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.
The Strategic Bus Review report (PDF 2.6 MB) published Wednesday 23rd January 2019, was commissioned by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. It was welcomed by Mayor James Palmer as “an opportunity to inject strategic leadership and a more integrated approach to the bus network across the area.” [Press release]
The Strategic Bus Review report was at point 3.1. of the Agenda (PDF 7.5 MB) for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority meeting on Wednesday 30th January 2019.
The findings of our strategic bus review, published today, gives @CambsPboroCA the opportunity to explore options for radical reform of our whole bus network. The system isn’t working and we need change. 1/3
We want a bus network that will be model for others to follow. Our Board meets on January 30 to decide the next steps, including a recommendation to develop a business case for a step-change, which includes exploring franchising and enhanced partnerships. 2/3
The business case would take about two years. We need time to develop a robust case that ensures that we have a sound basis for any step-change. In the meantime there is an opportunity to create a bus taskforce of local partners to start delivering improvements quickly. 3/3
To deliver early-stage improvements, the report will recommend to the Board the setting up of a cross-organisational bus reform group. This taskforce would involve Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, and the Combined Authority. The taskforce would consider the findings of the review and develop a brief to serve as a basis for engagement with bus operators to improve services.
Whilst we welcome the publication of this report, Cambridge Area Bus Users are concerned that this represents a two year delay before any reform of bus services. And there will be two-year period of putting together a ‘business case’.
In the medium/longer term there are complex, strategic projects to be put in place. There is, however, a need for urgent action. It is no exaggeration to say that local bus services are in crisis – particularly in the rural areas. How effective – and focussed – will the “cross-organisational bus reform group” be? Will it simply generate a set of ‘talking-shop’ meetings?
Would focused task groups, funded and staffed to deliver specific projects be more appropriate? There is urgent need for multi-operator ticketing, tickets (short of day tickets) which permit change of buses, reform of zonal charges – living an additional half-mile from the inner Cambridge zone can increase your weekly travel cost from £15 to £25 – and for re-planning of many bus routes.
Cambridge Area Bus Users submitted a question to Mayor Palmer.
“Cambridge Area Bus Users welcomes the publication of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s strategic bus review, almost two years after the first official Combined Authority meeting.
Our group support Mayor Palmer’s aspirations for integrated multi-mode public transport, with roles for conventional rail, guided light transport, sub-surface and conventional buses.
Passengers, however cannot ride on aspirations and there is, currently, a crisis in local bus services.
What improvements to bus services will you implement within six months?
What improvements to bus services will you implement within one year?
What improvements to bus services will you implement within two years?
What improvements to bus services do you envisage thereafter?
Our secretary referred to the “glacial pace” or reform compared to “crisis” in bus services. Responding, Mayor Palmer, refused to commit to any timescale, stating that he could not and would not commit to a timetable of aims; that would be handled by the Bus Task Force.
The Association of British Commuters (East) question when will the public have specific metrics and goals along with a timetable?
@MayorJPalmer states that he cannot and will not commit to a timetable of aims beyond spring 2021 as this is a significant task that will be handled by the Bus Task Force. The question we have, when will we and the public have specific metrics and goals along with a timetable?
Local democracy reporter, Josh Thomas, backed up our concerns about the crisis in bus services, in this tweet:
The scrutiny ctte said improvements to the bus service need to be made now & claimed in some parts of the county it is cheaper to take a TAXI than it is to catch the bus https://t.co/0xaW3xWkne
Our supplementary question was about ‘quick wins’, in particular the facilities for multi-operator ticketing.
Our secretary refers to the “glacial pace” or reform compared to “crisis” in bus services. Can a “Quick Win” setting up back office facilities for multioperator ticketing site all services be achieved?
@CBGbusUsers have posed that buses in rural #Cambridgeshire areas that do not have cross ticket acceptance and wish to know what the short and long term goals are. Multi bus tickets are expensive and not accepted on @Stagecoach_East X5 service nor the guided busway.
Sadly, MayorPalmer responded by posing a false dichotomy between “doing things quickly and doing things properly”.
When the Strategic Bus Review report was discussed at point 3.1. of the Agenda (PDF 7.5 MB) three councillors raised similar concerns to ours.
Lucy Nethsingha (Cambridgeshire County Council) raised her concerns about “the slow pace to establish an enhanced partnership with bus operators or bus franchising,” and how the region “needs improvements immediately.” Bridget Smith (South Cambridgeshire District Council) added that “[We] need to work with operators to prevent further deterioration services [and] to examine the best way for delivery – partnership or franchising.”
