Trainman40083
Established Member
I understand one of the new BYD electric buses should be at the bus show at Birmingham NEC in November
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Uno Bus
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Vexed
Member
I did have a one-off white one a couple years ago so hopefully it's just a temporary supply issue.
My 601 ticket last Saturday was still pink.
westcoaster
Established Member
Earlier in the week I saw a red London bus at Luton interchange as I went by on a train (behind an X10)
It looked like a BYD enviro 400, looked on the tracking sites and UNO have 2 one sees use in the day and the other at night. But none seem to have been in Luton unless the machine was switched off, or running empty.
Do Uno run duplicate runs at peak times on the X10, the queue was back to the station entrance from the bus stop (Uno seems to have marshalling in place for the queue's).
It looked like a BYD enviro 400, looked on the tracking sites and UNO have 2 one sees use in the day and the other at night. But none seem to have been in Luton unless the machine was switched off, or running empty.
Do Uno run duplicate runs at peak times on the X10, the queue was back to the station entrance from the bus stop (Uno seems to have marshalling in place for the queue's).
Pink on the bus I used an hour or so ago.
First time I heard next stop announcements, but now the display wasn't working instead. Weird to hear it just say 'Park' and 'Lakes' rather than 'Stanborough Park' or 'Stanborough Lakes'. It also says some names in a rather hard to understand fashion. Doesn't sound like Text-to-Speech though, and rather actual recordings. I hope they'll tweak the voices in the future.
Among the various buses at the Euro Bus Expo is a BYD B12 with Uno shuttle vinyls:
www.route-one.net
Euro Bus Expo: Day one gallery as trade show opens strongly - routeone
Euro Bus Expo got underway strongly at the NEC Birmingham on 12 November, with around 190 exhibitors on site at the industry trade show.
www.route-one.net
Another BEV-related tender exercise, spread across 2 lots:
In addition, 22 + 5 tallies with Herts' designated ZEBRA allocation; either the shuttle B12s are ZEBRA-subsidised after all or said allocation will be 5 less than originally determined. Would be surprised if the latter was true.
On the University's In-Tend portal there are also some documents with clarification questions/answers and specific references to routes 602/653.
Given the somewhat tight timescales and previous B12 order, I'd be surprised if anyone other than BYD was chosen for Lot 1.
In addition, 22 + 5 tallies with Herts' designated ZEBRA allocation; either the shuttle B12s are ZEBRA-subsidised after all or said allocation will be 5 less than originally determined. Would be surprised if the latter was true.
On the University's In-Tend portal there are also some documents with clarification questions/answers and specific references to routes 602/653.
aswilliamsuk
Member
- Joined
- 10 Jul 2016
- Messages
- 344
The short timescale - just eight months from tender close to delivery - suggests that going on some manufacturer timescales at the moment, there's only a handful of providers that can actually deliver vehicles in that time. (It wouldn't be the first time I've seen a tender written in such a way to ensure that preferred suppliers, er, benefit).
I agree with you, @Edvid - it appears that the Shuttle BYD B12s are part of the 27 vehicles funded after all.
Luton HipHop tickets are no longer accepted - tried to buy one on the Luton-bound X10 near Parkway station, driver told me people were riding to Harpenden / St Albans with them so Uno decided to pull out of the scheme (didn't say when). Website hasn't been updated to communicate the non-acceptance yet.
Trainman40083
Established Member
6th January, I understand
That long ago, and yet they're still advertising it on their website? 
I see Luton Council still have Uno on one of their posters too (tweet from last month)
I see Luton Council still have Uno on one of their posters too (tweet from last month)
Trainman40083
Established Member
Sorry 6th January 2025, not 2024That long ago, and yet they're still advertising it on their website?
I see Luton Council still have Uno on one of their posters too (tweet from last month)
Changes on Intalink for 5 January 2025 (those currently listed anyway):
X10 Uni campus stops are swapped (again) back to Forum via de Hav, the Galleria becomes a calling point, and the slight overall service reduction from September is broadly reversed.
Interestingly, the first/last services from Hatfield/Luton have changed from 0845/1800 to 0650/1850 respectively; other early/late contraflow services have been removed - replaced by dead runs via the A414 & M1, I suspect.
