National Rail Timetable changes for Summer 2012

May 10th, 2012

What’s New?
Welcome to the National Rail Timetable valid from Monday 14 May 2012 to Saturday 08 Dec 2012 .
Arriva Trains Wales
01.50 (Sun) Fishguard Harbour to Cardiff Central.
Will now call at Whitland, Carmarthen, Llanelli then will run non-stop to Cardiff Central. Customers for Swansea
are to change at Carmarthen and connect into 02.50 (Bus) from Carmarthen running non-stop to Swansea
05.13 (SX) to Pwllheli
Will now call additionally at Criccieth
Dovey Jn
This has now become a “Request Stop” station. Therefore customers wishing to board a service must
make a clear handsignal to attracted the drivers attention, or inform the conductor to allow the train to stop to
allow them to alight.
East Midlands Trains
On weekdays the 0610 St Pancras to Sheffield service will start at 0545 and run earlier throughout. The 0637 St
Pancras to Sheffield service will call additionally at Wellingborough.
The following additional weekday services will run:
0656 Ambergate to Derby
1544 Lincoln to Newark North Gate
The following services will be extended:
1723 Lincoln to Grimsby will start at Newark North Gate at 1645
1825 Leicester to Nottingham will be extended to Lincoln
The 0645 Nottingham to Skegness weekday service will depart earlier at 0641 to provide a connection to the
East Coast train services at Grantham
On Sundays, the following services will be amended to run throughout the year:
1725 Lincoln to Newark North Gate
1756 Newark to Lincoln
Greater Anglia
The former National Express East Anglia franchise is now operated by Abellio under the name ‘Greater Anglia’.
As usual, the summer Saturday timetable on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth line will be enhanced, including
the through trains to and from London. The hourly summer Sunday timetable on the Sheringham branch will
continue later this year, running until the end of September before reverting to the winter two-hourly pattern.
There will be a special service in operation for the Olympic and Paralympic period with some longer trains and
additional late-night services.

 

Southern
Following infrastructure upgrades to enable longer trains to run, some trains will be extended up to 10 cars on
the Sydenham to London Bridge route and extended up to 12 cars on the East Grinstead to London Bridge and
Victoria route. Associated with this there are some minor changes to peak train services in the Metro area and
on the Mainline.
Southeastern
As a result of the completion of the Thameslink Upgrade works at London Blackfriars Station, Southeastern
services that currently operate between Victoria and Sevenoaks and Orpington via Catford will run between
London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks via Catford. This applies in the late evening Mondays to Fridays and all day
Saturday and Sunday.

 

Posted in Buckinghamshire Transport, Cambridgeshire Transport, English Transport, Essex Transport, Greater Anglia, Hertfordshire Transport, High Speed Rail, London Transport, Long Distance, Midlands Transport, Norfolk Transport, North of England Transport, Northamptonshire Transport, Peterborough Transport, Rail, Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Transport, South & East England Transport, Suffolk Transport, UK Governement, Welsh Transport, West Coast Main Line | Comments Closed

Aberdeenshire/Angus/Dundee/Fife Bus Service Changes w/c 27th May 2012 UPDATED

May 9th, 2012

Angus tendering time, Dundee commercial changes, plus some placing journeys and Fife reliability changes in the mix. There are also some rather intriguing “dead mileage killers” – perhaps more important now that Scottish operators get BOG by distance (rather than fuel type/tax amount) and dead mileage is no longer paid for. Add that to the closure of Sunnyside Hospital at Hillside (near Montrose) and customer requests and you have an interesting series of changes.

THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED 10th MAY 2012 WITH MORE INFORMATION & LINKS TO ALL NEW TIMETABLES (Except 5N which is to follow!)

National Express Dundee Services 1A/1B (St Marys – Strathmore Avenue – Dundee City Centre) Revised route and timetable. Service 1A does not serve Stack Leisure Park during the daytime, but Service 1B will continue to do so. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.  note – no change to Service 1C.

National Express Dundee Service 5 (Ninewells Hospital – Technology Park – Dundee City Centre – Broughty Ferry – Barnhill) Timetable changes, and a revised route in the West End. Updated 10th May 2012 – bus will run direct from Ninewells Roundabout via Medipark to Ninewells Hospital, then continue to Gowrie Park and Technology Park, Explorer Road/Luna Place. Note that this service will no longer serve Apollo Way or Clovis Duveau Drive. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE. 

NEW SERVICE National Express Dundee Service 5N (Dundee City Centre – Broughty Ferry – Barnhill) A new late night bus service for the first time in the City. Late night buses leave Ward Road, Post Office at 01.00, 02.05,  03.10, at weekends, via Broughty Ferry – Brook Street/town centre, before heading north to Forthill, Balgillo and Barnhill. TIMETABLE TO FOLLOW

M W Nicoll & Stagecoach Bluebird Services 8, 9 (Montrose – Craigo – Laurencekirk) Commercial Mon-Fri journey at 23.20 on Service 9 from  Montrose Railway Station now leaves at 22.00. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

National Express Dundee 15/17 (Technology Park – Ninewells Hospital – Dundee City Centre – Whitfield) Peak extras and some weekday early morning buses have been withdrawn.  DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Services 21/21A/21B (Forfar – Aberlemno or Finavon – Brechin – Stracathro and/or Edzell) This service has not yet gone up for tender, but will be doing so in 2013. However, on Sundays, the 21A service was interworked with the 30. Stagecoach have lost the Sunday service on the 30 (all except the first run of the day) to M W Nicoll, so a temporary contract has been agreed until the end of the Mon-Sat contract, when the entire 21/21A/21B can be tendered together. An extra evening return trip is added and other journeys are changed by a few minutes. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

National Express Dundee 22 (Ninewells Hospital – Blackness Road – Dundee City Centre – Strathmartine Road – Downfield – Craigowl View) 20.10 and 20.40 Service 22 buses from Ninewells Hospital are renumbered 22A and leave three minutes earlier. After Downfield terminus, the bus will operate via Strathmartine Hospital, Bridgefoot to Craigowl View Roundabout i.e. not entering the scheme, then continuing back down Strathmartine Road to Downfield, before returning via the normal 22 route to Ninewells Hospital. This will operate every day of the week – and is therefore the only Sunday bus to Strathmartine Hospital after an absence of some time (although the hospital is now a fraction of it’s original size in terms of utilisation. The current timetable shows “then every 10 mins or less” but the new timetable shows every journey – the frequency is unchanged at every 7-8 minutes Monday-Friday or every 10 minutes on Saturdays. Also see 137, 137A, 138, 139. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches Services 23/24 (Forfar Town Service) This service currently provides two trips per direction – 23 from Tesco 11.15, 24 from Tesco 11.38, 23 from Tesco 13.15, 24 from Tesco 13.38, Monday to Friday only. The service has been expanded to provide five buses as Service 23, and four as Service 24. New departure times from East High Street, Royal Bank at 09.10, 11.10, 12.35, ——, ——, or Tesco at 09.15, 11.15, 12.38, 13.18, 14.23. Service 24 will now leave Tesco at 10.05, 11.38, 12.58, 13.38, with the 12.58 run ending at East High Street. Bus appears to be interworking this with their Service 114. No change to Stagecoach 23/24 or 23A/23B/23C.  DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE National Express Dundee Service 27 (Forfar, Tesco – Letham – Friockheim) This service provides one Mon-Fri bus from Forfar Tesco at 10.40 and Friockheim, Stance, at 12.13. This extra journey has been timed to allow the National Express Dundee driver off the 81 to take a meal break at Friockheim Wishart’s depot… DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Services 27/27A/27B/27C (Forfar – Letham – Friockheim – Arbroath – Cliffburn) Mon-Sat daytime buses that run from Cliffburn via Arbroath High Street/Post Office will no longer do the loop past the Library/Hill Place, Hill Street, High Street – instead turning right at the Library directly into West Abbey Street. Evening bus from Arbroath High Street still leaves from there unaffected. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

National Express Dundee 28/29 (Douglas – Dundee City Centre – Charleston) These services now have a reduced early morning timetable, with a reduction in the number of buses. Until about 09.30, buses 28 and 29 run each every 20 minutes. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay and MW Nicoll Service 30 (Montrose – A935 – Brechin – Stracathro Hospital and/or Edzell) Contracts for the early morning, afternoon, evening & Sunday journeys were all up for tender. As a result, some school and peak buses operated by Stagecoach will be ran by Nicoll’s. In the evening, Monday to Friday, the contract passes from Nicoll’s to Travel Wishart – but Nicoll’s have registered a commercial bus 10 mins ahead of the evening Wishart’s service, on the first two journeys. Saturday service is all Stagecoach, except for the second morning run which is now Nicoll’s. The Sunday service passes from Stagecoach to Nicoll’s, except one journey. Monday-Friday daytime service is an hourly Stagecoach service, and an hourly Nicoll’s service, more-or-less unchanged, with just Stagecoach on Saturdays. One return evening Mon-Sat journey becomes 30B – see below. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE Stagecoach Strathtay Service 30A (Montrose – Inverkeilor – Warddykes – Arbroath) New Evening & Sunday replacement for this half of the 39A – the other half is now 73C/73E. There will also be one morning bus at 07.04 Mon-Sat from Montrose to Arbroath as 30A, replacing the current 39 through service, but presumably working through. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE Stagecoach Strathtay and Travel Wishart 30B (Montrose Station – Borrowfield – Hillside Bridge – Midgrip Cottages – Dubton – A935 – Brechin – Stracathro and/or Edzell) Following the closure of Sunnyside Hospital, staff have been moved to Stracathro. As part of the retendering process, the staff at the hospitals were approached, and asked for an  evening diversion on Service 30 to cover Hillside and Borrowfield – as they’d previously had the 47 to work when they worked at Sunnyside Hospital. So, the 21.22 Service 30 from Stracathro, and the 22.45 Service 30 from Montrose Station, are both renumbered 30B, and follow this diversion – Monday to Saturday. Operated by Travel Wishart on weekdays and Stagecoach Strathtay on Saturdays. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

National Express Dundee Services 32, 32B, 33, 33A (Fintry/Whitfield Shops – Forfar Road – Dundee City Centre) The 33A (Mon-Fri) that leave Crichton Street at 08.49 (but does not run around the City loop or return) has been withdrawn – the bus now does a 36 before working the 208 for the rest of the day. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

