Working for bus passengers in and around Cambridge
Author: CBGbusUsers
Cambridge Area Bus Users
• seeks to represent – and campaign on behalf of – bus passengers in and around Cambridge;
• is independent of any political party.
Whippet are introducing a number of changes on routes 66, X2 and X3 from next Sunday, 6th September. In the case of routes 66 and X3 this includes ADDITIONAL SERVICES!
There are minor changes to improve punctuality on route 66, Monday-Friday only. And on Sundays there’s an additional service in each direction, Fenstanton-Godmanchester.
The new X2 timetable has been modified to allow for journeys during school terms taking longer than during the holidays. Or being quicker during school holidays, depending how you view these things.
Changes to help with punctuality are also being introduced on the X3, Monday-Friday. But on Sundays, there’s a doubling of services between Cambourne and Cambridge, with buses running every 30 minutes during the day. There’s also one additional Huntingdon-Cambridge journey.
Further details and links to the new timetable for each service are available from the Whippet website.
At the July 2026 Cambridge Area Bus Users Annual General Meeting, there was considerable discussion about the poor state of bus stop infrastructure in the Cambridge area. The Executive Committee resolved to create a post about this to inform the membership.
Let’s start with the good
Just an unremarkable stop. What’s special about that?
Stanley Road (outbound) 0500CCITY165 (outside Aldi, Newmarket Road, Cambridge). Click the image to explore on Google Maps.
At first glance this is an unremarkable stop. There are, however, a number of features which suggest that whoever commissioned and installed the infrastructure was actually thinking about the needs of bus passengers.
This stop is provided with a shelter, with integral seating, set back at the edge of the highway boundary. A bus stop flag has been mounted on an adjacent street-lighting column. Real-time passenger information, of e-paper type, powered by a solar panel, is installed close to the shelter at the upstream end. A lockable case contains printed route/timetable information. There are no obstructions for passengers boarding/alighting. Litter bins are well-sited. A raised kerb aids easy boarding/alighting, which is of particular benefit to wheelchair-using passengers and parents with children in buggies.
Now a selection of the bad
What’s so bad about that? There’s a shelter.
Eland Way (NaPTAN 0500STEVE013) towards Addenbrooke’s and city (left) and (NaPTAN 0500STEVE016) towards Tesco and Fulbourn (right) on Gazelle Way Fulbourn/Cherry Hinton. Click the image to explore on Google Maps.
Addenbrooke’s and city-bound passengers benefit from a shelter with integrated seating and hardstanding, whilst Fulbourn-bound passengers have no shelter. Both stops benefit from timetable cases, although the city-bound timetable is cunningly hidden the wrong side of the lamp-post. However neither stop could be considered accessible. Reaching the stop on the left involves slithering down a grassy bank; the stop on the right additionally involves the hazard of crossing a 40mph road with no pedestrian crossing.
Another one with a shelter? Are we being picky?
Almoners’ Avenue (NaPTAN 0500CCITY267) on Queen Edith’s Way towards Cherry Hinton. Click the image to explore on Google Maps.
There is, indeed, a shelter, with hardstanding and integrated seating, and a printed timetable in a locked case. However, neither the contractors nor whoever commissioned the infrastructure seem to have considered where passengers would board, or alight from, buses. The adjacent patch of parched, dry soil is fine for able-bodied passengers in good weather.
When that patch is wet, muddy and slippery, it is a hazard for all passengers, but particularly those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids.
PS: explore this stop on Google Maps. Should it now be in the ‘Ugly’ category?
And the ugly
Ah, point taken.
The bus stop infrastructure at Gwydir Street stop (towards Addenbrooke’s, NaPTAN 0500CCITY404) on Cambridge’s Mill Road. Click the image to explore on Google Maps.
The shelter has a broken roof, is covered in graffiti and fly-posting. The pole supporting the adjacent real-time passenger information display also hosts a timetable case, which is empty and graffitied. We are uncertain who is responsible for this shelter…
Who is responsible for our bus stops?
Responsibility for bus stops in the Cambridge area is split between various bodies. Here is brief digest:
Cambridgeshire County Council (the Highway Authority) is the body which has traditionally approved the siting of bus stops – although the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is now the Transport Authority, so there are overlapping responsibilities.
Bus stop locations should then be entered on the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN) database.
The Combined Authority and/or Highway Authority is responsible for providing good hard-standing for bus stops; and should provide a bus-stop pole, unless an adjacent street-lighting column can be used.
Provision of a bus stop flag is, currently, the responsibility of the bus operator, as is a timetable case and printed timetable.
