Boosting Buses in Bath - or Not? (4)

The significant changes to the network made in November 2015 in Sheffield were badly explained, badly publicised and VERY badly received by the populace. fbb has no contact in Bath, but, from an on-line point of view, the changes in the City of Bath are being well explained and well publicised.

Or are they?

The overall plan has been to simplify routes, adjust cross city links to give a better balance of service and change some route numbers.

Cutbacks? We shall see.

There is a current craze amongst bus operators to use single digit numbers wherever possible; the theory is that such "simple" digits are easier to remember and thus will make the service more attractive and bring in huge profits.

Hmmm ...

Another Bath-

So let's continue the review of Bath's up-coming changes, but starting with extracts from a 1967 route map. Back then, route 14 ran to Bathampton ...

... when it terminated at "canal bridge" where there is a little nibble of road in which to make the turn.

By 2007 it was service 4, still running cross-City ...

... but looping the loop. 

And today ...

... it retains its route and frequency. Note the lavish provision for passengers at the Holcombe Vale terminus.

And from September 4th?

It has gone, vanished, disappeared. So what does First say about this?

Answer. Nothing.

Presumably folk from the village will have to walk to the main road ...

... and catch the half hourly 265. The daytime 265 runs to Warminster and Salisbury but in the evenings goes only as far as Yarnbrook. But what do we see on those later evening journeys.

Yes! They do run via Bathampton village like the apparently expunged 4. As the web site explains:-

These changes are about making our services easier to understand and to use. They are phase two in a series of plans to make travel by bus in Bath much simpler.  Phase one was about increasing the frequency of buses on key routes, whereas phase three, when put in place, will be about taking things to the next level once again.  We can’t reveal the details of those plans just yet, but we are putting a lot of effort into making sure the city has the bus service it deserves.

But maybe not at Bathampton? Surely First Bus would not abandon a whole village?

Oh yes they would!

But fear not, Bathamptonians all, First's arch competitor, Wessex Connect, will be running a service 12; not every 30 minutes an before but at a decidedly non-memorable every 40.

Same route, though.

Would it really have hurt First's corporate feelings to tell its loyal serving passengers what was happening?

Isn't Larkhall in Scotland?

Indeed it is, but there are three more; in the Scottish Borders, in Northumberland, and here, as a suburb of Bath.

And you thought that bus timetables were complicated today! Here you have an 8, 8A and 9 via one route, a 1 and 11A to The Square ...

... and a 3, 3A, 10 and 11 passing by. Today's route map is much simpler.

The map shows a 6 and 7 opposite ways round an equally complex double loop, OUT via Camden Road, BACK via London Road and Walcot (6) with service 7 in the opposite direction.. Does the timetable help?

It shows a 15 minute even interval service to Fairfield Park (left hand loop) but a very uneven service to Larkhall Square; 33, 36, 03 and 06 minutes past the hour.

Is this addressed by the September 4th change? Here's how it is explained.

New Service 6 (Bus Station to Fairfield Park): From 4 September Service 6 will work more independently of Service 7, providing journeys to and from Fairfield Park. Changes between the two services will be possible though, as both routes will serve Camden Road, which will have a significantly improved frequency of service. 

This alteration is necessary as First Bath needs to reduce the number of vehicles operating on the route by one. This follows the withdrawal of financial support for the service by the local authority.

In making changes to this service First Bath has considered the concern that a previous change to Services 6 and 7 caused in 2010.  Interchanges between the two routes will be possible in Camden Road. The latter will also see improved frequencies (buses every 15 minutes along Camden Road). London Road, which is prone to heavy congestion, will no longer be served, although of course the new Service 3 operates every 12 minutes along the length of London Road.

Overall Service 6 buses will run every half an hour Monday to Saturday daytime. Evening facilities to Larkhall are provided by service 6A (see below).

New Service 6A (Bus Station to Larkhall / Fairfield Park): A new Service 6A (which will be integrated into the timetable of Service 6) will provide journeys during the early mornings, on Monday to Saturday evenings and on Sundays and Public Holidays only. These buses will link Larkhall and Fairfield Park with the bus station. They will run hourly, using Camden Road to access the city centre.  

New Service 7 (Bus Station to Larkhall): From 4 September Service 7 will work more independently of Service 6, providing journeys to and from Larkhall. Changes between the two services will be possible though, as both routes will serve Camden Road, which will have a significantly improved frequency of service. 

This alteration is necessary as First Bath needs to reduce the number of vehicles operating on the route by one. This follows the withdrawal of financial support for the service by the local authority.

In making changes to this service First Bath has considered the concern that a previous change to Services 6 and 7 caused in 2010.  Interchanges between the two routes will be possible in Camden Road. The latter will also see improved frequencies (buses every 15 minutes along Camden Road). London Road, which is prone to heavy congestion, will no longer be served, although of course the new Service 3 operates every 12 minutes along the length of London Road.

Overall Service 7 buses will run every half an hour Monday to Saturday daytime. Evening facilities to Fairfield Park are provided by service 6A (see above).

Did fbb say "well explained"?

Help, we need that new map!

Let's try a neater explanation.

Both services (6 and 7) will each run every 30 minutes (Monday to Saturday daytimes) out and back via Camden Road. Route 6 (LIGHT GREEN) runs to Fairfield Park only, previously with a 15 minute frequency. FREQUENCY HALVED. Route 7 (DARK GREEN) serves the Larkhall loop ever 30, previously with four buses an hour but effectively only a 30 minute frequency (see above).

Early mornings, evenings and Sundays the 6A (also LIGHT GREEN) serves both.

Simple, isn't it?

We will return to Bath next week.

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Tomorrow the senior ffb's set off for a week's holiday in Scotland. The junior family will be moving in to fbb mansions to enjoy the delights of sunny Seaton and, more importantly, provide adequate staffing for Jacko the cat.

A few Scottish blogs may well appear!

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 Next odds and bobs blog : Saturday 20th August