January 2025 X10 PDF timetable
X10 Uni campus stops are swapped (again) back to Forum via de Hav, the Galleria becomes a calling point, and the slight overall service reduction from September is broadly reversed.
Interestingly, the first/last services from Hatfield/Luton have changed from 0845/1800 to 0650/1850 respectively; other early/late contraflow services have been removed - replaced by dead runs via the A414 & M1, I suspect.
January 2025 X10 PDF timetable
Vexed
Member
So for 653 they've essentially added back the services that were dropped in the last September change with some timing changes.
Good to see a new last WGC to St Albans journey, interesting that is marked as not serving Villiers Crescent. I'm neutral about this myself as it's not that long of a walk to get to those 3 stops, but with only a 1 minute difference in the timetable seems a bit futile! In reality I feel it is more like a 2 minute difference as the busses will be going maybe 35mph along Hosue Lane (40 limit) vs 15 along Villiers (lots of parked cars on a very bendy road).
But the last journey from New Greens has been dropped which I'm quite annoyed about, so the last one from St Albans City station will be 2125 instead of 2234.
Good to see a new last WGC to St Albans journey, interesting that is marked as not serving Villiers Crescent. I'm neutral about this myself as it's not that long of a walk to get to those 3 stops, but with only a 1 minute difference in the timetable seems a bit futile! In reality I feel it is more like a 2 minute difference as the busses will be going maybe 35mph along Hosue Lane (40 limit) vs 15 along Villiers (lots of parked cars on a very bendy road).
But the last journey from New Greens has been dropped which I'm quite annoyed about, so the last one from St Albans City station will be 2125 instead of 2234.
Sure enough, that Intalink page was updated today and the route 242 Mon-Sat service - transferring from Metroline to Uno in the new year - looks like another BSIP beneficiary.
[Upcoming timetable to Waltham Cross / Potters Bar (6 Jan example)]
[Upcoming timetable to Waltham Cross / Potters Bar (6 Jan example)]
Uno are to take over Metroline’s non-TfL route 242 (Waltham Cross-Potters Bar) after Metroline announced their last day of operation will be the 4th January 2025. The 242 largely runs between Waltham Cross and Cheshunt Brookfield Centre, with some extensions to Cuffley Station, and a very limited service to Potters Bar. Interestingly, it seems Uno will operate an hourly service to Potters Bar which would be a vast improvement. I’m not quite sure myself if Metroline’s 242 is commercial or supported/contracted.
The Sunday service is seperate, on its own contract, currently run by Central Connect. This ends the anomaly of the Sunday service to Potters Bar being more frequent than the rest of the week! (If my understanding is correct of course).
Source from Intalink’s January 2025 Service Changes page.
The Sunday service is seperate, on its own contract, currently run by Central Connect. This ends the anomaly of the Sunday service to Potters Bar being more frequent than the rest of the week! (If my understanding is correct of course).
Source from Intalink’s January 2025 Service Changes page.
EDIT: Apologies, It seems the thread did not refresh with the above post!
greenline712
Member
The current Metroline timetable is commercially operated, with a deminimus contribution from Herts CC.
An hourly frequency between Cuffley and Potters Bar was last operated in around 2018 .... at that time, apart from at school times, the average loading was around 1 passenger per trip. Effectively, apart from Northaw, there are no houses, so .....
I really can't imagine that passenger numbers will increase, so this will be a serious loss maker from day 1 ... still, it's not my money .... !!
Mikey C
Established Member
- Joined
- 11 Feb 2013
- Messages
- 7,543
The extensions are MASSIVELY longer than the current core route of Waltham Cross to Cheshunt, which is actually a pretty short route!
greenline712
Member
My point is that the current base route is where the chimneys are. Cuffley is not good bus territory (large houses, two cars, local station); and from there to Potters Bar is empty fields.
Metroline tried to make a go of the route, but if the passengers aren't there, then they aren't there!!!!
While there many not be many houses between Cuffley and Potters Bar, the route does connect two relatively large settlements which are transport hubs (Waltham Cross and Potters Bar) so when looking at a map as someone with little local knowledge, it seems surprising that the route wouldn’t be more popular. There would be a big gap in the transport network if the 242 wasn’t there. But perhaps there just isn’t enough draw in terms of education, work, leisure and shopping - I imagine for most of those uses, many use the train to go towards London.
