secret services - home — bus users uk1).pdfshropshire ouncil’s website now redirects enquiries...

We found this timetable case marked for the benefit of unsuspecting passengers by an unknown person.

The date on this timetable is 2 November 2015.

Secret services

The misleading and missing timetables of Shropshire

Any business wishing to thrive will ensure that its services are well

advertised, and accurately. In Shropshire, despite Council concerns about

the cost of subsidy for loss making services, existing and potential bus

customers are being left in the dark about bus services by missing or

erroneous bus time information.

Executive summary

Following several complaints about misleading or missing information Bus Users

Shropshire undertook a survey of timetable information across the unitary authority

of Shropshire. 5% of timetable cases were inspected in different parts of the county

between June and December 2015.

Our survey revealed that many bus stop timetables were

Out of date with incorrect times shown. Recently updated timetables were no

more accurate than older ones

Advertising services or routes that no longer run

Displaying service information for one operator only, but not all

Quoting only some of the departure timings, or some of the days of operation

Positioned where buses do not stop

Missing from places where buses do stop

Sometimes at a height that could not easily be read by most people.

Our inquiries uncovered some inaccuracies on Traveline information about

Shropshire bus services.

Printed and on line route maps had been discontinued by Shropshire Council and

printed timetables to take away were almost non existent, especially at Shropshire

Council run information facilities.

In short, we found that the public is not able to rely on the information published by

Shropshire Council on its ‘at stop’ timetable cases or on Traveline.

The sporadic implementation of basic Local Transport Authority responsibilities is

surprising given the importance placed on marketing and of ‘at stop’ timetables in

Shropshire Council’s Bus Strategy 2011-16.

The report highlights an opportunity for a ‘virtuous circle’ where additional and

much needed spending on service

information leads to more

journeys, more revenue and less

reliance on subsidy. The first

priority is adequate resourcing of

the Local Transport Authority’s

transport team to undertake basic

functions, and for a comprehensive

audit of all bus stops with timetable

cases to check their accuracy.

2

Introduction

Following receipt of several complaints from bus customers Bus Users Shropshire

conducted a survey of roadside timetable information at bus stops and shelters to find out

just how bad the situation is.

The survey used reports from members of the public and members of Bus Users

Shropshire to identify erroneous or missing bus stop information. Many respondents used

the report form at Appendix 1. Survey information was received between June and

December 2015. Although the 44 bus stops reported on represent just over 5% of the total

number of bus stops that Shropshire Council says have ‘at stop information’ we have no

reason to believe our sample is not typical of the county as a whole.

The financial impact of bad information

We have not been able to assess how many people have not travelled as a result of ignorance of services. Shropshire Council’s ‘Bus Strategy for Shropshire 2011-2016’ acknowledges that ‘the delivery of an attractive quality public transport network is reliant upon a number of factors and is more than just the availability of a bus. [….] These include Bus information, marketing and promotion’. 27 The Strategy goes on to say that ‘the council recognises the importance of using marketing and promotions cost effectively, supported by timely and accurate information provision. These activities help raise awareness of services, which in turn generate revenue and reduce subsidy.’ A160

‘At stop’ versus ‘on line’ Shropshire Council says it recognises the importance of ‘at stop’ information. Their

Strategy states ‘the provision of timetable information at bus stops is seen as essential to

encouraging passengers by giving them sufficient information and security to choose public

transport.’ A184

Shropshire Council once maintained an on line presence, Shropshire Travel, with a map of

bus routes and a monthly travel newsletter which reported changes to bus timings across

the county. Having discontinued the printed maps of bus routes, in February 2015 the on

line service was also withdrawn and sporadic travel newsletters issued since have

concentrated on cycling, free parking, and park and ride with no mention of bus services.

Clearly bus services do not feature highly in Shropshire Council’s priorities.

3

Shropshire Council’s website now redirects enquiries to Traveline, an on line journey

planner. While useful for many things, on line journey planners require the traveller to

already know the bus route number, or the days of operation and approximate times of

services and destinations available. As the Shropshire Bus Strategy implies, it is unable to

provide a passenger with the security that a bus stops at this stop at a particular time.

