Stagecoach South & South East

[buslad1988]

All these gradual changes and backward steps in East Kent seem to be undoing all the work the early 2000’s management did.

At the time they saw massive increases in patronage and large influxes of new vehicles came as a result.

Just seems counter productive now to tinker with well established brands/numbers. Hopefully this won’t backfire on Stagecoach!

 

[Class450/4DES]

Resident says the proposed axing of bus service will 'deprive people'

Stagecoach has announced it wants to change bus routes in and around Worthing

www.theargus.co.uk

The changes by Stagecoach would see the current 700 service between Worthing and Littlehampton replaced, offering more services across the two areas.

It also includes the axing of the Pulse bus service, which currently runs between West Durrington, Worthing, and Lancing.

This will be replaced by new services, the number 11 and 701.

And it looks like the final non numbered route "Pulse" is being withdrawn alongside the Littlehampton to Worthing portion of the 700.

 

[TrainBoy98]

To be fair, this seems like quite a good change - increased frequency and reduced journey times (due to separation of "express" buses (new 701) via A259 (avoiding level crossings) and the current route (to be renumbered 11))
Maybe a bit of a pain having to change at Worthing between Littlehampton and Brighton, but with through tickets this shouldn't be *too* much of an issue, especially as (anecdotally) not many use the route for the full length.

And it looks like the final non numbered route "Pulse" is being withdrawn alongside the Littlehampton to Worthing portion of the 700.

 

[Class450/4DES]

To be fair, this seems like quite a good change - increased frequency and reduced journey times (due to separation of "express" buses (new 701) via A259 (avoiding level crossings) and the current route (to be renumbered 11))
Maybe a bit of a pain having to change at Worthing between Littlehampton and Brighton, but with through tickets this shouldn't be *too* much of an issue, especially as (anecdotally) not many use the route for the full length.

I have to agree with you here.

 

[Class 466]

More changes are coming from 3rd March at Stagecoach South East, this time for Ashford area.

Judging by notices and proceedings, the lettered town routes A, B,C,D will be renumbered to 501, 502 etc. and route 10X will be renumbered 510.

Routes 2,2A,10 and 14 have been completely de registered. However, it has been confirmed by a local driver that KCC have tendered a replacement for the 10 (which will be interesting to see the provision as the PVR is currently 4, which is a lot higher than most KCC supported routes ). I imagine route 2A will be saved likewise, however the future of routes 2 and 14 are definitely under threat.

It’s a shame just how much they’ve cut back the bus service around Ashford, it was a lifeline when I lived there a few years ago and the amount of be spending on taxis now if I still lived there is quite something with all the evening services pretty much gone by 9pm.

 

[paul1609]

To be fair, this seems like quite a good change - increased frequency and reduced journey times (due to separation of "express" buses (new 701) via A259 (avoiding level crossings) and the current route (to be renumbered 11))
Maybe a bit of a pain having to change at Worthing between Littlehampton and Brighton, but with through tickets this shouldn't be *too* much of an issue, especially as (anecdotally) not many use the route for the full length.

I reckon the 701 will last about 6 months, the Railcard day return for LA to Worthing undercuts the return bus cap by 70p. Other than the hospital Worthing isn't regarded as the major centre for anywhere West of the Ferring Gap. LA for instance has always regarded the County Town of Chichester as the place to go for leisure despite it being slightly further away. Probably dates back to when the area was agricultural you went to market sold your cow and went on the piss. Worthing was.always a retirement resort.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 4 Feb 2025 ==

It’s a shame just how much they’ve cut back the bus service around Ashford, it was a lifeline when I lived there a few years ago and the amount of be spending on taxis now if I still lived there is quite something with all the evening services pretty much gone by 9pm.

If you live in the rural areas of the 2 & 2a you will struggle to find a taxi that wants to take you outside of the Ashford Area.
I live on the very edge of Ashford Borough and if I miss the last Marshlink train I now stay on to Folkestone and travel back. Folkestone Taxis are professional and don't rip you off.

 

[Flange Squeal]

And it looks like the final non numbered route "Pulse" is being withdrawn alongside the Littlehampton to Worthing portion of the 700.

