The recent No. 8 extension seems crass to put it mildly. It states: 'Queens Street' on the front, but actually stops and waits at Roff Avenue going clockwise in orbital form via Kimbolton Road and Bedford Bus Station and out to Queens Park and Great Denham. Unsure who is paying for this service, scantilly used, may go the same way as extending the No. 8 to South Wing Hospital a while ago I fear? Reasons South Wing failed may be better know to some than others but had it of gone via Kempston Road (single deckers) - Spring Road
Kempston-Ampthill Road (Morrisons) (especially as the Stagecoach
Flitwick bus No. 2 was withdrawn, always busy when I used it) and back
to Bus Station, that may have got more usage. As it was, poorly
marketed, dropped off the wrong side of Britannia Road and changing
drivers caused delay for hardy souls from Great Denham and Queens Park
who wanted to make the through journey?
On the new loop via Roff Avenue, not Queens Street, caused confusion
to drivers and passengers. One driver either did not speak or
understand English, I said does it loop round via Kimbolton Road, he
denied and refused me access, stating he would go to Queens Park after
a change of drivers. I wanted to go to Kimbolton Road. I alighted and
lo, he drove off towards Union Street, the very loop I wanted.
Likewise, if the bus went the anti-clockwise way, picking up at St
Pauls (No. 7 is reduced to hourly sadly now) and timetable spread,
than the growing insanity of clustering buses (especially noticeable
on Sundays coming back from Kempston between No. 1 and C1 for
example), thence St Cuthberts, North Wing Hospital via Kimbolton Road,
Park Avenue (old folks home side)-Roff Avenue and into town via
Tavistock Street (new stops)-High Street (new stops)-St Pauls (drop
off)-River Street, turn left into Midland Road, loop round via Bedford
Midland Railway Station-Bromham Road (new stop outside Wyvern House
(shops opposite)-Hassett Street-Bus Station and out to Queens Park and
Great Denham. That would bring buses where no go since privatisation,
serve key outlets and bring footfall and spend. It is an opportunity.
Please have a rethink.
Likewise, what are we trying to achieve? Public SERVICES for people to
use or Profit or cut? I recall a certain bus service called DART a few
years back where loads of people used it, but was not profitable
because of the 'model', designed for services, not profit. It died a
death through cost, unreliability and shameful trashing takeaway food
and tomato sauce on seats, than maintaining a high standard. It was
withdrawn, but helped people get to out-of-the-way places at shift
hours like sprawling warehouses on the perimeter of town and meant
less scooters, less drive time/costs and enabling more without cars to
find work... but profit is the ONLY consideration, it was cut and we
are poorer for it?
Clearly on the Scooter problem, better police enforcement of rules,
segregated cycle/scooter lanes and more support for pedestrians,
rather than free market of chance and 'tough' wild west approaches on
who comes off badly.
18+ to Retirement bus-rail passes to help those on low incomes and
benefits access public transport and mitigate cuts and costs? It must
be nationwide. Then more users for services, more mobility,
opportunities and quality of life balances can be enjoyed. Who pays?
We all do by the default of spiralling car costs, congestion delays
and NHS waiting lists bloated with pollution informed lack of
resolution. If we care, do we also remember wildlife?
People and biodiversity is suffering, and we can do better.
Hope ideas of interest. It could work out that savings, pay for outlay
in a 'roundabout' way!
BTW, notice the planning consultation for Universal. Happy to meet and
discuss rail matters with anyone. I have offered to principal players.
2031 is the key date, will we be ready? Wixams Main Line Station,
Bedford Midland Station (rejigging, layout and capacity) and local
Bedford-Bletchley Railway, Halts and shuttle service, Oxford-Bedford
express passenger services - silence; that is what I hear
majoritively. It is time to pull together and ensure Bedford is ready
on the day, not 2050 getting gainful Oxbridge Arc jobs, whilst the
people and environment suffer? Nothing to do with Universal, it should
be a driving force for impetus and fresh thinking, but really, the
person/brains/set up on East-West Rail needs reform, democratisation
and delivery targets, to just get on with it, not play for time as if
it was separate to the areas which need it now? Devil is always in the
details, but we should ask "what can you deliver now?"
Bedford-Bletchley is a perfectly operational railway, loads of spare
capacity, so why is Bedford not having an hourly passenger train NOW,
not waiting until 2031 whilst the line is gold plated? The curvatures
on an 1846 railway won't be eased, but 25 mph - 90 mph is all better
to be keeping on the move, than stuck in congestion, rural or urban,
with the negative spin-off of rat runs to deal with? Prevention is
better than cure, surely a delegation must take these matters to the
Secretary of State for Transport and HM Treasury, growth is available,
are they prepared to ensure it can be delivered on time and within a
budget, not like HS2 which seems to be an empty sink project, just
leeching up evermore funding and dates of opening keep slipping? I
think Northampton-Bedford-Wixams Main Line as part of a joined-up
Thameslink service could also be another winner. It would clear tracks
from Bedford Midland and boost footfall and spend for all.
