|
Post by kommie123 on Aug 27, 2011 23:28:26 GMT 1
I've been a passenger on these routes for some time now and looking at patronage and thinking about the journeys, I dont believe they are fit for purpose (except east of Gomersal for the 220). People want to be able to get from A to B but preferably quickly and not at the cost of taking timely diversions to serve areas where literally NOONE uses the service. Who wants to get a bus from Scholes to Brighouse or the 256 from Cleckheaton to Scholes when one bus to Scholes has just left? I have a few ideas that should not only benefit the passenger, but also cut down costs for Arriva/Metro by using less buses and also decrease journey times and also make them more efficient and fit for purpose. Scholes Lane, Cleckheaton - even with the free 292 bus service, hardly anyone used this service. I believe this small stretch of road would be better served with a rerouted "ML" bus service. Proposals. Merge 220/256 services from Cleckheaton onwards. 220 Leeds Bus Station to Huddersfield Bus Station. No longer turns onto Halifax Road and goes straight onto Hare Park Lane and turns left onto Windy Bank Lane and follows 256 route to Brighouse Tesco (no longer calls at Brighouse Bus Station). Route would then follow 363 route to Huddersfield (Im not sure whether First would be bothered about an hourly route taking a bit of traffic). 256 Brighouse to Bradford. This service would now only run between Cleckheaton and Bradford. BENEFITS (CUSTOMER): - I have looked into journey times and reckon that the time between Cleckheaton and Brighouse would be reduced to 18 minutes. - Brighouse Railway Station would now be served. - Journey time to Cleckheaton from Huddersfield would remain unchanged. - Clifton and Hartshead gain a link to Huddersfield. ISSUES : - Areas of Windy Bank, Liversedge, Robertown lose a direct link to Huddersfield. I believe that this will affect a very small number of people. All areas mentioned still have a good bus service and with the exception of Scholes Lane and Whitechapel Road, no-one will totally lose their bus service. - Roberttown is overbussed to Huddersfield, they still have a 229 every 30 minutes. Only 1/2 mile of road is no longer served to Huddersfield. - Scholes loses its direct link to Brighouse, hardly anyone used it. Anyway, rambled on a bit. Let me know what you think. BENEFITS (COMMERCIAL): - Increased patronage as customers from Cleckheaton would be travelling to Brighouse and Huddersfield. - 1 less bus used. I have attached a route map of the new route. What do you reckon? Attachments:
|
|
Matty
Forum Member
Posts: 5,614
|
Post by Matty on Aug 27, 2011 23:47:16 GMT 1
Get it into Metro... Very good.
|
|
|
Post by westyorkshirebus on Aug 27, 2011 23:51:13 GMT 1
The 256 isn't really intended to be used as an end to end route but instead to just mop up bits of routes no other service serves.
The important part of the Whitechapel Road and Scholes Lane routing is to serve Cleckheaton not Brighouse. Hence why these routes were traditionally served by the 254 before that was diverted away. I haven't used a bus along Scholes Lane since the days of the 224 but it's quite a long road with houses and hence pensioners that should really be served by a bus.
I couldn't see the abandonment of various roads around Liversedge and Roberttown getting very far, these areas have had a link to Huddersfield and Cleckheaton forever.
Arriva running via the 363 route would never happen, operators don't seem to do that sort of thing. It's as if there are unwritten rules and boundaries that they will not cross.
I would say though that the whole North Kirklees network could be rewritten and a new network of direct buses and feeder minibuses would work better. It would probably require more vehicles though, so all concerned would be reluctant to do this.
|
|
|
Post by kommie123 on Aug 28, 2011 0:33:36 GMT 1
Thanks for your replies.
I know what you are saying but the free 292 bus route down Scholes Lane really proved that no-one used that service, however, a rerouted ML service would ensure the OAPs are not stranded.
I really have not seen many people if at all get on at Liversedge and go to Huddersfield, just because its been that way since god knows when doesnt mean things can change.
Personally, I would also axe the 256 altogether and extend an ML service to East Bierley (it really DOES NOT need a bus service every 15 mins to Bradford), but Im sure the usual 6 people will get 1000s of people who never use the service to sign a petition to keep it running!
The X80 mirrors the 278 almost all the way from Halifax and beyond Brighouse. They are run by different companies.
|
|
|
Post by kommie123 on Aug 28, 2011 0:40:42 GMT 1
Roberttown would still have a link to Huddersfield every 30 minutes via the 229 and Cleckheaton via the 253. If people from Liversedge did want to go to Huddersfield, they could change at Roberttown or Heckmondwike for the 229 with ease. Liversedge would still have 3 buses an hour during the day to Cleckheaton via the 253 and 254.
