It's only Merseytravel contracted routes on Christmas Day, usually to help people visit relatives in hospital afaik.
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Xmas (Winter Festival) timetables 2023
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317 forever
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OK. So it seems Merseytravel offer special tenders for Christmas Day but not New Year's Day.
WibbleWobble
Member
You can extend that to the whole of Go South Coast, and that includes the journey planners and web timetables!
First don't even run in the potteries on a Sunday evening so there wasn't much chance of Boxing day buses. Mind you trentbarton and I think Arriva Midlands have scaled back boxing day services over the last few years. The former use to run a almost full Sunday service but now just runs Skylink Nottingham.
Not just relatives, staff as well.
First haven't run in the Potteries on Boxing Day for over 30 years, long before they were even First I think. They probably inherited a situation they were in full agreement with, running the minimum possible service is always their primary objective in this area.
Arriva have announced the only routes they are running on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Merseyside are the 10b, 12, 13, 26, 27, 56, 58a, 166, 188, 201 and 204. That's a massive reduction compared to previous years. Unless Merseytravel step in to organise some contracts for those two days, there will be big parts of the region unserved by buses (although at least Merseyrail are running a limited service on Boxing Day and a Sunday service on New Year's Day).
Arriva Bus
www.arrivabus.co.uk
markymark2000
On Moderation
It's worth saying as well though that the 166/177/201/204 are Merseytravel contracts so presumably the decision to keep these going is down to Merseytravel.
I do wonder though, do Boxing Day buses make that much money? Many operators are paying time and a half for Boxing Day, plus a Leiu day and that is for all staff. That's a much higher cost than normal. Plus demand is more of a flow with it being into town in the morning/early afternoon and out of town in the early afternoon/evening and so buses will run out of town empty in the morning and back into town empty in the evening. Combine that with now less passengers as 'boxing day sales' seem to start on Christmas Day now and everyone shops online in the evening of Christmas Day. All of the extra costs and lower passenger numbers (versus 5 years ago say) but normal fares are still charged. Combine all of that, do that many Boxing Day buses make money and do they make enough money to be worthwhile opening the depot gates?
WibbleWobble
Member
It also depends on where the football fixtures are - Liverpool are away and Everton play on the 27th, so that may be a factor.
They're also often busier than you think. I've seen people waiting for buses on Boxing Day, even where no bus is running!
They're also often busier than you think. I've seen people waiting for buses on Boxing Day, even where no bus is running!
Statto
Established Member
Arriva have announced the only routes they are running on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Merseyside are the 10b, 12, 13, 26, 27, 56, 58a, 166, 188, 201 and 204. That's a massive reduction compared to previous years. Unless Merseytravel step in to organise some contracts for those two days, there will be big parts of the region unserved by buses (although at least Merseyrail are running a limited service on Boxing Day and a Sunday service on New Year's Day).
Arriva Bus
That's shocking, no Arriva buses in Wirral, St Helens & Southport on Boxing Day & New Years Day, in previous years it's been a Sunday service from 8am until 7pm
1D54
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Without wanting to hijack this thread can anything be seen in to the fact that Arriva are trying to get rid so pulling the plug on festive services in a number of large areas? Shops will be open on Boxing Day this year so i can see no other reason for it.
Trying to get rid of what?
1D54
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Rid of the bus company. Sell it off. Probably talking nonsense and seeing things that aren't there but they always provided a damn good service in Leics for many years.
markymark2000
On Moderation
This is why I asked earlier about how busy the services are. The only thing that I can think of here for Merseyside is that they are throwing their toys out of the pram because of franchising. Anything that was marginal or kept to satisfy the authorities is now being withdrawn in Merseyside. The recent changes show that with the reductions to the 17 (which has been a political route for a while), 418 is going (they've tried ridding it before and it's always had backlash so they kept killing it off with reductions).
Winter with McGill's
The festive season is here, so we’ve put together a handy guide to get you around! Find out more here!
www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk
McGill's West services. Nothing very different from past years except if I am reading it correctly the Glasgow Nightbuses will run on Sunday night into Monday for Hogmanay into New Year?
MasterSpenny
Member
I don’t think this has been mentioned yet:
Thames Travel
www.oxfordbus.co.uk
Thames Travel
Festive Bus & Coach Services - 2023/2024
Special timetables will operate over the festive period between 24th December 2023 and 2nd January 2024.
www.oxfordbus.co.uk
Blindtraveler
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Still awaiting update from arriva Kent, can't imagine there'll be much different on Christmas Eve as it's a Sunday anyway but be interested to see what they do for the rest of the week
There's an agreement to sell it, subject to regulatory approval.
I've no idea why you think that would influence what festive services they run.
I used to be envious of my in-laws' service in Leicester. But compared with pre-Covid, they've gone from 8bph to 4bph with a last bus 2 hours earlier, no Sunday evening service and a third of the Sunday service. And that's not reliable - I've waited 45 minutes for a bus during the day a couple of times now.
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1D54
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As i said in a later post I'm probably just looking for nonsensical reasons why they would do what they are doing.
At a guess you are talking about the 31 Oadby service. People on that route have it good for years and while that has gone downhill recently just think what they have been doing to the rest of the city/county.
It has - and it used to be supplemented by the University services along part of the route, but Centrebus seem to be running them as closed services without fares per journey. With 8+bph, a missed bus wasn't a major problem, but it seems to be common to have 2 missing in a row.
