Free bus services

[Busaholic]

Other than bus services provided for supermarket and other shoppers, what free bus services still exist for the general public in the U.K. on a regular basis, like the one that used to be in Leeds city centre?

 

[northwichcat]

3 Metroshuttle routes in Manchester
Stockport Metroshuttle
Bolton Metroshuttle
Rochdale Metroshuttle
Free town bus in Huddersfield
Free town bus in Dewsbury
Free city bus in Wakefield
Free city bus in Bradford

 

[gordonthemoron]

Manchester has 3 free bus routes in the city centre (or it did last time I was there)

 

[northwichcat]

Manchester has 3 free bus routes in the city centre (or it did last time I was there)

Yes it does. TfGM wanted to reduce the funding for them and get more private funding for them (with cutbacks mooted if that didn't happen) but I've not heard any update on that.

I've never really understood why the 147 bus is a heavily subsided fare paying route (80p single, £1.50 day ticket) and the Metroshuttle are free. Why didn't 147 finish up as a 4th Metroshuttle route?

 

[W-on-Sea]

Oxfordshire County Council "Special Transport Services" run a few infrequent rural routes that are free of charge - I think as that proved a more economic solution than putting them out to tender in the conventional manner.

 

[Strathclyder]

A free bus for Gala Bingo patrons was operated in Clydebank by Glasgow Citybus.

This service was originally operated by John Morrow Coaches, up until it was taken over by Glasgow Citybus in 2012.

As far as I'm aware, this service has now been withdrawn.

 

[LateThanNever]

A free bus for Gala Bingo patrons was operated in Clydebank by Glasgow Citybus.

This service was originally operated by John Morrow Coaches, up until it was taken over by Glasgow Citybus in 2012.

As far as I'm aware, this service has now been withdrawn.

For some of us just waiting for the bus is more than enough to satisfy our desire for any form of 'gala bingo'

 

[CallySleeper]

Nottingham Centrelink and Medilink services.

 

[fgwrich]

For some of us just waiting for the bus is more than enough to satisfy our desire for any form of 'gala bingo'

Like waiting for a Western Greyhound service?...

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Between the Heathrow Terminals and Hatton Cross? The train service is also free as well between terminals.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Does Southampton still have the free shuttle from the station to the town and port?

Melksham has a free shuttle between the station and the town which connects with the trains

 

[Busaholic]

Does Southampton still have the free shuttle from the station to the town and port?

Melksham has a free shuttle between the station and the town which connects with the trains

It was another thread that got me started on this one: the Southampton service still runs but now charges £1 per passenger apparently, unless you have a Red Star ticket to I.o.W. in which case it is still free.

 

[embers25]

Like waiting for a Western Greyhound service?...

Surely thats more like a bus free service than a free bus service as 9 times out of ten you'll be walking!!

 

[Mojo]

There is a free hospital bus service that runs around Bristol, linking Temple Meads station, shopping areas and a number of healthcare facilities.
http://www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/media/1989946/shuttle_bus_timetable_january_2014_new_1.pdf

 

[ECML180]

Doncaster Royal Infirmary has a free Park & Ride service to the Racecourse car park. Another free shuttle is the DRI to Montagu Hospital but this one is for patients/staff/shuttle bus drivers only.

http://www.dbh.nhs.uk/about_us/hospitals/doncaster_royal_infirmary/Getting_there.aspx

 

[robertclark125]

Not quite free, but rail passengers holding the correct ticket can use route 398 between Glasgow Central and Glasgow Queen Street free of charge.

Also, we had one in fife until last week. Due to a car park being closed for the building of a enw Tesco store in Dunfermline city centre, Tesco subsidised a free shuttle bus from Leys Road car park (built on the former approaches to the long gone Dunfermline Upper train station), and Dunfermline bus station. The new Tesco is open, and so the shuttle, run by Stagecoach East Scotland, has ended.

 

[DelayRepay]

Sheffield's Freebee bus was cancelled due to budget cuts, but the Rotherham version is still running thanks to the owners of Parkgate retail park contributing towards the cost.