National Express Dundee Services 36, 36A, 36C (Claverhouse – Linlathen or Forfar Road – Dundee City Centre) An extra bus leaves Commercial Street at 09.00 to Claverhouse, but does not return as a 36 (the bus then works the 208 during the day). DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE National Express Dundee Service X39 (Dundee City Centre – A92 – Carnoustie) A new service providing a single bus per direction from Dundee, High Street at 08.57, returning from Carnoustie 13.47, Monday to Friday. This service appears to be a positioning run for Service 81. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 39 (Dundee City Centre – A92 – Arbroath) The new timetable for Service 39 shows hourly between Dundee and Arbroath/Warddykes, but the electronic bus service registration “virtual document” – along with the paper Arbroath Town timetable – shows every half hour on this route. Journey from Montrose in the morning peak now runs as 30A from Montrose to Arbroath. UPDATED 10TH MAY 2012 – Confirmed as running every 30 minutes throughout the service. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 39A (Kingoodie/Invergowrie/Ninewells – Dundee – Carnoustie – Arbroath – Warddykes, Inverkeilor – Montrose) Service number discontinued, but most buses will still run at similar times. Section of route from Kingoodie/Invergowrie/Ninewells to Arbroath will run as 73C/73E. Section of route between Arbroath, Warddykes, Inverkeilor and Montrose will run as 30A.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 41 (Arbroath High Street – Charles Avenue – Timmergreens) Service withdrawn. For a replacement to Charles Avenue see 73, 73A during the day, and 43A, 44A evening/Sunday. For a replacement to Timmergreens estate see 44 during the day, and 42, 43A or 44A evening/Sunday. One Service 39 will still operate via Timmergreens in the morning peak.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 42 (Arbroath Sunday Church Bus) No changes.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 43 (Arbroath High Street – Kirkton) Off-peak Service 43 no longer starts from the High Street, but starts from West Abbey Street 1 minute later than now (presumably this reverts to the old arrangement of buses running up Lordburn then turning the bus via a square of roads passing the Abbey Health Centre). Some afternoon peak buses will also run to/from West Abbey Street. No change to evening/Sunday service. Buses that run via Timmergreens are now Service 43A instead of 43. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE Stagecoach Strathtay 44 (Asda/Elliot Caravan Park -  Timmergreens – Tesco/Lochlands Street – Arbroath Bus Station – Morrisons/Burnside Drive (off-peak) – Springfield Medical Centre – Cliffburn, Great Michael Road & Glenogil Drive) A new hourly Monday – Saturday off-peak service, replacing Services 41, 45, 45A, the section of the 73/73A to Cliffburn, and some other bits and pieces. The service runs hourly throughout much of the day, but extra peak time buses on the Cliffburn end of the route. Service will not serve Charles Avenue during the day – see 73/73A. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

NEW SERVICE Stagecoach Strathtay 44A (Timmergreens – Charles Avenue – Arbroath Bus Station – Springfield Medical Centre – Cliffburn, Great Michael Road – one bus continues to/from Auchmithie – Cliffburn Glenogil Road and back to Arbroath) Evening & Sunday Service 41/45 replacement, pretty much as now. No service to Asda, Morrisons or Tesco. A later evening bus runs as Service 43A to Timmergreens, via Kirkton. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Service 45/45A (Bus Station – Cliffburn via Mayfield Shops as 45A afternoon peak or 45 via Great Michael Road) Afternoon peak & evening service withdrawn, as is the 73/73A to Cliffburn.  Cliffburn will still be served by the 27 off-peak, and the new 44/44A (See above). DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay 47 (Ferryden – Montrose Town Centre – Borrowfield – Hillside Bridge – Sunnyside Hospital, Midgrip Cottages, Craigo or Dubton) Sunnyside Hospital has now closed, with staff being transferred to Stracathro (also see 30/30B), so the hospital grounds are no longer served. West Mount Cottages passengers should use the stops at Hillside Bridge or the 8/9 on the A937 near Grampian Growers. The Monday to Saturday daytime commercial service is therefore revised – a bus every 30 minutes Ferryden – Rossie Island _ Rail Station – High Street – (Borrowfield) Newhame Road – Coronation Way – Coronation Avenue – Hillside Bridge – Rosemount School – Midgrip Cottages, with a bus every 2 hours also serving Dubton. The evening & Sunday contract was largely tied around Sunnyside Hospital working patterns, but the times are now running 10-15 mins different to meet train arrivals at Montrose, when heading towards Hillside. Craigo will still be served by one evening journey, and a later evening return on request, and by the 8/9 and 47B (unchanged) school bus. Sunday service now starts from 10.00. Also see 30B for some Mon-Sat evening additional journeys. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches Service 52 (Links Health Centre – Montrose Town Centre – Forties Road) The journeys operated on this service in-between 115/116 journeys are withdrawn, following loss of the 115/116 contract along with that for the Saturday 52.  Saturday service 52 will be operated by Travel Wishart with five/six buses per direction. Monday to Friday 52 by JP is withdrawn, BUT the majority of journeys are ran by MW Nicoll, and these continue unchanged. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach Strathtay Services 73, 73A, 73B (Ninewells Hospital – Dundee City Centre – Craigie Avenue or Blackscroft – Broughty Ferry – Monifieth – Carnoustie – Arbroath – Cliffburn) Section beyond Arbroath Bus Station withdrawn and replaced by new Service 44/44A. The current service has slightly extended journey times to add reliability, include a diversion via Charles Avenue in Timmergreens (rather than the shops) and some 73’s (via Muirdrum) now run as 73A (via Easthaven) or vice-versa. The current Weekday three buses an hour to Ashludie Hosp/Broomhill Drive will now all run via Ethiebeaton Park (Three buses an hour, instead of one) in the off-peak weekday period. Saturday daytime service reduced to four buses an hour between Ninewells Hospital and Monifieth High Street, with two buses to Arbroath, one terminating in Carnoustie, and the other running to Ethiebeaton Park, Ashludie Hospital and Broomhill Drive. Evening & Sunday 73B unchanged but see below for new 73C/73E to replace 39A. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE (73 group) HERE – Arbroath town timetable above under 43, 44, 44A, 45.

NEW SERVICE 73C, 73E (Kingoodie/Invergowrie – Ninewells Hospital – Dundee City Centre – Broughty Ferry – Carnoustie – Arbroath) This new service replaces the Kingoodie/Invergowrie/Ninewells Hospital – Arbroath section of evening & Sunday Service 39A (the section beyond Arbroath to Warddykes and Montrose is now part of 30A). Buses will run on the current 39A route, with Muirdrum runs numbered 73C, and Easthaven runs numbered 73E. Some minor changes, but notable is that the 23.07 Invergowrie to Arbroath daily journey (via Easthaven Mon-Sat or Muirdrum on Sundays) is now Sundays only. The Mon-Sat bus presumably runs off at Invergowrie back to Dundee depot. There is an alternative bus at 23.07 Mon-Sat as a Service 16 from Invergowrie, Main Street, direct along the Perth Road to Dundee Bus Station. An alternative bus from Ninewells Hospital via Blackness Road runs on National Express 22 at 23.10.  As a result, the 23.47 from Dundee High Street 39 to Arbroath Bus Station on Friday & Saturday nights (via the A92) now runs as Service 73E at 23.45, replacing the withdrawn last 39A. These evening & Sunday services will not run via Charles Avenue in Timmergreens, but the revised 44A will. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE (73 group) HERE – Arbroath town timetable above under 43, 44, 44A, 45.

Stagecoach Strathtay 75 (Dundee City Centre – Broughty Ferry – Grange Road – Ethiebeaton Park) Saturday service withdrawn. Remaining Mon-Fri Eastbound buses will leave Dundee High Street at 09.19, 10.19, 11.19, 12.19, 13.19, 14.19, 16.49, 17.19, 17.39, with buses back from Ethiebeaton Park/Dobbies at 07.10, 08.03, 09.47, 10.47, 11.47, 12.47, 13.47, 14.47 – reducing the peak “against the flow” buses, and running the main day service 9 – 11 minutes later throughout. Ethiebeaton Park is also covered by the 39, X39, 73/73A/73B, 79A/79C, 81 and 206. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches Service 81 (Carnoustie – Monifieth – Monikie or Wellbank – Forfar) Service changes hands for the first time since being introduced eight years ago, and will now be operated by National Express Dundee (also see 27 and X39). Buses from Carnoustie, Carlogie Road at Panbride Road to Forfar will now run 20 minutes later throughout (was 09.10, now 09.30). The return bus now leaves Forfar, Tesco, 10 minutes later (was 12.35, now 12.45), before continuing to arrive Carnoustie, Barry Road, 11 minutes later. Beyond that the bus displays X39. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

M. W. Nicoll 103 (Laurencekirk – Stonehaven – Aberdeen) Extra commercial journeys introduced between Stonehaven and Aberdeen (direct) – 08.25 Mon-Fri from Aberdeen, Gallowgate College, 10.42 Mon-Fri from Aberdeen, Union Square, and a 16.02 Mon-Fri from Stonehaven Interchange to Aberdeen, Gallowgate College. These extra buses run northbound fast from Glen Ury (scheme in Stoney) to Netherley, and southbound fast from Netherley to Cowie Bridge, because of the road layout. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches Service 114 (Forfar Town Centre – Beech Hill – Gowanbank) Morning bus (10.20 from East High Street) now leaves at 09.40, arriving Tesco at 10.05 (was 10.42). This bus now inter-works with the expanded commercial 23/24 rather than the 117/124/125 Turfbeg or Glamis routes – which are unchanged. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches Service 115/116 (Forfar/Friockheim – Farnell or Lunan Bay – Montrose) Contract passes to Travel Wishart (Angus unit of National Express Dundee).  Service 115 runs via Farnell on Wednesdays. Service 116 runs on Mondays and Fridays, plus Saturdays. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Service 115 or 116 leaves Friockheim for Montrose five minutes earlier at 09.35. The Saturday departure on Service 116 from Friockheim to Montrose will now run 30 minutes earlier at 08.35. The return time from Montrose had been set to be different (for the last year) to allow more time on the return from Montrose during school holidays (116 only) although this is no longer the case. Departures from Montrose High Street had previously been 12.04 or 14.03 (Mon/Wed/Fri) or 14.03 (Sat) with buses running via Rail Stn either before or after. This has now been tidied up, with the 115/116 on Mon/Wed/Fri departing Montrose Station 11.56 via High Street 11.58. The Saturday 116 now runs at 13.56/13.58. The commercial extension beyond Friockheim to/from Forfar no longer operates, but the service is timed to connect with Stagecoach Service 27 to/from Forfar. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

JP Coaches and TeeJay Travel Services 137, 138, 139 (Services to Kirkton of Auchterhouse, Bridgefoot, Strathmartine Hospital, Sidlaws, Tealing Village, Inveraldie and Murroes) Service changed considerably, with al contracts won by National Express Dundee, and additional commercial journeys added to the mix. The new timetable provides all buses running beyond Downfield (at least to Kirkton but the majority continuing to Dundee College and Dundee City Centre), and some extra journeys.

Service 137/137A starts at Dundee High Street via Dundee College -  Kingsway Campus, Asda Kirkton, (Downfield Surgery or Balgowan Avenue?), Downfield Cox Street terminus, then 137 via Bridgefoot then Strathmartine, and back to Downfield, whereas 137A runs to Strathmartine then Bridgefoot, and back to Downfield, before retuning to town. A total of 9 137/137A buses during the day to/from Strathmartine/Bridgefoot, plus two Service 22A’s, and three Service 138’s, Monday to Friday. Saturday sees six 137/137A’s, one 138, and two 22A’s. Sunday sees two 22A’s (new). This provides a grand total of 14 buses Mon-Fri, and 9 buses on Saturdays – currently 10 or 6 – to/from Strathmartine Hospital and Bridgefoot.  Also see Service 22/22A.

