Bus operator owned and managed bus stations

[SCH117X]

Judging by the general signage I suspect Transdev manage Ripon bus station. An example of the negativity from County Councils was shown by North Yorkshire when, off topic, they switched off the real time displays in Harrogate. They had acquired them from Harrogate Borough Council when they terminated a highway agency agreement the Borough Council had held in a squabble following being rejected as becoming a unitary authority and were subsequently taken on by Blazefield/Transdev

 

[Tuppenny Tube]

All I will say is go to Crewe and compare it to Newcastle Under Lyme. Crewe is owned and ran by Arriva. Newcastle Under Lyme ran by LAs. Newcastle-U-L is by no means fantastic but it's functional and it's tidy. Crewe is rarely (if ever) cleaned with the rubbish just flying about.

There are good and bad on both sides but I would say overall, bus operator owned bus stations are in poor state of repair and not very passenger friendly

Crewe hasn't been operator owned since Crosville was privatised, it was sold off, along with most of Crosville's other property, by their new owners ATL.
Since that time it has been owned by several development companies, all of whom failed to deliver grandiose plans for a new shopping centre & bus station. Following the failure of the last scheme several years ago, it was apparently purchased by the local council, who also keep promising imminent redevelopment !

If I remember correctly, Crosville actually closed their garage, which is on the same site, in 1988 & relocated to a new site within the town as closure and demolition was expected within weeks, only to move back in the following year when the redevelopment plan failed.

I wouldn't have thought that any operator would want to invest capital in a facility they don't own & know may be subject to sudden closure so I think they can't be criticised for that.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Durham CC have a nice line in Soviet austerity chic for some of there locations like Stanley!

Stanley got rebuilt a few years ago, and is actually quite nice these days. On a par with WYPTE stations.

Consett, on the other hand, is the opposite. But I'm not sure if that's actually owned by Go.

I still have night terrors about the old bus station in Seaham Harbour.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Yes Batley and Cleckheaton were Arriva in their previous near derelict state, but are probably Metro since they were rebuilt. Keighley was Transdev (or Blazefield at that point) but it’s now Metro. I’m sure Transdev manage it though.

Wakefield is still fully owned and run by Arriva though

Arriva also manage Dewsbury (including the travel centre), but I think it's still owned by the PTE.

 

[Andyh82]

Arriva also manage Dewsbury (including the travel centre), but I think it's still owned by the PTE.

Are you sure, I don’t think they do. Arriva staff the travel centre but I think that’s it.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Are you sure, I don’t think they do. Arriva staff the travel centre but I think that’s it.

It's been a long time since I went to Dewsbury (not a complaint) but I'd be surprised if Metro didn't operate it themselves. Seem to recall when I first went there (c.1991/2) that it wasn't a bad bus station and then Metro rebuilt it - must be about 1995 as recall YWD Striders being quite new then? Aside from the very smallest like Wetherby and South Elmsall, most Metro bus stations seem quite grandiose.

Stanley got rebuilt a few years ago, and is actually quite nice these days. On a par with WYPTE stations.

Consett, on the other hand, is the opposite. But I'm not sure if that's actually owned by Go.

I still have night terrors about the old bus station in Seaham Harbour.

I've been to Stanley since it was rebuilt. I found it depressing and gloomy - modern but a bit Soviet!!! I think Consett and Peterlee (very similar) are Durham CC.

The bus station in Seaham Harbour was like something out of Blade Runner. Genuinely, one of the very worst bus stations I have ever been to, and I've waited in some abysmal spots.

 

[noddingdonkey]

While Metro have reduced their branding, when they own a bus station, they normally like to run it. The branding on the timetable cases is technically helpful to passengers and might help reduce a few queries to staff. With most buses going different ways from the bus stations, there will be no competition complaints.

I was surprised they allowed the example at Huddersfield, where Yorkshire Tiger's competing service was using the next stand.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I found it depressing and gloomy

That's just Stanley in general! Other than the Argos factory outlet shop in the town centre, the place is dead.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Stanley got rebuilt a few years ago, and is actually quite nice these days. On a par with WYPTE stations.

Though it is the only bus station (that I'm aware of) which partially closes in the early evenings, because of antisocial behaviour. After 6, around half of the stands are closed off.

 

[RT4038]

Though it is the only bus station (that I'm aware of) which partially closes in the early evenings, because of antisocial behaviour. After 6, around half of the stands are closed off.

Doesn't Stockport Bus Station do that as well?

 

[Andyh82]

Doesn't Stockport Bus Station do that as well?

