Trivia: Towns/Cities with completely separate routes of the same number

[LUYMun]

Until the spiralling downfall from earlier this year, Fleet Hampshire had two different route 7s, the Stagecoach route between Elvetham Heath and Aldershot, and the Reading Buses' route between Fleet and Reading. This only came out after Stagecoach cut their route in half in April 2018. I believe one was able to purchase a through ticket on either buses to travel, though I must suspect this has been abandoned since Reading Buses withdrew their 7 over various factors.

 

[ElBoiii]

Sheffield used to have two 53 services: one from Ecclesfield to Lowedges and Bradway and another from the city centre to Mansfield. In late 2015 the "Ecclesfield 53" was split so that the north section was covered by the 7, 8 and 8a running from Ecclesfield to Crystal Peaks and the south section was covered by the 24 and 25 running from Handsworth to Lowedges and Bradway.

The "Mansfield 53" remains unchanged and to this day the bus map key still contains "53 (Mansfield)" as the latter one is classed as a low-frequency service, shown with two grey lines.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

Stagecoach West Cumbria has an odd one in that the number 30 bus is assigned to both the Thornhill to Maryport route and the Frizington to Maryport service.

 

[bussnapperwm]

This is the reason for the debate and seeming contradiction upthread.

I can get eight routes that could be counted as 10 (Woodgate Valley North and Brownhills West being the easiest; 10S Ridgacre - Selly Oak; 10A & 10C - Oldswinford circulars - same route different directions; 10, 10A, 10B - Perton with the suffixes indicating extensions). Only three are called route 10. Whether you count the others as different or route '10' is not down to me.

I would also add that the thread description is towns/ cities. There is no way that Birmingham, Stourbridge, Walsall, Wolverhampton are part of the same city!

Unless you are from Birmingham or subscribe to the "Greater Birmingham" school of thought

 

[High Dyke]

Grantham:

Centrebus: Service 1. Bus Station - Earlsfield Estate
Centrebus: Service 1/1A/1B. Bus Station - Harrowby Estate/Alma Park
Essentially a cross-town route, but no through journeys shown on the timetables.

Stagecoach Lincolnshire: Service 1. Lincoln - Grantham
This service has changed over the years, from being split between both Lincoln and Grantham depot, then solely operated by Grantham and now, with the closure of Grantham depot, all journeys commence from the Lincoln end.

 

[danm14]

Belfast, Northern Ireland:

Translink Ulsterbus 2a (Belfast-Bangor), Translink Metro 2a (Belfast-Fairview Road)
Translink Ulsterbus 7a (Belfast-Newtownards), Translink Metro 7a (Belfast-Four Winds)
Translink Ulsterbus 9b (Belfast-Newownards), Translink Metro 9b (Belfast-Taughmonagh)
Translink Ulsterbus 10b (Belfast-Portavogie), Translink Metro 10b (Belfast-Hannahstown)
Translink Ulsterbus 13 (Belfast-Drumbo), Translink Metro 13 (Belfast-Newtownabbey)
Translink Ulsterbus 13b (Belfast-Drumbo), Translink Metro 13b (Belfast-Newtownabbey)

Dundalk, Republic of Ireland:

Bus Eireann 70 (Dundalk-Athlone), Halpenny Travel 70 (Dundalk-Newry) - although Halpenny Travel's Route 70 is Mon-Sat only, and Bus Eireann's Route 70 only serves Dundalk on Sundays

 

[Simon75]

In Cheshire you have 2 38
Arriva 38 Macclesfield to Crewe
D&G 38 Macclesfield to Crewe. Both operate the same route

 

[NorthOxonian]

Stagecoach West Cumbria has an odd one in that the number 30 bus is assigned to both the Thornhill to Maryport route and the Frizington to Maryport service.

The two do have a very long (and busy) common section from Maryport to Whitehaven, but you'd think they'd renumber one of the routes to 30A or something like that!

 

[Ste37]

Leigh has two 34s - Stagecoach has 34 Manchester to Leigh/Bryn and Arriva has 34 Leigh to St Helens.

 

[Redmike]

The two do have a very long (and busy) common section from Maryport to Whitehaven, but you'd think they'd renumber one of the routes to 30A or something like that!

They were the 30 and 31 until a few years ago. A strange decision.