Service 138 starts at Dundee High Street via Dundee College – Kingsway Campus, Asda Kirkton, (Downfield Surgery or Balgowan Avenue?), Downfield Cox Street terminus, Strathmartine Hospital, Bridgefoot, then in a loop via Leoch, Kirkton of Auchterhouse, Braeside, and Newlandhead, before returning. There are three return buses Mon-Fri and one on Saturdays. When added to Service 139, (via Murroes) there will be six buses a day Mon-Fri to/from Auchterhouse, as now. Saturday service is down from four buses a day, to three – but they all run to/from Dundee City Centre.

Service 139 has been changed to incorporate the peak bus from Service 138 (JP) and the main 139 service by TeeJay. Service 139 leaves from Dundee High Street via Forfar Road and South Powrie to Murroes, although the morning bus will still run via Pitkerro Road and Burnside of Duntrune. The buses will then continue to Tealing and Inveraldie villages, with all but one bus continuing to Auchterhouse. One morning bus Mon-Sat runs via the 138 route from Dundee High Street via Kirkton to Bridgefoot and Auchterhouse, then continuing back to Dundee via Murroes. Current Murroes service is maintained with an additional peak journey that also serves Tealing and Inveraldie villages.

DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE FOR STRATHMARTINE HOSPITAL, BRIDGEFOOT, LEOCH, KIRKTON OF AUCHTERHOUSE, PINK COTTAGES HERE
DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE FOR INVERALDIE, SOUTH POWRIE, TEALING VILLAGE, WESTHALL TERRACE, MURROES HERE

National Express Dundee Service 206 (Ethiebeaton Park – Broughty Ferry – West Ferry) An extra bus will operate at 15.00 from Ethiebeaton Park to Strathern Road only via Dundee Road. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Stagecoach in Fife Changes

Service 50 (Dunfermline – Ferrytoll P&R – Leith) The 06.35 journey from Dunfermline will be revised to depart at 06.30, and will operate 5 minutes earlier throughout. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Dunfermline Outer Circle Service 72A 72C 73 73B 82A 82C (Townhill – Dunfermline town centre – Duloch Park – Ferrytoll Park & Ride) In order to improve reliability, the Monday to Saturday daytime journeys operating as services 72A, 72C and 73 will be revised to operate via James Street and New Row instead of the bus station, with minor timing changes as a result.  There will be no change to the evening and Sunday Fife Council supported journeys. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Service 74B (Steelend – Oakley – Dunfermline) The 08.00 journey from Dunfermline to Steelend will be revised to depart at 07.57 and will operate 3 minutes earlier throughout.  The 08.33 journey from Steelend to Dunfermline will be revised to depart at 08.28, and will operate 5 minutes earlier throughout. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Service 78 (Dunfermline – High Valleyfield – Kincardine – Stirling) In response to customer feedback, the route of this service within High Valleyfield will revert to operating via Dunimarle Street instead of using the full length of Preston Street. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Jet Service 747 (Inverkeithing – Ferrytoll P&R – Edinburgh Airport) A revised timetable will be introduced to improve reliability, with minor retiming particularly at peak periods.  In addition, in order to best match the number of evening flights at the Airport, the Sunday evening frequency will be increased to every 30mins, while the Saturday evening frequency will be reduced to hourly. DOWNLOAD A NEW TIMETABLE HERE.

Posted in Scottish Transport | Comments Closed

Award Winning timetables from Here To There Publishing Ltd!

May 6th, 2012

Guess I got a bit tied up with this last weekend… the first two of our new format timetable books went straight into the red section (“Outstanding In Their Field”) on the “Best Timetables” page of Barry Doe’s Directory of Bus Timetables across the British Isles. While the books will always have some niggles, it’s good to hear they have went down so well… and not just with Mr Doe… see the H2T Facebook page for more.

Northumberland – published by Here to There Publishing
This is the first of the new series of timetables I have seen from ‘Here to There Publishing’
(www.heretotherepublishing.com), run by Suzy Scott from 15 Titchmarsh Close, Royston SG8 5DD (tel:
01763 252868; email: suzy@heretotherepublishing.com). Northumberland’s original timetable used to
appear in this Best Timetable section and it was a major loss when the county stopped issuing it.
How good, therefore, to see one again! It has 244 pages and includes a 10-page listing
of the services followed by an amazingly comprehensive 40-page index of places served. There is
copious detail about recent changes, contact details for operators and then no fewer than 25 pages
dealing with types of ticketing for all the bus and rail operators in the area. Indeed so detailed
are all the introductory pages that the timetables themselves don’t start until page 96! This is a
real marketing tool. A Tyne & Wear Metro map appears at the rear as does a diagrammatic system map
for bus services. One update to the book will be mailed free of charge. At long last a group that
is treating printed timetables seriously! It will be most interesting to see how this venture
expands.

Essex – published by Here to There Publishing
Everything I have said below about the quality of the new Northumberland timetable from ‘Here to
There Publishing’ applies to its Essex book. The original Essex book also used to appear in this
Best Timetable section and it was similarly a major loss when the county stopped issuing it. This
is, however, far larger than that for Northumberland! It has 844 A5 pages and includes a 15-page
listing of the services followed by a 54-page index of places served. There is copious detail about
recent changes and contact details, then 45 pages dealing with types of ticketing for all the bus
and rail operators in the area, including full details for London Underground which, of course,
operates in Essex. So this time the timetables themselves don’t start until page 163! There is no
need for a map because Essex still produces one and that is distributed free with this volume. One
update to the book will be mailed free of charge. Overall this is one of the most detailed
timetables I have ever seen in terms of its total content and everything is well set out and
extremely clear. These volumes are not cheap so it will be very interesting to see how such
stand-alone commercial publications succeed. They certainly deserve to, as they form the best news
in the field of public transport information since the demise of the Southern Vectis Great Britain
Bus Timetable in 2001.

Posted in Cambridgeshire Transport, English Transport, Essex Transport, Greater Anglia, H2T Books, Hertfordshire Transport, Long Distance, North of England Transport, Rail Fares & Ticketing, South & East England Transport | Comments Closed

Update to Stagecoach Cambridgeshire changes June 2012

April 29th, 2012

Further to the post on the Stagecoach Cambs changes in June, the information below adds to it, and corrects some of the straggly or unsure bits.

 

 

 

26 April 2012

Timetable changes – 10th June 2012

 

Stagecoach takes the initiative!

 

There has been a lot of uncertainty recently about the future of bus routes in Cambridgeshire.

 

The county council has announced that it is to look at new ways to provide transport to those areas where it currently subsidises local bus routes.

 

The problem is that all passengers are becoming concerned despite the fact that over 80% of bus routes in the county are run by operators on a commercial basis (with no funding from other bodies).

 

Stagecoach has decided it is time to let new and potential customers know how they continue to woo people out of their cars onto its ‘Greener Smarter Travel’, despite facing rising costs and reduced fuel incentives.

 

Andy Campbell, Stagecoach East Managing Director, insists innovation and partnership working with the local authority are key to the company’s continued success.

 

“The Cambridge Citi network has been in place for over 10 years, offering high frequency bus routes across the city. Achieving phenomenal growth in ridership the principles were introduced into Peterborough in 2004 with similar success. In parallel we have not ignored the needs of the market towns and rural communities.

 

We now face our greatest challenge; to offer a sustainable service in these areas against a background of reduced funding and increased fuel taxation”.

 

The company believes the solution is threefold:-

 

  • community minibus schemes in remote areas.
  • conventional bus service run on a commercial basis, even though this might be a reduction in the current level of service.
  • routes that will always need some financial support to run as conventional bus routes – in some cases combining the movement of schoolchildren with the few customers who rely on the bus.

 

In a move to allay speculation, Stagecoach has announced a round of service changes which show it’s support for these principles and puts them to the test. Revised timetables will take effect from 10 June 2012.

 

The following is a summary of the most significant effects, full will be available on the company’s website – stagecoachbus.com/East from week commencing 30th April.

 

Cambridge Citi 1 – minor timetable changes.

 

Cambridge Citi 3 – revised route in Cherry Hinton with buses terminating at Bridewell Road (two per hour), Tesco Store (two per hour) and running direct to Fulbourn (two per hour).

 

Cambridge Citi 4 – will run from Madingley Road into the city centre serving Northampton Street and Mitchams Corner – West Cambridge and Grange Road remain served by the Uni 4. The section of this route between Cambourne and St Neots is covered by new route X4, see below.

 

Cambridge Citi 5 – will continue to extend beyond Bar Hill serving Longstanton, Willingham, Over and Swavesey hourly. Buses will circle these villages either clockwise or anti-clockwise calling at Longstanton Park & Ride site to offer interchange with The Busway. There are also changes to the evening and Sunday timetables.

 

Cambridge Citi 6 – minor changes to the Sunday timetable.

 

Cambridge Citi 7 – following much publicised concern about the subsidised section of route beyond Sawston, an hourly extension to Duxford and Saffron Walden will be retained commercially.

 

Cambridge Citi 8 – minor timetable changes.

 

Route 9 – Cambridge – Ely – Chatteris/Littleport

 

The off peak frequency will be increased to hourly, connections will be made at Chatteris for March on some journeys.

 

Routes 11/12 – Cambridge – Newmarket – Bury St Edmund’s/Ely

 

There are minor timetable changes to this service.

 

Route 14 – Caldecote – Hardwick – Cambridge

 

This service is withdrawn.

 

Routes 16/17 – Haverhill/Newmarket – Cambridge – Fen Estate

 

A commercial service will run every two hours between The Wilbrahams and Fen Estate.

 

Routes 18/18A – Eltisley/Caxton – Comberton – Cambridge

 

There are minor timetable changes to this service.

 

Route 19 – Haverhill – Linton – Burrough Green

 

This service is withdrawn.

 

Route 30 – Ramsey – Warboys – Huntingdon

 

Running in future as an entirely commercial service this route will run two hourly from Ramsey, but remains hourly between Warboys and Huntingdon. Most journeys will extend from Ramsey to Forty Foot, Mereside, Pondersbridge, St Mary’s, Heights and Upwood.

 

Route 31 – Ramsey – Whittlesey – Peterborough

 

Although through buses to Peterborough will now run every two hours the local connection into Ramsey remains hourly, combined with route 30. Both routes 30/31 are extended to serve Ramsey Tesco.

 

Route 33 – March – Whittlesey – Peterborough

 

Following many requests the link between Whittlesey and March is restored, running every two hours during the day. The frequency between Whittlesey and Peterborough remains every 30 minutes.

 

Route 35 – March – Chatteris – Warboys – Huntingdon

 

Now offering additional buses between March and Chatteris this route will replace current route 9 on this section (with connections to Ely), continuing every two hours to Warboys and Huntingdon.

 

Route 45 – St Ives – Huntingdon

 

There are minor timetable changes to this service.

 

Route 61 – St Neots Commuter Service

 

This service is retained to connect to the rail station. This route remains financially supported at this time.

 

Routes 62/63/64 – St Neots Town Services

 

New route X4 will now link Eaton Socon and Loves Farm to Cambridge, with Eynesbury linked through to Little Paxton and Huntingdon as route 66.

