I would guess that the entire Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop line is treated as being in Greater Manchester for ticketing purposes, though.

Mind you last week I showed a ‘traditional’ scratch off Wayfarer, which have been in existence for 30+ years and the ticket barrier staff at Glossop and a Stagecoach bus driver on the Hayfield to New Mills bus had never seen one before!

I understand that the scratchcard Wayfarers currently being issued only cover the period to 30th June, and that an e-ticket version is to be introduced on 1st July. You should still be able to buy them on standard rail ticket stock from any of the stations that currently sell them after that date, though.

See also this now locked thread on the phasing out of scratchcard Derbyshire Wayfarers: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/scratchcard-derbyshire-wayfarers-to-be-withdrawn.224249/

 

[Llandudno]

I seem to recall that they were valid there back when the Derbyshire Wayfarer (known as the Derbyshire Day Discoverer for its first few years) was first introduced in the 1980s. I would guess that the entire Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop line is treated as being in Greater Manchester for ticketing purposes, though.


I understand that the scratchcard Wayfarers currently being issued only cover the period to 30th June, and that an e-ticket version is to be introduced on 1st July. You should still be able to buy them on standard rail ticket stock from any of the stations that currently sell them after that date, though.

See also this now locked thread on the phasing out of scratchcard Derbyshire Wayfarers: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/scratchcard-derbyshire-wayfarers-to-be-withdrawn.224249/

Apparently the scratchcard Derbyshire Train & Bus Wayfarers are at the printers and will be available shortly for use after 30 June 2023.

As I understand it there are no changes to validity or price.

Only Available for purchase at various libraries and TICs throughout Derbyshire.

 

[AY1975]

Apparently the scratchcard Derbyshire Train & Bus Wayfarers are at the printers and will be available shortly for use after 30 June 2023.

As I understand it there are no changes to validity or price.

Only Available for purchase at various libraries and TICs throughout Derbyshire.

I presume this means that there has been a further delay to the roll-out of the e-ticket version, or that Derbyshire County Council has abandoned plans to withdraw the scratchcards and replace them with e-tickets.

 

[ChrisC]

OK, having tried the new Wayfarer arrangements today here‘s my thoughts / advice.

I think the potential for confusion (and thus for being penalised by the railway) has been increased by there now being two products named Wayfarer - one that is bus only, and another that is valid on bus and train. I bought my Wayfarer [for bus and train] today on a local bus and the ticket I managed to get the driver to give me - after first being offered other options that were cheaper [and presumably bus only] - was issued / printed “Derbys Wayfarer Bus and Train”. Clearly there is another (cheaper) ticket that is valid only on buses. When I boarded an EMR train the guard said “oh, that’s what they look like”. Clearly it will take a while to bed in but train guards will undoubtedly be looking for a ticket that mentions Train. If you buy one that is only valid on buses, be prepared for there to be a problem, even if there is a little leeway granted initially (and I am not suggesting that there will be).

I can see that there is potential for confusion. The only version of the Wayfarer that I am likely to use these days is what is now the Bus and Train Concessionary version which is priced at £7. I always found that version very useful as someone who was over 60 but not old enough to have a bus pass. I never have any problem purchasing that version at Alfreton Station. The staff there always know exactly what I want and sell it me straight away with no problems. Buying the Concessionary version on a Trent Barton bus can be a bit more problematic, but the drivers have always found it on their machine it after a bit of searching. The bus and train versions are valid for travel all day on buses but are not valid for travel on trains before 9am Monday to Friday.

The new bus only Derbyshire Wayfarer is also valid for travel all day, and therefore at £8, considerably undercuts the price of the Trent Barton Zigzag Plus ticket which costs £11.10 for travel before 9am although only £7.60 for travel after 9am. I do wonder if Trent Barton drivers are now offering the £8 Derbyshire Wayfarer to people travelling before 9am on journeys that are completely within Derbyshire instead of their very highly priced Zigzag Plus. I always thought it was a bit over the top for Trent Barton to charge that high price for peak time travel on a day ticket especially when most other bus companies outside of large cities mostly just have a standard all day ticket at a much more reasonable price.

 

[chessie]

On the whole I think the announcements re the Wayfarer and new bus routes sound really good but I hope there is something in the budget for the upgrade of bus stop information. There are numerous bus stops across the routes mentioned even in Chesterfield Town Centre that display bus numbers and paper timetables that haven't been in operation for up to years.

However, even worse there are several bus stops that have been upgraded with real time information but some of these are still nowhere near correct. The worst example being no74 to Mastin Moor/Duckmanton that for no apparent reason no longer exists on most days from its starting point at New Beetwell Street in Chesterfield according to the Display but it still does run from that stop as it always did.

I know you can argue information is out there on the smartphone etc. but its just one of the basics I feel you must get right if you are trying to get people on public transport prior to launching new routes or promoting existing ones

 

[Skymonster]

It seems like someone has taken a dislike to one of the almost new Unibus vehicles operated by Wellglade…

Bus crashes in to Derby depot causing significant damage

The fire service was on the scene following the incident - follow our live blog below for the latest updates to this ongoing incident

www.derbytelegraph.co.uk

A bus crashed into a bus depot in Derby tonight (Thursday, April 27). Footage from the scene shared with Derbyshire Live shows the vehicle as it has crashed into the building in Meadow Road, West Meadows Industrial Estate.

 

[ALEMASTER]

New timetables from 27/28 May are on the Derbyshire County Council website for:

X17 - half hourly Sheffield-Chesterfield service extended to Matlock with every other bus extended to Wirksworth, so the two overlapping hourly services will become Barnsley-Matlock and Sheffield-Wirksworth (currently Barnsley-Chesterfield and Sheffield-Matlock).

