Bus Service Improvement Plan Progress (including BSIP+)

[Edvid]

Central Bedfordshire have launched their mojo multi-operator ticket today, which counts Arriva, Centrebus, Grant Palmer, Stagecoach and Uno as its participants.

All journeys with the aforementioned operators that start and/or finish within Central Bedfordshire are eligible, and the product is priced at £12.50 / £38 for a day / week. That's on the pricey side for a BSIP-backed offering,* but if priced any lower would have undercut the Bus Spotter (Grant Palmer, £12) or Bedfordshire Plus 7 Day Megarider (Stagecoach, £37.20).

Mojo | Grant Palmer

www.grantpalmer.com

We are excited to announce the launch of mojo - a ticket you can use to hop on most buses in Central Bedfordshire and to destinations beyond the county that can be reached on a direct journey, i.e with no change of bus outside Central Bedfordshire. These destinations include Bedford, Luton, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Hitchin, Stevenage and Letchworth. It costs £12.50 for a day or £38 for a week and will be available from 22 April 2024.

Currently, separate tickets are necessary for each leg of a journey involving different bus companies but now passengers can enjoy seamless travel around the area by purchasing their mojo ticket directly on the bus.

The mojo ticket can be used for unlimited journeys within a day or week, simply by presenting it to the driver or scanning the QR code onboard. Experience the ease and affordability of mojo for hassle-free bus travel across Central Bedfordshire and beyond.

[* Intalink Explorer (Hertfordshire) is priced at £7.60 / £29.00 for a day / week]

 

[Deerfold]

Central Bedfordshire have launched their mojo multi-operator ticket today, which counts Arriva, Centrebus, Grant Palmer, Stagecoach and Uno as its participants.

All journeys with the aforementioned operators that start and/or finish within Central Bedfordshire are eligible, and the product is priced at £12.50 / £38 for a day / week. That's on the pricey side for a BSIP-backed offering,* but if priced any lower would have undercut the Bus Spotter (Grant Palmer, £12) or Bedfordshire Plus 7 Day Megarider (Stagecoach, £37.20).

Mojo | Grant Palmer

www.grantpalmer.com

[* Intalink Explorer (Hertfordshire) is priced at £7.60 / £29.00 for a day / week]

So you could go from Bedford to Stevenage on the 9B, but you'd have to get off and on again in Central Bedfordshire (at, say, Shefford)?

 

[Edvid]

Not a scenario I've ever tested, so I couldn't say for sure. Ah, just remembered I once travelled from Luton to Cockfosters with a one-day Explorer on the Uno 610 without having to "break" in Hertfordshire (they were also happy for me to use it intra-London on the 614). In your example, Stagecoach may allow a through journey (sans break) with a mojo at their discretion.

 

[Deerfold]

Not a scenario I've ever tested, so I couldn't say for sure. Ah, just remembered I once travelled from Luton to Cockfosters with a one-day Explorer on the Uno 610 without having to "break" in Hertfordshire (they were also happy for me to use it intra-London on the 614). In your example, Stagecoach may allow a through journey (sans break) with a mojo at their discretion.

The Explorer doesn't have any conditions restricting which counties it's available in. I've used it for journeys entirely within Buckinghamshire many times.

 

[Dai Corner]

North Somerset Council's BSIP hasn't met with universal approval

Council pauses rollout of new bus lanes as locals and councillors raise concerns

Plans for more bus lanes in North Somerset are on “pause” after outcry over disruption people say they have caused.

www.northsomersettimes.co.uk

North Somerset Council will be reviewing its plans to install more bus lanes and putting the rollout on pause until November.

It comes after warnings from the public and councillors that the lanes are causing more trouble than they are worth.

The council has been installing a host of bus lanes across the district over the last year — starting with the Long Ashton bypass — after it was handed one of the largest amounts of “bus service improvement plan” (BSIP) funding in the country by the government.

But Hannah Young (Clevedon South, Labour), the council’s executive member for highways and transport, told a full council meeting on Tuesday April 16: “Over the next few months the only bus priority scheme being delivered will be at Wood Hill, which is part of the Congresbury congestion scheme.

