BusTimes.Org

[PeterC]

Some weird things happening with TfL services. At the moment there is a 103 at Chase Cross claiming to be a 14 and two 175s in Collier Row showing as 55s as well as another "14" heading south in Romford.

 

[Strathtay 260]

Potentially two of the biggest trips to track on bustimes - Stagecoach 11533 and 11540 on their journeys up from Manchester to Scotland!

 

[Goldfish62]

Some weird things happening with TfL services. At the moment there is a 103 at Chase Cross claiming to be a 14 and two 175s in Collier Row showing as 55s as well as another "14" heading south in Romford.

It's been all over the place on several TfL routes in the past few weeks or so.

 

[JamesC357]

Potentially two of the biggest trips to track on bustimes - Stagecoach 11533 and 11540 on their journeys up from Manchester to Scotland!

Some First transfer runs also track. The longest I’ve seen is from Glasgow all the way down to Essex!

 

[Sealink]

BusTimes.org is getting very confused by Stagecoach Bluebird.

Showing multiple departures per hour from Wick to Thurso in Caithness (where I am at the moment) on Christmas Eve. The 82 Wick Thurso timetable is mixed up with the 82 Peterhead town service. I assume it's the feed but I did email them a month ago about it and nothing has been corrected.

Even Stagecoach is confused, their journey planner also displayed four buses per hour on Route 82 yesterday.

 

[John HG1]

Amused to see Arrival NE showing as currently passing through Harewood, West Yorkshire, England route to Morpeth!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jan 2025 ==

ANE 7531, that is. Finger/brain co-ordination problem.

 

[Edvid]

The service registration data feed has not provided fresh updates for two months or so. Registration updates in the weekly PSV Notices and Proceedings are often publicised after the fact.

 

[alex397]

The service registration data feed has not provided fresh updates for two months or so. Registration updates in the weekly PSV Notices and Proceedings are often publicised after the fact.

Indeed, I’ve noticed a few recent changes with bus services has not been reflected on bustimes.org.
For example, Go-Coach in Kent started new route GC1 on 2nd Jan, but this is not on bustimes.org and neither is the registration for it.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Indeed, I’ve noticed a few recent changes with bus services has not been reflected on bustimes.org.
For example, Go-Coach in Kent started new route GC1 on 2nd Jan, but this is not on bustimes.org and neither is the registration for it.

It shows as status "New" on the DVSA website, so it hasn't been fully processed by the Traffic Commissioners' office (even though there is a registration number for it). If they are running behind (and most likely given the Christmas shutdown), then it could be a couple more weeks before it is actioned.

 

[PeterC]

Amused to see Arrival NE showing as currently passing through Harewood, West Yorkshire, England route to Morpeth!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jan 2025 ==

ANE 7531, that is. Finger/brain co-ordination problem.

Red Rose have managed to have one bus simultaneously running on routes in Aylesbury and Chesham.

 

[markymark2000]

The service registration data feed has not provided fresh updates for two months or so. Registration updates in the weekly PSV Notices and Proceedings are often publicised after the fact.

Traffic Commissioner issue. Registration data comes from this Govt dataset. https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/9ea90ed8-de54-4274-92c6-272edd518bfb/local-bus-service-registration

I've emailed them and this was the reply that I got on the 19th December.

I raised your query with our technical team who have assured me that the data feed is still working and indeed is updated each and every Sunday as noted on the dataset.

However, I have also spoken to our Bus Registrations team who have confirmed that there have been delays in creating applications and that, once created, they are processing in order of effective date (not received date).

Applications are starting to reduce after the summer period and the team have provided assurances that they should be able to catch up which has been aided by other internal changes.

The team has confirmed they are currently creating applications received on 19/11/24.

We are confident that the figures shown in the dataset will soon be more reminiscent of previously expected levels/dates.

Really poor from the OTC staff in my opinion. And why is this still being done manually? Many bus registrations are done electronically now, there shouldn't be a need for manual input.

Indeed, I’ve noticed a few recent changes with bus services has not been reflected on bustimes.org.
For example, Go-Coach in Kent started new route GC1 on 2nd Jan, but this is not on bustimes.org and neither is the registration for it.

That's because of Go-Coach open data. Go-Coach often has issues with their data and they refuse to sort out datasets (despite multiple feedbacks being given).

 

[Goldfish62]

And why is this still being done manually? Many bus registrations are done electronically now, there shouldn't be a need for manual input.

Because the electronic system is really clunky. Even large operators, eg First South West, still do it manually.

 

[markymark2000]

Because the electronic system is really clunky. Even large operators, eg First South West, still do it manually.

Interesting. If anyone is doing them manually, it makes sense that manual input would be needed but for anyone using EBSR (Electronic Bus Service Registration) such as Stagecoach, surely that can be done automatically.

That said, I still don't know why we are faffing with separate files. If information is available on the local bus registration search (https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...ch/find-registered-local-bus-services/browse/), then there is clearly already a separate database with all of the information in it. If so, why isn't that being extracted rather than creating a separate database. Seems such a waste of time, money and effort. Anyway, I digress.

 

[Statto]

Bus Times has recently updated the live map to include Satellite format which is a great addition, however i wish they had the option of being able turn off bus stop locations when you zoom in, which they used to have.

 

[kernowbususer]

Interesting. If anyone is doing them manually, it makes sense that manual input would be needed but for anyone using EBSR (Electronic Bus Service Registration) such as Stagecoach, surely that can be done automatically.

