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Archive of older news reports from
NOT EXHAUSTIVE LISTS ! (OEE)
Service Changes from 21
July 2007
Several services will be
modified temporarily due to the closure of the bridge at Powick.
Temporary timetables continue until 2 September 2007 :-
31, 33 (Worcester City
Services) : Temporary timetables introduced due to potential traffic
congestion.
32 (Ombersley Road - Kempsey) : Service split in Worcester Bus Station
due to potential traffic congestion. Service 32 operates between
Bus Station and Kempsey only.
32B (Ombersley Road - Lower Wick) : Temporary service operating every
half hour between Ombersley Road (usually served by 32) and Lower Wick
(usually served by 44).
44/44A (Worcester - The Malverns) : Most journeys will be diverted to
run non-stop between St Johns Bull Ring and Powick village.
Evening journeys continue to serve Lower Wick.
417 (Worcester - Ledbury) : Temporary timetable introduced due to
potential traffic congestion.
Service
Changes from
25 February 2007
The County Council implemented a significant programme of service economies from this date. This included the withdrawal of all revenue support to Sunday evening services after about 1830 hours, leading to withdrawal of service at these times on routes 3, 22, 23, 31, 33, 35, 37, 44, 144, 300, 303, 334.
37 (Worcester Tunnel Hill Warndon Villages, D) : Monday to Saturday evening service reduced to journeys at 1910 and 2240 only. Sunday evening services withdrawn.
44 (Worcester Great Malvern, NE) : Evening service gained from Astons. Sunday evening services withdrawn.
293/295 (Worcester Stourport Kidderminster, NSu) : S evening service withdrawn (this was the only day evening services ran).
540 (Evesham Beckford Bredon Tewkesbury Cheltenham, NESu) and 545 (Evesham Beckford Bredon Aston Cross, NESu) lost to Astons Coaches.
554 (Evesham Honeybourne Chipping Campden, NESu) lost to Henshaws.
Minor timetable changes to 2, 3, 31, 32, 33, 35, 41, 43, 67, 68, 292, 551.
Service Changes from 2 January 2007
Minor changes occur from this date, mainly associated with changes to arrangements for school and college transport. This mainly affects school and college services, and I have not listed these. Timetable changes to services 67, 146, 247, 550, 551, 557, with changes to services 44, 68, 70, 144, 293, of a minor nature. Of the major changes, service 146 has been improved in the off-peak to a half-hourly frequency between Redditch and Birmingham. Service 247 has been diverted via the Davies Road area of Evesham. The changes to services 550, 551, 557 reflect the closure of Evesham depot. Many other Evesham tendered services have been surrendered but not until late February. A journey will be provided between Studley and Alcester in the morning peak on service 26 (otherwise Stagecoach).
Service Changes from 3 September 2006
The Hospital Link services X33, 300 and 303, set up when Kidderminster Hospital was down-graded some years ago, have been subject to change, together with other changes throughout Worcestershire. It is understood that the lack of Health Authority funding has led to some curtailment of the Link services.
X33 (Kidderminster Hospital Alexandra Hospital via Bromsgrove and Redditch) is curtailed to run to Redditch Bus Station only. The evening service is replaced by all-stops service 333, operated by Johnsons, and the Sunday service is also replaced by an all-stops service 334, still run by First. Service 143 is revised to fit with the new times on X33.
300 (Kidderminster Station Worcester Royal Hospital), the Sunday service, is revised to serve all stops between Worcester Bus Station and the Royal Hospital, whilst 303 (Kidderminster Hospital Worcester Royal Hospital) is curtailed to run to Worcester Bus Station only.
In Worcester, service 37 (Worcester Tunnel Hill Lyppards Tesco) was extended to serve Dugdale Drive, and increased to every 30 minutes during much of the day, although off-peak journeys now operate as 37A and extend to serve the rural area to Feckenham (Monday Wednesday and Saturday) and Droitwich (Tuesday Thursday and Friday), previously served by 352 and 353.
Service 44 (Great Malvern Worcestershire Royal Hospital) sees further improvement, with the off-peak service enhanced to every 15 minutes, although on Saturdays only alternate journeys (ev 30 mins) serve the Worcester Royal Hospital section of route.
Service 551 (Worcester Evesham) also sees improvements in the morning off-peak, running every 30 minutes at these times.
In Redditch, service 51 (Batchley) is improved to every 10 minutes, and routes 55 and 56 (Crabbs Cross) are now diverted via Plymouth Road rather than Evesham Road following the completion of road-works allowing certain bus movements.
In contrast to these enhancements, service (93 Bromsgrove Charford) is now run by Clearway Coaches, and the 310-316 group of services, which have recently been mainly operated by Bromyard Omnibus Company anyway, are reduced to just School and College journeys with Bromyard Omnibus running a much-simplified network with journeys on 308 and 310 each every 2 hours off-peak. 292 (Kidderminster Ludlow) has one morning peak journey to/from Ludlow curtailed.
W2 and W3, the two Wradial** Worcester Express services Worcester Royal Hospital Perdiswell P&R Worcester are reduced to run every 30 minutes and curtailed on Hospital site, no longer serving the main entrance due to traffic congestion and a road layout not suited to 12 metre vehicles.
Several schools services are changed, with 855/860 lost to Cresswell, the S22 from Droitwich to Blessed Edward Oldcorne School replaced by a new network of services S1, S2 and S3, a new service S5 between Lower Moor and Pershore High School, and an experimental service S32 between St Peters and Blessed Edward Oldcorne School.
Service Changes from 11 June 2006
1 (Kidderminster Rifle Range) : Choice Travel peak-hour journeys incorporated in First timetable.
4 (Offmore Habberley Rifle Range) : This early evening Choice Travel service taken over.
143 (Bromsgrove Redditch) : An early morning journey taken over by another operator.
292 (Kidderminster Ludlow) : Ludlow terminus amended to Lower Galdeford or Corve Street.
389, 553, 561, 577, 587 are all subject to County Council tendering.
718 (Hagley School to Spennells) withdrawn.