 

[Citistar]

North Somerset Council's BSIP hasn't met with universal approval

Council pauses rollout of new bus lanes as locals and councillors raise concerns

Plans for more bus lanes in North Somerset are on “pause” after outcry over disruption people say they have caused.

www.northsomersettimes.co.uk

The problem here is that North Somerset Council were given quite a significant slab of money to spend on capital infrastructure projects (such as bus lanes, priority etc), but a very short timeframe in which it had to be spent. As a result, the projects which have been done are those which could be done with the least resistance (and generally not involving land purchase) rather than those which would represent the biggest advantage to the travelling public. The wider public sees the less useful schemes being constructed and incorrectly blame the local leadership. It's yet another example of Whitehall (or more likely their consultants) setting conditions for the money they're dishing out to local authorities which makes it impossible to spend effectively.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Have there been any cases where improvements funded by BSIP grants have been reversed because they didn't generate the expected growth?

 

[Man of Kent]

Have there been any cases where improvements funded by BSIP grants have been reversed because they didn't generate the expected growth?

Not reversed exactly, but Lancashire has just abandoned its weekend fare offer (Saturday day tickets also valid on Sunday) and replaced it with a £1 maximum on Sundays.

 

[riceuten]

There looks like there will be change in the cost (and perhaps validity?) of the Intalink ticket)

This article in Highways News (which, to be honest, looks like a cut and paste from a press release)

Hertfordshire County Council gears up to support sustainable travel for Better Transport Week - Highways News

Hertfordshire County Council has reminded its residents about making sustainable travel choices folllowing several investments over the last few years in the county. Better Transport Week is a week-long celebration of sustainable transport, taking place from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 June...

highways-news.com

states

"Intalink Connect – A soon to be introduced new ticketing offer to replace Intalink Explorer and BUSnet tickets, which will offer unlimited travel from £2.50 a day and £9.50 a week if bought in conjunction with a SaverCard, or from £5 a day and £19 a week without. Check Intalink ticketing for updates.

"The Adult SaverCard – Another soon to be updated offer with the discount to be increased from 15% to 50%. SaverCards for all ages are available"

The link (https://www.intalink.org.uk/fares-and-tickets) leads to the existing offer, so no clarification as to what the revised offer is, but I would hazard a guess that all BusNet offers will be standardised at £2.50 (or more) and £9.50 per week, and perhaps an increase in price (or decrease in validity?) of the Explorer ticket.

I suspect the 21-59 ticket will be identical to the 60+ offer now - £20 for the card and 50% off fares or the new tickets outlined above.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Despite being unsuccessful in getting funding for its BSIP, there have been some improvements in Cheshire West & Chester.

Particularly welcome is the introduction of hourly evening SuX services on route 2 between Chester, Ellesmere Port and Cheshire Oaks.

This provides buses to large parts of Ellesmere Port, such as Hope Farm and Whitby, which were previously without any sort of public transport in the evenings, being some distance from the various Merseyrail stations in and around the town.

 

[markymark2000]

Despite being unsuccessful in getting funding for its BSIP, there have been some improvements in Cheshire West & Chester.

Cheshire West and Chester got 2 lots of BSIP+ funding.

Bus service improvement plans: local transport authority final allocations 2022 to 2025

www.gov.uk

£1,291,071 for 2023/24 and 1,291,071 for 2024/25.

Particularly welcome is the introduction of hourly evening SuX services on route 2 between Chester, Ellesmere Port and Cheshire Oaks.

This provides buses to large parts of Ellesmere Port, such as Hope Farm and Whitby, which were previously without any sort of public transport in the evenings, being some distance from the various Merseyrail stations in and around the town.

It is good to see the 2 operating an evening service and I'd hope it takes off and it certainly one of the more likely services to do well out of the Cheshire West BSIP enhancements. It doesn't help though that Stagecoach have the destination set to say '2 Cheshire Oaks' no 'Via Ellesmere Port' or anything logical, just '2 Cheshire Oaks'. Given Ellesmere Port is probably as big of a destination as Cheshire Oaks, it's rather silly to not have 'via' points, especially when the via points are such popular destinations. Seeing '2 Cheshire Oaks' without any Via points firstly would make me think it is quicker than the 1/X1 (which it isn't) and also would make me think it is missing out a lot of the route.