“Slow pace to establish enhanced partnership or #busfranchising” says @LNethsingha. “Need improvements immediately.”@cllrbridget backs this up. “Need to work with operators to prevent further deterioration. Need to examine best way for delivery – partnership or franchising.”
Lewis Herbert (Cambridge City Council) stressed the need to have cross-operator tickets and raised concerns about “the monopoly position of Stagecoach”.
Cllr @lewis_herbert reiterates our point about the need to have X-operator tickets. Says that monopoly position of Stagecoach means “they are dictating to us how things are run.”
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership Choices for Better Journeys questionnaire was aimed at individuals rather than organisations and, whilst we encouraged members to respond as individuals, our Executive Committee felt that a response from Cambridge Area Bus Users as an organisation, was essential.
Owing to pressure of time, not all members of Cambridge Area Bus Users have been able to review and comment upon this document, but it is believed to be representative of the views of the membership in general.
We identified excessive dwell-time at bus stops as being an obstacle to reliable, fast services, resulting from:
Passengers wishing to board being held back until those leaving have alighted;
Drivers acting as guides regarding appropriate routes to popular destinations;
Drivers directing passengers to bus stops, particularly in the city centre;
Drivers selling tickets and giving change, frequently to tourists not familiar with the currency;
Drivers preparing and selling tickets;
Drivers deploying a ramp for access by disabled passengers.
We made suggestions for improvements:
Design of buses;
Design of bus-stops;
Better information;
Bus priority;
Ticketing improvements.
We also made points about pollution, integration with other public transport modes, and for creating positive public transport opportunities from the start of new developments.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
Have operators been listening to Smarter Cambridge Transport? Or do some solutions become so blindingly obvious that, eventually, everyone is clamouring for them?
P&R services around the edge of the city make it quicker, more reliable and cheaper for car owners in towns and villages to drive part of the way, rather than use a bus for the whole journey. This reduces the numbers using the local service bus, and can lead to loss of services or reductions in frequency.
But there’s worse, as we get increased traffic on the roads approaching the P&R sites. An additional 200 cars adds over one mile to an existing peak-hour queue. The more spaces added to P&R sites, the longer the queues and the greater the delays to all traffic – including buses!
But we could design a P&R system where everyone wins.
Create an outer ring of ‘travel hubs’, at major towns and necklace villages beyond the green belt, which include some car parking. Provide frequent express buses from these, with limited stops in the city
Speaking recently with Michelle Hargreaves, the new managing director of Stagecoach East, the idea of travel hubs with linking services into inter-urban routes was mooted as a potential for Cambridgeshire. Michelle has managed a number of bus companies, most recently in Lincolnshire where the LincsBus CallConnect service fulfils this very function.
This theme was taken up by Stagecoach co-founder, Sir Brian Souter, at a recent meet-and-greet event at Stagecoach’s Cowley Road depot, where he spoke enthusiastically about the potential for Stagecoach to purchase small minibuses for community use. Volunteer drivers would enable villages to link into faster, more frequent inter-urban services.
Harston Residents’ Association has produced a video setting out its concerns, which also include the ‘threat’ of a new Park & Ride at Hauxton. “Today an average of 18,800 vehicles will drive along the A10 through Harston – that’s 10 for every person that lives here. It’s a huge number for a historic village whose school, shops and village hall are all situated on the A10,” one resident explains. The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP)is hoping to open a Park & Ride off the M11 northbound carriageway at Hauxton as part of plans to improve public transport to the west of the city. “The proposed travel hubs at Foxton, Shepreth and Meldreth, with connections to a South Cambridge rail station are a priority for action – travel solutions that take people where they need to go.”
Can the plethora of local government bodies in our area – Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Parish Councils, Greater Cambridge Partnership and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority – find a way of working with bus operators to reverse the decline in rural services?
After all, there is a climate emergency, and one bus can take up to 75 cars off the road.
Image, Southern Vectis
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
Old London buses rejected for being too polluting are ending up on Cambridge’s streets according to members of the Greater Cambridge Partnership Joint Assembly.
A number of councillors present at the group’s meeting on Thursday, June 6, raised concerns as measures to address pollution and congestion were discussed.
Note: Buses operated under contract to TfL are not exempt from ULEZ charges. Every TfL-contact bus operated in the ULEZ now meets at minimum Euro VI emissions standards. In other words, these ten vehicles meet the latest standards for low NOx PM10 and PM2.5 emissions. They have been retro-fitted for compliance.
So, there are no dirty buses in Cambridge?
Not quite.