Any data base can only be as good as the information provided to it. We found several

examples of inaccuracy on Traveline’s timetables. Traveline is unable to provide any

information about X11 service Ludlow to Builth Wells or 738/740 Ludlow to Knighton (it

recommends the journey be undertaken via Leominster and Kington, or by train via Craven

Arms). This is especially galling as Shropshire Council provides service 738/740 under

subsidy. Route 141 Ludlow to Bridgnorth shows as operating Monday to Friday when in

fact it was withdrawn in July 2015. Route 723 shows on Traveline as running from Ludlow

to Cleobury Mortimer when it has terminated at Coreley for several years.

What Shropshire Council told us

In response to earlier concerns raised with Shropshire Council’s Highways and Transport

Department we were told that they were aware that bus stop information had become out

of date, but that they had issued a contract to ‘Ringway’ to ensure its accuracy. They said

that in their role of Local Transport Authority they are automatically informed by operators

of impending service changes 56 days before changes take effect so there would be time

enough for them to inform Ringway to update the relevant timetable cases.

The results of this survey suggest that this arrangement is not working and our visits to two

of Shropshire’s towns indicated a very low level of accuracy indeed. There may be a

backlog of changes from previous years of which Ringway are perhaps ignorant, or perhaps

not contracted to update, or it may be that for some years Shropshire Council has denuded

the function at Shirehall and their own records are wanting.

Furthermore, and perhaps more troubling still, brand new timetables issued as recently as

2 November 2015 failed to mention service changes that took place in the summer. This

calls into question the efficacy even of Shropshire Council’s new improved arrangements.

4

Market Drayton - a case in point 1

At a public meeting in Market Drayton on 7 November a member of the public said they

had heard that service 164 to Newcastle no longer ran on Sundays. We checked the

timetable at the town’s Bus Station where the timetable showed a service every two

hours. Traveline did not mention a Sunday service however. A phone call to Bennetts

Travel next day confirmed that they were unsuccessful in bidding to continue the contract

and had ceased on 30 August. We rang Staffordshire Council and checked their service

changes in order to know definitively what the lady at the meeting had heard on the

grapevine. If members of Bus Users Shropshire, who generally know where to look, have

this much difficulty finding out about services what hope has the general public?

We asked for timetable information at the Shropshire Council run library,

and at the Festival Drayton Centre, but neither venue had bus information.

Perversely, despite showing wrongly that there is a Sunday service to

Newcastle, the Bus Station had no display for the Monday to Saturday 164

service to Hanley. Most Bus Station times were wrong: the 64 service to

Shrewsbury instead displayed times at Farcroft Drive, the 75 service to

Nantwich showed Adderley Road, the 301 showed High Street and the 302 Rowan Street.

The Bus Station also displayed an Arriva timetable for route 64 from 2012.

5

Ludlow – a case in point 2

The sheltered and unsheltered stops

outside the Assembly Rooms are the

terminus for most services in Ludlow

(though service 435 to Shrewsbury does

not call there). We found that the new

timetable dated 2 November 2015 said

that service 490 from Leominster

operates Monday to Friday ignoring that

Herefordshire Council added a twice

daily Saturday service from 12

September. The timetable display also

had errors in the timings of 738/740 to

Knighton.

The bus stop on Corve Street (pictured on front cover) is

dated 2 November 2015. The unsheltered bus stop is the

starting point for 435 to Shrewsbury. It wrongly said that

the 435 has no Saturday departures. It also showed the

2L service to Kidderminster running every 90 minutes

when the frequency is two hourly, and did not mention

738/740 to Knighton at all. It showed a daily service

(Monday to Friday) to Bridgnorth that discontinued in

July. The bus stop at Old Street has an empty timetable

case (pictured).

6

What we found

Our survey of bus stop information revealed that many ‘at stop’ timetables were

Out of date with incorrect times shown. Recently updated timetables were no more

accurate than older ones

Advertising services or routes that no longer run

Displaying service information for one operator only, but not all

Quoting only some of the departure timings, or some of the days of operation

Positioned where buses do not stop

Missing from places where buses do stop

Sometimes at a height that could not easily be read by most people.

Our inquiries uncovered some inaccuracies on Traveline.

In short, the public is not able to rely on the information published by Shropshire Council

on its ‘at stop’ timetable cases or on Traveline.

Availability of bus information at staffed tourist centres

Intending travellers might reasonably expect tourist information centres and libraries to

stock copies of bus timetables as a service to residents and to visitors. We did not find this

to be the case in Shropshire.

As mentioned earlier, neither of Market Drayton’s two main information points, the public

library nor the Festival Drayton Centre, had any bus time information.

