Unregistered bus service in Luton (Centrebus Route 230)

[lightbulb]

Since 15th October, there has been a free bus run by Centrebus between Caddington Woods and Luton Airport Parkway. It was originally planned to operate until 9th November, but was then extended until the end of this year. The route was further extended to run to Luton station from 26th November, and is now confirmed to operate until further notice.

There has been no official publicity, and I've heard that the reason for this is that the bus is unregistered. Obviously an unregistered route cannot charge fares, but does anyone know whether it's true that an unregistered bus cannot legally be advertised? Unofficial timetable flyers appeared at stops on the route in Caddington and Slip End last month, but have all been removed.

The bus runs on Monday to Friday only as follows (the 1930 journey being added from 26th November):

Caddington Woods 0600 0700
Caddington, Cricketers 0603 0703
Woodside, Elaine Gardens 0606 0706
Slip End, Crossroads 0609 0709
Luton Airport Parkway 0620 0720
Luton, Station Interchange 0630 0730

Luton, Station Interchange (Stop LS9) 1750 1850 1930
Luton Airport Parkway 1800 1900 1940
Slip End, Crossroads 1808 1908 1948
Woodside, Elaine Gardens 1810 1910 1950
Caddington, Cricketers 1814 1914 1954
Caddington Woods 1819 1919 1959

The bus runs via existing route 232 between Caddington Woods and Caddington, then via route 231 between Caddington and Slip End (but direct via Manor Road, not serving Elm Avenue), then via Newlands Road, London Road, New Airport Way, Luton Airport Parkway. Between Parkway and Luton, the route seems to be flexible according the drivers' inclination, and is either via Gipsy Lane, St Mary's Road, Church Street and Station Road, or via Gipsy Lane, Kimpton Road, then via the bus only road (as used by Arriva A and Green Line 757) to Station Road.

 

[Bletchleyite]

What is the purpose of the route if not to make money from fares?

 

[lightbulb]

What is the purpose of the route if not to make money from fares?

It's a requirement under Section 106 of the planning consent for the Caddington Woods housing estate, which is being built on the site of the old Vauxhall Test Track at Chaul End. The agreement is that a bus service will be provided for a minimum of ten years, and that it is financed by income from those houses which are rented, and commenced when the first 100 houses were occupied. It's my understanding that if the bus does not have sufficient passengers to make the route viable (I've observed loadings of between zero and seven) the Section 106 agreement can be altered, and the bus withdrawn.

 

[carlberry]

There has been no official publicity, and I've heard that the reason for this is that the bus is unregistered. Obviously an unregistered route cannot charge fares, but does anyone know whether it's true that an unregistered bus cannot legally be advertised? Unofficial timetable flyers appeared at stops on the route in Caddington and Slip End last month, but have all been removed.

Theres nothing to stop publicity as long as it states that no fares are charged (plenty of publicity around for free running days for example). If there is a agreement that it can be withdrawn if not used then not advertising it is a guaranteed way of achieving that. Obviously I'm not in any way suggesting that that's the reason in this case!!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've seen a few of these "planning gain buses" (though usually registered and with fares charged), and I must admit that I prefer the approach where the money can be used to fund extension of existing "network" routes, which are much more likely to become sustainable. This has worked quite well with the "3 digit numbered" routes in MK which once the planning gain ran out have tended to become part of the commercial network. I've long reckoned a totally new route takes about 5 years to establish to commercial viability if it's going to be viable, and this kind of scheme done right has a lot of potential to help that happen.