To be fair, this seems like quite a good change - increased frequency and reduced journey times (due to separation of "express" buses (new 701) via A259 (avoiding level crossings) and the current route (to be renumbered 11))
Maybe a bit of a pain having to change at Worthing between Littlehampton and Brighton, but with through tickets this shouldn't be *too* much of an issue, especially as (anecdotally) not many use the route for the full length.

Is the full information about this available anywhere? Dates? I can’t see anything on the Stagecoach website?

 

[Class450/4DES]

Is the full information about this available anywhere? Dates? I can’t see anything on the Stagecoach website?

Its from here.

Resident says the proposed axing of bus service will 'deprive people'

Stagecoach has announced it wants to change bus routes in and around Worthing

www.theargus.co.uk

 

[Hophead]

Is the full information about this available anywhere? Dates? I can’t see anything on the Stagecoach website?

It's on the Promos and Offers page (well, obviously - I mean where else would you look for information about a proposed network change?), but it's not one of the headliners - I had to scroll to the bottom of the page, past whatever's going on in Andover and some kind of contest relating to route 500 and there it was discreetly tucked away, second-last item. It's almost as if they didn't want it to be found.

 

[Class450/4DES]

It's on the Promos and Offers page (well, obviously - I mean where else would you look for information about a proposed network change?), but it's not one of the headliners - I had to scroll to the bottom of the page, past whatever's going on in Andover and some kind of contest relating to route 500 and there it was discreetly tucked away, second-last item. It's almost as if they didn't want it to be found.

That sounds kind of sketchy.

 

[Edvid]

Introduction of battery-electrics on the Dover Fastrack service is scheduled for August.

Start date confirmed for long-awaited electric buses

Electric buses will be introduced on the county’s first ‘zero-emission’ route in the summer, bosses have confirmed.

www.kentonline.co.uk

Sam Lennon
slennon@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 19:40, 27 December 2024

Kent County Council (KCC) is currently using “ultra-low emission" diesel buses on the new Dover Fastrack scheme.

But the authority says five battery-powered buses will begin service in August after supply issues delayed their arrival.

The project, which cost £34m, connects Whitfield with Dover town centre and Dover Priory railway station.

Shane Hymers, the service’s development manager at KCC, says new charging points should be in place months in advance.

“We expect them [the electric buses] to be on the road in August,” he said.

Mr Hymers was giving a progress report at the Dover joint transportation advisory board meeting in Whitfield earlier this month.

He said the new service had an average of 400 passenger journeys a day and 95% of the buses were operating on time.

This means arriving at a stop between five minutes early and five minutes late.

Several passengers for the service are hoped to be new residents in the developing Whitfield area catching the high-speed train to commute to London.

Mr Hymers said the bus timetable will be revised for passengers to use the first and last trains at Dover Priory.

He said there is currently one difficulty at the service's Tesco stage at Whitfield where passengers can also catch the established 61 bus.

He explained the two services cannot have a common stop because Fastrack vehicles cannot get around a pinch point at the stop for the 61, which uses smaller buses.

It means people have to walk 100 yards to the new Fastrack stop across a busy road.

He said signs will be put up to make that clear and confirmed KCC has been in contact with Tesco over possible solutions, such as a new footpath or a new bus stop.

Mr Hymers told the meeting: “The walk between the stop at Tesco and the Fastrack stop is not a great one because crossing the road of the entry to Tesco is quite busy.”

He added the new service had a fleet of five buses with three out on the road at any one time.

 

[TrainBoy98]

Is the full information about this available anywhere? Dates? I can’t see anything on the Stagecoach website?

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south/worthing-changes-2025

The way people travel is constantly changing and we need to offer a transport system that adapts to evolving demand. These latest changes are designed to offer better services, improve punctuality, and provide the right number of buses in the right place at the right time. In addition, we'll be running more buses from all our busiest stops- improving links and reliability for a better network for our customers.

We'd like to hear your thoughts on the proposed changes. Let us know by filling out the feedback form below before 7th February 2025. Please make sure to read the detail on the page below before answering the form - thank you!

Asking for feedback until 7th Feb, Spring slated as possible start

 

[fgwrich]

A small but surprising development in the latest Stagecoach fleet card includes 3 of the recently transferred E400s from Manchester as down from reserve to disposal.

