Riding the Xciting X6

Where Does It Go?

Information on the new and "exciting" X6 as promoted on-line by First, and on a non printed leaflet by Travel South Yokshire (TSY), is hard to fathom. TSY makes a slightly better job of it than First, but neither offers anything like helpfulness.

Perhaps both parties would prefer it if nobody used the X6.

Although it us up to 9 minutes faster than the direct routes, you would only use it for end to end journeys if you knew what it was and if you happened to be at a stop also served by the X1, X2 and X3.

Despite the fact that Traveline doesn't know anything about it (fbb checked at 1630 yesterday!) it does appear that Google Maps has been party to the route's dark and well hidden secrets.

In Sheffield

Yes, where? fbb knows!

The terminus is Moor Market at the southern extremity of the central shopping area. It then serves Moorhead (outbound) ...

.. and Hallam University opposite and inbound.

.

... from where you might choose to walk to the railway station. Then the useful (?) bus calls at the Crucible Theatre and opposite on inbound journeys.

You might choose to walk through from here to the bus station (called the interchange because hardly anything uses it these days).

And that's yer lot. 

From "Sheffield" (see TSY leaflet) it runs non stop to J33 setvices.

At Welcome Break J33

Here, amazingly, the stop is right outside the the main block ...

... a k a the "Amenity Building"; but, to get there, the bus has to make several complex gyrations of roundabout and assorted access roads. Correspondent David did explain it all in a series of texts, but it is a little beyond both fbb and possibly his loyal blog readers.

STOP PRESS : fbb will publish the "TO Sheffield" route of the X6 via the Services as a snippet in a future blog. It is "fun" especially at busy times.

It should be said that there is no indication in the "Amenity Building" to tell any lover of omnibological exploration what is going on.

Spot the bus stop sign!

Thankfully correspondent David took a close-up picture of said stop ...

... showing timetable frame, timetable and map, all helpfully provided by TSY - NOT

The X6 gained not a single passenger at the pretty stop and set off six minutes early to Rotherham - so tough cheese if you arrived at the stop on time, having refreshed yourself within!

Note the excellent blind display on show throughout the route - and reprise fbb's  thought about whether the providers actually want any customers.

And On To  Rotherham

A reminder of the X6 (PALE GREEN)

The bus calls at two stops in West Bawtry Road (or is it West Bawtry Way - sources differ). One is ideally situated for passengers wishing to visit Wickes ...

... and the other for those seeking to stock up with Breedon Cement.

These stops are on the bit of the A631 between the two roundabouts on the map below.

There are a few houses here ...

... but they are hardly likely to provide many customers for the X6. 

From Canklow ...

... it is non stop to Rothernham Intch (above map, top)

When David rode on Sunday, the driver went the wrong way through the Intch and ended up on the wrong stand ...

... but he nipped over to the correct location to collect the crowds of waiting passemgrs. There were none for the Welcome Break. In fact (apart from David, who doesn't count) there were no passengers to or from the Service Area in either direction, on or off.

David was intrigued by the traffic management in Corporation Street as the bus left the Intch.

Here is what it used to look like when it was busy with buses and their passengers,

This is the view from a bit further back where the exit from the Intch is now.

Note the Odeon Cinema beside the bus. And note the same building as it continues to decay, as pictured from the top deck front of the departing X6.

And further on, how do you manage those cycle lanes and oncoming traffic?

Were fbb a cyclist, be would be wary, very very wery indeed!! And there's even more.

To be fair, David's short jaunt  from Welcome Break to a short break in Rotherham Intch was on a Sunday. But even so, there seemed little justification for the bus at J33. The few through passengers were either enthusiasts or joyriders or folk who just happened to rock up at a suitable bus stop.

The service is badly conceived, badly publicised and almost certainly a waste of somebody's money. But if it is paid for by Welcome Break, it will be very "small change" compared with the revenue from the franchisees selling their tasty wares.

Maybe, just maybe, Welcome Break have had to provide a useless bus service as a condition of getting planning permission.

Perhaps fbb should take a trip there to avail himself of the fitness facilities inside ...

... and out.

Possibly, at nearly 80, your cheery blogger is past such lifestyle modifications.

Must get on, time for a cuppa and a KitKat before dinner.

 Next Manchester blog : Thurs 23rd Jan