Say hello to Leighton's buses - a better bus service for Leighton Buzzard.
🚌 New network of routes and timetables
🚄 Buses timed to meet fast trains to/from London
🆓 All journeys within Leighton Buzzard will be free until Christmas 2023.
➡️ Visit
Tonight will see the last service 280 depart Oxford for Aylesbury. Tomorrow brings welcomes a fresh identity for our Buckinghamshire network.
The wonderful Oxford and Chiltern Bus Page has archived the various guises of operator and brand that have been adopted over the years.
The unfortunate news regarding two of my former networks is incredibly saddening, both professionally and personally.
High Wycombe's Glow-up and Aylesbury's Better Bus Connexxions relaunches improved punctuality and boosted ridership, but were not enough to tackle rising costs.
Today’s the last day of Arriva Midlands’ stewardship of Aylesbury and High Wycombe’s networks, which passes to our friends in the South.
We’re proud to have achieved so much with the Buckinghamshire team, including double-digit customer growth and punctuality improvements in HW.
It’s delivery day!
Thousands of printed timetable booklets are steadily streaming onto our buses, at bus stations and into community centres around Buckinghamshire.
The transformation of how we publicise our network begins with getting the foundations right.
The tiny island of Capri has its own bus network, with most routes terminating in this tiny RIDO bus station, containing an Iveco truck with a bus body.
Minibuses do most of the people movements between the town, the Harbour and Ana Capri - quite intensive, uphill work.
Today marks the first full day of our new 2 & 2A services in Derby, simplifying our bus network in Chellaston, Shelton Lock and Allenton.
We've been busy behind-the-scenes making sure our shop window is looking its best, ready to welcome customers on our network.
Leighton’s buses are GO 🎉
Pleased to welcome the team and see off the first buses onto Leighton Buzzard’s new network this morning, as well as traveling around to get feedback from our customers.
Plenty still to do, but proud of the
@arriva_mk
team to deliver this in 9 weeks.
It was a pleasure to speak to The Leighton Buzzard Society yesterday evening, talking all things NBC, minibus economics, Leighton's buses and more.
Who doesn't love a breadvan?
Another really enjoyable
@EuroBusExpo
- lovely to see so many friends and colleagues from past and present.
For me, the star of the show is this really tasty
@ADLbus
hydrogen double deck, ready to serve the lucky folk of Liverpool. But lots of other great tech on show too.
We joined our partners at
@lutoncouncil
to celebrate the launch of their £19m Bus Service Improvement Plan initiatives, kickstarted by several network enhancements from all operators in the town.
We’ll announce more details of our exciting new offering very soon.
@ArrivaUKBus
A last-minute holiday led us to the beautiful island of Madeira, with its runway on a bridge & stunning mountain scenery.
Also, buses. We caught the end of the Flower Festival which concluded with a classic motor show, including this vintage minibus.
Back to reality next week!
A trip down memory lane last weekend to visit old friends at
@SouthernVectis
and my old home of
@Morebusco
with
@ybmanagers
Midlands branch.
The novelty of a bus on a ferry never wears. The Needles Breezer is amazing as ever, and finding a bus bar at Freshwater Bay was a bonus!
Today was a bit of a catch up day after spending some time with
@ybmanagers
last week.
It’s been a few years since I last attended, but as ever, it was wonderful catching up with colleagues and friends, and it’s equally joyous to return full of ideas and inspiration.
Our new 'There's a Bus for That' campaign begins this May, across Milton Keynes and Luton. The star of the show is this story-telling TV ad, complemented on our web and social media channels.
Take an exclusive first look 👇
.
@RichardONCL10
had the unenviable task of reigning in this inexperienced young bus manager when we were both newbies at
@Morebusco
.
A patient, empathetic, energetic, dedicated, passionate leader whom I admire inordinately.
Congratulations on your Silver Jubilee, boss.
Here’s Richard
@RichardONCL10
our
@morebus
General Manager who I saw this week to celebrate his 25 years’ service. He joined sister company
@METROBUS
in 1998 & has been with us since 2015. A hugely respected leader with us. Thank you for your loyalty and very hard work Richard.
Thank you to
@ybmanagers
for another great conference, and for granting me the opportunity to talk through the art of bus network design and the lessons learned from fifteen years in the industry.
My jokes were a reminder that I should stick to the day job.