They include:
19352 - MX08UCZ
19353 - MX08UDB
19360 - MX08UDM

This is along with the following vehicles to Ensign:
WA04FOK, MX54LPK, MX54LPL, MX54LPP, MX54LPY, MX54LRE, KX05TWG, KX05TWJ, MX55KRG, VU06JDF, GX06DXL, GX06DXM, GX06DXP, GX06DXY, GX06DYB, MX56FTA, MX56FTD, MX56FTP, MX07HLR.

And x2 Solo GX06DYH, GX57DJO.

So a start on the Trident & Trident 2 fleets, though many continue to run in the Basingstoke and Aldershot areas.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south/worthing-changes-2025

Asking for feedback until 7th Feb, Spring slated as possible start

Its from here.

Resident says the proposed axing of bus service will 'deprive people'

Stagecoach has announced it wants to change bus routes in and around Worthing

www.theargus.co.uk

I mean, the 700 every 12 minutes from Worthing-Brighton, the 701 Littlehampton-Worthing every 15 minutes, and the 11 every thirty minutes... It's hardly a poor frequency, and in terms of reducing delays at the level crossings, it seems to make sense?

 

[LUYMun]

A reminder that this Saturday sees the end of Aldershot-Guildford route 20 buses going over Ash railway level crossing and instead diverted via the new Chester Bridge, albeit with a temporary diversion in place to enable works at Foreman Road/Ash Church Road corner be smoothed out into a curve for approximately nine weeks.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Feb 2025 ==

Poster circulating on the Andover bus network, as part of changes to local routes 1, 2, 3 and 4 from the end of January, that single fares are being capped at £1 on those routes until 21st April:

 

[Flange Squeal]

Stagecoach South will be revising their network around Havant, Portsmouth and Southsea from Sunday 6th April. Key points include the 23 being split north of Havant to/from Leigh Park as new route 22, with through journeys available late evening/overnight but through fares not. A new route 19 will serve the Airport Industrial Estate (which is currently a blank patch service wise on Stagecoach's network map) and partially replace the 21 which is being decapitated at the top of Portsea Island at Anchorage Park instead of crossing the water and running to Havant and Leigh Park. The 18 will also continue beyond its current terminus loop of Southsea town centre to run to/from Clarence Pier by the hovercraft terminal, and increased from half-hourly to every 20 mins Mon-Sat. The 20 is increased from half-hourly to every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytime, with brand new evening and Sunday journeys introduced at a half-hourly frequency.

Link to news story (also quoted below): https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regional-service-updates/south/portsmouth-and-havant

Link to current network map: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South/0124 Havant Portsmouth & Waterlooville Network Map.pdf

Link to forthcoming network map: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South/0425 Havant Portsmouth & Waterlooville Network Map.pdf

We’re making some changes to our services across Havant and Portsmouth from 6th April 2025; introducing a more reliable network, new evening and Sunday services, and improving connections to QA Hospital.​

We'll be running more buses on Services 18 and 20, with each route running every 20 minutes during the daytime on weekdays. Buses on service 18 will extend beyond Palmerston Road to start and finish at Clarence Pier, for connections to and from the Isle of Wight with Hovertravel. As well as extra buses in the daytime, service 20 will run later in the evening on all days, and on Sundays for the first time. Service 20 will be our fastest bus between Leigh Park and Portsmouth city.

We know in recent months traffic conditions have worsened and have caused significant delays across the network, so we'll be making changes to both service 21 and 23 to improve reliability. The upcoming changes will aim to avoid congestion within the city and keep buses in the right place at the right time. Route changes may require a change of bus for some of our customers, but will increase punctuality across our network and keep delays to a minimum.

Pay no more than £5.60 for unlimited travel all day across the entire local network - that's less than the price of two capped single fares! We've included a tickets guide at the bottom of the page to ensure customers are buying the cheapest possible fare in their area for their journey.

The information below includes network maps, and details on route and service changes that are confirmed for April. Full details including timetables will be released shortly and updated below. [Last Updated 12/02/2024]

.