Minor timetable changes to 3, 32, 247
Service Change from 23 April 2006
71 (Hereford Credenhill, NSu) : M-F off-peak and Saturday daytime service withdrawn, leaving just the 71A (via Westfaling Street) running at an hourly frequency at these times. 71 now runs M-F peaks and NSu evenings only.
72 (Hereford Moor Farm Bobblestock, NSu) : Daytime frequency reduced to every 30 mins.
135 (Tysoe Alcester Schools, Sch) : New service via Oxhill, Pillerton Priors, Eckington, Bridgetown Estate, Stratford and Luddington.
Service Change from 2 April 2006
2 (Bark Hill Kidderminster Spennells) : Reduced to a flat half-hourly frequency on Monday to Friday afternoons.
32 (Kempsey Worcester Ombersley Road) : Frequency reduced to every half hour during the off-peak (less frequently at Monday to Friday peaks).
There are also minor timetable revisions on Kidderminster town routes 1, 5 and 8.
Service Change from 26 February 2006
31 (Hospital Henwick Park ) : Frequency reduced to every 15 mins.
32, 33 : Amendments to early morning journeys
37 (Worcester Warndon Villages) : Service curtailed at Tesco and daytime service reduced to every 45 minutes.
37A (Earls Common Worcester ) : New peak hour only service from Earls Common via Crowle, Tibberton, Dugdale Drive and 37 route, replacing flexiLINK service 953.
55,56 (Redditch Crabbs Cross Circulars) : Rerouted via Plymouth Road
61A (Redditch Matchborough East) : Service reduced to hourly, and renumbered 61.
64 (Redditch Woodrow North) : Service reduced to hourly but expanded to run all off-peak
67 (Reddutch Studley) : Service reduced to hourly.
144 (Worcester Birmingham) : Minor timetable amendments, and Sunday shopping times increased to hourly.
246 (Evesham Greenlands Redditch) : Service withdrawn all journeys become 247
247 (Evesham Crabbs Cross Redditch) : Journeys transferred from 247. North Littleton diversions withdrawn.
310 (Hanley Broadheath Worcester) : Timetable amended, Hanley Broadheath Clifton section now runs Schooldays only.
539 (Evesham Ashton-under-Hill) : Service withdrawn, 540 now has journey at about the same time.
540 (Evesham Cheltenham) : Rerouted to Royal Well Bus Station in Cheltenham, retimed
545, 561, 587 : Timetable amended.
554 (Evesham Honeybourne) : Service increased with journeys running through to/from Chipping Campden, replacing 954.
954/955 (FlexiLink) : Withdrawn, except school services retained as routes S54 and S55.
Service Change from 8 January 2006
Afternoon journey on 23A (Stratford Whichford) diverted via Shipston Primary School in term time. 154 (Shipston to Stratford) diverted away from Stretton-on-Fosse.
Timetable change to service 44 also various Hereford city services to improve timekeeping.
2 (Bewdley Spennells) is diverted via Kidderminster Town Hall again from this date, in response to public requests, but is reduced to every 30 minutes in consequence.
The early morning, evening and Sunday services on routes W2/W3, which serve all stops and divert via Ronkswood, are renumbered 22/23 from this date. These services are therefore not part of the Worcester Express network and do not benefit from free fares for children/youths/senior citizens.
Major changes to services in the Warndon and Hospital area with the launch of the Worcester Express network, subsidised by the County Council, services numbered W1, W2, W3. These services carry those aged less than 19 and over 60 for free, take in the former Park and Ride service and are an attempt to redefine the image of the bus service.
Worcester Park and Ride service : This service renumbered W1, with alternate buses continuing from the Park and Ride site via Warndon, Warndon Villages and Royal Hospital to Crowngate Bus Station as circular service W2 (numbered W3 in the opposite direction). Between Worcester and Park-and-Ride, and between Worcester and Hospital, these services are limited stops, but serve all stops elsewhere.Services W2/W3 also have a service on weekday evenings and Sundays, effectively being an extension of service 31 at these times and serving all stops. W2/W3 will run via Hastings Drive, replacing 37.
31 (Henwick Park Royal Hospital) is curtailed to run Henwick Park City only on evenings and Sundays, but the buses will continue through onto services W2/W3 which divert via Ronkswood and serve all stops.
36 (Perdiswell Royal Hospital) is replaced by new circular services W2/W3.
37 (Worcester Hastings Drive) is rerouted at Warndon villages to run to and from Dugdale Drive on a circular routeing, with a 30 minute frequency. Services W2/W3 provide an improved service for Hastings Drive.
Crossley Retail Park will not be served, following the termination of subsidy from the developers.
1 (Rifle Range) : Morning and evening peak services lost to Choice Travel
2 (Spennells Hales Park) : Rerouted away from the Bus Station, running direct via the Swan Centre. At Spennells and Comberton the service will operate a loop rather than running via Offmore and Comberton in both directions. Revised timetable with similar frequencies to the present service.
3 (Areley Kings / Stourport) : Terminates at Town Hall not Bus Station (except Sundays)
4 (Habberley/Rifle Range Evening Circular) : Lost to Choice Travel
5 (Fairfield via Franche) : Terminates at Town Hall not Bus Station. Timetable revised.
7/7A (Sion Hill via Greenhill) : Lost to Choice Travel
8 (Ferndale via Habberley) : Terminates at Town Hall not Bus Station. Peak hour service lost to Choice Travel
Service 42 and its variants (42A, 42B, 42C, 42D) is replaced by new Malvern local services 41,41A,43,43A. 41 and 43 will run hourly serving Belmont, Malvern Link, Morrisons, Elgar Avenue, Sherrards Green, Madresfield Road, Pound Bank, Brook Farm and Poolbrook. 41A and 43A are variants at school starting and leaving times. Thus Elgar Avenue and Madresfield Road receive a full service again, at the expense of reducing other sections to hourly.
44 (The Malverns Worcester County Hall) is extended to the Royal Hospital but will no longer serve Baynham Estate.
Services 363 and 364 (Worcester Upton Malvern) are replaced by Astons Coaches. New service 389 links Rye Street and the villages west of Tewkesbury with Tewkesbury, on a Wednesday and Saturday.
