Stagecoach East (Bedford, Cambridge, Huntingdon and Peterborough)

[Bletchleyite]

DRT being demand responsive transport...?

That's the one yes, sorry, post edited.

 

[hdennis13]

I'm strongly in favour of this. It should run all day timed to connect in and out of the Liverpool Street trains that terminate/start at Cambridge North.

But the key feature needs to be through ticketing that lets bus passengers use the trains between Cambridge North, Cambridge and Cambridge South.

It would then also be of use to Biomedical Campus commuters, Papworth outpatients and Hills Road and Long Road sixth form college students, having a 10 minute train ride across Cambridge instead of being stuck in Cambridge traffic.

The opening of Cambridge South station will be the ideal time to launch this.

I believe through ticketing is unlikely due to stagecoach not operating the trains. Also Great Northern serve CMB.

I believe that passengers have a negative perception of public transport performance and so timed bus-train connections may be missed due lack of punctuality. Stagecoach are extremely poor in my area.

Also a single fare is £2 or £1 for u25s and negate the need to pay for the train. I agree the traffic is bad and stagecoach should produce timetables they can reliably run to and CPCA should improve congestion (easier said than done).

 

[jfowkes]

I'm strongly in favour of this. It should run all day timed to connect in and out of the Liverpool Street trains that terminate/start at Cambridge North.

But the key feature needs to be through ticketing that lets bus passengers use the trains between Cambridge North, Cambridge and Cambridge South.

It would then also be of use to Biomedical Campus commuters, Papworth outpatients and Hills Road and Long Road sixth form college students, having a 10 minute train ride across Cambridge instead of being stuck in Cambridge traffic.

The opening of Cambridge South station will be the ideal time to launch this.

As someone who spent 90 minutes on the A today between Histon and Addenbrookes, I can't help but agree.

Also a single fare is £2 or £1 for u25s and negate the need to pay for the train. I agree the traffic is bad and stagecoach should produce timetables they can reliably run to and CPCA should improve congestion (easier said than done).

I'm not sure reliable timetables are possible, given the variablity of Cambridge congestion, not to mention very variable dwell times. The only way would be to add an absurd amount of slack into the timetable.

 

[Magdalia]

I believe through ticketing is unlikely due to stagecoach not operating the trains. Also Great Northern serve CMB.

It isn't a matter for Stagecoach. The Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority should take the lead but there's no evidence that they are even aware of the opportunity that Cambridge South opens up for improving public transport in Cambridge. If Andy Burnham can do what he is doing in Manchester then, Nik Johnson. or his successor, can do something, on a much smaller scale, in Cambridge.

I believe that passengers have a negative perception of public transport performance and so timed bus-train connections may be missed due lack of punctuality.

If the bus stays on the busway then the risk to punctuality for the bus is very small.

I agree the traffic is bad and stagecoach should produce timetables they can reliably run to

I'm not sure reliable timetables are possible, given the variablity of Cambridge congestion, not to mention very variable dwell times.

That would need different timetables for school term and school holidays, different timetables depending on the weather forecast, and different timetables every time key routes got temporary traffic lights.

The only way would be to add an absurd amount of slack into the timetable.

That has already happened. Look at evening peak timetables on various routes. A knock on effect of increased slack is reduced frequency.

As someone who spent 90 minutes on the A today between Histon and Addenbrookes, I can't help but agree.

Yesterday was a classic example of weather related congestion. When there is heavy rain in Cambridge there is a big modal shift from cycling to buses and cars.

 

[Silver Cobra]

I spotted a notice on the Stagecoach website announcing changes to bus services as of today for the East region. A list of the changes can be found here:

East Bus Network

www.stagecoachbus.com

On Sunday, October 27th, we're making changes to some of our services in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire​

These changes are designed to improve connectivity and punctuality by expanding services, increasing frequency, and adjusting timetables.

One major change I've seen is that, for the first time in 7 years, a Sunday bus service between Bedford and Hitchin/Stevenage has been reintroduced. The 9D express service, which normally runs early morning and late evening Monday to Friday, will now run once every 2 hours between Bedford and Stevenage, with a supplementary service between Hitchin and Stevenage on the opposite hours to the through service.

It's great to have a bus service return to my hometown on Sundays again. While it sadly doesn't connect to Arlesey railway station like it did on the past, it still offers more opportunities to go places on Sundays.

 

[Mwanesh]

Controversial opinion perhaps, but given that the Busway must be among Stagecoach East's most successful routes, maybe they should just put their hand in their pocket and not rely on CAPCA to pay them to run a half decent service?

Why should Stagecoach invest when they may not have a business there with franchising.No one is willing to take the risk on buses these days.

 

[paulmch]

Why should Stagecoach invest when they may not have a business there with franchising.No one is willing to take the risk on buses these days.