Stagecoach Cambridge has a small number of pre-Euro V standard vehicles which will be phased out as the retro-fitted ex-London ULEZ-compliant vehicles are phased in.
Cambridgeshire County Council are part of the problem, see this video of Gary Forbes-Burns, Operations Support Manager at Ascendal Group (Parent of Whippet Coaches) speaking to the Cambridge Area Bus Users Annual General Meeting on 15 June 2019.
One thing which probably does need to be noted, though, is that the latest round of Cambridgeshire County Council tenders specifies that, anything which does not come into Cambridge only has to be level Euro III, anything that came into Cambridge has to be Euro IV. That’s something that’s there that can give a very quick win. And other local authorities are pushing for much higher Euro levels than that. [our emphasis]
Gary Forbes-Burns, Operations Support Manager at Ascendal Group
Which prompted this rejoinder:
Is an individual bus cleaner than the newest car? Yes, some of them are actually.*
Ross Barton, Operations Director, Stagecoach East
Barton is doubtless referring to the tighter testing regimes for heavy Euro VI engines vs the Euro 6 diesel car/van. See below for further details.
It would appear that, despite the Greater Cambridge Partnership (of which Cambridgeshire County Council is a constituent member) wanting to drive up standards for air quality – they are actively considering an ULEZ – the County are undermining the Partnership.
And, yes, we have a confusing plethora of tiers of local governance as this Smarter Cambridge Transport graphic shows.
Air pollution and climate changes
One of the problems we have, when discussing ‘greener’ transport, is the failure to distinguish between cutting the CO2 emissions from all internal-combustion engines (including non-chargeable hybrids) – which add to the ‘greenhouse effect‘ and reducing the NOx PM10 and PM2.5 emissions which cause air pollution.
And don’t forget…
Whilst Cambridge Area Bus Users believes that all major operators, in all regions, need to be trialling electric and hybrid vehicles, the Euro VI diesel bus is still an important part of the solution, according to Professor David Begg.
Begg, visiting professor in sustainable transport at Plymouth University, publisher of Transport Times (a leading UK trade magazine), and running a series of transport related awards schemes in conjunction with Department for Transport (DfT), Transport Scotland and Transport for London (TfL), argues here that the Euro VI bus is an essential part of ULEZs.
Prior to carrying out research on vehicle emissions earlier this year I subscribed to the view that all diesel vehicles should be banned from Clean Air Zones. I now see the latest Euro VI Diesel bus as a crucial part of the solution to our air quality challenge.
If diesel buses are banned from Clean Air Zones bus passengers will experience a reduction in service levels of at least 80%. A reduction of service of this magnitude will not only be disastrous for bus passengers it will also have severe consequences for city economies, road congestion and social inclusion, causing levels of social deprivation to rise by nearly a third.
What surprised me in my research was just how clean Euro VI buses are and the extent to which diesel bus technology has progressed. It’s a pity that car manufacturers have not made the same progress nor inspired the same level of confidence in their vehicles when it comes to emission standards.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
On Thursday 4th July 2019 between 10am and 4pm, Hattie The Community Bus was parked up outside Boots in Cambridge City Centre. Shoppers, city centre workers and passers-by picked up vouchers for free tickets and found out more about bus travel.
From 1st – 21st July 2019 Stagecoach are asking members of the public to give their views on their Guided Busway services. Fill out the survey and give them your thoughts and views. If you take part you could WIN one of three £50 Love2shop gift vouchers! Click here to take part in the survey.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
New bus stop signs (commonly called flags) have been erected in Stapleford in Mingle Lane, Gog Magog Way, Haverhill Road and Bar Lane. These have been privately funded and erected by Steve Edmondson a local transport campaigner from Haslingfield with some financial support from Stapleford Parish Council and the help of John Wakefield from Great Shelford. The signs replace old dilapidated or missing ‘flags’ on the route of the number 31 bus service which runs from Cambridge & Addenbrookes via Stapleford and Shelfords to Fowlmere and Barley. Steve has ongoing plans to also replace other bus stop flags in Great & Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire County Council (now the Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority) “does not have a budget” to replace bus top flags and timetables!
John Wakefield
Steve Edmondson with the new bus stop flag in Mingle Lane near the church
Messrs Edmondson and Wakefield would also like to replace missing and life-expired timetable-cases.
Whilst major, commercial, operators might reasonably be expected to install and maintain their own bus stop flags and timetables, route 31 is a supported service, run on behalf of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority by the small, family-run A2B buses. Currently, these supported services are re-tendered quite frequently. Brian Clifford and his staff need to concentrate on running services, not dealing with infrastructure.
