Carousel Buses (Go-Ahead group)

[greenline712]

An additional note regarding the old Cressex Arriva depot reference as a potential home for Carousel, drove past yesterday. Very much empty, closed up and no signage in place, just an on-site security van.

Carousel were unable to secure the Arriva site, so have opened a new yard next door but one to their existing garage. ISTR that they were putting a bus wash in there as well . . . certainly their buses in Wycombe looked pretty clean on Saturday morning last. I must go back and have another look . . .

 

[sturfc]

Carousel were unable to secure the Arriva site, so have opened a new yard next door but one to their existing garage. ISTR that they were putting a bus wash in there as well . . . certainly their buses in Wycombe looked pretty clean on Saturday morning last. I must go back and have another look . . .

thanks, I'll take a look also. I know they had that additional yard and Country Baskets were moving out next door.

 

[Mark J]

On the 850 right now, going towards Henley.

A single decker bus.

This type of bus would be more suitable for the off peak traffic on the route, rather than the double deckers.

 

[CBlue]

On the 850 right now, going towards Henley.

A single decker bus.

This type of bus would be more suitable for the off peak traffic on the route, rather than the double deckers.

The difference in fuel economy is likely rather negligible so why would Carousel keep a fleet of single decks just for the off peak service?

 

[cactustwirly]

The difference in fuel economy is likely rather negligible so why would Carousel keep a fleet of single decks just for the off peak service?

It's a lightweight enviro 200 Vs a heavy Scania double decker

 

[Mgameing123]

It's a lightweight enviro 200 Vs a heavy Scania double decker

It’s a huge difference. If the double deckers are needed for the peak time service the that would require a larger fleet of vehicles and that costs more because the more vehicles your have, the more vehicles you have to maintain.

 

[Voyager 2953]

It's a lightweight enviro 200 Vs a heavy Scania double decker

The E200 isn’t as economic i as people think hence why many operators opt for the B8RLE eVora over it.

 

[busesrusuk]

The last day (of two!) of operation of normally Arriva operated 724 is seen here at Heathrow on a pretty miserable day today. However, it was worth recording the operation:

Carousel Buses 614 Jan24

Heathrow Central, Jan 2025 For two days over the Xmas and new year period (26 Dec 24 & 1 Jan 25) Carousel operated a truncated version of route 724 instead of the usual operator, Arriva.

www.flickr.com

 

[Mark J]

One question I have been meaning to ask...

Are Carousel Network/A-B-C tickets valid on Red Rose and Red Line Buses?

I know that details for routes operated by both can be seen on the Carousel App.

Not sure if there is some agreement in place, or not.

 

[Mgameing123]

One question I have been meaning to ask...

Are Carousel Network/A-B-C tickets valid on Red Rose and Red Line Buses?

I know that details for routes operated by both can be seen on the Carousel App.

Not sure if there is some agreement in place, or not.

What routes are ran by both Red Rose and Carousel?

 

[Stan Drews]

What routes are ran by both Red Rose and Carousel?

I think he means that routes operated by both Red Rose and Redline can be seen on the Carousel App, as the timetables listed include Red Rose 40 and Redline 130, Redline 300 as well as the First X74 and Reading Buses 28 which are also shown.

 

[Mgameing123]

One question I have been meaning to ask...

Are Carousel Network/A-B-C tickets valid on Red Rose and Red Line Buses?

I know that details for routes operated by both can be seen on the Carousel App.

Not sure if there is some agreement in place, or not.

No you cannot! Carousel Zone Tickets are only valid on Carousel Bus routes. Carousel Network Ticket is valid on the Airline between Wycombe Coachway & Heathrow and might be valid on some OBC and Thames Travel routes but I'm not sure on that.

 

[Mark J]

I think he means that routes operated by both Red Rose and Redline can be seen on the Carousel App, as the timetables listed include Red Rose 40 and Redline 130, Redline 300 as well as the First X74 and Reading Buses 28 which are also shown.

That is what I did mean.

I can see bus routes for 130 and 300 to Aylesbury listed on Carousel App, despite being operated by Red Line.

Therfore wasn't sure if there was some kind of ticket acceptance agreement in place. Or if one, or both, were sub brands of Carousel.

Indeed, even the drivers of Red Line did not know.

