24 hour bus stations.

[Condor7]

I am not a bus enthusiast as such, but as with many rail enthusiast have more than a passing interest.

On a completely separate rail related thread, I was given advice to catch the Skylink bus from East Midlands Airport.
Upon looking at the timetable I was interested to see that at Leicester bus station after 23:30 and before 05:30 passengers have to catch this service from a location near the bus station because it is closed.

This surprised me as the Skylink service is hourly during the night, and I would have thought on that basis alone it would be a good case for the bus station to remain open, and one presumes that if that was the case other night services may use it as well especially between 23:30 and 02:00.

I also got to wondering what the situation is with other bus stations, and which ones are open 24 hours a day?

 

[Antman]

I think all London bus stations that have a night service are 24hr although any indoor waiting areas are likely to be closed.

 

[Mitch in Notts]

Majority of bus stations close at night.
Nottingham Broadmarsh is an exception, presumably because it is not totally enclosed.
Nottingham Victoria, the and new Bus Stations at Mansfield & Derby are all closed overnight.
Smaller towns such as Newark & Retford are open 7am-7pm and closed all day Sundays, forcing passengers to an outer stand that is accessible 24 hours a day.

 

[Ivo]

Not sure how it works but Bristol has a 24-hour service and nowhere for vehicles to wait outside that would be deemed a part of the bus station so I can only assume it is open 24/7. I've travelled on the last "normal" bus on a few occasions, the 0000 to Bath (previously 0005), but there are plenty of premium services after that including the 24/7 service to Bristol Airport - and the 0000 departure may soon be supplemented by 0100 and/or 0200 services too.

 

[Deerfold]

I've waited at Leicester Bus Station for several hours for a very early coach.
Coaches all stop outside the bus station at all times.
As I approached I noticed all the lights blazing away and thought "Oh, good the bus station is open, I'll be able to wait inside".
It wasn't, though every light in it seemed to be on.

Leeds bus station closes overnight, though the adjoining coach station remains open.

Bradford Interchange remains open.

Wakefield closes with overnight coaches using a bus stop next to the bus station.

 

[bb21]

This surprised me as the Skylink service is hourly during the night, and I would have thought on that basis alone it would be a good case for the bus station to remain open, and one presumes that if that was the case other night services may use it as well especially between 23:30 and 02:00.

There is no other service using the bus station after 2330. The bus station is locked at the moment after the last bus leaves on the 47. The first bus on the day I think is the 0610 on the 47 on weekdays.

Coaches leave from the street-side of the bus station, and so does the Skylink bus at night, so there is no need for the bus station to remain open at night. There is a small indoor waiting room by the coach departure bays. It would be nice for it to be open overnight, however the usual question regarding who will pay for the staffing costs arises. The only solution I can see is that the coach companies contribute a significant amount towards it, as they are the only ones to benefit in reality.

 

[overthewater]

Edinburgh bus station closes at 00.45 and reopens at 04.30 and all the road gates are lock between these times. I do know that if a bus is late while you are thrown out and have to wait outside for it.

It used be 06.00 but since Megabus now starts at 5am and plus the M11/ 900 runs at 5am from Edinburgh to Glasgow.

 

[Liam]

Glasgow Buchanan is open 24 hours, but the builting is 0600-0000, access when closed is from Killermont Street or down the stairs from Caledonian University. I think most bus stations around have access 24 hours, but the buildings are only open day and evening.

 

[CallySleeper]

Belfast Europa is technically open 24/7 but the indoor concourse is locked and a 'night gate' in use.

 

[Liam]

Belfast Europa is technically open 24/7 but the indoor concourse is locked and a 'night gate' in use.

Don't the night time services stop at Glengall Street, outside the Bus Station?

 

[gnolife]

Manchester Airport is indoor, and oprn 24 hours. Manchester Piccadilly Gardens and Wythenshawe are open bus stations with 24 hours. Several other bus stations in Gtr. Manchester have 24 hour service on Friday and Saturday only . I can't remember which ones off hand

 

[Flying Snail]

Don't the night time services stop at Glengall Street, outside the Bus Station?

That used to be the case but the station is now used for all services. Although as said previously the building is not accessible in the wee hours, the side gate is open for passenger access.

As it is the main Ulsterbus depot as well it was always possible for buses and drivers to get in through the night as long as one had a fob for the gate.