18 Southsea • Fratton • Hilsea • QA Hospital • Paulsgrove

• More buses! Every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime; every 30 minutes on Sundays
• Buses will start from Clarence Pier in Southsea, to improve Isle of Wight connections via Hovertravel
• New route in Southsea means the 18 no longer stops at The Circle or Palmerston Road South, but will call at St Jude's Church for Southsea Shops

Why?​

We'll be adding extra buses Monday to Saturday, and creating easier links for those travelling to the Isle of Wight via Hovertravel.

-

NEW ROUTE 19 Leigh Park • Farlington • Burrfields • Portsmouth City Centre

• Replaces the current 21 between Anchorage Park and Leigh Park (the new 21 will only run between Portsmouth and Anchorage Park)
• Every hour Monday to Saturday daytime; we’re sorry, but the 19 will not run on Sundays
• Service runs from Leigh Park through Farlington, the Airport Industrial Estate, Admiral Lord Nelson School and Ocean Retail Park into Portsmouth (see interactive stop map here)
• Buses will only serve Sywell Crescent on northbound trips towards Leigh Park- for southbound trips, customers will need to alight at Robinson Way or Williams Road
• In Leigh Park, buses will run a loop from Point 7 roundabout via Middle Park Way, The Swallow, Dunsbury Way, Park Parade and Purbrook Way back to Point 7
• Buses will be timed to the Admiral Lord Nelson School school day and one bus in each direction will call at Portsmouth College (replacing the current 621)

Why?​

Due to worsening traffic conditions and congestion delays along the Eastern Road, the 21 will only run as far as Anchorage Park. The new 19 will keep the provision between Leigh Park and Copnor, whilst creating new links to the Airport Industrial Estate and Ocean Retail Park. Customers in West Leigh will benefit from the faster, direct service 20 to the city centre. See our connections guide below for more information.

-

20 Havant • West Leigh • QA Hospital • Stamshaw • City Centre • The Hard

• More buses! Every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime; including new early morning buses to improve access to QA Hospital
• Evening and Sunday buses will run for the first time, every 30 minutes
• Now the fastest bus between West Leigh and Leigh Park, towards Portsmouth City Centre and Gunwharf Quays
• To improve punctuality, the 20 will no longer call at Havant Asda, but this stop will still be served on the 39

Why?​

We'll be running more buses on service 20 and improving punctuality. The new earlier morning, later evening, and Sunday buses will additionally improve connections to QA Hospital for staff and patients.

-

21 Anchorage Park • Copnor • City Centre • The Hard

• Every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime; every 20 minutes on Sundays
• Customers travelling to/from Farlington, Bedhampton and Leigh Park should use the new 19, customers travelling to/from West Leigh will need to then change to the 20

Why?​

To avoid congestion delays on the Eastern Road, the 21 will only be running as far as Anchorage Park. This will improve punctuality on the route and ensure buses are at the right place at the right time.

-

22 Warren Park • Havant

• Every 12 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime; every 15 minutes on Sundays
• Customers travelling from Leigh Park towards Cosham, Portsmouth and Southsea will need to change buses to the 23 or 700 at Havant Bus Station
• Customers in Leigh Park travelling to Portsmouth and Gunwharf Quays will benefit from the faster, direct service 20
• Late evening and overnight buses on 22 and 23 are guaranteed to connect without a need to change buses

23 Havant • Cosham • Hilsea • City Centre• The Hard • Southsea

• Every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime; every 15 minutes on Sundays
• Buses on the 23 will start and finish at Havant Bus Station, where connections are available on to the 22 towards Warren Park
• Late evening and overnight buses on 22 and 23 are guaranteed to connect without a need to change buses

Why?​

The existing 23 will be split into new routes 22 and 23. The change is being made to improve punctuality due to worsening traffic conditions. This will ensure more buses start on time from Havant Bus Station, and buses to Leigh Park will not be delayed by congestion within the city.

The existing 24/7 service on the 23 will continue to run across both routes 22 and 23.

Through/transfer tickets will not be available however, customers will benefit from Day/Week tickets and the £3 NightRider (available after 7pm) - scroll to the bottom of the page for full ticket information.

-

There are no changes to other services: 12, 13/14, 25, 27, 30/31, 37, 39 or 700.

