What time does your bus station's waiting area close?

[175mph]

In Scunthorpe, our bus station has all its stands out in the open, but has a small waiting room and kiosk.

It closes between 17:00 to 17:30, 17:30 at the latest and is never open on a Sunday despite there being bus services.

 

[route101]

I think Buchanan Bus Station in Glasgow closes at 12 to 4 , theres megabuses departing im sure during the night .

 

[NorthernSpirit]

As far as I'm aware Huddersfield bus station shuts at midnight as there was until October '17, a nightbus (if it could be called that), that left at 2321 to Brighouse which was later axed. The bus station at Halifax, Todmorden, Wetherby, Otley and Holmfirth are open 24/7 as they're 'open plan' or in the case with Wetherby and Holmfirth, glorified bus shelters. Crawley is 24/7 (or was when I went past in 2015) but the one in Horsham shuts at around midnight.

I do have one question, what about towns or cities that don't have bus stations but instead have a series of stops in the centre? e.g. Trowbridge, Westbury, Storrington, Worthing, York, Salisbury, Scarborough, Hebden Bridge, Petworth and Eastbourne to name a few.

 

[matt_world2004]

Harrow 24 hours, Heathrow 24 hours, Hatton Cross 24 hours, Uxbridge 24 hours, They're the only bus stations near me,

 

[175mph]

As far as I'm aware Huddersfield bus station shuts at midnight as there was until October '17, a nightbus (if it could be called that), that left at 2321 to Brighouse which was later axed. The bus station at Halifax, Todmorden, Wetherby, Otley and Holmfirth are open 24/7 as their 'open plan' or in the case with Wetherby and Holmfirth, glorified bus shelters. Crawley is 24/7 (or was when I went past in 2015) but the one in Horsham shuts at around midnight.

I do have one question, what about towns or cities that don't have bus stations but instead have a series of stops in the centre? e.g. Trowbridge, Westbury, Storrington, Worthing, York, Salisbury, Scarborough, Hebden Bridge, Petworth and Eastbourne to name a few.

And Grimsby too.......

 

[Deerfold]

As far as I'm aware Huddersfield bus station shuts at midnight as there was until October '17, a nightbus (if it could be called that), that left at 2321 to Brighouse which was later axed. The bus station at Halifax, Todmorden, Wetherby, Otley and Holmfirth are open 24/7 as their 'open plan' or in the case with Wetherby and Holmfirth, glorified bus shelters. Crawley is 24/7 (or was when I went past in 2015) but the one in Horsham shuts at around midnight.

I do have one question, what about towns or cities that don't have bus stations but instead have a series of stops in the centre? e.g. Trowbridge, Westbury, Storrington, Worthing, York, Salisbury, Scarborough, Hebden Bridge, Petworth and Eastbourne to name a few.

Metro say Huddersfield Bus Station closes at 2330.

Huddersfield used to have (3) proper nightbuses many years ago. I think they used to start from St George's Street. I have called at Huddersfield Bus Station on a megabus sometime after 0100, though this service no longer runs.

Technically Halifax Bus Station is also closed from 2330, but very little is actually inaccessible - useful if the 2325 to London is late. The latest local bus service in recent years was Ripponden via Barkisland at 2320 (the last bus on this route now being at 2015!)

Keighley is closed between 2300 and 0400 (0730 Sundays). Very little is around at this time, although a Megabus used to drop off at 3am - I caught it three times and was dropped somewhere different each time.

Bradford Interchange used to be open 24 hours, but now closes 0130-0430 so a few overnight coaches use Hall Ings bus stops.

Leeds Coach station is open 24 hours, but the link to the bus station closes overnight. Megabus services use a nearby roadside stop.

Leicester St Margarets is closed 2300-0500 despite quite a few overnight coaches (however the coach stops are still accessible with much reduced shelter) and the Skylink services. Oddly it always seems to have all the lights left on.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Metro say Huddersfield Bus Station closes at 2330.

Huddersfield used to have (3) proper nightbuses many years ago. I think they used to start from St George's Street. I have called at Huddersfield Bus Station on a megabus sometime after 0100, though this service no longer runs.

Technically Halifax Bus Station is also closed from 2330, but very little is actually inaccessible - useful if the 2325 to London is late. The latest local bus service in recent years was Ripponden via Barkisland at 2320 (the last bus on this route now being at 2015!)

Some of the overnighters stopped at Huddersfield Market Street stop M1. I've known some coaches pick up from Huddersfield High Street even when the bus station is open.