Malvern area minibus services 902, 904, 947, 963, 965, 977, 980, 981 and 989 (many demand-responsive) are withdrawn. Services 41, 43 and 389 provide partial replacements for some of these services.
144 (Worcester Birmingham) is increased to run every 20 minutes throughout most of the day Monday to Saturday. As a result, 143 mainly only runs hourly between Redditch and Bromsgrove, although a few journeys continue to and from Catshill and Lickey End.
155 (Tibberton Droitwich Schools) is withdrawn. The 0830 journey from Worcester on service 293 (Worcester Kidderminster) is replaced by Yarranton Bros. On 718 (Spennells Hagley Schools), the morning journey is withdrawn and pupils should use service 2 to the Railway Station, changing onto 294. In the afternoon the service will continue but run via Kidderminster Town Hall to replace 892. Schools services 827, 869, 872, 877 and 884 are lost to other operators.
Timetable revisions on routes 23/23A (Stratford Whichford), 24 (Stratford Norton Lindsey), 77/77A/77B (Hereford Holmer), 93 (Bromsgrove Charford), 134 (Pillerton Hersey Alcester), 417 (Worcester Ledbury), 420 (Hereford Worcester), 502 (Hereford Leominster), 564 (Abbots Morton Evesham)
One morning peak journey is withdrawn on each of services 67 (Redditch Studley) and 70 (Redditch Astwood Bank). 68 and 70 also have minor timetable changes.
Evening and Sunday journeys on 37 (Worcester Warndon Villages) are diverted to return direct from Hastings Drive, omitting Tesco, to ease running time problems.
32 (Baynhall Claines) resumes a 20 minute frequency, on a revised timetable, and 44 (County Hall Worcester The Malverns) resumes through running, as the roadworks at Sidbury in Worcester have not caused as much congestion as widely predicted.
31 (Royal Hospital Henwick Park) and 33 (Warndon Dines Green) are reduced to a 12 minute frequency for the summer school holiday period.
418 (Bromyard Hereford, early morning journey) is extended to Holmer, and the early Monday to Friday journey on 469 (Bromyard Hereford) is withdrawn.
32 (Baynhall Claines) is reduced to every 30 minutes and 44 (County Hall Worcester The Malverns) is split at Worcester again (except at school times), with a 30 minute frequency on the County Hall section, due to the predicted traffic congestion effects of roadworks at Sidbury in Worcester..
Wyre Forest Local Services
2 (Bewdley Spennells) operates to a revised timetable, with some reduction to the early morning and early evening service.
3 (Kidderminster Stourport) is reduced to a frequency of every 15 minutes.
11/12 (Kidderminster Bewdley Stourport) is won by Choice Travel on retendering.
Minor changes take place on services 4, 5, 7A and 8.
Droitwich and Worcester Local Services
20 (Droitwich Westlands) and 22/22A (Droitwich Claines Worcester) are won by MHS Travel and Astons Coaches respectively.
28 (Worcester County Hall) is linked to improved service 44 (Worcester Malvern) to provide a new through facility operating every 20 minutes.
31 (Henwick Park Hospital Warndon) runs only as far as the Royal Worcestershire Hospital. Warndon Villages are served by revised service 37, which provide a more direct service between Worcester and Warndon Villages via Tunnel Hill.
32A (Green Lane Norton Barracks) is withdrawn, with 32 (Ombersley Road Kempsey) being increased to run every 20 minutes to compensate. To allow bigger buses to run on this route, the route at Ombersley Road is amended and buses terminate at the New Inn.
To assist timekeeping, 35 (Worcester Warndon) is diverted via Sheepscombe Drive at Warndon.
37/38 (Worcester Tunnel Hill Warndon Blanquettes Avenue Worcester) ceases to exist in this form, with service 37 being amended to run every 20 minutes from Worcester via Tunnel Hill to The Lakes, then direct to Warndon Tesco and Warndon Villages (Hastings Drive). This service will also run hourly on Sundays.
The service via Bilford Road is replaced by new service 36 which runs from the Perdiswell Park and Ride Site via Bilford Road, Warndon, Shire Business Park and Warndon Tesco to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The buses on this service are linked with the Park and Ride service to allow passengers to travel to and from the City.
The service to and from Lower Wick Estate is lost to LMS Travel.
Country Services
44 (Worcester Malvern) is increased to run every 20 minutes, with most journeys running through to and from County Hall in Worcester.
143 (Redditch Bromsgrove Birmingham) is curtailed to run to and from Catshill only. The section of route between Bromsgrove and Redditch is reduced to every hour, although there are still 2 buses per hour as service X33 also runs on this section.
91 (Lickey End Catshill Middle School) is lost to Clearway Coaches.
Minor adjustments are made to the timetables of routes 67, 144, 292, 293, 294, 420 and 869.
Service Changes from 29 May 2005
Evesham depot services are amended on this non-standard chage date following the deregistration of Evesham local services by Cresswell.
246 (Redditch Greenlands Studley Alcester Evesham, NSu pks) : Diversion via Lakeside withdrawn (runs direct via Studley Road). 67 continues to serve Lakeside.
551 (Worcester Pershore Evesham, NSu) : Late evening service reduced following retendering.
553 (Evesham Fairfield, NPESu) : Frequency almost standardised to every hour. Morning peak journey added.
554 (Evesham Honeybourne, NESu) : Routeings and timings of journeys via Vale Business Park amended to make use of by-pass. Morning contra-flow peak journey serves Blackminster Middle School.
559 (Broadway -> Evesham, FS early eve) : Withdrawn without replacement.
561 (Evesham Hampton, NPESu) : Off-peak service reduced to 3 round trips, but Sch journeys added to St Egwins School, gained from Cresswell.
583 (Evesham Davies Road/Fairfield, NESu) : Withdrawn, replaced by 587.
587 (Evesham Davies Road Charity Crescent/Vale Business Park) : This NSu evening peak single trip service, supplementing Cresswell 587, is increased to every hour NESu, replacing 583 and the Cresswell service.
