SERVING A NEW TOWN. UNITED COUNTIES OPERATION IN MILTON KEYNES

A description is given of the bus services operated in Milton Keynes by the National Bus Company subsidiary United Counties. Milton Keynes is a fast growing new town, approximately 7 miles from end to end with a future population expected to reach 300000. The new town was designed with the idea that all residents would own cars and therefore there would be no need for a bus service. The various new housing estates have an individual network of narrow roads and are joined to each other and the city centre by a grid pattern of larger trunk roads. Bus services are therefore confined to the main roads. No home is more than 400 M away from a bus stop and because the services run on main roads a fairly close headway of 15 min interval can be maintained. Reliability is aided by the good road network and consequent low level of congestion. Experiments with dial-a-ride services penetrating into the housing areas were not a success; most passengers preferred to use the more conventional services. An egalitarian approach to fare levels is operated and a zonal system applies with five fare levels. Off-bus fare collection has been encouraged using a ticket called the quad costing 1.10 pounds and comprising a square card divided into 4. Each portion entitles the holder to one journey of any distance on a citybus service. The tickets are available through retail outlets, post offices and libraries. Despite its car-oriented origins Milton Keynes hs emerged as one of the bright spots of NBC stage operation. (TRRL)

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Ian Allan Limited

    Terminal House
    Shepperton, Middlesex  England  TW17 8AS
  • Publication Date: 1983-8

Media Info

  • Features: Photos;
  • Pagination: p. 348-349
  • Serial:
    • BUSES
    • Volume: 35
    • Issue Number: 341
    • Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, Limited
    • ISSN: 0007-6392

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00381469
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 30 1984 12:00AM