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Letter: The Simple Answer to Integrated Transport in Guildford
Published on: 23 May, 2020
Updated on: 23 May, 2020
From Jim Allen
People still haven’t grasped the “bus station problem”. There is only one place a bus needs to be stationary for 15 minutes and that is when it meets another form of transport to transfer or pick up passengers.
This is not in a town centre, but at a railway station, where bus passengers arrive to catch trains, and when trains discharge passengers to buses waiting to take them home.
All the town centre needs is a nice place for passengers to await a timed service. Sadly, this concept has failed all the way up the chain of planning control through to the Planning inspectorate.
With the present situation, integrated transport in Guildford cannot happen.
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Julian Sheppard
May 24, 2020 at 10:19 am
I so much agree. It’s logical to have the bus station at the train station, as it is in the majority of European towns, so that you can easily get to and from any place by public transport. Let bus routes pass through shopping and entertainment districts. But most, if not all routes, should include the train station.
Martin Elliott
May 24, 2020 at 1:25 pm
I’m afraid I don’t see much logic in this explanation or suggestion as I don’t agree with the definition of the function of a bus station.
I would have thought a bus station is primarily a route termination point. As such, it is more about a change of driver, the provision of driver facilities (refreshment, rest, etc) and a buffer in the timetable.
Interaction with passengers is no more than a “super” bus stop. After all, most bus doors are not even opened at the bus station until the fresh driver arrives ready to leave.
I think the confusion arises with large bus stops. A large number of routes converge and a natural passenger congregation point. This covers not only the present town centre bus station, but also, for example, RSCH or Bannisters Field and even the back entrance of the railway station.
So yes, better integration of bus routes north, south, east and west and stops at the two sides of the railway station, but not necessarily a “bus station”.