Bus stations - new plans/closures/redevelopment

[TheGrandWazoo]

Didn’t look like an appropriate thread existed so added this one.

Apparently Dewsbury bus station is to refurbished https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/dewsbury

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with Kirklees Council, is excited to share the updated £13.9 million plan to transform Dewsbury Bus Station. The plans included an improved interior design, better accessibility for all bus station users and upgraded public entrances and exits.

In 2021 we asked for your feedback on the initial proposals for the bus station. Thank you to all those who contributed and shared their views.

Following the first stage of consultation, we have made some changes to the proposals. We are now seeking further feedback from you on the updated detailed designs.

This engagement runs from Thursday 22 June to Wednesday 2 August 2023.

Whilst I welcome investment in public transport, does it really need £14m spending on it? It’s pretty decent and I’d contend £14m might be better spent on improving Dewsbury itself to make it more attractive and drive up footfall!

Also an article on BBC News website if you’re interested

 

[Deerfold]

Halifax bus station works are nearing completion after nearly 2 years and £17.7 million.

Changing buses in Halifax has been a pain whilst this has been happening - I'm hoping it's worth the wait.

Halifax Bus Station redevelopment

Work continues on a new £20.5 million state-of-the-art facility delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council.

www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Halifax Bus Station redevelopment
Work is underway on a new £17.7 million state-of-the-art facility delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with Calderdale Council.

Plans for the new Halifax Bus Station include two additional bus stands and three additional layover bays, with level bus boarding throughout and an additional step-free entrance.

The new bus station will provide passengers with better access and more shops, as well as real-time bus and rail information to help with onward journeys.

Alongside improved passenger facilities and better access to the town centre, plans for the new station include environmentally friendly features, such as measures to enable the future introduction of electric bus charging points, bike parking and solar panels, as well as a living roof complete with plants. Overall, the scheme will deliver more green space as well as other environmental benefits.

Construction work start is expected to continue until summer 2023.

The new bus station is part of a wider package of schemes to transform the way people travel in and around the town.

It is being delivered with money from the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund, which is helping to transform gateways to towns and cities across the region by making it easier to walk, cycle and use public transport.

 

[SeanM1997]

Crewe's new bus station is under construction and is due to open by the end of the year / early next year:

Royal Arcade redevelopment

Royal Arcade redevelopment

www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

We have committed to keeping an operational bus station on the site throughout all phases of demolition and construction, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

The new bus station will have 10 stands, with one able to handle a coach. It will replace the existing temporary bus station which currently has 8 stands

With Crewe's largest operator (Arriva North West) ended operations in April and replacement services from D&G/Stagecoach/First being less frequent, will the new bus station be too large for the town? Or will it encourage more people to use the bus if there are decent facilities to wait and live information to provide ease of travel

 

[J-2739]

Didn’t look like an appropriate thread existed so added this one.

Apparently Dewsbury bus station is to refurbished https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/dewsbury

Whilst I welcome investment in public transport, does it really need £14m spending on it? It’s pretty decent and I’d contend £14m might be better spent on improving Dewsbury itself to make it more attractive and drive up footfall!

Also an article on BBC News website if you’re interested

[I have not read the article yet!] The bus station is a primary gateway to the town centre, no? It may be many peoples' first impressions of the town, and so making this good is a first step.

Money well spent, I think. Improvements can then cascade to the rest of the town centre over some time.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

[I have not read the article yet!] The bus station is a primary gateway to the town centre, no? It may be many peoples' first impressions of the town, and so making this good is a first step.

Money well spent, I think. Improvements can then cascade to the rest of the town centre over some time.

If it was some dump of a bus station like Crewe was or Swindon is, I’d agree. Halifax needed doing being a windswept cold place so I fully agree that spending on a transport gateway can be justified.

However, it’s relatively modern and in reasonable condition. As I said in a trip report from December, it’s a little down at heel with the closed travel centre. I said at the time that minimal work and spend would refresh it but £14m….

And it’s Dewsbury…not a transport hub or tourist hotspot. I was visiting from afar but I’m a fool…I’d wager the clientele are overwhelmingly local. They KNOW what to expect in the town centre!

 

[scrapy]

In Greater Manchester, Stockport bus station is being rebuilt and Bury is also set to be rebuilt in the next few years. (Both on original location).

 

[J-2739]

If it was some dump of a bus station like Crewe was or Swindon is, I’d agree. Halifax needed doing being a windswept cold place so I fully agree that spending on a transport gateway can be justified.

However, it’s relatively modern and in reasonable condition. As I said in a trip report from December, it’s a little down at heel with the closed travel centre. I said at the time that minimal work and spend would refresh it but £14m….

