I Squared Capital - Arriva UK BUS

[YorkRailFan]

The new app is officially launching on 14th April:

On 14 April, our new Arriva Bus app will bring everything you need for bus travel together in one place, including live bus tracking, mobile tickets, service alerts and more.

Existing ticket holders​

Don’t worry. If you currently have an account or tickets in the existing app, your tickets will move across as soon as we’ve confirmed your email address.

On 14 April, you’ll just need to:

• Download the new Arriva Bus app
• Create an account using the same email address you use today
• Go to your inbox to confirm your email address when prompted
• Your tickets will appear in the new Arriva Bus app automatically

If you don’t have an account or tickets on our existing app, simply download the new Arriva Bus app on 14 April to start using it right away.

Using the new Arriva Bus app, you’ll be able to:

• Buy tickets easily in the app with a debit or credit card.
• See live and upcoming departures on the map.
• Get alerts for your chosen services.
• Track your bus in real time
• Access timetables for 450+ services across the network.
• Save stops and services to your favourites
• Gift tickets to another person.

As always, our customer support team will be on hand to help should you need us.

The new Arriva Bus app is live

Find out how to access your tickets, navigate the app and browse useful guides.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Hopefully the new website will follow soon after.

 

[E B]

I can kind of see where riceuten is coming from, local to me the Arriva route 6, Tamworth to Nuneaton was displaying on Bustimes under both Arriva Midlands North (correct) and Arriva Midlands (Leicestershire ops, incorrect) and the service displayed under Arriva Midlands had a timetable that was different to the correct timetable displayed under Arriva Midlands North, so when you look at departures from bus stops along the route it would show the real time and a second 'ghost' departure 10 or so minutes later.

I believe it was all corrected towards the back end of last year though.

Nope. The issues are still present, at least with the 6A Nuneaton - Callander Farm which thinks it is part of the 6A Leicester - Thurmaston.

 

[markymark2000]

The new app is officially launching on 14th April:

The new Arriva Bus app is live

Find out how to access your tickets, navigate the app and browse useful guides.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Hopefully the new website will follow soon after.

App and website will launch on the same as I believe as it's all connected.

 

[Russel]

Nope. The issues are still present, at least with the 6A Nuneaton - Callander Farm which thinks it is part of the 6A Leicester - Thurmaston.

Doesn't help that the 6 is trying to be too many things at once, an interurban service between Tamworth and Nuneaton, a local route serving all the villages in between off the A5, and now it's been extended at both ends, to Callendar Farm in Nuneaton and having the Dunstall Park service 11 merged into it at the Tamworth end.

I'm surprised it's as reliable as it is to be fair, especially given how tight the timetable is now.

 

[joieman]

Nope. The issues are still present, at least with the 6A Nuneaton - Callander Farm which thinks it is part of the 6A Leicester - Thurmaston.

And it's not just an Arriva problem as Centrebus's service 24 between Leicester, Birstall and Barrow-upon-Soar recently got mixed up with another service 24 in Newark.

 

[E B]

Doesn't help that the 6 is trying to be too many things at once, an interurban service between Tamworth and Nuneaton, a local route serving all the villages in between off the A5, and now it's been extended at both ends, to Callendar Farm in Nuneaton and having the Dunstall Park service 11 merged into it at the Tamworth end.

It should be two routes really. The 6 as it is now and an ‘X6’ which runs fast Tamworth - Atherstone - MIRA - Nuneaton.

 

[YorkRailFan]

As part of the launch of the new app from 14th April, service updates will no longer be posted to Twitter/X from the same date:

On 14 April 2026, we’ll be launching a new app and website that will make service disruption updates much easier to access.

Once the new app and website are live, you’ll be able to find disruption information quickly:

By selecting “Service Updates” in the app menu or from the main navigation bar on the website.
Disruption alerts will also show for affected services when you view a timetable or plan a journey.
We’re also introducing a new feature to help you stay informed.