954 (Pebworth Evesham, NESu flexiLink) : Pick-up points added at Charles Close and Burford Gardens, sheltered housing complexes in Evesham formerly served by Cresswell 594.
Service Changes from 11 April 2005
Changes from this date are consequent upon Warwickshire County Council retendering.
21 (Stratford Broadway, NESu) : Reduced to 1 journey in each direction
23 (Stratford Whichford via Ilmington, NESu) : Many journeys diverted via Clifford Chambers and Lower Quinton, with those journeys via the old route renumbered 23A. 23A also has some short circular journeys to Wimpstone and Preston, and school service 153 is incorporated.
24 (Stratford Norton Lindsey Circular, NESu) : Gained, incorporating service 279 to Hampton Lucy. Service runs via Snitterfield then a loop via Norton Lindsey and Wolverton, with some journeys serving Hampton Lucy.
52 (Stratford Schools Moreton-in-Marsh, Sch) : Gained, running via Preston, WImpstone, Alderminster, Newbold, Halford, Tredington, Shipston, Burmington, Long Compton, Little Compton and Great Wolford.
134 (Pillerton Hersey Alcester Schools, Sch) : Gained, running via Kineton, Wellesbourne, Alveston, Tiddington, Loxley Road and Stratford.
153 (Shipston -> Stratford, Sch) : Incorporated in 23.
154 (Shipston -> Stratford, Sch) : Gained, running via Blackwell, Tredington, Halford, Newbold, Alderminster, Wimpstone and Preston.
279 (Stratford Hampton Lucy, NESu) : Incorporated in 24.
Service Changes from 25 April 2005
Changes from this date are designed to reduce the commitment to the Wyes Moves network of services to the south-east of the City.
75 (Hereford Station Belmont, NESu) : Curtailed to start at Hereford, City Bus Station.
78 (Hereford Station Rotherwas, NESu) : Regularised to run every 30 minutes from the Station all day, via Bridge Street in the off-peak. This becomes the only through service from the Station to the south-east part of the City. In the morning peak (including Saturdays), inbound journeys become 78A running via Putson and Redhill rather than Hinton.
79 (Hereford Station Putson, NPESu) : Curtailed to start at Hereford, City Bus Station, but with all journeys via Bridge Street.
79A (Hereford Putson/Redhill, PE) : Morning peak journeys diverted via Hinton and reduced slightly, forming a 15 minute frequency inbound with 78A.
80 (Hereford Station Redhill Belmont, NPESu) : Curtailed to run Hereford, City Bus Station Redhill only. The section beyond Redhill is unserved by this roundabout route, but 80 returns from Redhill via Stanberrow Road and Home Lane.
82 (Belmont Rotherwas, P) : Reduced slightly.
71 (Hereford Credenhill) : Alternate off-peak journeys diverted via Westfaling Street to replace 73
73 (Hereford Westfaling Street Whitecross) : Replaced by 71.
Revised timetables on routes 44 (minor change), 303, 963.
74 (Hampton Park Hereford Newton Farm) : Route revised to operate southbound via City Bus Station (Tesco) and new bridge No longer serving Widemarsh Street and Broad Street.
A group of services based on Stratford-upon-Avon taken over from Stratford Blue from this date : 23 (Stratford Shipston Whichford), 279 (Stratford Hampton Lucy) and some short-workings on 21 (Stratford Broadway). Also evening services on routes 25, 26, 28 and 29.
71 (Hereford Credenhill) : Minor timetable changes to interwork with service 74 short-workings
74 (Hampton Park Hereford Newton Farm) : Timetable revised to give longer running times frequency unchanged.
Wyre Forest local services are further cut back from this date, especially Kidderminster town services.
1 (Kidderminster Rifle Range) : Reduced to hourly at off-peak
2 (Spennells Kidderminster Bark Hill) : Diverted via Offmore and Comberton , also Crossley Retail Park in off-peak, to replace 2A, and increased to every 20 minutes
2A (Offmore Kidderminster Bark Hill) and 2B (Spennells Comberton Kidderminster Bark Hill) : Replaced by revised 2
5 (Fairfield - Kidderminster Greenhill Sion Hill) : Reverts to running Fairfield Kidderminster only.
6 (Fairfield Kidderminster Sion Hill) : Withdrawn. A few journeys running direct between Kidderminster and Sion Hill remain as service 7A.
7 (Kidderminster Greenhill Sion Hill) : Former section of 5, running hourly. A few journeys run direct via the former 6 route as service 7A.
8 (Kidderminster Habberley - Ferndale) : Reduced to every hour in the off-peak. The 8A variant which ran to Habberley only no longer exists.
A reduction also occurs on Worcester City services.
24 (Worcester Lower Wick) : Reduced to hourly off-peak only and linked cross-city with 37/38.
37 (Worcester Warndon Perdiswell Worcester) : Reduced to hourly off-peak, every 40 mins at peak, off-peak service commences at Lower Wick.
38 (Worcester Perdiswell Warndon Worcester ) : Reduced to hourly off-peak, every 40 mins at peak, off-peak service continues to Lower Wick.
Malvern and Hereford locals are also reduced :
42 (Worcester - Malvern Link Brook Farm) : The Malvern local section is further reduced to hourly, with only 1 journey in each direction through to/from Worcester.
74 (Newton Farm Hereford - Hampton Park) : Only alternate journeys now continue beyond Hereford to Hampton Park, except for a couple of journeys to Tupsley at school/college times, leaving this section only every half hour.
440 (Michaelchurch Escley Hereford) : This Schooldays service is withdrawn.
Minor timetable changes also affect other services.
Service Changes from 6 September 2004
From this date, many changes take place throughout the network.
Additional early evening buses are provided on 2A (Offmore Kidderminster Bewdley) and 3 (Kidderminster Areley Kings), with consequential amendment to 4 (Offmore Kidderminster Rifle Range).
The 21/21A/22/522 group of services (Moreton-in-Marsh Chipping Campden Stratford-upon-Avon) is lost to Johnsons Coaches on retender, and as a result 554 (Evesham Honeybourne Chipping Campden) is curtailed to run to Honeybourne only and 559 (Evesham Broadway) is reduced to 1 early evening inward trip only.
