Xmas (Winter Festival) timetables 2023

[fandroid]

My local private monopoly bus service in Basingstoke (Stagecoach) is running no buses at all on New Years Day. Is that usual? Is it common throughout England? Dare I say it, but their normal town service here is fairly good, and even some busier rural routes operate on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The trains are running fine, apparently.

 

[lachlan]

I've just checked and my local operator (Faresaver) isn't running anything. Trains appear to be running, which is more than can be said for up in Scotland!

 

[Deerfold]

My local private monopoly bus service in Basingstoke (Stagecoach) is running no buses at all on New Years Day. Is that usual? Is it common throughout England? Dare I say it, but their normal town service here is fairly good, and even some busier rural routes operate on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The trains are running fine, apparently.

There's no company in West Yorkshire running (apart from long distance coaches and one free service provided by an enthusiast).

It used to be the only day of the year I didn't have a bus service.

I live near a rail line so I can see 8-12 trains an hour roaring past with no buses to the stations in either direction.

 

[duncombec]

As has been the case for as many years as I can remember, Arriva Kent-and-not-Surrey are running a normal Sunday service (except for a special service on service 6X, which I believe runs according to the requirements of the relevant NHS Trust) whilst Stagecoach East Kent have no service. This latter includes the contracted Canterbury Park & Ride, which was the only service to operate in East Kent on Boxing Day.

 

[Statto]

On Merseyside Arriva 10B, 12, 13, 26, 27, 56, 58A, 166, 188, 201 and 204, Stagecoach 917, Soccerbus & the Stena shuttle are running, no services are operating on any other routes.

 

[JKP]

Borders Buses are not running any bus services in England or Scotland on either 1st or 2nd January. The latter also being a Scottish holiday.

PreCovid Buses ran on selected routes in Scotland on 1st January and a full Sunday timetable on the 2nd. However, the local authority now refuses to subsidise operations on these two days. Northumberland too do not seem too concerned that bus services they subsidise will not run on the 2nd.

Part of this maybe due to many smaller shops not bothering to open on the 2nd or indeed the 3rd in 2024.

 

[Andyh82]

My local private monopoly bus service in Basingstoke (Stagecoach) is running no buses at all on New Years Day. Is that usual? Is it common throughout England? Dare I say it, but their normal town service here is fairly good, and even some busier rural routes operate on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The trains are running fine, apparently.

I would say no buses on New Year’s Day is the norm across the country and anyone who runs a service is the exception

 

[InOban]

Borders Buses are not running any bus services in England or Scotland on either 1st or 2nd January. The latter also being a Scottish holiday.

PreCovid Buses ran on selected routes in Scotland on 1st January and a full Sunday timetable on the 2nd. However, the local authority now refuses to subsidise operations on these two days. Northumberland too do not seem too concerned that bus services they subsidise will not run on the 2nd.

Part of this maybe due to many smaller shops not bothering to open on the 2nd or indeed the 3rd in 2024.

I think 'refuses' is a bit harsh. They simply can't afford to when they are so short of money for eg social care.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Dec 2023 ==

I would say no buses on New Year’s Day is the norm across the country and anyone who runs a service is the exception

But Lothian operates much the substantial network as it does on Christmas day.

 

[Hophead]

Normal Sunday service in London. Same with Metrobus, Brighton & Hove and Compass. Big Lemon don't seem to have advertised their timetable, but bustimes.org shows a Sunday service on the 1st which is what I would expect.

It should come as no surprise to know that Southern Vectis will be running a Sunday service on the network that never stops.

All of the above (except Big Lemon & Compass) are running night buses on New Year's Eve. TfL have some extras running. Brighton & Hove have a Saturday night / Sunday morning service with some duplicate journeys.

 

[Woolos 22]

There are no bus services in South Wales on New Year's Day operated by Stagecoach, Newport Bus, Cardiff Bus, Adventure Travel and First Cymru.

 

[fandroid]

I see that Reading buses are running a service on Monday

As are Bluestar in Southampton.

I can see the rationale for closure on Christmas Day, but New Years Day? Most major shops will open, if a bit later than usual. Many people don't bother whatsoever with New Year's Eve, so New Years Day is just another Bank Holiday, but one with even fewer public services than normal.

 

[goldisgood]

My local private monopoly bus service in Basingstoke (Stagecoach) is running no buses at all on New Years Day. Is that usual? Is it common throughout England? Dare I say it, but their normal town service here is fairly good, and even some busier rural routes operate on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The trains are running fine, apparently.

Relatively normal, just depends on the area - Stagecoach here (Oxford) are running a pretty good service. Dare I also say it, the service from Stagecoach here in general is significantly better than Lothian which I unfortunately have to put up with on a daily basis!
Staying on topic the Christmas service from Lothian seems to be about the best in the UK - quite how they are able to run such a comprehensive service when London has nothing is beyond me (although I believe it may be council funded?).

 

[Tetchytyke]

It should come as no surprise to know that Southern Vectis will be running a Sunday service on the network that never stops.

I do genuinely wonder if it is an island thing. We've got the Hullad Oie (Night Owl) services at 0015 on NYE night/NYD early morning, and then a full Sunday service until end of service on NYD.

We're an island of 83,000 people and the Isle of Wight has about 140,000. West Yorkshire, with a population of 2.3 million, has nothing. Absolute madness.

Everyone deserves a break, but the trouble with Christmas and New Year is that everyone wants it at the same time….

I'm not sure that's even true. I think it is fair to say that there are a lot of people in West Yorkshire who don't celebrate Christmas (instead celebrating Diwali, Eid al-fitr, or Hannukah for starters).

It's not NYD but I'm in work today, and it is far preferable to being at home with two over-sugared small children!

 

[Porty]

Relatively normal, just depends on the area - Stagecoach here (Oxford) are running a pretty good service. Dare I also say it, the service from Stagecoach here in general is significantly better than Lothian which I unfortunately have to put up with on a daily basis!
Staying on topic the Christmas service from Lothian seems to be about the best in the UK - quite how they are able to run such a comprehensive service when London has nothing is beyond me (although I believe it may be council funded?).

The timetable booklet (yes, they do produce a paper copy) for East Coast Buses (part of Lothian) includes the statement "East Lothian Council provides financial support for services on 25, 26 Dec and 1Jan" and the council logo is shown. I can't seem to see a similar statement or logo on the main Lothian timetable booklet in relation to City of Edinburgh Council. Therefore I assume that they're commercially operated.

 

[JD2168]

There is a limited bus service in Sheffield on New Year’s Day, all operated by First. Services running are 1, 11, 20a, 24, 52a, 56, 57 every 90 minutes, 75, 81, 86, 95 & 120. All are hourly except the 57 & some are part route only.

Trams are Tram Train, Yellow & Blue from Cathedral to Halfway, each route is every 30 minutes.