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Post by jackh on Aug 7, 2008 11:53:56 GMT 1
Some of us on here have made comments on what a mess the Arriva Yorkshire network is around Spen. So I thought we could have a go at making the network more simpler.
Here are some ideas I have come up with so far from simply looking at timetables and the Metro North Kirklees map guide:
Route 221 Revised Route Leeds to Cleckheaton
The hourly extension between Heckmondwike and Cleckheaton via Frost Hill and Bradford Road will be withdrawn, journeys can be made on the existing 268 service.
Route 227 Revised Route Heckmondwike to Halifax
This will no longer operate between Cleckheaton and Halifax which will be replaced by revised service 255.
Route 250 NEW! Cleckheaton to Wakefield
This will be a new every 20 minute service between Cleckheaton and Wakefield. This will replace the half hourly extension of the 254 between Cleckheaton and Dewsbury via Windy Bank, Heckmondwike and Dewsbury Moor.
Between Dewsbury and Wakefield, it will replace the 253, 254 and 278 providing just the one bus route along Dewsbury Road in Ossett and Wakefield.
Route 253 Wakefield to Bradford
This route will now terminate at Dewsbury Bus Station. The Dewsbury to Wakefield section will be replaced by the new service 250 as listed above.
Route 254 Cleckheaton to Leeds
This route will be simplified and will only operate between Leeds and Cleckheaton only via Whitehall Road and Gomersal. The frequency will be every 15 minutes.
Service 254 between Cleckheaton and Wakefield will be replaced by a new service 250 (see above).
Route 255 Revised Route Brighouse to Leeds
The Cleckheaton to Brighouse section will be replaced by an extended service 256.
The service will now extend to Halifax and replace the Cleckheaton to Halifax section of route 227.
Route 256 Revised Route Bradford to Brighouse
This will now be extended beyond Cleckheaton to Brighouse covering the section of the 255 route.
Route 278 Revised Route Wakefield to Halifax
The Dewsbury to Wakefield section will be withdrawn and replaced by new service 250.
Feel free to comment on these ideas and what thoughts you have for a simpler network.
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Post by Craig on Aug 7, 2008 20:46:34 GMT 1
My proposals would be as listed below. Note that in some cases frequencies are enhanced from the current situation, which is needed to boost performance of the network, rather than just reorganising the reduced network that Arriva have created. The plan also includes some coloured Overground style lines, which would be the flagship services of a "Kirklees Connection" (or similar) brand.
202/203 Leeds - Huddersfield (Red Line)
Unchanged from present.
212/213 Dewsbury-Wakefield/Morley
Service 213 to run via 212 route along Willan's Road/Moorlands Road/Boothroyd Lane, to provide an improved 30-min daytime link along this route. New 258 will replace the existing part of
213 route.
220/221 Leeds - Cleckheaton/Huddersfield/Heckmondwike (Blue Line)
220 unchanged from present.
221 extension from Heckmondwike to Cleckheaton withdrawn.
227/228/229 Leeds - Halifax/Huddersfield (Yellow Line)
227 Mon to Sat daytime service extended from Heckmondwike to Leeds via present 219 route. Evening/Sunday service is unchanged running Heckmondwike-Halifax only.
New service 228 runs hourly at all times via the present 209 route.
229 runs to a regular 30-minute daytime frequency.
Combined daytime frequency will therefore increase to every 15 mins between Leeds, Gildersome and Birstall (albeit via different routes).
253/256 Wakefield - Bradford
253 now runs hourly during the evening. Service now extends through to Wakefield at all times.
256 Mon to Sat daytime service extended from Cleckheaton to Wakefield via 253 route, to provide an improved 30-min daytime link along this route. Evening/Sunday service is unchanged running Cleckheaton-Bradford only.
254/255 Leeds - Dewsbury/Brighouse (Purple Line)
Combined Mon to Fri daytime Leeds to Cleckheaton service now every 15 mins in line with the Saturday service.
254 no longer extends to Wakefield (the Dewsbury to Wakefield section is instead covered by 253, 256, 258 and 278).
258 Wakefield - Heckmondwike
From Wakefield via 253/278 route to Dewsbury, then continues via present 213 route to Staincliffe and Hospital, then via Healey Lane and Cemetery Road to Heckmondwike. Runs hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes.
