Short-lived Nottingham City Transport Routes

[Rob F]

I remember in the late 80s, early 90s around the time of bus deregulation that NCT started some new routes, most of which went well outside the city boundaries and which, on the whole, did not last very long.

There were definitely services to Long Eaton and Keyworth, which did not survive. There was also a new Ruddington service which was previously Barton territory, which survives to this day and saw off Barton from the village.

Were there any others? Also, does anyone recall the route numbers or have any old timetables that show the routes and frequencies?

Thanks

 

[station_road]

They also ran the Sunday service between Derby and Burton for a time under contract to Derbyshire County Council, using a selection of Mercedes minibuses that were painted in either NCT or South Notts colours - the drivers rarely knew the routes and ended up in all sorts of odd places. That was probably late 80/early 90s, Trent gave up on Sunday services on many routes after deregulation for a long time.

 

[WideRanger]

I remember in the late 80s, early 90s around the time of bus deregulation that NCT started some new routes, most of which went well outside the city boundaries and which, on the whole, did not last very long.

There were definitely services to Long Eaton and Keyworth, which did not survive. There was also a new Ruddington service which was previously Barton territory, which survives to this day and saw off Barton from the village.

Were there any others? Also, does anyone recall the route numbers or have any old timetables that show the routes and frequencies?

Thanks

Oh, happy memories of the 506, 507, 508 and 509, on which NCT put their newest, fastest buses. All totally bonkers, but the drivers clearly enjoyed flooring them (with hardly any passengers) in the limited stop section between Nottingham and Beeston.

If I remember correctly, it was a reaction to Barton starting to pick up at stops in the inner area, which were previously exclusively NCT, on their services from further out (with the Barton 'selling point' being 'coach comfort'). Quite aggressive competition, until they realised that it would all end in tears, and they stopped duplicating routes. It resulted in a major recasting of all of the Nottingham routes for both companies.

 

[edwin_m]

Somewhat later, in 2004 they had an oddity called Runway 5, which ran about five times per day at random times (maybe for staff shift changes?) through various villages to East Midlands Airport. I did actually catch it once, about 6am for an early-ish flight. By the next time I went there in 2006, the original Skylink was running via the A453, also by NCT, which would have killed it off unless it disappeared earlier.

 

[Rob F]

Also around this time, Barton rerouted the Keyworth service (then the number 6) through West Bridgford rather than straight down Melton Road. It turned right into Village Street, followed the route of the NCT 90 to Stamford Road, turned right and got to Trent Bridge via Central Avenue. This didn't last long before it was back on its original route. A vestige of this was that Barton ran a 6A service from Edwalton into the city for about a year afterwards. I always wondered if this was why NCT's Edwalton service became the number 6 when the cross-city services ended.

I still wonder why Barton's 'The Keyworth' does not serve Central Avenue in West Bridgford. The Bingham, Radcliffe and Cotgrave buses were diverted that way, but not the Keyworth. Odd.

 

[adrianjohnson]

I still wonder why Barton's 'The Keyworth' does not serve Central Avenue in West Bridgford. The Bingham, Radcliffe and Cotgrave buses were diverted that way, but not the Keyworth. Odd.

I've wondered why there isn't a route into Acacia Way in Edwalton that goes to Central Avenue in West Bridgford then onto Nottingham, as well as the new estate at Rose Way. Maybe NCT will do that in time, as I doubt TrentBarton would pick it up.

I suspect with The Keyworth that Trent would prefer buses to go straight into Nottingham. I'm not sure how many people would want to go from Keyworth to West Bridgford centre, whereas for Edwalton it makes more sense.

 

[edwin_m]

I've wondered why there isn't a route into Acacia Way in Edwalton that goes to Central Avenue in West Bridgford then onto Nottingham, as well as the new estate at Rose Way. Maybe NCT will do that in time, as I doubt TrentBarton would pick it up.

