INTRODUCTION and EDITORIAL

GENERAL and INDUSTRY NEWS

GREATER LONDON AREA Route Developments

COUNTRY AREAS Route Developments

VEHICLE NEWS

PUBLICITY, FARES & TICKETING

RAIL REPLACEMENT SERVICES

Section editor: David Stewart, ** Kathleen Avenue, Wembley, HAO 1xx or by e-mail to
dave.stewart@tesco.net
This section is set out in adjacent geographical areas anti-clockwise around London, and covers all local bus services of all operators running outside the Greater London County, but within the traditional "London Country" area. It is bounded roughly by a line joining Tilbury, Brentwood, Harlow, Bishop's Stortford, Hitchin, Luton, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Windsor, Egham, Woking, Guildford, Horsham, Crawley, East Grinstead, Sevenoaks, Wrotham and Gravesend. Cross-boundary services to or from Greater London are covered both in this and the GL Routes section. Exceptionally, we will on occasions give briefer details of route changes outside the country area where they are operated by companies from within the area.

West and South ESSEX
Arriva at Christmas in Thurrock, 24,27,28,29,31Dec- Sat.services with early finish on 24/31Dec; 26,30Dec, 01Jan- Sun.services; 25Dec- no service. Ensignbus ran thus: 24 & 31Dec- M-F services with early finishes; 25Dec- no service; 26Dec and 01Jan- Sunday services; 27/28Dec- M-F service on 44,66,X80, Sat.service on 33 and a special enhanced schedule on 73 and 83.
3rd Jan (524), 5th Jan (22/33), 6th Jan (510) as in TLB520.

Saturday 12th January:
55 (Ensign Bus) New route, Mon-Sat x30mins (not evenings): Grays Bus Station, via West Thurrock ‘Ship’, West Thurrock Way, Lakeside Bus Station, Pilgrims Lane, Stifford Road, Daiglen Drive, Arisdale Avenue to Ockendon Station.

HERTFORDSHIRE and southern BEDFORDSHIRE

Sunday 9th December:
VT99 (Stagecoach United Counties) (Milton Keynes & Luton Airport, Daily) This service, which is worked on behalf of Virgin Trains, was reduced from half-hourly to hourly.

Wednesday 2nd January:
4,16,17,20,22,23,24,26,43,386,423 (Richmond's) as in TLB520
10 Centrebus) (Stevenage town service, M-S) Minor rerouteing from High Street (Old Town) to Bus Station also serve Gates Way, then back onto Lytton Way.
26 (Richmond’s) Further to TLB520, although this Thursday only service was withdrawn after 27th December, part of it was reinstated from 3rd January, but only between Berden and Bishop’s Stortford and now under Essex CC (rather than Herts CC) contract.

Thursday 3rd January: 524 (SM)(Hertford & Harlow) to revert from x60 to x30min Mon-Sat.

Sunday 6th January:
510 (Arriva EH&E) As in TLB520.
636 (Sullivan Buses)(Borehamwood & Hatfield, Suns) Withdrawn between St Albans City Station and Hatfield Station. This is following the doubling of Uno’s Sunday 602 last September which resulted in both 602 and 656 running within a few minutes of each other.

Monday 7th January:
366 (Centrebus)(South Hatfield & Woodside via Luton, M-F) Additional M-F short journeys between Luton and Woodside Industrial Estate, certain of them continuing to Dunstable Town Centre. The limited Saturday service, which only runs W.G.City & Luton, is not changed.
Luton Bus Station – Add to TLB520 p14 that the National Express 707/767/787 coaches now stop at the Galaxy Centre, and that the 636 (Uno) stops at Station Road and Guildford Street.

Sunday 20th January:
EB2 (AtS, t/a easyBus)(Stansted & London, Daily) Extended in London beyond Baker Street to Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road. Additional stop at Hastingwood, i.e. the roundabout off the M11 near Potter Street, Harlow. The PVR is to be increased from 9 to 12.