There’s no better way to celebrate going around the sun again by travelling in style on the beautiful Merchant Navy Class 35006 on the
@GWSR
.
One year older, but the novelty of playing with trains just doesn’t wear off…
High Wycombe’s bus network is getting a glow up 🌟
We're offering more buses, more often on a simpler network that allows for seamless connections around town. We'll also bring huge improvements to timetables that'll boost our punctuality.
We can't wait to get going. See more👇
From 3 September, we’ll be transforming your bus network in High Wycombe.
- More buses, more often
- New route numbers
- Seamless connectivity around town
Explore more here:
Today marks 40 years since the first minibus service operated in Exeter.
The radical, high-frequency network was a truly transformational moment for the industry.
Take a read through my tribute to the architect behind the minibus' success, Harry Blundred.
40 years ago on this day, 27 February 1984, a revolution began.
Minibuses on high frequency services in Exeter heralded a huge change for the city, and shaped the way bus networks were designed and operated across the country for years to come.
Budapest’s a truly beautiful city. The architecture is absolutely stunning.
And, of course, transport. One of the first things spotted was an Arriva Citaro on the 110 - it was just like being at home. Ikaruses (Ikarai? Partridge…) still roam the city’s streets.
Thank you to all those who've reached out to share their memories of Blundred's minibuses, and sharing of views on the transformation effects the Exeter project had on the industry.
Read more 👇
And with punctuality improving by over 30%, the roll-out of our new interurban network in Buckinghamshire has been an enormous success.
The network’s in great hands, with two enjoyable days spent generating ideas for the next steps to enhance the customer offering.
We were so proud to represent the Midlands team of
@ArrivaUKBus
at the
@UKBusAwards
this week, celebrating achievements in:
🏆 Leicester Buses - Partnership for Excellence | Bronze
🏆 X6 - Top Express Service | Bronze
🏆 Punctuality Sprint - Culture Change | Highly Commended
Respected industry commentator
@BusAndTrainUser
has been experiencing our new
@arrivatheshires
network in Buckinghamshire.
There are plenty of ideas to take away, but we're pleased that the sterling efforts of the team ensured these changes landed so successfully.
Read more 👇
On the left is an easy to read timetable combined with a clear map, all on an attractive display from one of Bedford’s independent operators.
On the right is the efforts by the town’s major operator, part of a large PLC. It’s an export from Trapeze.
Which is better?
📢 Our customers have spoken - and we've listened. A bus network designed for our customers, by our customers.
Building up from the successes of High Wycombe's glow-up in September, we're bringing even more upgrades to the town's bus routes from 7 January.
See more below 👇
Today’s adventure involves Oxford, High Wycombe and Reading with the Midlands branch of
@ybmanagers
including
@tobyjfrance
and
@thomasmanship
who is doing his best to look like
@MrTimDunn
.
Lots of industry best practice and inspiration to take away.
Wishing all those at both locations all the best for the future. Both Aylesbury and High Wycombe has a willing, eager team who are plentiful with new ideas and embraced a challenge to the status quo.
Our friends at
@CarouselBus
are ensuring customers stay connected from July.
Moving back to bus isn’t all that’s been happening in these past six months.
Most of last summer was taken up with prepping for this joyous occasion -
@Beckyritamann
and I finally tied the knot!
And yes, there were a couple of bus related nods throughout the day…
Yesterday’s Summer Bank Holiday gathering of the
@ybmanagers
Midlands Branch involved a day out on
@StagecoachMids
network around rural Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.
We also had opportunity to go down to Clarkson’s Farm, where the
@PulhamsCoaches
X9 stops right outside 🚌
We're bringing some eXciting changes to our buses in Buckinghamshire from 7 January 2024.
💡 A new, simpler identity to unify our network.
🚌 🚌 DOUBLE the number of buses on Sundays to Oxford.
🔗 Seamless connections from Aylesbury
Read more 👉
Career has finally been made - I’ve appeared in this month’s issue of
@classicbus
. Thanks for the guest spot!
Lots of local history this time around - informative columns on Midland Red Atlanteans, and as a proud Coventrian, indulging in rear-engined beauties during the PTE era
Travelling out and about on the network today to track our service performance and future opportunities, so it’s right that homage is paid to this classic Midland Red depot frontage.
Ten points to the person who knows the correct location.
Also heard from other brilliant speakers, including fellow YBMN speaker
@darloscott
talking through life as an independent coach operator, and the inspiring
@MattK1979
about his career and experiences. He’s right - the Needles Breezer is absolutely Britain’s best bus ride.
