Nottingham 'Bus War'

[SCH117X]

Surely they could have used a photo of an undented bus!

 

[Mitch in Notts]

A 7 Day unlimited travel ticket @ £20 when there are no buses on Sundays!

And as a Hucknall-Nottingham return is £4, unless you are travelling 6 days a week or making multiple trips in a single day regularly, the week ticket is a bit pointless.......

Also the timings. Outbound Vic Bus Stn to City Hospital 16minutes. City Hospital to Moorbridge 12minutes. Trent threes allow 25minutes Vic Bus Stn to Broomhill Yew Tree!

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Slightly out of area I know, but:
Lincoln has a revised network under the 'simplibus' logo from the 28th January. There are also changes at Chesterfield from the same date.
Macpherson are withdrawing the Ashby de la Zouch town service from the same date.They have commercially operated these for around 15 years (previously a tender). The company have also closed their travel agency in the town. Leicestershire County Council are seeking an alternative service for the Tamworth Road estate - the Main Roads of other areas are covered by Midland Classic & Arriva routes.

EDIT: the Ashby Town Service has been replaced by a Demand Responsive Vehicle at 0945 & 1230 returning at 1145 & 1430 for the Tamworth Road Area only. This is bookable 24 hours in advance. A DRT town service - whatever next!

 

[nottinghamcity]

Interesting recast of TrentBarton's 15

PC0003375/3 Registered
BARTON BUSES LTD

Route: Ilkeston, Wharncliffe Road to East Midlands Airport Terminal via Stapleford, Sandiacre, Long Eaton, Old Sawley

Service number: MY15

Service type: Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Mar 2018

No reduction registered to Skylink Nottingham (yet?) To accommodate the additional services, but can't really see >3 bph Long Eaton to EMA

 

[Mitch in Notts]

That extension has been mooted before but didn't happen due to funding/staffing issues etc.

 

[Mugby]

'Forthcoming Service Alterations' have re-appeared on Derbyshire County Council's site and a couple of interesting ones from 25th. March are:

Trentbarton My15, Ilkeston - Sawley, certain journeys extended to East Midlands Airport, as mentioned above
i4, Nottingham - Derby, revised timetable to be introduced.

No details available yet though and no mention of either on TB's site. Wouldn't the revised timetables have been submitted with the applications to vary?

 

[ag51ruk]

Interesting recast of TrentBarton's 15


No reduction registered to Skylink Nottingham (yet?) To accommodate the additional services, but can't really see >3 bph Long Eaton to EMA

It's been reported elsewhere that the extension to the Airport will only be hourly

 

[chessie]

Off topic but looking at the Derbyshire Council update, Stagecoach Chesterfield are working wonders with route 54. The recent extension to Chesterfield railway station is already well used and now its going to be extended to East Midlands Retail Outlet hourly, didn't see that coming! Also 56 from Chesterfield - East Mids Outlet hourly. I think this could work out very well for Stagecoach, maybe something Trent Barton have been caught napping about.

 

[ag51ruk]

'Forthcoming Service Alterations' have re-appeared on Derbyshire County Council's site and a couple of interesting ones from 25th. March are:

Trentbarton My15, Ilkeston - Sawley, certain journeys extended to East Midlands Airport, as mentioned above
i4, Nottingham - Derby, revised timetable to be introduced.

No details available yet though and no mention of either on TB's site. Wouldn't the revised timetables have been submitted with the applications to vary?

The new 15 timetable is available on the DCC website - service increased from 3 to 4 buses per hour, 1 of which goes to the airport. Last bus back to Ilkeston is an hour later than at present, and Sunday services starting much earlier.

 

[Deerfold]

The new 15 timetable is available on the DCC website - service increased from 3 to 4 buses per hour, 1 of which goes to the airport. Last bus back to Ilkeston is an hour later than at present, and Sunday services starting much earlier.

Not to mention an impressive doubling of the frequency on an evening on most of the original route.

 

[ashworth]

Replacement for the 8AOT:
From Nottinghamshire County Council Buses Update January 2018:
Hucknall CityLink: Hucknall ‐ City Hospital ‐ Nottingham: Monday to Saturday (Littles) New service introduced with effect from 2 February 2018.

I see this new service is going to serve the Westville area of Hucknall by running up Watnall Road to the the new traffic roundabout near Trent Drive. This part of Hucknall has been very much neglected by Trent Barton in recent years with only the Amberline serving that area. Many years ago Midland General ran up to 3 buses an hour up Watnall Road to the Westville area of Hucknall. There’s hundreds of new houses being built up there.