Monday 21st January:
2/3 (AtS) (Hemel, Woodhall Farm & Warners End circulars, Daily) The variable routeings in the Highfield area, plus the “temporary long-term” diversions away from Old Town were all withdrawn in favour of a standard route through the area. Between Cambrian Way and Marlowes (Town Centre) all buses run in both directions via Fletcher Way, Townsend, Church Street, Smithfield, Allandale and Queensway. There have been temporary diversions since the High Street in Old Town was partially pedestrianised (and often became impassable) during 2004. Officially the 2/3 went via Leighton Buzzard Road and Piccotts End Road.
4,5,6,12,600 (AtS) (Hemel locals) Very minor timing adjustments to isolated journeys.
H22 (AtS), 327(Red Rose, now Centrebus) Both services were meant to serve Hemel Old Town (see 2/3 entry above), but in practice have been diverted via Leighton Buzzard Road (H22 all the time) and 327 (presumably as necessary). It is presumed that this has now been formalised.
10 (Centrebus)(Luton & Marsh Farm, Daily) Revised timetable Daily, with some later Mon-Fri evening journeys.

Sunday 17th February:
755/757 (Arriva the Shires) (Luton & London Victoria). The M-F only 755, which consists of two journeys each way will have two changes: In London withdrawn between Victoria and Moorgate. In Luton, rerouted to also serve Stopsley and Wigmore Lane, and then the northern estates (Limbury Meads, Marsh Farm and Sundon Park) as at present. The 757 peak extensions to northern estates will be withdrawn.
The main service 757 will be revised in Luton. At present it runs direct between Luton Airport and London, and with certain journeys deviating via Luton Town Centre. The pattern will change so that ALL journeys will run direct between Luton Airport and London but with certain journeys projected beyond the Airport to or from the Town Centre (Church Street), thus giving a fast service to and from London at all times for airport passengers. Thus withdrawn from the section between the Town Centre and the M1 past Castle Street and Stockwood Park.

Although not included in the tender offers, the local press in the west of the county is commenting that funding from Dacorum Council is to be withdrawn from certain routes, including the 30/31, 207/208, 387, the evening & Sunday 501 and the Hemel park and ride. We shall avoid further comment until or if these are re-tendered by the County Council.

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & BERKSHIRE (incl.eastern Oxfordshire)
Saturday 1st December:
107 (Courtney Coaches) New route, Mon-Sat x15mins: Bracknell Bus Station via Broad Lane to the “The Parks”, which is a development being built on the site of the closed RAF College to the south-east of the Town Centre.

First Berkshire at Christmas: 24 & 31Dec- Sat. service with early finish; 25/26Dec- no service except the RailAir on 26th; 27/28/29 Dec Sat services; 30Dec and 01Jan- Sunday services.
Buckinghamshire at Christmas: 24 & 31Dec- Sat. service with early finish; 25/26Dec- no service except NatEx; 27/28/29Dec Sat. services; 30Dec Sun. service; 01Jan- No services except NatEx. Routes not normally working on a Saturday worked their as per their usual day on 24,27,28,31Dec.

Wednesday 2nd January: (brief details for interest, as these are out of area)
193 (First Berkshire) (Wokingham & Crowthorne, M-S) Withdrawn but replaced by Thames Travel 122/123/124 (Mon-Sat), which also cover Wokingham town sections and with some journeys extended to The Meadows, i.e. the shopping complex just west of Camberley.
202 (First Berkshire) (Shinfield Park & Bracknell, SDO) Transferred to Thames Travel who will run it between Whitley Wood and Wokingham Schools only.

Saturday 22nd March:
Heathrow Terminal 5 opens to airline services on Thursday 27th but TfL routes (350, 423, 482, 490, N9) will serve T5 from Saturday 22nd. As the site is a mere stone’s throw from the Bucks, Berks and Surrey borders, it is inevitable that the present route 441 (Travel Surrey) will be joined by other services from those counties and we await news of those.
Additionally, several National Express services will serve T5. Already, registration changes have been published dated 27th March with routes 707 (Northampton- Luton- Hemel- Heathrow- Gatwick), 717 (Cambridge- Stansted- Heathrow- Gatwick), 787 (Cambridge- Luton- Hemel- Heathrow) being revised to serve T5 but to be withdrawn from T4. No doubt, other NX services will be added.

SURREY (incl.adjacent areas of EAST & WEST SUSSEX)
Sats 1,8,15,22Dec: The extra Saturday only P&R in Horsham mentioned in TLB520 p16 from Hurst Road was numbered PR1, and a second one was the PR2 from Forest School. Both by Compass Bus.

