'X1 Steel Link'; BRT from Rotherham to Sheffield

[nerd]

https://www.firstgroup.com/south-yorkshire/news-and-service-updates/press-media/%C2%A3298m-bus-rapid-transit-scheme-set-launch

Bus passengers travelling between Rotherham and Sheffield are set to benefit from a new high quality ‘X1 Steel Link’ service, operated by First Bus, from Sunday (September 4) following completion of the £29.8 million Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) North scheme.
The X1 Steel Link will run on a new BRT ‘Tinsley Link’ road built over the River Don and under Tinsley Viaduct, to provide a more direct route for buses and improve congestion issues in the area.
Local bus operator, First Bus, today revealed a range of benefits customers can expect from its new X1 Steel Link when it launches on September 4...

Interesting application of the term 'Bus Rapid Transit' here; as - other than through the creation of the Tinsley Link Road under the M1 vaiduct, there seems to be nothing specifically 'rapid' about this service.

Mainly differs in the purchase of higher spec WrightBus Streetdecks, with e-leather seats (unfortunately embossed with the wrong route number). Plus PID information on stop totems. But not (unless I missed it) on-board PID information, stop TVMs, signal priority or dedicated busways (the Tinsley Link is shared with general traffic).

Interesting, as it confirms an ongoing trend, in which 'Bus Rapid Transit' in the UK is becomign understood as indicating a higher specfication (commonly double-decker) vehicle aiming to serve a longer distance demand (9 km) but without many of the features considered as characteristic of BRT in other countries.

 

[J-2739]

Those buses aren't new, probably ex-X78 buses?

A watered down FTR wet dream.

 

[the101]

First are being very liberal with the definition of BRT by using the term to describe the Steel Link thing they have. BRT spends prolonged periods on segregated roads; this does not.

That the headrests remain embossed with the number of the previous service that these buses were briefly used on is, sadly, still typical of a lot of First's standards.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Hopefully this will die a quick death once the tram-train eventually starts.
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Strangely, Arriva bus WiFi won't let me view the FirstBus link!

 

[overthewater]

Whats missing from that page? A Timetable...

 

[nerd]

First are being very liberal with the definition of BRT by using the term to describe the Steel Link thing they have. BRT spends prolonged periods on segregated roads; this does not.

That the headrests remain embossed with the number of the previous service that these buses were briefly used on is, sadly, still typical of a lot of First's standards.

The BRT label is from SYPTE, not First

https://www.sypte.co.uk/uploadedFil... Monitoring-and-Evaluation-Plan-v14 final.pdf

 

[dosxuk]

Whats missing from that page? A Timetable...

You won't get a written timetable, they're altered almost daily...

The buses have been taken off the previous flagship (flagbus?) route the X78, which has seen it's service reduced, despite going where the people want to go at a good enough and reliable frequency that people turned-up-and-went. The X1 takes a different route, and takes just as long as the X78, despite being advertised as the fast way to get between Rotherham and Sheffield. These changes have simply resulted in the X78 becoming overcrowded and unreliable at peak times, while the X1 simply carts around fresh air.

To combat the new issues (and being unable to go back to how things were when they worked), First are constantly adjusting the schedules of both services, including applying a 15 minute wait at Meadowhall to slow the X78 service down (yay! the X1 is now the express route!).

 

[DimTim]

Service also gets the Rotherham - Maltby route extended to Sheffield assisting the forthcoming closure of Rotherham depot.

Travelled the route yesterday & the new link road just leads to the traffic jam of cars trying to leave Meadowhall shopping centre! Took at least 5 minutes once exiting the new link to reach Meadowhall bus station because of standing traffic.

Changes have not been well received locally.

 

[johnnychips]

Has this replaced the 69 (I think) that used to go from Rotherham to Sheffield without visiting Meadowhall?

Certainly the buses on the X78 are now back to 'normal' after our few months of luxury, but there are more and more single-deckers appearing, which can lead to overcrowding.

 

[the101]

The BRT label is from SYPTE, not First

https://www.sypte.co.uk/uploadedFil... Monitoring-and-Evaluation-Plan-v14 final.pdf

And? Whoever is responsible, it's stupid.

 

[BestWestern]

First UK Bus appear to spend their time now doing nothing but messing about with their route networks.

Gives the endless intakes of graduates something to do, I suppose...

 

[carlberry]

First UK Bus appear to spend their time now doing nothing but messing about with their route networks.

Gives the endless intakes of graduates something to do, I suppose...

You're lucky if they actually mess with the networks. In Bristol they employ people to just change the route numbers!

 

[Harpers Tate]

Can't blame First for any of this. This is a hair-brained scheme of the PTE who used the monniker "BRT" to justify the construction of a new road in a forlorn attempt to alleviate congestion at Tinsley (J34S). (Which is why said road is open to all traffic).

And it's hair-brained precisely because it will more or less duplicate the Tram-Train project - when NR eventually extract their collective digit. They should have spent the money on a tramstop at Magna instead.

I believe that, unlike the "X"78, the X1 is indeed limited stop in places but otherwise, for the most part is a conventional bus service.

 

[DimTim]

An additional stop has been added in the Wicker Sheffield from today. On this basis it will be like the X78 - all stops.
It's only limited stop between Sheffield & Meadowhall. Rest of route is all stops.

 

[83G/84D]

Some of the nearly new Rotherham Streetdecks at Rotherham yesterday had their X78 branding removed and were on the X1!