And it’s Dewsbury…not a transport hub or tourist hotspot. I was visiting from afar but I’m a fool…I’d wager the clientele are overwhelmingly local. They KNOW what to expect in the town centre!

I see. So something like Sheffield Interchange: a bit windswept and unloved, but with the right TLC, it can make the area quite attractive.

Yes, it would be interesting to see how far the £14million goes.

 

[Andyh82]

I agree that I can’t see why they are spending 14m on Dewsbury bus station. All it needs is a slight tidy up. Like others have said, it’s might be a bit tatty in the context of West Yorkshire, but there are many much worse elsewhere, such as places that have 1970s concrete stations or just a load of ancient metal shelters.

Last time I visited it was mostly full of feral youths who had pretty much taken over. Many buses have been withdrawn so it’s fairly quiet with many stands out of use as nobody visits Dewsbury unless they live there as most shops have closed down.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I agree that I can’t see why they are spending 14m on Dewsbury bus station. All it needs is a slight tidy up. Like others have said, it’s might be a bit tatty in the context of West Yorkshire, but there are many much worse elsewhere, such as places that have 1970s concrete stations or just a load of ancient metal shelters.

Last time I visited it was mostly full of feral youths who had pretty much taken over. Many buses have been withdrawn so it’s fairly quiet with many stands out of use as nobody visits Dewsbury unless they live there as most shops have closed down.

It didn't help that they removed a load of seats from the waiting area of each stand a few years ago. Dewsbury is basically a dump these days as you say, nothing but empty shops and a few survivors that seem to get by mostly by selling smuggled cigarettes. The bus station itself isn't too bad though apart from the lack of seating. I suspect most people using it are transferring between routes rather than visiting Dewsbury because well... why would you visit?

I did hear somewhere (though can't recall where) that there are plans to build a proper bus station in Heckmondwike to replace the "Hub" that was only completed a few years ago. To be honest I'd rather WYPTE spent their money on restoring the Batley to Huddersfield link that was lost when Arriva rerouted the 229, than building yet more overspecified bus stations in tiny towns.

 

[WibbleWobble]

In Greater Manchester, Stockport bus station is being rebuilt and Bury is also set to be rebuilt in the next few years. (Both on original location).

That would leave Leigh as the last of the 1980s/early 90s design to remain. Surely that can't be too far behind then?

 

[Brooke]

. To be honest I'd rather WYPTE spent their money on restoring the Batley to Huddersfield link that was lost when Arriva rerouted the 229, than building yet more overspecified bus stations in tiny towns.

I agree! It’s a privilege that West Yorks has such good bus stations, esp when compared to other places around the UK.

But a comprehensive network of buses that people want and able to use is surely more important!

Hopefully the next few years see progress on that front too, with the mayoral setup now in place, etc.

 

[scrapy]

That would leave Leigh as the last of the 1980s/early 90s design to remain. Surely that can't be too far behind then?

You wouldn't think so but I've not heard of any plans to replace it and it was 'refurbished' about 5 years ago

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I agree! It’s a privilege that West Yorks has such good bus stations, esp when compared to other places around the UK.

But a comprehensive network of buses that people want and able to use is surely more important!

Hopefully the next few years see progress on that front too, with the mayoral setup now in place, etc.

Have to agree with this and @61653 HTAFC

Granted, Dewsbury was built in 1994 but I think it's had some money spent on it in that time as it's in decent condition. However, £14m to refurb what is quite a decent bus station is eyewatering and that money could be spent elsewhere.

I do recognise the importance of good bus terminii and especially outside of the most major cities where service frequencies may be lower and hence passenger waiting times are longer. There is a balance though to be had. At the risk of being a broken record, West Yorkshire has quite a few places where rather grandiose bus stations have been built (Cleckheaton and Batley spring to mind) and you can't help the capital and revenue costs might be spent better elsewhere.

WYPTE isn't the only offender. You can say the same about South Yorkshire (Dinnington) or West Midlands (Halesowen) where it's all gone a bit far!

You wouldn't think so but I've not heard of any plans to replace it and it was 'refurbished' about 5 years ago

Can't remember if Leigh didn't get a bit of a spruce up to coincide with the Busway being launched.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Can't remember if Leigh didn't get a bit of a spruce up to coincide with the Busway being launched.

A lick of paint, some new signage, new toilets and the Travelshop relocated to the old kiosk to allow for said new toilets. Also the installation of a Cycle Hub. Bus the rest of it is still original to 1992!