 

[DunsBus]

Edinburgh has had quite a few duplicates over the years. A few which come immediately to mind:

64/X64
LRT - St Andrew Square to Bathgate & Armadale
SMT - Haymarket to Penicuik

86
LRT - Clermiston to Tranent
SMT - Clerwood to Mayfield & Birkenside

104
LRT - weekend night bus service to Musselburgh & Prestonpans
Lowland - Edinburgh to Berwick

106
LRT - weekend night bus service to Penicuik
SMT/Lowland - Haymarket to Haddington & Dunbar

201
LRT - weekday night bus service to Heriot-Watt & Balerno
Taxibus - Edinburgh to Berwick

 

[317 forever]

Leigh has two 34s - Stagecoach has 34 Manchester to Leigh/Bryn and Arriva has 34 Leigh to St Helens.

I think there used to be a long route 34, of which both of these are successors.

Arriva have 2 route 61s in Liverpool: Bootle to Aigburth Vale and Liverpool to Halton Hospital, the latter adopted when Halton Transport collapsed. They even intersect at Queen's Drive, Wavertree.

 

[Bus Lightyear]

In Glasgow there's First 38 and McGill's 38.

There used to be many examples of duplication in Glasgow back in the days of Strathclyde's Buses, Clydeside, Central and Kelvin.

 

[markymark2000]

In Glasgow there's First 38 and McGill's 38.

There used to be many examples of duplication in Glasgow back in the days of Strathclyde's Buses, Clydeside, Central and Kelvin.

A few instances in Glasgow.
First and McGills run route 3. Mutual sections but generally quite different routes
First and Stagecoach run route 4. Mutual sections but Stagecoach run to Ayr, First don't.
McGills and Stagecoach run an X36 from Buchannan Street. Run completely different directions

 

[Bus Lightyear]

10 years on and I keep forgetting that the First 23 is now the 3 and 44 is 4

 

[Ken H]

How did we cope in Leeds in the 60's?
30. Bus station - ireland Wood
30 Leeds - Bradford via Greengates

31 Brackewood - New Farnley
31 Leeds - Keighley

34 Central Bus Stn - Alwoodley
34 Leeds - Ilkley

36 Central Bus Station - Tinshill
36 Leeds -Harrogate - Ripon

38 Moortown - Whitkirk
38 Leeds - Red Hall Ln

43 Central Bus Stn - Shadwell
43 Leeds - Scarborough

44 Stanningley - Halton Moor
44 Leeds - Bridlington


I actually managed to get buses and never ended up at Ilkley rather than Alwoodley.

 

[pinkmarie80]

One that springs to mind is Newcastle-
Go Ahead North East 1- Whitley Bay to Gateshead
Stagecoach North East 1- Slatyford to Four Lane Ends

 

[WibbleWobble]

I think there used to be a long route 34, of which both of these are successors.

Correct, formerly Manchester - Liverpool. Although the route taken by the Leigh - Manchester 34 has changed in recent years to take the slower route via Worsley and Salford Royal Hospital.

 

[Class142sbad]

There are also other route duplicates in Newcastle. Like the previously mentioned route 1 ran by stagecoach (Slatyford - Coach lane Campus Via City Centre) and the 1 run by Go North East (Gateshead - Whitley Bay Via Wallsend). You Also have other routes that are duplicates. Here they are:

6 (Stagecoach NE) Freeman Hospital - Metrocentre Via Newbiggin Hall
6 (Go North East) Newcastle - Lanchester via Metrocentre
(Share same interchange at Metrocentre)

10 (Stagecoach NE) West Denton Park - North Kenton Via City Centre
10 (Go North East) Hexham - Newcastle Via Metrocentre

12 (Stagecoach NE) Wallsend/Walker - Two Ball Lonnen Via City Centre
12 (Go North East) Winlaton - Newcastle Via Scotswood Road

47 (Arriva NE) Haymarket Bus Station - Newcastle CAV
47 (Go North East) Consett - Newcastle

54 (Arriva NE) Newcastle - Whitley Bay Via Killingworth
54 (Go North East) Market Street (City Centre) - Saltwell Park Via Gateshead

21 (Go North East) Newcastle - Brandon Via Durham
X21 (Arriva NE) Newcastle - Ashington Via Bedlington
X21 (Go North East) Newcastle - Bishop Auckland Via Durham

Duplicates that have X in them or A, B or whatever bus companies put on these days.