Worcester City service 32 (Ombersley Road Worcester St Peters Estate) has alternate journeys extended to Baynhall via Kempsey, with the other alternate off-peak journeys becoming 32A, extended to Norton Barracks Estate. The extension to Baynhall provides a replacement for 372, 373 and 374 over this section of route, as these services are reduced to an off-peak service of one journey in each direction. Service 363 now provides the main service for Upton.
The peak hour operations on the 42 group (Malvern Link Fruitlands) are amended, with more journeys omitting Sherrards Green but some journeys serving Malvern Science Park.
Evening a services are substantially reduced on Hereford City services 71, 72A, 74, 74A, 74B, 79A and 81, with First ceasing to operate Sunday services in Hereford. Evening country services 418 and 492 are also being retendered.
Service 73 (Hereford Green Lanes Whitecross) is a new off-peak service of three journeys providing a token replacement for the Westfaling Street area of Hereford unserved since May. However, services 76/76A (Hereford Bartonsham Circulars) are lost to Yeomans Canyon Travel.
EasyLINK service 363 (Worcester Upton Great Malvern) is rerouted via Little Malvern rather than Upper Welland on journeys towards Malvern, to avoid a difficult road junction.
Saturday services 377, 379, 381 between Malvern Link and Cheltenham are retendered again, whilst market day service 411 between Hereford and Wormelow is lost to Nick Maddy Coaches.
However, service 417 (Worcester Cradley Ledbury) is gained from Bromyard Omnibus Company.
420 (Hereford Bromyard Worcester) is revised, with route variant 419 withdrawn, the off-peak service reduced to every 2 hours and the service curtailed at the Bus Station in Hereford.
A revised timetable is introduced on 453/454 (Hereford Woolhope), but 492 (Leominster Hereford) is reduced to one single journey from Leominster at 1842.
School service amendments include the introduction of new services 881 and 889, and the withdrawal of S79 and part of 892. S77 is retained.
Malvern peak hour service 904, only introduced in May, is extended to run from Malvern Link via 42 route to Great Malvern, then via the Station to Malvern Science Park. Off-peak service 947 (Halfkey Road Great Malvern) is rerouted away from Albert Park Road, whilst 963 (Upton Great Malvern) is completely revised and rerouted to run from Great Malvern via Sherrard Green, Poolbrook and Fruitlands to Upper Welland, thence a loop via Welland, Hanley Swan and Hanley Road to Fruitlands and back to Great Malvern. This replaces parts of 363 and 42.
FlexiLINK service 978 (Deerhurst Tewkesbury FlexiLINK) is withdrawn.
Minor timetable changes affect services 44, 67, 93, 143, 144, 292, 503, 535, S77, S92 and S22 in many cases to better reflect traffic conditions.
Worcester City Sunday services 31, 33 and 35, eack operating hourly, are taken over from Pete's Travel, on unchanged timetables.
From the above date, major changes to Hereford City services.
71 (Credenhill - College Green)
The service will cease to run between the City and College Green during the daytimes on Mondays to Saturdays. Another bus company is expected to provide a service over this section.
72 (Bobblestock Putson/Redhill)
The service between Bobblestock and the City will be diverted to run via Moor Farm Estate and Whitecross Road, partially replacing service 73. The service south of the river will be revised and integrated with the Wyes Moves service.
73 (Moor Farm City)
The service will be integrated with service 72, although Westfaling Street will no longer be served.
74 (Hampton Park Newton Farm)
The frequency will be reduced, although larger buses will be used.
75 (City Belmont)
Some journeys extend to the Rail Station and run via Bridge Street
77/77A (Bobblestock Circulars) diverted via Widemarsh Common
78 (City Rotherwas) replaces H8, with most journeys via Hinton but not The Pastures
79 (City The Pastures) is a half-hourly off-peak service to Putson and The Pastures
79A (City Redhill/Putson) replaces 72 south of the river at peak times
80 (City Redhill Newton Farm Belmont) is a half-hourly off-peak service replacing parts of 72 and H9/H10/H11
81 (City College Green) is the remaining evening and Sunday service
82 (Belmont Rotherwas) replaces H9/H10/H11 at peak times
Evening and Sunday services will be little changed.
From the above date, various changes will be introduced in Worcestershire.
300/303 (Kidderminster Worcester Hospital) and X33 (Kidderminster Hospital Redditch Hospital) will have revised timetables designed to increase the reliability of the services, 303 will be extended to serve Kidderminster Hospital, and X33 diverted via Bromsgrove Community Hospital. The odd journeys on route 304 will be withdrawn.
363/364 (Worcester Callow End Upton Malvern) will be taken over from Astons and operated to a much improved frequency. At the same time a network of new peak-hour local services in Malvern and new demand-responsive services in the surrounding area will be introduced.
878/879 (Malvern School Services) and the Sunday services on routes 192 (Kidderminster Birmingham) and 292 (Kidderminster Ludlow) will be operated by another company (Whittle in the case of 192/292)
192 (Kidderminster Birmingham) will be operated by Diamond Bus (Birmingham Coach Company).
293 (Kidderminster Worcester) will be reduced to run Stourport Worcester only in the off-peak.
914 (Stourport Hartlebury) and 915 (Stourport Wilden Kidderminster) are new demand-responsive flexiLINK services replacing Whittle 14 and 15 and First 15. 811 (Stourport school bus) is withdrawn.
Service Changes from 18 April 2004
With effect from the above date, many of the companys services in Worcestershire are revised. The changes are a combination of commercial changes introduced by the company and changes resulting from the implementation of Worcestershire County Councils subsidy strategy.
The routes and timetables of services 143 and 144 are revised. Service 144 is diverted in Bromsgrove via Stourbridge Road, the Princess of Wales Hospital and Catshill, replacing service 94 which is withdrawn. Service 143 is diverted via Churchill Road in Catshill. At the same time, the frequency of service 93 (Charford) is reduced.
In Worcester, in order to simplify the City services and provide new links, many bus routes are altered :-
21 (Green Lane) is linked with 32 (St Peters) as new cross-City service 32.
