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Post by wirewiper on May 19, 2024 10:02:45 GMT
The 481 - the emptiest double deck I have ever seen. Even in rush hour. Why was it upgrades to a double deck. The 206 - Although I understand the logic of a double deck, where it passes, it's not feasible. Especially at the back of Willesden where it passes, and approaching Harlesden. The 112 - Really pleased with the extension to North Finchley, however, now it's practically screaming for a double deck upgrade methinks 481 empty? You clearly haven't been an a 467 then! The reason both these routes were double-decked was to cater for heavy schools traffic. It was more economical to operate the double-deckers in all-day service rather than have a separate fleet of single-deckers. The 112 may be helped out by the proposed second phase of Superloop, which includes a potential Ealing to Hendon route.
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Post by wirewiper on May 19, 2024 9:52:26 GMT
Carousel is to hold what it call a "Fast Track Recruitment Day" on Sunday 2nd June, it will take place from 10.00 to 16.00 at the Holiday Inn, Handy Cross (by Junction 4 of the M40 motorway). A free shuttle bus will run half-hourly from and to High Wycombe. Bookings are preferred, although walk-ins will be accepted. When Bluestar did this in Southampton in 2023, they gave all First Bus staff who applied a contract start date of 19th February - the day they took over the services. This helped stabilise the staff situation by encouraging staff to stay with their existing employer until the changeover date, knowing they had a guaranteed job with their new employer. Although Arriva is not mentioned explicitly, I would expect similar to happen here. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/bus-driver-recruitment-day-2nd-June-2024
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Post by wirewiper on May 18, 2024 18:08:55 GMT
The new Carousel routes from Sunday 28th July have been announced, Carousel is reverting to the 30-series route that Arriva used until a few months ago and two cross-town links are restored. Note that Arriva is withdrawing route 5 (High Wycombe-Bourne End via Wooburn Green) from tomorrow, 19th May, and this service will not be reinstated under Carousel. It is part-replaced by rerouting route 7. 30: High Wycombe - Downley, replaces Arriva 10 with revised timetable and new hourly Sunday service. 31: High Wycombe - Penn, replaces Arriva 11 with revised timetable. 32: Booker - High Wycombe - Micklefield, replaces Arriva 2 and 12. New timetable features earlier morning journeys, improved 20-minute frequency on Saturday and earler and later Sunday journeys. Late evening and Sunday journeys will operate via St Hugh's Avenue and Roebuck Avenue as service 32A. 33: Totteridge - High Wycombe - Desborough Castle, replaces Arriva 3 and 13. New timetable with daytime buses up to every 15 minutes and earlier and later Sunday journeys. 36: High Wycombe - Bourne End, replaces Arriva 6 and runs to same times as their May 19th timetable. 37: High Wycombe - Maidenhead, replaces Arriva 7 and runs to the same route and times as their May 19th timetable. Carousel route 4 (High Wycombe-Lane End) will be renumbered 34 from the same date. Also Carousel will operate routes 800, 850 and X80 between High Wycombe, Henley and Reading to the same timetables.