I'm pretty sure back in the 80's and 90's the 242 was a Herts County Council contract operated by London Northern as was, now Metroline Potters Bar.
It looks like Metroline have pulled away from all their non London work from Potters Bar apart from the PB1 Potters Bar local - though at various times that's been with other operators. I wouldn't be surprised to see them surrender that at in the near future with Sullivans or Uno stepping in.
thomasheywood
Member
The passengers were there in the 90’s when the 242 ran every 30 minutes 7 days a week with the last journey back to Potters Bar past midnight…
greenline712
Member
Quite possibly, but that was 30 years ago!!! Quite a lot has happened since then .... !!
AFAIK the contract for Route PB1 finishes in March 2025, so I wouldn't be surprised .... frankly the interest in non-London work isn't there any more.
I'll predict Uno to regain the contract after 10 years with Metroline .... it is operated with an electric Optare Metrocity now .... Sullivan has said they won't use electric buses.
I can't see the route going back to diesel operation .... maybe the bus will go with the route??
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I also know the area - let's unpick the 4 different categories you've identified: education, work, leisure and shopping.
Education - both Waltham X / Cheshunt and Potters Bar have secondary schools, so it's only flows from Northaw / Cuffley to those schools which might generate some trade.
Work - not sure either Potters Bar or Cheshunt are really jobs magnets. If you're in Cuffley for example, you've got a direct train to Stevenage or Enfield / Central London.
Shopping - yes Cheshunt has got Brookfield Farm, though from Potters Bar you've got the same thing at London Colney which is closer. And for Cuffley, again train probably offers more.
Leisure - things like cinemas you've got Hatfield (Galleria) or Enfield - so neither really helped by the 242.
From 1 January single fares will be capped at £3, with some set at £2.50, £2, or (within London) even price-matched to TfL's £1.75.
Those with the app will also be able to buy 12 singles for the price of 10 (not, as it currently says, 10 singles for the price of 12!!)
www.unobus.info
Those with the app will also be able to buy 12 singles for the price of 10 (not, as it currently says, 10 singles for the price of 12!!)
£3 Fare Cap | Uno
www.unobus.info
Mikey C
Established Member
- Joined
- 11 Feb 2013
- Messages
- 7,543
From 1 January single fares will be capped at £3, with some set at £2.50, £2, or (within London) even price-matched to TfL's £1.75.
Those with the app will also be able to buy 12 singles for the price of 10 (not, as it currently says, 10 singles for the price of 12!!)
£3 Fare Cap | Uno
I imagine people trying to take advantage of that, or just getting confused, and staying on the bus outside London, after just paying £1.75
That’s no different from the traditional fare structure, particularly before the £2 cap. People will always try to stay on longer than they should, but that’s always been the case.
Mark L
Member
It’s similar to the Oyster fare cap that Abellio Surrey introduced on routes largely paralleled by TfL services. Although the heirs to that operation maintained it now only remains on Falcon’s 461, 514 and 515 for journeys within Greater London and on White Bus 458 between Kingston and Esher. Hallmark offered it on the 555 between Heathrow and Sunbury Cross until it joined the £2 fare cap in July 2024. White Bus didn’t reinstate the arrangement when it took over the route this August. Nor does it participate in the £2 fare cap so a single journey between LHR and Sunbury has gone from £1.75 in early 2023 to £4.50 today.
The £1.75s are listed in BODS fare charts, so unlike Falcon / White (whose £1.75 fares aren't listed) it seems you don't need a Travelcard / Oyster card / other TfL pass to qualify for the match pricing.
They're available for Queensbury-Scratchwood (614/644), Edgware-The Spires (614) and Edgware-Borehamwood (644) but not for Queensbury-The Spires/Borehamwood or Cockfosters-Potters Bar.
bustimes.org
The January 2025 Hertfordshire timetable booklet includes updated maps and timings, but no reference to the 242 (which has to make do with a plain text timetable, for now).
They're available for Queensbury-Scratchwood (614/644), Edgware-The Spires (614) and Edgware-Borehamwood (644) but not for Queensbury-The Spires/Borehamwood or Cockfosters-Potters Bar.
Uno_8157_20250402 16:04:15 – Bus Times
The January 2025 Hertfordshire timetable booklet includes updated maps and timings, but no reference to the 242 (which has to make do with a plain text timetable, for now).