I also see that the Hucknall Local Fares on this route undercut Trent Barton’s by quite a large amount especially on a return ticket. Whilst this is to be welcomed I hope that the Amberline bus does not lose too many local passengers to make it unviable, as it’s a very valuable link from Hucknall to Watnall, Kimberley, Eastwood and beyond.

 

[Mugby]

The new 15 timetable is available on the DCC website - service increased from 3 to 4 buses per hour, 1 of which goes to the airport. Last bus back to Ilkeston is an hour later than at present, and Sunday services starting much earlier.

Thank you, I've had a look and I'm a little surprised that the extra journey on My15, from Long Eaton and returning from the Airport is only a couple of minutes apart from the Skylink Nottingham timing. Granted, they come and go their separate ways at Long Eaton but I can't really see My15 generating a great lot of usage for the Airport extension, it all depends on Ilkeston and Sandiacre really.

Regarding i4, I notice a reduction of the Derby - Nottingham section from 4 buses per hour to 3 and a reduction in frequency on the Sandiacre - Nottingham section from every 8 minutes to every 10.
It seems TB are looking for economies wherever possible and presumably this releases a bus or two from the PVR on i4. I wonder if one will go to My15 - oh wait, they're not Versas!

 

[Mitch in Notts]

I also see that the Hucknall Local Fares on this route undercut Trent Barton’s by quite a large amount especially on a return ticket. Whilst this is to be welcomed I hope that the Amberline bus does not lose too many local passengers to make it unviable, as it’s a very valuable link from Hucknall to Watnall, Kimberley, Eastwood and beyond.

I'm pretty sure the Eastwod to Hucknall section of Amberline is still subsidised by Nottinghamshire County Council. Adaptations to its own Nottsbus network, viz 531 & 532, seemed to be an aim to replace it in the Kimberley area though these were scaled back last summer thankfully.

 

[ag51ruk]

Thank you, I've had a look and I'm a little surprised that the extra journey on My15, from Long Eaton and returning from the Airport is only a couple of minutes apart from the Skylink Nottingham timing. Granted, they come and go their separate ways at Long Eaton but I can't really see My15 generating a great lot of usage for the Airport extension, it all depends on Ilkeston and Sandiacre really.

Regarding i4, I notice a reduction of the Derby - Nottingham section from 4 buses per hour to 3 and a reduction in frequency on the Sandiacre - Nottingham section from every 8 minutes to every 10.
It seems TB are looking for economies wherever possible and presumably this releases a bus or two from the PVR on i4. I wonder if one will go to My15 - oh wait, they're not Versas!

I hadn't realised the i4 was that frequent - thought it was still every 10/20 minutes but I only ever use it at the Derby end so it's still the 102 for me

 

[edwin_m]

Thank you, I've had a look and I'm a little surprised that the extra journey on My15, from Long Eaton and returning from the Airport is only a couple of minutes apart from the Skylink Nottingham timing. Granted, they come and go their separate ways at Long Eaton but I can't really see My15 generating a great lot of usage for the Airport extension, it all depends on Ilkeston and Sandiacre really.

I wonder if they are positioning to knock that Skylink out of the timetable and replace by a connection at Long Eaton - something they used to do a few years ago. With Skylink Express providing a quicker journey from the city centre (though still virtually empty every time I see it) the Skylink airport journeys have to survive on patronage to and from the western suburbs and it may be that Ilkeston and Sandiacre generate as many airport passengers as Lenton and Beeston. The airport has the potential to be quite a useful hub for bus to bus transfers - do they subsidise bus services?

 

[Mugby]

I'm not sure that Ilkeston and Sandiacre will generate as many airport passengers as Lenton and Beeston because the latter are great centres of student population and usage by University visitors. No one from Long Eaton town centre will will use 15 for the Airport because by the time it's gone round Sawley estate, it will be quicker to wait for the next Skylink.

The Airport is already a very useful hub, I use it occasionally and I'm impressed by the way all services connect with each other.
It's just a pity it's such a long journey round the airport perimeter roads to get there!

 

[ashworth]

I wonder if they are positioning to knock that Skylink out of the timetable and replace by a connection at Long Eaton - something they used to do a few years ago. With Skylink Express providing a quicker journey from the city centre (though still virtually empty every time I see it) the Skylink airport journeys have to survive on patronage to and from the western suburbs and it may be that Ilkeston and Sandiacre generate as many airport passengers as Lenton and Beeston. The airport has the potential to be quite a useful hub for bus to bus transfers - do they subsidise bus services?

It’s probably been discussed many times before here in this very long thread, but I still don’t get why Skylink Express does not stop at East Midlands Parkway.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

It’s probably been discussed many times before here in this very long thread, but I still don’t get why Skylink Express does not stop at East Midlands Parkway.

