Stagecoach X5 Oxford-Cambridge

[Deerfold]

There still is I think (via Cranfield). You can also travel by train via Bletchley though connections are typically quite poor.

That's an even slower route which primarily serves the University at Cranfield (which I'd forgotten about). That's improved from less than hourly to twice an hour in term times, but takes around 90 minutes.

When the X5 started it replaced the X4 which took about 45 minutes between Bedford and Milton Keynes bus station via Bromham - I've checked an old timetable and seen it was only hourly around the peaks, with 2 hour gaps in the middle of the day.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The X5 doesn't use the roadside stops, but a set parallel to them closer into the bus station.

Those are the ones I was on about; the run through ones, rather than the ones on the roundabout. Poor phrasing from me!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cambridge end is almost certainly capacity related for the shift to double deckers. Pre-Covid, peak Coaches would routinely be full, before considering adding on demand for North Cambridge too.

I believe they were, at the time of replacing the coaches last, considering double-decker coaches.

 

[overthewater]

Could some of the old Oxford Tube stock end up on this revised route?

 

[markymark2000]

Could some of the old Oxford Tube stock end up on this revised route?

New X5, unlikely.
Cambridge to Bedford - Would be nice to see the Astromegas out but not sure if they will want to do that if they are making it more of a stopping route. Coaches are only good when the majority of people travel longer distance and have luggage. The 905 seems to be going down the more local travel route and therefore double deckers might be more suited. Gold spec deckers (so USB and Wifi and decent seats) would be best but not sure if any are available.

 

[Mwanesh]

Connections are guaranteed and there is through ticketing. Makes no difference. Cambridge to London by train is easy then the changes and inconvinience i still think the bus is better.

 

[Ianno87]

Connections are guaranteed and there is through ticketing. Makes no difference. Cambridge to London by train is easy then the changes and inconvinience i still think the bus is better.

If anything, the enforced change and leg stretch makes me more likely to consider the 905/X5 combo compared to train via London.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If anything, the enforced change and leg stretch makes me more likely to consider the 905/X5 combo compared to train via London.

If you're doing a long trip the fare tends to max out at the Dayrider Gold price, so assuming it has done you can always drop back a coach anyway. Though on the old timetable they sat at Bedford for 20 minutes so plenty of time for a wander round.

Particularly now I've had a second DVT no way would I be doing end to end in one go without a wander!

To be fair if I'm going Cambridgewards I tend to take the Marston Vale to Bedford and then pick up the coach anyway. It also gives you a later arrival back if you're going to Bletchley, as the evening service is only towards Bedford as it's just the coaches going "home for the night".

 

[al_557]

The 905 will be run with Enviro 400 MMC's. Bedford already has 11279/80. 10874-81 are transferring in from Peterborough to join them. 10879 entered service in Bedford today

 

[overthewater]

Will at least its newer stock. What has replaced the deckers at Peterborough?

 

[al_557]

Will at least its newer stock. What has replaced the deckers at Peterborough?

Enviro 400's 19698/700-06 from Bedford

 

[overthewater]

Cheers for that. What has replaced those deckers at Bedford?

 

[markymark2000]

The 905 will be run with Enviro 400 MMC's. Bedford already has 11279/80. 10874-81 are transferring in from Peterborough to join them. 10879 entered service in Bedford today

Oh great, nice slow E400MMCs. That will throw the journey time up by 10% eventually. Take about 2 minutes to set off on a roundabout them things.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would agree this should really be Gold spec otherwise that's one almighty downgrade.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Oh great, nice slow E400MMCs. That will throw the journey time up by 10% eventually. Take about 2 minutes to set off on a roundabout them things.

Surely they can remap the gearboxes?

I would agree this should really be Gold spec otherwise that's one almighty downgrade.

They're the garish irn-bru coach seated versions so comfort-wise, it's not so bad (though oppressive on the eyes). Think they have USBs as well?

 

[Megafuss]

National Express appear to be running 4 coaches a day between Cambridge and Oxford next week. So, those looking for a direct run are not entirely out of luck.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2020 ==

Looking at the timetable I'd love to know how they are going to get the 905 to travel between Science Park entrance and CRC in TWO minutes. I think it's one roundabout at the entrance and at least 4 sets of lights

 

[choochootrain]

I believe they were, at the time of replacing the coaches last, considering double-decker coaches.

Could some of the old Oxford Tube stock end up on this revised route?

I don't think you can use double deckers on the X5, simply due to the disused railway bridge between Bicester and Finmere.

 

[mwmbwls]

Would these be the bridges that straddle the entrance to the former Finmere Station. Is the preservation group still active there? The two bridges are destined to be demolished as part of HS2 phase 1 works - Will the replacement HS2 bridge be engineered for double deckers?

 

[RELL6L]

Would these be the bridges that straddle the entrance to the former Finmere Station. Is the preservation group still active there? The two bridges are destined to be demolished as part of HS2 phase 1 works - Will the replacement HS2 bridge be engineered for double deckers?

