Brighton & Hove / Metrobus Discussion

[johncrossley]

This is a new one on me. An area of Crawley (or is it Horsham?) is complaining its bus service is too good!

Gatwick buses 'disturbing quality of life' on Kilnwood Vale estate

Residents claim the number of buses that pass through has shot up from about 150 a day to 400.

www.bbc.co.uk

The frequency of buses going through an estate in West Sussex has been disturbing the sleep of some residents who say their street has become a "fast highway".
Three Metrobus services run through Calvert Link in Kilnwood Vale, including two which go to Gatwick Airport.
A group of residents told the BBC up to 400 buses were passing through each day rather than the intended 150 or so, with Andrea Gaielli claiming the frequency, particularly of the number 10, was "disturbing the quality of life".
Metrobus said Kilnwood Vale was "a growing community" and the services provide "important connections to Crawley, Manor Royal and Gatwick" which give residents an alternative to car travel

 

[OscarH]

This is a new one on me. An area of Crawley (or is it Horsham?) is complaining its bus service is too good!

Gatwick buses 'disturbing quality of life' on Kilnwood Vale estate

Residents claim the number of buses that pass through has shot up from about 150 a day to 400.

www.bbc.co.uk

Absolute lunacy. As someone who lives next to this estate in Bewbush, I very much enjoy having such a usable bus service and I hope these residents get ignored!

 

[Hophead]

This appeared in other news reports at least a month ago, so it's not clear why it's only just made it to the BBC (perhaps someone's been in touch?). The idea that the area has become "a fast highway with 400 buses going from Crawley to Horsham" is absurd on at least two counts: Calvert Link (in the new-ish Crawley neighbourhood) is a low-speed residential road, while the 23 & 200 each run half-hourly at best. Things would obviously be rather quieter if the 10 was operated by hydrogen buses, rather than a motley collection of ageing Scanias and B9TLs, but that doesn't look like it's changing any time soon.

The buses have been running through the estate for a couple of years, only since the bus-only road into Sullivan Drive was completed, several years after the first houses went up. Prior to this, buses did a 3-point turn at Illett Way. The report does seem to include more voices in support than against frequent buses

 

[brightonbususe]

Apologies in advance for what will probably be a stream of consciousness, but I've been getting the 28 from Hailsham to Brighton regularly for a couple of years, more-so in the last year, and it's fascinating to see how passenger numbers have grown in that time, particularly between Eastbourne and Hailsham.

It seems to be a good example of 'build it and they will come' - while a year ago it was normally just me and a couple of other people upstairs, there's now normally around 10-15 and upstairs is normally basically full by the time we leave Ringmer.

I think the route has a lot of presence now with the consistently liveried buses, re-flagged bus stops etc, and at least personally speaking this is what caught my attention and made me realise getting the bus to work was a realistic option.

Anyway, not really sure what the point of this post was apart from to say that it's a nice example of how joined-up thinking and a high quality service can contribute to passenger growth at a time many bus services are struggling. I dream of a 28X that cuts out the Broyle, Malling and maybe a few stops around Lewes because that stretch is a long old slog, but that might just be me being greedy.

 

[Mollman]

This appeared in other news reports at least a month ago, so it's not clear why it's only just made it to the BBC (perhaps someone's been in touch?). The idea that the area has become "a fast highway with 400 buses going from Crawley to Horsham" is absurd on at least two counts: Calvert Link (in the new-ish Crawley neighbourhood) is a low-speed residential road, while the 23 & 200 each run half-hourly at best. Things would obviously be rather quieter if the 10 was operated by hydrogen buses, rather than a motley collection of ageing Scanias and B9TLs, but that doesn't look like it's changing any time soon.

The buses have been running through the estate for a couple of years, only since the bus-only road into Sullivan Drive was completed, several years after the first houses went up. Prior to this, buses did a 3-point turn at Illett Way. The report does seem to include more voices in support than against frequent buses

And I think this is the problem with the way buses are often provided to new builds, i.e. after people have moved in. We have had one recently where the spine road was completed after the first phase of residents had moved in. This has led to complaints from some of them as a bus service is now able to serve the estate!