John contacted Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Mayor Palmer, receiving this reply…
Dear Mr Wakefield, Thank you for contacting me about damaged bus timetable cases in Great Shelford. The Combined Authority does not have a budget to cover such maintenance, however I agree that this is an important issue. With your consent, I will forward your enquiry through my office to the Transport Team at Cambridgeshire County Council in order to ask for further information about their position on the issue. Please let me know if you wish to pursue the matter in this way. Kind regards, James Palmer
If we want to get people out of cars and onto buses, the most basic requirement is to ensure that intending passengers know that there is a bus service, where it stops, and when it runs. The provision of service information is the kind of low-cost ‘quick win’, which the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’ Bus Reform Task Force, and the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Better Journeys group should be considering.
Although Steve and John are to be applauded for this excellent volunteer initiative, it seems scandalous that neither the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority nor the Greater Cambridge Partnership are funding this work.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
On Saturday 15 June 2019 Cambridge Area Bus Users held their Annual General Meeting and followed it with a public meeting addressed by representatives of two local bus operators and an independent expert, who shared their visions for the future, and answered questions.
Ross Barton, Operations Director, Stagecoach East (Link to video)
Gary Forbes-Burns, Operations Support Manager at Ascendal Group (Whippet Coaches’ parent company) (Link to video)
This was followed with a general question and answer session. (Link to video)
Cambridge Area Bus Users Executive Committee would like to thank community reporter and blogger Antony Carpen (aka A Dragon’s Best Friend) for videoing these addresses and question and answer sessions.
Elections for the Cambridge Area Bus Users Executive Committee were as follows:
Chair: Anna Bradnam
Vice Chair: Wendy Blythe
Secretary: Richard Wood
Treasurer: Richard Cushing
Additional members:
Jackie Cook
Neil Harris
Claire Daunton
Charlotte Cane
All were elected unopposed and confirmed by the meeting, nem con.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
Guiders and guided meet for a blindfold walk. Helen Sismore centre, front
On Tuesday 7th May 2019, four guide dog owners, and Helen Sismore, Guide Dogs Community Engagement, Officer, conducted a blindfold walk with Stagecoach’s Cambridge Operations Manager, Gwen Jones, and four of their trainers.
Jackie Cook, left, with Gwen Jones, second left, and the Stagecoach team in a Q&A session
Stagecoach provided a double-decker bus for us and we met at the railway station where we had a Q&A session before boarding the bus. We drove to Trumpington Road where we parked up and did a series of guiding activities.
Helen, left, guides Gwen Jones, right, blindfolded, onto the bus
Firstly Helen Sismore, Guide Dogs Community Engagement Officer for East Anglia, who is sighted, guided the Stagecoach team, who were blindfolded, onto the bus. This was followed up by our non-sighted team guiding the (still blindfolded) trainers.
Gwen Jones, right, blindfolded, is guided by a Stagecoach team member
Then the Stagecoach trainers took off their blindfolds to to guide us, or another (blindfolded) member of their team, before taking a walk up and down the road using white sticks. This, I think, they found quite daunting.
Gwen Jones takes the lead in the ‘daunting’ task of navigating with white sticks
Finally we played a little bit of a trick on them, where we all got on the bus sitting in silence, and made them put their blindfolds on and try to find a seat without anybody saying anything. This is something which we have to do daily, with members of public failing to answer us.
We also made them wear blindfolds on the journey back to the railway station, which I think really disorientated them, quite a bit. Again, they experienced what we experience, when we’ve no idea where we’re going, although we often learn routes by twists and turns of the bus and how many speed bumps we go over.
After more questions and answers, the Stagecoach team said they had found it “A real eye-opener, quite scary.” They promised to pass on the information, which we provided them, to future new recruits. Hopefully we can continue to work with them with further meetings.
Jackie Cook Cambridge Guide Dog Forum Co-ordinator Cambridge Area Bus Users Executive Committee Member
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
The British team for the 1967 International Mathematical Olympiad with Simon Norton second from the right on the front row Credit:Daily Mail
We, at Cambridge Area Bus Users, were delighted when Simon agreed to be a member of our Executive Committee. His encyclopædic knowledge of public transport, particularly of bus routes past and present, brought a depth of expertise available nowhere else in any one individual.
