MetroBus

[whole diary]

[martyjon]

For 'unspecified support' read 'b****r all'

It was explained to me as being to provide (limited) bus services on a Bank Holiday, or is it, err, a Public Holiday, no it isn't, umm, its a National Holiday.

[TonyK]

[Come last September when it was these embarrassed (useless) officials that realised (privately) that their computer model had got it wrong and the U3 service was introduced operating only between the city centre and UWE but not able to operate via the bus only M32 links. From my observations, the U3 would amply cover its running costs with the volume of student travel alone and its only the student travel usage of the m3 that keeps this service on its 20 minute interval service throughout the day. It would be interesting to see passenger loadings on the m3 between Emersons Green and UWE in both directions outside of the peak hours but I don't think the relevant bodies will put a casual observer (usually a retired person) on the route to accurately record actual numbers using the service and give us council taxpayers exactly how much 'fresh air' is being carried between Emersons Green and UWE off peak, must be in the greater than 90% figure.

If they didn't see this one coming, they are dafter than I thought. What student, given the choice of a ride to town in a brand new bus that goes over the bus only bridge and doesn't stop at Begbrook would choose instead to ride on a 15-year old bus, going the long way round?

As for studies of usage, that won't be so straightforward now it's all one fare. It will need someone on board to count. I know that the issue of buses not stopping at Begbrook has been the subject of correspondence with the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) as the councillors weren't getting very far.

Edit: The new timetable confirms that the M3X will be non-stop from Hambrook to Cabot Circus. A bit like the X48 service that was scrapped when MetroBust kicked off. Plus ca change, eh? This hasn't gone down well in the area around the Stoke Park and Begbrook stops.

[simonw]

With this modified route, how do students who live in the Emerson Green area get to UWE at peak time?

[rogerw]

Alternate services run direct and via UWE

[martyjon]

I know that the issue of buses not stopping at Begbrook has been the subject of correspondence with the local MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) as the councillors weren't getting very far.

The issue there was that the buses were full hence the introduction of the U3 last September to reduce the loadings from / to UWE on the m3..

.... This hasn't gone down well in the area around the Stoke Park and Begbrook stops.

But Stoke Park and Begbrook will have the m1 service from January at a service frequency of every 10 minutes from 06:00 until midnight, no reason to grumble at that.

With this modified route, how do students who live in the Emerson Green area get to UWE at peak time?

Either interchange with the 19/19A at Hambrook or travel on a peak time m3 which will still serve UWE.

[TonyK]

For the sake of completeness, the forthcoming M1 timetable is here. This is the one I think will be most problematic. It has the longest route, rather convoluted, the majority of which is on ordinary roads. With a 10-minute frequency, I think we will see them running in twos and threes before long. One hour 25 minutes for the peak-time journey end to end seems unlikely.
Unlike the others, it at least stops by a railway station, even if it is only Parson Street.

[simonw]

I hope they split route from M1 to M1 and M4 with both M1/M4 looping the city centre and heading back north|south.

This will at least reduce the chance of buses being stuck at one place effecting the whole north|south route.

[martyjon]

I hope they split route from M1 to M1 and M4 with both M1/M4 looping the city centre and heading back north|south.

This will at least reduce the chance of buses being stuck at one place effecting the whole north|south route.

You got little hope of that happening. It would be just a little TOO much egg on their faces of the arrogant team behind the metrobus project to do that. The team have already had to 'accept defeat' on the m3 but are actually claiming 'customer request' in running some peak hour morning journeys non-stop between Hambrook and Cabot Circus and some peak hour afternoon / evening journeys non-stop and between Cabot Circus and Hambrook rather than accept the move was as a result of 'passenger disgruntlement'.

[Red Squirrel]

Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey.

[TonyK]

As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his folly, or so I understand. I said some time ago that the answer to the problems caused by having bus services running over long routes through the Centre was unlikely to be found by starting new bus services running over long routes through the centre. The revised layout of the Centre has helped, but there are still too many pinch-points, especially south of the New Cut.

[martyjon]

Any members of this forum up for a freebie, Metrobus route m1 commences Sunday January 6th 2019 and its free travel on that date too AND brand new CNG^▸ (Compressed Natural Gas) powered buses to travel on as well.

[grahame]

... brand new CNG^▸ (Compressed Natural Gas) powered buses to travel on as well.

What's a Congleton powered bus?  Or have I completely missed a definition somewhere?

[Western Pathfinder]

CNG^▸ (Compressed Natural Gas) /= Compressed Natural Gas.

[TonyK]

Any members of this forum up for a freebie, Metrobus route m1 commences Sunday January 6th 2019 and its free travel on that date too AND brand new CNG^▸ (Compressed Natural Gas) powered buses to travel on as well.

I will if I'm in Bristol. It will beinteresting to see how close to the projected timetable the bus can make it on a Sunday.

Edit: I think I will be between Oxfordshire and Bristol part of the day, then heading back to Devon to start packing. Keep me posted!

CNG /= Compressed Natural Gas.

Duly added to the Acronyms / Abbreviations page.

[dhassell]

CNG^▸ (Compressed Natural Gas) /= Compressed Natural Gas.

One of the many reasons M1 was delayed was because they had to fit special CNG tanks to the BCT Group depot in Bedminster, beforehand only First's Lawrence Hill depot had the correct kit for the job.