Most useless bus routes in West Yorkshire

[Username]

I think the 532 is pretty useless never seen anyone use it and the fact that METRO has saved this service over more successful services like the 278 to Dewsbury from Halifax is actually shocking. 

[mattb7tl]

Dec 11, 2022 20:23:11 GMT 1 Username said:

I think the 532 is pretty useless never seen anyone use it and the fact that METRO has saved this service over more successful services like the 278 to Dewsbury from Halifax is actually shocking. 

Unpopular opinion incoming... The large majority of circular routes!
Eg... The 342 and 358. The place with the highest population on the 358, have to go all the way around the bus route just to get into town.
With the 342? It serves areas with older demographics. Realistically their only option is to go to town. They can't really go to the village because there's no bus back.

[Father Dougal McGuire]

Back in the early Yorkshire tiger days they used to run short 501's from Halifax to Elland in the evenings at xx10 past the hour, 5 minutes infront of Firsts 503 at xx15. These were mainly used for positioning trips though. They didn't last.

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2022 21:57:26 GMT 1 mattb7tl said:

Dec 11, 2022 20:23:11 GMT 1 Username said:

I think the 532 is pretty useless never seen anyone use it and the fact that METRO has saved this service over more successful services like the 278 to Dewsbury from Halifax is actually shocking. 

Unpopular opinion incoming... The large majority of circular routes!
Eg... The 342 and 358. The place with the highest population on the 358, have to go all the way around the bus route just to get into town.
With the 342? It serves areas with older demographics. Realistically their only option is to go to town. They can't really go to the village because there's no bus back.

If I'm remembering correctly previously the Lowerhouses routes used to be Hourly in each direction (358/359?) & it was when they got replaced with an extended 327 it became Half Hourly in one direction only (later being re-split & just the 358 returning). There was some pros to doing this, as it allowed an even frequency of buses towards Huddersfield & Passengers knew what side of the road to wait at, plus there's still the 354 offering direct journeys into Huddersfield from Lowerhouses.

I'd say the 153 is fairly useless, at least on it's current timetable with 3 journeys off-peak. Most of it's route have options for either Wakefield or Leeds that offer more than Castleford at a much better frequency, a big step down from it's days operating from Morley to Castleford Hourly. A Similar thing with the 317 from Almondbury to Lindley,what's gone down from Hourly (under the old 368) to 2 Journeys per day that from Milnsbridge to Lindley.

Another, possibly more controversial one is 622 as its covered it's entirety by other services. Whilst it could be seen as providing extra capacity along Manningham Rd into Bradford, you might as well restore 626 to Every 20 Mins & leave the Shipley - Bingley section to the trains & Transdev (probably would save a driver or 2 as well)

[mattb7tl]

Dec 11, 2022 23:04:27 GMT 1 @cp2012 said:

Dec 11, 2022 21:57:26 GMT 1 mattb7tl said:

Unpopular opinion incoming... The large majority of circular routes!
Eg... The 342 and 358. The place with the highest population on the 358, have to go all the way around the bus route just to get into town.
With the 342? It serves areas with older demographics. Realistically their only option is to go to town. They can't really go to the village because there's no bus back.

If I'm remembering correctly previously the Lowerhouses routes used to be Hourly in each direction (358/359?) & it was when they got replaced with an extended 327 it became Half Hourly in one direction only (later being re-split & just the 358 returning). There was some pros to doing this, as it allowed an even frequency of buses towards Huddersfield & Passengers knew what side of the road to wait at, plus there's still the 354 offering direct journeys into Huddersfield from Lowerhouses.

I get that there is an alternative, but for an area which isn't rural and quite close to the town centre. The service is quite shocking.
I think it would be a good idea to shorten the route to Fanny Moor, there's an opportunity for a turn around, and it would allow for the route to still be done both ways in thirty minutes with four to six minutes of layover time. Which isn't the best but the existing route doesn't seem to have any layover time at all...?
Ashenhurst would still be very well serviced. With the 306, 319 and 308 within a maximum of a seven minute walking distance (based on Google Maps) 

[joseph]

Dec 11, 2022 23:04:27 GMT 1 @cp2012 said:

Dec 11, 2022 21:57:26 GMT 1 mattb7tl said:

Unpopular opinion incoming... The large majority of circular routes!
Eg... The 342 and 358. The place with the highest population on the 358, have to go all the way around the bus route just to get into town.
With the 342? It serves areas with older demographics. Realistically their only option is to go to town. They can't really go to the village because there's no bus back.

