North Kirklees Commercial and Subsidised Bus Review

[kommie123]

Hi,

With falling passenger numbers and increased congestion in Leeds, I will be suggesting some changes to Arriva and Metro with regards to the bus network in the North Kirklees area. Some of this is based on existing feedback and monitoring of passenger numbers and in line with suggestions made in 2012. These changes will secure the future of the network in the local area.

The review focuses heavily on services in the Cleckheaton area where some routes are poorly patronised, even at peak times. There has been a reluctance over the last few years to properly address extremely poor usage on sections of routes 222, 256 and 259. This review will address that.

209 Leeds to Heckmondwike via Birstall.
This service will now operate via Firthcliffe Estate in a one way loop. This provides better connections to Leeds.

219/229 Leeds to Huddersfield.
No changes.

220 Leeds to Huddersfield.
This service will be extended to run every half hour to Birstall Market Place, one service will continue to Huddersfield as present.

222 Leeds to Heckmondwike via Birstall.
Service withdrawn. Service 220 will be extended to run every half hour to Birstall Market Place, one service will continue to Huddersfield as present. Gomersal Hill Top to Heckmondwike is very poorly used. Oxford Road and Listing Lane will continue to be served by re-reouted ML1 service. Service 209 will now cover Firthcliffe Estate.

223 Leeds to Mirfield.
No changes.

225 Leeds to Brighouse via Hunsworth.
Service withdrawn due to exceptionally poor passenger usage between Birkenshaw Halfway House and Brighouse. Additional peak time 254/255 services will be introduced to replace the 1630 225 and 1740 225 services.

252 Leeds to Dewsbury via Cleckheaton, Scholes and Heckmondwike.
This service will now operate every 20 minutes off peak Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays to replace services 254/255.

253 Bradford to Dewsbury via Mirfield.
2022 M-Sa Dewsbury to Bradford withdrawn. 2135 M-Sa Bradford to Dewbury Withdrawn. All sunday services withdrawn.

254 Leeds to Dewsbury via Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike.
Withdrawn except at peak times Monday to Friday.

255 Scholes to Halifax
Service will now start from Scholes. Peak time journeys from Cleckheaton to Halifax will be maintained.

256 Bradford to Brighouse
With exception of school time journeys, this service should be withdrawn due to exceptionally poor passenger usage.

259 East Bierley to Brighouse
Service will now operate on Westgate towards Old Pack Horse and continue as normal down Windy Bank Lane. This replaces service 254 on Westgate at off peak times. Scholes will no longer be served due to service 252 being extended to operate to every 20 minutes during the day.

X25 Cleckheaton to Leeds
Service now starts at Cleckheaton and will now operate via Gomersal Hill Top.

I feel some may suggest that these changes are controversial and would welcome your thoughts/tweaks.

Thanks

[mutty]

219 doesn't do Leeds / Huddersfield !

[angrycommuter]

The problem in the area is just how long it takes to get anywhere by bus due to the tortuous routes round every estate and traffic congestion. The services try to be all things to all users where in reality different users want different things. For many areas a couple of services a day to / from major areas of employment (Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield) would be sufficient. The rest of the day will be pensioners popping to the shops, dr, etc. so a shop-hopper type service covers most peoples needs.

[dennisthemenace504]

MOST 256's are now run by First Bradford, and have just won the tender for 3, maybe 5 years.

259 is run by TLC, so, you're proposing to stop pensioners on Turnsteads estate, from going shopping???, cos, it only runs during the off peak time.

So, you take away the 254 Heckmondwike service from Westgate?

TLC, tried to reroute ML1 earlier this year, and the number of disapprovals from passengers, caused it to be dropped.

Keep X25 as it is, and bring it back in at evening peak, instead of using 225.

So, is the 255, only operating Scholes to Halifax? If so, how would driver changeovers happen?

[www.buseireann.ie]

The thing that's been glaringly missing from the Spen Valley is express buses to Leeds! 1 hour plus from Heckmondwike to Leeds, only the X25 from Cleckers, not exactly addressing the M62 car park is it!

[westyorkshirebus]

If all these services you state have poor usage then they wouldn't be being either run commercially by Arriva or subsidised by Metro. Neither party throws money down the drain.

[dennisthemenace504]

Aug 31, 2016 21:01:41 GMT 1 westyorkshirebus said:

If all these services you state have poor usage then they wouldn't be being either run commercially by Arriva or subsidised by Metro. Neither party throws money down the drain.

The 256 used to be subsidised for nearly all of the route.
Every time, Arriva or Metro, mentioned to the local councillors, that they need to make changes to the 256, cos, it was costing around £1,000 a week, in subsidies, the councillors got a petition up, to save it, then in the 2013 (I think) changes, Arriva had given Metro, all the data for the route (Dec 2011, new ticket machines went live), and with this info, they could shoot down the councillors petition, so, it was proposed to run like it does now, just at peak times.

[mutty]

I'm confused .... Is this real or just summet that someone would do if they was in charge ??

[Deleted]

Aug 31, 2016 22:36:38 GMT 1 mutty said:

I'm confused .... Is this real or just summet that someone would do if they was in charge ??

If it is someone`s ideas would`nt it be better in the Fantasy forum? (maybe open it up to the full West Yorkshire Service/Network suggestions thread?)

Anyway from these ideas,i`d suggest:

Keep 256/259/X25 as they are currently

214/220/222/252/254/255:

220 Remains Hourly
222 Becomes a whole new service,running from Leeds to White Rose,then Via 214 route to Birstall Retail Pk,Onto Cleckheaton Via Birstall Cnt then Via current 255 route to Halifax.
252 Remains Eves/Sundays as Current
254 Daytimes Every 20 Mins,M-Fri Peaks remain every 15 Mins
214 & 255 Withdrawn,replaced by 222 & 254

209/219/229:
209,as mentioned about,running Via Firthcliffe Est
229 has extra morning journeys added,replacing 219
219 Withdrawn,replaced by extra 229 Journeys

[Kenton Schweppes]

Aug 31, 2016 21:01:41 GMT 1 westyorkshirebus said:

If all these services you state have poor usage then they wouldn't be being either run commercially by Arriva or subsidised by Metro. Neither party throws money down the drain.

What? My eyes nearly shot out of my head when I read this? I know this is nothing to do with this topic but I'd have to draw your attention to the Leeds City Council enquiry into why 70 million notes has been wasted by Metro without delivering absolutely zero in the way of transport projects and improvements ie the dreadful trolley bus scheme. Metro not wasting money? Pull the other one.

[MetrolineGA1511]

Further to your opening post, I doubt we should have the 255 link to Halifax severed completely.

[jdodger08]

Sept 5, 2016 11:36:50 GMT 1 Kenton Schweppes said:

Aug 31, 2016 21:01:41 GMT 1 westyorkshirebus said:

If all these services you state have poor usage then they wouldn't be being either run commercially by Arriva or subsidised by Metro. Neither party throws money down the drain.

What? My eyes nearly shot out of my head when I read this? I know this is nothing to do with this topic but I'd have to draw your attention to the Leeds City Council enquiry into why 70 million notes has been wasted by Metro without delivering absolutely zero in the way of transport projects and improvements ie the dreadful trolley bus scheme. Metro not wasting money? Pull the other one.

But that is essentially because of the toffs sat in London refusing to spend their cash here! They can easily spend £14billion on crossrail but can't spend £173million on a trolley bus line. This 1bn transport package we received is nothing...