|
|
SF07
Forum Member
Posts: 3,216
|
Post by SF07 on Aug 28, 2011 19:29:26 GMT 1
Thanks for your replies. I know what you are saying but the free 292 bus route down Scholes Lane really proved that no-one used that service, however, a rerouted ML service would ensure the OAPs are not stranded. I really have not seen many people if at all get on at Liversedge and go to Huddersfield, just because its been that way since god knows when doesnt mean things can change. Personally, I would also axe the 256 altogether and extend an ML service to East Bierley (it really DOES NOT need a bus service every 15 mins to Bradford), but Im sure the usual 6 people will get 1000s of people who never use the service to sign a petition to keep it running! The X80 mirrors the 278 almost all the way from Halifax and beyond Brighouse. They are run by different companies. If you were to withdrawn the 256, how about re-rerouting the 253 to run via Hunsworth instead of Gomersal, which is served by the 254 and 255. The only bit left unserved would be a part of Bradford Road in Birkenshaw, which could be covered by re-routing the 283 off Old Lane onto the main road, which then could be covered by re-routing one journey an hour on the 254/255. At this rate, there'll be a complete revamp of the North Kirklees network.
|
|
|
Post by glennh2 on Aug 28, 2011 22:58:31 GMT 1
The 256 is a tendered service which will no doubt be reviewed in the Kirklees forthcoming review (there's no obvious mention of it in the Bradford one)
|
|
|
Post by westyorkshirebus on Aug 28, 2011 23:44:46 GMT 1
I would change service 256 to run as follows. Bradford to Hunsworth as current then straight across to Scholes and then via Scholes Lane & Moorside to Cleckheaton, maybe also serving Windy Bank.
The Brighouse to Cleckheaton section would be renumbered and rerouted to operate as service 225 providing a more direct service and consistant with the current 225 peak hour journeys from Leeds. The peak hour journeys would be coordinated meaning the short journeys wouldn't need to run in the afternoon peak.
|
|
|
Post by angrycommuter on Aug 30, 2011 8:55:22 GMT 1
I agree with the 256 - complete waste of resources. To connect Brighouse with Cleckheaton I would extend the new 258 service from Clifton.
However, as someone who used to get the 220 to Huddersfield, I can confirm that the route from Hill Top down to Spen Valley High is very well used by commuters and also shoppers on Saturdays. I would also not trust any feeder service such as the 253 to get me to Roberttown to connect with the 229. The service is just too unreliable and waiting facilities at Roberttown are very poor to say the least!
|
|
relentlessturd
Forum Member
Well, 60820 on the X80 is a dream come true....
Posts: 20
|
Post by relentlessturd on Sept 30, 2011 21:06:46 GMT 1
I use the 256 regularly and although it is not often very busy, it does provide a link between Brighouse and Cleckheaton which is otherwise not there. I think that is the route cut out Heartshead the route would be more efficient but without losing that link. Even if the route ran straight down past Willow Valley Golf Course or if the 255 was diverted from Wyke onto Brighouse and then back to Halifax this link would not be lost.
|
|
|
Post by MetrolineGA1511 on Dec 30, 2012 0:04:42 GMT 1
I use the 256 regularly and although it is not often very busy, it does provide a link between Brighouse and Cleckheaton which is otherwise not there. I think that is the route cut out Heartshead the route would be more efficient but without losing that link. Even if the route ran straight down past Willow Valley Golf Course or if the 255 was diverted from Wyke onto Brighouse and then back to Halifax this link would not be lost. I rode route 256 today. I was intrigued to see it link Bradford with Brighouse but operated by Arriva instead of First. While there is no other direct link from Cleckheaton to Brighouse, I noticed there is no direct link from Cleckheaton to Batley.
|
|
A1YBG
Forum Member
METRO Here to get you there. Arriva Buses Here to get you there. Arriva need to get original slogans
Posts: 1,935
|
Post by A1YBG on Dec 30, 2012 11:39:16 GMT 1
I use the 256 regularly and although it is not often very busy, it does provide a link between Brighouse and Cleckheaton which is otherwise not there. I think that is the route cut out Heartshead the route would be more efficient but without losing that link. Even if the route ran straight down past Willow Valley Golf Course or if the 255 was diverted from Wyke onto Brighouse and then back to Halifax this link would not be lost. I rode route 256 today. I was intrigued to see it link Bradford with Brighouse but operated by Arriva instead of First. While there is no other direct link from Cleckheaton to Brighouse, I noticed there is no direct link from Cleckheaton to Batley. Nearest to Batley would be Birstall which isn't too far away
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2013 12:09:23 GMT 1
i would change things as so when it comes to the 256
- 256,I Would have operate hourly Between Bradford & Cleckheaton,every 2hrs operating to Brighouse Direct Via X25 Route
- 258 I Would send down to Scholes Replacing 256 On this section
- 622/623,1 trip per hour expands from Scholes down to Cleckheaton via current 256 Route
- 255,Timetable co-ordinated with 622/3 To make a 20 Min Cleckheaton - Scholes - Wyke corridor
- 220,From Cleckheaton would run Via Bradford Rd,Knowler Hill to get onto Halifax Rd
- 254,1 Trip Per hour (maybe number it 257) runs via current 220 route between Cleckheaton & Liversedge
- 283,I Would send Direct via Bradford Rd & miss out East Bierley.Hopefully making more people use 253/6 in this area
|
|