Why are a lot of bus stations now called 'Interchanges'

[Simon75]

I am old enough to recall many of the absolute hellholes of bus stations around the country. I have no wish to return to those halcyon days but we have a real bizarre state of affairs. Some bus stations in the provinces are squeezed into commercial developments but conversely, some are really oversized for what is really required.

Chelmsford was a combined garage/bus station, but now a reduced bus station with mixed commercial/residential

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I personally find Huddersfield more hostile in the evenings than Dewsbury, though I haven't been in Dewsbury since they started the rebuilding work, so maybe that makes a difference. There's definitely anti-social behaviour there, but because it's quite open and spacious and gets used as a thoroughfare to the Asda, it isn't somewhere you could get "cornered". Huddersfield feels like somewhere you could get trapped because of the lack of circulation space. The piping of classical music is clearly intended to discourage youths from loitering but it doesn't seem to work. As a result that and the loud recorded announcements just lead to sensory overload.

One thing your list says to me, is that it isn't the type or quality of building that makes the difference, but the general atmosphere of the town/area the bus station is in. Holmfirth certainly isn't a fancy building like Batley or Cleckheaton, but it's in leafy quaint Summer Wine country so there's fewer crackheads hanging about the place!

I guess it is perception and subjective. I've always felt ok in Huddersfield.

However, I think you've hit on a point. There are usually several factors at work. Design, location, and location. So yeah, the bus station at Holmfirth might not be shiny, it works because it's a nice little town and it's quite central so you have a reasonable footfall.

Conversely, Batley isn't quite a genteel, and whilst a decent bus station, the location is out on a limb somewhat and it doesn't feel that busy at most times.

Chelmsford was a combined garage/bus station, but now a reduced bus station with mixed commercial/residential

One of many places e.g. Newcastle Haymarket, Ipswich (Cattle Mkt), Gloucester, Cardiff where a bus station has been replaced by a smaller alternative.


Another of the "ambitious" ones is Merthyr Tydfil. Now the old bus station was really bad - feral kids, bad design, old and not maintained etc; a truly awful place to wait for a bus. The new one is a great improvement but you wonder about the maintenance budget. Also, and I might be misremembering, there was a coffee shop and a newsagent type kiosk in the design and neither had tenants last I was there?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Conversely, Batley isn't quite a genteel, and whilst a decent bus station, the location is out on a limb somewhat and it doesn't feel that busy at most times.

It is a bit out on a limb, and Batley these days is just the Tesco Extra. It doesn't help that Batley isn't on many bus routes since the 229 was diverted, and the 281/283 only uses the bus station in one direction these days.
I look forward to seeing what the new Heckmondwike bus station is like, unlike Batley it is at least fairly central to the town. It'll definitely be an improvement on the old "hub" which was just a posh name for an empty square.

 

[158756]

The issue is the perception of isolation in that type of bus station. In a regular bus shelter on a street in a city centre where there are probably lots of people walking then it is no worse than if you were walking on that street yourself. It might actually be statistically safer in a bus station but the perception is what counts here, which maybe why these kinds of bus stations aren't common for local buses outside the UK.

In the sort of towns being talked about you are probably the only person in the street at 8pm (or 5:30 in some places). At least a sufficiently busy bus station will usually have other people waiting. Not in places where the whole bus station has 1 bus per hour in the evening, but then I wouldn't fancy hanging round on the street there either. Pretty much the only places guaranteed to have footfall in the evening are supermarkets.

 

[Andyh82]

In the sort of towns being talked about you are probably the only person in the street at 8pm (or 5:30 in some places). At least a sufficiently busy bus station will usually have other people waiting. Not in places where the whole bus station has 1 bus per hour in the evening, but then I wouldn't fancy hanging round on the street there either. Pretty much the only places guaranteed to have footfall in the evening are supermarkets.

Yes I can’t imagine Batley town centre having much night life, and Dewsbury is so run down even McDonalds closed down. It barely has any footfall even in the daytime.