 

[Sussexwatch]

Apologies in advance for what will probably be a stream of consciousness, but I've been getting the 28 from Hailsham to Brighton regularly for a couple of years, more-so in the last year, and it's fascinating to see how passenger numbers have grown in that time, particularly between Eastbourne and Hailsham.

It seems to be a good example of 'build it and they will come' - while a year ago it was normally just me and a couple of other people upstairs, there's now normally around 10-15 and upstairs is normally basically full by the time we leave Ringmer.

I think the route has a lot of presence now with the consistently liveried buses, re-flagged bus stops etc, and at least personally speaking this is what caught my attention and made me realise getting the bus to work was a realistic option.

Anyway, not really sure what the point of this post was apart from to say that it's a nice example of how joined-up thinking and a high quality service can contribute to passenger growth at a time many bus services are struggling. I dream of a 28X that cuts out the Broyle, Malling and maybe a few stops around Lewes because that stretch is a long old slog, but that might just be me being greedy.

I completely agree. I use the 28 frequently between Brighton and the small village of Laughton to visit my sister. She has benefitted too having recently had to give up driving on health grounds. Before the 28 extension Laughton had just 5 buses a day, none at weekends and I used to encourage her to move but with a half hourly daytime frequency now, there's no point. When the 28 extension from Ringmer to Eastbourne started there would be no more than a handful on each bus towards Eastbourne but now loadings are regularly in double figures on the rural section and it picks up further in Hailsham. Towards Lewes and Brighton it isn't uncommon for buses to be full leaving Ringmer and with plenty of new housing being built there demand is likely to grow further.

Both Brighton & Hove Buses and East Sussex County Council both deserve credit for this success, supported by BSIP funding. As Brightonbususe says it shows that if you introduce a new service providing useful links with a regular service and good marketing people will use it. Timetable information is excellent and next bus times are available on the app, buses are new, branded and smartly kept and the views from the upper deck are spectacular in places. I am often struck by the number of young people using the 28, bus companies elsewhere need to realise that most young people don't have cars these days and there is a big potential market for well planned services between towns, that run in the evenings too.

I agree the only down side is the slightly irritating double run via The Broyle in Ringmer but people use it and more housing is planned (but widely opposed by residents - many houses have 'Don't urbanise Ringmer' signs ) so its likely to stay.

 

[brightonbususe]

I completely agree. I use the 28 frequently between Brighton and the small village of Laughton to visit my sister. She has benefitted too having recently had to give up driving on health grounds. Before the 28 extension Laughton had just 5 buses a day, none at weekends and I used to encourage her to move but with a half hourly daytime frequency now, there's no point. When the 28 extension from Ringmer to Eastbourne started there would be no more than a handful on each bus towards Eastbourne but now loadings are regularly in double figures on the rural section and it picks up further in Hailsham. Towards Lewes and Brighton it isn't uncommon for buses to be full leaving Ringmer and with plenty of new housing being built there demand is likely to grow further.

Both Brighton & Hove Buses and East Sussex County Council both deserve credit for this success, supported by BSIP funding. As Brightonbususe says it shows that if you introduce a new service providing useful links with a regular service and good marketing people will use it. Timetable information is excellent and next bus times are available on the app, buses are new, branded and smartly kept and the views from the upper deck are spectacular in places. I am often struck by the number of young people using the 28, bus companies elsewhere need to realise that most young people don't have cars these days and there is a big potential market for well planned services between towns, that run in the evenings too.

I agree the only down side is the slightly irritating double run via The Broyle in Ringmer but people use it and more housing is planned (but widely opposed by residents - many houses have 'Don't urbanise Ringmer' signs ) so its likely to stay.

Thanks for the reply, and nice to hear a similar experience from your perspective. Is it still funded by BSIP or has that ended now? It's reassuring to see the passenger numbers knowing that it seems to have the legs as a self-funding service now though.

