Green Line 797

[jon0844]

I'm half tempted to try it out before it goes. I'd only get a single though as I'm not sure I could handle coming back in rush hour.

Lots of bad memories of it taking up to three hours to get to Hatfield when the A406 and A1 were snarled up, when I tried driving to London for a few months to save money on travel. Suffice to say, I soon opted for a season ticket to go by train!

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Think it might just be slightly easier by train, especially with all those outfits stuffed into carrier bags, reluctant though I am to make such a suggestion.

...and how do you get from the station, on the Eastern edge of Hatfield to the Galleria on the Western edge of Hatfield ?
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Why would anyone travel to the Galleria from London?

... you do get some travelling to it from the Northern suburbs
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Thanks. I think even at just £17.90 cheaper from Stevenage, most people would opt for the train.

Even before you have the potential traffic approaching London, the extra drive from Stevenage to Hatfield will also have the potential for many issues. Whereas the train will be nearly at London by then!

And if that £87.90 weekly is any permitted and usable on East Coast, then it's even more of a no-brainer.

Of course, the fact it goes via some parts of London that people might ultimately need to get to, will create a certain market. But if you're just seeking to get into London and jump on the tube or another train later on, the bus really isn't that appealing unless it's significantly cheaper.

It was pretty expensive - same fare from Apex Corner to South Hatfield (one stop albeit a long one) than it is from Victoria. It does serve some places not as easily accessible by train and it was also an alternative. Great Northern no longer have a virtual monopoly of public transport through from Hatfield to London they now have an actual monopoly.

 

[Deerfold]

... you do get some travelling to it from the Northern suburbs

They'll still have the 635 running every hour for 14 hours a day in under half an hour from Stevenage.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

They'll still have the 635 running every hour for 14 hours a day in under half an hour from Stevenage.

From North London suburbs I suppose there is still the 614 but it is a bit slower and for s shorter route is sometimes less reliable timetable wise than the 797 is.

 

[Busaholic]

...and how do you get from the station, on the Eastern edge of Hatfield to the Galleria on the Western edge of Hatfield ?.

Personally, I'd travel by bus. I believe both Arriva and Uno operate regular services. If encumbered by bags from the shopping expedition, or, more likely, accompanying someone else with bags, a taxi might even be called for.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Personally, I'd travel by bus. I believe both Arriva and Uno operate regular services. If encumbered by bags from the shopping expedition, or, more likely, accompanying someone else with bags, a taxi might even be called for.

Which would mean a journey from any point in London on the current 797 route would now involve a tube, a train and a bus or taxi journey as opposed to one coach with luggage space ?

 

[Busaholic]

Which would mean a journey from any point in London on the current 797 route would now involve a tube, a train and a bus or taxi journey as opposed to one coach with luggage space ?

Only true if you live near Victoria or one of the few other central/inner London stops. The erosion of Green Line services started in the 1960s and has continued apace with nothing to suggest any new or revived ones could work. The one exception to this could be if there were to be a revival of the 725/726 from Gravesend (Bluewater) west to Heathrow, incorporating TfL's X26. The continued existence of the 724 to the north of London shows there is a demand for such radial services, but the 725/6 operating almost entirely within Greater London would mean an exception would have to be made to the flat-fare policy.It would also require operating garages towards each end of the route too, so a political correctness that's grown up over the last decade would need hefty revision, to the extent of allowing two companies in different private ownership to co-operate in running it. There's novel, as they say in Treherbert.

 

[jon0844]

I wonder if the bus could have continued on from Stevenage (Arriva's base I believe) to Hitchin and then Luton (including the airport)?

I'm not even sure National Express still runs a coach from Hatfield to Heathrow anymore, as when I've looked up services before it only recommends the 724 - a limited stop bus that's really just a normal bus, and not the most comfortable for such a long ride (although, to be fair, it's direct and therefore good if you've got lots of bags).

How many people were using the 797 to go the Galleria? I know the Galleria stopped its own shuttle bus to the station some time ago (never saw it used when it did run) but there are a fair few buses that will get you there.

While the Galleria has improved a lot, it's not a place you'll see people going about with loads of bags. There's no Primark for one thing!

