Arriva (Beds, Bucks, Herts)

[riceuten]

Are Arriva particularly rubbish at putting diversions into the timetables? Over the summer the 321 in Luton was diverted but there was no update to the timetable or routeing available in their own app or Bustimes.org, and yesterday I was in Stevenage and found that there are diversions in place arounf the Old Town (until December!), but it was very difficult to find out where the alternative bus stops are.

Tell me about it (I live in Stevenage). County just seem to have given up, and the alternative stops make no sense (although the one at the top end of the southbound route is slightly closer to the hairdresser I frequent). It's chaos in the rush hour as all the northbound traffic is funnelled through a single road, and morons park their vans in the middle of the same road when making deliveries, and bus drivers have to deal with people who don't know where their bus departs from.

 

[duncombec]

Are Arriva particularly rubbish at putting diversions into the timetables? Over the summer the 321 in Luton was diverted but there was no update to the timetable or routeing available in their own app or Bustimes.org, and yesterday I was in Stevenage and found that there are diversions in place arounf the Old Town (until December!), but it was very difficult to find out where the alternative bus stops are.

Tell me about it (I live in Stevenage). County just seem to have given up, and the alternative stops make no sense (although the one at the top end of the southbound route is slightly closer to the hairdresser I frequent). It's chaos in the rush hour as all the northbound traffic is funnelled through a single road, and morons park their vans in the middle of the same road when making deliveries, and bus drivers have to deal with people who don't know where their bus departs from.

The Arriva website has a service update:

Diversions are in place on the 301, 100, 101, 55 SB8 & SB9 because of roadworks at Stevenage Old Town High Street until December 2026. Diversion serving Primett Road southbound, and Letchmore Road and Church Lane northbound using temporary bus stops.

Intalink also has an all-operator update with more information:

*The temporary bus stop for the at the north end of Primett Road has been moved down by approx. 120 feet at the back of Austins to allow us to install a temporary bench for the comfort of the waiting passengers. *

Bus stops Old Town The Mulberry Tree and High Street Spice Rouge Restaurant will not be served at all. Bus stop Letchmore Road opposite Methodist Church will not be served by services 9A/B/D, 55, 80, 100, 101, 301, 390, 625, 907, 907A, SB8 & SB9.
For services 9A/B/D, 55, 80, 100, 101, 301, 390, 907, 907A, SB8 & SB9 north bound board using the temporary bus stop on Letchmore Road, along the side of the car park at the back of Coach & Horses or the temporary bus stop on Church Lane near the entrance to the Baker Street walkthrough.
For services 9A/B/D, 55, 80, 100, 101, 301, 390, 907, 907A, SB8 & SB9 south bound board using the temporary bus stop on Primett Road near the entrance to the Rookery Yard walkthrough or the temporary bus stop on Primett Road just before Games Yard.
For services SB10 & SB11 board using the temporary bus stop on Church Lane opposite the Baker Street walkthrough next to the bench for the car park.
For service 625 board using bus stops Hitchin Road Archways Hotel, Stevenage Railway Station (towards Lister) or Stevenage Bus Station (towards Hatfield).

Are you suggesting that the stops should be updated in the timetable/GPS tracking, rather than just handled as a temporary change/"service update"? I can see your argument for such a lengthy change (although will the locations change as the roadworks continue?), but it would be interesting to hear from those currently in the industry what the requirements are for registrations and BODS information during longer-term, but not permanent, disruptions.

 

[Haywain]

Are you suggesting that the stops should be updated in the timetable/GPS tracking, rather than just handled as a temporary change/"service update"?

Yes, I am. The particular change is in place for around 7 months and it is unacceptable to expect people to know where the stops are when Arriva cannot be bothered to tell people. If it was a few days, it might be excusable, but not half a year. It's great that there is information on the Intalink website but how many places should one have to look to find that information? How is Joe Public supposed to know what's going on?