X1 (Go North East) Newcastle - Peterlee Via Washington
X1A (Go North East) Newcastle - Washington (Peak Time)
The other Previously Mentioned Route 1's

X10 (Go North East) Newcastle - Middlesbourgh Via A19
10A (Go North East) Newcastle - Blackhall Mill Via Metrocentre
10B (Go North East) Newcastle - Prudhoe Via Metrocentre
The other previously mentioned route 10's

30 (Stagecoach NE) Slatyford - Fawdon Via City Centre
X30 (Go North East) Newcastle - Stanley Via Dunston

31 (Stagecoach NE) Wickham View - Kenton Via City Centre
X31 (Go North East) Stanley - Newcastle Via Dunston

39 (Stagecoach NE) Dumpling Hall - Walker Via City Centre
X39 (Go North East) Newcastle - Cobalt Via Coast Road (Peak time Express)

45 (Arriva NE) Newcastle - Dinnington Via Gosforth
X45 (Go North East) Newcastle - Consett Via Metrocentre

X47 (Stagecoach NE) City Centre - Kingston Park Via Cowgate

71 (Stagecoach NE) City Centre - Chapel Park Via Westerhope
X71 (Go North East) Newcastle - Consett Via Lobley Hill

72 (Stagecoach NE) City Centre - Chapel House Via Westerhope
X72 (Go North East) Newcastle - Consett Via Gateshead

So there are: (Including X, A, B)
4 Route 1's (X, A)
2 Route 6's
5 Route 10's (X, A, B)
2 Route 12's
3 Route 21's
2 Route 30's (X)
2 Route 31's (X)
2 Route 39's (X)
2 Route 45's (X)
3 Route 47's (X)
2 Route 54's
2 Route 71's (X)
2 Route 72's (X)


If I have missed out on any please let me know.

 

[DunsBus]

Sunderland had two service 6's from 1988 to 1997. Central Bus Station to Witherwack, run by Sunderland Busways, and Central Bus Station to South Shields run by Catch-A-Bus.

 

[WibbleWobble]

Dorchester now has two route 5. The original route is the Damory route to Weymouth via the villages, whilst the new one is the former X11 to Yeovil.

This has only happened since the service (alongside several others) was retendered a few weeks back following South West Coaches handing the tenders back, and then retaining them. Why Dorset renumbered the service (or allowed it to be) to clash with another route, I do not know!

 

[childwallblues]

I think there used to be a long route 34, of which both of these are successors.

Arriva have 2 route 61s in Liverpool: Bootle to Aigburth Vale and Liverpool to Halton Hospital, the latter adopted when Halton Transport collapsed. They even intersect at Queen's Drive, Wavertree.

There were also two route 14 until the collapse of Halton. Arriva route 14 Croxteth to Liverpool and Haiton 14 from Murdishaw to Liverpool.

 

[nw1]

Southampton is one of the worst cities for this as they have seven numbers (1/2/3/6/7/8/9) which are all duplicated with First Hampshire and Go Ahead Bluestar both running routes with these numbers. There are so many numbers available so they really need to change them to avoid this duplication. It is really not good for passengers. If you are just told what number to take and are unaware that both these companies use the same numbers then you can easily end up in the wrong place miles away from where you want to be.

Of course with Bluestar taking over all, there will be, I believe, no duplication at all in three weeks' time.

In the "old days" the practice did seem to be to deliberately to avoid duplicates, even if multiple companies operated routes in the area. For example Hants and Dorset appeared to deliberately start numbering at 30, to avoid clashing with Southampton Citybus (SCT in those days, I think).

Likewise on Timetable World there's a 1976 timetable for the Reading area (all public transport). Alder Valley and Reading Buses deliberately avoided clashes with route numbers - the very lowest numbers (1,2,3, etc) seemed to be Alder Valley, then there were quite a few Reading Buses in the teens before the sequence reverted to Alder Valley again.

I think it is more logical to avoid clashes, even if they are different companies. Visitors to the area might not be au fait with the different companies.

 

[Typhoon]

I think it is more logical to avoid clashes, even if they are different companies. Visitors to the area might not be au fait with the different companies.

.... Particularly if one company uses route specific liveries (even if it is on just some of their routes).

 

[nw1]

.... Particularly if one company uses route specific liveries (even if it is on just some of their routes).

Indeed, that would further add to the confusion.