Ludlow provides a tourist centre independently of Shropshire Council that does stock bus

time information (though this did include one for route 141 that no longer operates).

Shrewsbury’s smart, new tourist information centre housed in the Museum and Art Gallery

had no bus times. The information bureau at Shrewsbury’s train station contains no

leaflets and did not display timetables for buses (even though Shrewsbury bus station gives

a large proportion of its display space to train times).

Even Shrewsbury bus station’s ‘Traveltime and News’ shop has empty racks for timetable

leaflets.

We ask how people are supposed to make journeys when they do not know where buses

run to, a theme continued below in relation to maps.

7

Route maps

Printed route maps and most timetable leaflets were withdrawn a few years ago by

Shropshire Council, despite the statements made in the Bus Strategy about the importance

of marketing. Other counties, such as Herefordshire and Devon, continue to produce

useful map and bus time information electronically and/or in print. This is something we

think Shropshire should again be promoting as part of an overhaul of bus information. How

can people use bus services if they do not know what is available? Devon and

Herefordshire’s approach encourage more people to use bus services: greater revenue will

lead to commercial viability of some and lower levels of subsidy for others.

8

Going for ‘win win’

For people to be able to use bus services they need to know where and when they run.

In recent years Shropshire Council has cut away its provision for information on bus

services. Shropshire Council’s new web page ‘the Big Conversation’ states an intention of

cutting a further £470,000 from the bus budget from April 2016 onwards.

http://shropshire.gov.uk/big-conversation/community-run-services/

Even in a time of relatively scarce funds this needs to be reversed for two reasons

It will greatly assist residents and visitors wishing to use bus services

As their own Strategy argues, it will increase bus use and lead to increased revenue

with less need for subsidy.

This is truly a ‘win win’ situation.

We believe the situation to be sufficiently serious as to need a comprehensive audit of

every bus stop, whether currently in use or not, to ascertain which timetable cases need

updating or removing or replacing, and for new timetables to be issued. Nothing less

should be expected of our ‘Local Transport Authority’. A simple route map of the county

would also be an effective tool for marketing Shropshire’s bus routes to local residents and

to visitors and it should be promoted at Council run premises (libraries and information

points etc), at other key venues, and at train stations.

For this to happen Shropshire Council needs to resource its Local Transport Authority team

to ensure that current and future service changes are recorded and notified to those who

need to know, at Traveline, at their printers/contractor, and on Shropshire’s own website.

Acknowledgements

Grateful thanks are extended to all those members of the public who contacted us with

information about bus stops in their area.

Bus Users Shropshire

December 2015

c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE

[email protected]

www.bususers.org

07580 564458

10

http://shropshire.gov.uk/big-conversation/community-run-services/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bususers.org/

Appendix 1

Proforma for reporting bus stop information

Appendix 2

Map showing approximate locations of bus stops for which survey information was

provided

Appendix 3

Shropshire Star news report 31 August 2015

Appendix 4

Detailed listings of inaccurate, missing or partial bus stop information

11

Appendix 1

Proforma for reporting bus stop information

Which bus stops have missing or out of date bus information?

Send to BUS, c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE or [email protected]

Your name and contact details (in case we need to clarify something):

1. About this bus stop –

what’s wrong with the information or

timetable displayed

Street address, town + post code

if known

Any other description of location (include

bus stop number on pole or sign)

Direction of travel

Which bus route numbers are affected?

Date when you saw this bus stop



timetable displayed


if known



Direction of travel





timetable displayed

12



if known



Direction of travel



13

Appendix 2

Map showing approximate locations of bus stops for which survey information was

provided

●●

●●

●●

●●

●●●●●

●●●●●●●●●

●●●

●

●●● ●●●

●●●●

●●●●

Bridgnorth

14

Appendix 3

Shropshire Star news report 31 August 2015

Media release from Bus Users Shropshire

Local campaigners are looking for people’s help to collect evidence of the poor state of

the county’s bus information at many bus stops. Bus Users Shropshire is frustrated that

the statutory body responsible, Shropshire Council, is failing to ensure up to date and

accurate information about bus services is available to would be passengers.

‘A very basic part of an effective service is having up to date and accurate information

about services at all main bus stops. Unfortunately across Shropshire we know of many

bus stops with no information, with out of date information, with information about only

some of the services that stop there, or bus stops at places where no buses stop,’ said

Peter Gilbert of Bus Users Shropshire. ‘We would like to hear from people in all parts of

the county of stops they know to have missing or wrong information.’