22/22A (Droitwich via Claines) is reduced, and no longer runs through to the Hospital.
26 (Henwick Park) is linked to the Hospital and Warndon Villages as new cross-City 31, which is a new service between Henwick Park, the City, Ronkswood, the Hospital, Warndon Villages and Warndon (Glovers Needle), partly replacing 26, 31, 41 and 43.
27/27A (Battenhall) is withdrawn, partly resulting from the County Council subsidy strategy. A very limited replacement may be provided with subsidy from the County Council.
33 is a new service between Dines Green, Bromyard Road, the City, Tolladine Road and Warndon (Glovers Needle), partly replacing 36, 38, 41 and 43.
34A (Warndon via Merrimans Hill) is withdrawn.
36/38 (Warndon Circular Services) are diverted to run via Tunnel Hill, with the revised services being renumbered 37 and 38.
41/43 are replaced by the above services, with Dines Green served by new 33, Tunnel Hill by 37/38, Warndon Villages and the Hospital by new 31.
As a result of the implementation of the County Council subsidy strategy the following services have been retendered :-
19, 19A, 20A, 157 are operated by MHS Travel.
97, 98 are operated by Cofton Coaches
46 are operated by Astons Coaches between Worcester and Great Malvern only as 44.
82, 83 are replaced by a new flexiLINK service 982 operated by First.
140
is replaced by a new flexiLINK service 940 operated by First.
141
continues at peak times, but is replaced by new flexiLINK service 940
operated by First in the off-peak.
Evening and Sunday services on routes 31, 33 and 35 run hourly.
The County Council has not yet decided on the following services :-
Evening and Sunday services on 93, 95, 146, 247, 343
As a result of the implementation of the County Council subsidy strategy it is understood that the following services are withdrawn :-
26A, 29A, 30, 30A, 48, 60, 69, 134, 355
Evening services on 21, 24
Some early morning services on 24, 28, 32, 38, 41, 43, 44, 51, 55, 56, 61A, 67, 68, 70
Sunday services on 32, 36, 38, 61A, 70
One evening peak journey on 417
The Sunday service on 51, 55, 56, 57 and 58 is reduced. Some peak hour journeys on 68 are also withdrawn and many more minor timetable alterations take place affecting many services.
Service Changes from 29 March 2004
The Timetables of Hereford City services 71 & 72 are revised, with 71 reduced to every 30 minutes and 72 to every 15 minutes during most of the day. Lances to be used on service 71.
Service Changes from January/February 2004
The timetables of Hereford City services 71 & 74 revised, with a reduced peak hour service on 71 allowing increased running time (and greater reliability) on 74.
Wyre Forest local services revised, with 2/2C (Bewdley) being extended across Kidderminster as 2 to Spennells and 2A to Offmore Farm (with some going on to Spennells) - each leg every 30 minutes. The routes of 3/3A (Stourport) at Areley Kings will be merged, buses running via Walshes, Areley Common, Abberley Avenue and the Walshes back to Stourport. 5 (Wolverley) will be extended across town via Greenhill to Sion Hill, interworking there with 6 (Sion Hill). Some journeys on 6 run through to Wolverley. 4 is a new service running three journeys in the early evening linking Offmore Farm, Habberley and Rifle Range. Frequencies on 1 and 8 are reduced to half-hourly. Separate services 7, 10 and 18 are replaced by these changes. Services 14 (Stourport - Hartlebury) and all except schools journeys on 15 (Kidderminster - Wilden - Stourport) lost to Whittle Bus. Redditch services 50 (Batchley Salters Lane) and 63 (Plymouth Road - Abbeydale) lost to Hardings.
Service Changes from 22 December 2003
The Boomerang Bus Monday to Saturday evening service on 33 is taken over from this date, with the evening timetable on 41/43 being amended so that buses run through as during the day.
Service Changes from 8 December 2003
Timetables of Worcester City services revised from this date. More running and recovery time will be allowed due to traffic congestion. Frequencies are mainly unchanged, although 28 (County Hall) reduces to 20 minutes, 24 (Lower Wick) reduces to 30 minutes although spaced with 44 to Malvern and 32 (St Peters) reduced to 3 buses per hour but giving a 15 minute frequency when combined with 372/4 to Upton. Some of the odd evening and Sunday variations are discontinued, including 34, 35D, 36C, 38C, 41A and 43A. Buses follow the standard service 35, 36, 38, 41 or 43 routeings.
Service Change from 4 November 2003
Not reported below was the fact that Hereford Overground service 72 (Bobblestock - City - Putson - Redhill), which ran past the old Frome Avenue terminus down Home Lane in a loop, was rerouted to turn at Marlbrook Road in Redhill from 1 September 2003 due to problems caused by the road humps on the loop. Following incidents in which buses were surrounded by "angry crowds", half-hourly journeys in the off-peak were rerouted back, although the opposite way round the loop, from about 4 September (service 72B). The introduction of H9-H10 via these roads means that 72B can be withdrawn, although the necessity of 56 days' notice means that this occurs on the above date rather than at the same time as H9-H10 start.
Service Changes from 26 October 2003
Hereford "WyeS Moves" services H8, H9, H10, H11 are introduced using new Optare Solos. H9-H11 link Rotherwas with Belmont via The Pastures, Hinton, Red Hill, Hunderton and Newton Farm, every 30 minutes, whilst H8 replaces the City - Rotherwas section of 73 but from the Rail Station via the Hospital and also Bridge Street. 73 becomes Moor Farm - City only.
In Kidderminster, 124 (Cradley Heath - Dudley), the last of the once extensive network of Black Country routes, is lost to another operator whilst 82/83 (Bromsgrove - Alvechurch - Redditch) is reduced to 2 journeys per day, with some rerouteing.