 

Route 66 – Huntingdon – Buckden – St Neots

 

Another commercial experiment going forwards, this route will still run hourly, with all buses serving Little Paxton before running direct into St Neots.

 

Route 75 – Town Centre – Eaton Socon – St Neots Community College

 

This service is replaces Whippets route 475 and operates at the same times as the current service

 

Route 91 – St Ives – Earith – Cambridge

 

This service is withdrawn. Customers are advised to use The Busway for services into Cambridge. Route 95 will be re-routed to serve Willingham.

 

Route 95 – Fenstanton – Swavesey – Cambridge

 

Minor timetable change and re-routed to serve Willingham.

 

New Route X4 – Eaton Socon – St Neots – Cambourne – Cambridge

 

Combined with our successful route X5 will offer a service to Cambridge every 15 minutes throughout the day. This service provides direct links from Eaton Socon and Loves Farm and a faster Cambourne to Cambridge service.

 

Route X8 – Chatteris – Wilburton – Cottenham – Cambridge

 

There are minor timetable changes to this service.

 

Milton Park & Ride

 

There are minor timetable changes to this service. This service is also re-routed to serve Cambridge Railway Station and will no longer serve the stops on Hills Road at the Centennial Hotel.

 

Duxford War Museum Shuttle

 

A new service providing an hourly service between Cambridge Rail Station and Duxford Imperial War Museum

Posted in Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Transport, English Transport, Essex Transport, Suffolk Transport | Comments Closed

Stagecoach Cambridgeshire changes June 2012

April 19th, 2012

From 10th June 2012, Stagecoach Cambridgeshire will be making a wide range of changes, including some reduced services coming back or being extended, plus some others going down or going entirely. Cambs CC have previously announced the decision to withdraw all financial support on a phased basis over the next two years, in the assumption that someone else will be able to take over on a Community basis. Quite a lot of the subsidy per passenger is under £1/trip, which is very low by industry standards (one pound – I’ve not missed a 2nd digit!) So, all these changes will apply from that date – 10th June 2012.

 

Download a new timetable of Cambridge/Ely Depot (and outstations) Services

Download a new timetable of Fenstanton Depot Services

Download a new timetable of Peterborough depot services but NOT Peterborough citi1 or Peterborough citi2 – details of these are to follow.

 

 

Cambridge Service citi1 (Arbury – Cambridge – Cherry Hinton – Fulbourn) – Cambridge timetable

Service currently provides a bus every 10 mins Arbury – Cherry Hinton Tesco, with a bus every 20 minutes to Fulbourn (Mon-Sat daytimes) with a 30 minute evening/Sunday service to all points. The service beyond Cherry Hinton Tesco to Fulbourn will become a bus every 30 minutes. Service citi3 and revised 17 will also provide buses to/from Fulbourn. No change to the vening &U Sunday service pattern. The current 05.50 from Arbury to Fulbourn on Monday – Friday will now also run on Saturdays, providing a bus from Arbury to the City & Station about 30 minutes earlier than now.

 

 

Cambridge Service citi3 (Fison Road – Newmarket Road – Cambridge – Cherry Hinton Road – Cherry Hinton, Bridewell Road) – Cambridge timetable

Service currently provides a bus every 10 mins during the day, and every 30 minutes evenings & Sundays. During the day, the service is now split three ways after Cherry Hinton Hall. Four buss an hour will run to Cherry Hinton High Street/Robin Hood, which then splits in two – two buses to Bridewell Road loop, and another two to Cherry Hinton Tesco. The remaining two buses will continue along Cherry Hinton Road to Fulbourn. Evening & Sunday service broadly as now.

 

Cambridge Service citi4 (Cambridge – Coton – Cambourne – Etisley – St Neots) – Cambridge timetable

Service currently provides a bus every 20 minutes to Cambourne, and hourly beyond to St Neots, with an hourly service Evenings & Sundays to Cambourne. This service will revert to being a bus every 20 minutes between Cambridge and Cambourne, with the section beyond withdrawn. Most daytime buses running 8-10 minutes later as a result. Etisley will now be service by Service 18. St Neots journeys will now be provided by new X4 and existing X5 every 15 minutes. Cambourne to St Neots is now provided on new Service X4, now running twice an hour. This bus route will only stop at Cambourne Morrisons.  Presumably running direct i.e. not via Silver Street, as the service gets 15 mins to Cotton (instead of 22).

 

 

Cambridge Service uni4 (Addenbrooke’s – University sites – Madingley Road Park & Ride) – Cambridge timetable

Service currently provides a bus every 20 minutes or so, Monday to Saturday. No real major changes – going on a separate registration from that of the cit4. May display 4A.

 

 

 

Cambridge Service citi5 (Cambridge – Bar Hill – Over – Fenstanton – St Ives) – Fenstanton timetable

Service currently provides a bus every 20 minutes to Bar Hill, and that continues. Beyond Bar Hill services run hourly to Longstanton Church, Longstanton Park & Ride, then on a bi-directional loop via Swavesey, Over, and Willingham. Two morning and two afternoon buses will commence/end ar t Fenstanton via Fen Drayton – but otherwise no service to these points. No longer serving St Ives. Monday to Saturday evening service (via Girton village & Oakington) are withdrawn. Last bus from Cambridge now 18.30 Mon-Sat. Sunday service also not shown – presumed withdrawn or is it continuing? BASED ON THE INFORMATION TO VOSA, 5 HAS BEEN CANCELLED BY VOSA (Fens licence) AND REVISED (Cambus license) WHICH MEANS IT’S CONTINUATION IS UNLIKELY.

 

 

Cambridge Service citi6 (Cambridge – Girton Village – Oakington) – Cambridge timetable

20 minute Monday to Saturday daytime service virtually unchanged. Evening citi5 that diverted via Oakington is withdrawn. Sunday Service is now running about 9 minutes earlier throughout.

 

Cambridge Service citi7 (Cambridge – Trumpington – Sawston – then Duxford Village, Duxford Imperial War Museum and Whittlesford, or Saffron Walden) – Cambridge timetable

Currently the 20 minute dautime service runs between Cambridge and Sawston,w ith hourly variations thereafter. Cambs CC intend to drop subsidy for all buses on this route (only the bits beyond Sawston are subsidised), but Essex CC will probably have something to say about the loss of the SW/Littlebury Turn – Cambridge hourly links! At the moment, it’s not quite happening like that…

Buses will still run every 20 minutes between Cambridge and Sawston, with slightly revised timings throughout.

Duxford village journeys will no longer operate, but an hourly service will be provided to Duxford as a deviation of the Saffron Walden service.

Duxford Imperial War Museum will now no longer be part of the citi7 BUT will be covered by new Service DUX.

As a result, Whittlesford goes from 1 bus an hour, to 1 bus a day, at peak times.

Saffron Walden’s service to Cambridge is also maintained every hour, but takes a minute or two more as it also serves Duxford.

Evening service remains 1 bsu an hour between Sawston and Cambridge.

Sunday service remains 2 buses an hour between Sawston and Cambridge, with the Sunday buses to/from Duxford Imperial War Museum withdrawn – see DUX.

There are no Sunday buses to Duxford or Saffron Walden on the citi7, but this is provided b Service 132 – paid for by the taxpayers of Essex.

A new school journey – registered as 7 but may show 7A – will start from Trumpington Road/Porson Road at 07.44 via Trumpington Road, Maris Lane 07.48, then 7 route to Sawston Village College.  Return bus leaves the school at 15.15.

 

 

Cambridge Service citi8 (Addenbrookes – Cambridge – Histon – Cottenham) – Cambridge timetable

Current service level of a bus every 20 mins daytime, hourly evenings, half-hourly Sunday daytimes are maintained, including the peak bus to/from Rampton. The only changes southbound appear to be a new Monday-Friday morning bus at 05.45 from Cottenham to Addenbrooke’s Hospital – 20 minutes earlier than now. However, the first bus on Saturday morning is now 20 minutes later, as the 06.05 from Cottenham to Addenbrooke’s Hospital will not run on Saturdays.  Northbound service will run either 5 mins later or 15 minutes earlier – whichever you prefer! No changes evening & Sundays.

 

 

Service X8 (Cambridge – Cottenham – Chatteris – March) – Cambridge timetable

Service now runs between Cambridge and Chatteris only. A morning bus at 06.51 from March will run on Service 35, which is presumably intended to connect at Chatteris. The same applies in reverse.

 

Service 9 (Cambridge – Milton – Ely – Littleport or Chatteris/March) – Cambridge timetable

Since about last Spring, Service 9 has ran every 2 hours north of Ely – towards Chatteris or Littleport. Towards the end of last year, Service 9A was introduced locally in Ely to reintroduce an hourly service to the Hospital once more. While the timetable is not exactly the pre-Spring 2011 one, it’s a good way to start. The current hourly shorts between Cambridge and Milton continue… but these will leave Cambridge 5 minutes later, before extending at Milton to serve Landbeach and Waterbeach. The Ely journeys will also run 5 minutes later from Cambridge, and run direct along the A10 from Milton to IQ Cambridge i.e. not Waterbeach/Landbeach, except in the afternoon peak. There is now an late 19.15 bus form Cambridge to Ely, and 17.55 from Ely to Cambridge – reinstating withdrawn links some time back. From Ely all buses will follow the route to Chatteris every hour, with a connecting Service 9 at Ely for High Barns, Princess of Wales Hospital, and Littleport (although two peak buses will run through). This restores an hourly link from Ely to Chatteris, but these will not serve March. The section of route between March & Chatteris will continue with an enhanced Service 35.

 

 

Service 11 (Cambridge – Newmarket – Bury St Edmunds) – Cambridge timetable

Service 12 (Cambridge – Newmarket – Soham – Ely) – Cambridge timetable

Off-peak buses from Cambridge run 15 minutes later, afternoon peak buses 5 mintues later (but some have additional peak running time during school terms). Off-peak 11 buses from Bury St Edmunds now running 35 minutes later, with the last bus now at 17.35 (the last two short buses to Newmarket are withdrawn). Off-peak 12’s now run at 45 past from Ely, with the last bus at 17.45 (not 18.00).

 

 

Service 14 (Caldecote – Cotton – Dry Drayton – Cambridge)

Service withdrawn. Cambs CC had intended to drop the funding for the Caldecote extension in September 2013.

 

 

Service 18/18A Cambridge – Caxton (- Gamlingay) – Fenstanton timetable

Some peak buses, and every other bus during the day, will now extend to Etisley (not Caxton, Bourn Road) to replace citi4. Buses will leave Cambridge for Etisley at 09.45, 11.45, 13.45 17.45 (Monday – Saturday) and from Etisley, The Green, at 07.08 (this one is Monday to Friday only), then 10.42, 12.42, 14.42, 16.42 (others Monday to Saturday).

Other changes – 07.55 18 Mon-Fri Cambridge – Caxton now runs 5 minutes earlier throughout, terminating at Cambourne Morrisons. 08.45 18 Mon-Sat Cambridge – Kingston now terminates at Comberton. Many afternoon peak buses changed by up to 2 minutes. 15.45 18 Cambridge – Longstowe now terminates at Comberton. 17.45 18 Mon-Sat ex Cambridge no longer serves Longstowe but runs to Etisley instead. 07.13 18 Mon-Fri Longstowe –Cambridge now runs from Etisley 07.08 – Caxton 07.16 then picking up existing times. 09.17 18 Mon-Fri Gamlingay – Cambridge withdrawn between Gamlingay and Caxton.

