Arriva X1 Brighton 1X Comparison (2)

In 1987 the 1 and 1A didn't run to Mile Oak, but the estate had developed on land bought by Brighton Corporation for a waterworks. There was minor development in the 1930s ...

... which continued apace after WW2.

This is part of Mile Oak today.

At the other end of the Brighton conurbation was Whitehawk which was very much a child of the 1930s being replacement for low quality housing nearer the centre of town.

In more recent years, there has been significant upgrading and rebuilding of the estate but its "shape" remains as before.

This video gives us a 1A ride from Mile Oak to Whitehawk, speeded up (thankfully!) but blog readers will appreciate the steady progress through typical urban sprawl all the way.

The eagle eyed may spot a bit of industrial sea front at Portslade followed by the town's minimalist shopping centre. Then the 1A grinds inexorably along until Palmeira Square at Hove comes into view. This always has been the posh end of the city! Then Brighton shops and the iconic Old Steine, at one-time the town's bus station, sort of. Next we pass the hospital on our left before climbing the hill to Whitehawk terminus.

Enjoy the ride!

Under the most recent timetable change the 1A that we have just experienced ceases to exist as such. 

Here is part of an old Brighton comprehensive network map, as yet not updated to reflect the most recent change.

The 1 and 1A terminus is top centre ...

... and on their way south to Portslade, the services splits with the 1 using Chalky Road and the 1A trundles along Mile Oak Road. From then on, all the way to Whitehawk there is no major difference! But just to pick up from the video, note the route through Portslade as shown on the old network map.

The 1 and 1A do not quite make it to Portslade station. 

But when we come to the timetable, things are not so straightforward.

It would be nice to think that 1As ran every 30 minutes at xx52 and xx22 from Mile Oak but, already by thise "American Express" (?) time point, the gap has become bigger (xx35 and x55).

For the benefit of passengers using the exclusive bits of the 1A you might have expected a separate timetable. But you didn't get one. OK, the 1As were roughly every 30 minutes but only very roughly.

So, in the Mile Oak area, the new 1X takes up the route of the 1A.

Is the combined 1A and 1X timetable any better?

At least in the middle part of the day it looks very much like a clock face every 15 minutes on the new 1X. 

That's double the 1A frequency.

But the real bonus is that both on-line versions of the timetable show every journey. On his exploration of the 1X, Roger French was clutching a leaflet (with Pink!) ...

... but fbb is not sure whether a full timetable printed version is available.

  SEE P.S. BELOW 

The old 1/1A offered a bus every 6/7 minutes which may mean nine buses an hour (clock face at every 7,6 and 7 cycling every 20 - you can do the math!), so what does the new timeable give.

Over the common section of route the frequency increases to eleven buses an hour (approximately) but only seven each hour run to Whitehawk.

The 1X runs via Portslade station ...

... and instead of going up the hill to Whitehawk, the 1X diverts to Brighton Marina, a hotbed of shopping and catering delight.

What a joy it is!

But, but; tut tut ...

... even the newest network map is not up to date.

Poor.

But Uncle Roger reports that, because of excellent publicity, passengers seemed to know where their 1X was going and where its limited stops were, which is far better than the sorry state of publicity and comprehension of Mr Khan's not very super Superloop buses!

And the buses on the new 1X do have a few flashes of pink; side ...

, front ...

... and rear.

Maybe the clothes pegs should have all been pink?

fbb wonders how this compares with another 1X launching this coming weekend.

 P.S. 

A recommendation from fbb to self! Do your research fully or you will look like an idiot! 

In his blog on the 1X Roger French includes some excellent pictures of roadside publicity ...

... and printed material.

There is, indeed, a pink printed leaflet for the service 1 and a separate leaflet for just the 1X.

How foolish of fbb to think that Brighton and Hove would NOT do the right thing!

Chocolate peanuts to all concerned!

 Next 1X blog : Wednesday 17th July