Stagecoach West (Gloucester / Stroud) - November changes

[DaveHarries]

Hi all,

A number of registrations have appeared in the VOSA Bus Service Registrations for 09th September and they are for new routes in the Stroud area: All the routes are specified as normal stopping and the registrations to take effect 02-Nov-2014. The services that have been registered as new are:

61 Gloucester - Uley
62 Gloucester - Dursley
63 Wickwar - Gloucester
64 Stonehouse - France Lynch
66S Gloucester - Stroud / Fretherne
67 Stroud - Cashes Green

There seem to be some changes related to the registration of the above, as well as a number of other changes that are unconnected, effective from the same date. Details are:

8 Gloucester - Brockworth (Changes to Route & TT)
12 / 12A Gloucester - Quedgeley (Changes to Route & TT)
14 / 14A / 16 Stroud / Fretherne - Gloucester (Routes Cancelled)
15 Gloucester - Kingsway (Route Cancelled)
20 Stroud - Stonehouse (Route Cancelled)
21 Stroud - Dursley / Uley (Route Cancelled: replaced by 61?)
26 Stroud - France Lynch (Route Cancelled: replaced by 64?)
37 Stroud - Cashes Green (Route Cancelled: replaced by 67?)
46 Forest Green - Cheltenham (Route Cancelled)
91 Gloucester - Dursley (Route Cancelled: replaced by 62?)
93 Forest Green - Gloucester (Route Cancelled)
113 Arlingham - Glocuester (Changes to Route & TT)
504 Wickwar - Gloucester (St. Peter's School) (Route Cancelled)

Sounds interesting: I wonder if anything more will follow?

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[freetoview33]

62 is a limited stop!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also Cotswold Green service 35/204/210/211/281 have been cancelled so I do think the new services and a combination of both.

 

[DaveHarries]

I have heard on another forum from someone in the know that Service 61 should be Cheltenham - Uley.

Dave

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I have heard on another forum from someone in the know that Service 61 should be Cheltenham - Uley.

Dave

Is that a replacement for the 46 (Chelt to Stroud section) and 20/21 which is odd as the former is deckers and the latter are e200s though I've seen a few Tridents on there?

Still missing the main Stroud to Glos (93) and Stroud to Nailsworth (46/93) replacements. Given the investment & development in services Glos/Chelt, Swindon and the Forest, felt the Stroud Valleys were a shade overlooked in comparison. This a major change to develop things?

I do hope they sort out the 12/91 confusion with the Dursley services too
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh, and a more regular link from Dursley to C&D Stn rather than the baffling array of service numbers

 

[mbonwick]

I believe this is the final stage of the network review carried out by the new MD at West; Cheltenham and Swindon have already had their services changed.

 

[freetoview33]

Also to link in with Gloucestershire County Councils complete review of supported services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And part of that review was removing duplicated routes, hence why the Thornbury - Gloucester service (CG) has been axed as people can change at Dursley. So I imagine the other changes are also along these lines.

It looks like the new 64 Stonehouse - France Lynch is the 20 and 26 combined. (My guess it will be one bus an hour)

So simplified routes but I am guessing some loss of frequency especially between Stroud and Stonehouse.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Also to link in with Gloucestershire County Councils complete review of supported services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And part of that review was removing duplicated routes, hence why the Thornbury - Gloucester service (CG) has been axed as people can change at Dursley. So I imagine the other changes are also along these lines.

It looks like the new 64 Stonehouse - France Lynch is the 20 and 26 combined. (My guess it will be one bus an hour)

So simplified routes but I am guessing some loss of frequency especially between Stroud and Stonehouse.

Don't know if Stroud to Stonehouse is simplified. It's currently 3 bph with 1 bph extended to Dursley. Instead you have a possible cut but also two different start points for two different routes. Interesting to see what the full network and times look like as I'm sure we're waiting on a 93 replacement at least

Take your point of GCC simplifying things. Make it easier and lose the plethora of service numbers etc

 

[LexyBoy]

Hmm, will be interesting to see what happens - the 46/93 especially being major routes.

The new routes seem very long if they are to take over intermediate services - not sure this will be good for reliability unless there are long layovers in the towns. My experience of the 14 at least (going towards Stroud from the Stroud end) is that it is frequently between 15 minutes early and 30 minutes late.

Curious to see what covers the 14 as well - what will service the Stanleys? And why are Dursley and Stroud always so poorly connected?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Hmm, will be interesting to see what happens - the 46/93 especially being major routes.

The new routes seem very long if they are to take over intermediate services - not sure this will be good for reliability unless there are long layovers in the towns.

Curious to see what covers the 14 as well - what will service the Stanleys? And why are Dursley and Stroud always so poorly connected?

Agree with you on the 46/93 - must be more registrations to come and share your concerns with the longer connected runs.

As for Dursley to Stroud - I think it's a simple case of topography. There's some bloody big hills and not many villages between there. More interestingly is the question of why the service from Dursley to Gloucester is only hourly; would've thought it's the sort of service that Stagecoach would've had a go at boosting. I know C&D Stn is there but for centre to centre, the bus must be quite competitive in time?

 

[freetoview33]

Looking at things again in depth, this is my best guess.