Totally about the number of younger passengers. On the trips I take, most seem to be university students who for me are among my favourite type of passenger as they're all pretty quiet and well behaved. And yeah, they're throwing up a lot of houses at Ringmer (and Hailsham) so I can only see the services getting busier as a result.

My 28X idea would probably never happen, and I'd definitely want it to be in addition to existing services (rather than take capacity away from The Broyle etc). But I have to say the route from Hailsham to Eastbourne is lightning-quick, it's almost the same route I'd take by car and takes about the same amount of time when you factor in parking etc.

Hope your sister is doing OK.

 

[Sussexwatch]

Thanks for the reply, and nice to hear a similar experience from your perspective. Is it still funded by BSIP or has that ended now? It's reassuring to see the passenger numbers knowing that it seems to have the legs as a self-funding service now though.

Totally about the number of younger passengers. On the trips I take, most seem to be university students who for me are among my favourite type of passenger as they're all pretty quiet and well behaved. And yeah, they're throwing up a lot of houses at Ringmer (and Hailsham) so I can only see the services getting busier as a result.

My 28X idea would probably never happen, and I'd definitely want it to be in addition to existing services (rather than take capacity away from The Broyle etc). But I have to say the route from Hailsham to Eastbourne is lightning-quick, it's almost the same route I'd take by car and takes about the same amount of time when you factor in parking etc.

Hope your sister is doing OK.

Thanks, I think the BSIP funding was for three years, from 2023 so it may have expired already but I've not heard any murmurings about cutbacks and I have a good contact at B&H, so I assume it has been a success and is now fully commercial. I believe the ESCC funding was for the Brighton - Lewes - Hailsham service and the Eastbourne extension was a commercial initiative by B&H which has clearly been well used, partly at the expense of Stagecoach which has a poor reputation in Eastbourne.

My sister is ok thanks, I think her experience highlights the problem of many older people in rural areas who find themselves on their own and unable to drive. Im often amazed by the way she praises the 28 to friends without any prompts from me!

 

[Edvid]

The other day I noticed that Compass Travel are trialling TOTO on routes that serve Brighton & Hove; I didn't try it out because I was using a PlusBus ticket. It's not advertised on their website but they've issued a poster (not my pic) which suggests that if it's a success they'll join the longer-established B&H TOTO scheme.

Can you help us test out our new system?
Do you travel only on bus services 16, 37, 37B, 47 or 52?

From 8 June 2026, we will be trialling our new tap on, tap off payment system for three months. The aim is that, if the trial is successful, we will be able to join the wider Brighton & Hove tap on, tap off network in the future, helping to make bus travel easier across the city.

 

[that1pepfan]

The other day I noticed that Compass Travel are trialling TOTO on routes that serve Brighton & Hove; I didn't try it out because I was using a PlusBus ticket. It's not advertised on their website but they've issued a poster (not my pic) which suggests that if it's a success they'll join the longer-established B&H TOTO scheme.

I don't understand how they can join it, as their TMs are seperate with the transactions coming out as "Compass Travel" - Metrobus don't add to the cap too so if you use a Metrobus in the Brighton area and use Brighton services it charges you seperately.

 

[Man of Kent]

I don't understand how they can join it, as their TMs are seperate with the transactions coming out as "Compass Travel" - Metrobus don't add to the cap too so if you use a Metrobus in the Brighton area and use Brighton services it charges you seperately.

Yes it does. If you use Metrobus and B&H services on the same day, tap on/tap off transactions are capped at the equivalent price to a Metrovoyager ticket. I haven't used the scheme wholly within the Brighton Citysaver area to know what happens there.

 

[MrJeeves]

If you use Metrobus and B&H services on the same day, tap on/tap off transactions are capped at the equivalent price to a Metrovoyager ticket. I haven't used the scheme wholly within the Brighton Citysaver area to know what happens there.

Both are fully integrated in terms of TOTO and all of the caps.

It doesn't seem impossible to add Compass to this too?

 

[James H]

Bournemouth briefly had cross-operator capping between Morebus and Yellow Buses before YB collapsed. It's not unprecedented.