What is the largest place in the UK with absolutely no public transport at all?

unitedkingdom · 28 May 2019

I have just been wondering what is currently the largest place/settlement/hamlet/village/town/city in the UK that has no public transport at all? What is the largest place that you can think of that gets no public transport services at all? So this means no scheduled registered bus services or coach services and also no railway station either. Even if it gets just a once a week bus service or a once a month bus service then it doesn't count. I wonder if there are any places that still have a post office open but get no public transport? Similarly are there any places that have a chain supermarket branch - Aldi / Asda / Coop / Iceland / Lidl / Marks & Spencer / Morrisons / Sainsburys / Tesco / Waitrose - but get no public transport? Most of the places that i can think of that get no public transport are only tiny little villages with a very small population. But it would be interesting to know what the largest place with no public transport is.

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Typhoon · 28 May 2019

unitedkingdom said:
I have just been wondering what is currently the largest place/settlement/hamlet/village/town/city in the UK that has no public transport at all? What is the largest place that you can think of that gets no public transport services at all? So this means no scheduled registered bus services or coach services and also no railway station either. .... But it would be interesting to know what the largest place with no public transport is.

Would places that only have Demand Responsive Transport count? There are parts of Surrey (and elsewhere no doubt) that only have DRT - it is public transport in that concessionary cards can be used but, by its very definition, does not run to a timetable. There will also be places on the Scottish islands accessible only by ferry.

Jordan Adam · 28 May 2019

Typhoon said:
Would places that only have Demand Responsive Transport count? There are parts of Surrey (and elsewhere no doubt) that only have DRT - it is public transport in that concessionary cards can be used but, by its very definition, does not run to a timetable. There will also be places on the Scottish islands accessible only by ferry.

The Ferry would count as public transport. In terms of the Scottish Highlands every inhabited area is served by some form of public transport, even if that's a bi-weekly bus service operated using a Ford Transit!

Typhoon · 28 May 2019

Jordan Adam said:
In terms of the Scottish Highlands every inhabited area is served by some form of public transport, even if that's a bi-weekly bus service operated using a Ford Transit!

That's impressive, thank you.

Jordan Adam said:
The Ferry would count as public transport.

To be honest I just wanted to clarify exactly what is and isn't included from the very start to avoid a debate round about post #34 as the original post just mentioned three forms of transport.

As an initial salvo, I will give Crundale in Kent, population 186, pub/restaurant but not even a school bus (I assume these would count). The only reason I mention it is that it used to have a Postbus many moons ago. There must be more populous villages than this.

MrTurbostar170 · 28 May 2019

Deopham in Norfolk. Population of 541 in the 2011 census.

yorksrob · 28 May 2019

St Kilda.

Population: some scientists and a lot of puffins.

Megafuss · 28 May 2019

Wynyard near Billingham has around 800 properties, so (off the back of a fag packet) around 2,000 inhabitants and has zero bus service or any other public transport.

TheGrandWazoo · 28 May 2019

Megafuss said:
Wynyard near Billingham has around 800 properties, so (off the back of a fag packet) around 2,000 inhabitants and has zero bus service or any other public transport.

How will the millionaires and assorted footballers get around? Mind you, what if their staff?

carlberry · 28 May 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
How will the millionaires and assorted footballers get around? Mind you, what if their staff?

The coachman will drop them off in the carriage old chap!

Megafuss · 28 May 2019

TheGrandWazoo said:
How will the millionaires and assorted footballers get around? Mind you, what if their staff?

You never know. Bannatyne is entitled to his bus pass now and he likes a good moan, so he will be right at home with Arriva Durham County

A0wen · 28 May 2019

Weston in Herts - used to be served by Smiths of Buntingford some years ago, now appears to have no service. Population in 2011, 1054.

Martin2012 · 28 May 2019

Does Nempnett Thrubwell count?

MedwayValiant · 28 May 2019

Wynyard Village does have a minibus service which does a loop around the development and then goes to Billingham and back. It runs five times a day Monday to Friday, twice on Saturdays, and it's free. It's non-registered and it's not clear whether the general public are allowed on board, so you'd have to have an argument about whether or not it counts as a public transport service. 2017 population estimate: 2,866.

The population of Weston is down to 921 on the 2017 estimates, but it does indeed utterly lack public transport. Elsie Smith (Buntingford) is long gone, but I think Weston's most recent bus service was one return journey a day to Stevenage, latterly operated by Arriva. I have a memory that at one point the service only operated in one direction which was less than useful.

ashworth · 28 May 2019

Typhoon said:
Would places that only have Demand Responsive Transport count? There are parts of Surrey (and elsewhere no doubt) that only have DRT - it is public transport in that concessionary cards can be used but, by its very definition, does not run to a timetable. There will also be places on the Scottish islands accessible only by ferry.