Once caught the 300 bus from Aylesbury to Wycombe, and asked if my single Carousel ticket would be valid. He said to activate and find out. I didn't want to risk losing a ticket in case it didn't work, so paid as usual.

 

[Mgameing123]

That is what I did mean.

I can see bus routes for 130 and 300 to Aylesbury listed on Carousel App, despite being operated by Red Line.

Therfore wasn't sure if there was some kind of ticket acceptance agreement in place. Or if one, or both, were sub brands of Carousel.

Indeed, even the drivers of Red Line did not know.

Once caught the 300 bus from Aylesbury to Wycombe, and asked if my single Carousel ticket would be valid. He said to activate and find out. I didn't want to risk losing a ticket in case it didn't work, so paid as usual.

A Carousel single won't be valid on any other operator than Carousel.

 

[Parebunks]

The Oxford Chiltern Bus Page reports some interesting further expansion planned for Carousel (I've reformatted for readability but thought the vast majority did merit quoting):

Pleased to learn that the network operated by Carousel is being enhanced from 23 February with more to come in April.

• Having already restored the 32 and 33 routes crosstown, the 34 also becoming crosstown to serve the Hicks Farm and Olympic Way areas is most welcome as is a sensible revision of the 34 to serve the hospital both to and from the bus station and the introduction of a Sunday service to/from Cressex and Lane End.
• With some minor adjustments to the 41 group , the reintroduction of a Sunday service between High Wycombe and Great Missenden is most welcome but I doubt the viability of the service over the present routeing.
• Enhancements to frequencies on the 30 and 32 are to be welcomed and a great surprise is the extension of the 31 to Beaconsfield from Penn Monday to Saturday ( the 577 a Mon to Fri service will cease)
• After many years the A4 between Maidenhead and Reading will have a Monday to Friday service again with Carousel operating the 127 and with the 850 between Wycombe and Reading reduced to every 30 minutes daytimes there will still be 3 buses an hour between Twyford and Reading. BUT the 850 evening and Sunday service increased to every 30 minutes from 60
• An even bigger surprise is the Wycombe to Henley section increased to every 15 minutes. Will this enable the Henley town service to be operated by Carousel in the future?
• The 27 route between the bus station and Pheasant Drive becomes the 29 and presumably the same bus will operate the 38 to the Poets Estate etc - a route poorly patronised as is the Totteridge Drive route currently 39A to be 27A?? The 27 would still serve Robinson Road but am unsure of its routeing. As this area is part of Loudwater, I would have hoped this area could have been linked with Loudwater, Wooburn, Bourne End.
• With Carousel now to operate " shorts" on the 106 between Slough and Wexham Court in evenings and weekends these will operate off more 103 and X103 journeys.
• Further expansion in April will see the reinstatement of a long lost link once provided by Thames Valley route 20 as well as some, in my view, dramatic developments.
• The alterations proposed by Carousel will initially be of great benefit to residents of South Buckinghamshire including Wycombe and the changes in April will particularly benefit residents the residents of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.with a revamp of services in those towns and surrounding areas. Some new links are made and many frequencies are enhanced . Will be good see the Sunday service return on the Lane End and Great Missenden corridors as well as well as the 37 projected to Windsor and an hourly weekday service 127 between Maidenhead and Reading over the long lost link once provided by Alder Valley 315 formerly Thames Valley 1. Carousel from April will be the major operator in Maidenhead with the take over of many routes formerly operated by Thames Valley Buses. And then there is the location of an outstation/garage in the Maidenhead area.

Frustratingly this seems to be written in a fashion suggesting details of the changes are already public, but I can't find them in any usual locations. Nonetheless, sounds like a very substantial improvement from anything Arriva's been operating for the last 10 years at the very least. And very interested to see the promised expansion into Maidenhead from April - does anyone know what route the Thames Valley 20 took?
The OCBP further includes details of the fleet expansion to facilitate this, with 15 ex-London MECs, 7 ex-NCT e200 MMCs, and 9 new e200 MMCs arriving in the summer. Certainly an excellent few years for Carousel, and not necessarily what I would have guessed five years ago.

