Bus routes which prior to Covid were likely to have been withdrawn

[Martin1988]

Can anyone think of any examples of routes that, prior to the start of the pandemic seemed to be struggling and for which their eventual withdrawal was accelerated by what happened?

 

[Markdvdman]

I would say the T1S from Swansea to Carmarthen. It had a very bad timetable to start with and should have been better thought out!

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

Route C in Guildford - one of three* routes which form Arriva's failure of a "Guildford ABC network"; three routes which compete along the exact same routes as other operators for the sole purpose of offering (in my opinion) an inferior service as opposed to their competitors (Stagecoach + some independents).

*Route B was actually withdrawn a while ago, so now you're stuck with an A and a C service, which hardly makes any sense.

Well, sort of...!

Because Route C hasn't seen a single service since the beginning of the pandemic, I believe, yet still appears on timetables as "service suspended". Obviously there wasn't any demand for it, so will it ever return, or will "ABC" be reduced to just an A?

 

[Ridercross]

The 228 Diamond Bus Merry Hill - Stourbridge - Kinver. An ex Hansons route that was operated commercially, it didn't survive and was withdrawn at the end of September. The Stourbridge to Merry Hill section was already well covered by other Diamond and NXWM routes and the Kinver to Stourbridge section was tendered by Staffordshire CC and is now Green Bus 242.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Go North East have removed a handful.

There used to be two buses per hour on route 55, which ran from Sunderland to Hartlepool via Houghton-le-Spring and Peterlee. The last section between Peterlee and Hartlepool was also served by four Arriva buses per hour (2ph running a faster route from Sunderland, 2ph from Durham). While the service never seemed to do that badly, it didn't really have much point (Sunderland customers used the faster train or Arriva bus, Peterlee customers used the more frequent Arriva services, Houghton customers aren't numerous enough to sustain a frequent service), and it was quietly curtailed to Peterlee (one of the two hourly buses still makes it to Blackhall Colliery, replacing a former local service which was also removed).

They have also got rid of the night buses - there's some suggestion the N21 which serves Durham University could return, but the N56 seems to be gone for good. Having used the N21 a few times to get home from a night out, I'm surprised there's any prospect of that surviving - which is surprising considering how busy Newcastle nightlife gets.

 

[RM-Taylor]

X62 Stagecoach - Hull to Leeds has gone, wasn’t really financially viable to run

 

[Llandudno]

Stagecoach X1 Chesterfield - East Midlands Outlet - Nottingham

This hourly service commenced in 2019 and stopped operating at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Most other Stagecoach routes in the area have resumed, albeit some on reduced frequencies, but the X1 hasn’t restarted and isn’t likely to return as all references to it on Stagecoach and Derbyshire CC websites have disappeared.

 

[route101]

First Glasgow 31 Carmunnock to East Kilbride section was withdrawn and replaced by an hourly JMB merc sprinter. Shame was my local bus into Glasgow.

Stagecoach X16 Hamilton - Ayr. I believe Kilmarnock to Ayr section remains. Would a good one for the summer to go to Ayr. Big blow if you commuted on this route.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Route C in Guildford - one of three* routes which form Arriva's failure of a "Guildford ABC network"; three routes which compete along the exact same routes as other operators for the sole purpose of offering (in my opinion) an inferior service as opposed to their competitors (Stagecoach + some independents).

*Route B was actually withdrawn a while ago, so now you're stuck with an A and a C service, which hardly makes any sense.

Well, sort of...!

Because Route C hasn't seen a single service since the beginning of the pandemic, I believe, yet still appears on timetables as "service suspended". Obviously there wasn't any demand for it, so will it ever return, or will "ABC" be reduced to just an A?

I've been wondering similar about their 47 between Brookwood Station, Bisley and West End. I thought it was a council contract which have all since resumed normal timetables across operators in Surrey, but it's included in the 34/35 route registration so hard to check its individual funding status. Can't find it mentioned in past Surrey tender documents though, so it might be a de minimis arrangement I guess, if it is still funded, and been allowed to stay suspended due to the reduction in commuting?

 

[43055]

Notts and Derby have withdrawn the 17, 17A (Derby - Duffield/Allestree), D1 (Meteor Centre P&R) and 73 (Derby - Weston on Trent).

Fortunately Littles have taken on the 73 though now with just 2 journeys Monday to Friday.

 

[mlambeuk]

route 11s in York (Woodthorpe -Bishopthorpe- City centre, Ran on Sundays only)

 

[Romilly]

23 from St Andrews to Stirling which was operated by Stagecoach double deckers and made 4 or 5 return journeys per day Monday to Saturday and took about 3 hours each way.

 

[Stan Drews]

23 from St Andrews to Stirling which was operated by Stagecoach double deckers and made 4 or 5 return journeys per day Monday to Saturday and took about 3 hours each way.

It was withdrawn prior to covid, wasn’t it? So, don’t think it qualifies for this thread.

It used to be operated by standard Stagecoach Interurban coaches for many years, but school leadings on a couple of trips meant double deckers were needed. Fife Council changed how the pupils travelled (around 2014 IIRC), and that was probably the start of the demise of the service as that revenue was helping to keep it all viable.

 

[scotrail158713]

Lothian Country Buses X38 between Edinburgh and Linlithgow, as well as their Green Arrow EX1 between the same two places.