Author and screenwriter Alexander Masters (left) sits with his downstairs neighbor, mathematical prodigy Simon Norton. Alexander Masters/Courtesy of Delacorte
In Memoriam Simon Norton Posted on Feb 15, 2019 in Foundation News With great sadness we announce that Simon Norton, founder and chair of the Foundation for Integrated Transport, died suddenly on 12th February 2019. Simon campaigned passionately for equitable, safe, logical and environmentally friendly transport networks, with a particular passion for buses. The Foundation sends condolences to Simon’s family at this sad time. All media enquiries: 07511 054259
News of Simon’s passing comes as a great shock and loss to Cambridge Area Bus Users. Simon gave such valuable input to our Executive Committee. He will be irreplaceable.
Simon Norton’s funeral was held on Sunday 24th February at Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane at 11.00am.
Susan Jourdain reports: Simon’s funeral was well attended with such lovely words of the Jewish service. Afterwards the family had hired a Routemaster to take attendees round the north London places where Simon lived, which was much appreciated by the several transport people who got there by public transport.
Just a sample of the outpouring of tributes on Twitter…
Very sad news for transport campaigning – Simon Norton has died – at such times, it’s almost obligatory to say things like “a complete one-off”, but as anyone who ever met him will testify, completely true in Simon’s case https://t.co/ptV8fJPAqVpic.twitter.com/uy3qGaCa6g
For over 30 years the late Simon Norton fought cuts to bus services in & around Cambridge, and bus privatisation generally. A biography of his life was published in 2011 https://t.co/yidIfx02Dw turns out he was one of the most talented mathematicians of his generation in 1960s.
We are very sad to learn that Simon Norton has died. He was an eccentric, passionate and extraordinarily knowledgable campaigner for better public transport. He was deeply involved in @CBTransport, locally and nationally, @CBGbusUsers and @ABCommuters. 1/4
He doggedly insisted on using public transport, experiencing first hand the scream-inducing frustrations that ordinary people experience daily. Simon was exceptional in caring about bus services, the most neglected and unloved of public transport modes. 2/4
Inspired by Paul Mees (author of Transport for Suburbia: Beyond the Automobile Age) and motivated by a deep sense of social justice, Simon campaigned tirelessly for comprehensive, fully-integrated public transport – Swiss style. 3/4
We are devastated to hear that Simon Norton has passed away. Simon supported us from the early days of ABC, and we couldn’t have made it this far without him. He was one in a million – a man of true integrity with a passion for empowering others. pic.twitter.com/pKP6zY2rf8
We were deeply sad to learn that Simon Norton passed away on Tuesday. A passionate and principled campaigner, Simon will be greatly missed by @CBTransport and all in the sustainable transport movement. https://t.co/KYmMlAFy73
Simon Norton was both a mathematical genius and a passionate campaigner for buses and against cuts. His capacity for detail was phenomenal. His loss is a shock to the @BusUsersUK family. We offer his family, friends and @CBGbusUsers our condolences at their sad and untimely loss. https://t.co/KMhrOk1luo
We were so sad to learn that Simon Norton passed away on Tuesday. Simon campaigned passionately for equitable, safe, logical and environmentally friendly transport networks, and was a deeply valued member of the @TfNHomes team. Our condolences to Simon’s family at this sad time.
So sad to hear that Simon Norton has died. Simon had a brilliant brain & loved public transport. He was passionate about sustainable transport. So honoured to have met him.
Very sad news that Dr Simon Norton, the chair and founder of the Foundation for Integrated Transport, has died. He was a great transport campaigner and will be hugely missed. https://t.co/aVIcF82ka2
For over 30 years the late Simon Norton fought cuts to bus services in & around Cambridge, and bus privatisation generally. A biography of his life was published in 2011 https://t.co/yidIfx02Dw turns out he was one of the most talented mathematicians of his generation in 1960s.
I was really surprised and shocked to hear the news of Simon’s passing. I knew he had missed the last BABUS committee meeting because of cold weather, because of his knees, but I simply put this down to partially getting older, and partially other ongoing life-long health conditions. I genuinely had no idea he had a heart condition, but this may have been a sudden/undiagnosed thing.
I first heard of Simon via his Campaign for Better Transport/Transport 2000 Cambs and Suffolk branch I think it was, and when I joined BABUS in 2009, he’d heard of my work on the Forum now known as ATVBF. It had been mentioned that they were looking for a website person, having been left the lurch by their previous person. Subsequently I expanded my role with BABUS, and have currently done ten years this month IIRC.
It’s clear that we didn’t always see eye to eye, but we did 9 times out of 10 – but he still respected and supported everyone around him. Just like most local councillors or trade unions, I kind of supported most of his thoughts, even if there were a few that might seem to be more unsuitable.