​

 

[alex397]

Stagecoach South East routes 2, 2A, 10/10A and 14, commercial routes due to be withdrawn, have been saved by KCC for 12 months with ‘bus grant funding’. It also mentions some journeys of routes G and 666. Presumably it is the commercial journeys of these routes that are saved, with the existing contracted journeys unaffected (I always thought these routes were fully KCC contracted, but it appears not).

Statement from KCC here:

Kent County Council step in to save Ashford bus services​

13 February 2025
Following a review of Ashford services, Stagecoach were due to withdraw several operations in March, including:

• the 2 and 2A from Ashford to Tenterden
• the 10 from Folkestone to Ashford
• the 14 from Ashford to Wye
• certain journeys on the G-Line from Godinton Park to South Willesborough
• certain journeys on the 666 from Eureka Park.

KCC has been able to use bus grant funding awarded by Central Government to fund contracts that will allow these services to continue for at least the next twelve months.
Residents will notice some other changes to their services from March, including the renumbering of services, however, the funding provided through KCC will ensure that residents continue to have access to a bus service.
Recently, KCC was awarded £22 million of funding to protect services and deliver improvements during 2025/26. While this is welcome news, the cost of sustaining buses in Kent continues to grow. With fewer people getting the bus, and rising costs since the pandemic, the council is warning of the financial pressures of sustaining Kent’s network.
Neil Baker, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “While the majority of bus services across Kent fall outside the remit of the County Council and are operated on a fully commercial basis, I am keen that we step in when appropriate to avoid what is a very fragile bus network contracting even further.

“Bus companies can, and do, change and cut services for commercial reasons. While it is impossible for us to use funding to reverse these decisions, we consider whether we can intervene on a case-by-case basis.

“I am pleased that we have been able to use Government Bus Grant funding to save these services in Ashford, but the cost of supporting services that previously didn’t require any additional funding is a concern and a pressure for KCC. While we have been able to support now, a long-term funding plan from Government is needed to secure a safe future for buses across Kent.”

The changes to these and other services in the area take place from Sunday 2 March. More information on the changes can be found on the Stagecoach website.

This is certainly welcome news, and in my view fairly surprising from KCC.
I do feel it is concerning that it is a short term funding plan though - I think it is tricky to attract new passengers, and retain existing passengers, to routes that may be withdrawn in a year after the funding ends. But I am perhaps thinking negatively - it is good that funding has been found for these routes, and it is good that Mr Baker recognises the concerns of short term funding.

The article here says that more information can be found on the Stagecoach website - there is absolutely nothing on there about the Ashford changes yet.

 

[duncombec]

Stagecoach South East routes 2, 2A, 10/10A and 14, commercial routes due to be withdrawn, have been saved by KCC for 12 months with ‘bus grant funding’. It also mentions some journeys of routes G and 666. Presumably it is the commercial journeys of these routes that are saved, with the existing contracted journeys unaffected (I always thought these routes were fully KCC contracted, but it appears not).

Statement from KCC here:



This is certainly welcome news, and in my view fairly surprising from KCC.
I do feel it is concerning that it is a short term funding plan though - I think it is tricky to attract new passengers, and retain existing passengers, to routes that may be withdrawn in a year after the funding ends. But I am perhaps thinking negatively - it is good that funding has been found for these routes, and it is good that Mr Baker recognises the concerns of short term funding.

The article here says that more information can be found on the Stagecoach website - there is absolutely nothing on there about the Ashford changes yet.

There is a larger package of changes coming in Ashford from 2nd March - Stagecoach usually put the news item on their website about 2 weeks in advance, so I'd expect to see it shortly - later today or Monday.

Similarly, Kent have issued a number of year tenders before, to see how patronage is and whether any changes need to be made. Indeed, it is for similar reasons that Cllr Baker has stated in numerous committee meetings that the County is being cautious with its BSIP funding and not spending it on too many wild ideas to ensure the core network can remain available (i.e. rather than spending it all on flights of fancy, then being unable to prop up a necessary service) - I paraphrase, but that's the broad idea.

In regard to some of those highlighted, the 2 and 2A are useful interurban links, but suffer somewhat from a reduction in traffic from the intermediate villages. Some may remember the 2 was intended for complete withdrawal a year or so ago, and was eventually "saved" by intermixing with the 2A. The 10 is surprising, but is very slow compared to the train and that must have an effect. The 14 was introduced last year to cover bits withdrawn from the 1 - again, there is a train service that is far faster, and the through bus was regularly delayed at the level crossing - twice, as Wye is essentially cut off from the A28 by the railway.

