Paper Bus Timetables - are they Back in Your Area?

[overthewater]

Stirling Bus Station had none. Only a QR codes. I guess the McGills timetables are on the buses.

Did you only look at the timetable racks? They do have timetables but are behide the glass.

 

[route101]

Did you only look at the timetable racks? They do have timetables but are behide the glass.

Yes, though the bus station was unstaffed. This was a Saturday. Not a fan of keeping timetables behind a counter.

 

[Megafuss]

Yes, though the bus station was unstaffed. This was a Saturday. Not a fan of keeping timetables behind a counter.

You'd think timetable leaflets were sacred texts the way some local authorities and bus operators behave.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

If it hasn't been mentioned...

There are no paper copies of the First Worcester services the timetable holders at Worcester bus station are empty. I think its the same for LMS Travel? who also serve Worcester as I haven't seen anything from them.

On the other hand Stagecoach (Gloucester / Cheltenham) do have printed copies for the Tewksbury services, Stroud services and the Cheltenham services but nothing for the Coleford services. Even the travel shop at Gloucester seems to open sporadically. While I was in Tewksbury I did request a Astons of Kempsey service 540 timetable (Tewksbury to Evesham) from the tourist information centre and what I got was a Traveline South West printout which is better than nothing.

In Bristol only the First Bristol map was available from the "travel hub", timetables were printouts from the First West of England website, however in Bath there is nothing - no map or timetables available on request, just the usual fob of "its all online" - what use is that, even my niece uses printed information and she's a teenager.

Faresaver has printed copies for some of their services, these are also available from the Chippenham town hall information point.

 

[Parebunks]

If it hasn't been mentioned...

There are no paper copies of the First Worcester services the timetable holders at Worcester bus station are empty. I think its the same for LMS Travel? who also serve Worcester as I haven't seen anything from them.

On the other hand Stagecoach (Gloucester / Cheltenham) do have printed copies for the Tewksbury services, Stroud services and the Cheltenham services but nothing for the Coleford services. Even the travel shop at Gloucester seems to open sporadically. While I was in Tewksbury I did request a Astons of Kempsey service 540 timetable (Tewksbury to Evesham) from the tourist information centre and what I got was a Traveline South West printout which is better than nothing.

In Bristol only the First Bristol map was available from the "travel hub", timetables were printouts from the First West of England website, however in Bath there is nothing - no map or timetables available on request, just the usual fob of "its all online" - what use is that, even my niece uses printed information and she's a teenager.

Faresaver has printed copies for some of their services, these are also available from the Chippenham town hall information point.

There is actually one for the Coleford routes, try asking behind the window at Gloucester bus station!

 

[GCH100]

You'd think timetable leaflets were sacred texts the way some local authorities and bus operators behave.

While I agree with you, you've got to see it from the eyes of the Councils and Operators, they are often especially in the case of Councils under extreme budgetary pressures, and they need to avoid wastage and reduce costs, all really dictated by Central Government, by displaying these openly on racks in a bus station or office might lead to waste with youths and other groups taking them and simply throwing them away, some Councils and Operators may have no Printing Budget for Timetables as they have cut back to the bone. I would prefer though to have leaflet racks but I can see the reasons why Councils and Bus Operators don't though.

 

[Deerfold]

While I agree with you, you've got to see it from the eyes of the Councils and Operators, they are often especially in the case of Councils under extreme budgetary pressures, and they need to avoid wastage and reduce costs, all really dictated by Central Government, by displaying these openly on racks in a bus station or office might lead to waste with youths and other groups taking them and simply throwing them away, some Councils and Operators may have no Printing Budget for Timetables as they have cut back to the bone. I would prefer though to have leaflet racks but I can see the reasons why Councils and Bus Operators don't though.

It's not so bad if there's a notice telling people they're available.

 

[GCH100]

It's not so bad if there's a notice telling people they're available.

Yes quite right, perhaps though the best system for operators and councils to adopt though it would cost far more, is to post timetable books for all services in a given area through letterboxes in a given area, then there in effect wouldn't be any need for travel offices give or take a few examples needed for tourists and such like and these could be left in hotels and tourist offices, though its expensive, but would possibly increase ridership levels.

 

[Deerfold]

Yes quite right, perhaps though the best system for operators and councils to adopt though it would cost far more, is to post timetable books for all services in a given area through letterboxes in a given area, then there in effect wouldn't be any need for travel offices give or take a few examples needed for tourists and such like and these could be left in hotels and tourist offices, though its expensive, but would possibly increase ridership levels.

