Bus operator map

[MK Tom]

It's always struck me that you can't really find a nationwide map showing the territories of various bus operators. So I've decided to make my own. I've attached a sample of what I've done so far, but already there are some striking features. Stagecoach have one HUGE network, whilst First have several small operations that overlap with other operators and Arriva have isolated patches with intense services in them.

It'll be interesting as this develops to see if these patterns play out across England and whether I need to include any other operators, or if I can just paint the country with these three alone. Any thoughts on what this could show and how it may change in the future are welcome.

Note, the black on the bottom left is First Somerset, and the long black line on top right is the X1 from Peterborough to Lowestoft, just to give a sense of scale.

 

[transportphoto]

It'd be interesting to include GoAhead companies and as it gets bigger, it may help you to include place names. But what you have looks good so far.

TP

 

[scottish rider]

Looks good, best of luck developing it. There was an atlas of bus routes published in the late 80s showing the network pre bus deregulation. I used to have a copy, this would make an interesting comparison with it.

 

[Ivo]

Good stuff there. Are we to assume that the predominantly turquoise blob is London?

 

[David Goddard]

I read this as Black for First (would purple be better?), Red for Stagecoach and Turquoise for Arriva services. I don't think Tom has reached London yet.

 

[MK Tom]

London is the large hole at bottom right (the arriva area is Shires, with First Berkshire at centre bottom). I'll upload a new version before long, no names or anything yet but a lot more routes covered.

 

[MK Tom]

Ok here's a slightly updated version. As suggested I've made First purple and have started to include GoAhead.

 

[34D]

Looks good. Don't forget uuup north though!!

 

[Eagle]

Ok here's a slightly updated version. As suggested I've made First purple and have started to include GoAhead.

Is there any particular order you're doing these in? Just looking at the massive hole where Dorset is :P

 

[transportphoto]

Norfolk should have a massive blob of GoAhead within the First.. we've both Anglian and KonectBus.

 

[MK Tom]

Yep I'm getting there!! I've added a ton more GoAhead now, both the Anglian ones, Wilts and Bluestar, more of Carousel and Thames Travel, some of Stagecoach in Lincolnshire too, and I've made GoAhead a darker green. I'll work North eventually, right now you've got a bit of First around Sheffield and Arriva in Liverpool at the very top of the one I uploaded today.

 

[Ivo]

The detail in this is beyond impressive - full credit where it is due. I can make out Southend very easily on this map; the cul-de-sac of First purple intertwined with a small splattering of Arriva turquoise point is more than enough to demonstrate it.

I must ask, will this be limited to the de facto Big Four, or will others (e.g. NX, Rotala) get a look-in?

 

[MK Tom]

Thanks! Yeah I found the tiny Arriva operation around Southend quite weird. Just looking to do these four operators for now, but I'm having trouble in some areas. For example the First website shows nothing between west Cornwall and Devon, and I can't bridge the gap between First Norwich and First Ipswich. Stagecoach Oxfordshire also have no regional map for me to look at...

 

[Ivo]

You're going to have an amusing gap in the West Midlands (much like with Cornwall) then

 

[MK Tom]

I don't really want to give NatEx their own colour, I don't personally consider them a national operator. Centrebus have more claim to that title than they do. As for Cornwall, is that gap Western Greyhound territory? Do the First operations in Cornwall and Devon not connect?

 

[Ivo]

I don't really want to give NatEx their own colour, I don't personally consider them a national operator. Centrebus have more claim to that title than they do. As for Cornwall, is that gap Western Greyhound territory? Do the First operations in Cornwall and Devon not connect?

That gap is Western Greyhound territory, yes.

Why not have a fifth colour for other prominent operators to avoid this problem? Each area could then be given a letter, which can be identified by a key in the corner of the map along with the other colours. You might include operators such as Western Greyhound, National Express, Rotala, Centrebus, Transdev and EYMS in such a category.

For example, you might have a blot of silver around Bristol, which could then be represented as R (Rotala).

 

[MK Tom]

I was thinking of a black 'other' category. I was also thinking of orange for Centrebus but it might be too close to the Stagecoach red. I'm probably going to write LONDON where London is as I really can't be bothered mapping out the TfL routes!

 

[Class172]

You're going to have an amusing gap in the West Midlands (much like with Cornwall) then

I was trying to find Birmingham and Worcester, and soon realised they don't exist on the map!

I was thinking of a black 'other' category. I was also thinking of orange for Centrebus but it might be too close to the Stagecoach red. I'm probably going to write LONDON where London is as I really can't be bothered mapping out the TfL routes!

I would have thought perhaps grey would be a suitable colour for other operators.

 

[MK Tom]

I was trying to find Birmingham and Worcester, and soon realised they don't exist on the map!

They do now, as does Droitwich (incidentally one of my favourite UK towns).

 

[Eagle]

You're missing a lot of Wilts and Dorset/Damory's rural routes in northern Dorset and southern Wiltshire, leaving a big gap there.

(They don't have a map of those I don't think, at least not one I've seen.)

 

[Muzer]

I'm afraid I'm not that up to speed with bus routes, but I certainly find this effort very interesting. I'd love place names, or some other landmark (perhaps an outline of the British Isles would be good enough!) so that I can get my bearings. Perhaps you could point me to Southampton and Salisbury to start me off?

 

[MK Tom]

See the Isle of Wight at the bottom? The isolated bit of green? You can see the First routes around Southampton and Portsmouth just above that. First are purple, GoAhead green.

 

[W-on-Sea]

Would it be mean of me to point out that you've not taken account of the four different routings between Wantage and Didcot (both of which points I can make out clearly) the Thames Travel routes 32, 32A, 36 and X36 take? Or the three variants taken by the 67, 67A and 67B between Wantage and Faringdon? Obviously it would, but still.....

(Not surprising, as in the case of the 32 series, especially, the timetables don't make it at all clear)?

Yes. most impressive...

For quick reference: some of the Stagecoach Oxon extremities/connection points with other operators include Swindon (route 64 from Witney/Carterton), Chipping Norton (route S3 from Oxford, 488 from Banbury, 233 and X9 from Witney) and Wantage (X30 and 31 from Oxford), and I think, Daventry (200 from Banbury?)

 

[Ivo]

What criteria are you applying for whether a route is included or not? Random choice?

Supposing there were two routes between A and B, one of which went via C and then other D, what would make you choose the C route over the D route?

Also, what is the tiny red circle on its own up north?

 

[MK Tom]

Thanks for the Stagecoach Oxford tips!

For two routes or more it's often just a matter of if I know about them. I'll put both if I can. It's more important on the edge of an operator's territory. The circle up the top is two different Middlesborough-Hartlepool routes.

 

[Ivo]

A quick heads-up to provide a link across what is currently a notable gap: From the end of this month, there will be a through service from Bath to Salisbury (again). You currently have a purple that ends at Warminster and then nothing. which is of course correct at present.

Also for this area I would have to suggest ditching the line between Radstock and Shepton Mallet. It only runs once a day...