61: Cheltenham - Uley (Replacing 21/46)
62: Gloucester - Dursley (Replacing 91)
63: Gloucester - Forest Green (Replaing 93)
63A: Gloucester - Wickwar (Replacing 504)
or
63A: Stroud - Forest Green (Replacing 46)
64: Stonehouse - France Lynch (Replacing 20/26)
66E: Gloucester - Ebley (Replacing 16)
66F: Gloucester - Fretherne (Replacing 14A)
66Q: Gloucester - Quedgeley (Replacing 15)
66S: Gloucester - Stroud (Replacing 14)
67: Stroud - Cashes Green (Replacing 37)

14 / 14A / 15 / 16: Stroud / Fretherne - Gloucester
20 Stroud - Stonehouse
21 Stroud - Dursley / Uley
26: Stroud - France Lynch
37: Stroud - Cashes Green
46: Forest Green - Cheltenham
91 Gloucester - Dursley
93: Forest Green - Gloucester
504: Wickwar - Gloucester (St. Peter's School)

I got 63A and 66 E/F/Q/S from the new N&P which came out today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Can't help thinking the 12/12A would have been better numbered 65/65A to work into this new number system.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
61: Cheltenham - Uley (Replacing 21/46) - Hourly
62: Gloucester - Dursley (Replacing 91) - As now (Maybe increased to 2 hourly?)
63: Gloucester - Forest Green (Replaing 93) - Hourly
63A: Gloucester - Wickwar (Replacing 504) - One school service
64: Stonehouse - France Lynch (Replacing 20/26) - Hourly
66E: Gloucester - Ebley (Replacing 16) - As now
66F: Gloucester - Fretherne (Replacing 14A) - As now
66Q: Gloucester - Quedgeley (Replacing 15) - 2 Per hour
66S: Gloucester - Stroud (Replacing 14) - Hourly
67: Stroud - Cashes Green (Replacing 37) - 20 mins (Maybe reduced to 30 mins)

The frequencies work out fine so I don't think any more registrations are to come. I'd like to think one of the 66Q (15) services would become a 66E (16) service an hour.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Looking at things again in depth, this is my best guess.

61: Cheltenham - Uley (Replacing 21/46)
62: Gloucester - Dursley (Replacing 91)
63: Gloucester - Forest Green (Replaing 93)
63A: Gloucester - Wickwar (Replacing 504)
or
63A: Stroud - Forest Green (Replacing 46)
64: Stonehouse - France Lynch (Replacing 20/26)
66E: Gloucester - Ebley (Replacing 16)
66F: Gloucester - Fretherne (Replacing 14A)
66Q: Gloucester - Quedgeley (Replacing 15)
66S: Gloucester - Stroud (Replacing 14)
67: Stroud - Cashes Green (Replacing 37)

14 / 14A / 15 / 16: Stroud / Fretherne - Gloucester
20 Stroud - Stonehouse
21 Stroud - Dursley / Uley
26: Stroud - France Lynch
37: Stroud - Cashes Green
46: Forest Green - Cheltenham
91 Gloucester - Dursley
93: Forest Green - Gloucester
504: Wickwar - Gloucester (St. Peter's School)

I got 63A and 66 E/F/Q/S from the new N&P which came out today.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Can't help thinking the 12/12A would have been better numbered 65/65A to work into this new number system.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
61: Cheltenham - Uley (Replacing 21/46) - Hourly
62: Gloucester - Dursley (Replacing 91) - As now (Maybe increased to 2 hourly?)
63: Gloucester - Forest Green (Replaing 93) - Hourly
63A: Gloucester - Wickwar (Replacing 504) - One school service
64: Stonehouse - France Lynch (Replacing 20/26) - Hourly
66E: Gloucester - Ebley (Replacing 16) - As now
66F: Gloucester - Fretherne (Replacing 14A) - As now
66Q: Gloucester - Quedgeley (Replacing 15) - 2 Per hour
66S: Gloucester - Stroud (Replacing 14) - Hourly
67: Stroud - Cashes Green (Replacing 37) - 20 mins (Maybe reduced to 30 mins)

The frequencies work out fine so I don't think any more registrations are to come. I'd like to think one of the 66Q (15) services would become a 66E (16) service an hour.

If the 12/12A is continuing to run to Dursley, then would the 62 will simply continue as it is?

Also, does Nailsworth only get an hourly service now?

 

[freetoview33]

Could be the 63A between Stroud and Uley as Cotswold Green 35 is going too!

 

[DaveHarries]

Stagecoach West have now published more information about the changes of 02nd November. There are no timetables on this link but it gives an idea of what is coming up. More evening services on the cards, interestingly as well as replacements for Services 46 & 93:
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/uploads/stroudchangesnovember2014.pdf

Analyse that lot.

HTIOI,
Dave

 

[freetoview33]

Not too much different to what I though but the new routes do sound a lot better and are much simpler!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not too much different to what I though but the new routes do sound a lot better and are much simpler!

I'm a bit mixed on them :?

The good things are the simplification of the 12/91 where some journeys originate in town but others at the bus station etc. Also, the news of better evening journeys is good, and so is the half hourly replacement for the 93

The Stonehouse corridor seems to have gone from a quite straightforward service pattern to a more confusing one with the 20/21 which were really one service (and used to be just the 20) now replaced by three services that are all a bit different.

One concern, and it may be completely unfounded, is that there are more cross town services and will that affect reliability? Might be better once the timetables are out

 

[freetoview33]

I think the most confusing bit is going to be the combination of the for different 66 services!