Keighley seem to manage to put timetables out in racks in the bus station and it's not the calmest of areas. Most bus stations in West Yorkshire no longer have any unless they've some Transdev ones.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

There is actually one for the Coleford routes, try asking behind the window at Gloucester bus station!

It was closed when I was there and this was on a Saturday, even kindly asking a member of staff for a copy and was told that they hadn't got the key for the travel shop.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2023 ==

Keighley seem to manage to put timetables out in racks in the bus station and it's not the calmest of areas. Most bus stations in West Yorkshire no longer have any unless they've some Transdev ones.

Even then its few and far between if they have a copy of your required timetable, lets say you are looking for a copy of the 12 (Middleton to Roundhay) you won't find it in the racks at Leeds bus station as Metro haven't printed any but they have for the 2 (White Rose to Roundhay) which in effect you have half a timetable as you wouldn't have the times for one half of what is an interworked service.

In Huddersfield you have to ask for the ones you want unless they are in the racks. Some of the new (from 3rd September) timetables are simply printouts from the First website as a copy of the 184 (Huddersfield to Oldham) that I requested was as such.

I was in Selby the other week and a notice on the "Control Hub" door stated that Arriva no longer do printed timetables. I thought why not just ask West Yorkshire Combined Authority to print an Arriva Selby bus guide in the same generic fashion as the current batch of West Yorkshire timetables it'd be better than nothing either that or lump it in with the 164 (Leeds to Selby) or 476 (Pontefract to Selby) timetable.

 

[Halwynd]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned - there have been no printed timetables at Wigan Bus Station for a while, but I would have thought with the launch of the Bee Network last week TfGM would have wanted to make a real effort to attract new business.

But no... printed timetable racks still absent, no launch or promotional material at the Bus Station... absolutely nothing. Why would you not want to use your 'shop window' to promote something as significant as this?

I went to the Travelshop window and was given the timetable I wanted by an unwelcoming employee. I asked about new Bee Network weekly tickets but he clearly wasn't interested in being helpful.

A pity really because otherwise the first week of my Bee Network bus service has been quite positive.

 

[overthewater]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned - there have been no printed timetables at Wigan Bus Station for a while, but I would have thought with the launch of the Bee Network last week TfGM would have wanted to make a real effort to attract new business.

But no... printed timetable racks still absent, no launch or promotional material at the Bus Station... absolutely nothing. Why would you not want to use your 'shop window' to promote something as significant as this?

I went to the Travelshop window and was given the timetable I wanted by an unwelcoming employee. I asked about new Bee Network weekly tickets but he clearly wasn't interested in being helpful.

A pity really because otherwise the first week of my Bee Network bus service has been quite positive.

I have had the displeasure of that as well. The only way I managed to get that sorted was to complain to a higher authority. I would suggest you do this.

In other news it seems Stagecoach Bluebird timetables are still not out, however they managed to print Moray but not Aberdeenshire.

 

[Halwynd]

I have had the displeasure of that aswell, the only way I managed to get that sorted was to complain to higher authority. I would suggest you do this.

I sent some feedback about the lack of paper timetables using an online form and received an automated reply with a case number saying they aim to get back to me within 5 days. That was a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully they'll respond or, better still, re-instate the timetable racks at Wigan. The timetables are still printed, they just don't seem to want to give them to passengers!

Edit: probably a coincidence, but an hour after I typed the above I received a nice email from TfGM offering to put the timetable I wanted in the post for me. I thanked them but mentioned that it would be great if they could re-instate the timetable racks, not just for my convenience, but in order to promote their tickets and services. Fingers crossed.

 

[route101]

Do you count A4 print outs as paper timetables? I would but not as special as a colour timetable with maps etc.

 

[Andyh82]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned - there have been no printed timetables at Wigan Bus Station for a while, but I would have thought with the launch of the Bee Network last week TfGM would have wanted to make a real effort to attract new business.

But no... printed timetable racks still absent, no launch or promotional material at the Bus Station... absolutely nothing. Why would you not want to use your 'shop window' to promote something as significant as this?

I went to the Travelshop window and was given the timetable I wanted by an unwelcoming employee. I asked about new Bee Network weekly tickets but he clearly wasn't interested in being helpful.

A pity really because otherwise the first week of my Bee Network bus service has been quite positive.