The Evesham - Worcester corridor is revised from the same date. Times of many journeys are amended, 528 (the variant via Littleworth) is withdrawn, 557 (the variant via Drakes Broughton village, Wick village and Cropthorne village) is reduced to one journey from Worcester to Pershore, mainly going this way for Pershore High School students. The off-peak service remains hourly, standardised as route 551, and the evening peak service is slightly reduced. On every day except Wednesdays, new off-peak service 577 (Elmley Castle - The Combertons - Wick - Pershore - Drakes Broughton village - Spetchley - Worcester Hospital - Worcester) provides a replacement for some of 557, also part of Cresswell 565. On Wednesdays Cresswell continues to run via a similar route.
Service Changes from 18 September 2003
554 (Evesham - Badsey - Honeybourne) is gained from Cresswells, along with schools services 854/855 and an odd journey on 587 (Evesham - Davies Road). 601 (Evesham - Chipping Campden) is absorbed into 554, which becomes Evesham - Badsey - Honeybourne - Chipping Campden. Also to start on this day are FlexiLINK services 954 (Evesham - Pebworth via almost anywhere you please) and 955 (Pebworth - Anywhere, almost) which also compensate for the withdrawal of Cresswell 554 to some extent.
Service Changes from 15 September 2003
Services are revised in the Redditch area :-
51 (Batchley - Oakenshaw) curtailed to become Batchley - Redditch again, every 15 minutes. 55/56 (Redditch - Crabbs Cross - Oakenshaw - Redditch) reinstated at 30 minute intervals but via recent 51 route. 57/58 (Redditch - Matchborough Circulars) are diverted via the Hospital and increased in frequency slightly to compensate for the withdrawal of 59 (Redditch - Matchborough - Hospital). 68 (Redditch - Webheath) and 70 (Redditch - Astwood Bank) peak frequencies reduced to 30 minutes. 146 (Birmingham - Redditch), recently relaunched with branded vehicles, bears the brunt of the cuts with a reduction from every 20 minutes to hourly. 78 (Redditch - Blakenhurst Prison - Bromsgrove) withdrawn. Other Redditch services have minor changes. Timetables now on line. Some Kidderminster local services are reduced in the early morning and evening peak.
Service Changes from 4 September 2003
From this date Pete's Travel (or is it Britannia Travel ?) has deregistered all his Worcestershire tendered services, and First take over 11/12 (Kidderminster locals), 291 (Tenbury - Kidderminster), 300/303 (Worcester - Kidderminster), X33 (Kidderminster - Redditch), 97/98 (Bromsgrove locals) plus the Sunday service on 292 and a few other bits and pieces.
Service Changes from 1 September 2003
The retendering of many Herefordshire local bus services brings some gains for First. 412 (Hereford - Garway) is lost, but 453/4 (Hereford - Woolhope / Holme Lacy), 77 (Hereford - Roman Road - Bobblestock, used to be 113), Monday to Friday 501 and 502 (Hereford - Canon Pyon - Leominster) and Saturday 469 (Bromyard - Bishops Frome - Hereford) are gained. 453/4 and 469 were Midland Red routes until about 1980, 501/502 were the subject of fierce licensing battles between Lugg Valley Motors and Primrose Motors in the 1960's. New service H1 is an Urban Bus Challenge funded City Centre Circular service in Hereford. There are also adjustments to the Overground network, following the usual moans from car-owners not wanting buses up their roads and also complaints from members of the public whose transport links have been severed. 74 (Newton Farm - Tupsley) is extended back to Hampton Park, 75 (Hampton Park - Belmont) is curtailed to run Hereford - Belmont only, with Belmont West and East being served by separate loops from the roundabout rather than through the direct link-road between the two. New low-floor vehicles are expected for the tendered services.
Service Changes from 15 June 2003
Hereford City services relaunched as Overground network. 101/105 linked as new service 71, 102/108/109 linked as new service 72 with a complicated route south of the river. 103/118 linked as new service 73 via The Pastures. 104/117 linked as new service 74, running at most times from Tupsley only. 106 rerouted, extended via Ledbury Road through to Hampton Park as service 75. 110/111 renumbered 76A/76. 72A is 112 variant of 72, 74A is 107 variant of 74 with some journeys via College Green. Most southbound buses run via Broad Street and Bridge Street.
Service Changes from 25 May 2003
Redditch services 178/179 withdrawn, incorporated into tendered service (currently under tender) with Pete's services on this corridor.
Service 192 reduced, some withdrawn journeys are under tender.
Service Changes from 6 May 2003
Worcester City services 41/41A, 43/43A, 33, 37 linked across the City to form new services 41/41A, 43/43A/43E. Timetables of each section remain the same, new Optare Solos to be introduced from about midday on 6 May. Funded by Urban Bus Challenge.
Service Changes from 28 April 2003
Major changes to Redditch local services from this date Frequency reduced on routes 51, 57, 58, 59, 68A (renumbered 68), 70. 146 (Birmingham Redditch Studley) curtailed at Redditch. Service 67 (Redditch Hospital) omits Woodrow South and is extended to Studley on a half-hourly basis as previous 146. 246 (Redditch Evesham) diverted via 67 route between Redditch and Hospital, most off-peak journeys transferred to 247 running via Crabbs Cross. Whittle Bus have taken over most of the Monday to Friday service on 60 (Oakenshaw Redditch Matchborough West), which has been curtailed to run between Redditch and Matchborough West only.
On 601 (Evesham Chipping Campden) most journeys run via
Badsey Village. Minor route change to 8 (Kidderminster
Habberley).
Service Changes from 24 March 2003
Minor timetable changes to services 5, 22, 64, 83, 93, 417 from this date. Service 15B (Kidderminster - Wilden - Stourport - Burlish) is renumbered 15 and cut back to run from Kidderminster Bus Station to Stourport only, the Burlish section being replaced by new services 11/12 operated by Pete's Travel. First takes back former service 305 (Stourport - Hartlebury) from Pete's (who had incorporated it into services 211/214), and renumbers it to 14.
421 (Worcester Suckley) and 424 (Worcester Knightwick) lost to LMS Travel.
Service Change from 24 February 2003
354 (Droitwich - Hanbury, Tuesdays) is withdrawn without replacment
Service Changes from 17 February 2003
440 (Hereford - Abbeydore - Longtown) has been drastically reduced
to merely a school / college days operation between Hereford and
Michaelchurch Escley. At other times passengers must use
Stagecoach between Hereford and Pontrilas and change onto a local
link operated by Maddy's Coaches (?) to the villages.