Thursday 3rd January:
Changes nominally from this date, previous arrangements last ran on 29th or 31st December.
50 (Compass Travel) (Walliswood & Horsham, Sats) The Saturday morning shoppers’ return journey retimed to 0836 from Walliswood, 1335 from Horsham. The 1159(in) and 1700(out) Saturday journeys were withdrawn. No change to the separate Arriva G&WS M-S peak, Buses4U M-F pm peak or Carlone Tues & Fris journeys.
52 (Compass Travel) (Horsham & Rusper circulars) Days of operation changed from Tues & Sats to Mons and Thurs. Now operates as 1035 anticlockwise and 1335 clockwise.
64 (Compass Travel)(Horsham & Plaistow) Days of operation changed from Fris & Sats to Mons and Thurs. Now operates at 0925 from Plaistow, 1220 from Horsham.

Saturday 12th January:
526/527 (Metrobus) (Crawley & Horley circulars, M-S) Transferred to Southdown PSV.
555/556,557 (Travel Surrey) as in TLB520.

Sunday 13th January
26/27 (Arriva G&WS) (Guildford & Grange Park/ Rydes Hill circulars, Daily) The small deviation of certain journeys off the A3/Woodbridge Road roundabout to the Cathedral Hill Business Park were withdrawn, except for just two Mon-Fri a.m. peak journeys on the 26. The hourly route 28 continues to do the deviation. Minor timing adjustments to certain evening and Sunday journeys, with more Sunday journeys between the University and the Bus Station.
36/37 (Arriva G&WS) (Manor Park via Guildford & Burpham/Merrow circulars, Daily) Minor timing adjustments to certain evening and Sunday journeys, with additional Mon-Sat evening (approx. 1900 to midnight) short journeys between the University and Manor Park, all as route 36.

Monday 4th February:
The local press is reporting that Redhill Bus Station is to be closed from this date for a while so that works to accommodate an extension of Metrobus’ Fastway services further north from Horley, serving the East Surrey Hospital on the way. Buses at Redhill would be dispersed to ‘nearby streets’ although the roads adjacent to the Bus Station are not really suitable. Details of dates and what extra buses or service changes will be provided is awaited.

Tuesday 18th March:
EB3 (Arriva SC - New Enterprise) New Daily service: Gatwick Airport & Victoria, Buckingham Palace Road on behalf of easyBus. Due to operate every x20min Daily (or x30min early morning and evening), and with two intermediate stops in both directions at Coulsdon South Station and Streatham High Road Odeon.

north and west KENT
Christmas and New Year services at Arriva K&S/KT: 24 & 31Dec- Saturday services with an early finish, and a Monday service on 234,307,404,405. 25Dec- no service. 26Dec- ONLY a special schedule on B,490,499. 27/28Dec- Saturday services with certain evening adjustments, plus a M-F service on 234,307,404,405. 29/30Dec normal Sat and Sun service. 01Jan- Sunday services except a special schedule on 308,477,499,700,701.
As mentioned in TLB520 p8, Routemaster Travel South of Gillingham duly operated two (and possibly three) round trips on Christmas Day 25Dec (only) using RML 898, between Chatham and London Victoria via Gravesend and Dartford.

Specials to Bluewater & Lakeside by Arriva SC: on Sats 02Feb,05Apr,07June,02Aug,04Oct,01Nov and 06Dec in 2008, from Leysdown(090) via points in the Sheerness and Sittingbourne area, at Bluewater (arr.1040, dep.1600) and Lakeside (arr.1100, dep.1540).

Saturday 23rd February:
476 (Arriva KT)(Bluewater & Crockenhill) Withdrawn between Bluewater and Dartford, also curtailed back from Azalea Drive in Swanley to the High Street, whilst the isolated journeys beyond Swanley to Crockenhill will be withdrawn. Route thus becomes an hourly Mon-Sat service between Dartford Market Street and Swanley High Street, and remains on TfL LSP conditions on the small section of route in Bexley.
477 (Arriva KT)(Bluewater & Orpington) Revised timetable, with most of the short journeys to Swanley or Crockenhill extended to Orpington, thus doubling the frequency on that section for most of the day. Route thus becomes a through service x30mins Mon-Sat, x60mins evenings and Sundays between Bluewater & Orpington, and remains on TfL LLSA conditions.
Both 476 and 477 will be allocated to Northfleet (NF) from this date, resulting in Dartford (DT) Garage becoming a wholly red TfL garage.

LOTS