Following the launching of his biography of sorts (The Genius In My Basement), I kinda liked and respected him even more. Without trying to make this all about me, I see certain aspects of his personality are like me (early start late finish, distributing information in person) – and some of his other aspects (hygiene etc.) might be more like the old me than the new me. But I’m sad to say, no matter how many bumps in the road over the years we’ve known each other, that I have truly lost a friend.
So sorry to hear of Simon’s death which comes as something of a shock as he was still so young. He was a strong supporter of Brampton A14 Campaign Group (BCG) for many years and we mourn his loss and remember Simon’s selfless dedication to the cause of Better Transport.
BCG are still fighting the grotesque Highways England A14 ‘improvement’ scheme and there is considerable support from the European Parliament for our petition 0899/2018 seeking an investigation into the A14 scheme’s compliance with UN sustainable development principles and EU/UK transport, environment and health policy and law (including EIA/SEA assessments) and consideration of compliant alternatives (such as the BCG alternative scheme).
Simon was a keen supporter of our aims and will be sadly missed.
I have learned so much more about Simon from the tributes by others and the comprehensive obituary by Alexander Masters in the Guardian. Simon was a lovely, hugely intelligent man who gave generously of his time and talent to causes he believed in. Reading the tributes makes our loss seem more poignant and our sadness more profound.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
During the traffic closure period of Mill Road Bridge to provide an enlarged arch for an additional tracks, shuttle bus services will be provided on both sides of the bridge. The ‘main’ citi2 route will be diverted via Coldham’s Lane.
In order to serve all existing stops, short wheelbase vehicles will be used. On the Petersfield side of the bridge, it’s planned to loop through Gwydir Street and Kingston Street. The Romsey shuttle is planned to use Argyle Street and Stockwell Street.
Full timetables and route maps for the diverted citi2, the 2A (Petersfield) and 2B (Romsey) shuttles are now available on the Stagecoach East website.
At a recent meeting with (bus operator) Stagecoach we learned that the company is bringing in three short wheelbase vehicles – one for each shuttle and a spare for maintenance/breakdowns. These are 15-seaters with space for a wheelchair. By using such small vehicles all existing stops, either side of the bridge, can be served.
Transport campaigner and Mill Road resident, Susan Jourdain, reports that the shuttles will have a 20-minute frequency throughout current hours of operation.
However, the drawback is that the vehicles would not have the capacity to serve the Birdwood area and onwards to Addenbrooke’s.
A 15-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, of the type to be used on the shuttles
Steven Knight Media reports: “The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter from Stagecoach West Scotland now here is 44009. It joins 44005/06 which are at Cambridge from Stagecoach South Wales.”
Is this good enough?
Our view is that whilst the Petersfield shuttle might be adequate, as onward connections to Addenbrooke’s can be made from the adjacent stop in Emanuel Street, Romsey have got a poor deal, losing direct services to the hospital, with all buses terminating at Brooks Road Sainsbury’s. Stagecoach stressed the difficulties in obtaining extra vehicles and, crucially, planning for extra driver duties. We also gained the impression that this is probably all that GTR would be prepared to pay for. Others have suggested that GTR specified the shuttle service, without consulting bus users or local residents. Certainly no-one from Cambridge Area Bus Users was consulted by GTR.
Some supplementary service is needed. For example, a Romsey resident who has a GP appointment in Petersfield or vice-versa. Moreover, there is no single service for Romsey or Petersfield residents to get them to Addenbrooke’s. The Over Mill Road Bridge website reported (19/052019) “We have been in discussion with Cambridge Dial-A-Ride about the possibility that their service could help to plug the gaps in the Stagecoach provision.”
More on the Over Mill Road Bridge website: Bridge Closure – Update #1 (Note: Over Mill Road Bridge is a campaigning organisation set up in 2018 by Romsey & Petersfield Labour Party.)
It is the view of Cambridge Area Bus Users that, should blame for the poor service be lain anywhere, it should not be at the door of the bus operator, Stagecoach.
Dial-a-Ride
We are now indebted to Mill Road trader Piero d’Angelico and to the Mill Road Bridges web administrator for the GTR ‘Final Update’ which clarifies:
While the Mill Road Bridge is closed, GTR have made arrangements with Cambridge Dial-a-Ride scheme to assist residents who would otherwise find it difficult to use the revised public transport provisions.
Dial-a-Ride operates a door to door service, and, for the duration of the bridge closure, this will be AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE to residents who are unable to use the revised bus service and will be adversely affected by the closure. How to apply to use the service.
A public meeting was held on MONDAY 29THAPRIL 2019 at 18:30
We only learned about this public meeting on Friday 26thApril 2019. There was nothing on-line. No email alerts. Just a few leaflets through some letterboxes. GTR’s communications were dreadful. Despite this – or possibly because of some energetic emailing and tweeting there was a decent turn-out.
