The Challenge Of Chelmsford's Changes (2)
We are back to the north-east of Chelmsford and we can easily spot the 57 (plus its collection of oddities which do not apply on this side of town) in BLUE and the 40 in BROWN.
For the record (which is important for our understanding of the changes), the 57 is every 20 minutes ...
... and the 45 is every 30.
Now look at the map showing what will happen after this weekend.
In a surprising cartographic misjudgement, the colours are very unhelpful. Whilst on-line, the customer with good visual acuity can just about differentiate between the three blues, an ink-jet print out is less clear.
The 57 becomes the C9 (PALE BLUE) with a revised loop. Instead of Armistice Avenue ...
... it serves Regiment Avenue - even newer build - with bigger houses on both sides of the road and, possibly, more people.
The C9 remains a generous every 30 minutes - perhaps supported by some of that "Section 106" money from the developer.
The 40 becomes the C10 (MID BLUE), following a strange one way bit, out via White Hart Lane (not THAT White Hart Lane!) ...
... where more housing is arriving at the Beautiful Place; but back via New Nabbots Way which is already served by the C9 and C11. 
The outside observer wonders why. It would be simpler, and easier to understand and better for customers, if the C10 went both ways via White Hart Lane.
"Channels" is another area of new development ...
... complete with dinky bus shelters and an IMPROVED frequency, now every 20 minutes.
That is the only frequency improvement we have seen so far! Elsewhere it is either no change or, more often, a reduction.
So what has happened to that PALE GREEN route which appears to have disappeared from the map. It is (or WAS?) numbered 47. A potential passenger might think that it has been withdrawn. 
But no, there it is on the list of "new" or revised services ...
... but branded as Cssex - a "country" bus route which it isn't! Whilst SOME Cssex routes do appear on the map, several are omitted.
Other routes missing, but present on the old, are ...
... the 32 and the 46. The 32 has a local appendage running via an otherwise unserved thoroughfare (Rainsford Road and Roxwell Road) ...
... an area of mainly refurbished pre WW2 terraces and, opposite, Admirals Park.
Nice!
So we end where we began with Chelmer Village. Here the multiplicity of route numbers ...
... is reduced to four (five if you include the missing 73).
The southern section of the 40 (which we met above at Channels) becomes the C12 remaining at every 30 minutes to Sainsbury's , whilst route 71 loses most of its oddities. There is still a bus every 30 minutes via Chelmer Village as before ...
... but the new 71/371 only offers an hourly service to Colchester; a 50% cut!
For the record, the Saturday service was reduced from 21st March last year but Monday to Friday stayed half hourly all the way. From this weekend the Monday to Friday schedule will be largely the same as Saturday.
The 73 to Maldon (every TWO hours) and the hourly 47 to Broomfield Hospital are missing from the map - so the simplification is less simple than it first appears.
What conclusions can be drawn from the First Bus reorganisation of services in Chelmsford?
1. Under the present circumstances, it could be worse.
2. The map is both incomplete and inconsistent.
3. Without printed material people are going to find it difficult.
4. Is it wise to do a major rejig all at one go?
5. Will the First Bus finances stabilise?
6. How many people will be deterred from travelling
because of the profusion of changes?
And finally, fbb asked whether the Essex county network maps and town maps would be updated in time for the changes. This is what the county web site is saying; a few words posted below the new "Shuttles" (inaccurate) map.
The reminder to "see the links provided above", i.e. links to First Bus timetables, seems to imply that the County timetables will NOT be updated in time.
Their "timetable library" is quite well hidden; clearly indicated by this box on the home page!
Obvious, innit?
Tomorrow we will take a brief look at the new networks in Basildon and Colchester. Thankfully they are somewhat more straightforward.
Possibly???
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And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.
Jesus said this after washing his disciples' feet, the job of the lowliest servant in any household.
About 600 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah has painted a picture of God's provision of a "saviour" coming as a suffering servant.
He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly;
he never said a word.
Like a lamb about to be slaughtered,
like a sheep about to be sheared,
he never said a word.
He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die,
and no one cared about his fate.
He was put to death for the sins of our people.
About three years before his final Thursday, Jesus had been baptised by cousin John in the River Jordan ...
... and, as Jesus approached the waters ...
Hint!
As the sun set on the Thursday, Jesus and his disciples met for the traditional Passover meal, at which the historic passover was celebrated.
Maybe the disciples didn't want to get the hint, but ...
... on Friday (that's GOOD Friday, the Friday of GOOD NEWS), the blood of the sacrificed Lamb of God would be offered to save the people!
Some "hint" eh?
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Next TOWIE blog : Friday 15th April
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