MP for NE Herts Chris Hinchliff has wriiten in the Comet regarding his vision for delivering better bus services in North Herts.
https://www.thecomet.net/news/25177715.chris-hinchliff-mp-delivering-better-buses-area/
Response from MP for NE Herts Chris Hinchliff re NHBUG query on lack of Real Time Information in North Herts.
''Thank you for getting in touch and for following up on the concerns raised at the North Herts Bus User Group meeting regarding Real Time Information (RTI) for local bus services.
I appreciate your observations about the current state of RTI in North Hertfordshire and the discrepancies between what is being promoted and what passengers are actually experiencing.
I agree that the situation is frustrating particularly given the public investment in this system.
I have now written to Hertfordshire County Council to request an update on the rollout and functionality of RTI across the area. I’ve asked for clarification on whether the displays are currently providing genuine real-time data, what technical or operational issues may be affecting the system, and when residents can expect full functionality.
I will be sure to share any response I receive with you.
Thank you again for raising this important issue.''
Update - Reply from Herts CC
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your enquiry on behalf of your constituents and the North Herts Bus User Group regarding the rollout and functionality of Real Time Information (RTI) systems in North Hertfordshire. I am sorry to hear of the issues raised.
The provision of real-time departure information displays has been in place for a number of years. It is one system, so the quality of the information is generally consistent across the county and will be no different in North Herts than other areas.
Overall, we tend to find the perception of the standard of the real-time information is lower than it is in reality. The majority of bus services in Hertfordshire do show real-time departures on our screens and that the real-time is normally accurate, but it is the occasions when the information is not shown that get noticed.
We accept that 100% coverage is not yet achieved and there are several reasons for that. Whilst the main bus operators in Hertfordshire – Arriva, Uno and Centrebus – and others provide us with a real-time data feed that is used to show the departure information, we are still working with a number of other bus operators who do not yet have that capability, or where the system used by the bus company is not yet compatible with ours, which is true of Stagecoach, who operate a key bus service in the North Herts area.
Where we do receive real-time data from the bus we will show the expected time of arrival, alongside its scheduled departure time. When we do not receive the data feed, the scheduled time only is shown. In these instances, the scheduled time will be cleared down from the screen when the scheduled time has been reached even though the bus may be running late, as the system will not know where or how far away the bus is. This is why departures can disappear before the bus arrives. It should also be explained that the data feed even when it is provided can be lost intermittently as it relies on a mobile signal so if that should occur, again only the scheduled time will show.
There is also an issue at some key interchanges where buses begin their journey, and this is particularly true of Stevenage Bus Station. The system does not know that a journey has commenced until it is underway, and only then can it start making predictions of when it will arrive at bus stops further down the route. We are therefore working with our system providers to enable it to know where a bus is on the incoming journey it is making prior to the one due to depart. For example, if a bus is 5 minutes late arriving at the terminus, we can show that it will be 5 minutes late departing.
Recognising that the system is not yet perfect, we are working with the system provider and our bus operators to continually improve the real-time information that is available on our screens, as well as through the Intalink app, striving to get as close to 100% as we can achieve and getting the best possible experience for our passengers.
We trust the information provided helps explain matters and is of assistance.
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Response to a query from NHBUG from the Liberal candidate Sean Prendergast, who is now the Councillor for Letchworth South.
A good and reliable bus service is vitally important.
Are bus plans are as follows:
- Pursue franchised bus services.
- Expand demand responsive transport including to smaller towns – possibly as an alternative to current scheduled services.
- Improve east- west transport with direct bus routes between towns in place of the previous HERT proposals.
The first point is key to improving bus services. It allows the council rather than the bus companies to makes decisions on when and where the buses will run. However, it depends on legislation that the government has said will be introduced.
The second point recognises that in some areas it would not be feasible to run a timetabled service that is frequent enough to attract users who have an alternative. But that HertsLynx has done this successfully.
Your own views as Bus Users are always welcome. Please get in touch at
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A major 900 homes development has been approved south of Graveley.
It will be served by the existing 55 route between Letchworth and Steveange and by a new proposed 92 service between Stevenage and Baldock.
More news when it becomes available.
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Bus 84B: Potters bar to Barnet bus route future 'secure'
Bus 84B: Potters bar to Barnet bus route future 'secure' | Welwyn Hatfield Times
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Change to 37 service from 25/3/2025 - Evening peak service revised with departures from Stevenage at 17.00 and 19.00 (previously 17.25 and 18.10) and current 16.07 journey from Buntingford to Stevenage now operates at 15.22. Minor changes to some Saturday departures.
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The £2 fare cap for bus service has increased to £3 for 2025. See Intalink response
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Draft Minutes of the NHBUG meeting of 1st November 2024 ( tbc at next meeting )
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53 services to Lordship Penn Way now leave from Stop C Station Rd and Stop B outside former Barclays Bank at (mostly) 35 past the hour. Wilbury services still leave from Stop H outside Morrisons
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Stevenage BUG held their AGM on 14 September 2024.
The problems with bus services in North Herts and Stevenage continue. See the reports below for details of this and other interesting items from Stevenage:
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The new government has announced its plan for Better Buses
See more details
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BUT: Herts CC decide against Bus Franchising (May 2024)
Under a franchising system the Council or a central authority make decisions on bus services and monitor their operation with the bus companies being paid to run the services to an acceptable standard. Despite this being a much better system than the current deregulated free for all the Council has decided against implementing it in Hertfordshire.
An interesting article on the subject:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clke3g03rljo
See the feedback page for more news and members' views and responses.