I wonder what those Huddersfield Nightbuses were? (Might need a new thread) The only one now that could be regarded as a nightbus is the Friday and Saturday night 314 to Holmfirth that departs Peel Street at 0005 and returns as a 310 at 0030 from Holmfirth.

In Leeds their night services, the N1 and N10 run from either Bishopgate Street or from South Parade. I wonder why operators don't use Infirmary Street as an overnight bus station since that is technically open overnight.

 

[Statto]

Merseyside, all open all night but only Liverpool One sees regular all night routes on 86/86A.

London, all are open due to extensive night/24 hour bus network, plus none night/24 hour routes finishing around 1am, then starting around 4am.

 

[Dentonian]

Greater Manchester bus stations don't have seperate waiting areas as such. In effect all are permanently open facilities AFAIK

 

[overthewater]

Edinburgh closes at 00.30 but reopens I think at 4am. All Fife bus station have waiting rooms and there open 7.30am to 10.30pm with Human supervisor. I believe Dundee is also open for most of the time while perth bus station is working hours only.

 

[Be3G]

London bus stations have been mentioned in this thread, are there any left that actually have enclosed waiting/circulation areas which could conceivably be locked if required? All the bus stations I see these days are just big open wind tunnels with a canopy on top. Waltham Cross bus station (not technically in London but through a quirk of history TfL-designed) does have a theoretically enclosed area, but it's been years since I've actually seen the big sliding glass doors closed. Brrr it gets cold there in winter when you're waiting for your inevitably delayed Hertfordshire bus.

 

[Wirewiper]

I do have one question, what about towns or cities that don't have bus stations but instead have a series of stops in the centre? e.g. Trowbridge, Westbury, Storrington, Worthing, York, Salisbury, Scarborough, Hebden Bridge, Petworth and Eastbourne to name a few.

Grays "Bus Station" is in reality a set of stops either side of Crown Road, very close to Grays Station so acting as a simple but effective transport interchange.

Newton Abbot: Sherborne Road has a bus-only section with several bus stops so acts as a linear bus station. Several routes terminate here.

Plymouth recently lost its Bus and Coach Station at Bretonside (the site is being redeveloped). A new Coach Station has been built at Armada Way for National Express, Megabus and Falcon services but all bus services, including those going outside the City, now depart from Royal Parade. I occasionally catch the Gold to Torquay and I can tell you that stop A13 gets rather crowded at times!

 

[northwichcat]

Many bus stations have no building, consequently they don't have opening and closing times.

As far as I'm aware Huddersfield bus station shuts at midnight as there was until October '17, a nightbus (if it could be called that), that left at 2321 to Brighouse which was later axed.

A number of years ago I caught the overnight NX service from Huddersfield to London. I can recall staff were starting to lock up before the NX coach had arrived - just leaving enough doors open for passengers using NX.

 

[gnolife]

Greater Manchester bus stations don't have seperate waiting areas as such. In effect all are permanently open facilities AFAIK

Middleton and Rochdale get locked after the last bus, I don't know if Altrincham and Bolton can be locked because of the train/tram platforms. Shudehill appears to get locked based on the fact that overnight Megabuses use Corporation Street instead. I can't comment on Oldham, and Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport both have overnight buses using them.

 

[Segedunum]

London bus stations have been mentioned in this thread, are there any left that actually have enclosed waiting/circulation areas which could conceivably be locked if required? All the bus stations I see these days are just big open wind tunnels with a canopy on top. Waltham Cross bus station (not technically in London but through a quirk of history TfL-designed) does have a theoretically enclosed area, but it's been years since I've actually seen the big sliding glass doors closed. Brrr it gets cold there in winter when you're waiting for your inevitably delayed Hertfordshire bus.

Edgware Bus Station is enclosed IIRC

 

[Dentonian]

Middleton and Rochdale get locked after the last bus, I don't know if Altrincham and Bolton can be locked because of the train/tram platforms. Shudehill appears to get locked based on the fact that overnight Megabuses use Corporation Street instead. I can't comment on Oldham, and Wythenshawe and Manchester Airport both have overnight buses using them.

Maybe its the modern ones with some kind of shutters not obvious to the occasional visitor (like me) passing through.

 

[Be3G]

Edgware Bus Station is enclosed IIRC

It's interesting you mention Edgware as I had it in mind when asking the question, but the last time I was there was about ten years ago so I assumed it would have been demolished and replaced with something more ‘modern’ by now. I wonder if the same doors-locked-permanently-open fate as Waltham Cross has befallen it though?