The survey needs to know: the bus routes affected, the exact location of stop with

description, direction of travel, what’s wrong about the information, date you saw the

stop. A simple form to record the information can also be found at

www.bususers.org/your-local-group/bus-users-shropshire or sent on request to Bus

Users Shropshire, c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE or

[email protected] or 07580 564458.

END OF RELEASE

Photos for your use

Caption: Bus user Keith Gallop finds a blank timetable case at this stop on Copthorne

Road in Frankwell, Shrewsbury

Caption: A confused bus passenger by Sainsbury’s in Oswestry where buses do not stop

despite the timetables displayed there

Caption: A misleading stop in Ludlow. Despite the timetables, no buses stops here.

For news editors

Bus Users Shropshire was formed in 2011 in response to significant cuts in Shropshire

Council’s public transport budget. It has successfully campaigned for Sunday services in

Shrewsbury and for strengthening of route 490 into Ludlow. The group is active in most

parts of Shropshire and has held successful public meetings in Whitchurch, Oswestry,

Bridgnorth, Bishops Castle and Shrewsbury. We will be holding a public meeting in

Market Drayton on 7 November 2015. For further information about Bus Users

Shropshire contact

15

Appendix 4

Detailed listings of inaccurate, missing or partial bus stop information



timetable displayed

64 timetable shows times at Farcroft Drive not Bus Station

75 timetable shows times at Adderley Road not Bus Station

301 timetable shows times at High Street not Bus Station

302 timetable shows times at Rowan Road not Bus Station


if known

Bus Station, Towers Lawn, Market Drayton



Bus Shelter

Direction of travel N/A

Which bus route numbers are affected? 64, 75, 301, 302

Date when you saw this bus stop 7 November 2015



timetable displayed

No times are shown for service 164 to Hanley.

The route diagram for service 341/342 shows Shrewsbury instead of

Wellington/Telford.


if known

Bus Station, Towers Lawn, Market Drayton



Lamp Post


Which bus route numbers are affected? 164, 341/342


16



timetable displayed

The times for service 70 and Tanat Valley service 449 are missing


if known

Whittington Road, Whittington



Opposite Garrison Avenue junction

Direction of travel Towards Oswestry

Which bus route numbers are affected? 70 and 449

Date when you saw this bus stop 27 September 2015



timetable displayed

The times for Tanat Valley service 449 are missing


if known

Whittington Road, Whittington



Garrison Avenue junction

Direction of travel Towards Whittington village

Which bus route numbers are affected? 449


17



timetable displayed

Route 70/X70 timetable is shown here but it actually stops 50m south west by

mini roundabout


if known

Black Gate Street, Oswestry



Sainsburys

Direction of travel Towards Shrewsbury

Which bus route numbers are affected? 70/X70

Date when you saw this bus stop 21 August 2015



timetable displayed

No timetable for route 436


if known

A458, Cross Houses



Bus shelter

Direction of travel Towards Shrewsbury


Date when you saw this bus stop 12 June 2015

18



timetable displayed

Out-of-date timetable (dated 31.08.2014) showing Sunday service.


if known

Lancaster Road – Aynesworth Green.



No. 25 Arriva bus stop. Bus stop sign and timetable on pole

Direction of travel From Harlescott to Shrewsbury Bus Station.

Which bus route numbers are affected? No.25.

Date when you saw this bus stop 7.07.2015 – and still showing on 5.10.2015.



timetable displayed

Out-of-date timetable – still showing Bryn Melyn bus times, but should be a

G&H timetable by now. Apparently only Saturday bus times have changed

since G&H Coaches took over, and last Saturday (after several requests) I

did obtain a printed copy of the new Saturday times.

Bryn Melyn timetable (at bus stop) covers two journeys, i.e. Ellesmere to

Shrewsbury and vice versa, which implies that both routes pick up from the

same side of the road. As a regular user I am aware to wait opposite if

travelling to Ellesmere, but it must be confusing for new travellers.


if known

Battlefield Way.



Near to rear of Stadco. Bus stop sign and timetable on pole.

Direction of travel From Ellesmere to Shrewsbury Bus Station.


Date when you saw this bus stop 7.07.2015 – and still showing on 5.10.2015

I am pleased to say that today I noticed the multi-route bus timetable (which is displayed in a glass case alongside train timetables near the bus station street level entrance and escalator to the Charles Darwin shopping centre) has been updated. This timetable was very outdated, showing Sunday buses, and has only been changed within the last week or so.