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Post by wirewiper on May 18, 2024 17:56:36 GMT
The 4 (High Wycombe) has already been awarded to Carousel by Buckinghamshire Council, with a revised route no longer serving Sands and taking in the Coachway. Starts Sunday 19th May. Carousel has also announced that it is preparing to take over routes in High Wycombe should the closure of Arriva's operation take place. Routes taken on will be: 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80. <snip> <snip> The new Carousel routes from Sunday 28th July have been announced, Carousel is reverting to the 30-series route that Arriva used until a few months ago and two cross-town links are restored. 30: High Wycombe - Downley, replaces Arriva 10 with revised timetable and new hourly Sunday service. 31: High Wycombe - Penn, replaces Arriva 11 with revised timetable. 32: Booker - High Wycombe - Micklefield, replaces Arriva 2 and 12. New timetable features earlier morning journeys, improved 20-minute frequency on Saturday and earler and later Sunday journeys. Late evening and Sunday journeys will operate via St Hugh's Avenue and Roebuck Avenue as service 32A. 33: Totteridge - High Wycombe - Desborough Castle, replaces Arriva 3 and 13. New timetable with daytime buses up to every 15 minutes and earlier and later Sunday journeys. 36: High Wycombe - Bourne End, replaces Arriva 6 and runs to same times as their May 19th timetable. 37: High Wycombe - Maidenhead, replaces Arriva 7 and runs to the same times as their May 19th timetable. Carousel route 4 (High Wycombe-Lane End) will be renumbered 34 from the same date. Also Carousel will operate routes 800, 850 and X80 between High Wycombe, Henley and Reading to the same timetables. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/new-carousel-buses-services-28th-july-2024
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Post by wirewiper on May 18, 2024 12:13:04 GMT
Stagecoach South West has some timetable changes from Sunday 26th May, they are mostly minor and to improve punctuality. Some services will have their Summer uplift from this date. 1A (Sherford-George Park & Ride) - Revised route between Pomphlett and Plymstock, will operate via Plymstock Road, Randwick Park Road, Foresters Road, Pomphlett Close and Pomphlett Gardens, before joining the current route on Pomphlett Road (swap with route 2) 2 (Mount Batten-Saltash) - New timetable with increased Monday-Saturday daytime frequency (from 30 to 20 mins), funded with BSIP+ money. Between Pomphlett and Plymstick will operate via Pomphlett Road and Dean Cross Road (swap with route 1A). On Sunday daytimes the frequency is doubled to every 30 minutes and will operate a different route in Saltash, replacing route 2A which will no longer run on Sundays. 2A (Plymouth-Saltash) - revised timetable to improve reliability. No longer operates on Sundays - see route 2. 2 (Exeter-Newton Abbot) - Revised timetable to improve reliabilty. Monday-Friday peak journeys are retimed to better suit school and college journeys. 7 (Exeter-Totnes) - revised timetable to improve reliability 12 (Newton Abbot-Brixham) - following a service review, there will be a new pattern of service to match passenger demand more closely. During Monday-Friday off-peak and Saturday daytimes there will be fewer buses to and from Newton Abbot (every 15-20 minutes), but an increased frequency between Torquay (Lowes Bridge) and Brixham (every 7-10 minutes). The evening service after 19.00 is reduced to every 30 minutes on all nights and the journeys after midnight, which were introduced experimentally last May, will no longer run as they have not proved commercially viable. 21C (Barnstaple-Croyde Bay): Summer Sunday/Public Holiday service introduced, operates until Sunday 15th September. 22 (Dawlish Warren-South Devon College) - revised timetable to assist punctuality. Some journeys will depart earlier than at present. 31 (Ilfracombe-Woolacombe) - Stagecoach will operate a Summer Sunday/Public Holiday service from 26th May until 15th September inclusive. 35A/35C (Torquay Circulars) - revised afternoon peak timetable to assist punctuality. 38/39 (Exeter-Bovey Tracey-Ivybridge/Newton Abbot) - revised timetables to improve reliability. 53 (Kingsteignton-Torbay Hospital) - revised timetable to improve reliability. 