Trying to think of what the situation was back in the early Solent Blue Line era in Southampton. I think there was some effort to avoid duplication on city routes (for example SBL ran the 16 Millbrook-Hamble and the 18 Thornhill-Romsey, which were gaps in the Citybus sequence) but I do seem to remember one duplication between a city route (Citybus) and an out-of-city SBL route. The Citybus 29 was a route to Regents Park while the SBL 29 was the late lamented hourly City-Eastleigh route via Woolston, the Windhover roundabout and the A27 (later the 9, then the Velvet A, now I believe completely gone).

Duplication became much more extensive when SBL renumbered their routes in May 2003.

 

[neilmc]

How did we cope in Leeds in the 60's?
30. Bus station - ireland Wood
30 Leeds - Bradford via Greengates

31 Brackewood - New Farnley
31 Leeds - Keighley

34 Central Bus Stn - Alwoodley
34 Leeds - Ilkley

36 Central Bus Station - Tinshill
36 Leeds -Harrogate - Ripon

38 Moortown - Whitkirk
38 Leeds - Red Hall Ln

43 Central Bus Stn - Shadwell
43 Leeds - Scarborough

44 Stanningley - Halton Moor
44 Leeds - Bridlington


I actually managed to get buses and never ended up at Ilkley rather than Alwoodley.

The routes concerned were by different operators in different liveries and departed from different bus stations. Though the Thorner 41 (West Yorkshire) also ran along York Road alongside the LCT 41 to Colton, but again they had different stops, but in Leeds fashion of the 1960 there were no timetables or destination shown at most stops.

 

[nw1]

The routes concerned were by different operators in different liveries and departed from different bus stations. Though the Thorner 41 (West Yorkshire) also ran along York Road alongside the LCT 41 to Colton, but again they had different stops, but in Leeds fashion of the 1960 there were no timetables or destination shown at most stops.

Leeds in the 60s obviously didn't follow the apparent "no duplication" rule that other towns and cities, such as Southampton and Reading, followed a little later. But perhaps the 60s were different to the 70s and 80s - looking at old timetables, duplication seemed to be least fashionable in those decades. (Hence, as someone who first started noticing buses in around 1983 or 1984, duplication seems "strange" to me).

A related point is where a single local company has duplicated routes in different towns. For example, Stagecoach South has several route 1s in different towns, some quite close (e.g. Aldershot, Guildford). Even within a local sub-division (is there still a Stagecoach Hampshire, ex Hampshire Bus?) this can happen. e.g. route 1s in Winchester, Andover and Basingstoke.

Again, that didn't seem to happen back in NBC days.

 

[Ken H]

Leeds in the 60s obviously didn't follow the apparent "no duplication" rule that other towns and cities, such as Southampton and Reading, followed a little later. But perhaps the 60s were different to the 70s and 80s - looking at old timetables, duplication seemed to be least fashionable in those decades. (Hence, as someone who first started noticing buses in around 1983 or 1984, duplication seems "strange" to me).

A related point is where a single local company has duplicated routes in different towns. For example, Stagecoach South has several route 1s in different towns, some quite close (e.g. Aldershot, Guildford). Even within a local sub-division (is there still a Stagecoach Hampshire, ex Hampshire Bus?) this can happen. e.g. route 1s in Winchester, Andover and Basingstoke.

Again, that didn't seem to happen back in NBC days.

The two 44's ran crossed each other on York Road at the end of Harehills Lane by the Shafesbury. I doubt anyone went to Halton Moor instead of Bridlington! Some of the Brid 44's were East Yorkshire so blue!

 

[Statto]

I think there used to be a long route 34, of which both of these are successors.

Arriva have 2 route 61s in Liverpool: Bootle to Aigburth Vale and Liverpool to Halton Hospital, the latter adopted when Halton Transport collapsed. They even intersect at Queen's Drive, Wavertree.

Yes, the 34 used to run Manchester through to Liverpool, but early 90s a bus war broke out between MTL & GM Buses, as part of the agreement for ending the bus war some of the routes were split, 34 was one of them which was split at Leigh.

MTL operated 34 Leigh to Liverpool before cutting it to operate St Helens to Leigh, MTL 34 is now Arriva,

First, operated their 34 Leigh to Manchester, before extending some journeys to Bryn, First 34 is now Stagecoach.

 

[busestrains]

Chelmsford is another one to add to the list as they have the First Bus number 3 from Chelmsford to Southend and the Fords Coaches number 3 from Chelmsford to Tillingham which are completely different routes.