 

[Non Multi]

The Oxford Chiltern Bus Page reports some interesting further expansion planned for Carousel (I've reformatted for readability but thought the vast majority did merit quoting):

Frustratingly this seems to be written in a fashion suggesting details of the changes are already public, but I can't find them in any usual locations. Nonetheless, sounds like a very substantial improvement from anything Arriva's been operating for the last 10 years at the very least. And very interested to see the promised expansion into Maidenhead from April - does anyone know what route the Thames Valley 20 took?
The OCBP further includes details of the fleet expansion to facilitate this, with 15 ex-London MECs, 7 ex-NCT e200 MMCs, and 9 new e200 MMCs arriving in the summer. Certainly an excellent few years for Carousel, and not necessarily what I would have guessed five years ago.

Looking at Timetable World, Alder Valley route 20 was High Wycombe - Wycombe Marsh - Loudwater - Woburn Green - Bourne End - Cookham - Boulters Lock - Maidenhead Bus Station (no longer extant) - Maidenhead Rly station - Fifield Turning - Fifield - Dedworth - Windsor.

The route can be currently done on Carousel 37 (Wycombe-Maidenhead) and Thames Valley 16 (Maidenhead-Windsor via Dedworth).

The bigger news is Carousel taking over the tendered routes currently run by Thames Valley in in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead from next April.

 

[Mgameing123]

Looking at Timetable World, Alder Valley route 20 was High Wycombe - Wycombe Marsh - Loudwater - Woburn Green - Bourne End - Cookham - Boulters Lock - Maidenhead Bus Station (no longer extant) - Maidenhead Rly station - Fitfield Turning - Fitfield - Dedworth - Windsor.

The route can be currently done on Carousel 37 (Wycombe-Maidenhead) and Thames Valley 16 (Maidenhead-Windsor via Dedworth).

The bigger news is Carousel taking over the contracted routes currently run by Thames Valley in in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead from next April.

Damn it. Well looks like I’m going have to be used to frequent bus cancellations.

 

[sturfc]

Damn it. Well looks like I’m going have to be used to frequent bus cancellations.

Why? Since the Carousel expansion to take on the Arriva services, the difference to Wycombe has been significant, which clearly is leading to further improvements here. Looking forward to the next round of changes.

The main challenge in High Wycombe is the traffic, one day last week it took 45 minutes to do 2 miles.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The Oxford Chiltern Bus Page reports some interesting further expansion planned for Carousel (I've reformatted for readability but thought the vast majority did merit quoting):

Frustratingly this seems to be written in a fashion suggesting details of the changes are already public, but I can't find them in any usual locations. Nonetheless, sounds like a very substantial improvement from anything Arriva's been operating for the last 10 years at the very least. And very interested to see the promised expansion into Maidenhead from April - does anyone know what route the Thames Valley 20 took?
The OCBP further includes details of the fleet expansion to facilitate this, with 15 ex-London MECs, 7 ex-NCT e200 MMCs, and 9 new e200 MMCs arriving in the summer. Certainly an excellent few years for Carousel, and not necessarily what I would have guessed five years ago.

I was looking for that announcement of the upgraded 127 as well. It's terrific news - for so many years Knowl Hill and Hare Hatch have been basically completely cut off from public transport, and it's a stretch of the A4 with quite significant safety issues (especially with the many concealed junctions with tiny lanes), so it will help to reduce traffic around peaks.

 

[sturfc]

Has anyone seen what additional routes are being taken on, apart from the 127 and presumably the 16 based on the talk of the old Route 20?

 

[Non Multi]

The bigger news is Carousel taking over the tendered routes currently run by Thames Valley in in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead from next April.

I was trying to figure out what's tendered by RBWM and what Thames Valley are running commercially.