The report, below, was produced by local not-for-profit community group Mill Road Bridges. We are grateful for their permission to share this.
Total closure to vehicles is scheduled for 1stJuly to 25thAugust 2019
There was considerable anger expressed about the poor publicity, and the fact that the many local residents and groups who had signed up for email updates at the meeting held at the Earl of Beaconsfield in November 2018 had never received any communications whatsoever.
The indicative citi2 diversionary route– via Coldham’s Lane is reasonably accurate, although no account is taken of the ‘short turns’ at Brooks Road Sainsbury’s.
The indicative shuttle bus route 2A in Petersfield shows wrong-way running in Kingston Street, ignoring the one-way system. Even a Gwydir-Hooper-Kingston loop would be difficult given the tight junction at Hoper St / Kingston St and the narrowness of Kingston Street.
The only practical Petersfield solution is a Tenison Road – St Barnabas Road loop with a temporary stop by St Barnabas church.
Even then, Stagecoach would need to use a shorter vehicle, such as an Optare Solo midibus.
We now have more information of the vehicles to be deployed, see above.
A stand-alone shuttle might be acceptable, as Petersfield passengers could change to the citi 1 or 7 for Addenbrooke’s, in Emanuel Street. There is, however, a big question mark over the proposed frequency of this service.
The only practical Romsey solution is a Hope Street – Argyle Street – Cockburn Street loop with a temporary stop by Tesco. Even then, Stagecoach would need to use a shorter vehicle, such as an Optare Solo midibus.
We now have more information of the vehicles to be deployed, see above.
The unacceptable feature of this indicative service is that it would appear to propose that Romsey residents are to be provided with only a shuttle link to Brooks Road Sainsbury’s, where they would be required to change buses for the city centre or for Addenbrooke’s. Guaranteeing connections would be well-nigh impossible.
Romsey residents are already annoyed at the service reduction (from a 10- to 20-minute frequency) to Addenbrooke’s. Similarly, whilst Birdwood Area Residents’ Association will retain the (already reduced) frequency to Addenbrooke’s and to the city centre, they will loose all links to Mill Road Broadway’s independent shops and cafés and to the new mosque.
An acceptable service would be for the diverted citi2 ‘short turns’ to continue from Brooks Road Sainsbury’s to Mill Road Broadway and for alternate buses from Mill Road Broadway to travel to Addenbrooke’s via the usual route.
Stagecoach, as a commercial bus operator, cannot be expected to fund the additional services – including the hiring-in of extra vehicles, and the additional driver duties – needed because of the closure of Mill Road Bridge. These costs should be met by GTR at whose behest Mill Road Bridge will be closed.
Drop in meeting – Earl of Beaconsfield Tuesday 27th November 13:00 – 20:00 – Report-back
Diane Rowe, Customer Relationship Manager of Spencer Group – who are Govia Thameslink Railways contractors – arranged a drop-in meeting at the Earl of Beaconsfield, 133 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AA on Tuesday 27th November 13:00 – 20:00.
Cambridge Area Bus UsersSecretary, Richard Wood, attended one of these sessions, at which he was able to speak to GTR’s Kevin Parker, Head of RailPlan2020, a representative of Network Rail and of the contractors, Spencer Group.
Closure to motor-traffic
Reference was made to the rebuilding of Mill Road Bridge as part of the 1980s electrification programme, to accommodate the overhead electric line equipment.
During that rebuilding, from May to November 1980, the bridge was open to (signalled) motor traffic, whilst pedestrian/cycle access was maintained on a temporary bridge, adjacent to the north. [Source: Capturing Cambridge – Mill Road Bridge]
The bridge from Great Eastern Street looking towards Petersfield. Courtesy of John Hullock and the Suzy Oakes Collection.
Mill Road Bridges Treasurer, Richard Wood made the point that ‘This is Mill Road, Cambridge’ – we’re all only a couple of degrees of separation from somebody with engineering expertise. If Mill Road bridge is to be closed to motor traffic – severing our bus service – GTR and Spencer Group will need to show us precisely why the bridge cannot be kept open through the works, in a way that can be closely scrutinised by those in the community with the relevant skills. Otherwise local bus users will assume that the wool is being pulled over their eyes.
Things do appear to have moved on since the meeting on Thursday 1st November, in – ahem – Mill Lane.
Time of the Works
GTR are now looking to do the works later in the year July/August 2019, taking account of the Mill Road community’s feeling that this would be less disruptive. Your secretary’s understanding is that GTR promised to consult local schools and to take account of school term/holiday dates.
