Arriva (Beds, Bucks, Herts)

[greenline712]

Co-ordinating 721 with 302 and 321 didn't work well . . . that's why the revisions are taking place! We haven't seen the timetables yet, so further speculation is difficult. However, on the few occasions I've seen a 721 bus, it was waiting time southbound in St Peters Street or northbound at the Abbey Station.

It was always considered that any through passengers from Luton to Hemel were going to be rare, and this seems to confirm that. At least it was (a) tried and (b) is now amended. There will still be the difficulty of 300 and 302 departing from opposite sides of St Peters Street, but geography prevents anything better. It may also be possible for 300 to use a better routing in Hemel Hempstead . . . we'lll have to wait and see.

And historically . . . every 15 minutes between Luton and Watford? Wow . . . that's back to the frequency available in the early 1960s!! Let's hope it works!!

 

[thomasheywood]

Co-ordinating 721 with 302 and 321 didn't work well . . . that's why the revisions are taking place! We haven't seen the timetables yet, so further speculation is difficult. However, on the few occasions I've seen a 721 bus, it was waiting time southbound in St Peters Street or northbound at the Abbey Station.

It was always considered that any through passengers from Luton to Hemel were going to be rare, and this seems to confirm that. At least it was (a) tried and (b) is now amended. There will still be the difficulty of 300 and 302 departing from opposite sides of St Peters Street, but geography prevents anything better. It may also be possible for 300 to use a better routing in Hemel Hempstead . . . we'lll have to wait and see.

And historically . . . every 15 minutes between Luton and Watford? Wow . . . that's back to the frequency available in the early 1960s!! Let's hope it works!!

I never saw the point of the 721, there’s already a direct bus (46) between Luton and Hemel so why didn’t they just increase the frequency of the 302/321 to begin with?

 

[pointer]

Co-ordinating 721 with 302 and 321 didn't work well . . . that's why the revisions are taking place! We haven't seen the timetables yet, so further speculation is difficult. However, on the few occasions I've seen a 721 bus, it was waiting time southbound in St Peters Street or northbound at the Abbey Station.

It was always considered that any through passengers from Luton to Hemel were going to be rare, and this seems to confirm that. At least it was (a) tried and (b) is now amended. There will still be the difficulty of 300 and 302 departing from opposite sides of St Peters Street, but geography prevents anything better. It may also be possible for 300 to use a better routing in Hemel Hempstead . . . we'lll have to wait and see.

And historically . . . every 15 minutes between Luton and Watford? Wow . . . that's back to the frequency available in the early 1960s!! Let's hope it works!!

300 and 302 shouldn't have to stop at different sides of SPS hypothetically, can always pick up N-bound and spin at the roundabout as per the S4/S5 services to head back down Holywell Hill. Every 15 on the 321 will most definitely work given the current patronage, especially at peak times, I can only assume the increase in frequency is to compensate for A) cutting the 721 and B) the deckers that have for reasons unknown found use on the 31/1/4 or whatever they call it now. Can't keep up!

Best of luck to Arriva with the changes, hope they stick to them for longer than a few months and more importantly don't change the route numbers in a few months' time

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2025 ==

I never saw the point of the 721, there’s already a direct bus (46) between Luton and Hemel so why didn’t they just increase the frequency of the 302/321 to begin with?

Don't think the 302 needed increased frequency between Albans and WGC and not sure St Albans could take any more vehicles terminating there what with the lacklustre facilities available for buses at current. Just a thought, I do not work for Arriva and thus have no real idea on any reasonings!

 

[markymark2000]

I never saw the point of the 721, there’s already a direct bus (46) between Luton and Hemel so why didn’t they just increase the frequency of the 302/321 to begin with?

Sure it was a Herts Connect initiative wasn't it?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I never saw the point of the 721, there’s already a direct bus (46) between Luton and Hemel so why didn’t they just increase the frequency of the 302/321 to begin with?

Perhaps someone thought there may be overlapping flows across St Albans but yeah, experience has proven otherwise!

 

[espicer]

Sure it was a Herts Connect initiative wasn't it?

I believe it was. I have only used it around twice to go from Hemel to Luton as the 46 is a lot quicker, albeit not going to the Interchange. Most times, I get the 302 to St Albans and get the train up. I personally don't think it's going to be completely withdrawn, though. I feel like it will just have an amended route, as there is still some use in it. But I'm sure we will find out soon enough

 

[Edvid]

I can only assume the increase in [321] frequency is to compensate for [...] B) the deckers that have for reasons unknown found use on the 31/1/4 or whatever they call it now.