 

 

Service 16 (Fen Estate – Cambridge – Teversham – Fulbourn – Haverhill)

Service 16A (Cambridge – Teversham – Fulbourn – The Thurlows)

Service 17 (Fen Estate – Cambridge – Teversham – Fulbourn – Newmarket)

Services more or less withdrawn in their current state. Cambs CC had intended to drop the funding for this from September 2012. The service to Six Mile Bottom, Dullingham and Stetchworth is reduced to one peak hour service only. The service between The Wilbrahams, Fulbourn, Teversham, Cherry Hinton, Coldhams Lane, Beehive, Retail Park, Grafton Centre, Cambridge City Centre, Chesterton and Fen Estate  is reduced to 4/5 buses per day, running every two hours. Service citi1 and citi3 are also revised in the Fulbourn area.

 

 

Service 19 (Burrough Green – Balsham – Linton – Haverhill) – Cambridge timetable

Service withdrawn. Cambs CC had intended to drop the funding for this from September 2012. The morning peak 13B from the Camps to Cambridge continues – but there will be no return service.

 

 

Service 30 (Huntingdon – Warboys – Ramsey) – Fenstanton timetable

Service 31 (Ramsey – Mereside or Upwood – Peterborough) – Peterborough timetable

These two separate services are to see substantial change. Service 30 will see a reduction to a bus every two hours or so during the off-peak hours, with early buses withdrawn – but also see an increased Service 35 (which will absorb the lost off-peak journeys). Most buses five minutes later from Huntingdon. Service 30 will follow the current route through to Ramsey, Great Whyte, before extending to Ramsey, Tesco. The bus will then pick up/drop off at Tesco before returning to Great Whyte, then doing some circuits of Ramsey Forty Food, Mereside, Pondersbridge, Ramsey St Marys, Upwood, Bury (Cambs) to Ramsey Tesco, Ramsey Great Whyte, back to Huntingdon. Most of the points for the loop are currently covered by Service 31. That service now becomes a “lollipop” Peterborough – Stanground – Whittlesey – Pondersbridge – Mereside – RFF – Great Whyte or Tesco Ramsey – Bury (Cambs) – Upwood – Ramsey Heights – Ramsey St Mary – Pondersbridge – Whittlesey – Stanground – Peterborough.

 

 

Service 33 (Chatteris – March – March Local – Whittlesey – Peterborough)
In Spring 2011, the off-peak service was severed into two sections on this route. However, with effect from this timetable change, one bus every 2 hours continues beyond March/County Road via Norwood Road, Elliot Road (formerly on Service 9), March Tesco, Coates, Eastrea, Whittlesey (Victoria Avenue) – Whittlesey, Market Place – then as now.

 

 

Service 35 (March – Wimblington – Chatteris – Warboys – RAF Wyton – Huntingdon) – Fenstanton timetable

This service currently provides one commuter bus per direction in the morning FROM March to Huntingdon, and in the afternoon back This service is increased to provide extra journeys, with up to four buses a day between Huntingdon and Chatteris, and nine buses a day between Chatteris and March, with some buses running to/from March Station. This change replaces many Service 30 journeys, and the March – Chatteris section of Service 9.

 

 

Service 45 (St Ives – RAF Wyton – Hartford – Huntingdon) – Fenstanton timetable
This service currently provides two commuter peak time buses between St Ives and Huntingdon in both directions, timed for weekday rail connections. The two morning buses (06.00 and 07.00 from St Ives) now run 7 minutes later throughout (i.e. from St Ives 06.07 and 07.07) with an extra bus now leaving at 06.37. The evening timetable is also different, with the 18.05 bus from Hinchingbrooke Hospital now at 18.40, and the 19.05 bus now at 19.10.

 

 

Services 61-64 (St Neots Local Service) – Fenstanton timetable

Service reduced to a handful of peak buses in both directions, Monday to Friday only, between Teco, Eynesbury, Rail Station, Longsands Road, Market Square, Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon. Four morning through buses eastwards, three westwards (last one to Market Square only). Evening peak sees two short buses from Market Square to Tesco, three buses from Tesco to Eaton Ford, two buses from Eaton Ford to Tesco, plus one more to Market Square. Also see 66 for off-peak buses to Eynesbury and Tesco, or X4 for buses to Eaton Ford & Eaton Socon, plus Loves Farm. Not sure about Whippet service provision.

 

 

Services 65/66 (Huntingdon – St Neots – Eaton Socon) – Fenstanton timetable

Currently an hourly service (via two different routes) between Eaton Socon B&Q/St Neots and every 20 minutes locally to Hinchingbrooke Hospital. Service now runs hourly as 66 between Huntindgon and St Neots via Brampton, Buckden and Little Paxton, on all journeys, every hour. During the day, Monday to Saturday, the service extends via Eynesbury to St Neots Tesco. For service to Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford see X4 and X5. No longer appear to be any buses via Offord Cluny, Offord D’Arcy, Great Paxton or Southoe.

 

 

NEW SERVICE 75 (St Neots – Eaton Ford – Eaton Socon – St Neots Community College) – Fenstatnon timetable

New service to replace Whippet 475. 1 school bus in each direction – times broadly similar to now.

 

 

Service 95 (Fenstanton, Clock Tower – Cambridge 6th Form Colleges)  – Fenstanton timetable
Timetable revised by a few minutes in either direction.

 

 

Service 96 (Swavesey VC – Longstanton) – Fenstanton timetable

No change.

 

 

Park & Ride Green Service 99 (Milton P&R – Babraham Road P&R)
May be renumbered PR3. Service level maintained but some buses have an increased running time in the peak, but a minute or two shorter off-peak.

 

 

NEW SERVICE DUX (Cambridge Railway Station – Duxford IWM) – Cambridge timetable

This service will provide an hourly service during the Summer opening hours at Imperial War Museum Duxford, i.e. 10th June 2012 until 30th September 2012. The bus runs from Cambrdige, Railway Station at 09.30 and hourly to 17.30 via Maris Lane to IWM, returning at 10.00 to 18.00. The return service operates via Barton Road and Silver Street. It is presumed that this is a Limited Stop service. On selected special events days, an extra service will provide three buses an hour from the Railway Station via Trumpington Park & Ride to Imperial War Musuem  Duxford.

 

 

NEW SERVICE X4 (Cambridge – Cambourne – Loves Farm – Longsands Road or Railway Station – St Neots Town Centre – Eaton Ford & Eaton Socon) – Fenstanton timetable

New half-hourly Monday-Saturday daytime service, replacing the citi4 between St Neots and Cambourne (not Etisley – see 18) then to & from Cambridge, Parkside. Replaces St Neots local services 61-64 off-peak, including the Loves Farm 62. Still two peak buses per direction via St Neots station, designed for Cambourne commuters. Service combines with X5 to provide 4 buses an hour to central St Neots, from the same stop in Central Cambridge. Service X5 coaches run at opposite clock face points. However, it does mean the Cambourne picking up point service is now split between Parkside and Drummer St for departures in Central Cambridge.

 

 

Peterborough citi network

1 & 2 – revised timetables – details to follow.

3 – enclosed with the Peterborough timetable – can’t see anything major.

 

 

Posted in Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Transport, English Transport, Peterborough Transport, South & East England Transport, Suffolk Transport | Comments Closed

Sir Brian Souter enters British Travel Industry Hall of Fame

April 18th, 2012

Sir Brian Souter enters British Travel Industry Hall of Fame

18 Apr 2012

First public transport entrepreneur to receive honour

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive and co-founder Sir Brian Souter has been honoured with membership of the British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame.

Sir Brian (57) is the first public transport entrepreneur to receive the honour, with previous members coming from the airline, hospitality and travel management sectors.

The Hall of Fame was launched in 1994 and recognises people who have played a significant role in the creation and development of the travel and tourism industries.

Members include Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson; Jim French CBE, Chairman and CEO of Flybe; Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet; Christopher Rodrigues CBE, Chairman of VisitBritain; and Carlson Chairman Marilyn Carlson Nelson.

Sir Brian, who was awarded a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2011 for services to transport and the voluntary sector, is one of the UK’s foremost entrepreneurs.

His first job in the transport industry was as a bus conductor. He co-founded Stagecoach with his sister, Ann Gloag, in 1980 with just two buses and has developed the company into a leading international transport group in the UK and North America with 35,000 employees and an annual turnover of nearly £2.5billion.

Sir Brian, a significant supporter of charitable causes and the country’s leading public transport innovator, was honoured at a special dinner at the Savoy in London last night.

He said: “I’m very fortunate to work in a sector I’m passionate about and which affects so many people’s lives. Over more than three decades, Stagecoach has transformed public transport through new ideas such as our expanding megabus.com budget coach brand.

“We would not have achieved so much without the vital contribution of many talented people across our group and they should also be proud of this honour.”

Michael East, the Founder of the British Travel Industry Hall of Fame, said: “Sir Brian is an outstandingly successful entrepreneur who has created a truly remarkable global company starting with those first two small buses. He is a leading creator of the world transportation network.”

Sir Brian was inducted into the Hall of Fame at a dinner in London.

Posted in Corporate News | Comments Closed

Travel advice for Liverpool football fans: FA Cup Final at Wembley – Saturday 5 May 2012

April 18th, 2012

Travel advice for Liverpool football fans: FA Cup Final at Wembley – Saturday 5 May 2012

Virgin Trains is warning Liverpool football fans that there are no realistic options for return train travel from London after the FA Cup Final on Saturday 5 May.

Major route improvement works by Network Rail over the Bank Holiday weekend will mean extensive route closures.

Passengers from Liverpool to London on Saturday 5 May will need to travel via Manchester or Chester, or use Stoke-on-Trent station but the decision by the Football Association for a 17:15 kick-off means there are no options for fans to return north the same day after the game.

With the route out of London closed on Sunday 6 May, the earliest that fans could return to Liverpool would be on Monday 7 May.

A Virgin Trains spokesman said: “We always try and help football fans get to and from matches on our network, and did this very successfully for Everton and Liverpool supporters travelling to the semi-final. However, on this occasion, as we explained to the FA, the choice of both a 17:15 kick off and the staging of the FA Cup Final on a Bank Holiday weekend when Network Rail had already planned essential route improvement works means we cannot offer fans the level of train service they have come to expect.”

Posted in English Transport, London Transport, Long Distance, North of England Transport, West Coast Main Line | Comments Closed

Virgin Trains scoops another award

April 18th, 2012

Virgin Trains has won another prestigious award, being voted the top long-distance franchise operator for 2012 by leading industry experts.

 

The Institute of Transport Management placed Virgin Trains at the top of the industry, beating UK operators and SNCF-owned Eurostar.

 

The ITM based its award on areas including price, frequency, punctuality, health and safety, comfort and cleanliness. It is because of this that the Institute of Transport Management has given Virgin Trains the award of “Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012”, in respect of the full service offering that it provides its customers.