20



timetable displayed

No information


if known

Copthorne Road, Shrewsbury, SY3



Frankwell St Georges

Direction of travel Towards town centre

Which bus route numbers are affected? 1, 12, 20, D74, X75, 552, 553, 558




timetable displayed

No information


if known

Copthorne Road, Shrewsbury, SY3



Bricklayers Arms






timetable displayed

No information


if known

Frankwell, Shrewsbury, SY3



Dave Mellor Cycles

Direction of travel From town centre



21



timetable displayed

Timetable holder, but no time table.


if known

Stapleton Road, Moneybrook Way, Meole Brace.



Outside Moneybrook Way Flats

Direction of travel To Bayston Hill


Date when you saw this bus stop 12/7/2015



timetable displayed

Timeholder but no timetable.


if known

Lythwood Road, Bayston Hill



By Butchers Lane.

Direction of travel To Shrewsbury





timetable displayed

Timetable holder but no timetable.


if known

Dogpole, Shrewsbury



A very central and well –used location!

Direction of travel Out of Shrewsbury

Which bus route numbers are affected? Various, including 1, 3,8, 23, 26, 27, 544 , 81,96, X5.


22



timetable displayed

No timetable in time table holder.


if known

Lyth Hill Road, Bayston Hill.



Last bus stop in Bayston Hill when en route to Shrewsbury.

Direction of travel To Shrewsbury.

Which bus route numbers are affected? 27, Shrewsbury to Bayston Hill. 544, Shrewsbury to Lyth Hill..

Date when you saw this bus stop 9th July 2015 approx..



timetable displayed

No timetable in time table holder.


if known

Mary Webb Road, Moneybrook Way, Meole Brace.




Which bus route numbers are affected? 27, Shrewsbury to Bayston Hill

Date when you saw this bus stop 12th July 2015.



timetable displayed

No time table in time table holder.


if known

Maesbrook Road, Moneybrook Way, Meole Brace.




Which bus route numbers are affected? 27, Shrewsbury to Bayston Hill.

Date when you saw this bus stop 12th July 2015.

23

As the Local Transport Authority you have the responsibility for the updating of bus stop and bus shelter timetables. There are problems with how this is being done (or not done) at present. You can see one of the problems from the attached photo. The new timetable was stuck onto the outside of the timetable holder, stuck on poorly, and within days was blowing loose and was soon gone. This particular bus stop is in Abbey Foregate, opposite Home Bargains. But from the complete absence of timetables at other stops I also use, my guess is that this has also happened elsewhere. A second problem at bus stops within Shrewsbury is that the only service details listed on the timetables are the Arriva buses, even though the routes are served by buses from a number of companies. There are no details of those services at all (such as the GHA buses) on the bus stops on their routes within the town. Outside of Shrewsbury, timetables do detail services by more than one company. Yesterday I used the bus stop with the brick-built shelter at Atcham, but that has an out-of-date timetable in it, listing some buses which no longer run. These are examples of an overall very poor service. This is worse than useless. Not so long back the Council invested in replacement bus stops across Shrewsbury designed to show real-time bus service details - a complete waste of money as there was not the funding to sustain this. We now have the low-tec version which is poorer than it ever was. If you cannot afford to show accurate information, it would be more honest to remove timetables completely. The present situation is a liability, deceiving and confusing bus users.

24

From:

To: [email protected]

Subject: FW: Shrewsbury Bus Station go to Tilstock Crescent

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2015 15:45:30 +0100

Good afternoon,

Following the article in Monday's Shropshire Star, I attach below email correspondence I have had

regarding the buses to & from Sutton Farm, Shrewsbury.

The old timetables are STILL on the bus stops/ lampposts in our area, in fact the timetable just in to

Springfield Estate shows the timetable for 8A & 8B buses dated January 2015 -these no longer run!

If passengers don't have the correct timetables at bus stops, how are they going to know when the buses

run? This will lead to people making alternative arrangements meaning fewer passengers and will result

in services being withdrawn "due to lack of numbers" using the buses.

I hope this is if use to your survey.

