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.

The County Council is making a series of safety improvements along the Guided Busway, and this rolling programme of work impacts on Busway services, timetables, timekeeping, frequency, and occupancy of the buses.

The purpose of this post is not to detail actual changes to services, but to gather together the sources of information that might help you in planning any journey that involves the Guided Busway.

The County Council website has a page explaining the background to the work and giving details of progress and future plans. That information can be found here:

https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/travel-roads-and-parking/public-transport-park-and-ride-and-guided-busway/guided-busway-improvements

Since November, the County Council has also published a newsletter detailing the most recent progress and immediate future plans. As well as being on the web at the address above, it’s also possible to have those newsletters sent by email. To subscribe, simply follow this link:

https://assets-gbr.mkt.dynamics.com/6a4d3abe-5645-4264-a39d-88f8d2e54cb8/digitalassets/standaloneforms/88f314d9-fcbe-f011-bbd3-000d3a0b1499

For information as to how this work impacts on services – and, in particular, timetable information and news of diversions that result from the work – the operators’ websites are the place to go.

Stagecoach service updates page: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regional-service-updates/east/cambridge-city

Whippet service updates page: https://www.whippetbus.co.uk/service-updates/

There are a significant number of changes to bus services from Sunday 31st May (which means, for some services, the first day of operation in June). Some of these are changes that Stagecoach had originally planned to introduce back in January, but whose introduction was postponed.

The changes principally affect those in and around Cambridge, St Ives and St Neots. Most are relatively minor in their impact.

The list below is in service number order, regardless of operator.

1 (Stagecoach). There are timetable adjustments for journeys towards Fulbourn. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

4 (Stagecoach). During peak hours, Monday-Friday, a small number of services are diverted via Bourn Quarter. Note, though, that these additional stops may not appear in some timetable data, pending the registration of these stops in the national database. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

5A. There is a change of operator on this service. In future it will be operated by Stephensons of Essex . Two services in each direction are extended to serve St Ives Morrisons. [LINK TO NEW STEPHENSONS TIMETABLE]

6 (Stagecoach). This service is moving stop in Emmanuel Street, and will in future depart from stop E4. As a result, the 0840 (Monday-Saturday) departure is retimed to leave at 0845. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

7 (Stagecoach). This route will see an additional departure from Sawston at 0822 (Monday-Friday), as well as timing adjustments on the 1503 from Pampisford. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

8 (Cambridge-Papworth Everard service). There is a change of operator on this service. In future it will be operated by Stephensons of Essex . An 0750 Bar Hill-Papworth journey has been added to the timetable. [LINK TO NEW STEPHENSON TIMETABLE]

8A (Stagecoach). This service will be departing from Emmanuel Street, stop E5 (which is the stop also used by Stagecoach service 8). As a result it will have to travel via St Andrew’s Street, Park Terrace and Parker Street in order to reach Emmanuel Road. No other changes are being made to the timetable. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

13/13A/X13 (Stagecoach). Some adjustments are being made to the timetable to improve punctuality. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

19A (A2B – whose timetable refers to it as service 19). As you may have seen reported elsewhere, the Combined Authority has withdrawn funding for this service and the last day of operation will be Friday 5th June. Most of the route is covered by Central Connect service 100. [LINK TO CENTRAL CONNECT SERVICE 100 TIMETABLE]

46A (Star Cabs). This Tuesday-only service between Haverhill and Newmarket via Linton and other villages along the way was initially reported to have been cancelled. But it has been retendered by the Combined Authority (as this is a CPCA-supported service, even though both start and end points are in Suffolk) and Star Cabs will continue to operate it. [LINK TO TIMETABLE]

61. Another change of operator and another that will be operated by Stephensons of Essex . There are no changes to the timetable. [LINK TO STEPHENSONS TIMETABLE]

67 (Central Connect). This service has been withdrawn. See also service 69 below.

68 (Central Connect). This has been renumbered as service 69, to be operated by Stephensons of Essex.

69 (Stephensons of Essex – new service). This replaces former Central Connect service 68, retains the Boxworth-St Ives timetable, and adds one return trip per day between St Ives and Eynesbury (thus partly – but only to a very limited extent – making up for the loss of service 67). [LINK TO TIMETABLE]

905 (Stagecoach). There are changes to the timings on virtually all journeys on this route (many simply removing some rather generous allowances between stops). And there are additional trips during the afternoon peak (Monday-Friday). [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

PR1 (Stagecoach – Madingley Park & Ride). Saturday timings are changing in order to improve punctuality. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

PR2 (Stagecoach – Newmarket Park & Ride). Again, there are timetable changes in order to improve punctuality. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

PR5 (Stagecoach – Milton Lark & Ride). Buses will no longer enter the Science Park site; instead they will call at the Science Park stops on Milton Road. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

T4 (Stagecoach). The 0850 from Addenbrooke’s will leave at 0840. [LINK TO NEW TIMETABLE]

A revised timetable is due to be introduced on Stephenson’s service 112 (Ely-Soham-Newmarket) from Saturday 2nd May.