Real-Time Passenger Information displays (pole-mounted, integral within a shelter, or of the more modern, compact e-paper type), if provided, is the responsibility of the Combined Authority. The RTPI feed is operated by contractor Vix Technology on behalf of the Combined Authority.
Bus shelters are, generally, the responsibility of the lower-tier authorities (eg Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council) who may have agreements with advertising companies (eg Bauer Media Outdoor UK, formerly Clear Channel/JC Decaux) which provide and maintain some shelters (in return for the right to sell static or moving advertisements). Additionally Parish Councils may choose to install shelters and seating. (Good examples can be found in the Histon & Impington and Great Shelford parishes.)
However, when roads are re-modelled (Hills Road, Histon Road, Milton Road) using Greater Cambridge Partnership money it is unclear who has responsibility for design of siting of stop and shelters.
Cambridge Area Bus Users is not aware of the existence of any bus stop design manual published or followed by the Combined Authority to guide new installations, or programmes of improvement.
How did it come to this?
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have a poor inheritance, from when Cambridgeshire County Council were the Transport Authority.
Back in April 2019, a (then) senior county councillor and (then) public transport officer, explained that:
Bus stop locations are the decision of the county council in consultation with bus operators and are then entered on the National Public Transport Access Nodes (NaPTAN) database. A pole may be provided where a convenient piece of street furniture, such as a street lighting column, is not available. It is the responsibility of the operator to mount their flag on the pole. Timetable frame and flag are installed by the bus operator. Only about half the stops have a flag, the rest are unmarked.
It was only on 15th November 2023, following public questions on behalf of Cambridge Area Bus Users, that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Transport & Infrastructure Committee agreed that:
(7.2.e) The CPCA would go through an options process to understand what was the right approach for a combined authority to take in regard to ownership and maintenance of bus stop infrastructure.
Translation: The Combined Authority know the locations of bus tops (from the NaPTAN database) but we’ve no real idea what’s installed at each location: pole? bus stop flag? timetable case?shelter? seat? Oh, and we don’t really know who installed what, still less who is responsible for maintaining what.
At the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Transport Committee on 4th March 2026 a programme of Bus Stop Infrastructure Improvements was agreed.
What standards do Cambridge Area Bus Users think Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority should be aiming for?
The October 2023 joint position paper from Cambridge Area Bus Users and Living Streets, Cambridge has a good summary of our views. Additional links are provided for those who would like to read more.
The (un)reliability of RTPI and the lack of printed timetable
Our Executive Committee diligently report failures of the RTPI system – both of hardware and data.
We are looking, more strategically, on why some services do not seem to track, or to give a realistic estimate of bus arrival times.
A survey of printed information (or the lack thereof) at key locations is also being undertaken.
Our Executive Committee member for St Ives has worked with others to produce an information leaflet and vastly improved printed information in and around St Ives Bus Station.
All of these will form the subject of forthcoming posts.
Minor changes are coming up on Whippet’s Universal services and on the Stagecoach T3.
On 30th August, the summer service on Whippet’s Universal services U1 and U2 comes to an end. A slightly-revised version of the previous timetable, with minor changes to most peak-time journeys, will operate from 31st August. The new timetables can be found here.
From 1st September, Stagecoach service T3 will be rerouted in the Great Shelford/Stapleford area. It will no longer use Station Road in Great Shelford (and will avoid the problems that the station level crossing can cause). Instead, buses from Grantchester will continue down London Road (calling at the Granta Terrace stop), before turning left to serve the stops at St Andrew’s Church and The Limes on Mingle Lane. On rejoining Hinton Way the existing route remains unchanged. In the reverse direction, buses will turn left from Hinton Way into Mingle Lane, and then proceed via St Andrew’s Church to London Road.
The new timetable isn’t available for download from the Stagecoach website at the time of writing (25th August), but is available for consultation at Traveline. Changes to timings are slight.
For 10 weeks during last winter, Stagecoach ran buses following Cambridge United’s weekday home matches to get spectators back to Newmarket Road Park & Ride.
Happily, Stagecoach have confirmed to us that these journeys will continue for the 2026-27 season. Buses leave from outside the Cledara Abbey Stadium at 2130 and 2200 and operate as service PR2F. There are also services in the opposite direction at 2120 and 2150.
Cambridge Area Bus Users’ Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday 11 July 2026 at 14:45, in the Great Western Room, The Signal Box Centre, 82 Glenalmond Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 8DB Eighteen members were present, with apologies received from another ten members.
Chair’s remarks, Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports
Hugh Taylor (Vice Chair 2025-26), Richard Wood (Secretary 2025-26) and Miranda Fyfe (Treasurer 2025-26) contributed opening remarks, including a special thanks to Peter Griffin (Chair 2025-26, who needs to move to Nottingham for family reasons) for steering the Executive Committee through the first post re-launch year; an overview of the Executive Committee’s work over the year; and the financial report, respectively.