 

[padbus]

The reason why lots of bus stations are now called "Interchanges" is down to the phenomenon of title inflation. Bus stations are seen as down market whereas an Interchange sounds altogether more posh. Whether reality lives up to the hype is another matter.

 

[mattb7tl]

In the sort of towns being talked about you are probably the only person in the street at 8pm (or 5:30 in some places). At least a sufficiently busy bus station will usually have other people waiting. Not in places where the whole bus station has 1 bus per hour in the evening, but then I wouldn't fancy hanging round on the street there either. Pretty much the only places guaranteed to have footfall in the evening are supermarkets.

Exactly.

The conversation is turning into 'I don't feel safe in this *insert bad area*' but you also would not feel safe on the street? I would also prefer to not hang around at night in a bad area, but in a necessity, it would be better in a well lit, surveyed and sheltered bus station, with potential security.

I look forward to seeing what the new Heckmondwike bus station is like, unlike Batley it is at least fairly central to the town. It'll definitely be an improvement on the old "hub" which was just a posh name for an empty square.

It will certainly transform my travel habits. I currently avoid the hub like a plague due to the late and unreliable services which can never be fixed as the most problematic points of the major routes (268 & 229) cannot realistically have bus priority. I'm going to very much prefer waiting an hour for three buses to turn up at once in a nice bus station compared to getting hyperthermia in a bus shelter.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It will certainly transform my travel habits. I currently avoid the hub like a plague due to the late and unreliable services which can never be fixed as the most problematic points of the major routes (268 & 229) cannot realistically have bus priority. I'm going to very much prefer waiting an hour for three buses to turn up at once in a nice bus station compared to getting hyperthermia in a bus shelter.

I assume you mean hypothermia, though hyperthermia would explain where all our council tax goes if the heaters in the bus shelters are all on their highest setting!

As you allude to, having a proper bus station building won't magically make Arriva any more reliable, nor will it make them spread the departures out more evenly through each hour... but it will hopefully be a more pleasant space to wait in. The end to buses blocking the roads and making the traffic even worse than usual in Hecky will be an added bonus too.

 

[DJ_K666]

The phrase “bus station” will conjure up to many a combination of the following: stink of diesel fumes, semi-dereliction, noise, cold, dank dinginess, weirdos (and what they leave behind them). There were plenty of exceptions, I’m sure (and the railways built New Street to get in on the act) but an image refresh is probably no bad thing.

For me the phrase 'Bus station' conjures up images of seaside towns, days out, art deco (yet dark, dingy and full of snells like diesel fumes, slightly suspicious soap and swarfega) buildings, full English breakfasts in the staff canteen (my dad was an inspector at Pool Valley Bus station in Brighton - once a true gateway to the town, now a desolate junkie-haunted shadow of its former self, where you don't go after dark) coach trips to London.

To me a couple of bus shelters and a concrete pad don't really constitute a bus station.

 

[Simon75]

The reason why lots of bus stations are now called "Interchanges" is down to the phenomenon of title inflation. Bus stations are seen as down market whereas an Interchange sounds altogether more posh. Whether reality lives up to the hype is another matter.

A bit like the term 'hub', which Gloucester has called there bus station

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The reason why lots of bus stations are now called "Interchanges" is down to the phenomenon of title inflation. Bus stations are seen as down market whereas an Interchange sounds altogether more posh. Whether reality lives up to the hype is another matter.

Yeah, a bit. It's not really a big issue though it does seem rather incongruous when it's rather modest.

That said, there's a few bus stations that really struggle to justify that tag (e.g. Monmouth, Cinderford)

A bit like the term 'hub', which Gloucester has called there bus station

I think Gloucester probably is a hub, TBH




In other news, I had reason to be driving on the A470 so took the opportunity of a small divert to Merthyr Tydfil bus station. Yep, 14 stands that were quite quiet. Windows filthy (general grime and where notices had been affixed), kiosk awaiting a tenant, cafe awaiting a tenant, and this one of the problems - all good to have a shiny, bold gateway to the town of impressive size because it gets all sorts of capital grants and finance but an ongoing maintenance budget....