 

[ian1944]

No longer in the area, but I used to like Leigh BS as it was so see no great point in spending money on tarting it up. Likewise, I preferred the final version of Bolton Moor Lane to the current thingy. To maintain the dinosaur outlook, I liked Piccadilly BS in Manchester in the 60s much more than anything there since, and much preferred Blackburn's one by the station to the current glass shrine.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Dudley is set to be demolished and rebuilt as part of the West Midlands Metro Interchange project

Plans unveiled for new £24million interchange set to replace bus station

The interchange is set to replace the current bus station in the town centre

www.birminghammail.co.uk

Plans have been released showing artistic impressions of a new £24million bus and metro interchange. Work is set to begin on the Dudley project this winter, council bosses have said.

The interchange is set to replace the current bus station in the town centre. Temporary bus stops will be provided in the town centre during construction to minimise the disruption.

Apparently there was some issues with some Compulsory Purchase Orders, as well as delays to the West Midlands Metro project which had put the date back.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Have to agree with this and @61653 HTAFC

Granted, Dewsbury was built in 1994 but I think it's had some money spent on it in that time as it's in decent condition. However, £14m to refurb what is quite a decent bus station is eyewatering and that money could be spent elsewhere.

I do recognise the importance of good bus terminii and especially outside of the most major cities where service frequencies may be lower and hence passenger waiting times are longer. There is a balance though to be had. At the risk of being a broken record, West Yorkshire has quite a few places where rather grandiose bus stations have been built (Cleckheaton and Batley spring to mind) and you can't help the capital and revenue costs might be spent better elsewhere.

WYPTE isn't the only offender. You can say the same about South Yorkshire (Dinnington) or West Midlands (Halesowen) where it's all gone a bit far!

Can't remember if Leigh didn't get a bit of a spruce up to coincide with the Busway being launched.

As you suggest, and as I've seen on this forum, the criticism of WYPTE's elaborate bus stations is almost a cliche at this point... however, as a West Yorkshire resident I'm quite grateful that my adopted hometown of Batley has a "proper" bus station. The fact that the retail space has been unoccupied for the last few years does raise questions about how those spaces are managed, but that's a separate subject really. The fact that the PTE/ITA doesn't have much control over routing does devalue the impact of the investment in facilities though. If the regional mayor ends up sorting out franchising this may change, but that's still open to interpretation. Greater Manchester and Nexus seem to be the "test cases" for how buses could work under a regionally devolved system, so I'll hold back on picking a side until things are sorted out in those regions.

 

[adam_haddad40]

Durham bus station was demolished in 2021 and the new-build is coming along nicely. It’s due to open later this year.

Transport North East

www.transportnortheast.gov.uk

Durham bus station - Durham County Council

Find out about the building of a new bus station in Durham City.

www.durham.gov.uk

 

[noddingdonkey]

Yes there is certainly an argument that with a fit for purpose, frequent service passengers wouldn't be sepending long enough in the bus station to care about the quality of the interior design.

With the recent reduction in frequency I'm a little perplexed that WY Metro haven't reinstated the seats that were removed during covid at Huddersfield

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

As you suggest, and as I've seen on this forum, the criticism of WYPTE's elaborate bus stations is almost a cliche at this point... however, as a West Yorkshire resident I'm quite grateful that my adopted hometown of Batley has a "proper" bus station. The fact that the retail space has been unoccupied for the last few years does raise questions about how those spaces are managed, but that's a separate subject really. The fact that the PTE/ITA doesn't have much control over routing does devalue the impact of the investment in facilities though. If the regional mayor ends up sorting out franchising this may change, but that's still open to interpretation. Greater Manchester and Nexus seem to be the "test cases" for how buses could work under a regionally devolved system, so I'll hold back on picking a side until things are sorted out in those regions.

I am a walking cliche - it is something I've mentioned in the past

I think it's invaluable towns should have good transport infrastructure and that includes bus stations. The idea that towns should have bus services scattered across a number of streets isn't attractive (esp if frequencies are not exactly turn up and travel). However, it should be appropriate and West Yorkshire has some quite grandiose facilities in quite small towns e.g. Batley, Cleck, Ossett. I wonder how much it costs for Batley in terms of rates, maintenance, cleaning and utilities?

The biggest waste of space (literally) is Halesowen in the West Midlands.

Durham bus station was demolished in 2021 and the new-build is coming along nicely. It’s due to open later this year.

Transport North East

www.transportnortheast.gov.uk

Durham bus station - Durham County Council

Find out about the building of a new bus station in Durham City.

www.durham.gov.uk

I'll look forward to seeing that. I remember the old bus station in its original 1970s layout (not the original one, mind) and what a soul sapping place that was to wait for your 723 to Darlington. A light refurb and then a bigger one when they enclosed it made it moderately more bearable.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Can't remember where I saw this, and can't vouch for the accuracy either, but I recall seeing somewhere that Wakefield bus station which is managed by Arriva costs far more to run than any of the other facilities in the county. This despite half the concourse being taken up with silly stalls, and the travel centre being closed several years ago.