Executive Committee member Sarah Hughes (also Campaigns Officer of the Cambridgeshire Sustainable Travel Alliance) added further detail of Cambridge Area Bus Users’ collaborative work with the Sustainable Travel Alliance and with Cambridge Citizens.
The work of St Ives Executive Committee member Anthony Stanton, in collaboration with St Ives Cares, St Ives Town Council and others in producing publicity to promote local bus services was also highlighted. View/download the excellent St Ives Bus Leaflet (PDF). The Executive Committee believes that this is an exemplar of how our transport authority (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority) should be marketing our bus services.
2026 Constitution Update
In 2018, Cambridge Area Bus Users was established as an affiliate of Bus Users UK. the constitution adopted at the Inaugural General Meeting reflected this. Bus Users UK no longer have an affiliate structure. An update to our constitution was required. View/Download the 2026 constitution here.
2026-27 Executive Committee
The following ten members of Cambridge Area Bus Users were elected, nem con:
Aland Chan Miranda Fyfe Geoff Heathcock Sarah Hughes Mark Reader Anthony Stanton Hugh Taylor Martin Thorne Peter Tribble Richard Wood
At the first Executive Committee meeting for 2026-27 held online on 4th August 2026 the officer positions were agreed as follows:
Chair: Hugh Taylor Secretary: Richard Wood Treasurer: Miranda Fyfe Vice-Chair: Peter Tribble
Recent Executive Committee Activities
St Ives Bus publicity (see above) and improvements to information in St Ives bus station and the Station Road stop
Frequent reports on errors with at-stop and online real-time bus information
Liaising with Living Streets, Cambridge, and Highway Officers about improving safe pedestrian routes across Emmanuel Street and St Andrew’s Street
Liaising with the Cambridge Citizens group campaign to retain and enhance the Tiger Pass for young passengers
Collaborating with planners and designers working on improvements to Mill Road, Cambridge, to improve bus stop infrastructure
Pressing Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for improvements to bus stop infrastructure (see separate, forthcoming post)
Questioning Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority about funding for improved bus services
Meeting with senior management of bus operators and with key politicians to share insights
Continuing work on improving and updating our website
Increasing and improving the relevance of our social media channels
Responding to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Bus Network Review (see separate post)
Membership fees
With Cambridge Area Bus Users having returned to active campaigning, we hope that many more of those on our mailing list will be inspired to make the suggested £5 per year (£10/year for a family) contribution towards this work.
Members can make one-off payments or regular (Standing Order) payments into our bank account or you can donate using PayPal (opens in a new tab). Our bank account details are:
Bankers: Barclays Account name: Cambridge Area Bus Users Sort Code: 20-17-20 Account No: 33197727
(Please note: we are unable to support Direct Debits. Sorry.)
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority recently undertook a public consultation on what they described as a “Bus Network Review” (PDF). Note this “consultation” is now closed.
Why?
Cambridge Area Bus Users could not really see the point of spending time and money on these short-term changes, which simply replace one set of partly-unsatisfactory routes and times with a set that’s marginally improved, but which remains straitjacketed by the need to avoid conflicting with “commercial” services. So the revisions don’t necessarily make problems go away, and they won’t until we have franchised services that can combine sections from the current “commercial” and “supported” sectors into one meaningful county-wide network. See our explainer on Franchising.
The Bus Users’ group has been very concerned, for some time, by the limited promotion of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority-supported bus services. This directly links to the use (and, therefore, viability) of these services. This consultation, similarly, did not appear to be directly promoted to the bus passengers it is going to affect (eg at key bus stops).
What constitutes a “network”?
It’s unfortunate – but not unexpected – that the Combined Authority’s concept of a “bus network” extends only to routes and timetables. The continued lack of through fares where connections are to be made (even when these are all under CPCA control) and the continued exclusion of some services from the Multibus* scheme – even when they’re operating Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority-supported services (you would expect signing up for Multibus to be a contractual requirement) – rather diminishes the concept of a “bus network”. Apparently ticketing isn’t thought of as an element of the “bus network”. It definitely is by passengers!
Update from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Communications Team
Hi there,
I hope this email finds you well.
Thank you for signing up to receive updates on the Bus Network Review engagement.
The public engagement has now closed, and we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views. We received over 1,000 responses from residents across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, providing valuable feedback on the proposed changes to local bus services.
We are now carefully reviewing all of the feedback. This will help us refine the proposals before they are presented to the Combined Authority Board in September.