It’s very inconsistent in Greater Manchester

Wigan has no timetables on show, neither does Ashton, Altrincham or Oldham

But Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Shudehill, Stockport, Leigh, Middleton all have timetable leaflets freely available

I wonder if vandalism might be a reason in Wigan, as it doesn’t have an actual travel shop, just enquiry windows, the racks were out on the concourse accessible out of hours. Although having said that it’s exactly the same set up in Bolton

 

[GCH100]

It’s very inconsistent in Greater Manchester

Wigan has no timetables on show, neither does Ashton, Altrincham or Oldham

But Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Shudehill, Stockport, Leigh, Middleton all have timetable leaflets freely available

I wonder if vandalism might be a reason in Wigan, as it doesn’t have an actual travel shop, just enquiry windows, the racks were out on the concourse accessible out of hours. Although having said that it’s exactly the same set up in Bolton

The problem with Wigan might be that the timetables are closer to the departure bays and other external features, so maybe the Paper becoming damp could have been an issue. The situation with Oldham, and I think possibly Ashton as well, is that they were placed in a trial area where no timetables were to be produced in order to see if passengers could manage without printed timetables, e.g. as Merseytravel has done the same in all their areas. Much of the phasing out of timetables is to do with Austerity cuts on Councils and cuts to services by Bus operators, and running on a fine margin with no money for printing timetables and the need to cut down on wastage as much as anything else.

However, in the TfGM area other bus stations sometimes carry timetables for other areas in the timetable racks e.g. I've picked up 635 timetables in Leigh in the past and I've picked up V1 & V2 timetables in Bolton, but its not always the case. Another loss is the closure of the travel office at Piccadilly Bus Station which had a lot of timetables and was located close to a lot of services.

Other recent places to stop supplying bus timetables are Wigan Council Libraries in Atherton, Leigh and Wigan; they used to carry large stocks. Another loss some time ago was Atherton Railway Station which carried supplies of all sorts of maps and timetables, including ones for West Yorkshire, Warrington etc. Tesco in Leigh sometimes has the odd timetable in racking at the front of the store.

Another timetable loss was the colour Vantage timetable that FirstGroup published on its own that could be taken from Vantage vehicles and Leigh Bus Station (sometimes), and stopped being produced at the pandemic. I was told TfGM didn't like FirstGroup printing this, so maybe that was a reason for its demise.

 

[route101]

McGills are set publish timetables for the X36/X37 services.

 

[overthewater]

McGills are set publish timetables for the X36/X37 services.

You mean City Swift? They were printed 5 weeks ago. The only timetable not printed in Midland bluebird area is No38 and X38.

 

[duncombec]

It won't surprise anyone to note that Transdev continue to print their leaflets - various examples available today in Rawtenstall and Burnley bus stations (indeed, both 'outside', meaning freely accessible even when the information "office" is closed. Relevant ones in the Lancashire office at Nelson, too. Also available on many buses. Of note since I was last in the area (some years before Covid), the Burnley local services are now contained in one large fold-out, rather than individual leaflets.

Burnley Bus Station also had the relevant Lancashire County Council green leaflets, whilst Nelson Interchange managed a few scraps.

The 'success' was not repeated east of the Pennines. I was too late for the Todmorden Tourist Info Centre (I arrived at 3:15, it shuts at 3) to find if there was anything there, and the 'travel centre' at the new Halifax Bus Station is just an enquiry window. Oddly, Team Pennine didn't seem to have anything on buses here unlike the Lancashire operations (or if they did, they weren't easily visible from the roadside).

 

[route101]

You mean City Swift? They were printed 5 weeks ago. The only timetable not printed in Midland bluebird area is No38 and X38.

Are they on the buses?

 

[overthewater]

Are they on the buses?

They have been. There should be some at the Stirling bus stances as well.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

It won't surprise anyone to note that Transdev continue to print their leaflets - various examples available today in Rawtenstall and Burnley bus stations (indeed, both 'outside', meaning freely accessible even when the information "office" is closed. Relevant ones in the Lancashire office at Nelson, too. Also available on many buses. Of note since I was last in the area (some years before Covid), the Burnley local services are now contained in one large fold-out, rather than individual leaflets.

Burnley Bus Station also had the relevant Lancashire County Council green leaflets, whilst Nelson Interchange managed a few scraps.

The 'success' was not repeated east of the Pennines. I was too late for the Todmorden Tourist Info Centre (I arrived at 3:15, it shuts at 3) to find if there was anything there, and the 'travel centre' at the new Halifax Bus Station is just an enquiry window. Oddly, Team Pennine didn't seem to have anything on buses here unlike the Lancashire operations (or if they did, they weren't easily visible from the roadside).

If your lucky you may be able to source some Team Pennine timetables from the Travel Centre at Huddersfield bus station. Halifax may have some of the Team Pennine timetable guides for the 561/562/577 Ripponden & Boulderclough circulars (they did in the temporary bus station) but its worth asking.

Interestingly the location of the travel centre at the new Halifax bus station is on the site of what was stand B1.