 

[Crant90045]

It is a bit out on a limb, and Batley these days is just the Tesco Extra. It doesn't help that Batley isn't on many bus routes since the 229 was diverted, and the 281/283 only uses the bus station in one direction these days.
I look forward to seeing what the new Heckmondwike bus station is like, unlike Batley it is at least fairly central to the town. It'll definitely be an improvement on the old "hub" which was just a posh name for an empty square.

I think Route 212 also uses the Bus Station, Not sure if it uses the bus stops on commercial street instead

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I think Route 212 also uses the Bus Station, Not sure if it uses the bus stops on commercial street however,

Towards Dewsbury it calls on Bradford Road next to Tesco, then the bus station, then heads up towards Dewsbury Hospital via Healey. Towards Wakefield it serves the bus station and then the stops on Commercial Street before heading up to Soothill.
I didn't mean to imply that only the 281/283 served the bus station and that no others did- I was just pointing out that those two routes, which combined form the most frequent service in the town, now only serve it in one direction. I realise that wasn't as clear as it should have been.

 

[Crant90045]

Ah, Apologies on my behalf then, Didn't know it calls on Bradford road aswell, live so close but never paid attention Thanks

 

[Ballyheigue]

Probably the worst bus station I've ever seen is Colne Bus Station, it could really do with locating somewhere much safer as it's hidden from view in a sort of corner terminus type area next to a wall with passing traffic not really able to fully see what's going on. Although a significant hill is in the way for access to town, re-building it next to the train station may help a lot as it could be used both direction and is useful for transferring onto trains.

 

[GoneSouth]

It's quite simple.

You don't need bus stations in major cities for local routes as, quite simply, frequency means that you won't be waiting that long.

Except that makes bus use less accessible. I know plenty of people who won’t /can’t use buses because they can’t get between services that run from different part of a city centre with no assistance available to transfer.

Having connecting services available from the same building makes them far easier and safer to access.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Nov 2025 ==

One of many places e.g. Newcastle Haymarket, Ipswich (Cattle Mkt), Gloucester, Cardiff where a bus station has been replaced by a smaller alternative.

You mention Gloucester which reminded me that the bus ’station’ there is neither a station or an interchange. It’s called Gloucester Transport Hub.

It’s probably close enough to the rail station to be considered an interchange but wasn’t named as one.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You mention Gloucester which reminded me that the bus ’station’ there is neither a station or an interchange. It’s called Gloucester Transport Hub.

Was subsequently mentioned in #71

Except that makes bus use less accessible. I know plenty of people who won’t /can’t use buses because they can’t get between services that run from different part of a city centre with no assistance available to transfer.

Having connecting services available from the same building makes them far easier and safer to access.

How would they manage in virtually every major city? If you're expecting a large Preston sized bus station in the middle of Birmingham or Manchester, or even in smaller cities, then that's just not going to happen.

In smaller towns and cities, the best model (if it can be achieved with the road network) is something akin to Bath where a bus station has roadside stops (although some local services do serve the bus station whilst some out of town routes use roadside stops), or in Plymouth where everything runs to Royal Parade (or does if they're not digging it up).

That said, it do think that publicity is pretty woeful in many towns where this is the case.

 

[GoneSouth]

Was subsequently mentioned in #71

How would they manage in virtually every major city? If you're expecting a large Preston sized bus station in the middle of Birmingham or Manchester, or even in smaller cities, then that's just not going to happen.

In smaller towns and cities, the best model (if it can be achieved with the road network) is something akin to Bath where a bus station has roadside stops (although some local services do serve the bus station whilst some out of town routes use roadside stops), or in Plymouth where everything runs to Royal Parade (or does if they're not digging it up).

That said, it do think that publicity is pretty woeful in many towns where this is the case.

All I was getting at was that having as many buses as possible leaving from the same ’station’ makes things more accessible.