Bus services
Your secretary stressed the importance of providing substitute bus links in the event of closure of Mill Road bridge to motor-traffic. He was assured that GTR are in discussions with Stagecoach East over providing a substitute service. His understanding is that any proposed timetable will be open to public consultation.
The usual diversionary route for citi2, when Mill Road is closed (eg for Mill Road Winter Fair) is via East Road, Newmarket Road , Coldhams Lane and Brooks Road, resuming its normal route to Addenbrooke’s Hospital via Perne Road and Birdwood Road.
Below are personal suggestions, please add your own comments, below the line.
On the Petersfield side, a previous bridge closure has seen a link bus service routed city centre – Mill Road – Tenison Road – St Barnabas Road and return, with Gwydir Street inbound and outbound stops suspended. With the bridge closed, a temporary stop on Mill Road outside St Barnabas Church (city-bound) would be feasible.
Both Tenison Road and St Barnabas Road are, technically, wide enough to take any standard HGV or bus, although a smaller vehicle (eg Optare Solo) might be more manageable. Because of congestion in Emmanuel Street, it is a moot point whether such a service should terminate in the city centre, or continue on the remainder of the route to Cambridge North Station via Chesterton.
On the Romsey side of Mill Road a Hope Street – Argyle Street – Cockburn Street loop might be possible. Again, a smaller bus might be advisable, and some parking suspensions might be required in those side streets. Mill Road Broadway inbound and outbound stops would need to be suspended and replaced with a temporary stop outside Mill Road Tesco.
A 20-min frequency Romsey Town – Perne Road – Birdwood Road – Addenbrooke’s, service would match the existing service to Addenbrooke’s. This might be supplemented with a 20-min frequency Romsey Town – Brooks Road Sainsbury’s – Coldhams Lane – Newmarket Road – East Road – city centre – Chesterton – Cambridge North Station.
The schedule might be completed with a a 20-min frequency Addenbrooke’s – Birdwood Road – Brooks Road Sainsbury’s- Coldhams Lane – city centre – Chesterton – Cambridge North service.
Public meeting at the Double Tree Hilton at 6pm on 1 November
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Network Rail and its contractors hosted a public meeting at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RT at 6pm on Thursday 1 November 2018 to discuss a proposed eight-week closure of Mill Road bridge in Cambridge from May 2019.
Why it was not held at a venue on Mill Road we do not know. Was it to make things difficult? Or did no-one at GTR realise that Mill Lane and Mill Road are not adjacent locations?
Our secretary has had a response from Network Rail to our enquiry (see below) saying that Govia Thameslink Railway are leading the project, Network Rail’s role is only to ensure the integrity of their infrastructure. He had no response from Govia Thameslink Railway.
Neither GTR nor Network Rail informed him of this meeting.
Will the bridge remain open for pedestrians and cyclists? What linking bus services can be provided along the two sections of Mill Road?
The bridge will have to close for two months to allow work to expand the railway below, which will require modification of one of the bridge’s arches.
The work will allow an additional railway line to run beneath the bridge, but will make the bridge unsafe for traffic while this is taking place.
A GTR spokesperson said: “We are planning a £30 million extension of the Cambridge railway depot to help increase the number of Thameslink services to and from the City.
We have contacted Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway asking to be included in all consultations.
The text submitted on the various web contact forms is as follows:
We understand that Mill Road bridge in Cambridge is scheduled to be closed to all motor traffic from May to July 2019in connection with installing an additional rail line beneath the bridge for access to an expanded maintenance depot for GTR trains.
Please ensure that our organisation – Cambridge Area Bus Users – is included in all consultations. Our main concern is that properly funded, well-designed link bus services will be available along the two sections of Mill Road in Petersfield ward to the west of the railway and in Romsey ward to the east.
Cambridge Area Bus Users believes that it is the responsibility of Network Rail and GTR to ensure that Stagecoach East the operator of the citi2 along Mill Road, is funded to provide the best achievable service(s) for Mill Road, including links to Addenbrooke’s, the city centre, Chesterton and Cambridge North Station during this closure period.
We also believe that the Greater Cambridge Partnership should fund impact studies, during the closure period to provide data which could lead to reduction of traffic congestion on the Mill Road corridor and improvements to service reliability for bus services using this corridor.
Please note that any advertisements which appear in association with these posts are not indicative of any endorsement by Cambridge Area Bus Users. They are placed there by a WordPress algorithm.
Please add your suggestions and comments (pre-moderated) below.
Cambridge Area Bus Users 