Nottingham City Transport

[longwave]

The new routes are visible on the NCT website although there are no timetables or full route maps yet:

29 - Nottingham to Jubilee Campus, via Ilkeston Road

Timetable for 29 - Nottingham to Jubilee Campus, via Ilkeston Road

www.nctx.co.uk

Nottingham to Jubilee Campus, via Ilkeston Road

60 - Gedling to Nottingham, via Mapperley

Timetable for 60 - Gedling to Nottingham, via Mapperley

www.nctx.co.uk

Gedling to Nottingham, via Mapperley

61 - Calverton to Nottingham, via Mapperley, Lambley, Woodborough

Timetable for 61 - Calverton to Nottingham, via Mapperley, Lambley, Woodborough

www.nctx.co.uk

Calverton to Nottingham, via Mapperley, Lambley, Woodborough

62 doesn't work, so it looks like the 61 might only take the one route via Lambley and Woodborough to Calverton. I would guess that it will go via Spring Lane between Mapperley and Lambley and the stops at the Travellers Rest and Bank Hill will no longer be served.

 

[MCR247]

Service changes announced.

Network Improvements from 1st September 2024!

New services to Edwalton Fields, Calverton and Jubilee Campus, plus better buses for West Bridgford, Woodborough and Lambley!

www.nctx.co.uk

South Notts 1​

Revised timetable, including more journeys to/from Gotham on Sundays.

On Schooldays, an extra bus will operate in the afternoons towards Clifton to provide more seats at the end of the school day.

Journeys from Nottingham which finish in Gotham will now operate along Kegworth Road, Gypsum Way and Leake Road to terminate outside the former bus garage.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Navy 3​

On Schooldays, the 15:30 from Wilford Lane to City will no longer run.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Navy 4​

From Monday 16th September 2024

Revised timetable, to improve reliability.

In the City Centre, buses towards NTU Clifton Campus will be re-routed to use Market Street, Angel Row and Mount Street rather than along Upper Parliament Street. This new route will help minimise delays caused by roadworks in the City Centre.

The current bus stop on Upper Parliament Street (coded U4) – will be replaced by a new stop on Mount Street (coded X2).

NightBus N4 will continue to use Upper Parliament Street.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Green Line​

Improvements at a glance…

• Every 5 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes between City, Railway Station, Trent Bridge and West Bridgford Centre
• New service to Edwalton Fields
• Green 8 and 9 frequency doubled on Monday to Saturday daytimes for Compton Acres and Wilford Hill
• Gamston served all day, every day by Green 6, providing improved service

Here's how Green 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 will look (Green 10, 11 routes are unchanged):

Green 5​

Green 5 will be the bus for Abbey Park and Edwalton.

Buses will operate from City to Central Avenue then Davies Road, Brockley Road, Buckfast Way, Rufford Road, Alford Road to Edwalton (Wellin Lane).

Buses will operate every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and hourly evenings and Sundays.

If you normally travel from Abbey Park to Gamston, we’ve timed the Green 5 and 6 to allow a change of bus on Alford Road, with the connecting bus typically 5 minutes behind from the same stop.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Green 6​

Green 6 will now serve Gamston, instead of Edwalton.

Buses will operate from City to Central Avenue, Gordon Road and Alford Road as they do now, then along Beckside to Ling’s Bar Hospital and Gamston.

Buses will continue to operate every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 30 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Green 7​

Green 7 is the new service for Edwalton Fields.

Buses will operate from City to Central Avenue then Rectory Road and the full length of Melton Road to reach Edwalton Fields.

Whilst the development is built, buses will temporarily operate along Rose Way, left Jasmine Gardens, right Lily Grove, right Rose Way to return to Melton Road. The longer-term plan is to extend the service further in to Edwalton Fields, as turning facilities and access allow.

Buses will operate every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes. In the evenings and on Sundays, buses will operate hourly, which are financially supported by Nottinghamshire County Council.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Green 8, 9​

We’re doubling the frequency on Green 8 and 9 to reinstate 4 buses per hour between City, Compton Acres and Wilford Hill on Monday to Saturday daytimes.