You’ll be able to receive personalised alerts whenever there’s a disruption affecting your usual services or stops. Simply turn on 'Personalised travel alerts and disruptions' and favourite the stops or services you use.

As part of this change, we’ll stop posting service disruption updates on X from 14 April 2026.
We understand this change may feel concerning, and we’ll share clear, step‑by‑step guidance on how to access disruption information once the new app is live.

Changes to service disruption updates

On 14 April 2026, we’ll be launching a new app and website that will make service disruption updates much easier to access.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

 

[Stan Drews]

As part of the launch of the new app from 14th April, service updates will no longer be posted to Twitter/X from the same date:

Changes to service disruption updates

On 14 April 2026, we’ll be launching a new app and website that will make service disruption updates much easier to access.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

It sounds very much like the Passenger offering, which would be a significant improvement, if that is the case.

 

[Deerfold]

After a short look at the new app I'm not impressed.

Thought I'd have a look at Deganwy where I'll be holidaying later in the year.
Clicked on the departures of the local stop to be given the 5D to Bus Station, 13 to Bus Station and 15 to Railway Station.

Possibly useful if you already know all the routes, but the 5D is going to Bangor, the 13 to Prestatyn and the 15 to Conwy.

 

[stadler]

This new Arriva website is a complete and utter mess.

Here are just some of the problems:

It features multiple routes that no longer exist. 477 in Kent. 508 in Hertfordshire. 508A in Hertfordshire. I am not sure how nobody noticed this. They have been withdrawn for months. I am sure there are probably other routes too that i have not noticed.

It still refers to "Kent & Surrey" even though Arriva have not operated anywhere near Surrey for years. They got rid of Guildford depot a couple years ago. How has nobody noticed that on their website.

The routes are numbered in a weird order. It is done mostly in numberical order but then each area also has some routes which are listed at the bottom that are not in numerical order. It is very random. It means that these routes are hard for passengers to find as they look like they are missing from the list unless you look at the very bottom.

They have got rid of the PDF timetables. There is no ability to download a PDF timetable. This is ridiculous as this is one of the most basic features of any bus website. It is essential to be able to download a PDF timetable to view on your phone offline or to print out. It is even more essential now that they now longer produce paper timetables.

Overall it is a terrible new website filled with problems.

 

[Metal Mickey]

Overall it is a terrible new website filled with problems.

It would seem there are teething problems caused in the transfer but I disagree that it’s a terrible website. It’s the same supplier used by Go-Ahead, Rotala, Cardiff Bus, McGill’s etc.

 

[James H]

It does suffer from being one website for lots of dispersed operations. Whereas the GoAhead companies with their local branding and separate websites work better. For the most part Arriva Yorkshire's customers aren't going to care about Kent and vice versa.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It would seem there are teething problems caused in the transfer but I disagree that it’s a terrible website. It’s the same supplier used by Go-Ahead, Rotala, Cardiff Bus, McGill’s etc.

I agree with you.

Looks like a few things were left over with the lift and shift (and the 477 is an odd one) but it's light years better than the old one, though I concede it's a low bar! The lack of a PDF download is perhaps the biggest disappointment but I don't think it's a terrible website.

 

[Megafuss]

Split registration services are still a complete mess. I'm sure they'll fix it, but come on guys

 

[overthewater]

The website is a million times better, than the awful old one. A low bar? the old one was dead and buried. However there are issues but maybe we could email them with some feedback so they could fix them?

As for the missing PDF, will that seem to plague other companies aswell, Mcgills being one of them.

 

[duncombec]

This new Arriva website is a complete and utter mess.

Here are just some of the problems:

It features multiple routes that no longer exist. 477 in Kent. 508 in Hertfordshire. 508A in Hertfordshire. I am not sure how nobody noticed this. They have been withdrawn for months. I am sure there are probably other routes too that i have not noticed.