And another one! 🌟
Our X6 has been an absolute success story. From inheriting the route during 2020, we’ve taken this intercity route from strength to strength, including a huge increase in frequency implemented earlier this year.
A real credit to the
@arrivamidlandsE
team.
We're thrilled to announce that the X6 Leicester-Coventry service by Arriva East and South Midlands is a finalist for the prestigious Top Express Service award at the UK Bus Awards. Congratulations to the Arriva team! 🚌🌟 🚌🌟
#UKBusAwards
#BusWinners23
#MadeIt
Wishing David a very enjoyable retirement after leading GAG for a decade. His leadership style and model of local ownership makes GA such a forward thinking, well respected business.
He's so incredibly down-to-earth and understands transport operations at the coalface.
Today we are announcing that our CEO, David Brown, will be retiring from Go-Ahead later this year. He has been our CEO for 10 years and has spent nearly 40 years in the transport industry. Read the release here:
There’s very little traffic on the island, with a ban on private vehicles being brought over from the mainland during the Summer months.
This makes an eclectic mix of tiny buses, electric luggage-movers and some curious long-wheelbase convertible Fiat taxis (not my photo).
As deliveries and transport requirements are ramping up for Christmas, it’s a blessing that this landed on my doorstep today for a bit of delightful nostalgic respite.
@375_Media_Group
@edwardbdart
We’ll be trialing this every weekend for a few weeks (initially), so plenty of time yet to experience the 321 from the top deck.
@ShiresBusNews
This transfer is to bolster service delivery.
We're still reviewing the fleet plan for January as a result of network changes, and review of capacity requirements.
My University years consisted of lectures in the morning, followed by a late shift on, rather aptly, the University routes from Coventry to Leamington.
It provided a great mix of theoretical studies in transport with real world experience in the industry. (1/2)
Fascinating article on the efforts of
@FirstBusnews
to encourage students to be bus drivers in Bristol - an excellent idea & a potential source of future management. Also mentions the problem of the falling number of young people with car licences
@BusAndTrainUser
Enjoy Roger, looking forward to your feedback and hope you enjoy your travels. If you're ever popping back, please do drop me a note.
For all the fanfare of leaflets, there was so much interest on day one that we've ran out of copies! More are arriving tomorrow.
Yesterday marked my first anniversary at Amazon.
We’ve scaled up the Fleet operation hugely in that time, and this week saw the rollout of our new Operations Support Team, after months of dedication and hard work from everyone involved. I’m grateful for all of their support.
We’re over the moon to be recognised for the Punctuality Sprint scheme; a holistic process to drive significant improvement in on time performance.
For our customers this builds trust and confidence in the product - challenging perceptions and breaking down barriers to entry.
Together with our friends at
@letstalkcentral
,
@ArrivaUKBus
is delighted to formally launch Leighton's Buses, an innovative network that takes a holistic approach to deliver sustainable transport options for Leighton Buzzard.
Read more 👉
Thanks for joining us on our launch day of route X1
@BusAndTrainUser
- it’s always a pleasure to catch up.
Sadly, I didn’t quite get Milton Keynes Central’s colossal double-arrow in shot…!
It’s a brief but warm welcome to Naples. A quick stop off here before transferring on to our awaiting train for some well deserved time away on the Amalfi Coast.
@edwardbdart
Roadworks have caused the 280 to double-back in Thame, resulting unexpected delays that we’re managing locally.
Will be looking into timekeeping improvements later in the year once we understand the positive impacts of LTNs and bus infrastructure in Oxford.
If there ever was a definition of a true busman, James Freeman is the first name that springs to mind. It’s so enjoyable to listen to him articulate some key principles behind modal shift - and show that it takes hard work and commitment to make it happen.
James Freeman of
@FirstBSA
is one of the few people who knows how to grow bus use.
In essential listening (for any industry), James talks about how to create a culture of winners.
@RichardONCL10
@Morebusco
A huge well done boss; you and the team have pulled out all the stops to make this happen in such a polished, seamless way. Bravo 👏
And that was Italy 🇮🇹. Stunningly, achingly beautiful, as always.
Now it’s back to work for a few days before our long-awaited house move. Then it might be time for another holiday, who knows…
(2/2) Not only was it a much-needed source of income, the work experience for an industry that I’ve been in since has been invaluable.