Commercial and/or likely unaffected routes run by Thames Valley Buses:

• 2 Dedworth - Windsor - Slough
• 5* Cippenham - Slough - Datchet - Poyle - Heathrow Terminal 5
• 7 Maidenhead - Woodlands Park.
• 53** Bracknell - Holyport - Maidenhead - Burnham - Britwell - Wexham Park Hospital, Slough

Tendered and run by Thames Valley:

• 3 Maidenhead town circular via Highfield Lane
• 8 Maidenhead town circular via Boulters Lock
• 9 Maidenhead town circular via Cranford Drive
• 15 Eton Wick - Eton - Slough
• 16 Maidenhead - Windsor via Dedworth
• 127 Maidenehad - Reading via A4 (Saturdays only)
• 234 Maidenhead villages circular via Waltham St Lawrence
• 235 Maidenhead - Hare Hatch
• 238 Maidenhead - Cookham Dean via Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) & Bisham (Tue & Thu only)
• 239 Maidenhead - Henley via St Mark's Hospital & BCA

*Route supported by funding from Heathrow Airport Ltd.
**Route supported by funding from Bracknell Forest, RBWM and Bucks. I think it's tendered by Bracknell Forest.

 

[Flange Squeal]

I was trying to figure out what's tendered by RBWM and what Thames Valley are running commercially.

Commercial and/or likely unaffected routes run by Thames Valley Buses:

• 2 Dedworth - Windsor - Slough
• 5* Cippenham - Slough - Datchet - Poyle - Heathrow Terminal 5
• 7 Maidenhead - Woodlands Park.
• 53** Bracknell - Holyport - Maidenhead - Burnham - Britwell - Wexham Park Hospital, Slough

Tendered and run by Thames Valley:

• 3 Maidenhead town circular via Highfield Lane
• 8 Maidenhead town circular via Boulters Lock
• 9 Maidenhead town circular via Cranford Drive
• 15 Eton Wick - Eton - Slough
• 16 Maidenhead - Windsor via Dedworth
• 127 Maidenehad - Reading via A4 (Saturdays only)
• 234 Maidenhead villages circular via Waltham St Lawrence
• 235 Maidenhead - Hare Hatch
• 238 Maidenhead - Cookham Dean via Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) & Bisham (Tue & Thu only)
• 239 Maidenhead - Henley via St Mark's Hospital & BCA

*Route supported by funding from Heathrow Airport Ltd.
**Route supported by funding from Bracknell Forest, RBWM and Bucks. I think it's tendered by Bracknell Forest.

That would sound about right, although Thames Valley's timetable says the 127 is supported by Wokingham Borough Council rather than Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead like the others. The 7's subsidy status is shown as 'In Part' on the route registration.

I've found this tender website that lists the different lots that Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council have tendered, which appear to also include the White Bus 01 between Windsor and Ascot as being part of the process as its own lot (so could well have been retained by White Bus). The phrasing "The Authority is proposing six routes (consolidating its existing routes)" implies some current services may be merged into a single route?

The Authority is proposing six routes (consolidating its existing routes) which make up the lotting structure for this tender. They are as follows:
• Lot 1: Maidenhead to Henley & Twyford;
• Lot 2: Maidenhead Town Services;
• Lot 3: Slough to Eton Wick;
• Lot 4: Windsor to Ascot (via Sunninghill);
• Lot 5: Windsor to Maidenhead; and
• Lot 6: Windsor to Staines.

The Authority has up to £1.28 million (per annum) to supplement the services. We anticipate an effective date (i.e. contract signature and mobilisation to commence) of early January 2025 with services commencement from April 2025. The contract term is as follows: 5+3+2.

Source: https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2024/W29/826868065

 

[Non Multi]

That would sound about right, although Thames Valley's timetable says the 127 is supported by Wokingham Borough Council rather than Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead like the others.

I've found this tender website that lists the different lots that Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council have tendered, which appear to also include the White Bus 01 between Windsor and Ascot as being part of the process as its own lot (so could well have been retained by White Bus). The phrasing "The Authority is proposing six routes (consolidating its existing routes)" implies some current services may be merged into a single route?


Source: https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2024/W29/826868065

Thanks, that's very interesting information. Some route consolidation would definitely make the Maidenhead network simpler to understand, however it will be quite difficult to consolidate the rural routes. The Windsor to Staines tender is a surprise, First Berkshire's Route 8 (Slough - Windsor - Egham - Staines - Heathrow T5) already serves that bus corridor, I can only assume it's for late evening services.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Thanks, that's very interesting information. Some route consolidation would definitely make the Maidenhead network simpler to understand, however it will be quite difficult to consolidate the rural routes. The Windsor to Staines tender is a surprise, First Berkshire's Route 8 (Slough - Windsor - Egham - Staines - Heathrow T5) already serves that bus corridor, I can only assume it's for late evening services.