There’s a revised timetable, with buses every 30 minutes on both the 8 and 9 on Monday to Saturday daytimes.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Green 10, 10C, 10X​

Revised timetable, to improve reliability.

The current Shuttle Bus arrangement for Ruddington Fields Business Park will continue until the Kirk Lane works are completed.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Pathfinder 26​

On Schooldays, the 26B from City at 07:38 is re-timed to run 3 minutes earlier as far as Carlton Hill. In the afternoons, the 14:38 from Carlton-le-Willows Academy will run 2 minutes later.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Pink Line​

Improvements at a glance…

• Every 5 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes between City, Ilkeston Road and Jubilee Campus
• New service on to Jubilee Campus

Pink 29​

From Monday 16th September 2024

New service Pink 29 reinstates the on campus bus between the City Centre and the University of Nottingham’s Jubilee Campus.

Buses will operate every 20 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, entering and exiting the Jubilee Campus through the Triumph Road Entrance.

On campus, buses will stop near Newark Hall and outside The Exchange Building.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Orange 34, 34C​

From Monday 16th September 2024

Revised timetable, to improve reliability.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Red 43​

On Schooldays, an extra bus will operate in the afternoons along Sneinton Dale to provide more seats at the end of the school day.

Sky Blue 45​

Sky Blue 45 will become Sky Blue 60.

There is no change to the route, but some early morning journeys on Mondays to Saturdays are re-timed.

The renumbering of the service helps free up service numbers for future network opportunities.

Sky Blue 46, 47​

Sky Blue 46 and 47 are replaced by new Sky Blue 61 – see below.

Lime 57X​

On Mondays to Fridays, the 07:45 from City will run 5 minutes later throughout.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Sky Blue Line​

Improvements at a glance…

• New service through to Calverton
• Simplified service for Lambley, Woodborough and Spring Lane
• Renumbering of services for future network opportunities

Sky Blue 60​

Sky Blue 60 is the new number for Sky Blue 45.

There is no change to the route, but some early morning journeys on Mondays to Saturdays are re-timed.

Preview new timetable here>>>

Preview new route map here>>>

Sky Blue 61​

New Sky Blue 61 replaces Sky Blue 46, 47, which will also serve Calverton.

The current circular services have been prone to reliability issues and we’re sorry to customers for the inconvenience and delays they’ve experienced.

New Sky Blue 61 will follow the same route in both directions, replacing the current circular arrangement that’s in place. This simplifies the service in Woodborough, Lambley and along Spring Lane with buses to Nottingham picking up from the same stop all the time, instead of being on different sides of the road depending on the time of the day.

All buses will operate from City to Mapperley, Mapperley Plains, Spring Lane, Gedling Country Park, Lambley, Woodborough and then to Calverton.

The extension to Calverton follows discussions with Nottinghamshire County Council and responds to customer requests for improved daily links between Lambley and Woodborough with Calverton.

Buses will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and every 90 minutes in the evenings and on Sunday daytimes.

In Calverton, buses will use Bonner Hill, right Bonner Lane, left Park Road, left Crookdole Lane, left Mansfield Lane to terminate at St Wilfrid’s Square. Buses will then return to Nottingham along left Main Street, right Bonner Hill.

Calverton will be covered by the £2 Single Fare cap and will also be in NCT’s Outer Zone, with Easyrider Further passes offering unlimited travel on Sky Blue 61 and all NCT buses in Nottingham for £28.30 a week or £102.50 a month (31 days).

The poorly used section of route along Bank Hill and Mapperley Plains (Travellers Rest, Coppice Road Top) will no longer be served

 

[joieman]

Service changes announced.

Network Improvements from 1st September 2024!

