- Matters of Concern are shown as text in red
after a bullet point in black
Address on the web ( URL ) :- http://www.midwarks.info/mmibsk/
This webpage can not be found by a search engine such as Google.
Hold down the [Ctrl] key whilst you tap the [F5] key to download the latest version,
if using Microsoft Windows.Contents in sections :- | Introduction | | Services | | Oddities | | 2009 Changes | | Conclusion | | Addendum |
*** Introduction ***
This memorandum was compiled to be considered in conjunction with :-
1/ WCC consultation about the LTP3 local transport plan untill 27th August 2010.
2/ WDC questionnaire about public transport for those with limited mobility to be returned by 31st August 2010,
3/ KTC Community Forum on the 6th September.
This memorandum considers information available in the street & in print and not that available on the web, although guided by the latter. Thus links are added to important source material on the internet.
As the author has limited mobility, only some bus stops have been inspected. Contributions from Kenilworth residents are most welcome to make this memorandum really useful !
Notice should be taken of the Bus Information Strategy already compiled by WCC for LTP3 implimentation from April 2011.
Bus Stops in Kenilworth differ in some aspects of design from that adopted elsewhere. Warwickshiire County Council specifications delegate responsibility to either the operator or the parish, town, borough or district council in the area where the shelter or stop is located.- Thus the information on the bus stop Flag varies - only X17 & Unibus routes are mentioned where Stagecoach is the operator. Indeed many flags display no route numbers at all. What goes on the flag?
Most Timetable Cases in Kenilworth contain correct information supplied by WCC as to routes & times at that bus stop. Some cases where this does not occur are considered in the `Oddities` and `2009 Changes` sections.
The Names of bus stops, indicating their location, is not standardised in timetable cases, leaflets, or maps . Nor can I find a list of the WCC official names. However, Network West Midlands in its online timetables lists also all bus stop names for those services whose routes penetrate the West Midlands as well as traversing Warwickshire.
Nationally, all bus stops have been identified by an eight letter SMS code, for txt enquiries from mobile phones. This { war????? } code has been used in this memorandum to identify each bus stop location.
transportdirect.info Online GB Map Finder will display a street map for any Address/postcode with nearby bus stops marked. At greatest `zoom in` magnification each bus stop is named & a SMS code revealed.
Do try it for the postcode CV8 1QJ and show the SMS codes for the three bus stops at the Abbey End transport hub. A click & drag on the map will show the other bus stops in Kenilworth.
*** All Services in Kenilworth use the Bus Stops near the Clock Tower ***
JH = Johnson Excelbus ; SMR = Stagecoach : TWM = National Express West Midlands CoventryGoogle map of Bus Stops at Abbey End going north from the Clock Tower :-
at shelter A by the shops, downhill of the yellow Bus Focal Point stand { waragtgw }
at shelter B by the shops, uphill of the yellow Bus Focal Point stand { waragtja }
at shelter C by Starbucks, Holiday Inn { warajpgp }- Only shelters A & B have roundels identifying them. Bus shelter C is unmarked.
- Shelter A, in its timetable case, has in error the same SMS code { waragtja } as shelter B.
Service
No.
_______Who &
When
_______Stop by
Clock
_______Route Description
________________________________________________Leaflet
Date
_________X17
SMR
Mon-SatC
Ato Coventry Trinity Street via Leyes Lane and CRSB
to Warwick via Leamington and Warwick Hospital04/01/2010
and next
06/09/2010Unibus
U2SMR
SatC
Ato Coventry Trinity Street via University and CRSB
to Sydenham via Leamington04/01/2010 Unibus
U12SMR
Mon-Fri
early amC to Warwick University from
Sydenham via Leamington during term times only04/01/2010 Unibus
U17SMR
SunC
Ato Coventry Trinity Street via Leyes Lane, University and CRSB
to Sydenham via Leamington04/01/2010 12
TWM
Mon-SunC
Ato Coventry Pool Meadow via University, Earlsdon and CRSB
to Sydenham via Leamington25/04/2010
and next
05/09/201016
SMR
Mon-SatC
Ato Coventry Trinity Street via University and CRSB
to Stratford via Leek Wotton and Warwick01/06/2009
and next
06/09/2010539
JH
Mon-SatC to Coventry Pool Meadow via NAC Stoneleigh, Bubbenhall,
Baginton and CRSB and return01/06/2010 540
JH
Mon-SatC to Coventry Cannon Park via Castle Hill, Malthouse Lane
and Burton Green and return01/06/2010 541
JH
Mon-SatC to Kenilworth Town Service North-West loop via
Castle Hill, Clinton Lane and Malthouse Lane and return01/06/2010 543
JH
Mon-SatB to Kenilworth Town Service South-East loop via
Whateleys Drive, Dencer Drive and Leyes Lane and return01/06/2010 509
Flexibus
A & M
FriC HILL WOOTTON - Leek Wootton - KENILWORTH - Ashow -
LEAMINGTON to Warwick Tesco and return
Johnson's and A & M Group services in Kenilworth are financially supported by Warwickshire County Council
CRSB = Coventry Railway Station Bridge ; NAC = National Agricultural Centre- U12 timetable can be operated by a bus designated as U3.
