In order to adapt to post-pandemic patterns of customer travel and due to several services having not returned to their pre-pandemic customer numbers, we're having to make changes to our network.
Over the last few months we’ve been working with local authorities and other public transport operators to match resources with projected usage. Through these discussions we have been able to retain more of the network than would otherwise have been possible.
We regret having to make these changes, however they are necessary to ensure our network can be sustainable long term, so we can help as many people travel as possible.
Drivers currently working on all routes affected will all be redeployed to other services, which will ease the recent disruption to the timetables due to the industry-wide shortage of drivers.
The changes from 2 October are as follows:
the comet | New stops will be added between Kilburn and Clay Cross. the comet will also provide links from Little Eaton to Derby, Ripley, Alfreton and through to Chesterfield. Tap for the new timetable.
my15 | Ilkeston to Long Eaton and return evening journeys on Monday to Saturday after 7pm will reduce from half hourly to hourly. There will be no changes to the journeys between Ilkeston and East Midlands Airport at these times. Tap for the new timetable.
the nines | There will be changes to the timetable to improve reliability. An additonal early morning journey from Sutton to Derby for commuters will be added.
skylink Derby | Improved frequency to East Midlands Gateway and Kegworth. Diseworth and Long Whatton will no longer be served.
skylink Nottingham | We are pleased to announce that the Coalville journeys of skylink Nottingham will run all the way through Diseworth and Long Whatton after leaving East Midlands Airport on their route to Coalville. This means that residents in Long Whatton and Diseworth will continue to have a service to and from East Midlands Airport. From there they will have direct connections to Coalville, Castle Donington, Long Eaton, Beeston and Nottingham. Residents of Long Whatton and Diseworth wishing to travel to Loughborough will be able to transfer onto skylink Derby at East Midlands Airport to continue their journey to Loughborough. This new route will be operated on a trial basis to assess usage. If proved to be popular the change of route will become permanent.
Coalville evening journeys will still be withdrawn after 8pm due to lack of demand.
There is good news for residents of Sutton Bonington and Zouch. skylink Nottingham will continue to run hourly from East Midlands Airport to Loughborough via Sutton Bonington on weekdays from 2 October. This comes about after we successfully sought support to continue operating the route from partners at Nottinghamshire County Council.
the threes | Mansfield night owl journeys will be withdrawn.
H1 | Extra evening journeys on Sundays.
20, 21, amberline, black cat, connect C1 & C2 | A network centred on Ilkeston and Heanor will provide half-hourly links between the towns, with hourly extensions at each end. From Ilkeston, these will be from West Hallam and Kirk Hallam. From Heanor, these will be to Hucknall via the 34 (old amberline route), which will also cover Harrier Park in Hucknall in place of the C1, and Mansfield via the black cat. Between Heanor and Eastwood, these will give a 10 minute frequency when combined with rainbow one.
This new network will provide a link to Hucknall train/tram station from the Kimberley and Watnall areas. A new Sunday service between Langley Mill and Hucknall will be introduced.
Kirk Hallam to Nottingham and Heanor to Derby (amberline journeys) will be withdrawn. Although other routes will still enable journeys, including through connections. A new Sunday service will replace 20 between New Stapleford, Beeston Rylands and Nottingham.
Please find a map displaying the adapted routes below.
Please see below the timetables for the following services:
18
31
32
33
34
35
Regrettably, we must take some difficult decisions about how our network can be sustainable in the long term so we can help as many people travel as possible.
This network review also enabled us to make some improvements to various routes, looking at putting more journeys on at key times for workers and improving reliability so we run on time even more of the time.