 

[Old Yard Dog]

I didn't know about the funding - the council website suggests otherwise

Bus Service Improvement Plan for Cheshire West and Chester | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Information about the bus service improvement plan for Cheshire West and Chester

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

A good point about "via" locations on the front of the bus.

To be clear, the 2 is faster than the 1/X1 between Chester and Ellesmere Port but slower between Chester and Cheshire Oaks.

 

[Edvid]

The Intalink Connect scheme will start on 14 July (details), with Hertfordshire divided into 14 zones as follows:

• Borehamwood & Potters Bar
• Buntingford & Royston
• Bishop’s Stortford & Sawbridgeworth
• Cheshunt & Hoddesdon
• Harpenden
• Hatfield
• Hemel Hempstead
• Hitchin & Letchworth
• Hertford & Ware
• St Albans
• Stevenage
• Tring & Berkhamsted
• Watford
• Welwyn Garden City

For simplicity I'll state one-day adult full prices.

One-zone tickets (£5) are self-explanatory; two-zone tickets (£6) cover two adjacent zones. These will replace BUSnet tickets (currently Hemel Hempstead £4.30, St Albans Inner/All £4.30/5.50, Watford £4.70, Welwyn Hatfield £4.70). No map of the zones is available yet.

The all-zone ticket (£8.50) will replace the Explorer (currently £7.60) with no change to geographic (including cross-boundary) validity.

Explorer and BUSnet tickets expiring after 13 July will remain valid for their full duration. In summary...

I would hazard a guess that all BusNet offers will be standardised at £2.50 (or more) and £9.50 per week, and perhaps an increase in price (or decrease in validity?) of the Explorer ticket.

I suspect the 21-59 ticket will be identical to the 60+ offer now - £20 for the card and 50% off fares or the new tickets outlined above.

...yes, yes (to the former), and yes.

 

[riceuten]

I saw this yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. I suspect the regionalisation of the offer across Herts make sense, as I have used it to its full extent sparingly. With the Saver Card in operation and an current Explorer, it is presently cheaper than 2 singles to and from Stevenage - not bad for a ticket that could take me all the way to Bedford and back! I suspect I will be making full use of the£2.50 day ticker, or the 10 pack for £2.30 each. Providing Non-Arriva up their game.

EDIT: HCC appeared to have now updated the app, and you can now buy the full range of Connect tickets there - the 10 pack of local tickets in Stevenage (or elsewhere) appears to be a particular bargain, only 30p more than a single ticket, and valid for the whole of the town (and some way beyond)

 

[Edvid]

Oxfordshire now has a BSIP-subsidised multi-operator ticket as well - MyBus Oxfordshire is priced at £6.50/£25 per day/week for adults, and £3.50/£14.50 for under-19s. I'd be interested to know how that compares with Oxford Bus Company offerings, because £6.50 for a pan-Oxfordshire day pass sounds like excellent value.

Given their pending withdrawal from Oxfordshire, Arriva have unsurprisingly chosen not to join the scheme. Amongst other operators, The Airline (Go-Ahead) and Oxford Tube (Stagecoach) are also excluded. As is the Stagecoach X5 to Bedford!

Further details of operator participation (including cross-boundary routes) are linked below.

Find out about MyBus Oxfordshire tickets

www.mybusoxfordshire.org.uk

 

[markymark2000]

Oxfordshire now has a BSIP-subsidised multi-operator ticket as well - MyBus Oxfordshire is priced at £6.50/£25 per day/week for adults, and £3.50/£14.50 for under-19s. I'd be interested to know how that compares with Oxford Bus Company offerings, because £6.50 for a pan-Oxfordshire day pass sounds like excellent value.

Given their pending withdrawal from Oxfordshire, Arriva have unsurprisingly chosen not to join the scheme. Amongst other operators, The Airline (Go-Ahead) and Oxford Tube (Stagecoach) are also excluded. As is the Stagecoach X5 to Bedford!