It still refers to "Kent & Surrey" even though Arriva have not operated anywhere near Surrey for years. They got rid of Guildford depot a couple years ago. How has nobody noticed that on their website.

The routes are numbered in a weird order. It is done mostly in numberical order but then each area also has some routes which are listed at the bottom that are not in numerical order. It is very random. It means that these routes are hard for passengers to find as they look like they are missing from the list unless you look at the very bottom.

They have got rid of the PDF timetables. There is no ability to download a PDF timetable. This is ridiculous as this is one of the most basic features of any bus website. It is essential to be able to download a PDF timetable to view on your phone offline or to print out. It is even more essential now that they now longer produce paper timetables.

Overall it is a terrible new website filled with problems.

As regrettably usual, your good comments are rather lost in a sea of hyperbole. The 477 has indeed been withdrawn a while, but the 508 and 508A was changed a little over 6 weeks ago. "Kent and Surrey" is still the formal name of the company, and whilst it could be updated a little, it is arguably not "wrong". PDFs may be "basic" for you, but with increasing phone use, PDF only websites are increasingly unhelpful, hence why most operators now provide both. It is an inconvenience, but isn't essential for a large chunk of users.

"Numberical" = stones and glass houses?

It would seem there are teething problems caused in the transfer but I disagree that it’s a terrible website. It’s the same supplier used by Go-Ahead, Rotala, Cardiff Bus, McGill’s etc.

Looks like a few things were left over with the lift and shift (and the 477 is an odd one) but it's light years better than the old one, though I concede it's a low bar! The lack of a PDF download is perhaps the biggest disappointment but I don't think it's a terrible website.

Likewise, I suspect a lot was copied over from an earlier version. I have worked on different aspects of web transfer before, and it's not easy when you're both working on a new version and updating the old one to the last minute. I suspect it was simply a case of we've got it so far, set a deadline, and iron it out. We also don't know how much is down to local marketing teams confirming what needed to happen. There are numerous Maidstone area services missing from the Kent and Surrey timetables page, but they do appear if you search them... much like there were with Medway Towns services on the old one.

It is less than ideal, but you have to start somewhere, and as @TheGrandWazoo points out, you can't get much worse than the old one.

Split registration services are still a complete mess. I'm sure they'll fix it, but come on guys

Again, I suspect this will be fixed in time, once they get used to the idea. Another smaller firm local to me relaunched their website with Passenger, and will admit they have had some issues getting the various bits of data needed internally to match up with the ideal presentation for the website.

 

[joieman]

Has anybody else had any issues with tickets transferring to the new app? I downloaded the app late this morning and created a new account like the website directed, but my ticket has yet to show up as of this evening and I've still been using the old app for my ticket all day.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Has anybody else had any issues with tickets transferring to the new app? I downloaded the app late this morning and created a new account like the website directed, but my ticket has yet to show up as of this evening and I've still been using the old app for my ticket all day.

Initially yes, but I was sent an email allowing me to transfer tickets over successfully.

 

[joieman]

Initially yes, but I was sent an email allowing me to transfer tickets over successfully.

Found the second email, thanks for the help!

 

[Hophead]

I did wonder how a Passenger based website would look with a national operator and, as you might expect, it doesn't work well.

Herts and Essex, for example, has 4 number 2s listed, while there are 3 notifications regarding diversions on route 9. To find the 9 timetable, though, you have to scroll right to bottom of the list, where its after the fourth of the 2s and the M prefixed Ware locals. There's also a weird scrolling problem on this tablet.

It's obvious that there's been no more QA of this website than the last, and I expect they'll use what I've written as the testing they should have done themselves.

 

[WibbleWobble]

It features multiple routes that no longer exist. 477 in Kent. 508 in Hertfordshire. 508A in Hertfordshire. I am not sure how nobody noticed this. They have been withdrawn for months. I am sure there are probably other routes too that i have not noticed.