Time factor. They've recently dropped the Clifton Park & Ride to maintain the timetable without increasing costs. A parkway stop would need an extra vehicle & associated cost and I doubt it would bring in enough revenue to cover that additional cost.

 

[Robertj21a]

Time factor. They've recently dropped the Clifton Park & Ride to maintain the timetable without increasing costs. A parkway stop would need an extra vehicle & associated cost and I doubt it would bring in enough revenue to cover that additional cost.

I can't see that it brings in much revenue anyway !

 

[edwin_m]

Time factor. They've recently dropped the Clifton Park & Ride to maintain the timetable without increasing costs. A parkway stop would need an extra vehicle & associated cost and I doubt it would bring in enough revenue to cover that additional cost.

Clifton has been replaced by a stop at Wilford Lane, where they can get a good interchange with the tram simply by stopping on a road they go along in any case. I don't know if any Clifton-Airport passengers will use it considering it involves going the wrong way and probably extends their journey by 10-15min compared with changing at the P&R.

 

[edwin_m]

I'm not sure that Ilkeston and Sandiacre will generate as many airport passengers as Lenton and Beeston because the latter are great centres of student population and usage by University visitors. No one from Long Eaton town centre will will use 15 for the Airport because by the time it's gone round Sawley estate, it will be quicker to wait for the next Skylink.

The Airport is already a very useful hub, I use it occasionally and I'm impressed by the way all services connect with each other.
It's just a pity it's such a long journey round the airport perimeter roads to get there!

I think a lot of the bus passengers are employees of the Airport or nearby logistics businesses rather than air passengers, so there is some benefit to providing a range of links to places where potential employees might live but be unable to access these jobs.

 

[ivanhoe]

It’s probably been discussed many times before here in this very long thread, but I still don’t get why Skylink Express does not stop at East Midlands Parkway.

A great number of flights depart EMA between 6.00 and 9.00 in the morning. To get those flights, there are insufficient trains stopping at Parkway .The buses provide opportunities for workers at the airport and surrounding parks. Most passengers at EMA arrive by car and or taxi.The Leicester Derby Skylink also gives other journey opportunities for a number of passengers. It allows passengers to get from villages to Loughborough, offers an express service to Leicester from Loughborough as well as opportunities to Derby from the likes of Loughborough which has one train an hour during the day. Basically, the Skylinks provide multiple journey opportunities and Air Passengers make up a small percentage. EM Parkway has few uses as far as the Airport is concerned.

 

[ag51ruk]

Trent Barton are tendering for 30 new buses this year for the Indigo and i4 routes

https://www.trentbarton.co.uk/news-and-media/our-news/article/investment2018

Existing Indigo buses are nearly 10 years old (although had a mid life refurb) and the i4 buses are mostly 6 year old Optare Tempos

 

[derbybusdepot]

The reduction in the frequency on the i4 will no doubt see the 4 Scanias branded for the route withdrawn.

It is surprising the frequency is being reduced as the buses get very busy at peak times. They increased the frequency after testing a decker on the route (e400 demo).

I think there was a plan to put deckers on the route and decrease the frequency, but when you need lots of brand new buses to meet 2020 low emmision zone requirments savings have to be made!

It will be interesting to see what buses are ordered. Youd would expect E200s, but perhaps something else?

 

[ag51ruk]

The reduction in the frequency on the i4 will no doubt see the 4 Scanias branded for the route withdrawn.

It is surprising the frequency is being reduced as the buses get very busy at peak times. They increased the frequency after testing a decker on the route (e400 demo).

I think there was a plan to put deckers on the route and decrease the frequency, but when you need lots of brand new buses to meet 2020 low emmision zone requirments savings have to be made!

It will be interesting to see what buses are ordered. Youd would expect E200s, but perhaps something else?

Trent still seem completely against double deck vehicles (I remember them trying one on the Derby - Ashbourne route as well). I wonder if any government funding is going towards this order? Derby City Council got some money from the Clean Bus Fund last week but that appears to be for converting existing buses to better emissions standards rather than new vehicles. No sign of electric buses for Derby...

https://news.derby.gov.uk/derby-cit...lmost-2-5million-in-low-emission-bus-funding/

 

[Robertj21a]

The reduction in the frequency on the i4 will no doubt see the 4 Scanias branded for the route withdrawn.

It is surprising the frequency is being reduced as the buses get very busy at peak times. They increased the frequency after testing a decker on the route (e400 demo).

I think there was a plan to put deckers on the route and decrease the frequency, but when you need lots of brand new buses to meet 2020 low emmision zone requirments savings have to be made!