The only other option I could think of involves White Bus route P1 (which is another Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council contracted route, which runs between Windsor and Datchet and interworked with the W1 between Windsor and Dedworth via Clewer). If the council are tendering all their other contracted routes, including White Bus' 01 in Lot 4, could it be that the P1/W1 are also part of this tender round?

If so then as you say replicating the 8 would be pointless during the daytime. If it isn't extra evening trips, then a Windsor to Staines route could replace the P1 between Windsor and Datchet, then run on to Staines via Sunnymeads and Wraysbury (so Windsor - Datchet - Sunnymeads - Wraysbury - Staines). This would replicate the railway line and intermediate settlements between the two towns though. The Bear Buses 305 (a Surrey County Council contracted route) already links Datchet (a fairly recent diversion to the route) - Wraysbury - Staines, albeit via a different route between Datchet and Wraysbury. A single journey in connection with a school flow runs Sunnymeads - Wraysbury - Staines, however all other journeys serve Datchet but omit Sunnymeads to instead serve Horton and Wraysbury station. That said, I'm not sure how much custom a regular daytime bus through Sunnymeads would attract, as the houses are generally on the larger size with a plentiful supply of cars on their driveways.

 

[Mgameing123]

The Oxford Chiltern Bus Page reports some interesting further expansion planned for Carousel (I've reformatted for readability but thought the vast majority did merit quoting):

Frustratingly this seems to be written in a fashion suggesting details of the changes are already public, but I can't find them in any usual locations. Nonetheless, sounds like a very substantial improvement from anything Arriva's been operating for the last 10 years at the very least. And very interested to see the promised expansion into Maidenhead from April - does anyone know what route the Thames Valley 20 took?
The OCBP further includes details of the fleet expansion to facilitate this, with 15 ex-London MECs, 7 ex-NCT e200 MMCs, and 9 new e200 MMCs arriving in the summer. Certainly an excellent few years for Carousel, and not necessarily what I would have guessed five years ago.

How will ticket prices change in Maidenhead?

 

[RELL6L]

Intrigued by the talk of the service changes and looking forward to seeing the detail. It sound like the 30 will go back to every 20 minutes and the 32 to every 15 minutes - this is only what they were under Arriva prior to the last set of cuts. Arriva's problem was that they couldn't run them and they, especially the 32, bore the brunt of service cuts. I know people who use the 850 and they are all positive about the change to Carousel, far fewer cancellations and now a better service. I am surprised that they propose to increase the service as far as Henley to every 15 minutes - between Marlow and Henley there is a lot of school / college traffic but the buses are relatively quiet between the peaks. Extension of the 31 to Beaconsfield is interesting, this is not an area with many natural bus users. I wonder if it is all journeys or just hourly. At the moment the 31 interworks with the 30 but if the 30 is increased to every 20 minutes it will work with just 2 buses on its own and the 31 will have to interwork with something else if the times as far as Penn stay the same. Is some of this local authority funded from BSIP money or is it all commercial?

I can't see Carousel wanting to run the Henley town service. At present it runs three days a week between the peaks with a minibus and few passengers - I think it is a lifeline for some of those passengers but is funded by the town council.

The Maidenhead changes and especially the 127 service along the A4 is exciting. There hasn't been a service here for years and the communities along the A4 have been cut off from public transport. I don't know how many potential users there are though and end-to-end traffic will be very limited because of the train service. Interesting times ahead here. This sounds like a contraction by Thames Valley Buses - just because they lost the tenders or chose to pull back I wonder? I can't see the point in running through Wycombe-Maidenhead-Windsor though as this is just going to widen the impact of traffic delays - of which there are many.

 

[Mgameing123]

Intrigued by the talk of the service changes and looking forward to seeing the detail. It sound like the 30 will go back to every 20 minutes and the 32 to every 15 minutes - this is only what they were under Arriva prior to the last set of cuts. Arriva's problem was that they couldn't run them and they, especially the 32, bore the brunt of service cuts. I know people who use the 850 and they are all positive about the change to Carousel, far fewer cancellations and now a better service. I am surprised that they propose to increase the service as far as Henley to every 15 minutes - between Marlow and Henley there is a lot of school / college traffic but the buses are relatively quiet between the peaks. Extension of the 31 to Beaconsfield is interesting, this is not an area with many natural bus users. I wonder if it is all journeys or just hourly. At the moment the 31 interworks with the 30 but if the 30 is increased to every 20 minutes it will work with just 2 buses on its own and the 31 will have to interwork with something else if the times as far as Penn stay the same. Is some of this local authority funded from BSIP money or is it all commercial?

