9X Eastbourne - Hastings

This was written on what is hopefully one of my last cross-county trips from Newhaven to Hastings.

 

This is supersedes a previous suggestion to extend route 12X to Hastings: 

Examine

One of the biggest barriers to cross-county travel is the time taken on the all stopping Stagecoach South East 99 service between Eastbourne and Hastings. The route is via A259 with long detours via Collington, Bexhill and the congested areas at Ravenside Retail Park, Bulverhythe and St Leonards with overall journey time of between 80 - 90 minutes (or 1 hour 20 - 30 minutes). This may seem a far cry from the 12X used to connect to it (which covers a greater distance faster) and route 100 which keeps squarely on A259 all the way to Rye.

 

A modest 7 timing points are met with 70 other stops for this route - 80 minutes being quite an achievement until you note the long section of fast running between Pevensey and Coneyburrow Lane.

 

Originally including the 'Wave' brand from it's former 99 'ice cream' logo, the route has been cut back in recent months to improve reliability and vehicle saving with drivers changing at the station and not at Silverhill - bar night depot moves. This link replaced by hourly 324.

 

More evening and Sunday buses will be added both ways with some as 99E operating via South Harbour to replace route 5B.

 

Expressed

99X has been talked about for many years and to date has still failed to materialize. The quickest way between the two is to use the train with a 25 minute journey time - but at significantly greater cost. That said, offset on longer journeys by PlusBus following the removal of the East Sussex Dayrider, less so, accompanied child discounts but work better for age (18/19 v 15).

 

The basis for this suggestion is to replicate the success of route 1X & 3X in Brighton with a simple limited stop concept, marketing and vehicles which all told has seen a new bus users, particularly on the former.

 

Transport for London's 'Superloop' has made an impact on journeys around London and in some cases across the city with new routes or remarketed historical routes such as X26 and X68. Buses are designed to be distinctive with, like the 1X and 3X dedicated marketing - almost always on their correct routes.

 

Seaside is key for one of the two suggestions and the bus lanes would certainly play into this, being a faster journey and not stopping very often. Conversely, the A27 link between Cross Levels Way, whilst being a very important diversion route, is planned for housing development. The Pevensey by-pass once used for Gatwick's Night route 380.

 

The biggest headache for these routings would be the Pevensey Bay level crossing and in both cases Marsh Road, with diverted buses using Wartling - itself a useful route for the Observatory and Hurstmonceux Castle - inaccessible outside of a once-a-week service, long walk with no pathway or Flexibus (no longer running Saturdays). 


Hospitable

Another request is for a direct link between EDGH and Conquest. With NHS struggling, options for alternative care are limited if you are without a car. A direct like between West of Hastings and the hospital would be a welcome move - especially when visiting or requiring specialist treatment. However the concern appears to be an extended route is only used for ad-hoc appointments and staff changeover just twice a day! Running via one or both hospitals mid-journey would remove that concern. Passing though EDGH means using the inner Hospital stop used by Beachlands bound route 8 (noting there is no stop opposite). Terminating buses are more complicated but plans for a Kings Road bus lane would give a waiting point.

 

Following observations, services between Hastings and Conquest are extremely useful. Currently, this link is jointly provided by twice-hourly 329/329A, half-hourly 321 via St Leonard's or hourly 323 and 328 all stopping routes. The former replaces routes 2 & 26/26A. Save for the poor road conditions at Park View and Hoad's Wood Road on 323, these connections should be attractive.

 

The same cannot be said for the Bexhill - Conquest link, now provided by route 94 & 94A, Monday to Saturday daytime only. With just five direct journeys, the last service from the hospital is at 15.30.

 

Router

Taking all these factors into consideration, these are the routes proposed in this concept:

 

EDGH - Eastbourne Station - Cornfield Road/Gildredge Road - Hippodrome - Alexander Arms - Tesco - ASDA - Pevensey Bay - Little Common - Bexhill Old Town - Hollington - Ashdown House - Conquest Hospital - Alexander Park - Hastings, Queens Road

Or

 

Cornfield Road/Gildredge Road - Eastbourne Station - EDGH - Hampden Park Sainsbury's - Pevensey Bay - Little Common - Bexhill Old Town - Hollington - Ashdown House - Conquest Hospital - Alexander Park - Hastings, Queens Road

In both cases and as with all things express, there is minimal room for extra stops at key areas. However, more proposed developments are for Sovereign Harbour & A259 corridor. Ashdown House has been included due to the movement of residents from the Stonehouse Drive high rises.

 

In both cases buses would terminate at Queens Road and head to the Roundabout at Pelham Place to turn before retuning to pick up from here - the bus stop within the Old Town having been recently removed. Hastings Station would be ruled out due to the space provided for turnaround, which is largely at a premium.

 

Operation

As operators go, Brighton & Hove with their new Eastbourne depot has the experience of running faster service - but nothing on this scale. Operation would be relatively simple. Maybe too a renumber to route 900, harking back to a three digit ideals that 711 once brought. Not forgetting that X99 once went all the way to Brighton via A27 - subject of its own issues.

 

The timetable, taking into account the current 99 would be for an initial hourly service leaving Eastbourne at xx.30 and Hastings, Queens Road at xx.00 - with a 1 hour 5 minute to 1 hour 15 minute journey time (a 5 - 25 minute time saving) - rising to half-hourly based on growth. Starting at 30 minutes would be risky but may help later and Sunday running.

 

Under Stagecoach the route could work within the timetable of 99 with buses cross-operating and in turn adjustments made to 94, 100/101 and 329A to accommodate - maybe moving back to a previous set up.

 

The concept of 9X, noting it's missing of Ravenside Retail Park - easily dealt with, with a station, is the ease at which it can use existing, poorly used road links such as the Bexhill by-pass and Coombe Valley Way.

 

Taken seriously, with spring changes just announced, it would hoped such a service could be looked at for the 2026 summer months.

 

X-Success

The branded route 1X in Brighton. Increased with support from Bus Service Improvement funding (BSIP) from every 15 minutes to 12 minutes

99 reasons?

99 in its present form. This bus passes close to Sovereign ASDA where further development is planned.

Fast competition

A fast trains takes a matter on minutes to Bexhill and Hastings but at much higher cost. The routing could avoid a town center change.

By-pass

The Coombe Valley Way has seen a reduction of bus service since its building. This would shift the balance back over a longer distance.

Super-brand!

Superloop has shown what can be done with imagination. Superloop works in a number of different ways from a peak directional route (like 12X once was) to the start of a tube extension and even through a new river tunnel. 

Queens-Way

Queens Road in Hastings is the best place to start and end a route from the west, direct to the shopping area. Not so good if the trains are down.

Conquest into Hospital

The queue for parking during a weekday. Maybe this route would give a better option there.

Waiting room?

A possible terminus for 9X at EDGH. Given the layout of the grounds, whichever route was selected, this would serve one or other way.

Down to serve

The former Ashdown House stop, now serving at least three developments with residents relocating. A faster service to Tesco and Bexhill may help.

Night shift

Route 329 will loosing a late evening bus between Conquest and Hastings - could 9X help in some form.

We're stopping?

By going via Parkstone Road and not the Top of St Helen's Avenue, the route has  potential inclusions of William Parker School and others to sweeten the attractiveness of the route.