 

[radamfi]

This thread does highlight the issues regarding social safety regarding enclosed bus stations. It is already acknowledged that they are too dangerous to be open at certain times. During opening hours, some bus stations are patrolled to mitigate perceived social safety issues, but the sheer fact that authorities feel the need for such a security presence means that there is a problem.

 

[PeterC]

London bus stations have been mentioned in this thread, are there any left that actually have enclosed waiting/circulation areas which could conceivably be locked if required? All the bus stations I see these days are just big open wind tunnels with a canopy on top. Waltham Cross bus station (not technically in London but through a quirk of history TfL-designed) does have a theoretically enclosed area, but it's been years since I've actually seen the big sliding glass doors closed. Brrr it gets cold there in winter when you're waiting for your inevitably delayed Hertfordshire bus.

Last time that I was at Harrow on the Hill there was an enclosed waiting area with boarding gates but I havn't been there for quite a while now. Certainly Walthamstow, Canada Water and Stratford, which are the ones I am most likely to use, are all "wind tunnels".

Looking at this thread I am just surprised at how many bus stations have survived. Most that I knew seem to have gone with the break up of NBC.

 

[duncombec]

This thread does highlight the issues regarding social safety regarding enclosed bus stations. It is already acknowledged that they are too dangerous to be open at certain times. During opening hours, some bus stations are patrolled to mitigate perceived social safety issues, but the sheer fact that authorities feel the need for such a security presence means that there is a problem.

I'm not sure it suggests anything it "too dangerous" to be open at certain times. What it suggests to me is that just like railway stations, shopping centres, museums or indeed any other private property (some of which is entirely open air) with public access and right of way, the owners wish to protect said property from any undesirables and/or undesirable activity [I leave the value judgments as to what that entails to the reader], thus keeping it suitable desirable for the rest of the users.

Having experienced an enclosed bus station with no such "protection" on a dark winter's evening many times, it is hard for me to argue against such restrictions. I'll spare you the disgusting details...

 

[radamfi]

Having experienced an enclosed bus station with no such "protection" on a dark winter's evening many times, it is hard for me to argue against such restrictions. I'll spare you the disgusting details...

The point is, if you are using a regular bus stop instead of a bus station, there will be more likely to be people around and traffic going past, so it doesn't feel as unsafe as a bus station.

 

[freetoview33]

As far as Om aware Bristol Bus Station is open 24/7 for National Express services and maybe an odd 39!

 

[Dentonian]

The point is, if you are using a regular bus stop instead of a bus station, there will be more likely to be people around and traffic going past, so it doesn't feel as unsafe as a bus station.

I don't think it makes any difference, especially at night. Too many bus stops are no-go areas due to teenagers hanging around every night, and passing motorists/pedestrians aren't going to get involved if any crime is going on. Bus Stations *should* (but usually don't) have some level of Supervision.

 

[DunsBus]

Galashiels Interchange used to be open from 0500-0100, daily. However, the behaviour of the local neds has meant that opening hours are now 0545-2300 daily, with any departures/arrivals before and after these times now using a stance in the street outside.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Grays "Bus Station" is in reality a set of stops either side of Crown Road, very close to Grays Station so acting as a simple but effective transport interchange.

Newton Abbot: Sherborne Road has a bus-only section with several bus stops so acts as a linear bus station. Several routes terminate here.

Plymouth recently lost its Bus and Coach Station at Bretonside (the site is being redeveloped). A new Coach Station has been built at Armada Way for National Express, Megabus and Falcon services but all bus services, including those going outside the City, now depart from Royal Parade. I occasionally catch the Gold to Torquay and I can tell you that stop A13 gets rather crowded at times!

I've seen the set up at Newton Abbot, somewhat reminds me of a scaled down version of the bus station in Scunthorpe.

In Storrington there's two bus stops that are located in a turning circle and is equipt with a single shelter, this going by the WSCC signage, is regarded as a bus station. Meanwhile in Trowbridge - the three stops on Market Street, the three? on Fore Street and the one on Manvers Street could in a way be seen as a bus station. However in Westbury (going by some of the locals) their bus station is the sole bus shelter on High Street. I do recall seeing some publicity even stating it as "Westbury bus station".

