East Sussex Bus Review

[jay38a]

Hi all

Recently East Sussex CC did a review of their bus network, however unlike their neighbours West Sussex CC, East Sussex have done very little changing to their routes with 95% of them staying exactly how they were, or even some boosted.

In the Hawkhurst area, Route 254 (Tunbridge Wells to Hawkhurst), Route 304/5 (Hawkhurst to Hastings) have been taken on commercially by Countryliner on Monday to Saturdays with a brand new Sunday Service on Route 304 and Evening Service being introduced on the 304/5 which will connect with the 254 at Hawkhurst as per Mon to Sat Daytimes. Route 349 (Hawkhurst to Hastings) has been taken on commercially by Stagecoach and will also gain a Sunday Service. With the 304/5 going commercial it proves that independent operators can run a route commercially that Arriva didnt deem to be viable.

The Crowborough Town Service has been boosted from 3 to 4 journeys a day, plus other routes around Crowborough also being boosted.

In the Hastings area, Route 344 (Hastings to Northiam) will gain a Sunday Service. Also Routes 26/26A will gain a Sunday Service and so will some other Hastings Town routes which currently dont.

Am i right in saying ESCC is one of the only councils who seems to not be cutting much but doing a huge increase in Sunday Services, which we all know is the 2nd busiest shopping day now. The full details of what are happening are here: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4D8D5CE5-B78D-4FD3-8A36-3E2CA0A0E643/0/buses_summer_2011.pdf

[eggmiester]

I suspect the Sunday service on route 344 has something to do with Stagecoach Hastings taking over the route.

I know this route very well as it passes my Parents Holiday Home on Winchelsea Beach and have used the route a few times in the past. Coastal Coaches have operated the route quite successfully for the past 10 years or so, firstly with step entrance Darts (mixture of Carlyle and Plaxton bodied ones) and more recently with Low Floor Dart SLF's and Enviro 200's. It used to run between Rye and Hasting only but was extended to Northiam a few years back. Before this the route was Operated by Rambler Coaches as service 44.

As for a sunday service on this route, might bring in some patronage, who knows! and i hope stagecoach keep the service running up to the high standard that it has been run to in recent times.