- 543 - Outward route via Warwick Road and Waverley Road ; Return via Prior Road and Abbey Hill
- 509 - No leaflet of the Flexibus 509 timetable is available from Kenilworth Library.
Nor is 509 mentioned in the monthly Bus Timetable Index for Key Routes.
There is even no notice about the 509 service in bus shelter C .
Warwickshire County Council issue a monthly leaflet Bus Timetable Index for Key Routes listing the current leaflet date for the bus routes in Warwickshire.
Warwickshire County Council list online Bus Services by Place for Kenilworth, includung the 509.
Wikipedia describes the Unibus routes - U1, U2, U12 and U17.
*** Oddities ***
Warwickshire County Public Transport Maps - leaflet issued April 2010 
The Warwickshire County Public Transport Maps leaflet is revised & reissued every April and October and is updated online.
- However, the display case in shelter A { waragtgw } for the above useful route map has been empty for a long time.
Departing from shelters A { waragtgw } & B { waragtja } services X17, Unibus, 12, 16, and 543 stop next on request outside the Lion pub, Warwick Road { warajpgt }.- Only X17 & Unibus appear on the flag. Only X17, Unibus, 12 timetables are in the case.
Why is there no mention of the 16 and the 543, often stopping here to pick up shoppers returning home ?
Thereafter, the 16 turns right down Randal Road, where there is a request stop { warapdwa } on the opposite side of the road with an empty flag but a 16 timetable on display for the service from Stratford-on -Avon.
Thereafter, the 543 turns left along Waverley and Priory Roads until reaching Whateley's Drive.
The only bus stop is near the turning into Waverley Road { wardagpj } with an empty flag & no timetable case.- This one way route for the 543 has yet to be marked on the Kenilworth Town Services Route Map. The return route from Whateley's Drive along Priory Road & Abbey Hill already is.
Departing from shelter C { warajpgp }, service 541 turns right at the War Memorial along Abbey Hill, past the historic shelter stop {warajwdj } opposite the United Reformed Church ( no mention here or at the stop opposite ) and skirts Abbey Fields to outward & return stops in Bridge Street when looping Old Kenilworth.- The stop at the wooden shelter { warajpga } has no pole nor flag but inside there is a timetable case of the 12 & 541 services. The stop oppsite ( warajpgd } has a pole & flag but the timetable case displays an up-to-date 12 service and a 540 service of 2008. No metion of the current 541.
- No bus service, for several years, has served the stop by the Gaunlet pub { warapwpd } at the Oaks Precinct, Caesar Road. Cannot the superfluous flag be removed from the lamppost which already has no timetable case ?
*** 2009 Changes ***
During 2009, the Abbey Hill bus stop { warajwdg } was moved & 4 new bus stops were created, 2 in Castle Road by the entrance to the Brays car park of Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, and 2 at the top of Priory Road.
Warwickshire County Council photograph of the dropped pavement crossing at
bus stop { warajwdg} in Abbey Hill, near the United Reformed Church,
before the bus stop was moved a few yards to the other side of the lamppost.
- The four new bus stops have not yet been allocated SMS codes, nor have they been mentioned in any timetable leaflets.
The two stops by & opposite the entrance to the Brays car park from Castle Road have flags on poles with timetable cases for the 540 service.
The two stops at the top of Priory Road have flags & timetable cases attached to lampposts. Information for the 543 service is on both, though only the stop on the uphill return 543 service is actually in use. However, both stops come into use when bus services are diverted along Waverley & Priory Roads because of closure of Warwick Road to traffic.
*** Conclusion & Recommendations ***
Whilst Travel in Warwickshire by Bus is an excellent online compilation, this memorandum considers only the information available in the street & in print.
Each bus stop must be identified by a flag, whether on a pole or a lamppost which displays all service numbers serving that stop. This occurs in London & Leamington.
Timetable cases should quote all services at that stop.
Naming of bus stops & shelters should be meaningful of their location and a compendium compiled. Both the passenger and the bus driver need to know the same name for a stop.
Advanced technology sources of information must be correct. SMS codes are already prominent. However, the video display of real time or timetable listed arrivals is at present available only for the 12 service and then only at three shelters :- A { waragtgw } at Abbey End, St. John's { warapdw } and by the King's Table { warapdwa}.
More stops should have raised kerbs & pavements as is so successful at the Abbey End stops A & B.
A prominent place, such as the yellow Bus Focal Point stand at Abbey End, could be used for advanced notice of road closures and which bus stops will be out of use, & which in.
*** Addendum ***
Warwickshire County Council News 24/08/2010 :- Give us your views on concessionary travel
Concessionary Travel Consultation until 10/10/2010
Concessionary Travel Consultation Document ( as a PDF file ) to return FREEPOST.
Concessionary Travel Consultation online once only per computer.
Apllication for Free Bus Pass from Warwick District Council
Click here to post your comments
Kenilworth Community Information - Thus the information on the bus stop Flag varies - only X17 & Unibus routes are mentioned where Stagecoach is the operator. Indeed many flags display no route numbers at all. What goes on the flag?