I suspect with The Keyworth that Trent would prefer buses to go straight into Nottingham. I'm not sure how many people would want to go from Keyworth to West Bridgford centre, whereas for Edwalton it makes more sense.

The recently re-routed 7 goes near the end of Acacia Way, though the nearest stop is some distance away.

 

[adrianjohnson]

The recently re-routed 7 goes near the end of Acacia Way, though the nearest stop is some distance away.

Yes I know, but it's intended to go into that estate a bit further when it's developed. I was wondering about going into the estate the other side of the road and why that one isn't served.

 

[edwin_m]

Yes I know, but it's intended to go into that estate a bit further when it's developed. I was wondering about going into the estate the other side of the road and why that one isn't served.

Probably because, as discussed recently on another thread, it's likely that when Rose Way is finished it will continue through to Musters Road and it and the 8 will become loop routes in the two directions. I guess it's remotely possible the 9 will continue from Rushcliffe Academy to Acacia Way when that happens. The walking distance from the furthest part of that estate to the stop in the Keyworth looks to be about 600 metres.

 

[joieman]

Technically off-topic, but one April Fools Day a few years ago, Nottingham City Transport announced the launch of a commuter bus service between Nottingham and London.
For the longest time, I thought it was actually a real service, and eventually assumed it had been quietly withdrawn.

 

[MCR247]

Also around this time, Barton rerouted the Keyworth service (then the number 6) through West Bridgford rather than straight down Melton Road. It turned right into Village Street, followed the route of the NCT 90 to Stamford Road, turned right and got to Trent Bridge via Central Avenue. This didn't last long before it was back on its original route. A vestige of this was that Barton ran a 6A service from Edwalton into the city for about a year afterwards. I always wondered if this was why NCT's Edwalton service became the number 6 when the cross-city services ended.

I still wonder why Barton's 'The Keyworth' does not serve Central Avenue in West Bridgford. The Bingham, Radcliffe and Cotgrave buses were diverted that way, but not the Keyworth. Odd.

It’s funny you should say this, as I have a memory of the Keyworth Connection having two routes out of Nottingham. The first being the one that remains via Melton Road, and the other being via Loughborough Road ASDA. I can’t really remember why or what the split was, I just remember route branded Dennis Darts with those little ‘via’ flip boards Trent Barton used to love to have in the windscreen. I think the last route to regularly use them was Rainbow 5 when the Briar Gate buses used to stay on the A52 to Priory Island, following the 36 to/from Beeston, rather than going via University Boulevard like the rest

 

[ajp999]

NCT also served Cotgrave at the time they were expanding services that ran down Melton Road, through Tollerton village and then onto Cotgrave. From memory the NCT services to Keyworth were only at peak times whilst the Cotgrave services ran for most of the day.

Some of the Keyworth Connection services that ran via ASDA also served South Notts College on Greythorn Drive at the start / end of a day.

 

[Rob F]

I think the Keyworth service running via ASDA was at a slightly different period to it being diverted through Edwalton and West Bridgford centre.

The diverted route (towards Nottingham) was Village Street, Wellin Lane, Alford Road, Stamford Road, Rufford Way, Buckfast Way, Eltham Road, Abbey Road, Davies Road, Central Avenue, Bridgford Road and Trent Bridge.

After only a week of running this route, it was changed because the Keyworth bound buses could not make the left turn from Abbey Road into Eltham Road without mounting the pavement and the council installed a concrete bollard at the apex of the turn! After this the Nottingham bound buses followed the route above, but Keyworth bound they stayed on Abbey Road then left into Buckfast Way and right onto Rufford Way, then as above.

After the Keyworth no 6 reverted to its original route via Melton Road and the short lived 6A started from Edwalton only, the 6A also followed this route. Maybe Barton should have known because NCT only ever used Eltham Road in one direction (towards Nottingham) with the out bound bus using Davies Road. Now NCT do not use Eltham Road at all, with both directions using Davies Road.