268 Dewsbury - Bradford (Orange Line)
Unchanged from present.
278 Wakefield - Halifax
Evening/Sunday services now run between Dewsbury and Halifax only (this is instead covered by the 253).
Note that services 253, 256, 258 and 278 will combine to provide an improved 15-minute daytime frequency between Wakefield and Dewsbury.
281/283 Thornhill Edge - Birstall - Bradford (Green Line)
Unchanged from present.
Mon to Sat daytime interworking is as follows:
220/254 at Cleckheaton.
220/228 at Huddersfield.
Sunday daytime interworking as follows:
220/221 at Cleckheaton/Heckmondwike (buses will need to run light between these two places to pick up the opposite service).
Note: Because of the above interworking I have suggested a generic "Kirklees Connection" brand which should be adopted and advertised on buses rather than specific route branding.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Aug 7, 2008 23:26:53 GMT 1
Some of us on here have made comments on what a mess the Arriva Yorkshire network is around Spen. So I thought we could have a go at making the network more simpler. Here are some ideas I have come up with so far from simply looking at timetables and the Metro North Kirklees map guide: Feel free to comment on these ideas and what thoughts you have for a simpler network. One link that seems to have been cut here is from Windy Bank to Leeds via Whitehall Road. One of either the current 254 or 255 would have to provide this link I would expect Also I think the 253 is one of not many services that is pretty much the same route as it ever has been, so I wouldn't change that. I would increase both this and the 278 to every 30 mins, providing an every 15 mins bus to Wakefield I'm going to have a go myself but I'm going to dig out an old North Kirklees map from the turn of the decade as it's probably a better place to start than the current reduced network |
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Post by Craig on Aug 8, 2008 18:05:45 GMT 1
The 254 does run via Windy Bank estate.
I worked from memory with some help from an old map, which is why I've added in parts of now withdrawn services, but also tried to avoid attempting to make today's network as concise as it was several years ago, because tender withdrawals and some service withdrawals/reductions on lesser routes would have occurred anyway.
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Post by jabbott1987 on Aug 8, 2008 18:15:39 GMT 1
Why even have a new service 228 when you could just the 209 all the time instead?
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Post by Craig on Aug 8, 2008 18:34:16 GMT 1
Purely because a network of services sequentially numbered 227, 228, 229 is more marketable and easier to remember.
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Post by westyorkshirebus on Aug 8, 2008 20:20:09 GMT 1
Another important thing is that in the old days, hardly anything terminated in Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike (only the 213 in Cleck and 274 in Heck). I think this is important. The spen area is geographically surrounded by major towns but with smaller ones in the middle, the old network of running say from Leeds to Huddersfield or Bradford to Wakefield meant there were more links. Any new ideas I feel should go back to this city to city type network
Looking back and it was October 2004 when the rot started to set in with big changes in Apr 05 and Jan 07 plus lots of other changes in between
In Oct 04 we lost the 213, 223, 230, 250 & 257
In Apr 05 we lost the 201, 206, 210, 211, 215, 217, 218, 228, 251, 252, 255, 258, 259, 274, 279, 280 & 282. There was a new 213 introduced
In Oct 05 we lost the 214
In Apr 06 the X33 was reduced to every 90 minutes
In Jan 07 we lost the 207, 208, 215, 224, 226, X24 & X33. Service 255 was introduced
In Jan 08 we lost the 225 & 284
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Post by nick on Aug 10, 2008 14:39:58 GMT 1
Sorry to say this, but Arriva have made a mockery of the Kirklees network. As pointed out lots of services were lost, part's of there routes were withdrawn and replaced by NEW services (which seems pointless).
And wasn't the X33 doing really well before they reduced the network time down to the lousy every 90 minutes which meant the standing time at Bradford was only 5 or 10 minutes?
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Post by jackh on Aug 10, 2008 14:47:02 GMT 1
The X33 was probably withdrawn for a few reasons. Mainly because of timetabling issues if problems were to arise on the M1 causing large delays to services.
Anyway, if they hadn't axed the service then, it would of gone now anyway due to tachographs having to be fitted to the buses as it is over 30 miles long and the implications of requiring more drivers for the service.
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Post by olympian on Aug 10, 2008 21:42:42 GMT 1
As well as thing above a driver at beck lane told me that it was withdrawn due to it wasent taking mutch money during the day and at night as most of the users were OAP's and as the free travel came in they dident want the servise, and yes arriva do get money from metro for this free travel but as no money is taken at the driver its fate was sealed.
