Bus routes that should have a more frequent service

[Daniel740]

Route 275, operated by Red Rose buses runs between High Wycombe and Oxford only four times a day, surely it could support a more frequent service. Can you think of any others?

 

[PeterC]

Route 275, operated by Red Rose buses runs between High Wycombe and Oxford only four times a day, surely it could support a more frequent service. Can you think of any others?

I would have said the same about the 853 but that A40 corridor doesn't seem to be on a natural desire line for inter-urban public transport.

 

[tbtc]

One link that surprises me is Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle.

There's seven buses per hour from Durham - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland - West Auckland (two of which start at Newcastle, two of which continue through to Cockfield)... but Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle is roughly two hourly (plus a handful of other journeys from Cockfield to Barnard Castle)

Whilst the Durham - West Auckland services are run by Arrive and Go NorthEast, the service beyond there to Barnard Castle is in the hands of Scarlet Band.

West Auckland to Barnard Castle is about ten miles (shorter from Cockfield to Barnard Castle), so it seems like a bit of a missing link, when you consider that Barnard Castle has a half hourly Arriva service to Darlington (so it's not like Barnard Castle is a tiny place that can't justify any public transport, or doesn't have a big operator)

Possibly it's because people travel within the same valley (Barnard Castle being on the Tees, whereas Bishop Acukland/ Spennymoor/ Durham are in the Wear Valley), but it feels like a bit of an omission IMHO

There are a few examples of places just beyond the county/PTE boundary, where frequencies drop off a cliff once you go beyond a certain point (e.g. here in Sheffield there are several buses per hour south of the city towards Bradway/Lowedges/ Batemoor/ Jordanthorpe but precious few to Dronfield (which is just over the border in Derbyshire)... same with services to the south east where Halfway is a popular destination but few services to Mosborough (a stone's throw beyond).

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

One link that surprises me is Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle.

There's seven buses per hour from Durham - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland - West Auckland (two of which start at Newcastle, two of which continue through to Cockfield)... but Bishop Auckland to Barnard Castle is roughly two hourly (plus a handful of other journeys from Cockfield to Barnard Castle)

Whilst the Durham - West Auckland services are run by Arrive and Go NorthEast, the service beyond there to Barnard Castle is in the hands of Scarlet Band.

West Auckland to Barnard Castle is about ten miles (shorter from Cockfield to Barnard Castle), so it seems like a bit of a missing link, when you consider that Barnard Castle has a half hourly Arriva service to Darlington (so it's not like Barnard Castle is a tiny place that can't justify any public transport, or doesn't have a big operator)

Possibly it's because people travel within the same valley (Barnard Castle being on the Tees, whereas Bishop Acukland/ Spennymoor/ Durham are in the Wear Valley), but it feels like a bit of an omission IMHO

Barnard Castle to Bishop Auckland has always been two hourly as far as I can remember when it was United service 8.

However, the main route was Bishop to West Auckland/Evenwood (82) with extensions to Cockfield etc operated by OK and Lockeys etc. The only reason it now operates to Durham is for operational convenience, compounded by the closure by Arriva of Bishop depot in 2011. The Bishop to Barney route was Arriva (as was Barney to Upper Teesdale) until Arriva pulled out.

You are right though.... People in Barney historically look to Darlington for work/leisure rather than Bishop, and there was always more in Darlington than Bishop in terms of attractions etc.

 

[upasalmon]

Two Merseyside locations. Arrivas evening and Sunday 492/495 should be both hourly until 2300 hrs.

Roby/Bowring Park should have an hourly evening service until 2300 hrs, and Edge Lane should be half hourly evenings.

Passengers pay a rate precept to Merseytravel and should receive a bus service.

 

[sammyg901]

Route 275, operated by Red Rose buses runs between High Wycombe and Oxford only four times a day, surely it could support a more frequent service. Can you think of any others?

Two things 1) there is a direct train and 2) National Express 737 service (not sure if currently operating)

So I imagine the 275 gets no through traffic and instead provides some convenient links between the rural settlements and their nearest towns, which this kind of frequency is adequate for I imagine

 

[sk688]

Personally feel that the current frequency of the First WoE 37 Bath - Bristol service is pretty inadequate , and deserves to return to an hourly service now that numbers have picked up , but doubt it will

 

[carlberry]

Route 275, operated by Red Rose buses runs between High Wycombe and Oxford only four times a day, surely it could support a more frequent service. Can you think of any others?

I'm suprised it supports that many journeys! For most of it's route it's duplicated by other services (Oxford to Thame and Thame to High Wycombe) and, as sammyg901 said, end to end journeys have coach and rail so it's really only providing a service for a very small number of villages on the bit which avoids Thame/Chinnor.

 

[py_megapixel]

There are plenty of local government tendered routes which would benefit passengers from a more frequent service, but will never see one because it would be too expensive to fund it.

It's an unfortunate state of affairs built on the archaic assumption that buses are exclusively for those without cars, who will put up with anything (at least some of them are - not all)

 

[carlberry]

I would have said the same about the 853 but that A40 corridor doesn't seem to be on a natural desire line for inter-urban public transport.

Again the 853 is basically an inter urban service that overlays other services between Oxford and Whitney, Witney to Burford and Cheltenham to Burton on the Water. Beyond Witney the A40 dosent have vast volumes of car traffic (which makes it a very nice road to drive on!), but does reflect the chances of sustaining a frequent bus service.

 

[PeterC]

I'm suprised it supports that many journeys! For most of it's route it's duplicated by other services (Oxford to Thame and Thame to High Wycombe) and, as sammyg901 said, end to end journeys have coach and rail so it's really only providing a service for a very small number of villages on the bit which avoids Thame/Chinnor.

The 275 provides a through service to Oxford from the villages. The direct National Express service has been withdrawn, the only coach link from Wycombe is by the COMS Airline from the park and ride by the Handy Cross roundabout.