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December 2012 News

Brighton & Hove has highest level of bus usage outside London

Figures recently released by the Department for Transport show that Brighton & Hove has more bus journeys per head of population than anywhere else in England, except London. In 2011/12 there were 43.3 million journeys on buses in Brighton & Hove City Council area, an increase of almost one million over the previous year.
This compares with just 10.9 million journeys in Portsmouth and 18.2 million journeys in Southampton. These statistics clearly reflect the excellent bus services in Brighton & Hove compared with cities of similar size along the south coast. It is encouraging to see that usage continues to increase as it has done each year for the past twenty years.

Christmas & New Year services

A reminder that revised services will be running over the Christmas and New Year period (click here). There are no buses on Christmas Day in our area and a restricted service on Boxing Day. Once again Brighton & Hove will be running a special timetable on Boxing Day with more buses than last year on the main routes but no evening or night services (click here for details).
Stagecoach will also be running route N700 again this year with an improved half hourly timetable between Brighton & Durrington. Details may be available its website, or on 0845 121 190.

Looking forward to 2013

2013 promises to be another exciting year in our area. Brighton Area Buswatch intends to build on the success of 2012 by launching a drive for new members with a
publicity campaign. Our funds are limited so we will have to work hard to make the best use of resources available to us. We will continue to be involved in planning major transport infrastructure projects, working closely with local authorities and bus
companies plus cycle and pedestrian groups to protect the interests of bus users.

The Brighton & Hove Bus Company is planning further timetable improvements from April and we hope to be able to see these detailed next month. We have been advised that many of the improvements are a result of suggestions by Brighton Area Buswatch and regular passengers.

In Brighton, new bus and cycle lanes will be implemented along the Lewes Road towards Falmer.

Invitation to our Next Meeting

Brighton Area Buswatch/Bus Users UK (BUUK) holds meetings four times a year with representatives from local bus companies and Brighton & Hove City Council. All local BUUK members are invited to attend these meetings. The next meeting is on Wednesday 9 January at 6pm at Hove Town Hall.

If you are a supporter and would like to attend, please let us know and we will send you an agenda. Space is limited so this will be on a first come first served basis.

December 2012 News: continued

SussexBus.com takes over from Countryliner

Last month we reported that Countryliner had gone into administration and its services were transferred to other operators. Heritage Travel which now runs services 33, 40 & 40X into Brighton have re-launched its services using the name ‘theSussexBus.com’. A new livery of plain red/purple (similar to that used on Heritage Coaches) has been adopted and the name is boldly displayed on the side
of its buses. A number of second hand single deckers have been acquired from dealers to replace Countryliner vehicles.
There are also some elderly former London red double deckers running on 40X - which have clearly seen better days! Hopefully these will soon be repainted and smartened up. The company has an excellent new
website www.the-sussex-bus.com How are these services running? Do let us have your feedback.

New One Stop Travel shop opens

The Brighton & Hove Bus Company has opened its smart new One Stop Travel shop at 26 North Street, Brighton. It replaces the Old Steine premises which had become too small, as well as the travel centre at Brighton Station. The North Street store is far more spacious and should put an end to the queues outside the Old Steine shop.

One Stop Travel sells the full range of bus, rail and coach tickets for local and long distance journeys. Customers will also be able to buy and update Key cards which will be validated immediately instead of having to wait 24 hours. The shop is open seven days a week. Opening hours have been expanded, especially on Mondays to Fridays when it is open from 7.30am to 7pm.

We regret the loss of the Brighton Station facility which is connected to plans by Southern and Network Rail to renovate the station concourse areas in coming months. Bus Saver tickets are available at the station ticket office which is not ideal as there can be long waits at busy times and they will be unable to sell Key cards (or it may be quicker to buy Saver tickets from a nearby newsagent in Queens Road).
We understand there will continue to be bus company officials outside the station at certain times to provide bus information (at least for the time being).

For money saving: Don’t forget that One Day City Saver tickets can be purchased at a special bargain price of £3 on any bus at Brighton Station.

Let us know what you think about these changes. We will pass on your comments at our next meeting with the bus companies.

Increased fares on some Lewes Road buses

Brighton & Hove increased certain fares on routes 23, 25, 28 & 29 from 18 November. The special buy-on-the-bus £2.50 day ticket and £8 weekly tickets have been increased to £3 and £10-for travel between the Universities at Falmer and Brighton. These tickets are now valid on route 24 between Coldean Lane and Churchill Square. Students with Key smartcards can save by buying weekly tickets on-line for £9.50 valid on all Brighton & Hove services. This change should encourage students to use smartcards which in turn will speed up boarding times on buses.

Brighton Station Gateway consultation

As noted last month, Brighton & Hove City Council has undertaken another consultation on plans to revamp the area outside the front of Brighton Station. The final option includes provision for buses and taxis to remain at the front of the station while improving the environment for pedestrians with much wider pavements in Queens Road.

Brighton Area Buswatch has submitted some detailed comments on the design, expressing concerns about the northbound bus stop outside 'The Railway Bell'. We have also suggested retaining two northbound traffic lanes at the Gloucester Road/Queens Road junction, so taxis turning right to access Frederick Place, do not cause potential congestion problems to buses (etc.), heading into Surrey Street.

The City Council is now considering all responses. As part of this process, it is also considering the implications for the revised road layouts in North Laine area. We will keep you informed of progress as the project heads towards implementation. Details are available on www.brighton-hove.gov.uk