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Post by angrycommuter on Aug 11, 2008 12:03:05 GMT 1
Focusing on the Cleckheaton area, I would make Cleckheaton a hub bus station with most services starting or terminating there. In line with this, a new (free) transfer ticket should be introduced to allow people to change buses without additional cost. This type of ticket is well used on the Lynx bus network in Orlando.
220 Leeds to Cleckheaton
A half hourly service following same route as present
221 Leeds to Cleckheaton
A half hourly service that travels from Cleckheaton via current 220 route to Liversedge, then to Heckmondwike and then current 221 service to Leeds
222 Leeds to Cleckheaton
Every 12 minute service following same route as 254, operating with new service 223.
223 Leeds to Cleckheaton
Hourly service following same route as current 255, operating with new service 222
250 Halifax to Cleckheaton
A half hourly service following same route as current 227
251 Cleckheaton to Dewsbury
Hourly service covering withdrawn section of 227 between Cleckheaton and Heckmondwike and continues into Dewsbury following route of 254 to School Lane then into Dewsbury through Westtown.
252 Cleckheaton to Bradford
New half hourly service operating the same route as current 253
253 Wakefield to Cleckheaton
A half hourly service following the "traditional" 253 route to Cleckheaton
254 Cleckheaton to Wakefield
Half hourly service following current route, combines with 253 to operate every 15 minutes from Wakefield to Dewsbury. Service 278 would operate Dewsbury to Halifax and not extend to Wakefield
255 Huddersfield to Cleckheaton
New hourly service via Clifton and Brighouse
256 Bradford to Cleckheaton
Same route and service as currently provided
257 Huddersfield to Cleckheaton
Follows same route as current 220 but half hourly
258 Dewsbury to Bradford
The one remaining daytime through service that operates every 15 minutes, exactly the same as 268. Number changed to fit with the Cleckheaton 25x series
X21 Peak time express service from Cleckheaton to Leeds via Heckmondwike and Birstall. Follows 268 route to Heckmondwike, then operates towards Birstall and then joins the M621 at Gildersome. Three daily trips at 07.30, 08.00 and 0830 and 16.45, 17.15 and 17.45. Calls at Dark Arches on route out of Leeds.
X22 Peak time express service from Cleckheaton to Leeds via M62 and M621, with 3 trips at 07.30, 08.00 and 08.30 and 16.45, 17.15 and 17.45. Calls at Dark Arches on route out of Leeds.
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Post by jackh on Aug 11, 2008 16:37:48 GMT 1
If your service 222 is operating every 12 minutes and your service 223 is operating hourly, there is going to be the risk that your 223 follows or runs slightly later than a 222 journey so won't carry anybody as not many people use the service from Hunsworth do they.
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Post by Craig on Aug 11, 2008 18:05:01 GMT 1
I'm not sold on this idea of splitting nearly all routes at Cleckheaton. The earlier post recommending maintenance of city-to-city routes calling at various Spen Valley towns is much more sensible and reduces the need for the majority of passengers to change bus.
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Post by angrycommuter on Aug 11, 2008 20:05:52 GMT 1
If your service 222 is operating every 12 minutes and your service 223 is operating hourly, there is going to be the risk that your 223 follows or runs slightly later than a 222 journey so won't carry anybody as not many people use the service from Hunsworth do they. I meant for the service to be much like the 254 and 255, with one journey replaced by the hourly service. |
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Post by angrycommuter on Aug 11, 2008 20:10:30 GMT 1
I'm not sold on this idea of splitting nearly all routes at Cleckheaton. The earlier post recommending maintenance of city-to-city routes calling at various Spen Valley towns is much more sensible and reduces the need for the majority of passengers to change bus. The trouble with the city to city services is the time-keeping. Serving only one city will reduce the delays. From experience in the area, few buses with the exception of X25 or 268 have many people that travel through Cleckheaton. The journey's are just too long. Example is the 254 or 220 from Liversedge to Leeds. Both buses take over an hour to travel the 9 miles "as the crow flies" distance. A direct frequent service to Cleckheaton takes 10 minutes, then a direct frequent service to Leeds takes 40 minutes. This would be much preferable than sat on a bus for over an hour. |
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