 

[paul1609]

The 2 & 2A are too slow to be useful interurban links. From the Tenterden end its the best part of an hour to Ashford (for 13 miles). It doesnt serve William Harvey Hospital so by the time youve changed at the railway station your pushing an hour and a half. The peak hour countrybound services are unreliable and frequently miss the services that were previously shown as connections at The Vine, when this happens because of the low frequency and early end to most services users are just left stranded in Tenterden. If you want to get a train to London Arrivas 12 to Headcorn is a much better bet.
As a consequence the service just now attracts the occasional pensioner on a cheap day out or users of last resort.

 

[aswilliamsuk]

There is a larger package of changes coming in Ashford from 2nd March - Stagecoach usually put the news item on their website about 2 weeks in advance, so I'd expect to see it shortly - later today or Monday.

Similarly, Kent have issued a number of year tenders before, to see how patronage is and whether any changes need to be made. Indeed, it is for similar reasons that Cllr Baker has stated in numerous committee meetings that the County is being cautious with its BSIP funding and not spending it on too many wild ideas to ensure the core network can remain available (i.e. rather than spending it all on flights of fancy, then being unable to prop up a necessary service) - I paraphrase, but that's the broad idea.

In regard to some of those highlighted, the 2 and 2A are useful interurban links, but suffer somewhat from a reduction in traffic from the intermediate villages. Some may remember the 2 was intended for complete withdrawal a year or so ago, and was eventually "saved" by intermixing with the 2A. The 10 is surprising, but is very slow compared to the train and that must have an effect. The 14 was introduced last year to cover bits withdrawn from the 1 - again, there is a train service that is far faster, and the through bus was regularly delayed at the level crossing - twice, as Wye is essentially cut off from the A28 by the railway.

The 10 suffers from having been changed and rerouted to cover other services. It provides a town service in Folkestone - the only service to Golden Valley and Shorncliffe now, as well as most direct link between Hythe and Saltwood/Sandling station, and then loops around Lympne *and* Brabourne Lees, not to mention the William Harvey loop as well. The train between Folkestone and Ashford is twice an hour, not expensive and takes just fifteen minutes, and driving between the two takes little more than 25 minutes. The bus takes an hour and a half.

As and when Otterpool is built - the water treatment works that is required is going through approval at the moment, which should finally allow things to start happening - I can't help but feel that the 10 could become vastly more viable, but the longer we wait, the more the 10 is likely to wither on the vine in the meantime.

 

[Nammer]

Stagecoach South will be revising their network around Havant, Portsmouth and Southsea from Sunday 6th April. Key points include the 23 being split north of Havant to/from Leigh Park as new route 22, with through journeys available late evening/overnight but through fares not. A new route 19 will serve the Airport Industrial Estate (which is currently a blank patch service wise on Stagecoach's network map) and partially replace the 21 which is being decapitated at the top of Portsea Island at Anchorage Park instead of crossing the water and running to Havant and Leigh Park. The 18 will also continue beyond its current terminus loop of Southsea town centre to run to/from Clarence Pier by the hovercraft terminal, and increased from half-hourly to every 20 mins Mon-Sat. The 20 is increased from half-hourly to every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytime, with brand new evening and Sunday journeys introduced at a half-hourly frequency.

Link to news story (also quoted below): https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regional-service-updates/south/portsmouth-and-havant

Link to current network map: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South/0124 Havant Portsmouth & Waterlooville Network Map.pdf

Link to forthcoming network map: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/South/0425 Havant Portsmouth & Waterlooville Network Map.pdf

I fully understand the reasoning behind these changes for timekeeping purposes. Traffic in Portsmouth often gets gridlocked by just one incident, due to being an island, with just 3 main routes in and out. Plus there seems to be no enforcement of double yellow line and bus stop inconsiderate parking, causing not only delay to buses, but the traffic behind too. The thing i think is crafty is the 'no through tickets' from routes 22 & 23, which used to be 1 whole route (the 23). So people who can't access mobile ticketing will have to effectively pay twice!