New services to Edwalton Fields, Calverton and Jubilee Campus, plus better buses for West Bridgford, Woodborough and Lambley!

www.nctx.co.uk

I think at some point new bus services will need to be introduced to serve the Fairham estate in addition to the South Notts 1. Perhaps this is to free up numbers for the Navy Line, since presently the numbers 1, 3-11 and 39-50 are all in use, meaning that there is only one number (2) available for service provision that may require more than one new bus route.

My hypothesis has been proven correct: NCT have explicitly stated that the renumbering is for future network expansion:

The renumbering of the service helps free up service numbers for future network opportunities.

 

[ChrisC]

I was correct about timings on the new 61 route to Calverton. It is very competitive with Trent Barton’s The Calverton.

 

[edwin_m]

The new 5 is mostly the same as the old 7 and vice versa. Rather surprising they numbered them that way round.

I had a walk up Rose Way the other day. There's only a couple of hundred metres unfinished before it joins back into Musters Road, but it looks like NCT have given up waiting. I didn't see any provision for future bus stops, but it's probably not busy enough to need bays and the part I was on is beyond where the new 7 will terminate. Maybe the ultimate aim is to send it to the Rushcliffe School turning circle.

 

[Simon75]

How much involvement do Transdev have in Nottingham City Transport, as they own 18%?

 

[Ginga]

Alex Hornby sat on the board of directors of nct until he left Transdev . (But he failed to show up at most board meetings).

 

[GladeTheWolf]

Hi, does anyone know the destination sizes for the Mobitec and Hanover units NCT have? I know there's a couple of differences from default sizes, on Mobitec at least. Like the side display, and the rears.

Any info would be appreciated

 

[Andy Pacer]

The new 5 is mostly the same as the old 7 and vice versa. Rather surprising they numbered them that way round.

I had a walk up Rose Way the other day. There's only a couple of hundred metres unfinished before it joins back into Musters Road, but it looks like NCT have given up waiting. I didn't see any provision for future bus stops, but it's probably not busy enough to need bays and the part I was on is beyond where the new 7 will terminate. Maybe the ultimate aim is to send it to the Rushcliffe School turning circle.

I gather the new 7 will in time connect up to Wilford Hill / Compton Acres hence the decision to number this service 7 rather than 5.

 

[edwin_m]

I gather the new 7 will in time connect up to Wilford Hill / Compton Acres hence the decision to number this service 7 rather than 5.

The new timings look about right for the 7 to continue onto the 9's inward route and the 8 to continue onto the 7's. Thus the 7 and 8 would become the two directions of a loop service via Melton Road, Rose Way and Musters Road, so it makes sense to give them consecutive numbers. 9 would then become an out and back to Rushcliffe School via Compton Acres.

 

[Andy Pacer]

The new timings look about right for the 7 to continue onto the 9's inward route and the 8 to continue onto the 7's. Thus the 7 and 8 would become the two directions of a loop service via Melton Road, Rose Way and Musters Road, so it makes sense to give them consecutive numbers. This would explain the number change, as they would want a loop service to have consecutive numbers. 9 would then become an out and back to Rushcliffe School via Compton Acres.

Anyone would think it was planned!

 

[joieman]

A couple of other route renumbering ideas:
Firstly, since the Grey Line routes are minor routes without any colour, perhaps they should be numbered in the 100s to free up lower numbers, i.e. renumbering the 53/54 to the 103/104.
Secondly, grouping the Red Line routes presents two options: I've probably already brought up the idea of renumbering the 50 to the 45 follow on from the 43 and 44, but another idea I just had would be to renumber the 43 and 44 to the 51 and 52, although that would probably be more expensive, not least for the number of buses needing rebranding.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Firstly, since the Grey Line routes are minor routes without any colour

Isn't that a contradiction?

 

[joieman]

Isn't that a contradiction?

It probably is.

 

[SSmith2009]

Secondly, grouping the Red Line routes presents two options: I've probably already brought up the idea of renumbering the 50 to the 45 follow on from the 43 and 44, but another idea I just had would be to renumber the 43 and 44 to the 51 and 52, although that would probably be more expensive, not least for the number of buses needing rebranding.