Regards

25




timetable displayed

Timetable shown is 4½ years out of date as it was changed from half hourly to

hourly in November 2010


if known

Swiss Farm Road, Shrewsbury, SY3 8XB



Near junction with Mytton Oak Road



Date when you saw this bus stop 12 June 2015



timetable displayed

No Information


if known

Wenlock Road, Shrewsbury



Opposite Armoury Gardens


Which bus route numbers are affected? 8, 436




timetable displayed

There is no timetable for service 64 from Shrewsbury to Market Drayton

The list of services does not include 64 Shrewsbury to Market Drayton


if known

Bus Station, Raven Meadows, Shrewsbury



Stand S



26


27



timetable displayed

Shows timetables for routes 101 and 890 were replaced five weeks earlier by

route 436 (not shown)


if known

Sydney Cottage Drive, Bridgnorth



Post Office

Direction of travel Towards Bridgnorth town centre and Shrewsbury





timetable displayed

Shows timetables for routes 99/99A and 890 which were replaced five weeks

earlier by route 9 (not shown). Shows timetable for route 436 which is five weeks

out of date


if known

Bridge Street, Bridgnorth



Falcon Hotel

Direction of travel Towards High Town

Which bus route numbers are affected? 9, 436




timetable displayed

Shows timetables for route 88A/99/99A which were replaced five weeks earlier

by route 9 (not shown) Described as Harp Inn but stop is 40m to the south


if known

High Street, Bridgnorth



Tesco Express

Direction of travel Towards Low Town



28



timetable displayed

Shows timetables for route 99/99A and 890 which were replaced five weeks

earlier by route 9 (not shown)


if known

Old Smithfield, Bridgnorth



Sainsburys

Direction of travel All





timetable displayed

Shows timetable for route 101 which was replaced eight weeks earlier by route

436 (not shown)


if known

Lodge Lane, Bridgnorth



Junction with Birchlands






timetable displayed

Shows timetable for route 101 which was replaced eight weeks earlier by route

436 (not shown)


if known

Lodge Lane, Bridgnorth



Shops




29



timetable displayed

490 shows no Saturday services, when there are.

738, 740 incorrectly shown.


if known

Ludlow outside Assembly Rooms



Shelter

Direction of travel From Ludlow

Which bus route numbers are affected? 490, 738, 740

Date when you saw this bus stop 490 shows no Saturday services, when there are.

738, 740 incorrectly shown.



timetable displayed

Incorrectly shows route 26 travelling from here to town centre and on to

Harlescott.


if known

Washford Road, Meole, Shrewsbury SY3.



Picture below

Direction of travel South side of road





timetable displayed

Incorrectly shows route 546 stopping at this stop. Timings for other stops don’t

agree with current timetable.


if known

Washford Road, Meole, Shrewsbury SY3



Picture below

Direction of travel South side of road though timetable case says buses to town stop at this stop.

30


Date when you saw this bus stop 10 Nov 2015

31

Which bus stops have missing or out of date bus information? Send to BUS, c/o Shrewsbury Coffeehouse, 5 Castle Gates, Shrewsbury SY1 2AE [email protected] Your name and contact details (in case we need to clarify something): 1. About this bus stop – what’s wrong with the information or timetable displayed 723 Timetable is wrong: it says to Cleobury Mortimer, and that should be updated as it only goes as far as Coreley now. 2L Timetable is missing 155 timetable is wrong: This service only runs on schooldays, but it says Monday - Friday 143 is wrong: This serves the school before the town 716 is wrong: It is called 176 on the timetable, and it actually serves Greenacres, not Henley Road 724 is missing Street address, town + post code if known Corve Street, Ludlow (Both sides of the road) Any other description of location (include bus stop number on pole or sign) adj Compasses Inn opp Compasses Inn Direction of travel Both Which bus route numbers are affected? 2L, 143, 155, 716, 723, 724 Date when you saw this bus stop Wednesday 24th June 2015

32

From:

Sent: 25 June 2015 05:24

Subject: Re: FW: Bus Users Shropshire newsletter and survey of bus stops

2L service to Kidder not shown on timetable at Ludlow terminus outside Compasses

Inn, corve St.

Dear …

Thank you for your letter concerning the 2L bus service from Ludlow Leisure Centre

to Kidderminster on 4 September 2015. I must apologise for taking some time to

reply.

The lack of accurate bus service information at bus stops is an issue which we have

raised on several occasions with Shropshire Council, most recently at a meeting with

the cabinet member on 3rd September. I am sorry to hear of your disappointing

journey which, I regret, seems to be becoming all too common.