As per Matt King those deckers will be allocated to the 321 once certain trees along the route have been trimmed, possibly at the 31 August timetable change. Until then they're being kept to the 1 - no low bridges to worry about, and no interworking now that summer term is finished.

 

[lightning76]

Perhaps someone thought there may be overlapping flows across St Albans but yeah, experience has proven otherwise!

You would probably be surprised at how many people travel through, I know I am. I wouldn't go so far as to say the numbers justify the retention of the route, but it's a non-negligible number. There's a few from Harpenden as well. I wonder if the fact the 46 manages to miss the bus stations at each end has something to do with it.

As regards the 300, why not just extend the 301? As @pointer says, it could come up to St Peters St like the 302, use the same stop to Hemel, then spin at the roundabout and do the 721 route, & vice versa.

 

[Richardr]

Didn't the 301 used to go to Hemel, but it was cut back to terminate at St Albans in order to reduce the delays on such a long route? It went the same way as the 302 up St Peters Street, but didn't go via St Albans Hospital, but straight on at Folly Lane.

 

[Edvid]

Descriptions of 31 August changes are now up, some of which are summarised below (as best as I can interpret before the timetables are published).

Luton
12: daytime frequency (at least Mon-Fri) rises to 12 mins, matching peak frequency; terminus moves from Church Street to Luton Interchange
321: frequency rises to 15 mins (Mon-Sat) and 30 mins (Sun); replaces 721 St Albans - Luton and 821
721: renumbered 300; replaced by 321 St Albans - Luton
X2/X3: joint service extends to Sunday at hourly frequency, replacing hourly X2 equivalent; earlier X3 journeys from Newton Leys (Mon-Fri)
A/Z: additional early morning services (at least Mon-Fri); overnight services retimed

Milton Keynes
X4: no longer runs Leighton Buzzard - Milton Keynes; Heath and Reach retains schooldaily return (for Aylesbury / Sir Henry Floyd Grammar Schools)
X6: earlier morning journeys from Aylesbury; later evening journeys extend to Milton Keynes; changes to arrangements for Sir Thomas Freemantle School
X14: new Milton Keynes - Aylesbury route which bypasses Leighton Buzzard; runs Mon-Fri peak time only
LOOP: various revisions to route, the Sat iteration of which no longer serves MK University Hospital / Open University campus / Bow Brickhill

As for the X1 it will no longer serve Bletchley bus station, Stadium MK or MKUH; that said the most notable change (IMO) is its extension from Luton Interchange - not to the airport, but to Capability Green via the B653/A1081. Can't say I saw that coming!

 

[Voyager 2953]

Descriptions of 31 August changes are now up, some of which are summarised below (as best as I can interpret before the timetables are published).

Luton
12: daytime frequency (at least Mon-Fri) rises to 12 mins, matching peak frequency; terminus moves from Church Street to Luton Interchange
321: frequency rises to 15 mins (Mon-Sat) and 30 mins (Sun); replaces 721 St Albans - Luton and 821
721: renumbered 300; replaced by 321 St Albans - Luton
X2/X3: joint service extends to Sunday at hourly frequency, replacing hourly X2 equivalent; earlier X3 journeys from Newton Leys (Mon-Fri)
A/Z: additional early morning services (at least Mon-Fri); overnight services retimed

Milton Keynes
X4: no longer runs Leighton Buzzard - Milton Keynes; Heath and Reach retains schooldaily return (for Aylesbury / Sir Henry Floyd Grammar Schools)
X6: earlier morning journeys from Aylesbury; later evening journeys extend to Milton Keynes; changes to arrangements for Sir Thomas Freemantle School
X14: new Milton Keynes - Aylesbury route which bypasses Leighton Buzzard; runs Mon-Fri peak time only
LOOP: various revisions to route, the Sat iteration of which no longer serves MK University Hospital / Open University campus / Bow Brickhill

As for the X1 it will no longer serve Bletchley bus station, Stadium MK or MKUH; that said the most notable change (IMO) is its extension from Luton Interchange - not to the airport, but to Capability Green via the B653/A1081. Can't say I saw that coming!

Arriva must be relying on strong demand to Luton from CMK Station, Hockliffe and Dunstable. The omission from the Point and Hospital is bizarre to me.

 

[Edvid]

The Point is not listed as an upcoming omission. Until the timetable comes out one can't ascertain the line of route and all stops north of Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout.