I can't see Carousel wanting to run the Henley town service. At present it runs three days a week between the peaks with a minibus and few passengers - I think it is a lifeline for some of those passengers but is funded by the town council.

The Maidenhead changes and especially the 127 service along the A4 is exciting. There hasn't been a service here for years and the communities along the A4 have been cut off from public transport. I don't know how many potential users there are though and end-to-end traffic will be very limited because of the train service. Interesting times ahead here. This sounds like a contraction by Thames Valley Buses - just because they lost the tenders or chose to pull back I wonder? I can't see the point in running through Wycombe-Maidenhead-Windsor though as this is just going to widen the impact of traffic delays - of which there are many.

The 16 already is prone to delays due to the interworkings with the 8 so I doubt delays would increase that badly.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Some further information has come to light about the specification of the proposed services, in this document linked to in a comment on a post about the news on the Hants & Surrey Bus Blog yesterday. I'm not technically minded enough to know how to quote the tables spread over several pages of a PDF document on this forum, so my apologies for that The document can be found at https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s62696/Appendix C - Bus Contract.pdf

Of particular interest the current White Bus 01 (Windsor to Ascot) would be extended to start at Dedworth via Clewer (presumably to replace the W1), while the proposed Windsor to Staines service to be numbered 10/10A and run as I pondered in an earlier post via Dedworth (presumably to replace the P1) and then via Sunnymeads and Wraysbury, with school day extensions to Magna Carta School similar to the current Bear Buses 305. It'll be interesting to see if these have been retained by the incumbent or an existing local operator such as First or Thames Valley, or are also gains by Carousel.

 

[Non Multi]

Some further information has come to light about the specification of the proposed services, in this document linked to in a comment on a post about the news on the Hants & Surrey Bus Blog yesterday. I'm not technically minded enough to know how to quote the tables spread over several pages of a PDF document on this forum, so my apologies for that The document can be found at https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s62696/Appendix C - Bus Contract.pdf

Appendix C – Supported bus services: indicative routes and times

Indicative routes and times for supported bus services are shown below – but note that bus operators have latitude to propose alternative solutions in their bids and all of the below is subject to negotiation during the tendering process, with the final routes, times, destinations and so forth will only be confirmed upon awarding of contract to the successful bidder.

Maidenhead to Henley and Twyford - indicative

Package summary​	Route 227: Maidenhead – Belmont – St Mark’s Hospital – Highway – Woolley Green – Littlewick Green – Knowl Hill – Kiln Green – Milley Bridge – Waltham St Lawrence – Shurlock Row – Twyford Route 227A: Maidenhead – Cox Green – St Mark’s Hospital – Highway – Woolley Green – Littlewick Green – Knowl Hill – Kiln Green – Milley Bridge – Waltham St Lawrence – Shurlock Row – Twyford Route 228: Maidenhead – Belmont – St Mark’s Hospital – Highway – Stubbings – Berkshire College of Agriculture – Hurley – Remenham Hill – Henley
Key Destinations to be connected	Maidenhead town centre and railway station Belmont Road (Maidenhead) St Mark’s Hospital Newland's Girls School Altwood and St Edmund Campion Schools (sch jnys) Cox Green School (sch jnys) Stubbings Nursery & Café Berkshire College of Agriculture – Hall Place (college jnys) Hurley village Henley-on-Thames town centre Knowl Hill (on A4) Waltham St Lawrence, village centre Shurlock Row, village centre Twyford, railway station and shops
School journeys	Berkshire College of Agriculture, to/from Maidenhead railway station Drop offs at/shortly before 8.50am Pick ups at/shortly after 4.30pm Altwood and St Edmund Campion Schools, to/from Knowl Hill, Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row Drop offs at/shortly before 8.35am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.15pm Cox Green School, to/from Knowl Hill, Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row Drop offs at/shortly before 8.25am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.10pm Newlands Girls’ School, to/from Knowl Hill, Waltham St Lawrence and Shurlock Row Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am • Pick ups at/shortly after 3.20pm
Service interval	Irregular Minimum three daily return journeys from Shurlock Row, Waltham St Lawrence and Knowl Hill to/from Maidenhead weekdays Minimum three daily return journeys from Shurlock Row, Waltham St Lawrence and Knowl Hill to/from Twyford weekdays Minimum four daily return journeys from Hurley to/from Maidenhead weekdays and Saturdays