The answer to your question about how they would manage in large cities without bus stations is they don’t. They have to use taxis because the transport system is impossible to navigate independently for people who can’t see, have to use a wheelchair etc.

I’m not saying we should immediately go and build 200 Preston size bus stations, but I’m saying thought and planning should be given to those who would use the system if it was made accessible. Swindon for example have just closed their bus station in favour of roadside stops scattered over a wider area. This seems to be the wrong way to go for inclusive, accessible transport networks in my opinion. Try finding your stop if you can’t see along a long windswept open space.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

All I was getting at was that having as many buses as possible leaving from the same ’station’ makes things more accessible.

The answer to your question about how they would manage in large cities without bus stations is they don’t. They have to use taxis because the transport system is impossible to navigate independently for people who can’t see, have to use a wheelchair etc.

I’m not saying we should immediately go and build 200 Preston size bus stations, but I’m saying thought and planning should be given to those who would use the system if it was made accessible. Swindon for example have just closed their bus station in favour of roadside stops scattered over a wider area. This seems to be the wrong way to go for inclusive, accessible transport networks in my opinion. Try finding your stop if you can’t see along a long windswept open space.

It might be desirable but in larger towns, it wouldn't be practicable because of size/land values and also trying to get vehicles to a single point with road networks isn't always possible.

As for Swindon, remember that local services didn't use the bus station. They used Fleming Way. As I say, there isn't an excuse for not having maps, signage, digital displays to help people find their stop, and wherever possible, bus services should have a focal point to assist interchange.

 

[KHCT]

There might not be many parts of Hull's transport infrastructure to get excited about, but having every bus, coach and rail service in the city centre connect under the same roof is pretty special. A quirk of history that there was plenty of land next to the railway station ripe for redevelopment.

 

[GoneSouth]

It might be desirable but in larger towns, it wouldn't be practicable because of size/land values and also trying to get vehicles to a single point with road networks isn't always possible.

As for Swindon, remember that local services didn't use the bus station. They used Fleming Way. As I say, there isn't an excuse for not having maps, signage, digital displays to help people find their stop, and wherever possible, bus services should have a focal point to assist interchange.

There was nothing desirable about the Swindon bus station now I think about it, vile place.

You can put digital signage, posters and information boards up until the cows come home, still doesn’t help people who are visually impaired who are very much within the target audience of buses given they will never be car owners). They are able to use the rail network because there are people around to help and all the departures are from a single location. That obviously falls apart a bit in London, but the rest of the country is (or at least Should be) very accessible. Buses just aren’t inherently customer focused, they change drop off and pick up points at the drop off a hat and there’s still very little in the way of audio help or staff on the ground to help.

I do get the point that when cities become so big it will be very difficult to get everything in one place. But some smaller towns and cities do it reasonably well. Hull as mentioned above, Barnsley, Bradford and I think Bolton

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There was nothing desirable about the Swindon bus station now I think about it, vile place.

You can put digital signage, posters and information boards up until the cows come home, still doesn’t help people who are visually impaired who are very much within the target audience of buses given they will never be car owners). They are able to use the rail network because there are people around to help and all the departures are from a single location. That obviously falls apart a bit in London, but the rest of the country is (or at least Should be) very accessible. Buses just aren’t inherently customer focused, they change drop off and pick up points at the drop off a hat and there’s still very little in the way of audio help or staff on the ground to help.

I do get the point that when cities become so big it will be very difficult to get everything in one place. But some smaller towns and cities do it reasonably well. Hull as mentioned above, Barnsley, Bradford and I think Bolton

The land values in Barnsley, Bradford and Bolton are a lot lower than Brighton, Bournemouth or Bristol

Also, in relation to a parallel with the rail network, you're not really comparing apples with apples. There are only 2600 stations across the country for a start. Many of those are totally unstaffed, and many other stations unstaffed outside of core times.

It's all very laudable to expect staffed bus stations in every town but it's not affordable. Instead, we should look at what is actually deliverable and good signage/information/maps is something that can be realised.