 

[Voyager 2953]

Some real time opinions on Arriva from the people of Milton Keynes

 

[Mollman]

Some real time opinions on Arriva from the people of Milton Keynes

No different to the comments about local operators to me I see elsewhere tbh

 

[alex397]

Some real time opinions on Arriva from the people of Milton Keynes

Facebook opinions arn’t always a good indicator, as the people commenting tend to love complaining about everything. You can see similar comments under posts by some of the best bus operators.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Arriva must be relying on strong demand to Luton from CMK Station, Hockliffe and Dunstable. The omission from the Point and Hospital is bizarre to me.

LOOP is to serve Dulverton Drive in Furzton, Rickley Lane, Magna Park (Crossley Drive) and will no longer serve Melrose Centre, Stadium MK and will instead serve MK1/ASDA/IKEA along Bletcham Way/Grafton Street

 

[Voyager 2953]

4418 has arrived at Milton Keynes

 

[espicer]

4418 has arrived at Milton Keynes

CX58 GBU or YJ58 FHC?

 

[duncombec]

Facebook opinions arn’t always a good indicator, as the people commenting tend to love complaining about everything. You can see similar comments under posts by some of the best bus operators.

I must say, I was impressed by the level of detail given in some of the responses to the comments raised on the recent service change notifications on Facebook. They did seem to engage specifically with the comment in question, and even if it is just well-crafted corporate-speak, the person responding at least took the time to link it to the comment.

Much better than the responses in Kent, which seem to be either directly from the "copy and paste the standard template", or complete ignorance as to what service is even being discussed.

However, this very much seems to match the "standard template", where there is clear effort being made to improve services in "Northern South" (i.e. Beds and Bucks and out towards Leicester), compared to the seemingly never-ending "death by a thousand cuts" that we are experiencing in "Southern South" (Herts, Essex and Kent).

 

[Voyager 2953]

CX58 GBU or YJ58 FHC?

YJ58 FHC

 

[RELL6L]

There are timetables now available for at least some of the revised services. It appears that the Leighton Buzzard outstation is used for much of the X2 and X3 plus the truncated X4. The X4 will only run between LB and Aylesbury and at first glance is two buses shuttling back and forth. But actually it looks like it isn’t- the X4 arrives at Aylesbury at xx.35 and leaves at xx.45 while the X6 arrives and leaves at xx.40. So they swap over. A round trip MK- Aylesbury- LB- Aylesbury- MK is about 5 hrs 20 minutes. This would be very risky to cover in one shift as any delays take it over the legal limit of 5 hrs 30 minutes. The X14 comes into the mix in the peaks but the X2/X3 appears stand-alone, unless there are some very complicated inter-workings. Let’s see

 

[arrivamatt]

There are timetables now available for at least some of the revised services. It appears that the Leighton Buzzard outstation is used for much of the X2 and X3 plus the truncated X4. The X4 will only run between LB and Aylesbury and at first glance is two buses shuttling back and forth. But actually it looks like it isn’t- the X4 arrives at Aylesbury at xx.35 and leaves at xx.45 while the X6 arrives and leaves at xx.40. So they swap over. A round trip MK- Aylesbury- LB- Aylesbury- MK is about 5 hrs 20 minutes. This would be very risky to cover in one shift as any delays take it over the legal limit of 5 hrs 30 minutes. The X14 comes into the mix in the peaks but the X2/X3 appears stand-alone, unless there are some very complicated inter-workings. Let’s see

The Leighton Buzzard outstation closed on 31 May. Routes X4, X6 and X14 interwork from Aylesbury; there are only a small number of off-peak journeys that operate the full X6/X4/X6 diagram, with driver reliefs controlled to mitigate risk. X2/X3 continues to operate from Luton.

I must say, I was impressed by the level of detail given in some of the responses to the comments raised on the recent service change notifications on Facebook. They did seem to engage specifically with the comment in question, and even if it is just well-crafted corporate-speak, the person responding at least took the time to link it to the comment.

Much better than the responses in Kent, which seem to be either directly from the "copy and paste the standard template", or complete ignorance as to what service is even being discussed.

However, this very much seems to match the "standard template", where there is clear effort being made to improve services in "Northern South" (i.e. Beds and Bucks and out towards Leicester), compared to the seemingly never-ending "death by a thousand cuts" that we are experiencing in "Southern South" (Herts, Essex and Kent).

Thank you for your feedback @duncombec — it’s genuinely appreciated and we’ll make sure it’s passed on to the team. We’ve worked hard to provide consistent and detailed responses to those raising genuine questions, so it’s great to hear that it's landing well, so the approach may be to replicate elsewhere in the business.

We’re also grateful you’ve noticed our efforts to improve services in the Beds and Bucks region. There’s still a lot of work to do, but we’re excited about the opportunities ahead and remain committed to building on the progress we’ve made so far.