 

[duncombec]

The article here says that more information can be found on the Stagecoach website - there is absolutely nothing on there about the Ashford changes yet.

Details have now been announced on the Stagecoach website for Ashford area changes - it should be noted there are some further amendments at Canterbury that aren't yet published to reveal the full picture:

Changes to bus services in and around Ashford

www.stagecoachbus.com

The webpage isn't helpfully formatted for quoting, but essentially town services are renumbered into a 500-series (shades of the National Bus Company - at least with the right 100-series, unlike Hastings), and various trimmings of country services.

 

[Class 466]

They’re improving reliability and punctuality by merging two routes (A&D) together rather than operating them as two self contained routes during the day… right.

Also the A currently runs every 15 minutes so a frequency reduction to boot - one assumes they’ll still insist on using those piddly little solos on it despite the crush loading at peak times.

 

[alex397]

Details have now been announced on the Stagecoach website for Ashford area changes - it should be noted there are some further amendments at Canterbury that aren't yet published to reveal the full picture:

Thanks for the info! I presumed the 501E would be an internal number, but after reading their announcement, it’s a public number. Not exactly the most customer friendly, in my opinion.

I don’t understand why they feel the need to renumber routes to NBC-era 500 series, especially if there is no change to the route or timetable.

They’re improving reliability and punctuality by merging two routes (A&D) together rather than operating them as two self contained routes during the day… right.

Also the A currently runs every 15 minutes so a frequency reduction to boot - one assumes they’ll still insist on using those piddly little solos on it despite the crush loading at peak times.

Considering they reduced the Dover 61 and 64 routes to half-hourly but have continued to use little Solos (the 64 is probably restricted to Solos due to the section at The Ridgeway), then I presume the same will occur at Ashford. The Dover services have been getting overcrowded at peak times, so I guess Ashford passengers have that to look forward to as well.

 

[Trainguy34]

New timetable for the new route 24 (Canterbury - Chartham) available now on the website.

...

 

[londonteacher]

New timetable for the new route 24 (Canterbury - Chatham) available now on the website.

...

Chartham not Chatham though… I got excited!

 

[Trainguy34]

Chartham not Chatham though… I got excited!

Oh yeah, teaches me to post after 7pm and not check spelling

 

[Blindtraveler]

Yes, another one who had a momentary dose of oo we're getting a new bus service excitement

 

[inklin]

Thanks for the info! I presumed the 501E would be an internal number, but after reading their announcement, it’s a public number. Not exactly the most customer friendly, in my opinion.

I don’t understand why they feel the need to renumber routes to NBC-era 500 series, especially if there is no change to the route or timetable.

Considering they reduced the Dover 61 and 64 routes to half-hourly but have continued to use little Solos (the 64 is probably restricted to Solos due to the section at The Ridgeway), then I presume the same will occur at Ashford. The Dover services have been getting overcrowded at peak times, so I guess Ashford passengers have that to look forward to as well.

64 in Dover is hourly, it used to be half hourly. Oddly the Aycliffe leg was split off and remains half hourly on a new 65 route.

Until a few years ago the route serving River, St Radigund's areas (although on different route numbers that extended to out of town places at the time 90, 91, 92, 92A) was every 20 minutes. Prior to that experiment it was the 60, and even older than that it was the 67, a route number that recently got recycled for use on the KCC funded Hospital, River, Tesco, Whitfield loop route.

 

[RDP]

Two more cancellations.

PK0000098/389 EAST KENT ROAD CAR COMPANY LIMITED, THE BUS STATION, ST. GEORGES LANE, CANTERBURY, CT1 2SY Operating between Whitstable and Faversham given service number 638 effective from 06 April 2025.

PK0000098/386 EAST KENT ROAD CAR COMPANY LIMITED, THE BUS STATION, ST. GEORGES LANE, CANTERBURY, CT1 2SY Operating between Brymore Road and Fisher Road or Hollowmede given service number 649 effective from 04 April 2025.

As these are Kent County Council tendered routes presumably the end of the contract. It will be interesting to see who (if anyone) takes them over.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67bc585198ea2db44faddd5d/np_2799_24_February_2025.pdf