Stagecoach Yorkshire have posted on their website Christmas & New Year timetables. Only services running on Boxing Day & New Year’s Day are in Sheffield & GXO Logistics Contracts.
www.stagecoachbus.com
Christmas bus times | Yorkshire | Stagecoach
Information and timetables for bus services over the festive period
www.stagecoachbus.com
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If anything I think Boxing Day services may have peaked
Every year a major retailer issues a press release saying they aren’t opening on Boxing Day this year, and it goes viral and makes the national news, and everyone praises how well they look after their staff etc
I can only see this sort of thing gain traction in the years to come, therefore I could only see a gradual decline in Boxing Day buses rather than any notable increase
Yes they can on paper be used by key workers or people visiting hospitals etc, but they are predominantly aimed and advertised at people wanting to visit the sales
Every year a major retailer issues a press release saying they aren’t opening on Boxing Day this year, and it goes viral and makes the national news, and everyone praises how well they look after their staff etc
I can only see this sort of thing gain traction in the years to come, therefore I could only see a gradual decline in Boxing Day buses rather than any notable increase
Yes they can on paper be used by key workers or people visiting hospitals etc, but they are predominantly aimed and advertised at people wanting to visit the sales
There is also services provided by Stagecoach & the 30 from TM Travel on Boxing Day.
The ones running are:
1, 7, 11, 20a, 24/25, 30, 31, 50, 51, 52a, 56, 57, 75, 76, 81, 86, 95, 95a, 97 & 120.
Once again there are no standard services in Barnsley, Rotherham & Doncaster apart from GXO Logistics contract services.
On New Years Day on First run services in Sheffield with the following running:
1, 11, 20a, 24, 51, 52a, 56, 57, 75, 81, 95, 97 & 120.
Polarbear
Established Member
There aren't any Stagecoach buses on New Years Day on the Wirral either this year. Result is no bus services whatsoever on NYD in the Wirral.
TfGM Christmas and New Year services:
https://tfgm.com/winter-travel/christmas-operating-times which gives outline information for services across GM.
Those listed for Bee Network on Boxing Day / NYD are: 8 Bolton, 10 Wigan, 10 Manchester, 20, 22, 36, 37, 126, 132, 163, 362, 471, 501, 534, 575, 582, V1, V2.
Unfortunately, the frequencies / times are only available on-line!
Go to https://tfgm.com/plan-a-journey/schedules then select search for bus times > type in route number > select route / direction of travel > select stop (suggest terminal point to get all jnys) > change date to 26 Dec (only gives options for next ten days) > change time to 0600 to get full day > show bus times.
Phew – simples! If you have a computer / smart phone !
Not sure what happens to those without internet access as there appears to no published timetables!
Alternatively, Bustimes has Bee Network timetables – just select the route and date to see the full timetables: Bee Network - Diamond Bus North West Bee Network - Go North West You just have to know which company runs which Bee Network route!
https://tfgm.com/winter-travel/christmas-operating-times which gives outline information for services across GM.
Those listed for Bee Network on Boxing Day / NYD are: 8 Bolton, 10 Wigan, 10 Manchester, 20, 22, 36, 37, 126, 132, 163, 362, 471, 501, 534, 575, 582, V1, V2.
Unfortunately, the frequencies / times are only available on-line!
Go to https://tfgm.com/plan-a-journey/schedules then select search for bus times > type in route number > select route / direction of travel > select stop (suggest terminal point to get all jnys) > change date to 26 Dec (only gives options for next ten days) > change time to 0600 to get full day > show bus times.
Phew – simples! If you have a computer / smart phone !
Not sure what happens to those without internet access as there appears to no published timetables!
Alternatively, Bustimes has Bee Network timetables – just select the route and date to see the full timetables: Bee Network - Diamond Bus North West Bee Network - Go North West You just have to know which company runs which Bee Network route!
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Or just search Bustimes for the route number (or route number and place).
Citibus
Member
On Boxing Day, as a one off, Diamond will also operate 52 and 100 both serving The Trafford Centre. This has only recently been added to the tfgm website.
| Service 52 are running 0735 - 2035 hrly Trafford Centre to NMGH |
| Service 100 are running every 30mins from Shudehill : 0705 - 1905 1935 hrly to Hollins Green; 0735 - 1835 hrly to Trafford Centre |
They are listed as Diamond routes - not Bee Network routes - they are usually run by Go North West who are only running their TfGM supported Free Bus routes 1 & 2 in Manchester City Centre on Boxing Day.
Seems a very late addition to the publicised routes??
Might be to do with the costs of opening up Eccles Depot for just the 126 and 132, is better spread and more effective if these two additional routes are operated from there. The other routes which Diamond North West would normally operate are either low volume Bee Network routes, or low volume commercial routes, so makes sense as Go North West is not operating routes, other than the 1 & 2 Free City Centre routes, from its Manchester depot to register the 52 and 100, especially as the 100 serves the Trafford Centre, which you would expect to be busy on boxing day.
I also wonder about the viability of Go Ahead's Wigan Depot on Boxing day/New Years Day, so suspect the 10 Wigan - Ashton - Leigh service might in practice be run from Bolton Depot, with Wigan closed on both these days.
UPDATE: I have just visited Diamond Bus North West's website and it appears that they are operating the 52 and 100 on behalf of the Trafford Centre on Boxing Day, its nothing to do with capacity or TfGM.
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