That was a feature of many Manchester bus stations for years. They do/did it in Oldham and Rochdale as well.

 

[kez19]

I could be wrong in saying this but I am sure Stagecoach runs the Seagate Bus Station in Dundee (they have Stagecoach plastered on the side of the building), plus the station mostly has Stagecoach buses running out of it (if you want to include Megabus/Citylink coaches)

 

[Bungle965]

Rochdale as well

Not since the new bus station has been opened.
The old one really was awful in comparison, no wonder it attracted the feral youths.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Are you sure, I don’t think they do. Arriva staff the travel centre but I think that’s it.

Tbh you may well be correct, all I know for certain is that Arriva appeared on my bank statement when I topped my MCard up there. On that basis I assumed they managed the whole station like they do in Wakefield.

 

[tramboy]

Stagecoach are the manager at Skegness Bus Station - knowing that as they used to have the procedure for if you wanted to get stand space on the wall of the travel shop!

 

[M60lad]

Regarding the old Rochdale Bus Station, the only thing good about it was the drivers canteen which was a proper canteen for the various operators that used it and the food up there was decent and cheap and the staff running it were really friendly, I used to be invited quite a number of times to go up with various drivers I knew at the time while I was with them.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Though it is the only bus station (that I'm aware of) which partially closes in the early evenings, because of antisocial behaviour. After 6, around half of the stands are closed off.

It wouldn't surprise me.

Liberation Station in St Helier was (and might still be) even more ridiculous, with the whole place shutting at 6.30 and everyone having to use the street stops instead.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not since the new bus station has been opened.
The old one really was awful in comparison, no wonder it attracted the feral youths.

I could make some crass joke involving a now dead local/national politician.....but I won't. Rochdale bus station was one of those places that seemed to attracted people who made you fearful to wait for a bus. The new one is much better.

Of the PTEs, there is a mix of views on bus stations.

West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire seem to have the view that they are essential. For years, and even in some of the smallest towns, they have created some relatively lavish examples (e.g. Cleckheaton, Dinnington) let alone the major hubs. Greater Manchester didn't always but now seems to have joined the club - places like Wigan and Bolton are huge things.

Other areas seem more measured, like West Midlands. Somewhere like Wolverhampton is quite impressive and Stourbridge is a huge improvement. However, Dudley is in a timewarp (like the town) and I can't think of too many grand edifaces. Tyne and Wear likewise though not been to Shields recently and they seem to invest mainly where the Metro is, which makes sense. Confess I'm not so up on Murkeyside.

 

[M60lad]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Dudley Bus Station and indeed the town centre is due to be redeveloped shortly to bring it up to modern standards.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Dudley Bus Station and indeed the town centre is due to be redeveloped shortly to bring it up to modern standards.

Bringing the town up to modern standards...... Seriously, the bus station isn't bad but it isn't the best facility.

 

[bussnapperwm]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Dudley Bus Station and indeed the town centre is due to be redeveloped shortly to bring it up to modern standards.

Bringing the town up to modern standards...... Seriously, the bus station isn't bad but it isn't the best facility.

Yeah, it's going to a drive in, reverse out model due to the West Midlands Metro extension...

Unfortunately

 

[ThatOneGuy]

I believe Grantham is operated by Centrebus.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Company owned bus stations appeared in some very odd places. I remember Cumberland having a bus station in Wigton https://www.flickr.com/photos/23207...HRw-ce5jN7-7xWWPP-7eNd1T-6cuLUr-6ggntk-cn9fKj

It lasted into Stagecoach days - the travel office/crew facilities are in situ https://www.google.com/maps/@54.825...4!1sEaYxMg_AYBB_VgXvpmH79g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

[Tetchytyke]

Tyne and Wear likewise though not been to Shields recently and they seem to invest mainly where the Metro is

More recently Tyne and Wear have invested in bus stations, sometimes off their own bat and sometimes with a developer. Compare the old Gateshead and Four Lane Ends bus stations compared to what we have now.

The bus stations at MetroCentre and Washington Galleries are nice, though owned by the respective shopping centres.

But other smaller redevelopments, like Blaydon and Hetton le Hole, are just (well built) bus shelters in a horseshoe shape.

But yes, there are some grotty stations left. Wallsend, Concord, Jarrow and Winlaton are all much worse than you'd see in South or West Yorkshire.

I don't suppose the view of bus stations being an important investment holds water now Stsgecoach don't use them due to the service charges.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

More recently Tyne and Wear have invested in bus stations, sometimes off their own bat and sometimes with a developer. Compare the old Gateshead and Four Lane Ends bus stations compared to what we have now.