Potential plan for the longer term future to renumber the 50 to 45 to group them ?
Doing it in this round of changes has the potential to confuse passengers with the current 45 (soon to be 60)

 

[Andy Pacer]

Potential plan for the longer term future to renumber the 50 to 45 to group them ?
Doing it in this round of changes has the potential to confuse passengers with the current 45 (soon to be 60)

That's a good point, would make sense and definitely agree on not reusing a current number in one set of changes. Customers are notoriously averse to any kind of change, so keeping things as straightforward as possible has to be the key.

 

[kevjs]

That's a good point, would make sense and definitely agree on not reusing a current number in one set of changes. Customers are notoriously averse to any kind of change, so keeping things as straightforward as possible has to be the key.

The extension of the 50 to Rivendell looks to be relativly close https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/nct-bus-service-expanding-serve-9416628 so clearing the number now, enabling it to be free when the extension happens makes a lot of sense.

I also notice that at least one set of shelters have been installed on Fairham Way (at the Gotham end - shown in the photo below) - presumably the 1 will be rerouted to serve the new housing currently under construction when it opens? Couldn't see any shelters at the Clifton end of Fairham Way.

 

[tram21]

I also notice that at least one set of shelters have been installed on Fairham Way (at the Gotham end - shown in the photo below) - presumably the 1 will be rerouted to serve the new housing currently under construction when it opens? Couldn't see any shelters at the Clifton end of Fairham Way.

It's rumoured the plan is to introduce a '2' numbered service to Fairham instead of rerouting the long distance 1 which wouldn't be popular with East Leake/ Gotham/ Stanford residents.

 

[kevjs]

It's rumoured the plan is to introduce a '2' numbered service to Fairham instead of rerouting the long distance 1 which wouldn't be popular with East Leake/ Gotham/ Stanford residents.

Fairham Way is going to be the main road thru the development and is only 200m longer than Nottingham Rd, which is due to be realigned and have a load of junctions and speed tables added to it (i.e. subject to lots of roadworks!) - land to it's west is reserved for NET

The planning application (extract below) shows the "Primary Bus Route" is to be routed along Fairham Way - photos above were of the stops identified as "I" - which will replace the Barton Lane one which is to be removed.

A secondary bus route is shown going thru to the east of the development - initially with a turning circle part way along (after stop "D"). Not clear where the secondary route will terminate in the long term - but lack of a turning circle suggests it will continue past the development.

Could the Long Term future therefore be something along the following lines offering an Every 10 minutes service from all the new housing developments in East Leake & Fairham Stops A/B/G & District Centre to the city centre?:-
Primary as 1 to Loughbourgh every 20 minutes
Secondary as 2 to East Leake every 20 minutes

That would also provide an uplift for capacity for the new housing also being built in East Leake, and also connecting Fairham with East Leake - the East Leake Academy being the school expecting to handle all the high school aged children in the development.

 

[joieman]

Will the upcoming service changes to the Bridgford Bus services require vehicles to be rebranded (particularly the deckers)?

 

[Andy Pacer]

Will the upcoming service changes to the Bridgford Bus services require vehicles to be rebranded (particularly the deckers)?

I'd imagine so, replacing Edwalton with Gamston should be simple enough.

 

[edwin_m]

I'd imagine so, replacing Edwalton with Gamston should be simple enough.

I'd imagine so, replacing Edwalton with Gamston should be simple enough.

Considering they are being replaced by electrics within around six months, I imagine whatever they do will be minimal. They need a couple more buses to double the frequency of the 8 and 9, so some may be in "wrong" liveries having been displaced off other routes by the electrics.

 

[tram21]

Considering they are being replaced by electrics within around six months, I imagine whatever they do will be minimal. They need a couple more buses to double the frequency of the 8 and 9, so some may be in "wrong" liveries having been displaced off other routes by the electrics.

They already have two green MMC's that aren't needed for the current PVR (as the 8/9 service frequency was reduced last year). This has been reversed so they already have enough buses.