 

[johntea]

Castleford "only" cost £6 million in 2014 and that was basically a case of flatten the existing facilities and start from scratch!

I do find bus stations an oddly depressing place to be waiting around in too long and never quite put my finger on why, certainly not helped by they often seem to be the meeting point for the local young mischief mobs! (To the extent some stations now seem to have some form of permanent security staff present although they often seem to turn a blind eye to the regulars anyway!)

Wakefield is quite unique in the fact it actually has a bus stop on Union Street so depending on which route your service takes you can alight there rather than the actual bus station even though it is virtually next door!

 

[leedslad82]

Pudsey has to be one of the oddest ones. It was built in 2010 for £3.25m and has 6 stands around a circular central island, whereas West Yorkshire PTE tends to prefer drive in/ reverse out stations.

 

[Andyh82]

Castleford "only" cost £6 million in 2014 and that was basically a case of flatten the existing facilities and start from scratch!

I do find bus stations an oddly depressing place to be waiting around in too long and never quite put my finger on why, certainly not helped by they often seem to be the meeting point for the local young mischief mobs! (To the extent some stations now seem to have some form of permanent security staff present although they often seem to turn a blind eye to the regulars anyway!)

Funny you should say that. Arriva tweeted tonight that they won’t be serving Ossett Bus Station for the rest of the evening due to antisocial behaviour.

I believe Ossett, Batley and Cleckheaton are unstaffed, and due to them being fully enclosed buildings and fairly quiet on an evening, they are often taken over by youths and there is often boarded up windows, damaged doors etc

 

[J-2739]

I do find bus stations an oddly depressing place to be waiting around in too long and never quite put my finger on why, certainly not helped by they often seem to be the meeting point for the local young mischief mobs! (To the extent some stations now seem to have some form of permanent security staff present although they often seem to turn a blind eye to the regulars anyway!)

I think bus stations only really feel that way if they are 'dead end'; that there is not a lot of people filtering through the building during the day, and so creates more spaces for illicit behaviour to take place. With plenty of people about, there is a natural surveillance that forms a sense of security.

If stations were more open in this sense, then there may not be the need for such heavy-handed security measures in the first place.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Funny you should say that. Arriva tweeted tonight that they won’t be serving Ossett Bus Station for the rest of the evening due to antisocial behaviour.

I believe Ossett, Batley and Cleckheaton are unstaffed, and due to them being fully enclosed buildings and fairly quiet on an evening, they are often taken over by youths and there is often boarded up windows, damaged doors etc

Batley doesn't suffer from the anti-social behaviour quite as much, presumably because there are other places for the youths to congregate (the Tesco staff smoking shelter, the Tesco "p*ss-steps" to name but two). Surprised there's trouble in Ossett, as it seems (at a glance) to be a more gentrified place than Batley... then again, posher places can often be hotspots for bad behaviour too, Godalming and Farncombe on the Portsmouth Direct Line for example.

 

[M60lad]

Speaking of Ant-Social behaviour TfGM have started to employ security at some of their Bus Station, I've seen them at both Wigan Bus Station and Bolton Interchange, in fact due to anti-social behaviour the centre entrance/exit from Wigan Bus Station is now locked daily after 18:00 and signs depict this on the doors.

Another Bus Station that suffers bad from Anti-Social behaviour seems to be Rochdale Bus Station although being there only during the day I've not seen security on there in fact for the last couple of weeks or maybe longer due to said Anti-Social behaviour the main toilets have been closed due to Vandalism with people having to use the disabled toilet instead.

 

[markymark2000]

Speaking of Ant-Social behaviour TfGM have started to employ security at some of their Bus Station, I've seen them at both Wigan Bus Station and Bolton Interchange, in fact due to anti-social behaviour the centre entrance/exit from Wigan Bus Station is now locked daily after 18:00 and signs depict this on the doors.

How do people access buses as Wigan has no 'night stand' does it? It's not a very TFGM thing to do, have night stands.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

How do people access buses as Wigan has no 'night stand' does it? It's not a very TFGM thing to do, have night stands.

@M60lad mentioned it was the centre entrance/exit closed. Presumably, the other ones are still in use?

 

[markymark2000]

@M60lad mentioned it was the centre entrance/exit closed. Presumably, the other ones are still in use?

Ahh, sorry. Misread the post.