 

[button_boxer]

Not the whole general public, but the H1 shuttle bus between the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General hospitals in Sheffield is free to any member of staff at any of the hospitals in the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals trust, plus anyone with a University of Sheffield staff or student ID card (and obviously ENCTS pass holders too), and only a quid or two if you do have to pay.

 

[AM9]

A sort of water bus, - Woolwich Free Ferry.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Prior to their withdrawal most of the 'bendybuses' in London were 'free' to many - a tradition that seems to continue on some of the 500 series former 'Red Arrow' services judging by the number of people who show nothing or feign tapping the Oyster readers with some very un-Oyster looking items.

 

[causton]

feign tapping the Oyster readers with some very un-Oyster looking items.

Southern 'the key' cards?

Perhaps they all have paper Travelcards you never know! I had a great conversation with the 'conductors' on the new Routemasters (remember they are not there for revenue, just to monitor the doors!) as to why I would not touch my Oyster card on the reader and yes I did have a valid reason why and no I will not be prosecuted, as I showed him the paper ticket as I left!

 

[dzug2]

Southern 'the key' cards?

Perhaps they all have paper Travelcards you never know! I had a great conversation with the 'conductors' on the new Routemasters (remember they are not there for revenue, just to monitor the doors!) as to why I would not touch my Oyster card on the reader and yes I did have a valid reason why and no I will not be prosecuted, as I showed him the paper ticket as I left!

I thought travelcard holders were only supposed to enter through the front door so they could show the driver the card so he could record a journey.

Or has that changed - or they've given up trying to enforce it?

 

[madannie77]

Foyle Street Buscentre to the Railway Station in Derry/Londonderry and Newry Buscentre to Newry Railway Station are both free services.

 

[causton]

I thought travelcard holders were only supposed to enter through the front door so they could show the driver the card so he could record a journey.

Or has that changed - or they've given up trying to enforce it?

The signs on the doors say "Saver bus tickets" holders (whatever a Saver bus ticket is, off to Google it!) to use the front door now so I believe either they have given up enforcing it or changed it, yes.

 

[LateThanNever]

Like waiting for a Western Greyhound service?...

Regrettably, as you say!

 

[dzug2]

A saver bus ticket was a sort of carnet - you bought 6 tickets for the price of 5 or something like that. You tore off a ticket and handed it to the driver, keeping the stub in case of inspection. The serial number would match up with the part kept by the driver

They went off sale in 2007 or 8 (yes...) but the TfL site says you can still use them if you have any left. For how long - pass

 

[cav1975]

There are some community bus services on the Isle of Wight. No fares are charged, but donations to help defray the cost are welcome.

An example is the 34

http://www.havenstreetandasheypc.co.uk/around-the-parish/community-bus/

It is run using vehicles from the Southern Vectis school bus fleet in non school transport hours.

 

[Be3G]

One sort-of-free bus service I can think of is the Acle Ring & Ride in Norfolk; it's one of those pre-booked demand-responsive rural services (which can you mean you end up being the sole passenger in a taxi), but the great thing is that rail passengers get free travel!

I thought travelcard holders were only supposed to enter through the front door so they could show the driver the card so he could record a journey.

The Red Arrow routes are a bit of an anomaly, specifically because of the expectation that many passengers will be paper travelcard holders (who've arrived by or are about to catch a train), so they allow everyone to board from either door.

 

[Busaholic]

Southern 'the key' cards?

Perhaps they all have paper Travelcards you never know! I had a great conversation with the 'conductors' on the new Routemasters (remember they are not there for revenue, just to monitor the doors!) as to why I would not touch my Oyster card on the reader and yes I did have a valid reason why and no I will not be prosecuted, as I showed him the paper ticket as I left!

There will be no 'conductors' on any of the many routes that are being converted to the New Bus for London, starting with the 137 later this month - this is now official TfL policy as power gradually shifts from the current Mayor as he plots his next moves. When someone can explain to me how a visitor to London in a wheelchair with a paper Travelcard enters through the front doors I may accept the non-Oyster 'front door' only policy as binding!

 

[Be3G]

Wheelchair users get free travel on London buses – there is no need to hold or show a ticket.