Hope Valley Breezer - operated by Hulleys of Baslow, appears to be replacing the Stagecoach operated Hope Valley Explorer as the Peak Park supported tourist service this year, running Baslow-Castleton every weekend June-August plus weekdays during the school holidays, with the planned vehicle being an open top bus with audio commentary and bike rack.

Public Transport in Derbyshire & the Peak District

 

[liamf656]

X17 - half hourly Sheffield-Chesterfield service extended to Matlock with every other bus extended to Wirksworth, so the two overlapping hourly services will become Barnsley-Matlock and Sheffield-Wirksworth (currently Barnsley-Chesterfield and Sheffield-Matlock).

It seems a bit strange for a marathon route to be extended further into a small village, I wonder what the timekeeping is like!?

 

[43055]

New timetables from 27/28 May are on the Derbyshire County Council website for:

X17 - half hourly Sheffield-Chesterfield service extended to Matlock with every other bus extended to Wirksworth, so the two overlapping hourly services will become Barnsley-Matlock and Sheffield-Wirksworth (currently Barnsley-Chesterfield and Sheffield-Matlock).

Hope Valley Breezer - operated by Hulleys of Baslow, appears to be replacing the Stagecoach operated Hope Valley Explorer as the Peak Park supported tourist service this year, running Baslow-Castleton every weekend June-August plus weekdays during the school holidays, with the planned vehicle being an open top bus with audio commentary and bike rack.

Public Transport in Derbyshire & the Peak District

The 401 is also up with the additional morning/evening journeys on weekdays for Dove Valley Park at Foston.

It seems a bit strange for a marathon route to be extended further into a small village, I wonder what the timekeeping is like!?

I suppose it is trying to get day trippers to come on the bus rather than car? I imagine the main area for the extension will be Matlock Bath and then Wirksworth. Looking at the timetable, certainly in the afternoon it is more of a 65 min frequency on the extension which may help with the timekeeping.

 

[JD2168]

The timekeeping on X17 is pretty good for such a long route. The advantage I can see is it improves access to Matlock Bath for passengers from Sheffield & Chesterfield as there is more tourism there than at Matlock.

Not sure I would want to do a full Barnsley to Wirksworth journey on Sunday as it is scheduled to take 2hours & 50 minutes.

 

[Mugby]

The timekeeping on X17 is pretty good for such a long route. The advantage I can see is it improves access to Matlock Bath for passengers from Sheffield & Chesterfield as there is more tourism there than at Matlock.

Not sure I would want to do a full Barnsley to Wirksworth journey on Sunday as it is scheduled to take 2hours & 50 minutes.

Many years ago (very many) back in East Midland days, the old 17 did actually operate through to Matlock Bath, although I'm not sure if was certain journeys or certain days.
When you think about it, there's not really a convenient place to turn round at the Bath, maybe that was a consideration, plus of course, the possible attraction of the EVR at Wirksworth.

 

[Simon75]

It's a pity no one does a direct Hanley to Bakewell anymore

 

[tom1649]

It seems a bit strange for a marathon route to be extended further into a small village, I wonder what the timekeeping is like!?

I wouldn't describe Wirksworth as a small village. I'd say it is a small town.

 

[Deerfold]

I wouldn't describe Wirksworth as a small village. I'd say it is a small town.

A market town, since 1306.

 

[AY1975]

The timekeeping on X17 is pretty good for such a long route. The advantage I can see is it improves access to Matlock Bath for passengers from Sheffield & Chesterfield as there is more tourism there than at Matlock.

Not sure I would want to do a full Barnsley to Wirksworth journey on Sunday as it is scheduled to take 2hours & 50 minutes.

Even Sheffield to Wirksworth will take around 2 hours, and although on paper the stops in Chesterfield and Matlock would be long enough for a comfort break, neither of those stops have adequate facilities for that nearby.

In Chesterfield it stops in the coach station which, as I recall, just has one single coin-operated automatic toilet cubicle or Superloo, which can only be used by one person at a time and even after someone comes out of it the next person has to wait for it to finish disinfecting itself.

In Matlock it stops on Bakewell Road, presumably in the old bus station which used to have toilets but doesn't anymore. Presumably they closed when the ones in the new bus station outside the railway station opened, but I believe that Stagecoach refused to switch to using the new bus station.

 

[Llandudno]

Even Sheffield to Wirksworth will take around 2 hours, and although on paper the stops in Chesterfield and Matlock would be long enough for a comfort break, neither of those stops have adequate facilities for that nearby.

In Chesterfield it stops in the coach station which, as I recall, just has one single coin-operated automatic toilet cubicle or Superloo, which can only be used by one person at a time and even after someone comes out of it the next person has to wait for it to finish disinfecting itself.

In Matlock it stops on Bakewell Road, presumably in the old bus station which used to have toilets but doesn't anymore. Presumably they closed when the ones in the new bus station outside the railway station opened, but I believe that Stagecoach refused to switch to using the new bus station.

The ‘new’ bus station in Matlock has been closed for over six months and will be closed until July.
The bridge over the River Derwent is currently 2 way whilst the by-pass road is closed, but is expected to revert to southbound only when the flood defence works are complete.

Presumably when works are complete the X17s that originate from Wirksworth will call at the new bus station (which is adjacent to the rail station) en-route to the old bus station, but going to Wirksworth the X17 will run presumably via the old bus station directly over the river bridge.

Bonkers road layout for a small town making bus travel quite confusing!

 

[43055]

Spotted Notts and Derby E400 1405 on Unibus U1 this morning with a new mostly grey with green stripes livery. It also had 'Greener Buses, Cleaner Air' branding which I don't quite get as I thought these are now no longer hybrids.