Large parts of Lincolnshire only have DRT. You have to register with Call Connect before you can use the service and once registered you then have to telephone to book journeys. This is not much use to the occasional traveller, or visitor to the area, when there is no regular service where you can just wait at a bus stop at the correct time. Some quite sizeable villages only have this type of DRT. However, I suppose that this does still qualify as public transport but perhaps it is little more than an organised taxi service.

Typhoon · 28 May 2019

ashworth said:
Large parts of Lincolnshire only have DRT. ... However, I suppose that this does still qualify as public transport but perhaps it is little more than an organised taxi service.

My reason for asking was the inclusion of the word 'scheduled' (below) which, too me, means some sort of timetable, even if it's a basic start time, return time. So I would have some sympathy with Wiltshire DRT services which have got an arrival time and departure time at the destination town (although it doesn't run if no-one books). The Lincolnshire model appears to more laissez faire. I just wanted some clarification really!

unitedkingdom said:
What is the largest place that you can think of that gets no public transport services at all? So this means no scheduled registered bus services or coach services and also no railway station either.

Busaholic · 28 May 2019

MedwayValiant said:
Wynyard Village does have a minibus service which does a loop around the development and then goes to Billingham and back. It runs five times a day Monday to Friday, twice on Saturdays, and it's free. It's non-registered and it's not clear whether the general public are allowed on board, so you'd have to have an argument about whether or not it counts as a public transport service. 2017 population estimate: 2,866.

The population of Weston is down to 921 on the 2017 estimates, but it does indeed utterly lack public transport. Elsie Smith (Buntingford) is long gone, but I think Weston's most recent bus service was one return journey a day to Stevenage, latterly operated by Arriva. I have a memory that at one point the service only operated in one direction which was less than useful.

The strapline for that one direction service could be 'see Stevenage and die.' No wonder the population of Weston is down! ;lol:

WatcherZero · 28 May 2019

Island of Sark? Theres a couple of ferries to the island but once you are on it there is no public transport (or motor vehicles other than tractors) whatsoever, even private aircraft are banned.

Must be a couple of larger islands in similar situation.

Bus Lightyear · 28 May 2019

I cant imagine there is much of a bus service in Portmahommack (excuse the spelling) in the Scottish Highlands. It's hard enough driving a car there with it's sharp bends and narrow roads nevermind a bus.

Although not in the UK, when I was in Cobh, County Cork over 30 years ago I don't remember there being any buses, only a rail station.

vlad · 28 May 2019

Alderney doesn't have any public transport (although it isn't in the UK). I appreciate that it has a railway line but given that it's only used for round trips by tourists it doesn't count.

Woore in Shropshire has a population of about 1000 and doesn't seem to have any buses.

Jordan Adam · 28 May 2019

Bus Lightyear said:
I cant imagine there is much of a bus service in Portmahommack (excuse the spelling) in the Scottish Highlands. It's hard enough driving a car there with it's sharp bends and narrow roads nevermind a bus.

Although not in the UK, when I was in Cobh, County Cork over 30 years ago I don't remember there being any buses, only a rail station.

Portmahomack is served by the 24/24A/24C/30B and gets 7 buses per day.

Robertj21a · 28 May 2019

I guess there must be villages where the council has refused to support any buses (or simply doesn't have any money - i.e Northants).

MP33 · 28 May 2019

Are there any places where due to objections from the original landowners no public transport is permitted.

Busaholic · 28 May 2019

MP33 said:
Are there any places where due to objections from the original landowners no public transport is permitted.

I suspect the Dulwich tollgate in College Road, London SE21 doesn't allow the hoi polloi to pass their way, although pigs may be driven through on payment of the appropriate charge. Dulwich College Estates: proof that feudalism is alive and well in pockets of the UK.

Bus Lightyear · 28 May 2019

Jordan Adam said:
Portmahomack is served by the 24/24A/24C/30B and gets 7 buses per day.

Cheers Jordan. I totally commend any driver on those routes.

MedwayValiant · 29 May 2019

Those 2017 estimates have the population of Woore as 793. It is indeed entirely without public transport, but it's a smaller settlement than Weston.