54 (Plymouth-Bovisand) - Stagecoach will operate the Bovisand Beach Bus this year, service runs daily during school holidays (Saturday 25th May-Sunday 2nd June and Saturday 20th July-Sunday 1st September, all dates inclusive). 60 (Paignton-Occombe Farm) - Revised timetable to improve reliability. 91 (Dartmouth Park & Ride) - operates from Saturday 25th May until Sunday 15th September inclusive, every 20 minutes with extra journeys during school holiday periods. 92 (Totnes-Dartmouth) - revised timetable. Does not call into Dartmouth Park & Ride whilst the Park & Ride is operating and the short journeys in Dartmouth to and from the Park & Ride do not operate. 95 (Exmouth-Sandy Bay) - Summer season timetable introduced until 31st August, buses every 30 minutes. There are also changes to the stopping arrangements for the Falcon coach on the edge of Exeter. Coaches will no longer stop at Sowton Park & Ride, and all coaches in both directions will serve a single stop at Honiton Road Park & Ride, directly outside, to improve facilities for waiting passengers. There are no other changes to stopping arrangements, or to the timetable. www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/south-west/south-west-timetables========================================= From Sunday 2nd June Plymouth CityBus is introducing a revised timetable on routes 21/21A. The early evening service is being improved with departures from the City Centre maintained at a ten-minute frequency until 19.00, in partnership with Plymouth City Council. Route 28 gains an earlier journey into the City Centre on Saturday mornings, routes 42/42A/42C and 50/51 have minor timetable changes to improve reliability and route 34 has a change to one morning schoolday journey. www.plymouthbus.co.uk/plymouth-service-improvements
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Post by wirewiper on May 16, 2024 18:09:07 GMT
It'll be interesting to see how the work is distributed. I can't see the X7/X8 or X9/X90 being replaced given the presence of existing commercial routes along that corridor. The 4 (High Wycombe) has already been awarded to Carousel by Buckinghamshire Council, with a revised route no longer serving Sands and taking in the Coachway. Starts Sunday 19th May. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-8-revisions-19th-may-2024Carousel has also announced that it is preparing to take over routes in High Wycombe should the closure of Arriva's operation take place. Routes taken on will be: 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80. The announcement also mentions that Oxford City will operating a "new" 280 from 1st July, which will follow the route of Arriva's X7 between Oxford and Thame. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/carousel-buses-response-closure-arriva-high-wycombe-and-aylesburyCarousel will have less to cover, as some Arriva routes are due a frequency reduction from this Sunday, 19th May. 2 (Booker) - daytime frequency reduced from every 15 to every 20 minutes 4 (Lane End) - no longer operated by Arriva 5 (Bourne End) - route withdrawn 7 (Bourne End and Maidenhead) - diverted via Kingsmead Road instead of London Road in Wycombe Marsh, as part-replacement for route 5. Routes 6 and 7 will offer a combined 30-minute frequency between High Wycombe and Bourne End 10 (Downley) - daytime frequency reduced from every 20 to every 30 minutes 12 (Micklefield) - daytime frequency reduced from every 15 to every 20 minutes X7 - will operate every 30 minutes between Aylesbury, Thame and Oxford. X8 short journeys are withdrawn. X9 - will operate every 30 minutes between High Wycombe and Aylesbury.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 16:05:32 GMT
Special services during May:
25P - Free shuttle bus around Plymouth City Centre, Barbican, West Hoe and Stonehouse (Royal William Yard). Operates every 45 minutes on Saturday 18th May and Sunday 19th May for the Pirate Weekend. Operated by Plymouth CityBus.
9W - Special service between Exeter St David's Station, Exeter Bus Station, Honiton Road Park & Ride and Westpoint Arena for the Devon County Show. With-the-flow journeys operate on Thursday 16th, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May at roughly 30-minute intervals, supplementing the regular 9/9A service. Operated by Stagecoach.