Further details of operator participation (including cross-boundary routes) are linked below.

Find out about MyBus Oxfordshire tickets

www.mybusoxfordshire.org.uk

Given how successful the SmartZone is, why wouldn't you just expand that with an 'Oxfordshire SmartZone'. Make one brand much more powerful. Given all of the calls for simpler tickets, surely a bigger zone of Smartzone is better than a completely new ticket and brand. As good value as it is, I can't get over why you'd pick such a poor name.

 

[joieman]

Given how successful the SmartZone is, why wouldn't you just expand that with an 'Oxfordshire SmartZone'. Make one brand much more powerful. Given all of the calls for simpler tickets, surely a bigger zone of Smartzone is better than a completely new ticket and brand. As good value as it is, I can't get over why you'd pick such a poor name.

Exactly. Urban transport systems and rural transport systems need to be better integrated to provide optimal ease for the passenger.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Given how successful the SmartZone is, why wouldn't you just expand that with an 'Oxfordshire SmartZone'. Make one brand much more powerful. Given all of the calls for simpler tickets, surely a bigger zone of Smartzone is better than a completely new ticket and brand. As good value as it is, I can't get over why you'd pick such a poor name.

This is getting worrying.... I'm agreeing with you again In all seriousness, you've a fair point. Perhaps SmartZone Plus might have been better? Always thought that with the SmartZone and the relationship between Go Ahead and Stagecoach that a multi-operator county ticket was a bit of a gap.

Surprised that validity is allowed on Pulhams 801 and Stagecoach S2 to Cheltenham. The latter especially given the limitations on other Stagecoach routes but then again, that's because of the different opcos and who's going to know that (or care particularly).

 

[riceuten]

Central Bedfordshire have launched their mojo multi-operator ticket today, which counts Arriva, Centrebus, Grant Palmer, Stagecoach and Uno as its participants.

All journeys with the aforementioned operators that start and/or finish within Central Bedfordshire are eligible, and the product is priced at £12.50 / £38 for a day / week. That's on the pricey side for a BSIP-backed offering,* but if priced any lower would have undercut the Bus Spotter (Grant Palmer, £12) or Bedfordshire Plus 7 Day Megarider (Stagecoach, £37.20).

Mojo | Grant Palmer

www.grantpalmer.com

[* Intalink Explorer (Hertfordshire) is priced at £7.60 / £29.00 for a day / week]

£12.50 for a day ticket could charitably be described as "ambitious" pricing. I've always wondered why Grant Palmer's day ticket is so expensive compared to other operators' tickets. You'd have to make at least 6 journeys on their buses to make it worth it.

 

[Edvid]

David Shelley's view of the £2 cap can be succinctly paraphrased as damned if we do, even more damned if we don't, so he likely found the possibility of a BSIP-backed multi-operator ticket undercutting that of his operation rather unwelcome. Before Grant Palmer joined the cap in November 2023 some singles (e.g. Bedford-Biggleswade) were priced above £6 and returns (IIRC) another £3-ish on top of that, so in that context the network ticket/cap sufficed after just 3 journeys.

On a related topic there is what appears to be a Best Impressions map of the Mon-Fri Luton & Dunstable (& Houghton Regis - LDHR?) bus network - found it on the Arriva page for Luton, which is to their credit. Interestingly the route index indicates which of them are supported by BSIP funding - which is welcome information - but there are quite a few mistakes/omissions that I can identify:

* The 26 rerouting along Cromer Way (making it cross-boundary as Bushmead overspills into Central Beds) is missing.
* The 88 dogleg to ASDA isn't shown.
* The 100 still appears to serve Wigmore Lane (which it no longer does, ASDA aside) instead of Crawley Green Road.
* The LAX is missing.
* The "81" portion of the MK1 route is missing. In addition the MK1 is now apparently BSIP-subsidised; colour me surprised if that is actually true.
* The X1 is missing, though in fairness it only started today.



One thing that Luton Borough Council has been somewhat dragging its heels on BSIP-info wise is infrastructure. As yet there are no updates on their plans for bus lanes along Dunstable Road (Chaul End Lane roundabout to M1 J11) and Vauxhall Way, and though they granted planning permission for the Butterfield P&R a few months ago, its delivery plan was an exempt (no public disclosure) item at tonight's Executive meeting.