Quite! The sooner franchising comes in, the sooner the needs of the travelling public can be put ahead of the needs of shareholders.

 

[IanMac]

The Cambus-liveried MMC 10802 was parked in Peterborough bus station yesterday, for no obvious reason.

 

[Magdalia]

The Cambus-liveried MMC 10802 was parked in Peterborough bus station yesterday, for no obvious reason.

Maybe this was the reason?

Bus company has served Cambridge and Peterborough for 40 years

A specially-painted bus is touring Stagecoach East depots handing out cake and commemorative badges.

www.bbc.co.uk

A bus company is celebrating serving part of the East of England for 40 years.

Stagecoast East began life in 1984 as Cambus, which is still the legal name for the company running its buses Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

To mark the anniversary, parties have been held for staff at its three Cambridgeshire depots - Cambridge, Fenstanton, and Peterborough - as well as its depot in Bedford.

 

[IanMac]

Thanks Magdalia, yes that's probably the reason. I didn't see any cakes or badges though. The bus has tracked on Cambridge duties since just after 6pm on 21st November, so the BBC report isn't too up-to-date!

 

[buslad1988]

Found an interesting file on Suffolk County Councils website for the various schemes submitted for the second round of funding.

https://www.suffolkonboard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-03-12-BSIP2-Schemes-Summary.pdf

Amongst it was a proposal from Stagecoach to introduce an hourly Haverhill to Bury St Edmunds service to connect with 13’s to Cambridge. SCC rejected it as it would be competing with Stephensons.

 

[Edvid]

Single fares will generally be capped at £3 next year, with shorter journeys priced at £2.50 or £2.

In addition, Stagecoach journeys within ceremonial Cambridgeshire (not cross-boundary) will remain capped at £2 until 31 March.*

Never pay more than £3 for your single journey

www.stagecoachbus.com

[* This is funded by £1m of CPCA's BSIP allocation that would have otherwise expired.]

 

[paulmch]

They've snuck in an increase to the fares for Cambridge station to Cambridge city centre. Now £2, up from £1.80!

 

[Edvid]

The next general fare rise will also happen on 1 January (PDF leaflet).

Guide to East England Bus Tickets & Prices │Stagecoach

Learn about Stagecoach East tickets for young people, students, adults and groups in our handy guide.

www.stagecoachbus.com

Through singles will no longer be sold on the 5/5A, 905, X5 or Busway routes. Also, Cambridge Town Group/Flexi tickets will no longer be valid on the Busway beyond Oakington to St Ives (those purchased before 1 January will still be accepted until 31 March).

Curiously, the validity map within their PDF leaflet now illustrates Bedford routes 25 and 28/28A separately; does this mean Bedfordshire Plus tickets are now valid on those routes beyond the boundary, as with the 41 and MK1?

That said, it's probably moot where the 25 is concerned, judging by a recent Roger French write-up on the route's wasteful duplication.

[...]

Meanwhile a meeting of the Council’s Rural Affairs Committee on Monday evening received the much anticipated “Bus Services: Review of Rural Funded Provision” report which recommended the following:

Service 25: Bedford – Harrold – Hinwick or Souldrop/Knotting – Wymington – Rushden

• Much of the requirement between Harrold, Carlton, Pavenham and Bedford, will be met by the Grant Palmer commercial service. Therefore, it would be possible to procure a more limited service to fill the gaps around the commercial service, either times or to serve those villages not otherwise served. This would optimise the number of vehicles required from 2 to 1 over current arrangements.
• There may also be scope to work with North Northamptonshire Council to jointly provide a service covering the Wymington area.

This encouraging confirms the wasteful competition will be coming to an end and Grant Palmer’s commercial initiative with route 25 can continue to prosper. And who knows, if the company is successful in gaining the tender for the one bus operating journeys to Rushden the service might end up integrated together again.

 

[Edvid]

The 51 has been deregistered and will cease to operate after 26 July.

 

[Joshua_Harman]

The 51 has been deregistered and will cease to operate after 26 July.

Along with many other changes to local routes too.

 

[paulmch]

Bustimes.org shows three new routes have been registered in Cambridge from 27 May:

T2 (Madingley Rd P&R - Newmarket Rd P&R)
T3 (Grantchester- Fulbourn)
T4 (Addenbrookes - Newmarket Bus Station)

Whippet also seems to have registered a T1 (Cambridge - Huntingdon via Fenstanton)

They haven't been mentioned anywhere official yet - presumably these are CPCA-funded routes and they can't be publicised until purdah has finished after the local elections.

 

[Megafuss]

Bustimes.org shows three new routes have been registered in Cambridge from 27 May:

T2 (Madingley Rd P&R - Newmarket Rd P&R)
T3 (Grantchester- Fulbourn)
T4 (Addenbrookes - Newmarket Bus Station)

Whippet also seems to have registered a T1 (Cambridge - Huntingdon via Fenstanton)

They haven't been mentioned anywhere official yet - presumably these are CPCA-funded routes and they can't be publicised until purdah has finished after the local elections.