I have forwarded your letter to Shropshire Council which is the Local Transport

Authority responsible for services within Shropshire. Although the 2L is provided by

Worcestershire County Council the bus stop information and its accuracy is the

responsibility of Shropshire Council.

I have also forwarded your letter to the bus company which operates the service

under contract for Worcestershire County Council. The bus company is Diamond

whose address is Diamond Customer Services, Beacon House, Long Acre,

Birmingham B7 5JJ.

I hope you will receive replies from them before too long.

Yours sincerely

Peter Gilbert

for Bus Users Shropshire

33

A lot of the mistakes on bus stops in Ludlow are also mistakes that have been

made on Traveline. The incorrect information now is:

2L: This now operates every 2 hours. The bus stop still says every 90 minutes.

[http://diamondbuses.com/services/WorcestershireandWarwickshire_3/2L-

KidderminstertoLudlow_268.html

141: This has been withdrawn, but is still on the bus stop. (Also on Traveline) [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448123/np-2231-24-july-2015.pdf

143: This doesn't serve the stop in the morning, it goes down Henley Road. (Also on Traveline) [Information from the company] 155: Runs on schooldays only. The bus stop says it operates also in the School Holidays, but I have contacted Caradoc Coaches, who have said they only do schooldays. (Also on Traveline) [https://www.dropbox.com/s/dsookdign537cy0/E-mail%20from%20Caradoc%20Coaches.png?dl=0

701: The 1530 journey does NOT go to the school on schooldays. It runs to its normal route. (Also on Traveline) [Information from the company] 723: This service no longer goes to Cleobury Mortimer. This is only Coreley - Ludlow now. [https://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=73428&txtLicenceNo=PD0001106&cboRegNoFilter=PD0001106/45

745: This is missing the M&J Travel journeys [http://1drv.ms/1AYW0ma

Many of these mistakes also appear on other bus timetables on bus stops in Ludlow. Another mistake (not on the Compasses Inn bus stop) is the 716, which is wrongly numbered 176 on bus stops and Traveline. [https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4cKWHDehmDhX0JQSGJMbUluZlRaRGhlaC1fYTN3R0pQcVdB/view?usp=sharing. This runs via Henley Road in the morning, and Sheet Road in the afternoon. This is another mistake, because the 716 is on the Raven Inn bus stop.

34

http://diamondbuses.com/services/WorcestershireandWarwickshire_3/2L-KidderminstertoLudlow_268.html

http://diamondbuses.com/services/WorcestershireandWarwickshire_3/2L-KidderminstertoLudlow_268.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448123/np-2231-24-july-2015.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448123/np-2231-24-july-2015.pdf

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dsookdign537cy0/E-mail%20from%20Caradoc%20Coaches.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dsookdign537cy0/E-mail%20from%20Caradoc%20Coaches.png?dl=0

https://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=73428&txtLicenceNo=PD0001106&cboRegNoFilter=PD0001106/45

https://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfservicebusroutesview.asp?txtLicenceId=73428&txtLicenceNo=PD0001106&cboRegNoFilter=PD0001106/45

http://1drv.ms/1AYW0ma

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4cKWHDehmDhX0JQSGJMbUluZlRaRGhlaC1fYTN3R0pQcVdB/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4cKWHDehmDhX0JQSGJMbUluZlRaRGhlaC1fYTN3R0pQcVdB/view?usp=sharing



timetable displayed

Bus stop is identified as 'Opposite Manor Cottages' when in fact it is at

Steventon New Road junction 200 yards down the road.

722 to Eco Park not shown on displayed timetable pic 58


if known

Steventon New Road, Ludlow



Direction of travel





timetable displayed

Stop opposite at Steventon New Road Junction (not as identified Manor

Cottages) shows 722 to Ludlow shown at 10 mins past the hour...not the

case...probably 20 mins past (there's no exact timetable schedule point for this

stop)


if known




Direction of travel





timetable displayed

Steventon New Road. Stop on wrong side of road.


if known


35



Direction of travel



36



timetable displayed

No case for over a month now. The stop indicates that the stop for inbound

services on the 490 is opposite but it is 150 m up the road.


if known

Old Street, Ludlow lower end



Outbound from town

Direction of travel Outbound from town





timetable displayed


if known



Direction of travel





timetable displayed


if known



Direction of travel



37

secret services - home — bus users uk1).pdfshropshire ouncil’s website now redirects enquiries...

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