Bridging the huge generational gap in all levels of bus functions by encouraging more students into bus, particularly as drivers, is a must.
So today’s visit to MAN8 gave not only a photo opportunity to capture our shunters, tractors and trailers together, but also to have a look at the new Mercedes Actros units. They’re the bee’s knees - plus they’re unbelievably efficient, smart and comfortable.
@PorteMolitor
@pointerdart
No frequencies were reduced as part of the changes on 7 January 2024.
In my view, going from 150/280/300/X60 to X5/X6/X7/X8/X9 follows a common logic and promotes a network of interurban routes.
There’s far more to network design than just the sequencing of route numbers.
On a personal note, when meeting David some years ago when I was a fresh graduate at Go South Coast, he took time to speak and engage with us to welcome us all into the business, and gave us some words of advice which I still put into practice today.
Big shoes to fill!
Today’s Network Performance Review takes place with the lovely folks at
@arrivamidlandsW
Tamworth.
The sweet purring of this beautiful former Mercian-branded Midland Red Olympian caught my ears, so with such fortunate timing, it was rightfully invited in to its former home.
@jamesboddice44
It’s a work-in-progress. Far from perfect, but we know the software’s abilities, the limitations, and what needs to be put right to make it easier to read and understand. We’re getting there.
@BenGoodwin19
Today is that special day and here's your annual birthday tweet. Many happy returns, old bean 🎈
Have a grate birthday. Hope that’s not too cheesy.
Harry Blundred would be right at home here - lettered routes operated by dual door minibuses (including these super-short wheelbase Volkswagens). They’re efficient people movers in Sorrento; their nimbleness and size are perfect for navigating the narrow streets.
It’s heaven!
Whilst it’s incredibly sad to hear the end of operations for Bournemouth’s infamous Yellow Buses, all credit is due to old friends and former colleagues at
@Morebusco
for mobilising a core bus network at such short notice, during what must be a very challenging time.
Following the sad news that fellow bus operator Yellow Buses has entered administration and will cease trading later this week. We know that many residents as well as employees will be concerned. Find out about our new routes and vacancies
@darloscott
@ybmanagers
@tobyjfrance
@thomasmanship
☝️Exactly this; to be double-charged when things go wrong adds insult to injury. In genuine comparison, I could have filled the tank in my car for less. So why wouldn’t the average person do that? Some big learnings that I hope that this experience can help identify and sort.
Tweeting is a rarity these days, but it’s with great pride to share that I’ve rejoined the industry that we all love.
After moving across from
@amazon
last year, Ryan and I are getting stuck in with all things network.
@pointerdart
@PorteMolitor
The new network carries around +5% more people than the comparable previous network, because the timetables were joined up, better designed for times where people needed them, and were radically simplified.
It’s not about route numbers.
Some big news from us this morning:
Deutsche Bahn have announced the sale of Arriva Group to I Squared Capital, which is set to complete in 2024.
Read more 👇
It’s also worth adding how people-orientated that much of the decision making was; a key principle that I learned from him at
@ybmanagers
and clearly why the transformation of
@FirstBSA
has been such a success. Wishing him a well deserved, long and enjoyable retirement.
I’d hope that the businesses and the industry note that journeys need to be made simpler, and when things go wrong, put in steps to mitigate to avoid me/customers writing a bunch of tweets because I felt so let down by an industry I so adore.
@mkt_transport
@arrivatheshires
@arriva_mk
Coaches will call at all stops on the A5 in Hockliffe.
We do have ambitions to extend the route further, but let’s ensure the timetable works first - we don’t want to commit to something we can’t deliver.
Free transfers to LLA will be available as part of your X1 fare.
@BenGoodwin19
The big 3-0. This is it; you're properly an adult now.
Many happy returns on your special day; I hope you're spoiled rotten.
P.S. I did intend on sending this at 2:02pm and 20:02, but did I get a free minute? Chance would be a fine thing.
@andy_horale
@letstalkcentral
@arrivatheshires
@BusAndTrainUser
Apologies, it looks like a minor ticket machine fault that means the journey hasn’t tracked correctly. This could be related to an industry-wide hardware issue, which appreciate is little consolation when waiting at the side of the road (1/2).
@busguymatt
Mostly commercial - a recast of the network to deliver the frequency boosts.
There’s some funding support from Oxfordshire County Council on evening journeys on route 800.