You can use double deckers on the X5. The very first day it was re-extended to Oxford, sometime during June, was a Sunday and they ran deckers all the way through to Oxford. The next day was when the Park and Ride green Volvos appeared. There were several pictures on the Oxford Chiltern Bus Page and the roofs were all intact!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

You can use double deckers on the X5. The very first day it was re-extended to Oxford, sometime during June, was a Sunday and they ran deckers all the way through to Oxford. The next day was when the Park and Ride green Volvos appeared. There were several pictures on the Oxford Chiltern Bus Page and the roofs were all intact!

Indeed, said bridge is 15'3.

In fact, before the 58 plate coaches arrived, they trialled on Olympian that had been reseated and reliveried for use of the X5, even gaining a modified livery.

I'd suggest that the Eastern half of the X5 is busier anyway. West of MK, you have Arriva on the MK to Bucks section and a frequent Gold S5 service from Bicester to Oxford so that explains that (at least in part).

 

[Ianno87]

Indeed, said bridge is 15'3.

In fact, before the 58 plate coaches arrived, they trialled on Olympian that had been reseated and reliveried for use of the X5, even gaining a modified livery.

I'd suggest that the Eastern half of the X5 is busier anyway. West of MK, you have Arriva on the MK to Bucks section and a frequent Gold S5 service from Bicester to Oxford so that explains that (at least in part).

Plus nowadays a decent train service between Bicester and Oxford.

 

[Mwanesh]

National Express appear to be running 4 coaches a day between Cambridge and Oxford next week. So, those looking for a direct run are not entirely out of luck.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2020 ==

Looking at the timetable I'd love to know how they are going to get the 905 to travel between Science Park entrance and CRC in TWO minutes. I think it's one roundabout at the entrance and at least 4 sets of lights

National Express 737 check the route it takes. It goes all over the place.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't think you can use double deckers on the X5, simply due to the disused railway bridge between Bicester and Finmere.

The bridge appears to be 15' 3" and I've known an Alexander bodied Volvo appear on the X5 once or twice years ago, which are according to Google 13' 9". Don't know about modern ones, though.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The bridge appears to be 15' 3" and I've known an Alexander bodied Volvo appear on the X5 once or twice years ago, which are according to Google 13' 9". Don't know about modern ones, though.

See #80

 

[Andy Pacer]

I'd suggest that the Eastern half of the X5 is busier anyway. West of MK, you have Arriva on the MK to Bucks section and a frequent Gold S5 service from Bicester to Oxford so that explains that (at least in part).

Would make sense, Arriva increased the frequency of the X60 between Milton Keynes and Buckingham (and of course onto Aylesbury) last year which would back up this theory.

 

[Ianno87]

Also in this weekend's changes are an extension of the X3 Go Whippet service to operate Cambridge-Corby (with one Saturday return journey to/from Kettering):

https://twitter.com/GoWhippet/status/1298679529293189120?s=20

This morning, we were delighted to launch our improved routes X2 and X3 which start Monday alongside
@StagecoachEast
's new route 905.
@MayorJPalmer
,
@ShrobonaB
and
@CllrLinaNieto
joined us in Cambourne for the launch. Download the new times here: https://bit.ly/3jknCMG

 

[CBlue]

National Express appear to be running 4 coaches a day between Cambridge and Oxford next week. So, those looking for a direct run are not entirely out of luck.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Aug 2020 ==

Looking at the timetable I'd love to know how they are going to get the 905 to travel between Science Park entrance and CRC in TWO minutes. I think it's one roundabout at the entrance and at least 4 sets of lights

Can't day-trip it to Oxford on the 737 like you can on the X5, unless you fancy no more than an hour and 45 minutes in Oxford!

As for the Science Park entrance to CRC timings, there used to be a bus gate linking the two that went into CRC's site itself, fairly sure that is still present and functional.

The stupidest bit of timetabling is giving ten minutes between the centre and science park, which in pre-Covid traffic levels could take up to three times that!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Can't day-trip it to Oxford on the 737 like you can on the X5, unless you fancy no more than an hour and 45 minutes in Oxford!

With an end to end running time of 3 hours and 40 minutes (some trips as long as 3h51), how many people are actually going to day-trip that? It probably sits somewhat lower than people who would day-trip Edinburgh to London by train.

Very few people do the whole run, in any case, which is why this split probably isn't going to cause all that much of an issue. The biggest turnover seems to be Bedford, but there's a not insignificant one over the three MK stops, too.

 

[Ianno87]

The stupidest bit of timetabling is giving ten minutes between the centre and science park, which in pre-Covid traffic levels could take up to three times that!

Although this is a timetable for now whilst road traffic is still low - it may get changed as and when 'normal' road traffic levels return (which I really hope they don't...). Presumably peak journeys may need to depart Bedford earlier and/or the layover time in Cambridge will get eaten into.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Although this is a timetable for now whilst road traffic is still low - it may get changed as and when 'normal' road traffic levels return (which I really hope they don't...). Presumably peak journeys may need to depart Bedford earlier and/or the layover time in Cambridge will get eaten into.

Have normal road traffic levels not returned in Cambridge? They have in MK, though that's also because people are driving instead of going by bus, not because the commuters are back (they aren't).