If I'm remembering correctly previously the Lowerhouses routes used to be Hourly in each direction (358/359?) & it was when they got replaced with an extended 327 it became Half Hourly in one direction only (later being re-split & just the 358 returning). There was some pros to doing this, as it allowed an even frequency of buses towards Huddersfield & Passengers knew what side of the road to wait at, plus there's still the 354 offering direct journeys into Huddersfield from Lowerhouses.

I'd say the 153 is fairly useless, at least on it's current timetable with 3 journeys off-peak. Most of it's route have options for either Wakefield or Leeds that offer more than Castleford at a much better frequency, a big step down from it's days operating from Morley to Castleford Hourly. A Similar thing with the 317 from Almondbury to Lindley,what's gone down from Hourly (under the old 368) to 2 Journeys per day that from Milnsbridge to Lindley.

Another, possibly more controversial one is 622 as its covered it's entirety by other services. Whilst it could be seen as providing extra capacity along Manningham Rd into Bradford, you might as well restore 626 to Every 20 Mins & leave the Shipley - Bingley section to the trains & Transdev (probably would save a driver or 2 as well)

Regarding the 153, Cas is defo more popular for those looking for a down to earth town than Leeds, better market in Cas for a start (it's not posh lol) and a better High Street too, more compact as well. Wakefield is turning more and more like Leeds too.

[westyorkshirebus]

Dec 11, 2022 20:23:11 GMT 1 Username said:

I think the 532 is pretty useless never seen anyone use it and the fact that METRO has saved this service over more successful services like the 278 to Dewsbury from Halifax is actually shocking. 

This highlights the difference between enthusiasts and the general public

Enthusiasts always demand little local buses are axed and demand town to town links so they can do massive multi town trips all day.

The general public don’t regularly want to go from Halifax to Dewsbury but do want a bus from the shops to their house ten minutes away

[Username]

Dec 12, 2022 23:45:02 GMT 1 westyorkshirebus said:

Dec 11, 2022 20:23:11 GMT 1 Username said:

I think the 532 is pretty useless never seen anyone use it and the fact that METRO has saved this service over more successful services like the 278 to Dewsbury from Halifax is actually shocking. 

This highlights the difference between enthusiasts and the general public

Enthusiasts always demand little local buses are axed and demand town to town links so they can do massive multi town trips all day.

The general public don’t regularly want to go from Halifax to Dewsbury but do want a bus from the shops to their house ten minutes away

Well people did want to travel to Dewsbury as it was quite busy. Also with that bus gone now two neighbouring towns are no longer connected and a lot of Brighouse residents said they want a bus to Mirfield and Dewsbury again. Also the 532 serves no purpose, never see anyone using it. The Gibbett Street residents are so close to Town that they always walk or drive, also nearby roads Hanson Lane and Hopwood Lane are served by the 21/541/546 and the top of Gibbet street is served by 21 and 541/2. King Cross has much faster bus services 546, 574, 579, 586, 587, 590, 591, 592 and Skircoat is a short walk withing Copley, Savile Park and Manor Heath which are served by 561, 562, 563, 574 and 577.

[Father Dougal McGuire]

Another reason for the demise of the 278 was interworking it with the 281/282/283 services making services regularly excessively late with no chance of getting it back due to the long route.

What I would do is extend a 548 to Elland and go around a circular of South Lane, Savile Road and back to Elland to then set off back to Brighouse. I have used and observed this service for years and saw the main bulk of the passengers were those travelling to and from Brighouse, Elland & West Vale then the bus would empty out at Brighouse. (I've gone onto more detail on the service changes you would do thread somewhere)

[Steve Macz403]

I certainly say unless town to town services are on a stand alone high frequency route like the 268 with no other bus service alongside it. They’ve got no chance of surviving this day and age.
The 278 had many pinch-points ( Salterhebble Hill) , Brighouse to Cooper Bridge on A644 can snarl up when the M62 goes wrong.

[stephen01]

Dec 13, 2022 23:41:59 GMT 1 Father Dougal McGuire said:

Another reason for the demise of the 278 was interworking it with the 281/282/283 services making services regularly excessively late with no chance of getting it back due to the long route.

What I would do is extend a 548 to Elland and go around a circular of South Lane, Savile Road and back to Elland to then set off back to Brighouse. I have used and observed this service for years and saw the main bulk of the passengers were those travelling to and from Brighouse, Elland & West Vale then the bus would empty out at Brighouse. (I've gone onto more detail on the service changes you would do thread somewhere)

totally agree about the 278 & 282 interworking madness. 253 & 278 were the best options to interwork as they always changed at Wakefield.