Maidenhead town services - indicative

Package summary	Route 3: Maidenhead – Boyn Hill – St Mark’s Hospital – Altwood – Tittle Row – Cox Green, Thatched Cottage Route 3A: Maidenhead – Boyn Hill – St Mark’s Hospital – (Newlands Girls School) – Altwood – Tittle Row – Cox Green, Thatched Cottage – Cox Green, Wessex Way – Woodlands Park – White Waltham Route 4: Maidenhead – Ray Mill – Maidenhead Court
Key Destinations to be connected	3/3A: Maidenhead town centre Maidenhead railway station Boyn Hill Avenue St Mark’s Hospital Newlands Girls’ School (school journeys) Wotton Way Great Hill Crescent and Norden Farm Altwood School and St Edmund Campion School Cox Green, Farmers Way Cox Green, Wessex Way and Cox Green Road Woodlands Park, Sawyers Crescent Woodlands Park Village Centre White Waltham village 4: Maidenhead town centre Ray Mill, Ray Park Road Ray Mill, Boulter’s Lock Maidenhead Court, junction of Sheephouse Road and Maidenhead Court Park
School journeys	Altwood and St Edmund Campion Schools, to/from Maidenhead town centre and railway station Drop offs at/shortly before 8.35pm Pick ups at/after 3.15pm Altwood and St Edmund Campion Schools, to/from White Waltham, Woodlands Park and Cox Green Drop offs at/shortly before 8.35am Pick ups at/after 3.35pm Newlands Girls’ School, to/from White Waltham, Woodlands Park and Cox Green Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am Pick ups at/after 3.25pm
Service interval	3: Hourly, desirably with a clockface-based schedule, but it is recognised this may flex across the day to accommodate e.g. school journeys 3A: Variant to 3. Two inbound journeys to Maidenhead – one morning school journey and one at lunchtime. Outbound journeys to White Waltham – one lunchtime journey and one afternoon school journey 4: Hourly, desirably with a clockface-based schedule, but it is recognised this may flex across the day to accommodate e.g. school journeys

Slough to Eton Wick - indicative

Package summary	Route 15: Slough – Eton (for Windsor) – Eton Wick
Key Destinations to be connected	Slough, railway station Slough, High Street Jubilee River Eton, High Street Eton, Windsor Bridge for Windsor Eton Wick village
Service interval	Hourly or similar (current timetable would be acceptable). Clockface-based schedule desirable.

Windsor to Ascot, via Sunninghill - indicative

Package summary	Route 1: Heatherwood Hospital – Ascot – South Ascot – Sunninghill – Sunningdale – Silwood Park – Cheapside – Windsor Great Park – Bishopsgate – (The Savill Garden) – Old Windsor – King Edward VII Hospital – Windsor – (Clewer New Town) – (Clewer Green) – (Dedworth) Route 1A: Heatherwood Hospital – Ascot – South Ascot – Sunninghill – Sunningdale – Silwood Park – Cheapside – Windsor Great Park – King Edward VII Hospital – Windsor – Clewer Village – Clewer Green – Dedworth
Key Destinations to be connected	Heatherwood Hospital Ascot, High Street and railway station South Ascot, Brockenhurst Road Sunninghill, High Street Sunningdale, Rise Road Sunningdale, railway station and London Road Sunningdale, High Street Silwood Park Cheapside, Village Hall Windsor Great Park, The Village and Cumberland Lodge Windsor Great Park, The Savill Garden (Saturdays only) Old Windsor (school journeys and Saturdays only) Trevelyan School (school journeys) King Edward VII Hospital Windsor town centre Windsor Boys’ and Windsor Girls’ Schools (school jnys) Dedworth, medical centre on Vale Road Clewer Green, St Andrew’s Crescent Dedworth, Tesco • Dedworth, Wolf Lane
School journeys	Trevelyan School, to/from The Sunnings, The Great Park and Old Windsor Drop offs at/shortly before 8.20am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.15pm Windsor Girls’ School, to/from The Sunnings, The Great Park and Old Windsor Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.20pm Windsor Boys’ School, to/from The Sunnings, The Great Park and Old Windsor Drop offs at/shortly before 8.25am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.20pm
Service interval	Every 2 hours, desirably with even clockface-based schedule (case can be made for variation of individual journeys, by exception)