They've posted a service update stating they are chucking the 9 (Ely) in from August

 

[Teds]

Maybe we will get a better tendered service. Stagecoach with some help from long running roadworks managed to kill route 9.

 

[paulmch]

Hopefully it can return to Waterbeach and Milton - given that they stopped serving what must have been the majority of the revenue on the route there's no wonder they're struggling with it!

 

[gingerheid]

Maybe we will get a better tendered service. Stagecoach with some help from long running roadworks managed to kill route 9.

Given what happened to the 26, and that there is just about to be a developer funded half hourly Waterbeach - Cambridge Service, I wouldn't get my hopes up It seems like a shame Stagecoach didn't chuck it all in at once; it's the sort of thing Stephensons might have been willing to have had a go at if they'd got it to themselves, and that they might have had some success with if they'd been able to start it before the market had been given most of three years to think about finding alternatives.

 

[Magdalia]

Bustimes.org shows three new routes have been registered in Cambridge from 27 May:

T2 (Madingley Rd P&R - Newmarket Rd P&R)
T3 (Grantchester- Fulbourn)
T4 (Addenbrookes - Newmarket Bus Station)

I can't find these on the Stagecoach East page of bustimes.

But I can find this on the Whippet page:

Whippet also seems to have registered a T1 (Cambridge - Huntingdon via Fenstanton)

The T1 will bring Whippet back onto the northern end of the busway for the first time for a while.

Hopefully it can return to Waterbeach and Milton

Waterbeach is served by the PR5 and Milton by the 2. They have been decoupled from the Ely service.

For all of Ely, Newmarket and Royston, the bus is struggling to compete with the train for traffic to and from Cambridge. Rail's advantage will increase next year when Cambridge South opens.

They haven't been mentioned anywhere official yet - presumably these are CPCA-funded routes and they can't be publicised until purdah has finished after the local elections.

CPCA is the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The outgoing CPCA mayor is proposing to move towards franchising, but they are not standing for re-election and the way forward will depend on who wins next Thursday (result is expected Friday afternoon).

 

[overthewater]

I can't find these on the Stagecoach East page of bustimes.

But I can find this on the Whippet page:

The timetables are not up as of yet but there registrations are' https://bustimes.org/licences/PF0000459

 

[Magdalia]

The timetables are not up as of yet but there registrations are' https://bustimes.org/licences/PF0000459

Thanks, I'd not looked at that before.

Is there anything that sets out the routes please?

 

[700720]

This future bus network map from the CPCA shows all the new Tiger routes: https://democracy.cambridgeshirepet...cuments/s3553/Appendix A- Bus Network Map.pdf

 

[Joshua_Harman]

Thanks, I'd not looked at that before.

Is there anything that sets out the routes please?

 

[paulmch]

Waterbeach is served by the PR5 and Milton by the 2. They have been decoupled from the Ely service.

For all of Ely, Newmarket and Royston, the bus is struggling to compete with the train for traffic to and from Cambridge. Rail's advantage will increase next year when Cambridge South opens.

Neither the PR5 or 2 are useful for journeys between Waterbeach and Milton. It was a puzzling decision to cut the 9 from both as it was a fairly well-used part of the route that didn't have to contend with competition with the railway.

 

[gingerheid]

Neither the PR5 or 2 are useful for journeys between Waterbeach and Milton. It was a puzzling decision to cut the 9 from both as it was a fairly well-used part of the route that didn't have to contend with competition with the railway.

And the decision to leave a place the size of Waterbeach with effectively one bus a day Mondays to Fridays only to a supermarket (the 19A to Tesco Newmarket Rd) is one that amazes me to this day

 

[Magdalia]

This future bus network map from the CPCA shows all the new Tiger routes

Thanks.

Neither the PR5 or 2 are useful for journeys between Waterbeach and Milton.

And the decision to leave a place the size of Waterbeach with effectively one bus a day Mondays to Fridays only to a supermarket (the 19A to Tesco Newmarket Rd) is one that amazes me to this day

Neither are big flows in comparison to flows to and from various parts of Cambridge. Stagecoach has better things to do with limited resources.

 

[gingerheid]

Neither are big flows in comparison to flows to and from various parts of Cambridge. Stagecoach has better things to do with limited resources.

For sure.

However this is also a clear statement of reason why it has to be clear that private operators obligated to make such decisions have no place at all in the operation of public transport. Decisions like this bring down an entire network (as indeed Stagecoach in Cambridge has been very successful in doing in recent years). If I decide I want a car to go to the shops, there's a great likelihood I'll stop using the bus for many other things too.