[gogglyboi]

The 966 Guiseley & Yeadon Circular has to be up there on the list of useless routes. It doesn't serve any areas that aren't either directly on the A2, A3, 27, 33 or 34 or are more than a 10 minute walk from a stop on one of those routes. I don't understand how it's lasted for so long, but with information that was shared recently it might not for much longer.

[lewis]

globe of barnsley are looking into taking on more routes in west yorkshire and south yorkshire for next year which is 2023

[deerfold]

Dec 26, 2022 19:00:34 GMT 1 lewis said:

globe of barnsley are looking into taking on more routes in west yorkshire and south yorkshire for next year which is 2023

Is that relevant?

[joseph]

Dec 26, 2022 13:39:26 GMT 1 gogglyboi said:

The 966 Guiseley & Yeadon Circular has to be up there on the list of useless routes. It doesn't serve any areas that aren't either directly on the A2, A3, 27, 33 or 34 or are more than a 10 minute walk from a stop on one of those routes. I don't understand how it's lasted for so long, but with information that was shared recently it might not for much longer.

Don't forget the whole area it serves is very hilly, take the Haw Estate loop for example, yes it's not too far to walk to the town centre, but it is uphill with shopping. They you've got the Henshaw/Westfield area, not far from the 33 for a good few residents but that's no good for Yeadon and the A2 is only hourly, within Westfield/Warm Lane area, the 966 also serves roads not served by any buses with parts a good walk from both the 33 and A2. The loop around Ings Road/Guiseley station has no nearby bus service without a walk for some, and finally all those roads off the Queensway have hill sections and again may be a shortish walk to Queensway, but not with heavy items and especially not a good walk in hot weather or icy conditions. You could also argue that with the reduction in the 27/34 frequency over the past few years, it fills a gap. 

[peppy89]

There is a route wakefield to Healey I wouldn't say completely useless but from Ossett to Wakefield there's certainly 126 that is quicker but west Wells estate in Ossett is quiet with no one on the bus especially on its way to Healey as there is nothing in Healey other than a few industrial parks at the bottom end but certainly is a quiet route but I'm.led to believe is under contract to metro

[peppy89]

Because the 120 takes in two estates in Ossett, Ossett Spa , Horbury junction and lupset estate as well as thornes lol

[peppy89]

Also 100 to eastmooor from wakefield, it doubles back on itself most of the route

[Burnside]

I think Keighley's K15 has to fall into this category since the changes a few months ago.

Before, while it only ran a hand ful of times a day, it linked Keighley, Hainworth, Leeming, Oxenhope and Haworth.

Now, while it provides a link from Hainworth to Oakworth (and maintains a service on Goose Cote Lane), it no longer links Hainworth with Leeming, Oxenhope or Haworth plus the fact it no longer runs in both directions means it's essentially useless for residents of Hainworth wanting to go to Keighley or those wanting to go to Harewood Road or Goose Cote Lane from Keighley.

[deerfold]

Dec 31, 2022 21:14:04 GMT 1 Burnside said:

I think Keighley's K15 has to fall into this category since the changes a few months ago.

Before, while it only ran a hand ful of times a day, it linked Keighley, Hainworth, Leeming, Oxenhope and Haworth.

Now, while it provides a link from Hainworth to Oakworth (and maintains a service on Goose Cote Lane), it no longer links Hainworth with Leeming, Oxenhope or Haworth plus the fact it no longer runs in both directions means it's essentially useless for residents of Hainworth wanting to go to Keighley or those wanting to go to Harewood Road or Goose Cote Lane from Keighley.

It takes 29 minutes, rather than 11, but you can still go from Hainworth to Keighley.

[Burnside]

Jan 1, 2023 12:09:28 GMT 1 deerfold said:

Dec 31, 2022 21:14:04 GMT 1 Burnside said:

I think Keighley's K15 has to fall into this category since the changes a few months ago.

Before, while it only ran a hand ful of times a day, it linked Keighley, Hainworth, Leeming, Oxenhope and Haworth.

Now, while it provides a link from Hainworth to Oakworth (and maintains a service on Goose Cote Lane), it no longer links Hainworth with Leeming, Oxenhope or Haworth plus the fact it no longer runs in both directions means it's essentially useless for residents of Hainworth wanting to go to Keighley or those wanting to go to Harewood Road or Goose Cote Lane from Keighley.