The bus stations at MetroCentre and Washington Galleries are nice, though owned by the respective shopping centres.

But other smaller redevelopments, like Blaydon and Hetton le Hole, are just (well built) bus shelters in a horseshoe shape.

But yes, there are some grotty stations left. Wallsend, Concord, Jarrow and Winlaton are all much worse than you'd see in South or West Yorkshire.

I don't suppose the view of bus stations being an important investment holds water now Stsgecoach don't use them due to the service charges.

As I said, they seem to invest mainly where the Metro is. Places like Shields and Sunderland were the ones that sprang to mind, but also FLE and Gateshead. Blaydon is basically little changed since the 1970s, just that they replace the bus shelters every 20 years

However, you mention Stagecoach and departure charges. They still use Eldon Square and South Shields but pulled out of Sunderland. That's more to do with the less than central location of Park Lane; remember that Busways didn't use the old Park Lane bus station, using the old CBS near Crowtree and it makes little sense to grind through the city centre for little benefit and extra cost.

As with most places, most of the really bad bus stations in T&W from my youth have thankfully gone.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Of the PTEs, there is a mix of views on bus stations.

West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire seem to have the view that they are essential. For years, and even in some of the smallest towns, they have created some relatively lavish examples (e.g. Cleckheaton, Dinnington) let alone the major hubs. Greater Manchester didn't always but now seems to have joined the club - places like Wigan and Bolton are huge things.

Other areas seem more measured, like West Midlands. Somewhere like Wolverhampton is quite impressive and Stourbridge is a huge improvement. However, Dudley is in a timewarp (like the town) and I can't think of too many grand edifaces. Tyne and Wear likewise though not been to Shields recently and they seem to invest mainly where the Metro is, which makes sense. Confess I'm not so up on Murkeyside.

The bus station at Liverpool One comes across (to me) as a Bradford Hall Ings on steroids due to L1's vast size, it does have a travel shop / waiting room which is open on Sundays and is even open when the main counters are closed. Compairing Liverpool one to the bus station at the side of St Johns Shopping Centre, this has a more old Chester Bus Exchange feel to it. Speaking of Chester the new bus station has this "Hall Ings" feel to it maybe Cheshire West & Chester Council was looking up to Merseytravel and the Liverpool One site, where as the old Exchange was more a collection of bus shelters plonked on a patch of land next to the town hall. All in all, the new bus station is a lot better.

One oddity in Merseyside is that, despite its size, Southport doesn't have a bus station.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

One oddity in Merseyside is that, despite its size, Southport doesn't have a bus station.

Used to have one at Lord Street in the old station that also housed the Ribble/NW allocation. Closed not long after deregulation. Station building now a travelodge and the trainshed (that served as the bus station) demolished and a Morrisons built.

I think Crosby had a company owned bus station (???) and it too was closed late 80s, probably to help Drawlane pay for the business.

 

[M60lad]

Regarding Liverpool One one of the main if not the only reason why the Travelshop is open on Sundays and also when the counters is closed is due to the fact that Liverpool One is now where (when their operating) National Express Coaches go from and the National Express Ticket Machines are located in there aswell.

Before National Express moved to Liverpool One the Travelshop only opened at Standard Opening Times and was closed and locked up when it wasn't open.

 

[DunsBus]

If we can extend this to include operators no longer with us, Eastern Scottish owned and ran several of its bus stations: Berwick (jointly with United), Dalkeith, Galashiels, Livingston and St Andrew Square.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If we can extend this to include operators no longer with us, Eastern Scottish owned and ran several of its bus stations: Berwick (jointly with United), Dalkeith, Galashiels, Livingston and St Andrew Square.

Berwick was always one that intrigued me. Obviously, the dual tenancy thing was one thing. However, the construction/style of the Marygate site was also a bit of a hybrid. There were some aspects that were very much Tilling style - the type of "shelter" bolted to the wall, and the style of eaves at the rear of the depot. However, the front aspect of the depot wasn't very Tilling and the type of bricks used weren't standard either, being more like type used on New Street depot.

I didn't know if Galashiels was operated owned or council. I remember Dalkeith all too clearly and believe that Livi was similar as a combined depot and bus station? There was also Kelso, which I thought was a sweet little place to wait for your Seddon.

Confess my ignorance of further North or West in Scotland. The various bus stations (or should I say stances) that predated Buchanan were company owned? Was Ayr owned by Western, and is now the council? Think there was also Largs and Airdrie