The Point is not listed as an upcoming omission. Until the timetable comes out one can't ascertain the line of route and all stops north of Kelly's Kitchen Roundabout.

From Kelly's Kitchen roundabout, coaches head directly along the A5 to Milton Keynes Central rail station, continuing to The Point where the service terminates - following the reverse route towards Luton. A timetable is available to view on our website.

300 and 302 shouldn't have to stop at different sides of SPS hypothetically, can always pick up N-bound and spin at the roundabout as per the S4/S5 services to head back down Holywell Hill. Every 15 on the 321 will most definitely work given the current patronage, especially at peak times, I can only assume the increase in frequency is to compensate for A) cutting the 721 and B) the deckers that have for reasons unknown found use on the 31/1/4 or whatever they call it now. Can't keep up!

Best of luck to Arriva with the changes, hope they stick to them for longer than a few months and more importantly don't change the route numbers in a few months' time

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Jul 2025 ==


Don't think the 302 needed increased frequency between Albans and WGC and not sure St Albans could take any more vehicles terminating there what with the lacklustre facilities available for buses at current. Just a thought, I do not work for Arriva and thus have no real idea on any reasonings!

The 721 was originally part of the Connect Herts initiative, designed to help coordinate frequencies across key corridors. Historically, routes 321 & 721, 302 & 721, and 321 & 724/725 created coordinated 15-minute headways between Luton and St Albans, St Albans and Hemel Hempstead, and St Albans and Watford respectively. A symphony of joined-up frequencies; but presented a challenge where conflicting travel demands could make the house of cards fall down.

The updated approach offers a simpler, cleaner proposition for all — tidying up corridors and placing them under common ownership across operating divisions, with a more streamlined north/south and westbound structure. The KISS approach helps break down barriers to entry for non-bus users, and this reorganisation exemplifies that philosophy.

 

[RELL6L]

The Leighton Buzzard outstation closed on 31 May. Routes X4, X6 and X14 interwork from Aylesbury; there are only a small number of off-peak journeys that operate the full X6/X4/X6 diagram, with driver reliefs controlled to mitigate risk. X2/X3 continues to operate from Luton.

Apologies for being out of date on Leighton Buzzard, I knew the town services had gone but the other timetables suggest workings from there. There must be a lot of dead mileage at the start and end of the day for the X4/X6 and the X2/X3 from their respective depots. I would have thought it would be more efficient operationally to have one of the hourly X2 or X3 buses between MK and Leighton Buzzard to be connected to the X4 and run through to Aylesbury (run by MK) with the Luton end turned short at Leighton Buzzard - but I guess the research has shown that two through buses per hour towards Luton are more important.

I am sure that the risk I highlighted has been well thought through and the use of the X14 mitigates the long duties in peak hours, I just remember watching some of the early days on the Stagecoach MK1 from Bedford to Luton Airport to Milton Keynes and back when some journeys stopped in the middle of nowhere as the drivers were clearly out of hours!

 

[Voyager 2953]

.

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

4418 has arrived at Milton Keynes

Any idea on why that’s here?
Will any more be transferred?

 

[espicer]

Any idea on why that’s here?
Will any more be transferred?

Could it be a replacement for 4433 as that seems not to have seen service for a few months now?

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Could it be a replacement for 4433 as that seems not to have seen service for a few months now?

4433 remains in the pits in the depot at the moment.

Did hear it had some gearbox issues of some sort if I can recall.

 

[espicer]

4433 remains in the pits in the depot at the moment.

Did hear it had some gearbox issues of some sort if I can recall.

Makes sense, was wondering what happened to that. Maybe 4418 is here to replace an Urban then

 

[Zakaria Fadel]

Makes sense, was wondering what happened to that. Maybe 4418 is here to replace an Urban then

Yeah, could be. However, I’m sure we were supposed to get 4426/7/8/9/30 from Thurmaston to displace the last remaining Volvo B7s.

Withal, the X6 service changes won’t go ahead until January. For now, it’s a minor timetable change.

The January changes include and are rumoured to be;
• The X6 being diverted along the A5 like the X60 used to do many moons ago
• A new bus service (Route 9) serving Fairfields to compensate for the loss of the X6 around the area.

Thus, only time will tell what we’ll get in MK in the foreseeable future.

 

[moogal]

Something I noticed the other week when the WCML was heavily disrupted was that the National Rail website still quoted the previous service numbers F70/F77 and 150 as alternative routes to use - who would be responsible for updating these to the current numbers? Does it come from the TOCs?