Big changes to Coventry’s bus timetable to hit road
COVENTRY’S bus timetable is set to see significant changes at the end of the month with new routes added and others axed.
National Express Coventry has announced a series of changes to operations as the region continues to evolve during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
During the early days of lockdown, timetable changes were put in place in response to low passenger numbers and travel restrictions at the time.
But, with travel on the rise again, many services have been restored or have seen their frequency increased.
However, with the need for social distancing on board buses, and at bus stops across the city, more drastic changes have been introduced.
And, from Sunday August 30, more can be expected.
The biggest changes to the timetable at the end of the month are the introduction of three new routes the 14/14A, 17/17A and 18/18A.
Running between Coventry city centre to Whoberley and Eastern Green, the 14/14A replaces the 8/8A.
From Eastern Green, it will continue, via Tile Hill Station, to the University of Warwick. It will also connect Canley’s Charter Avenue with Cannon Park Shopping Centre, and is set to run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime.
As for the 17/17A, this will run from Fenside and Cheylesmore to the city centre, Wyken, and University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. It replaces parts of the existing 3/3A and 4 services, and is set to run every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime.
Finally, the new 18 service replaces the old number 4, running between Tile Hill and city centre every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime.
Likewise, the 18A replaces the 4A between Westwood Business Park and the city centre.
Along with the new routes, there are a number of alterations to existing routes, from changes to frequency, to changes to the route itself.
The changes are as follows: 3/3A - revised route:
Arena Shopping Park and Holbrooks to the city centre will remain as service 3, continuing to Coventry University, Stoke Aldermoor, Binley and University Hospital, replacing service 23. The frequency of the 3 will increase to every 12 minutes (hourly to the Hospital). Between Fenside, Cheylesmore and the city centre the 3 & 3A will be replaced by the 17 & 17A which continue to Wyken and University Hospital at Walsgrave (replacing service 4)
6/6A - the frequency will be increased:
The frequency of the service will be restored to every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.8/8a - will have a revised route
Wood End, Walsgrave and Potters Green to the city centre will stay as service 8/8A but will then continue to Allesley Park to replace the 23 service. The frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.
The route from Eastern Green and Whoberley to the city centre will be replaced by service 14.9/9A - the fre
quency will be increased. The frequency of the service will be restored to every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes. These routes will also now be run with brand new fully electric buses.10/10a - the frequency will be increased
The frequency of the service will be restored to every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes. Service 10A will now serve Coventry Station Interchange.
11 - the frequency will be increased:
The frequency of the service will be restored to every 15 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes, with additional University term only journeys.12x - the frequency will be increased
The frequency will be restored to usual levels (every 10 minutes during term time)16 - the frequency will be increased
The frequency will be restored to every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytimes.20b - re-introduced with a revised route
Journeys on service 20 currently terminating at Bayton Road/longford to be re-routed via Oban Road and Wilsons Lane in both directions, restoring a bus service to this area. This change is subject to TFWM installing new bus stops towards Coventry.20c - revised times with more journeys
21A - will have an additional journey added early morning.
A number of routes have been discontinued, with the new routes and service alterations designed to cover these losses. The changes are as follows:
4/4A - these route numbers will no longer be used.
Service 17/17A for buses between University Hospital, Wyken and city centre. Service 18 for buses between Tile Hill, Canley and city centre.service 18A for buses between Westwood Business Park and city centre. 23 - this route number will no longer be used
Service 3 for University Hospital, Binley and Stoke Aldermoor to city centre. Service 8/8A for Allesley Park to the city centre.
Chris Gibbens, commercial director at National Express Bus, said: “As the Covid-19 situation evolves, so too do our bus services. We are making some changes to ensure we have the right buses on the right routes and in the right places for our customers.
“I am pleased to say that from 30th August many of our bus services will be returning to their pre-pandemic frequencies. This includes our 9/9A route which will see our brand new double decker electric buses launched into service on the same day.
“We’re making adjustments to some routes to better match how our customers use the bus network. Some roads may have a different service on them than the service they have now. However, I’d like to reassure our customers that nobody will lose a bus service. In fact, they’ll get a better service as we are improving our network reliability and connections. In addition, by working in partnership with the University of Warwick we are pleased to be introducing services 14 and 14A to provide new bus links from the University of Warwick to Canley and Tile Hill, then on to Eastern Green and Whoberley before continuing to the city centre.”