No decisions have been made at this stage. Members of the Combined Authority Board will consider the revised proposals before deciding on any future changes to the bus network.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as the project progresses and will let you know once the Board has considered the proposals.
Thank you again to everyone who took the time to get involved. Your feedback will play an important role in helping shape the future of local bus services across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Service 32 (that’s the one that operates in the Cambridge area – not to be confused with the March-Ramsey service) reaches the end of the road this weekend. If you’ve never heard of it – and many haven’t, no doubt – this is a route that’s been operated by A2B since 2019, and which provides a round trip to and from Trumpington Park & Ride, via Hauxton, Little Shelford and Harston. There are five morning rush-hour journeys, and five in the evening rush hour. Unusually, it runs seven days a week, the only difference being that the morning journeys start two hours later. The last day of operation will be this Sunday, 12th July.
From Monday 13th July the Combined Authority’s “Tiger on Demand” operation (the local branding for this area’s Demand Responsive Transport) is being extended to cover not just the villages currently servcd by service 32, but a whole host of additional South Cambridgeshire communities. This replacement doesn’t operate on Sundays, however.
Bus services across our region could be cut by 38% by 2035, due to rising costs and insufficient public funding. A key reason for the shortfall is Mayor Paul Bristow’s pledge to freeze the Mayoral Council Tax Precept which supports buses. Mayor Paul Bristow and the Combined Authority’s Board can turn this situation around. The Travel Alliance is calling on the Mayor and the Combined Authority to take urgent action to save our buses by:
Increasing funding for buses
Giving buses more priority on roads (a proven way to substantially reduce bus operating costs).
Note: the business case for franchising was predicated upon the Mayoral Council Tax Precept rising from the current 10p/day for a Band D household to 16.5p/day by 2032 and 20p/day by 2056. Mayor Paul Bristow, made a commitment “never” to increase the precept.
Further information:
Browse the Cambridge Area Bus Users’ page explaining Franchising to understand a bit more.
A quick reminder that the Annual General Meeting of Cambridge Area Bus Users is booked for Saturday 11 July 2026 at 14:45. In the Great Western Room, The Signal Box Centre, 82 Glenalmond Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 8DB
The Signal Box Centre is a 7-minute walk along the guided busway from Cambridge station. The following buses stop on Station Place: Citi1, Citi3, Citi7, A, PR4, U1, U2, X2, X3.
The closest car parking locations are eight pay and display bays, on Clarendon Road and twelve on Shaftesbury Road. The NCP car park at the Cambridge Leisure Park off Cherry Hinton Road is a 10-minute walk away. If you display a current blue badge you can park on site, but the centre asks that you avoid numbered bays where possible as these are allocated to specific properties.
Click the map to open an interactive version in your web browser.
Formal notice of the Annual General Meeting was sent, by email, on Thursday 25th June 2026.
To read the agenda and other details click here to read the email in your web-browser
Formal notice of the Annual General Meeting was sent, by email, on Thursday 25th June 2026.
Between 29 June and 30 August, Whippet will be running a revised timetable on its Universal routes, U1 and U2. And the reason for this summer timetable? The operator is taking advantage of reduced traffic congestion during the summer months to speed up journey times. Yes, if you can reduce congestion on the roads, then buses will run faster and more people will get more quickly to their destinations. Enjoy it while it lasts!
The Universal summer timetable can be downloaded here.
Postscript
The effect of congestion on bus services was succinctly explained to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Transport Committee…
I can give you a good example from Professor David Begg who calculated for London [TfL buses] that the shortfall between revenue and cost was roughly equivalent to the cost of congestion.
That is to say if you removed the congestion, you would do what 9,000 buses currently do with about 5,000 buses […] Because they would move more quickly, the service would be more attractive, more people would use them […]
And I can’t highlight enough that […] one of the reasons why there is a decline […] But a key one is the unattractiveness of the speed of the service, because in some urban areas, frankly, bus speeds drop below walking pace, because when you get down to four miles an hour, you can walk it anyway and, secondly, it’s unattractive and people are making other sorts of journeys and doing things differently.
So bus priority and bus speeds is a key element in making the service more attractive […] in […] areas where the bus gets priority […] the beautiful sight of the bus running up the inside of a lane of stationary cars is not lost on the occupants of the cars […]
[Leon Daniels OBE, presenting the Independent Review of Implementation Pathways for Bus Franchising Scheme to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Transport Committee, 17 June 2026]
View the Agenda reports pack for full details of the report. The webcast of the meeting can be found on the Transport Committee, 17 June 2026 page. Leon Daniels speaks on the subject of congestion from around 3hr 16 min.
Cambridge Area Bus Users 