There are significant changes at the beginning and end of the day in both directions. Towards Newmarket, the first bus on weekdays now starts from Soham, and no longer operates between Ely and Soham. On Saturdays, the first service of the day no longer operates, and the next two start from Soham. This means that the first bus from Ely to Newmarket will be at 0620 (Monday-Friday) and 0900 (Saturday). The last departure from Newmarket to Ely is being brought forwards (to 1808 on weekdays, 1708 on Saturdays). The final service of the day from Newmarket will also be earlier than at present (1905 Monday-Friday, 1808 Saturday), and operates only as far as Soham.

In addition, there are minor timing changes to virtually all journeys in both directions. But one of the changes is for off-peak journeys to depart on the hour in both directions, which may make things a little easier to remember.

The revised timetable can be downloaded from the Stephenson’s website, or (combined with service 12) from Suffolk County Council’s Suffolkonboard site.

At rather short notice, Whippet have announced timetable changes to two of their services from Monday 30th March – the T1 (Cambridge-Huntingdon) and the X1 (Blue Arrow coach service Cambridge-Huntingdon-Peterborough).

The T1 sees various changes to (attempt to) better reflect traffic volumes. And extra time has been added to a handful of services on school days to try to devise a timetable that takes account of the extended boarding time required by large numbers of school and college attendees.

The X1 sees faster journey times (and even faster on Saturdays), a better departure time from Cambridge for evening peak passengers, and an additional journey from Peterborough.

More information is available from the Whippet website. Links are provided below:

T1 description and timetable

X1 description and timetable

Three changes are coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Service 8A (March to Milton Park & Ride): This service ceases to operate from 1st April.

Service 15 (Haslingfield-Royston, Wednesdays only): The final journeys on this route will operate next Wednesday, 25th March. and the service is cancelled after that date.

Service 132 (Cambridge-Saffron Walden, Sundays only): From 29th March this service will be operated by A2B, but with no change to the timetable.

It’s not unusual for visitors to Cambridge – and residents too – to want to visit Ely. And, for various reasons, they might prefer to do this by bus. Perhaps because of where they’re starting from in Cambridge, or the distance from Ely railway station to the city centre. Let’s not worry about the “why”.

So it’s not unreasonable, when planning a day out, to go looking for a timetable. Handily, there’s only one such service between Cambridge City and Ely.

Now, if we were in Suffolk, or Essex, or Hertfordshire, we’d go to the transport websites set up by the respective councils and quickly locate a full set of bus timetables for routes operating within their counties. But in Cambridgeshire, the Combined Authority – which has overall responsibility for public transport – has decided that such basic information isn’t something they need to provide. It would be interesting to know how they came to that decision, In any case, the would-be passenger is therefore left to fend for themselves.

Where the prospective traveller goes next depends on how much advance knowledge they bring with them.

Perhaps they’re aware of Traveline, the national partnership of operators, local authorities and passenger groups that aims to be a one-stop resource for all public transport information throughout Great Britain. It’s easy enough to do a “Find Your Timetable” search for ELY and quickly identify service 9 as being the one for journeys to and from Cambridge. From there it’s possible to download the timetable, and you learn in the process that the service is operated by A2B Bus and Coach.

Or the results of a Google search (other search engines are available!) could lead our traveller directly to the A2B website which includes timetables for all of that operator’s services, handily set up for downloading as PDFs.

Alternatively, the free (albeit commercial) website bustimes.org offers a fast, clean interface that provides timetables for all registered bus and coach services in the UK and Ireland. Again, it’s a simple matter to locate buses serving ELY and from there to access the timetable for A2B’s service 9.

So, even though the Combined Authority doesn’t bother to provide them, the potential passenger can easily locate timetables for any bus service in the area. And, in this instance, for the Cambridge/Ely service 9.

Job done! QED! Or is it … ???

… Well, no! Because comparing the results of the above alternatives shows just how poorly the public is served. No two of the three timetables actually give the same information. They all differ from each other!

The timetable last changed at the beginning of January, though that shouldn’t really be relevant.

Traveline is still showing an old timetable. This is particularly unfortunate as Traveline not only provides timetables from its own website, but its data underpins apps such as the respected UK Bus Checker.

The operator’s own timetable is missing some journeys (although the ones that are included seem to be accurate). Now, in fairness to A2B, the timetable they offer appears to have been provided to them by none other than the Combined Authority, which provides financial support for the operation of service 9. Why the Combined Authority’s timetable is incomplete is an interesting question, but I can confirm from personal experience that the 10.15 service from Drummer Street definitely runs, even if it’s not in that version of the timetable!

