The X1 is apparently moving from Milton Keynes to Luton come September and a whole host of changes are expected.
Over the past year since launch, we’ve learned a great deal from operating the route. The team in Milton Keynes has delivered the service with real pride and professionalism — the service delivery has been consistently excellent, and we’re grateful for the commitment shown in launching and running this brand-new route.
We've also learned more about customer travel patterns and demand in that time. The flow of journeys and broader operational logic points towards aligning the X1 with our Luton-based coach operation. There are synergies with our existing Greenline services, and this change allows for greater efficiency and resource sharing. From September, the X1 will be operated from Luton, using three high-spec Mercedes Tourismos under a revised route and timetable — ensuring we continue to offer a premium experience for customers. We’ll be sharing full details very soon. The existing fleet will be relocated elsewhere in the Midlands.
The 1 does not need deckers in my opinion, although Arriva say it does. Every time it goes past my work the deckers are always empty and this is at peak evening rush hour times! They definitely are better on the 321 for the capacity but St Albans always seems to curse the 321 as practically every decker Luton has or had on the 321 has broken down there at least once before!
Just to clarify, it’s not actually Arriva dictating the use of double deckers on the 1 — in this case, it’s more down to mother nature! Some pending tree cutting along the 321 route has temporarily prevented double deckers being used there safely, so they’ve been allocated to route 1 in the meantime which operates on standalone bus diagrams, making it ideal for double decker use — there are no low bridges to navigate, which avoids the risk of clearance issues. While some off-peak trips may appear quiet, usage patterns across the full day and route still justify the capacity, especially during school flows and at peak times.
We agree that double deckers are better suited to the 321 long-term, and once the necessary clearance work is complete, we aim to review and rebalance vehicle allocations accordingly in line with a timetable enhancement from 31 August.
Take note Arriva this is how you execute service enhancements. How they have grown the Wycombe network is a far cry from the blow-up network that was promised us.
If we’re taking notes from the rather cynical tone above, if comparing approach by each operator, it's important to recognise that parts of the network previously run by Arriva reflect adjustments rather than outright growth. For example, the 33 reduces to every 20 minutes on Saturdays, and there are fewer journeys on the 850 in response to changing demand.
That’s not a criticism — far from it. I genuinely admire and share the approach of trying new things, testing frequency increases to stimulate demand, and then refining based on what the market tells you. The coordination between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield is really smart, and much of the progress made has come from consolidating resources into one committed operator that is clearly focused on encouraging public transport use.
Let’s also not forget that many frequencies introduced during Arriva’s time have been retained — the 10 improved to every 20 minutes, and the 30 continues this; the 2/12 and 32 improved to every 15 minutes, which remains; and the 11/31 went from hourly to every 30 minutes and are still running at that frequency. Long may it continue; the team are clearly making a great effort carrying the mantle of customer growth that we experienced. Many of the upcoming changes reflect a continuation of the timetable refinement process originally kick-started by Arriva, aimed at delivering punctual services in a challenging operating environment — and it’s genuinely impressive that this continues.
It’s an admirable effort and I’m sure we all wish Carousel every success but maybe it’s time to let go of the finger-pointing. Our focus in Beds & Bucks are improving our network, as demonstrated with new routes, the latest frequency enhancements such as those just delivered on the Luton busway, and investing in brand new vehicles. We know very well how to executive service enhancements; we've moved on - perhaps it's time you do too.
www.carouselbuses.co.uk
www.railforums.co.uk
www.intalink.org.uk