The rules committee for this thread already has to make a decision about Wynyard Village, and whether its free minibus operated by the management of the gated community counts as a public transport service. I must also refer Haverigg in Cumbria to the rules committee. Its only public transport is a school bus; it has no public transport on Saturdays and Sundays or during school holidays. There is one return journey to Barrow in Furness on school days only, and while it's not a closed door contract it doesn't go to the town centre, just to the three educational establishments for whose benefit it exists.

The 2017 estimates give the population of Haverigg as 1,437 - bigger than Weston, although smaller than Wynyard. It is 1½ miles from Millom station, walkable for many but not all. Incidentally, Millom - a town of 6,000 - has no bus service bar that once a day school bus either, although it does have a regular train service.

NorthOxonian · 29 May 2019

Lots in Oxfordshire.

Horspath has a population of 1,378 and has no service. Nor does Uffington, of White Horse Hill fame, as I recently discovered when trying to visit the horse. Ardley is another.

Of course, if you class Jericho as a separate place from Oxford, then its population has no bus service at all (though stops on the Woodstock Road are walkable). By my reckoning Jericho (I'm defining it as the bits of the Jericho and Osney ward east of the canal) has a population of about 2,500, but probably slightly more since my definition doesn't include all of its area. It must be one of the largest suburbs without a bus service.

RJ · 29 May 2019

Busaholic said:
I suspect the Dulwich tollgate in College Road, London SE21 doesn't allow the hoi polloi to pass their way, although pigs may be driven through on payment of the appropriate charge. Dulwich College Estates: proof that feudalism is alive and well in pockets of the UK.

Yes that area is considered a network hole in the bus network, enlargened a while ago by the withdrawal of the 931. But Sydenham Hill station isn't far away and is linked by footpath to College Road.

Citistar · 30 May 2019

NorthOxonian said:
Of course, if you class Jericho as a separate place from Oxford, then its population has no bus service at all (though stops on the Woodstock Road are walkable). By my reckoning Jericho (I'm defining it as the bits of the Jericho and Osney ward east of the canal) has a population of about 2,500, but probably slightly more since my definition doesn't include all of its area. It must be one of the largest suburbs without a bus service.

As well as Woodstock Road, Jericho also has plenty of coverage from the OBC PickMeUp minibus service.

There are some villages in our territory (Northern Somerset) which have no service. Compton Bishop (620) and Loxton (192) both used to be on market day bus routes to Weston-s-M. Burtle (388) used to be similarly linked to Bridgwater. Martin has already mentioned Nempnett (177), last served by Blagdon Lioness route 685 in the late 90s. I don't recall Chapel Allerton (401), East Horrington (?) nor Regil (?) having been served in recent history.

The largest parish in Bath&NES which has not had a service in recent years is North Stoke, boasting a populace numbering 72. There could be further areas abandoned as most of the B&NES market day buses were recently tendered and no awards have yet been published.

TheGrandWazoo · 30 May 2019

MedwayValiant said:
The rules committee for this thread already has to make a decision about Wynyard Village, and whether its free minibus operated by the management of the gated community counts as a public transport service. I must also refer Haverigg in Cumbria to the rules committee. Its only public transport is a school bus; it has no public transport on Saturdays and Sundays or during school holidays. There is one return journey to Barrow in Furness on school days only, and while it's not a closed door contract it doesn't go to the town centre, just to the three educational establishments for whose benefit it exists.

The 2017 estimates give the population of Haverigg as 1,437 - bigger than Weston, although smaller than Wynyard. It is 1½ miles from Millom station, walkable for many but not all. Incidentally, Millom - a town of 6,000 - has no bus service bar that once a day school bus either, although it does have a regular train service.

Quite incredible when you consider that there was a half hourly Millom to Haverigg service about 20 years ago or so, and that Cumberland maintained a small depot in the town that regularly got new VRs! https://www.flickr.com/photos/90039...k-pVYQtT-C5GgUK-JsAsVT-23poX8p-rQ1qgt-23rn9sk Last time I visited the depot before it closed, it had received a brand new Stagecoach B10M K-DAO

radamfi · 30 May 2019

RJ said:
Yes that area is considered a network hole in the bus network, enlargened a while ago by the withdrawal of the 931. But Sydenham Hill station isn't far away and is linked by footpath to College Road.

Busaholic said:
I suspect the Dulwich tollgate in College Road, London SE21 doesn't allow the hoi polloi to pass their way, although pigs may be driven through on payment of the appropriate charge. Dulwich College Estates: proof that feudalism is alive and well in pockets of the UK.

Is there a reason for lack of service along Grange Road? Looks like a big gap between the 468 and 450 routes.

What is the largest place in the UK with absolutely no public transport at all?

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