Windsor to Maidenhead - indicative

Package summary	Route 16: Windsor – Spital – Clewer Green – Dedworth – Oakley Green – Fifield – Bray – Maidenhead – Furze Platt – Pinkneys Green – St Mark’s Hospital – Maidenhead – Bray – Fifield – Oakley Green – Dedworth – Clewer Green – Spital – Windsor
Key Destinations to be connected	Windsor, High Street Windsor, King Edward VII Hospital Trevelyan School (on St Leonard’s Road) Windsor Girls’ School (at corner of Clewer Hill Rd/Hatch Lane) Clewer Green, Clewer Hill Road Dedworth Road and Dedworth Tesco Fifield village Windsor Road, corner of Tithe Barn Drive Holyport, Windsor Road Bray village Maidenhead, Stafferton Way retail park Maidenhead, town centre Furze Platt School Maidenhead, Cranbrook Drive Maidenhead, Halifax Road Newlands Girls School (school journeys) Maidenhead, St Mark’s Hospital
School journeys	Trevelyan School, to/from Dedworth Drop offs at/shortly before 8.20am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.15pm Windsor Girls’ School, to/from Dedworth Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.20pm Newlands Girls’ School, to/from Fifield, Bray and Maidenhead Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.20pm Furze Platt School, to/from Fifield, Bray and Maidenhead Drop offs at/shortly before 8.30am Pick ups at/shortly after 3.25pm
Service interval	Desirably a clockface-based hourly schedule. If timings prove tight, particularly on Saturdays with visitor traffic in Windsor – departures could instead be every 60-70 minutes (say) instead of clockface hourly.

Windsor to Staines - indicative

Package summary	Route 10: Staines – Hythe End – Wraysbury (Welley Road) – Sunnymeads – Datchet – Windsor – King Edward VII Hospital Route 10A: Staines – Hythe End – Wraysbury (Coppermill Road) – Horton – Datchet – Windsor – King Edward VII Hospital
Key Destinations to be connected	Windsor, King Edward VII Hospital Windsor, Springfield Road Windsor, High Street Datchet, Churchmead School (school journeys) Datchet, village centre Datchet, Montrose Avenue Horton, village centre Wraysbury, Coppermill Road Wraysbury, railway station Sunnymeads, railway station Wraysbury, Welley Road Wraysbury, village centre Hythe End, village centre Staines, bus station Egham Hythe, Magna Carter School (school journeys)
School journeys	Churchmead School, to/from Hythe End and Wraysbury (Welley Road) arrive at school at/shortly before 8.15am; pick up from school at/shortly after 3.10pm Magna Carta School, to/from Datchet, Wraysbury (Welley Road) and Hythe End arrive at school shortly before 8.45am; pick up from school at earliest opportunity after 3.30pm – recognising that the bus is unlikely to reach Magna Carta School until some time after 3.30pm if inbound from Churchmead School.
Service interval	Specified by departures per day, reasonably evenly spaced Minimum six daily departures Mon-Fri from High Street, Windsor reaching at least Datchet and Wraysbury village centres, at least three via Welley Road and at least three via Coppermill Road. Minimum six daily departures Mon-Fri from Staines Bus Station reaching at least Datchet and Wraysbury village centres, at least three via Welley Road and at least three via Coppermill Road.

 

[Ash Saini]

I can't see Carousel wanting to run the Henley town service. At present it runs three days a week between the peaks with a minibus and few passengers - I think it is a lifeline for some of those passengers but is funded by the town council.

Carousel buses won't be running that service as its a non profit service run by Kate but will be receiving funding from March for 5 days instead of 3 with a Electric Minibus