 

[causton]

How many people were using the 797 to go the Galleria? I know the Galleria stopped its own shuttle bus to the station some time ago (never saw it used when it did run) but there are a fair few buses that will get you there.

The shuttle bus stopped I'm guessing because me and everyone else used it to get to the Galleria, then walked home from there, not to the shops! About 90% headed for the two Uni campuses when they got off the times I used it...

The 724 is in no way a coach service, agreed, as someone who commutes on it, it is an express bus but not a coach in any way. It may be used for longer distances, shown by the amounts of bags stacked up in the racks on some journeys, but the journeys are mainly local and 30-45 minutes. It provides some good unique links across Hertfordshire and beyond, including getting me to work, so I'm not complaining

 

[jon0844]

It's definitely a good bus service for connections in Hertfordshire, and probably little used to the airport. Or certainly not from Harlow, Hertford or Hatfield... Hopefully because of its usage as a normal bus by most, it will remain safe. There are very few connections from Hatfield/WGC to Hertford.

I never saw the Galleria shuttles used but it doesn't surprise me that it was abused at some times of the day given the location of the university and halls.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

It's definitely a good bus service for connections in Hertfordshire, and probably little used to the airport. Or certainly not from Harlow, Hertford or Hatfield... Hopefully because of its usage as a normal bus by most, it will remain safe. There are very few connections from Hatfield/WGC to Hertford.

I never saw the Galleria shuttles used but it doesn't surprise me that it was abused at some times of the day given the location of the university and halls.

The is the reliability problem with the 724 being such a long route that is primarily used for local journeys on sections of it. I can see a time when it gets broken up (similar to the longer London routes) to improve reliability.
The 797 did used to get a lot more patronage from university students but the fares seemed to spiral and that coupled with UNO services providing cheap student fares and operating services to outer London tube stations means you rarely see any students use it now.

 

[Busaholic]

While the Galleria has improved a lot, it's not a place you'll see people going about with loads of bags. There's no Primark for one thing!

I'm almost tempted to visit now that you've revealed that.

 

[jon0844]

There's a TK Maxx though. Always looks like it has just been hit by a tornado.

 

[DelayRepay]

There's a TK Maxx though. Always looks like it has just been hit by a tornado.

The Gallaria always reminds me of a cross between a massive jumble sale and a huge children's creche.

 

[Busaholic]

The Gallaria always reminds me of a cross between a massive jumble sale and a huge children's creche.

I've just changed my mind again - my childhood was scarred by attendance at loads of church jumble sales. I've never attended one since nor a car boot sale.

 

[jon0844]

It now has a permanent play area which is pretty good, and at the other end a new 9-hole mini golf course that's surprisingly good.

The issue was always the shops due to restrictions placed upon the Galleria to appease a nearby shipping centre. That expired a while back so gradually it's getting more normal shops and bigger names. It is getting nicer, and is a great place to go to eat since the arcade went and Nandos expanded etc.

To be honest, I go there more for leisure or having a coffee than shopping though. So no bags to worry about carrying by whatever means of travel I have chosen!

 

[AM9]

There's a TK Maxx though. Always looks like it has just been hit by a tornado.

Just like TJ Maxx in the US.
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The 724 is in no way a coach service, agreed, as someone who commutes on it, it is an express bus but not a coach in any way. It may be used for longer distances, shown by the amounts of bags stacked up in the racks on some journeys, but the journeys are mainly local and 30-45 minutes. It provides some good unique links across Hertfordshire and beyond, including getting me to work, so I'm not complaining

I found it quite useful to get from St Albans to Ware with my folding bike so that I could cycle back on the Cole Green way and Alban Way.

 

[jon0844]

It's a good route. Hopefully well enough used to stay in service for the foreseeable future. It always seems very well used and I wonder if it could even have its frequency increased?

(and increasing the frequency can of course often boost usage even further still).

 

[Deerfold]

I wonder if the bus could have continued on from Stevenage (Arriva's base I believe) to Hitchin and then Luton (including the airport)?

Perhaps it could - but that would seem to duplicate the 635 and 100/1/2.

I recall 2 and then 1 daily services from Hitchin on the 797 - but never very conveniently timed for me - presumably they were poorly used (along with the additional Stevenage estate extensions).