It still refers to "Kent & Surrey" even though Arriva have not operated anywhere near Surrey for years. They got rid of Guildford depot a couple years ago. How has nobody noticed that on their website.

Given Passenger websites are powered by TransXchange file exports, someone at Arriva would have loaded that into the website!

The routes are numbered in a weird order. It is done mostly in numberical order but then each area also has some routes which are listed at the bottom that are not in numerical order. It is very random. It means that these routes are hard for passengers to find as they look like they are missing from the list unless you look at the very bottom.

That is be customisable in the back office platform.

They have got rid of the PDF timetables. There is no ability to download a PDF timetable. This is ridiculous as this is one of the most basic features of any bus website. It is essential to be able to download a PDF timetable to view on your phone offline or to print out. It is even more essential now that they now longer produce paper timetables.

Again, done separately and isn't automatically generated. Maybe Arriva will put together nicer looking ones rather than the auto-generated ones from the previous website.

It does suffer from being one website for lots of dispersed operations. Whereas the GoAhead companies with their local branding and separate websites work better. For the most part Arriva Yorkshire's customers aren't going to care about Kent and vice versa.

I did wonder how a Passenger based website would look with a national operator and, as you might expect, it doesn't work well.

Herts and Essex, for example, has 4 number 2s listed, while there are 3 notifications regarding diversions on route 9. To find the 9 timetable, though, you have to scroll right to bottom of the list, where its after the fourth of the 2s and the M prefixed Ware locals. There's also a weird scrolling problem on this tablet.

Transdev managed it when they used Passenger, so surely should be possible for Arriva. Maybe they need to move towards more local areas, rather than super-regions matching the operating companies. With the previous website, you could at least look up a town and get all related services together.

 

[markymark2000]

It still refers to "Kent & Surrey" even though Arriva have not operated anywhere near Surrey for years. They got rid of Guildford depot a couple years ago. How has nobody noticed that on their website.

I know someone emailed them about this a while ago and their defence of it was that Kent and Surrey is still the legal name of the division and that is why it remains listed on the website as such (becasue clearly how information is displayed to passengers can't vary from the legal company name). I don't get the overall logic though as surely they would be better merging Kent Thameside and Kent into a single company and operators licence etc.

It would seem there are teething problems caused in the transfer but I disagree that it’s a terrible website. It’s the same supplier used by Go-Ahead, Rotala, Cardiff Bus, McGill’s etc.

Rotala use BusHub by Rise Digital Media. You're right though on the other operators but just wanted to clarify that point.

Herts and Essex, for example, has 4 number 2s listed, while there are 3 notifications regarding diversions on route 9. To find the 9 timetable, though, you have to scroll right to bottom of the list, where its after the fourth of the 2s and the M prefixed Ware locals.

Search the route number followed by a place name, and it narrows down the search to return less results.

Given Passenger websites are powered by TransXchange file exports, someone at Arriva would have loaded that into the website!

And going by how dismal Arrivas TransXchange file exports are into Ticketer, predictable, the data on the website is also a shambles. Most Arriva areas refuse to sort out any of their data issues and live in a cuckoo land that their data is perfect.

Transdev managed it when they used Passenger, so surely should be possible for Arriva. Maybe they need to move towards more local areas, rather than super-regions matching the operating companies. With the previous website, you could at least look up a town and get all related services together.

The pages are still there for the towns, but I don't know how you access them without using the website search function. The pages are also quite basic.

Bus travel in Mirfield

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Bus Services in Huddersfield | Huddersfield Buses

Commute through Leeds, Wakefield & other neighbouring towns on aboard any of our Huddersfield buses. Enjoy hassle-free journey with our journey planner today.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

Bus Travel in Morpeth | Tickets & Times

We operate a number of bus services in and around Morpeth. Plan your journey, discover live departure times and buy bus tickets here.

www.arrivabus.co.uk

 

[Metal Mickey]

Herts and Essex, for example, has 4 number 2s listed, while there are 3 notifications regarding diversions on route 9.