I could be wrong but Harrogate bus station is open 24/7, considering that its one long shelter with a travel shop at one end and Transdev control on the other with no actual, physical doors that can be locked.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

I don't think it makes any difference, especially at night. Too many bus stops are no-go areas due to teenagers hanging around every night, and passing motorists/pedestrians aren't going to get involved if any crime is going on. Bus Stations *should* (but usually don't) have some level of Supervision.

What about CCTV? Surely that should be the bare minimum of out-of-hours supervision.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I'm not sure it suggests anything it "too dangerous" to be open at certain times. What it suggests to me is that just like railway stations, shopping centres, museums or indeed any other private property (some of which is entirely open air) with public access and right of way, the owners wish to protect said property from any undesirables and/or undesirable activity [I leave the value judgments as to what that entails to the reader], thus keeping it suitable desirable for the rest of the users.

Having experienced an enclosed bus station with no such "protection" on a dark winter's evening many times, it is hard for me to argue against such restrictions. I'll spare you the disgusting details...

I don't think it makes any difference, especially at night. Too many bus stops are no-go areas due to teenagers hanging around every night, and passing motorists/pedestrians aren't going to get involved if any crime is going on. Bus Stations *should* (but usually don't) have some level of Supervision.

This is the nub of it. These are public places that afford passengers in a town centre some measure of protection. The same can be argued for train stations or any public place that afford such shelter that they can draw in the type of gangs of feral kids that the Daily Mail believe are poised to <insert absurdist waffle here>.

We wouldn't expect sizeable train stations not to have staff in attendance and not certain why we think bus stations would be immune to problems of anti-social behaviour.

My view, FWIW, is that bus stations are important for inter-urban or rural bus services where headways are usually sufficiently broad that passenger dwell time is longer (and so a nice place to wait in a central location is appropriate). To be honest, when compared with my youth (mid 1980s), the standard of bus stations is generally better than they were (esp in the PTE areas). I remember the old Leeds Central bus station and to compare it to today is like night and day!

 

[Dentonian]

My view, FWIW, is that bus stations are important for inter-urban or rural bus services where headways are usually sufficiently broad that passenger dwell time is longer (and so a nice place to wait in a central location is appropriate). To be honest, when compared with my youth (mid 1980s), the standard of bus stations is generally better than they were (esp in the PTE areas). I remember the old Leeds Central bus station and to compare it to today is like night and day!

I suppose it depends on what is judged inter-urban or rural and a long dwell/connection time. Remember that in the evenings, when theoretically ASB is at its worst, services levels are generally every 30 minutes at best. Except of course, it isn't just evenings. A sterortypical (all round) incident took place one Saturday afternoon a couple of months ago. I had caught a 330 which runs from Manchester Airport straight down the M56/M60 to Stockport before continuing to Hyde and Ashton (the basic route it has run for many decades). It had taken us barely 7 minutes to get from the Airport to J1 (the Pyramid) which is probably 500 metres from the Bus Station. However, thanks to junction blocking and endless red lights, it took another 7 minutes to get into the Bus Station. On alighting, I ran to catch my connection but, naturally, saw it pull off the stand exactly on time (1642hrs). Although the next bus was only 10 minutes later (12 in practice), that was sufficient time for a gang of about 20 teenagers to descend on the Bus Station with two boarding our bus, asking not to pay because they were being chased by kids with knives. The driver relented and in the ensuing time, these kids "hokey-kokeyed" on and off the bus. In fairness to them, there were a lot of kids running amok through the bus station, and as we finally left, about 4 police vehicles arrived with "blues and twos".
As a follow up, a few days ago the MEN ran a story about how the traders in both the Merseyway shopping precinct and around Grand Central (near the Rail Station) had clubbed together to pay for private security, because GMP weren't offering enough protection. These patrols operating from 1700-0100 every night. As a throwaway comment, they said the problems were coming from the Bus Station, where the only "protection" seems to be the occasional Travelsafe vehicle parked up away from the busier stops, with no sign of human activity. Indeed, as these vehicles are left unattended, its doubtful anyone knows what "Travelsafe" is, so they pose no deterent to ASB and no perceived protection or point of contact for passengers.

 

[43055]

Derby's bus station closes at midnight and opens at 05:30 (07:30 sundays I think) which means the Skylink and any night buses at the weekends have to use the stop outside on the morledge.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Aberdeen Bus Station is part of a shopping centre. So it's open until midnight (2am on Saturdays). It goes without saying though that all stances can be accessed by the public 24/7.