 

[DelayRepay]

I've just changed my mind again - my childhood was scarred by attendance at loads of church jumble sales. I've never attended one since nor a car boot sale.

In that case be sure not to go on a Sunday in the summer, when they have car boot sales on the car park before the shops open!

The Galleria's ok - as jonmorris0844 said the leisure facilities are pretty good. The shops are improving. It's better to go during the week because there are fewer kids running about

 

[Busaholic]

In that case be sure not to go on a Sunday in the summer, when they have car boot sales on the car park before the shops open!

The Galleria's ok - as jonmorris0844 said the leisure facilities are pretty good. The shops are improving. It's better to go during the week because there are fewer kids running about

My mental bargepoles are definitely being greased right now.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Unlike Brent Cross you have to pay to park The Galleria.
If you fancy a trip on the 797 before it goes you could always visit the Roman bath at Welwyn.

 

[jon0844]

More off topic; The cost at the Galleria is a PITA but because of the university (and also the business park - meaning the Galleria actually rents a large part of its car park to Tesco and possibly other businesses during the day).

At weekends, there's a flat rate to park but it's higher than parking 1-2 hours (ISTR) which means it may well put people off. Who wants to stay there for hours, unless they want to shop, eat and finish off at the cinema. Nice aspiration, but I suspect some people just want to pop in and out as quickly as possible.

There's a big discount on parking in the week if you get a Galleria card, but that's not valid at weekends either...

 

[spuddie]

I found an interesting little find on Amazon this morning for the kindle:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T883L6K

Described as:

"Whilst writing my new book ‘Memoirs of a bus driver’ I learnt that the Greenline 797 was to be withdrawn at the end of February 2015. This brought me great surprise and sadness as I drove it many times and I know it used to do well. It is the end of the Greenline brand appearing in Stevenage after many many years, probably almost as many as the Town has been around for.

I couldn’t let it pass without writing a special farewell and commemorating it’s history along with the vehicles that served it. This book is short but I plan to put the profits from it towards running a historical recreation of the route one day so it can be truly celebrated."

Interesting that he intends the profits to run something special for a day but I thought he would need to shift a hell of a lot of copies and there can't be that much interest in it surely?

 

[Deerfold]

I found an interesting little find on Amazon this morning for the kindle:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00T883L6K

Described as:

"Whilst writing my new book ‘Memoirs of a bus driver’ I learnt that the Greenline 797 was to be withdrawn at the end of February 2015. This brought me great surprise and sadness as I drove it many times and I know it used to do well. It is the end of the Greenline brand appearing in Stevenage after many many years, probably almost as many as the Town has been around for.

I couldn’t let it pass without writing a special farewell and commemorating it’s history along with the vehicles that served it. This book is short but I plan to put the profits from it towards running a historical recreation of the route one day so it can be truly celebrated."

Interesting that he intends the profits to run something special for a day but I thought he would need to shift a hell of a lot of copies and there can't be that much interest in it surely?

Do I sound picky wanting published authors to be able to use punctuation correctly and not sprinkle apostrophes everywhere?

 

[jon0844]

The 797 has been saved. Sort of.

Uno will start running it from sometime in March. 8 buses, 5 drivers. Further details to follow.

Who knows how well that will work out. I wonder what the timekeeping will be like!

 

[Busaholic]

The 797 has been saved. Sort of.

Uno will start running it from sometime in March. 8 buses, 5 drivers. Further details to follow.

Who knows how well that will work out. I wonder what the timekeeping will be like!

Including 3 driverless buses?!

 

[jon0844]

Oops. Meant 5 buses, 8 drivers!

 

[A0]

The 797 has been saved. Sort of.

Uno will start running it from sometime in March. 8 buses, 5 drivers. Further details to follow.

Who knows how well that will work out. I wonder what the timekeeping will be like!

Probably an extension to one of their existing services.

They tried something similar when Arriva cancelled the 712 St Albans - London service - don't think it lasted long though.

Problem is the coach compares unfavorably with the train in both journey time and cost. The only time the coach starts to make some sense is when you are trying to get to Brent Cross or somewhere like that when the train means going in and out by tube.

 

[Statto]

The 724 is more of an express bus service & quite useful as it provides fast East-West links across Hertfordshire which the rail service doesn't do.