 

According to the ITM: “Virgin is a company that cares about people – both its customers and its staff – and this shines through in the service that it provides. Its success speaks for itself, in its doubling of passenger numbers, in its customer satisfaction ratings and in its commitment to continual improvements. Its vision to transform rail travel is well on the way to being a reality and the Institute is very pleased to award it the title of ‘Long Distance Franchise Provider 2012’. It is very well deserved.”

 

Tony Collins, CEO of Virgin Trains said: “We pride ourselves on customer service and independent surveys and awards repeatedly recognise the efforts made by our staff. We are delighted to win this ITM award ahead of competition such as Eurostar and we will continue to work hard to provide the best possible service.”

 

Virgin Trains has recently been named best train operator by Which? Magazine, and is top of the long-distance train franchises by the independent National Passenger Survey.

 

It also won best rail operator last year in the Daily Mail Globe Travel Awards.

Posted in Corporate News, English Transport, West Coast Main Line | Comments Closed

Virgin Birth?

April 18th, 2012
Genuine press release just recieved…

Virgin Trains is pleased to announce that ‘Penny’ is pregnant and expecting twins. ‘Penny’ is the 22nd of Virgin’s Pendolinos and is due to give birth in mid-May at Alstom’s H3 hospital located in the Longsight area of Manchester. Penny is doing well, but will also receive a full health check by Alstom’s engineers before being allowed back out on the main line, with her two new coaches in tow.

When released from the train hospital, ‘Penny’ is expected to be the tenth Pendolino to be running around with 11 carriages.

The news comes as ‘Penny’s’ friend, the ‘Virgin Lady’, now given a new identity of 390107, prepares to re-enter service tomorrow morning (19th April 2012) after receiving the H3 health-check and gaining two new vehicles. ‘Virgin Lady’ is the first of the original Pendolino sets to be increased from nine to eleven vehicles.

Posted in Corporate News, English Transport, West Coast Main Line | Comments Closed

Here To There Publishing – Newsletter, April 2012 (with links for more information!)

April 11th, 2012

We’ve been quiet here on the blog too – not intentionally though. We’ve been working hard on two books – see below!

 

Well, we’re into Spring/Summer – even if it’s several inches of snow already this month,
in several parts of the UK.

We didn’t intend to drop a newsletter/catalogue in March – as we’ve been working hard
on a huge range of projects. Our Herts books are due out in April 2012.

We have five new titles for you – two from us, and including a new range of exclusive
photographic albums from Steve Knight Photography. These will be full colour,
and lavishly illustrated. The first three titles are all in stock. See this leaflet,
or do get in touch if you need more details.

A new title for us is one for Greater Essex, and is expected in the coming days. We were
asked to quote for ECC to buy some copies for reference in the likes of libraries, tourist
information offices, etc. – so you should see some reference copies in these locations in
the coming month. It’s been done all-in-one, with one 850-900 page A5 volume
covering Essex plus Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. There have been some long nights
involved with getting this ready in time, but it’s been a really interesting book to
produce. It include a loose map supplied by Essex County Council (also covers Southend),
which includes a new South Essex map (covering Brentwood to Southend). A Thurrock
map is available separately from the council. See this leaflet (including a
special offer!), or do get in touch if you need more details.

We also have our Northumberland book in the same position. 240 pages, including
Metro and principle bus services in Northumberland maps included, with the last few
pages (including the maps in covers. This one includes trains, buses, boats, coaches, and
Tyne & Wear Metro at Newcastle Airport. Once again, see this leaflet – including
a special offer!, or do get in touch if you need more details.
Our Timetable Mailing List service is another idea – allowing you to pre-purchase our
future titles, and we post them out as soon as they are issued. What could be more
convenient – well, there is no additional charges, you can top up whenever you like, and
you can switch what you have at any time. See this leaflet, or do get in touch if
you need more details.
We also list all our current titles that are in the course of being issued over the next few
months. If you’d rather switch what you’ve pre-ordered to a prepaid account, or to
another title – no problem (it’s your money!) – just let us know. Click here to
download our new Catalogue & Order Form.
We are visiting ATCO (Association of Transport Coordinators) Publicity & Information
Group meeting (for those in the South & East of England) later this month too. We will
be telling our story, and explaining what we do, in some depth.
HERTS & LUTON TITLES – APRIL 2012 EDITIONS
Work had been started on these titles, but paused for a few weeks because of the
timescale in which we had been required for the Greater Essex volume. Work on these
will then be back on track after the bank holiday weekend.
We intend to work from east-to-west with our four issues being done in that order. We
had done a substantial bit towards the first two – East & North Herts (714), and
South/Central Herts (713). After these are done, we will move over to St Albans, Luton &
Dunstable (712) plus West Hertfordshire (711) in that order.

If you pre-ordered the larger format West Herts & Luton book, we will automatically
send you the smaller volumes for St Albans, Luton & Dunstable (712) plus West
Hertfordshire (711), when they are complete.

If you pre-ordered the larger format Central & East Herts book, we will automatically
send you the smaller volumes for East & North Herts (714) plus South/Central Herts (713),
when they are complete.

If you’d rather switch what you’ve pre-ordered to a prepaid account, or to another title –
no problem (it’s your money!) – just let us know. The price you paid initially is part of
Price Match, which we maintain no matter what. If you pay too much – you get it back
by a credit note, credit to your new Prepaid subscription account, or by cheque upon
request. We have extended this concept to cover postage – which we cover next.
Once again, your patience is appreciated. You can catch up with further information at
www.heretotherepublishing.com/hertsandluton

POSTAGE & HANDLING POLICIES for H2T BOOKS as at 4th April 2012
Where do I start? Well, our new printing company has a quite straightforward
postage policy – it’s £1.25 + VAT plus the cost of postage. In other words – cost plus
£1.50. That seemed straightforward enough. However, Royal Mail have made
substantial changes this month.
* Account holders prices went up on 2nd April 2012 – Cash or online customers on
30th April 2012
* Account prices are now postage plus VAT. However, there is a new account
service (the name of which escapes me now) whereby it is VAT free
* Large Letter is now no more than 750grams – previously 1 kilogram
* Packets now have 1 band from 1gram to 750gram (instead of a variety of steps)
meaning it costs the same to send single A4 rolled poster as it would do to
send 125 sheets of A4 printer paper in a box.
 The new “Franking” (separate from account!) prices, are the same as the old
cash/online “stamp” prices!
So, in other words – our books may cost more to post out to you good people. It also
gives us a logistical nightmare for a few weeks of pricing changes – our printer
qualifies for Account rates, so as I type this, they have already increased. If we post
from here, it’s the end of the month. Confused? Yeah, me too… so, what can we do
to mitigate these substantial increases? To be honest, not a lot. Therefore, to avoid
sending out a price list now, and another one in a few weeks, we are charging the
new postal prices a few weeks early. We now charge £1.50 (handling fee imposed by
printer, but to cover our costs when despatching from here too!), plus the cost of
postage – with immediate effect.
If that sounds greedy – don’t worry. We can hear you all screaming at this paper, you
know  To be fair with everyone, what we will do is give ourselves an estimation of
the price it will cost, plus a handling fee. If we get it wrong, and we’ve overcharged
you, you will get a credit note for the value – or I can add it to a prepay account of
yours. If it’s in your favour – no problem – no further charge to you, up to £3.00. In
other words, if I get it wrong by 40p – we won’t ask for it back. However, if for some
reason we get it wrong by £18 – we’ll let you know, and discuss what we can do with
this at your earliest convenience.
This policy includes all our own Here To There publications, but the Steve Knight
Photography books are charged at a separate rate – £1.60 for the first, and £0.80 for
each subsequent book, until further notice.
For your information, the UK Postal Prices Wallchart can be downloaded here.

Our new Postage Policy is cost of postage (at the “Stamps/Online rate
shown ), plus £1.50 per time. Where we can get a cheaper courier, we will
ensure we use it. Existing quotes, and pre-orders we have received before 1st April
2012, are not affected.

Posted in H2T Books, H2T Newsletters | Comments Closed

WILLIAMS HYBRID POWER APPOINTS FRANK THORPE AS HEAD OF BUS SYSTEMS

April 11th, 2012

WILLIAMS HYBRID POWER APPOINTS FRANK THORPE AS HEAD OF BUS SYSTEMS

22nd March 2012. Grove, UK. Williams Hybrid Power, a subsidiary of Williams Grand Prix Engineering, have appointed Frank Thorpe to the position of Head of Bus Systems.  In this newly-created role Frank will be responsible for the business development of Williams Hybrid Power’s ground-breaking hybrid flywheel technology for the passenger carrying vehicle industry and lead its marketing and introduction into the sector.

Frank brings a wealth of bus industry experience to Williams Hybrid Power. He joins from Go-Ahead Group, where he worked in Business Development for Go-Ahead London. Prior to this he ran his family’s business, Thorpes, a London-based operator that was acquired by Metroline in 2004.

In his new role, which will see him deal with both passenger carrying vehicle manufacturers and operators, Frank will continue to work closely with his former employer following the recent announcement that Go-Ahead Group and Williams Hybrid Power are collaborating on the development and production of six prototype buses with retrofitted hybrid flywheel systems.

Speaking about his appointment Frank Thorpe commented, “Given the difficulties all bus and coach operators face due to the relentless increase of fuel prices, the forthcoming withdrawal of government support and ever-increasing environmental pressures, Williams Hybrid Power can deliver a unique solution that saves fuel and reduces emissions. On a personal note, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to work with a cutting-edge British company to help introduce this exciting and innovative product into service.”

Posted in Corporate News | Comments Closed

(Article) Smartcards are coming

April 11th, 2012

11 Apr 2012 ⋅ by David Shirres

Thomas Edmondson, a station master on the Newcastle and Carlisle Railway, invented the paste card ticket in 1837 which saw 150 years of use on Britain’s railways.

With today’s rapidly changing technology, its successors will be lucky to last a fraction of this time. The latest development is the ITSO smartcard, currently being piloted by five train operators.

These relatively small schemes are seven years behind Transport for London’s (TfL) introduction of Oyster, which now has issued millions of cards. So are they anything to get excited about?

The answer is “Yes”, as these schemes’ ITSO smartcards can potentially to hold all types of tickets on all modes of transport for seamless door-to-door ticketing. Oyster does not offer this as, unlike the ITSO card, it only holds pre-paid “value” and products specific to TfL services.

With its millions of cards the Oyster scheme does have the advantage of size. So just as Microsoft Windows succeeded because it was first, rather than best, is widespread use of ITSO smartcards likely?

Again the answer is “Yes”. For some years the Department for Transport (DfT) has promoted initiatives to ensure the success of ITSO cards.

These include the formation of ITSO (originally Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation) itself, a non-profit company incorporated in 2001 and whose members comprise bus and rail operators, equipment and system suppliers as well as local and national government.

Its purpose is to facilitate the implementation of contactless smart customer media public transport ticketing in the UK.

To do this, it maintains a technical interoperability specification and accredits scheme participants and equipment. ITSO has no involvement in commercial decisions nor particular ticketing schemes.