There are a few (mostly minor) timetable and route changes expected at the end of May.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 15:30:40 GMT
Hmm, I’m curious to know if the problems with the Central Line has had an effect on the Elizabeth Line. But this being TfL they will probably never acknowledge it. I doubt the Central Line issues account for anything like 3 million passenger journeys a month.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 12:31:10 GMT
Our friend sp17 will probably have a better idea than me, but I believe it's in the ballpark Nothing in the immediate as it sounds. They are getting more E400 MMCs, I believe 8 more. However there will be a review of the new routes they take on from Arriva as I expect many routes will be amalgamated before any buses transfer over. Is that in addition to the ones for Flightline 102? (there should be seven for this route as it is being doubled in frequency next month). I did wonder if they might buy up some of the surplus Arriva stock, but a cursory look at a fleetlist suggests there is little at High Wycombe and Aylesbury worth having.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 8:52:08 GMT
The 4 (High Wycombe) has already been awarded to Carousel by Buckinghamshire Council, with a revised route no longer serving Sands and taking in the Coachway. Starts Sunday 19th May. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-8-revisions-19th-may-2024Carousel has also announced that it is preparing to take over routes in High Wycombe should the closure of Arriva's operation take place. Routes taken on will be: 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80. The announcement also mentions that Oxford City will operating a "new" 280 from 1st July, which will follow the route of Arriva's X7 between Oxford and Thame. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/carousel-buses-response-closure-arriva-high-wycombe-and-aylesburyInteresting to see about a 280 being introduced, I wonder if that will be slightly different to the parallel X20. Unsurprisingly I note that no Aylesbury-Wycombe service is proposed. But as ever, the Go-Ahead emergency bus replacement machine gets cracking very quickly. Good stuff. Yes, Go-Ahead is getting a reputation for its rescue missions! Fortunately, like First in Southampton this is a planned withdrawal, and not the sudden collapse of Yellow Buses in Bournemouth. I imagine Oxford Bus must have suspected this was on the cards though and had a contingency plan for High Wycombe.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 8:07:41 GMT
Yup wowsers, I’ll update more as I can, I sure this means Reading Buses and or Stagecoach and Go-Ahead will get their wish finally.. It'll be interesting to see how the work is distributed. I can't see the X7/X8 or X9/X90 being replaced given the presence of existing commercial routes along that corridor. High Wycombe routes 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80 would be operated by Carousel. X5 would remain with Arriva and be operated by Hemel Hempstead. Oxford City plans to operate a "new" 280 between Oxford and Thame from 1st July, following the route of the current X7. Oxford-Aylesbury and Aylesbury-High Wycombe are already covered by competing commercial services operated by Redline as you mention.
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 7:56:19 GMT
Carousel Buses response to the shock (not) news that Arriva is planning to close its High Wycombe and Aylesbury operations after Saturday 27th July: www.carouselbuses.co.uk/carousel-buses-response-closure-arriva-high-wycombe-and-aylesburyIf the closure goes ahead, Carousel will provide replacement services on Arriva routes 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80
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Post by wirewiper on May 15, 2024 7:52:17 GMT
Yup wowsers, I’ll update more as I can, I sure this means Reading Buses and or Stagecoach and Go-Ahead will get their wish finally.. It'll be interesting to see how the work is distributed. I can't see the X7/X8 or X9/X90 being replaced given the presence of existing commercial routes along that corridor. The 4 (High Wycombe) has already been awarded to Carousel by Buckinghamshire Council, with a revised route no longer serving Sands and taking in the Coachway. Starts Sunday 19th May. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-8-revisions-19th-may-2024Carousel has also announced that it is preparing to take over routes in High Wycombe should the closure of Arriva's operation take place. Routes taken on will be: 2, 3, 5/5a, 6/6a, 7/7a, 10, 11, 12, 13, 800, 850 and X80. The announcement also mentions that Oxford City will operating a "new" 280 from 1st July, which will follow the route of Arriva's X7 between Oxford and Thame. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/carousel-buses-response-closure-arriva-high-wycombe-and-aylesbury
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Post by wirewiper on May 14, 2024 16:54:07 GMT
TfL decided not to introduce the 31/113/189 proposals anyway. The proposed curtailment of the 94 to Marble Arch is also officially off the cards, although the route has suffered quite a hefty frequency reduction. You never know what might resurface now the election is over. Only this time the 31 will be diverted to Brent Cross and the 189 will be withdrawn hehe. I doubt it. The proposals were part of a number put forward because of a funding shortfall, but most did not need to go ahead as TfL's revenue recovery after Covid was better than expected.
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Post by wirewiper on May 14, 2024 16:49:11 GMT
Ahead of the 2nd June changes, Carousel has been awarded a contract from Buckinghamshire Council to operate route 4 between High Wycombe, Coachway Park & Ride, Cressex, Booker and Lane End. This route will replace existing Carousel routes 8/X8/28/28A and Arriva route 4, and will give residents of Lane End a regular half-hourly service. The route around Cressex will be simplified and will be the same for all journeys. The new contract commences on Sunday 19th May. www.carouselbuses.co.uk/service-8-revisions-19th-may-2024
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