Bus companies are often criticised - and sometimes rightly so - for failing to give passengers sufficient notice of changes to timetables. That's a criticism that cannot be levied at Stagecoach however, at least as far as its services in and to the Lake District are concerned.
Despite the summer timetable not coming into force until 2nd April this year, the Summer 2022 edition of "The Lakes by Bus" - a comprehensive guide to Stagecoach buses in the Lakes, complete with timetables, maps and some details of tickets and fares, as well as suggestions for places to see using the bus, is already available online. Printed copies will no doubt follow shortly.
The Lake District network is fairly stable and once again few changes are proposed. Two routes link the Lancaster District with the area: Service 555 Lancaster - Kendal - Ambleside - Grasmere - Keswick and the 755 Heysham - Kendal - Bowness-on-Windermere, both running seven days a week.
Service 555
Service 555 in Kendal
As has become usual during the summer months, the standard hourly service that leaves Lancaster via the A6 is supplemented by hourly journeys that run via the M6 and consequently reduce the journey time to Kendal and places north by no less than 40 minutes, overtaking the buses on the standard route that leave Lancaster 10 minutes before them and arriving in Kendal and points north thirty minutes earlier. This year the extra journeys will run on Saturday throughout the summer until 6th November and on Monday to Friday from 4th July to 30th September, which is one week less than last year. As has also come to be expected in the summer, the last two departures on Monday to Saturday from Lancaster, at 18.50 and 20.40, continue through to Grasmere all week (except Sunday) rather than just on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Sunday service from Lancaster remains at two-hourly, with buses leaving for Keswick at 0915, 1115, 1315 and 1715. Southbolund buses leave Kendal at 0915 and then Keswick at 0930 1130 1330 and 1530. The extra motorway buses at 0830 from Kendal to Lancaster and 1845 return, which operated last year, are not in this summer's timetable.
Missing Link?
Whilst the 555 is a valuable service and a key part of Lancaster's bus network, the Bus Users' Group can't help but feel that one failing it has is the lack of a later return journey from Keswick on a Sunday, the day when most people are free to enjoy a full day out in the Lakes. The last bus south, at 1530 from Keswick, is a full two hours earlier than during the week, reducing the scope for our residents to enjoy a full day's walking or sightseeing in the Lakes.
Service 755
Service 755 at Windermere (with a confusing destination!)
Last year's extension of the service to start at Ocean Edge Holiday Park was obviously a success, as not only was it continued over the winter, but this year it enjoys extra buses. The 08.10 from Heysham, Combermere Road to Kendal, which runs whenever the schools are closed, is extended to start at Ocean Edge at 0805, whilst buses that currently run empty to take up service there will now run in service at 0902 and 1002 from Euston Road, with return trips at 1655 and 1955 to Heysham Towers, where connections are available on service 1A to Morecambe and Lancaster.
Copies of the Lakes GuideSummer 2022 can be read and downloaded here.
Fares Increase?
Until the Summer 2020 edition, the Guide included full details of the various Day Rider and Explorer tickets available, ranging in price from £4.30 for a Young Person's West Cumbria Day Rider to £65 for a North West megarider GOLD Group ticket, as well as a range of special "bus and boat" offers for travel on certain lake boat trips.
One of the conditions of the government funding that all bus companies were offered to help them maintain services during the pandemic was that fares were frozen for an indeterminate period and perhaps because of this, Stagecoach removed all price data from the relevant sections of the Guide. Whenm the rule came into force, Stagecoach fares had not been increased since March 2019 and those fares still apply.
The future of government funding, and fares control, is still uncertain, with the latest round due to end in April, although it is likely that at some stage bus companies will regain the right to set fares. The 2022 Guide still contains no details of ticket prices, but does now include a QR code for readers to scan to see the ticket prices - a neat way for Stagecoach to increase fares without reprinting the Guide. A handy solution in the cufrrent situation, but we hope it doesn't become the new standard!