 

[TR673]

NCT reverted to full term time services on 16/9/2024, including the first day of the new pink line 29 to University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus. I had a walk around the campus in the afternoon to see the new service because, unusually, they'd allocated the final two silver-liveried Scania N230UD Omnidekkas left in the fleet to it.

However the Omnidekkas are 12 metres long and proved too big for the turning circle at the university terminus. The drivers had to reverse and do a 3 point turn, or continue off-route and rejoin the main road (Wollaton Road), doubling back at the roundabout (Crown Island) and missing some stops. Also some drivers seemed to struggle to get the buses to activate the security gates in and out of the university grounds, and one of them appeared to get completely lost and end up outside the QMC hospital!

So the bizarre vehicle choice really seemed to hamper their ability to actually stick to the route. The old 31, which the new 29 is almost identical to, used Solo SRs so I'm not sure why they decided to launch the new route using giant Omnidekkas? Not that it mattered greatly to passengers, because every 29 I saw was carrying fresh air, at least around the university campus.

By the end of the afternoon, the 29s were cutting out Jubilee Campus altogether because the buses didn't fit and nobody was getting on or off there.

 

[adrianjohnson]

NCT reverted to full term time services on 16/9/2024, including the first day of the new pink line 29 to University of Nottingham Jubilee Campus. I had a walk around the campus in the afternoon to see the new service because, unusually, they'd allocated the final two silver-liveried Scania N230UD Omnidekkas left in the fleet to it.

However the Omnidekkas are 12 metres long and proved too big for the turning circle at the university terminus. The drivers had to reverse and do a 3 point turn, or continue off-route and rejoin the main road (Wollaton Road), doubling back at the roundabout (Crown Island) and missing some stops. Also some drivers seemed to struggle to get the buses to activate the security gates in and out of the university grounds, and one of them appeared to get completely lost and end up outside the QMC hospital!

So the bizarre vehicle choice really seemed to hamper their ability to actually stick to the route. The old 31, which the new 29 is almost identical to, used Solo SRs so I'm not sure why they decided to launch the new route using giant Omnidekkas? Not that it mattered greatly to passengers, because every 29 I saw was carrying fresh air, at least around the university campus.

By the end of the afternoon, the 29s were cutting out Jubilee Campus altogether because the buses didn't fit and nobody was getting on or off there.

I suspect they don't have any spare Solos to run it but could be wrong. Or they were trying deckers in case of demand and if it was there paint 2 more gas buses in pink.

 

[MCR247]

I suspect they don't have any spare Solos to run it but could be wrong. Or they were trying deckers in case of demand and if it was there paint 2 more gas buses in pink.

Seems quite unlikely. After all, the 31 wasn’t exactly a roaring success, has enough changed? Regardless, there wouldn’t be enough biogas buses to use on the 29 without taking them off elsewhere

 

[Andy Pacer]

I gather the plan "on paper" is for it to be Solo. Suprised to see deckers on there again today though if there were operational challenges yesterday.

 

[adrianjohnson]

Seems quite unlikely. After all, the 31 wasn’t exactly a roaring success, has enough changed? Regardless, there wouldn’t be enough biogas buses to use on the 29 without taking them off elsewhere

I was thinking they could repaint a couple of spares. e.g. wasn't 491 originally for Navy 49 but after frequency reduction became a spare?

Anyway, as I originally thought there maybe aren't enough Solos to run it. Maybe next year when more electrics arrive, there will be.

 

[MCR247]

I was thinking they could repaint a couple of spares. e.g. wasn't 491 originally for Navy 49 but after frequency reduction became a spare?

Anyway, as I originally thought there maybe aren't enough Solos to run it. Maybe next year when more electrics arrive, there will be.

There aren’t any spare spares as far as I know. Any saved in frequency reductions have been swallowed up elsewhere I think. Mainly during the switch from E200s to DDs on the former Nottingham network routes.

 

[Andy Pacer]

And if it's run from Trent Bridge it wouldn't be able to be a Gas DD anyway.