It takes 29 minutes, rather than 11, but you can still go from Hainworth to Keighley.

Granted, but going from being able to be in town in 10 minutes to now having to sit on the bus 3 times as long is not a great incentive to leave the car at home. Likewise, it's pointless serving Harewood Road when anyone heading back there from town is either on the bus for half an hour or will just get a K7 and walk down or a K9 and walk up. At least running in both directions would offer shorter journeys for residents of Hainworth and Harewood Road and increase its usefulness?

[deerfold]

Jan 1, 2023 12:52:15 GMT 1 Burnside said:

Jan 1, 2023 12:09:28 GMT 1 deerfold said:

It takes 29 minutes, rather than 11, but you can still go from Hainworth to Keighley.

Granted, but going from being able to be in town in 10 minutes to now having to sit on the bus 3 times as long is not a great incentive to leave the car at home. Likewise, it's pointless serving Harewood Road when anyone heading back there from town is either on the bus for half an hour or will just get a K7 and walk down or a K9 and walk up. At least running in both directions would offer shorter journeys for residents of Hainworth and Harewood Road and increase its usefulness?

There's 4 trips a day on the K15. I don't think having 4 in the other direction is going to be the spur for people to take the bus instead of the car.

I'd prefer trips in both directions but the old M1-M6 services (now K14-K16) have been having cuts, bit by bit, for 20 years - they can all now be run bu one bus, whereas there used to be 3 buses' worth. Now there's just 10 full trips and 2 half trips between all three routes (6 on a Sunday). I suspect they're the last lifeline link for some.

[Burnside]

Jan 1, 2023 14:37:30 GMT 1 deerfold said:

Jan 1, 2023 12:52:15 GMT 1 Burnside said:

Granted, but going from being able to be in town in 10 minutes to now having to sit on the bus 3 times as long is not a great incentive to leave the car at home. Likewise, it's pointless serving Harewood Road when anyone heading back there from town is either on the bus for half an hour or will just get a K7 and walk down or a K9 and walk up. At least running in both directions would offer shorter journeys for residents of Hainworth and Harewood Road and increase its usefulness?

There's 4 trips a day on the K15. I don't think having 4 in the other direction is going to be the spur for people to take the bus instead of the car.

I'd prefer trips in both directions but the old M1-M6 services (now K14-K16) have been having cuts, bit by bit, for 20 years - they can all now be run bu one bus, whereas there used to be 3 buses' worth. Now there's just 10 full trips and 2 half trips between all three routes (6 on a Sunday). I suspect they're the last lifeline link for some.

Wasn't suggesting 4 trips each way, maybe alternating so 1st and 3rd go out via Hainworth, the 2nd and 4th via Harewood Road.

The K14-16 are great routes with some stunning scenery, the K14 in particular, and I'm somewhat surprised that, for a company that does so much to market it's services, it hasn't done so at all with these.

[johnboy1948]

Dec 31, 2022 21:14:04 GMT 1 Burnside said:

I think Keighley's K15 has to fall into this category since the changes a few months ago.

Before, while it only ran a hand ful of times a day, it linked Keighley, Hainworth, Leeming, Oxenhope and Haworth.

Now, while it provides a link from Hainworth to Oakworth (and maintains a service on Goose Cote Lane), it no longer links Hainworth with Leeming, Oxenhope or Haworth plus the fact it no longer runs in both directions means it's essentially useless for residents of Hainworth wanting to go to Keighley or those wanting to go to Harewood Road or Goose Cote Lane from Keighley.

this service only goes one way if you live in hainworth  to get to keighley you have to go to oakworth bracken bank then to town if you live harewood rd goose cote  to get back home you have to go via hainworth oakworth   takes about twice has long

[peteleeds]

Id have to say local to me it would be 81 pudsey to leeds. Mainly used for short journeys rather than end to end which would be better served with some creative rerouting/timetabling of services.

If the 15 replaced the 14 between leeds and logic park I think the 14 would have time to c serve troydale.

Then i would re-route the 9 through swinnow estate and up into old farnley through the estate and then resume current route at ring road/whincover drive section.

Maybe try and get 42 to serve blue hill lane instead of lower wortley road.

Then have 81 just cover the leeds to green hill lane bit which is timetabled at about 20 mins each way so could be done with just 1 bus. Maybe even serve the estate behind the old tropical world which is no longer served by present services