That said, I still don't know why we are faffing with separate files. If information is available on the local bus registration search (https://www.vehicle-operator-licens...ch/find-registered-local-bus-services/browse/), then there is clearly already a separate database with all of the information in it. If so, why isn't that being extracted rather than creating a separate database. Seems such a waste of time, money and effort. Anyway, I digress.

Different requirements for the data in Bus Open Data (BODS) and Electronic Bus Service Registration (EBSR).

Until the requirements for both systems are harmonised operators have to produce two slightly different files to work with each system.

 

[markymark2000]

Different requirements for the data in Bus Open Data (BODS) and Electronic Bus Service Registration (EBSR).

Until the requirements for both systems are harmonised operators have to produce two slightly different files to work with each system.

I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to say? The post you quote was in relation to the traffic commissioners registration datasets not updating, and why if a registration is submitted electronically, why TC staff had to do manual input to put the data into registration databases. It wasn't related to BODS.

 

[M60lad]

Does anybody know where I can find a timetable for new 114 Chorley-Preston service as there isn't one on Bus Times and also when I've tried looking on Lancashire Council's website it's coming up with an error?

 

[Deerfold]

Does anybody know where I can find a timetable for new 114 Chorley-Preston service as there isn't one on Bus Times and also when I've tried looking on Lancashire Council's website it's coming up with an error?

It's here

Bus Timetables

lancashiredevolution.com

and here.

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-transport/bus-timetables/bus-timetable-service/bus-timetable-print/?service=LAAO114

Not terribly easy to find, though.

 

[52290]

It's here

Bus Timetables

lancashiredevolution.com

and here.

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/public-transport/bus-timetables/bus-timetable-service/bus-timetable-print/?service=LAAO114

Not terribly easy to find, though.

The old 119 ones are still on the bus stops too.

 

[JD2168]

Rather oddly in Barnsley this week, the Stagecoach single deckers from Barnsley depot have all be tracking as normal but the double deckers have not been tracking.

 

[sbrignall72]

Is there a reason why a lot of the National express coaches are not tracking, is the permanent.

 

[markymark2000]

Is there a reason why a lot of the National express coaches are not tracking, is the permanent.

National Express seems to have changes which vehicles send data to the bus open data system. Bustimes owner is aware and hoping it gets resolved.

 

[gka472l]

From a post on the First Aberdeen thread, that fleet, as well as First Glasgow are now tracking on https://timesbus.org/map#9.33/55.9573/-4.0552 which seems to be very similar to bustimes, however those fleets are not tracking on there....presume 'timesbus' has some different sources for it's data??

 

[markymark2000]

presume 'timesbus' has some different sources for it's data??

Correct. There is a private API for First bus tracking and bustimes owner has said previously that it was not something he wanted to use. Timesbus (ran by a completely different and unrelated team), use said private API.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Timesbus (ran by a completely different and unrelated team),

I wouldn't've guessed they were seperate given how similar they look (except for the fact that timesbus appears to be about 20 minutes since last update, while bustimes is spot on)!
They look like the same thing except one is light mode and one is dark mode, I didn't even know timesbus existed before right now.

 

[tram21]

I didn't even know timesbus existed before right now.

Nor did I, they look completely identical though!

 

[markymark2000]

I wouldn't've guessed they were seperate given how similar they look (except for the fact that timesbus appears to be about 20 minutes since last update, while bustimes is spot on)!
They look like the same thing except one is light mode and one is dark mode, I didn't even know timesbus existed before right now.

The Bustimes script is public so originally timesbus (and a few other more private sites) copied the script, timesbus has since made changes to the site but it is still currently the same styling as Bustimes and there are differences in how the site operates in terms of timetables, tracking and the vehicle editing. Their owners claim it to be more of a fleet list site rather than times tables. It's much more enthusiast led.

Bustimes has always said it's more about timetables and the tracking, and it's focus is on the general public. The fleet lists has just been a byproduct of the tracking. The timetable sources are generally quite refined to get the more accurate data and more populated data (some operators voluntarily offer more data than their normal bus open data but you can only access it if you go via their website, some operators have issues with bus open data so there are other sources which bypass the BusOpenData validation checks etc etc).

For reference, Bustimes does have a dark mode, to activate you go into the map, click the 3 lines on the map and you can change the map mode. If you change map mode to dark mode, the whole of bustimes turns into dark mode.

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

The Bustimes script is public so originally timesbus (and a few other more private sites) copied the script, timesbus has since made changes to the site but it is still currently the same styling as Bustimes and there are differences in how the site operates in terms of timetables, tracking and the vehicle editing. Their owners claim it to be more of a fleet list site rather than times tables. It's much more enthusiast led.

Bustimes has always said it's more about timetables and the tracking, and it's focus is on the general public. The fleet lists has just been a byproduct of the tracking. The timetable sources are generally quite refined to get the more accurate data and more populated data (some operators voluntarily offer more data than their normal bus open data but you can only access it if you go via their website, some operators have issues with bus open data so there are other sources which bypass the BusOpenData validation checks etc etc).

For reference, Bustimes does have a dark mode, to activate you go into the map, click the 3 lines on the map and you can change the map mode. If you change map mode to dark mode, the whole of bustimes turns into dark mode.

First Bus in Scotland now stopped tracking for some reason

 

[tram21]

First Bus in Scotland now stopped tracking for some reason

Ticketer is probably down

 

[AndrewTaylor95]

First Bus in Scotland now stopped tracking for some reason

Could be I see Manchester isn't tracking either just now for the Bee Network