 

[Chris 76]

It's positive that almost all the examples of withdrawn services mentioned so far are:
1 limited stop/interurban services where there is a faster train option
2 competitive services on corridors served by other routes, and which were almost certainly overbussed pre-covid.

 

[Ridercross]

It's positive that almost all the examples of withdrawn services mentioned so far are:
1 limited stop/interurban services where there is a faster train option
2 competitive services on corridors served by other routes, and which were almost certainly overbussed pre-covid.

Debatable on my example on the Kinver to Merry Hill 228. The Merry Hill to Stourbridge section yes, but the Kinver to Stourbridge section is a unique link dated back to Midland Red days and even the old Kinver Light Railway.

 

[Romilly]

It was withdrawn prior to covid, wasn’t it? So, don’t think it qualifies for this thread.

It used to be operated by standard Stagecoach Interurban coaches for many years, but school leadings on a couple of trips meant double deckers were needed. Fife Council changed how the pupils travelled (around 2014 IIRC), and that was probably the start of the demise of the service as that revenue was helping to keep it all viable.

The final withdrawal date for the 23 was 28th September 2020 but, as you say, its problems began pre-covid.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Go North East have removed a handful.

There used to be two buses per hour on route 55, which ran from Sunderland to Hartlepool via Houghton-le-Spring and Peterlee. The last section between Peterlee and Hartlepool was also served by four Arriva buses per hour (2ph running a faster route from Sunderland, 2ph from Durham). While the service never seemed to do that badly, it didn't really have much point (Sunderland customers used the faster train or Arriva bus, Peterlee customers used the more frequent Arriva services, Houghton customers aren't numerous enough to sustain a frequent service), and it was quietly curtailed to Peterlee (one of the two hourly buses still makes it to Blackhall Colliery, replacing a former local service which was also removed).

They have also got rid of the night buses - there's some suggestion the N21 which serves Durham University could return, but the N56 seems to be gone for good. Having used the N21 a few times to get home from a night out, I'm surprised there's any prospect of that surviving - which is surprising considering how busy Newcastle nightlife gets.

The 55 might also have something to do with Horden rail station opening in June 2020.

 

[Deerfold]

X62 Stagecoach - Hull to Leeds has gone, wasn’t really financially viable to run

This has returned as part of the Megabus network with 4 or 5 journeys a day between Hull and Leeds, with buses continuing to Leicester and London or Manchester and Birmimgham and beyond.

 

[johnnychips]

X6 Stagecoach Sheffield to Doncaster Airport.

 

[jamieintercity]

Stagecoach Strathtay 37/46/49 Arbroath town service; the service ran on behalf of Angus Council and was withdrawn without a replacement, although there are 2 46 journeys still running under JP coaches.

 

[miklcct]

How about the N routes of morebus? The N1/N2 routes have been withdrawn since the start of the pandemic, and now there is no sign of reinstantiating them despite restrictions being over soon, while the other operator has started operating N journeys again.

 

[Kieran1990]

Route C in Guildford - one of three* routes which form Arriva's failure of a "Guildford ABC network"; three routes which compete along the exact same routes as other operators for the sole purpose of offering (in my opinion) an inferior service as opposed to their competitors (Stagecoach + some independents).

*Route B was actually withdrawn a while ago, so now you're stuck with an A and a C service, which hardly makes any sense.

Well, sort of...!

Because Route C hasn't seen a single service since the beginning of the pandemic, I believe, yet still appears on timetables as "service suspended". Obviously there wasn't any demand for it, so will it ever return, or will "ABC" be reduced to just an A?

Safeguard did really give Arriva a run for their money when they launched the B. Park Barn is extremely loyal to Safeguard and they really stuck with them.
It also saw a long wanted return of Safeguard to Bellfields as well.
I do wonder how much longer Arriva will last in Guildford.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Stagecoach Bluebird quietly withdrew the twice daily shoppers service 119 in Aberdeen (Union Square to Peterculter via Garthdee) at the start of the pandemic. Although it's not formally been announced that it has been withdrawn it does seem unlikely that it'll return.

23 from St Andrews to Stirling which was operated by Stagecoach double deckers and made 4 or 5 return journeys per day Monday to Saturday and took about 3 hours each way.

It was withdrawn prior to covid, wasn’t it? So, don’t think it qualifies for this thread.

It used to be operated by standard Stagecoach Interurban coaches for many years, but school leadings on a couple of trips meant double deckers were needed. Fife Council changed how the pupils travelled (around 2014 IIRC), and that was probably the start of the demise of the service as that revenue was helping to keep it all viable.

Of course First Scotland East have taken on the section of route between Stirling and Kinross commercially as the X53 with a better more consistent timetable. It should theoretically do better as it's far more likely than the Stagecoach 23 ever was to pick up passengers towards the Stirling end of the route.

 

[43055]

How about the N routes of morebus? The N1/N2 routes have been withdrawn since the start of the pandemic, and now there is no sign of reinstantiating them despite restrictions being over soon, while the other operator has started operating N journeys again.

Most of the 'nightbus' extras/routes have also been withdrawn in Derby and Nottingham (trentbarton and Nottingham city transport) with only the 24/7 routes running. I would imagine they would return once the nighttime hospitality returns after the 19th.