It will be interesting to see what buses are ordered. Youd would expect E200s, but perhaps something else?

E200s seem very likely but both are heavyweight routes and could still end up with something more like Citaros.

 

[winston270twm]

• PC1094655/47 Registered (Short notice)
  DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD
  Route: Matlock Interchange to Bonsall via Starkholmes, Cromford
  Service number: 216
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 26 Mar 2018
  
  
• PC1094655/46 Registered (Short notice)
  DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD
  Route: Matlock Interchange to Chatsworth House via Darley Dale, Beeley
  Service number: 217
  Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping
  Effective date: 26 Mar 2018
  
  
• PC1094655/45 Registered (Short notice)
  DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD
  Route: Winster, Main Street to Highfields Schoo (upper), Lumsdale via Wensley, Oker Village and Snitterton
  Service number: 470
  Service type: School or Works
  Effective date: 26 Mar 2018
  
  
• PC1094655/44 Registered (Short notice)
  DUNN MOTOR TRACTION LTD
  Route: Elton, Duke of York to Highfields School (upper), Lumsdale via Darley Dale
  Service number: 169
  Service type: School or Works
  Effective date: 26 Mar 2018
  

 

[johnnychips]

Looks like Littles are pulling their services?

 

[winston270twm]

Looks like Littles are pulling their services?

I assume they have been won on tender from Littles?

 

[Mitch in Notts]

The Following Proposals are being discussed by Derbyshire County Council on Thursday 5th April 2018:
More than a dozen Derbyshire bus routes could have journeys cut back after the county council said it could no longer afford to subsidise them. The authority has put forward plans to end its support for 26 services across Derbyshire. Of these, 13 would be continued by private companies but 13 would have their services reduced due to not being “commercially viable”. The majority of the bus services not being picked up by a private company relate to early morning, evening, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday journeys.

The 13 routes being cut would be: 15A/16A – Chesterfield to Crystal Peaks via Barlow, Apperknowle and Marsh Lane – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 55A – Chesterfield to Alfreton via Wingerworth – loss of evening bus service. 63A – Matlock to Clay Cross via Kelstedge – loss of 5.50pm journey, bringing last departure from Matlock to 3.45pm. 66/66A – Chesterfield to Buxton via Baslow and Tideswell – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 110 – Matlock to Ashbourne via Kniveton – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 140 – Matlock to Alfreton via Crich – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 173 – Castleton to Bakewell – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 212 – Bonsall to Derby via Crich – loss of 9.05am from Bonsall and 1.45 from Derby on alternate Thursdays. 217 – Matlock to Chatsworth via Rowsley – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 442 – Ashbourne to Fairfield Estate via Hartington and Buxton – loss of Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday service. 449 – Ilam to Bakwell – loss of 9.15am from Ilam and 1.35pm from Bakewell on alternate Mondays. Swift – Derby to Mayfield via Brailsford and Ashbourne – loss of 6.08am journey from Derby Monday to Saturday, first journey becomes 7.45am from Derby. Transpeak – Manchester to Derby via Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock – loss of last journey in both directions, last journey from Manchester becomes 4.10pm and from 5.50 from Derby; the 7.50pm will go as far as Matlock.

The 13 routes being retained but totally privatised would be: Rainbow One – Alfreton to Nottingham via Somercotes and Eastwood – Monday to Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. 6.1 – Bakewell to Derby Via Matlock – Monday to Friday 06.30a.m. journey between Bakewell and Matlock. 6.3 – Derby to Ripley via Belper and Heage – between Heage and Ripley on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 71 Belper to Derby via Holbrook – last journey in both directions. My 15 – Ilkeston to Sawley – Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 39 – Grangewood to Holme Hall via Chesterfield – alternate evening services Monday to Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 61 – Glossop to Buxton via New Mills – Monday to Friday 1pm from Buxton and 2pm from Glossop, and Saturdays from Buxton from 1pm, 3pm and 5.20pm, and 2pm and 4pm from Glossop also all Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 170 – Bakewell to Chesterfield via Chatsworth House – Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 199 – Buxton to Manchester Airport via Stockport – all Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday journeys between Buxton and New Mills/Newtown, Swift – Derby to Mayfield via Brailsford and Ashbourne – all journeys from 7.30pm from Derby and 6.22pm from Mayfield onwards, Monday to Wednesday, Transpeak – Manchester to Derby via Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock – all Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday journeys except 8.15pm journey from Buxton and 9.50 journey from Derby,

Read more at: https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/derbyshire-bus-services-may-go-in-bid-to-save-1m-1-9087997