 

[Mollman]

Given how successful the SmartZone is, why wouldn't you just expand that with an 'Oxfordshire SmartZone'. Make one brand much more powerful. Given all of the calls for simpler tickets, surely a bigger zone of Smartzone is better than a completely new ticket and brand. As good value as it is, I can't get over why you'd pick such a poor name.

Because SmartZone is a company owned by Go-ahead and Stagecoach whilst this is a Council initiative
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07691786/officers

 

[markymark2000]

Because SmartZone is a company owned by Go-ahead and Stagecoach whilst this is a Council initiative
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07691786/officers

Given Stagecoach and GoAhead are the biggest operators in Oxfordshire, there is nothing stopping the council working with them to expand the ticket and make the larger zone. Some of the other operators would have joined an expanded Smartzone anyway if it was created, I think only Redline/Red Rose may have needed nudging into to the scheme (based off the current list of operators accepting the ticket).

 

[Megafuss]

I have been informed by a reliable contact within North East Combined Authority that Go North East have been awarded money to enhance the 21 service between Newcastle and Chester-Le-Street to every 7/8 minutes, from every 10 minutes.

I've got say, on the surface, that appears to be an egregious use of BSIP funds.

 

[Mollman]

I have been informed by a reliable contact within North East Combined Authority that Go North East have been awarded money to enhance the 21 service between Newcastle and Chester-Le-Street to every 7/8 minutes, from every 10 minutes.

I've got say, on the surface, that appears to be an egregious use of BSIP funds.

Now on their website. I think it makes sense as returning to pre-Covid levels. The 10 group going up to a combined 12 minute headway makes less sense as you have a 24/36 frequency on the Hexham leg now.

We are thrilled to announce further improvements to the region’s bus services from Sunday 1 September 2024. Funded by the North East Combined Authority’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, these improvements will see more frequent services on our Tyne Valley Ten 10/10A/10B and Angel 21 services.

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/september-service-changes

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I have been informed by a reliable contact within North East Combined Authority that Go North East have been awarded money to enhance the 21 service between Newcastle and Chester-Le-Street to every 7/8 minutes, from every 10 minutes.

I've got say, on the surface, that appears to be an egregious use of BSIP funds.

What makes more sense.... pump priming on corridors that might be ultimately sustainable OR spending money on stuff like the 777 that will never pay their way?

 

[JamesT]

Because SmartZone is a company owned by Go-ahead and Stagecoach whilst this is a Council initiative
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/07691786/officers

SmartZone may be structured as a joint company, but it was very much the Council getting them to work together.

 

[Megafuss]

What makes more sense.... pump priming on corridors that might be ultimately sustainable OR spending money on stuff like the 777 that will never pay their way?

I'd prefer a commercial operator to restore the service they themselves decided to cut because of a driver shortage, and driver shortage alone.

If they want to have a 7/8 minute service, they should take the commercial risk themselves. There are plenty other areas of the North East that deserve improvements over the Durham Road corridor.

 

[WAB]

I'd support BSIP money going towards getting routes to 10 minute headways as a proper turn-up-and-go frequency, but I just don't see any benefit to improving the frequencies further beyond that point.

 

[LUYMun]

I'd support BSIP money going towards getting routes to 10 minute headways as a proper turn-up-and-go frequency, but I just don't see any benefit to improving the frequencies further beyond that point.

Knowing that Hampshire County Council mostly funded BSIP+ into increasing frequencies on Bluestar buses that already had a very good service, while simultaneously consulting the public on potentially decreasing funding on supported bus services, I’d rather the BSIP ensures the continuation of said local services, particularly where rural communities are at stake.

 

[AB93]

Knowing that Hampshire County Council mostly funded BSIP+ into increasing frequencies on Bluestar buses that already had a very good service, while simultaneously consulting the public on potentially decreasing funding on supported bus services, I’d rather the BSIP ensures the continuation of said local services, particularly where rural communities are at stake.

But what happens to them when the BSIP money runs out?