That’s nothing to do with the website. The local operator could solve this by renumbering one of the service 2s to 22 for example.

 

[Statto]

The timetables are now hidden, you have to type in a location or route number to get to the timetables, which is a downgrade, when they had a full list when you clicked timetable downloads, & there doesn't seem to be PDF version of the timetable available, it's the basic website version.

One plus you can click on region, & it does give you a full list of routes operated by that region, but still no PDF timetables.

 

[Hophead]

That’s nothing to do with the website. The local operator could solve this by renumbering one of the service 2s to 22 for example.

It's everything to do with the website, but a route renumbering programme wouldn't come as a surprise.

 

[NorthOxonian]

After a short look at the new app I'm not impressed.

Thought I'd have a look at Deganwy where I'll be holidaying later in the year.
Clicked on the departures of the local stop to be given the 5D to Bus Station, 13 to Bus Station and 15 to Railway Station.

Possibly useful if you already know all the routes, but the 5D is going to Bangor, the 13 to Prestatyn and the 15 to Conwy.

Having a look at some routes in my area, it seems to change depending on whether the bus is live tracking or not... I've included two examples - in each case the departures within about three hours have tracking information and display as their destination a specific stop name rather than a town, but after that period they just display the town name. This is particularly problematic for certain bus stops - Fourways in Amble for instance has both northbound X18s (which run to Alnwick Bus Station) and southbound X18s (which run to Morpeth Bus Station)... and on the app, both just say "Bus Station" as their destination!



Another slightly annoying point - routes with a split registration show up in the app and on the website timetable as separate services. In some cases this means the journey planner will try and force an additional change (for instance, Barnard Castle to Durham, which has a few through services on the 6, is shown as requiring a change at Cockfield; I can't get the planner to display Whitby to Redcar itineraries at all when there are half hourly X4 buses via Loftus).

 

[buslad1988]

It clearly seems some finer details and ironing out of issues needs to be done. It is an improvement (of varying degree) however.

A route by route review is required to sort out individual fixes. That’s some task for a person to undergo… also factoring in they won’t be fully aware of routes etc (these will be IT people - not bus people!).

Going forward they should break the individual areas down into counties to make locations easier to find - it’s not like Arriva are as big as they used to be anyway.

I don’t think they need to renumber a load of services just to make the website easier! There’s a big cost involved in that and in places like Colchester and Southend both have service 1 and 8 etc. that have been those numbers for half a century. It just confuses people more.

I’m sure Martijn Gilbert will be all over it and ensuring there are further improvements.

 

[duncombec]

Maybe the answer is for those who have found errors to e-mail Customer Services, to at least give them a chance to correct the "low hanging fruits", rather than find everything for themselves?

As @buslad1988 says, these will be Customer Services/IT people, not bus people, so it needs to be explained in layman's terms... not split registrations and timing points and that stuff that we know (or think we do!).

Edit: Route 477 has been removed from the Kent and Surrey list this morning.

 

[Russel]

Maybe the answer is for those who have found errors to e-mail Customer Services, to at least give them a chance to correct the "low hanging fruits", rather than find everything for themselves?

As @buslad1988 says, these will be Customer Services/IT people, not bus people, so it needs to be explained in layman's terms... not split registrations and timing points and that stuff that we know (or think we do!).

Edit: Route 477 has been removed from the Kent and Surrey list this morning.

Exactly this, issues need highlighting to Arriva, they can't fix something they aren't aware of.

Writing off something as a bad job a few hours after launching is no good to anyone.

 

[sharpley]

Used the app for the first time today and the QR code wasn't read when I boarded. Didn't reject it, just didn't acknowledge it when I put it on the reader. Maybe bad luck with a faulty machine but the driver let me on anyway. Same bus kept disappearing from the app map when I was tracking it. I could see a bus travelling in the opposite direction all the time on the same route but my bus kept disappearing.