The DfT has also required ITSO to be used for English, Scottish and Welsh concessionary fares schemes with the consequent widespread provision of ITSO readers on buses.

In addition, all train franchises let since 2007 are required to introduce ITSO smartcards. It is also funding a project for TfL’s Oyster card readers to read ITSO cards by the end of 2013.

The Key to success

Southern’s ITSO smartcard “the key” was launched at Lewes station on 11th November 2011 by Norman Baker, Under-Secretary of State for Transport, in a further demonstration of the DfT’s support for ITSO.

Southern is part of the Go-Ahead group which has already piloted the key on London Midland between Worcester and Kidderminster and is progressively rolling it out in its nine bus companies including the local company in Lewes, Brighton and Hove buses.

Southern’s launch is a small scale pilot between Brighton and Seaford with season tickets being purchased either online or from ticket vending machines.

Southern plans to introduce more products as the scheme expands, including multi-modal schemes with “the key” being used for both bus and rail journeys.

Retail Systems Manager, Jason Hurd, explained the importance of fully testing the human interface before a wide scale roll out.

Therefore the pilot scheme was limited to 100 invited stakeholders who could be relied upon to give their views – Southern anyway undertakes a daily customer survey from which good feedback is obtained.

Small though this pilot scheme might be, it will not remain so for long as Southern have a nine stage roll out plan that will provide Smartcards for their entire franchise by the end of 2013, including their London stations.

Other Rail Smartcards

Credit for introducing the first ITSO rail smartcard goes to South West Trains (SWT), part of Stagecoach, who introduced their “Stagecoach smart” card in November 2008 between Staines and Windsor.

In 2011 stations between Woking and Weymouth (and branches) were added to make SWT’s card available at around 100 stations. Other recent and planned ITSO smartcard rail schemes are:

East Midland Trains introduced the “Stagecoach smart” card at selected stations between St Pancras and Sheffield in 2011;
First ScotRail launched a pilot scheme in 2011 between Edinburgh and Glasgow with 400 customers reported to be using the cards;
Go-Ahead’s London Midland will be introducing “the key” between Worcester and Stratford via Birmingham Snow Hill early in 2012;
Merseytravel introduced their Walrus card for buses in September 2011 and will be making it available for use on all Merseyrail services and Mersey ferries by late 2012;
Newcastle Metro is introducing its Pop Card for full implementation in 2012 as part of a £385 million upgrade programme which includes replacing 225 ticket machines;
In 2013 Smartcard ticketing will be part of the £290 Glasgow Subway modernization. This is part of a Strathclyde scheme for multi-modal smart media ticketing;
Smartcards are part of the extension of Manchester’s Metrolink from 38 to nearly 100 stops.

Suppliers providing ITSO-compliant equipment have to be ITSO Registered Suppliers and many bring experience from overseas. Those involved in rail smartcard ticketing are:

ACT (Applied Card Technologies) manage hardware integration and provide Central Customer and Card Management (CMS) back-office systems and software. This includes their Retail POST® software that enables tickets purchases online to be loaded onto the key smartcard. ACT also supports smartcard schemes for Merseyrail.
Cubic, a US company, has upgraded hardware and software for the Southern pilot and on Merseyrail, having previously installed TfL’s Oyster Card System.
Ecebs established a joint venture company with SPT to develop a cashless payment system and a revenue allocation system for Glasgow Subway and other SPT services.
Fujitsu Services provided First ScotRail with support services including HOPS set up and Management (CMS) back-office systems and Merseyrail’s ticketing system.
Scheidt & Bachmann, a German company, have provided ticket machines for SWT, First ScotRail, East Midlands, Manchester’s Metrolink, Glasgow Subway and Newcastle’s Metro.
Atos provide Southern’s Ticket Issuing Systems.
VIX, an Australian company, provides system support for the Stagecoach Smart smartcard used on SWT and East Midlands Trains and provide them, and Southern, with validator POSTs. In addition VIX deployed ticket machines for the interoperable Oxford bus scheme.

Common Bus – Rail Ticketing

It is perhaps no surprise that it is Go-Ahead, Stagecoach and First Group who are actively introducing rail smartcards.

Between them, they will have 16,000 buses with ITSO card readers by the end of 2012, so use of this technology by their rail companies offers economies of scale and multi-mode seamless ticketing between rail and bus.

There is, as yet, no seamless ticketing between different Train Operating Companies (TOCs).

When ITSO rail schemes include common routes, the Associated of Train Operating Company’s revenue allocation protocol and ITSO specifications can apportion revenue between the TOCs concerned.

Oxford buses provide one good example with both Stagecoach and the Go-Ahead Group operating buses in the city. This is the first UK implementation of commercial tickets on a city wide basis using the ITSO interoperable system. As a result, Go Ahead’s “the key” card can be used on Stagecoach’s buses and vice versa.

IT’s SO Smart

ITSO brings with it more initials to add to the many rail acronyms, with some shown in the table. Those relating to key components of the ITSO smartcard system are described below.

Customer Media can be anything which can receive and transmit data. It includes smartcards, key fobs and mobile phones (which would need Near Field Communications).

Unlike credit cards, ITSO Smartcards are contactless with an embedded antenna and processing chip which are not visible. As the card is passed over a reader, the integral antenna receives its signal to power up the chip, confirming the customer’s travel rights and updating them if required.

ITSO specifications require this to be done within 0.3 seconds and allow for 8 different types of Smartcard from small-memory “throw-away” cards to powerful microprocessor cards.

ETMs and POSTs. ETMs usually incorporate a POST to enable customers to purchase tickets and load them onto their card.

If an ETM does not have a POST, the ticket is loaded onto the card as soon as the customer presents it to a POST. POSTs also recognise the card, confirm its validity, store transaction data and pass data to HOPS. POSTs often control station entrance and exit gates.

HOPS is the “back office” data processing system including the management of system security and communication and storage of all required data. This includes the cancellation of “hot listed” card, issue of security keys, communication with other companies HOPS for reporting, product updates and fraud protection and revenue allocation.

The ITSO specification ensures interoperability and covers the Shell, POST, HOPS, IPE, message data elements, security sub system, ISAMs, communications and interfaces, Customer Media definitions and Remote POSTs.

The specification is primarily concerned with the security, structure and nature of data and runs to over a thousand pages. Within the constraints of European and International standards, it is an open specification intended to maximize competition and be as flexible as possible.

One example could be allowing cards to be used for other purposes including parking, leisure or libraries.

The future is ITSO

Michael Leach, ITSO’s chief executive, considers that in many ways ITSO is a world first in enabling one card to be used for different de-regulated services. However, he acknowledges that the initial take up of ITSO was slower than anyone thought.

Now ITSO use is beginning to take off with over 60 new ticketing schemes registered with ITSO in the 18 months leading to September 2011 and the five main bus operators committed to installing ITSO ticketing systems on their entire bus fleets.

This rapid increase in the growth of ITSO schemes is reflected in a graph of monthly ITSO security messages which is indicative of the number of ITSO transactions. Although there is still some way to go, as so far only 30-35% of authorities across the UK have adopted ITSO, Leach feels that ITSO use is approaching critical mass.

ITSO’s aim is for smart media that can be used throughout the country on any transport mode. This will only be achieved if operators believe there is a business benefit. Transport Scotland certainly believes there is as the use of concessionary smartcards in Scotland has reduced fraud by £24 million a year.

Also, when Oyster was first introduced in 2003, 19% of tube journeys required a ticket office visit, now the figure is 3.5%.

Fraud and ticket issuing costs are a significant part of the annual national rail ticket revenue of around £6 billion, so ITSO smartcards offer potential savings of hundreds of millions of pounds.

More intangible benefits include attracting more customers by offering an improved end-to-end journey experience, and better passenger data enabling operators to improve their understanding their customers. These strong business cases will become increasingly apparent as the use of smartcards increases.

So it would seem that the future is ITSO. With rapid technological developments, today’s smart media and associated hardware may have a short life.

However it is likely that the ITSO specification’s data structure will be around for some time to come, maybe even as long as the Edmondson card!

Posted in Corporate News, Rail Fares & Ticketing | Comments Closed

Milton Keynes changes April 2012

April 11th, 2012
Forthcoming local bus service changes
Click to Download
Route Description
Valid From
Milton Keynes Urban Bus Map 2012 New bus map for the Urban area of Milton Keynes 22/04/2012
Milton Keynes Rural Bus Map 2012 New bus map for the Rural area surrounding Milton Keynes 22/04/2012
Central Milton Keynes Bus Routes and Stops New bus map for Central Milton Keynes 22/04/2012
Milton Keynes Travel Guide New full local bus timetable guide valid from 22/04/2012 22/04/2012
1 Route will run between Bletchley, CMK, Newport Pagnell and Lavendon. Fenny Stratford will now be served by Service 18. Newton Longville will be served by a revised route 32. The section of route between Cranfield, North Crawley and Newport Pagnell will be provided by route 37. The direct route between Cranfield and Milton Keynes will be provided by route 45. 22/04/2012
2 This route now serves Redhouse Park. It will also be re-routed to run directly from Grange Farm to Westcroft Centre. Oxley Park will now be served by revised route 8. The frequency of route 2 will be increased to run every fifteen minutes for the main part of the day on Mondays to Fridays. 22/04/2012
3 This route has been withdrawn.Woburn Sands will be linked to Kingston and CMK by Platinum 300, running up to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays and hourly on Sundays. The Open University and Monkston will be served by routes 11/12. 22/04/2012
7 Minor changes to the Sunday timetable to improve reliability. 22/04/2012
8 Route implified to run as a one-way circular service between Kingston and Walnut Tree, Browns Wood and Old Farm Park. The route will be extended from Westcroft Centre to offer a simplified and improved service to Oxley Park. Arriva will run all journeys on Mondays to Saturdays and during Sunday daytime. The section between Kingston, Browns Wood, Walnut Tree and Bletchley will be replaced by new route 9. Caldecotte will be served by route 11/12. 22/04/2012
8A Route has been withdrawn and replaced in Walnut Tree, Browns Wood and Old Farm Park by Service 8. In Kents Hill it will be replaced by routes 12 & 17. 22/04/2012
9 New route will replace route 8 between Kingston, Walnut Tree and Bletchley, running hourly for the main part of the day on Mondays to Saturdays. 22/04/2012
11 New hourly route serving Caldecotte, Open University, Monkston and Central Milton Keynes 22/04/2012
12 New hourly route serving Caldecotte, Kents Hill, Open University, Monkston and Central Milton Keynes 22/04/2012
17 New route and timetable. Cranfield and Moulsoe now served by route 45. 22/04/2012
17A Service withdrawn. Replaced by service 45. 22/04/2012
18 Amended timetable and route to go through Fenny Stratford. 22/04/2012
24/25 Change of Saturday operator. Same timetable. 22/04/2012
28/29 Amended timetable and new operator on some journeys. 22/04/2012
30/31 Amended timetable 22/04/2012
32 Route will be revised to run from Buckingham to CMK, Bletchley and Newton Longville. The route will run in both directions and not as the current circular service. Some journeys will run via Maids’ Moreton and Burleigh Piece to replace Service 32A. 22/04/2012
37/37A Amended timetable and route also serving North Crawley. 22/04/2012
45 New route replacing 17A and direct route from Cranfield to CMK section of route 1. 23/04/2012
51 This once-a-day service will no longer run. Part of journey covered by amended route 32 22/04/2012
70 Timetable change before main service change date 01/04/2012
158 Service withdrawn 22/04/2012
300 Route frequency will be increased to run every 15 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays between MK Station and Coachway/Kingston and will be extended every 30 minutes to both Magna Park and Woburn Sands replacing route 3. On Sundays this service will run every 30 minutes to Kingston and hourly to both Magna Park and Woburn Sands. 22/04/2012
X4 Timetable change before main service change date 01/04/2012

Posted in Buckinghamshire Transport | Comments Closed

First Scotland East to close Dalkeith and reduce Musselburgh operations

April 11th, 2012

CHANGES TO SERVICES IN THE EAST LOTHIAN AND MID LOTHIAN REGIONS OF SCOTLAND

Monday 02 April 2012

First Scotland East has confirmed it is to discontinue a number of services in the East Lothian and Midlothian regions of Scotland. The company also confirmed that it has started the collective consultation process with Trade Unions on the possibility of redundancies at its Dalkeith and Musselburgh bus depots, which includes the possible closure of the Dalkeith depot.