412
(Hereford - Garway) has its WFS off-peak service diverted via Kilpeck
to replace the journeys on 440 which used to go that way.
Service Changes from 6 January 2003
Worcester City Services
21, 24, 28, 32, 36A/38A
(renumbered 36/38) Revised timetables, frequencies generally
reduced
23, 29B, 36, 37A, 38 Withdrawn (with minor
exceptions)
31, 33, 35, 35B, 35C, 37, 41, 43, 48 Revised
timetables, generally at similar frequency
30 - Limited new
service to replace 29B.
36, 38 - Reinstated evening service
operated by LMS Travel
No changes to Sunday services (except
36/38 rerouted via Blanquettes Estate)
Hereford City Services
101, 102, 103, 105, 108, 109,
117 Revised timetables, frequencies generally reduced
104,
118 Revised timetables, generally at similar frequency
106,
116 Services linked through Belmont estate
No changes to
Sunday services
Redditch Area Services
51, 57, 58, 59, 61A, 70, 146
(Redditch Studley section), 343 (Redditch Studley
section) Due to increasing levels of vandalism and violence
in the Redditch area these services will not run on Mondays to
Saturdays after about 1830 hrs.
School Services
A1, A2 - Withdrawn, a "closed
door" service will continue from Studley to Alcester schools.
S19 - Minor route change
S28, S83, S84, S86, 44A - Withdrawn
without replacement
S49 - Replaced by Astons Coaches
S77, 156
(to/from Droitwich High School), 811 - To continue
91 - Replaced
by another operator
732, 736, 738, 752 - Replaced by Pete's
Trave;
Other Services
19, 146, 192, 246, 292, 310, 355, 528,
551, 553, 557, 561, 583 Minor timetable changes
93, 95,
343 Timetable revisions to Monday to Saturday evening
services
W94 - Withdrawn
2 Rerouted at Bark Hill to
avoid The Hollow
15/15A Schools journeys withdrawn,
morning journey curtailed (CC tender invited)
18
Comberton Schools journey replaced by another operator
22/22A
Timetable revised incorporating withdrawal of one journey
42
1555 Duplicate journey withdrawn
44 Early morning
timetable amended
70 Afternoon journeys will no longer
serve Ridgeway Middle School
94 Timetable revised
incorporating withdrawal of one journey
98 Saturday
service withdrawn
155 All withdrawn except Tibberton
Westacre Middle School journey
134 Timetbale amended
146
Journeys will no longer serve Studley High School, timetable
revised
157 Timetable revision including withdrawal of
journey
246 Timetable revised
363 Off-peak
journeys replaced by Robin's Travel
421 Rushwick short
journeys revised and transferred to 420
Service Changes from 13 December 2002
33N, 37N - New Friday and Saturday late night services every 30 minutes between 2345 and 0315 from Worcester St Nicholas Street to Dines Green/Oldbury Road and Warndon/Ronkswood.
Service Changes from 18 November 2002
The schools time peak journeys on routes 583 (Davies Road - Fairfield - Evesham) and 561 (Hampton - Evesham) have been taken over by another operator.
Bromsgrove local services 96, 97 and 98 have been taken over by Pete's Travel.
Service Changes from 3 November 2002
Local services in Worcester and Droitwich changed from the above date.
19 (Droitwich Local) : Morning peak service withdrawn without
replacement. Off-peak service somewhat reduced, hourly journeys
(19A) extended to Tagwell Heights to partially replace 159.
20
(Droitwich Local) route shortened by operating direct via Briar
Hill. Reduced to every 20 minutes.
20A (Droitwich Local)
increased to hourly off-peak to partly replace the withdrawn section
of 20
22 (Worcester - Droitwich) reduced to hourly in off-peak,
also reduced in peak, all off-peak journeys become 22A.
22A
(Worcester - Fernhill Heath) mainly incorporated in above.
25
(Worcester - Rushwick) reduced to odd journeys only which
are renumbered 421 (the
improvement in 419/420 meant that buses were often running only a few
minutes apart)
26A (Worcester - Himbleton
House) retained on changed times and route under Worcestershire
tender
36B (Worcester Local) withdrawn but
see 35C below
34/35 etc (Worcester - Warndon) revamped -
35 will run every 10 minutes via Brickfields to Warndon, then loop
via Blackpole Village back to Glovers Needle and return via
Brickfields to Worcester. Evening and Sunday services remain as
before, one journey remains on each of 34A and 35A to serve the
school on Merrimans Hill. No other services via Merrimans Hill
or Lansdowne. A service of 2 journeys
(35C) under Worcestershire tender replaces the Lansdowne section of
route and also Bilford Court amd Warndon Green, previously served by
36B.
39/40 (Worcester - Warndon Villages) withdrawn,
replaced between Worcester and Royal Hospital by reinstated 31.
Pete's Travel operate an hourly service
39A via Merrimans Hill and Warndon to the Dugdale Drive area of
Warndon Villages.
26, 33, 36, 38 peak services reduced
slightly. Many services retimed at existing frequencies.
157
(Droitwich Local) : Reduced to hourly
159 (Droitwich Local) :
Withdrawn, partially replaced by 19A.
311-314 (Worcester -
Clifton-on-Teme) : Some off-peak services withdrawn. Bromyard
Omnibus provide replacement.
315/316 (Worcester -
Broadheath) : Withdrawn. Bromyard Omnibus
provide replacement.
372-374 (Worcester - Gloucester) :
Curtailed at Upton. Boomerang Bus
Company provide connecting Upton - Tewkesbury service.
Service Changes from 27 October 2002
From this date services 140 (Birmingham - Dudley, ESu) and 443 (Brandhall - Birmingham, ESu) will cease, together with interworking Sunday and late evening journeys on 192 (Birmingham - Kidderminster).
Kidderminster depot will be closed on
Sundays from this date, and the only Black Country operation left
from Midland Red West's post-deregulation expansion will be 124
(Cradley Heath - Dudley).