 

[Deerfold]

If your lucky you may be able to source some Team Pennine timetables from the Travel Centre at Huddersfield bus station. Halifax may have some of the Team Pennine timetable guides for the 561/562/577 Ripponden & Boulderclough circulars (they did in the temporary bus station) but its worth asking.

Interestingly the location of the travel centre at the new Halifax bus station is on the site of what was stand B1.

It might make sense for them to carry them on the buses, especially with the routes not using the bus station during the day. I catch the 561/2 reasonably regularly and haven't seen a printed timetable since pre-pandemic.

 

[Halwynd]

It’s very inconsistent in Greater Manchester

Wigan has no timetables on show, neither does Ashton, Altrincham or Oldham

But Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Shudehill, Stockport, Leigh, Middleton all have timetable leaflets freely available

I wonder if vandalism might be a reason in Wigan, as it doesn’t have an actual travel shop, just enquiry windows, the racks were out on the concourse accessible out of hours. Although having said that it’s exactly the same set up in Bolton

My gut feeling was, seemingly like everything these days, they were trying to cut costs. I don't think it's weather related as the timetable area was set well back from the open air.

But you make a good point that I hadn't considered.... apparently, later in the evening, it becomes a focal point for young tearaways who seem to enjoy causing all sorts of havoc these days, and it's easy to imagine them turning their attention to the timetables.

Next time I see a member of staff I'll ask and see if they know the reason.

 

[route101]

Was surprised to see Border Buses timetables for X62 and X95 at Edinburgh Bus Station. First timetables I've seen at the bus station for years, I guess the citylink ones are kept behind the counter now.

Heathrow T5, no timetables here, National Express still has old racking for timetables.

Picked up Rail Air timetable in Reading Station, no Reading Buses timetables as Info box closed.

Hampshire Bus Map and Basingstoke timetable was available at Basingstoke Station.

 

[Andyh82]

My gut feeling was, seemingly like everything these days, they were trying to cut costs. I don't think it's weather related as the timetable area was set well back from the open air.

But you make a good point that I hadn't considered.... apparently, later in the evening, it becomes a focal point for young tearaways who seem to enjoy causing all sorts of havoc these days, and it's easy to imagine them turning their attention to the timetables.

Next time I see a member of staff I'll ask and see if they know the reason.

When I visited Wigan last week it seemed to be a magnet for teenagers even during daylight hours, riding bikes through the station, groups swaggering up and down etc.

Slightly off topic but there seems to have been a shift in Manchester, and it’s being adopted in West Yorks as well, to make travel centres an enquiry window straight onto the concourse, rather than a window inside an actual shop. All the latest bus stations are like that. This has the benefit that timetables, if there are any, are available outside working hours, but has the negative that they can’t be locked away out of hours. If the staff were in a shop they wouldn’t need to be behind glass either which I’m not entirely sure is necessary.

Wigan Bee Network timetables were unusually available at the railway station, so that is a positive. Non Bee Network ones such as those for Arriva services that cross into Merseyside and Lancs were not available there though.

 

[Halwynd]

When I visited Wigan last week it seemed to be a magnet for teenagers even during daylight hours, riding bikes through the station, groups swaggering up and down etc.

Slightly off topic but there seems to have been a shift in Manchester, and it’s being adopted in West Yorks as well, to make travel centres an enquiry window straight onto the concourse, rather than a window inside an actual shop. All the latest bus stations are like that. This has the benefit that timetables, if there are any, are available outside working hours, but has the negative that they can’t be locked away out of hours. If the staff were in a shop they wouldn’t need to be behind glass either which I’m not entirely sure is necessary.

Wigan Bee Network timetables were unusually available at the railway station, so that is a positive. Non Bee Network ones such as those for Arriva services that cross into Merseyside and Lancs were not available there though.

Yes, it does seem to be plagued with them, not helped by the relatively confined space of the new bus station waiting area. I've seen worse, but it isn't a great experience.

Thanks also for the tip-off about timetables at the railway station, I shall have a look next week!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Impressed by this booklet from Stagecoach West for Stroud area

 

[Halwynd]

Just a quick update to the previous comments about the lack of timetable racks at Wigan Bus Station...

I received a reply from Bee Network the other day which confirmed that they had indeed been removed because of anti-social behaviour as @Andyh82 suggested... and sadly the email was clear that they aren't coming back.

They did however say that they should be available on request from the ticket kiosk when it is open.

At least they took the time to look into it and send a nice reply.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Stagecoach Midlands have recently produced a booklet for the revised Daventry Area Timetables as of Oct 30th. It seems some were even distributed via Maildrops through peoples letterboxes. My Sister (who rarely travels by bus) recieved one but I didn't!
Have yet to see any on bus