Finally, it’s good to report that bustimes.org provides what seems to be a complete, accurate timetable for this service, using data from the government-funded Bus Open Data Service. But how is anyone supposed to know, on this occasion, that this is the most trustworthy of the three alternatives offered?.

Of course, anyone knowing all of this in advance would probably decide to take the train. Which is certainly better than turning up for a bus which doesn’t actually exist (based on the Traveline information) or not knowing about a more convenient one (because the A2B/Combined Authority timetable is lacking some journeys).

Alternatively, they might just go and lie down in a darkened room and weep…

Passengers – and prospective passengers – deserve better. Especially from publicly-funded bodies.

(All information was correct at time of writing: 10 February 2026)

A consultation is underway on the 20-year masterplan for our area. Make sure that you have your say, especially on the needs of bus users and the importance of easy bus travel!

The Greater Cambridge Draft Local Plan sets out where new homes and workplaces could be built in the region and how infrastructure, community facilities, and services would support them. The Plan aims to create places where people can live with less reliance on cars for everyday journeys. To succeed in this ambition, however, the Plan will need to bring about a whole series of improvements to public transport.

Cambridge Area Bus Users supports the Plan’s vision to minimise reliance on cars, however believes its policies around bus travel need to be much stronger for bus travel to become a genuine option for everyone in Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

We have submitted a formal response to the consultation (read it here) and encourage you to feed in your comments as well. You can either submit comments through the Local Plan consultation website (we have suggested which links to follow below), or send an email to localplan@greatercambridgeplanning.org. The consultation will close at 5pm on Friday 30 January.

Suggested points

Infrastructure

• The Plan must prioritise travel by public transport, walking/wheeling and cycling, rather than travel by electric car.
• Services are as important for bus travel as infrastructure; the Plan must recognise this.

Policy I/ST: Sustainable transport and connectivity

• New developments must be designed so buses can travel through them directly and efficiently
• Key bus routes must have frequent services 7-days a week with long operating hours and a guaranteed last bus home
• Cambridge needs measures to reduce congestion (or enable buses to bypass congestion)
• Bus services should start the first day new developments are occupied, and remain supported for an extended period
• The whole bus network needs to be improved; good services from new developments alone are not sufficient. The Plan should establish methods to raise funds to invest in buses.
• Electric cars should not be included here

Policy WS/HD: Creating healthy new developments

• A good bus network is a lifeline, connecting people with social networks, personal development opportunities and essential services at a cost they can afford. It is particularly important for young people, who have limited transport options and are often short of money. Bus travel is therefore an important tool to boost health, wellbeing and social inclusion. The Local Plan should recognise it as such.

Policy WS/CF: Community, sports, and leisure facilities

• The Plan should establish policies to bring about easy bus access to key services, education providers and community, sports and leisure facilities, especially those delivered via the Plan.

Short-distance coach services are a relatively rare phenomenon, but Monday 26th January will see the launch of a new example in our area from Whippet. The service, branded Blue Arrow X1, will link Cambridge, Huntingdon and Peterborough, with no other stops en route. It will provide up to 4 journeys per day in each direction, operating Monday to Saturday. Journey time, end to end, is between 80 and 95 minutes, depending on the time of day.

Because this is a coach service, there is no free travel for seniors who hold ENCTS bus passes. But there are reduced fares for young people, concessions and Tiger Pass holders, whilst holders of Blue Arrow tickets are also able to travel between Cambridge and Huntingdon on Whippet services X2 and X3.

It’s perhaps worth noting that departure and termination points in Cambridge and Peterborough aren’t those cities’ bus stations, but Parkside in Cambridge and Westgate (departures) and the Broadway (arrivals) in Peterborough.

For more information, including a timetable and complete fare information, go to the Blue Arrow page on the Whippet website.

“A change is as good as a rest” – a phrase that has gained some traction since it was first printed in the mid-19th century. But bus passengers might wonder if the enthusiasm for new timetables and routes at the beginning of January (even if some of the proposed changes were then cancelled) is entirely a good thing. Are minds concentrated on, what for so many, is a return to work, school or college?

So here’s one that, whilst seemingly well-promoted in Bedfordshire, hasn’t received quite the same attention in Cambridge. It’s a new service X75 between Biggleswade and Cambridge (via Sandy and Potton), operating three or four journeys in each direction, Monday to Saturday. It’s an initiative of Central Bedfordshire Council, funded through its allocation of the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

An earlier service along this route was most recently operated by Whippet before its demise several years ago. Even then the route didn’t succumb entirely, as the team at Ivel Sprinter have been operating two Wednesday shopper services from Biggleswade for a good while (and continue to do so).

The new service is operated by A2B, and perhaps for that reason it also includes an additional (potential commuter?) trip from Melbourn, Kneesworth and Bassingbourn (albeit with a very early start and late finish).

A timetable can be downloaded from the A2B website.