This difficult decision has been reached after a number of years of poor trading performance which can no longer be borne by the business given the current challenging economic climate, high fuel prices and cuts in external funding.

Paul Thomas, Managing Director of First Scotland East, said: “We appreciate this will be distressing news for many of our staff and also unwelcome news for customers.

“However, we have for some time been running a number of services in the East and Mid Lothian regions at a loss. Over a number of years we have tried many marketing and pricing initiatives to change this, but the extra financial pressures put upon us by the current economic climate, high fuel prices and cuts in external funding mean that we simply have no option other than to discontinue the bulk of our operation in East Lothian and Midlothian.

“Unfortunately, up to 200 positions are at risk, from our Dalkeith depot, which we propose to close, and from our Musselburgh depot which we propose to significantly reduce in size. Our decisions do not, in any way, reflect the commitment and quality of our staff in the area. I cannot speak highly enough of their professionalism and dedication. We will be doing everything that we can to assist affected staff.

“We fully explored a range of alternatives, including selling our operations and transferring staff to another operator, but unfortunately these were unsuccessful.

“I do regret that we are having to discontinue services in the East and Mid Lothian regions and consider the possibility of redundancies. However, if we are to continue as a viable business we see no alternative.’

First Scotland East today (April 2) began its official consultation process with affected staff. This will include offering opportunities in other areas. The company also provided notice to the Traffic Commissioner and the Local Authority of its intention to cease running affected commercial services after the required statutory period of 70 days and affected tendered services after 90 days.

The East and Mid Lothian operations affected account for less than a fifth of the entire First Scotland East operation.
click here for the affected services (PDF – 377.43 KB)

Posted in Corporate News, Passenger & User Groups, Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Transport | Comments Closed

FirstGroup Staff Raise £2,500 for Sport Relief

April 11th, 2012

 

News image.
Staff at Aberdeen based, FirstGroup the UK’s largest transport operator, have raised £2,500 for Sport Relief.

 

First Shared Services (FSS), which is based at FirstGroup’s Aberdeen headquarters led the money raising efforts.  A team of 24 took part in a mini triathlon; FirstGroup’s HR Director (John Evans) had his legs waxed; a sports quiz and sponsored dress down day all culminated in a ‘Spinning’ challenge on Sport Relief day (23 March).

 

An exercise bike was especially positioned in the centre of the FSS office.  45 volunteers kept the bike going non stop between 8.30am and 5.00pm including FSS Controller, Richard Emslie.  He said:  “We estimate cycling more than 100 miles in total on the bike, which we were all somewhat proud of.”
He added: “The FSS team in particular really embraced the spirit of Sport Relief and I’m proud that in total we have raised in the region of £2,500.”

Posted in Corporate News | Comments Closed

London General in Tottenham and Wood Green…

April 11th, 2012
Go-Ahead Group acquires Northumberland Park Bus Depot

19 March 2012

The Go-Ahead Group plc is pleased to announce the acquisition of First London East’s Northumberland Park bus depot in Tottenham, north east London for a gross cash consideration of £14.0m. The transaction will be completed on 30 March 2012.

The acquisition increases Go-Ahead’s share of the London bus market from 22% to 23%.

The business has around 400 employees and a fleet of 130 buses. It operates 13 Transport for London contracts including route 67 from Wood Green to Aldgate, route 476 Euston to Northumberland Park and a number of school contracts. The annual turnover of the business is around £24.5m.

Northumberland Park will complement Go-Ahead’s existing Docklands Buses and Blue Triangle operations based in Silvertown and Rainham respectively.

David Brown, Group Chief Executive for Go-Ahead said: “We have great confidence in the London bus market and our management team in London and this acquisition provides the opportunity to operate in a new area of the capital. Northumberland Park is located near both Tottenham Hale and White Hart Lane, where regeneration is either planned or already underway.

“We look forward to working with the Northumberland Park team to build on their success to date and to continue to deliver a good service to passengers in this area of London on behalf of Transport for London.”

Northumberland Park will become part of Go-Ahead London, under the leadership of Managing Director John Trayner.

Posted in Corporate News, London Transport | Comments Closed

Scottish Railway stations to receive £1m investment for Commonwealth Games

April 11th, 2012

Railway stations to receive £1m investment for Commonwealth Games
11 Apr 2012 ⋅ by A. Samuel ⋅ in Rail Freight, Stations ⋅ 2 Comments

ScotRail today announced a £1 million programme of improvements in passenger facilities at 19 stations in Glasgow and Lanarkshire in the run up to the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

This will meet a commitment to Scottish Ministers to deliver enhancements to support spectators travelling by rail to the Games events.

Work will begin later this year at stations close to key venues and at ‘feeder’ stations which are expected to be used by many passengers throughout the major international sporting event in summer 2014.

These will include new customer information screens, waiting shelters, seating and lighting.

Stations set to receive improvements include Argyle Street, Bellgrove, Carntyne, Glasgow Central Low Level, Hamilton Central and Hamilton West.

ScotRail will also work with Network Rail on a series of refurbishments at stations during scheduled maintenance periods.

In addition around £600,000 of funding, from Transport Scotland and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, has been secured for further improvements – particularly to access – at 11 stations in Glasgow and Lanarkshire as well as Carnoustie, Angus.
Related News

Posted in Scotland, Scottish Government, Scottish Transport | Comments Closed

Network Rail begins work for Heathrow Crossrail services

April 11th, 2012

Network Rail begins work for Heathrow Crossrail services
04 Apr 2012 ⋅ by A. Samuel ⋅

Network Rail has begun work on the Stockley Interchange in west London, a ‘crucial part’ of the Crossrail network that will allow Crossrail services to operate to and from Heathrow.

When Crossrail services begin, even more trains will travel along the Great Western main line so work is needed to improve capacity.

The current junction at Stockley allows trains to leave the main line and continue to Heathrow Airport.

Network Rail, on behalf of Crossrail Limited, will build a new single track viaduct for all trains from Heathrow towards London. Work is due to complete in 2017. Existing train services to Heathrow will continue to run throughout.

Stockley Interchange will allow Crossrail trains to join the branch to Heathrow without delaying – or being delayed by – fast trains to the west, thus increasing ‘capacity and reliability on the extremely busy Great Western main line’.

Network Rail is responsible for the design, development and delivery of the parts of Crossrail that are on the existing network, covering 70km (43.5 miles) of track and 28 stations from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield in the east.

Posted in English Transport, Essex Transport, London Transport, South & East England Transport | Comments Closed

Train operator invests over £100k in Community Rail Partnerships

April 11th, 2012

11 Apr 2012 ⋅ by ⋅

Greater Anglia has announced plans to provide financial support for the region’s Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs) through a new investment of £125k to support the work of the CRPs as part of the train operator’s current franchise term.

£50,000 will be invested ‘immediately’ to provide extra support this year for the work of the partnerships which include the Essex & South Suffolk, East Suffolk Line, Bittern Line and Wherry Lines CRPs.

As well as the established partnerships, Greater Anglia is also preparing for the launch of a new Fenland CRP by local stakeholders in Cambridgeshire this summer embracing the Ely to Peterborough route.

Greater Anglia says it is ‘strongly committed to the concept of rail partnerships and positive co-operation with local stakeholders as a means of improving the marketing and awareness of local rail services, and helping to develop those services for the benefit of the communities they serve, whilst boosting tourism and contributing to the local economy’.

Ruud Haket, Managing Director, Greater Anglia said:

“This new investment for Community Rail Partnerships is a tremendous vote of confidence by Greater Anglia in the community rail network across the region we serve.

“We are keen to work with our local partners to continue to increase demand for rail travel in these areas and to play our part in boosting the local economy.”

Posted in English Transport, Essex Transport, Greater Anglia, Norfolk Transport, Rail Staff & Unions, South & East England Transport, Suffolk Transport | Comments Closed

Rail franchise bidders announced

April 11th, 2012

29 Mar 2012 ⋅ by ⋅

The Department for Transport today announced the shortlisted bidders in line to run three rail franchises.

A total of 13 firms are in the running to become the next operators of the Great Western, Thameslink and Essex Thameside rail franchises.

The firms bidding to take over the franchises have been chosen following a pre-qualification process.

Bidders for Great Western franchise have been named as First Great Western Trains, GW Trains Limited (Arriva UK Trains – DB), NXGW Trains Limited (National Express Group) and Stagecoach Great Western Trains Limited.

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in May 2012.

It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in December 2012, with the contract commencing in April 2013.

The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

Bidders for Essex Thameside franchise are Abellio Essex Thameside Limited (NV Nederlandse Spoorwegen), First Essex Thameside Limited (FirstGroup), MTR Corporation (Essex Thameside) Limited and NXET Trains Limited (National Express Group).

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in June 2012.

It is anticipated the successful bidder will be announced in January 2013, with the contract commencing in May 2013. The length of the franchise term will be 15 years.

The bidders for the Thameslink franchise are Abellio Thameslink Limited, First Thameslink Limited, Govia Thameslink Railway Limited (Go-Ahead Group and Keolis SA), MTR Corporation (Thameslink) Limited and Stagecoach Thameslink Trains Limited.

These potential providers will receive the Invitation to Tender which is anticipated will be issued in October 2012. It is anticipated that the successful bidder will be announced in May 2013, with the contract commencing in September 2013.

The length of the franchise will be a minimum of 7 years, with pricing also required for a potential extension of up to 2 years ‘at the discretion of the Secretary of State’.

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers said:

“The Government is engaged in the biggest programme of refranchising since the privatisation of the railways.

“Our reformed approach to franchising will give more flexibility to train operators on how they configure services and run their business, within a framework set by the franchise agreement which will protect key outcomes for the passenger, the taxpayer and the economy. We welcome the strong interest shown in these three competitions by the rail industry.

“A vibrant and competitive market for franchises is an important part of our strategy for improving services for passengers and reducing the cost of running the railway.”

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