Stagecoach alters 10 Northampton bus routes

The changes will mean new direct links such as East Hunsbury to the rail station on route 12 or Kings Heath to Weston Favell on route 8 following a “review” of Stagecoach’s network. But it also means there will no longer be a Stagecoach service to and from Whittlebury.

The changes will come into effect from April 17.

A spokesman said that passengers would currently need to change buses on these trips.

He added: “With regards to the notice given to passengers about these changes we would normally aim to provide two weeks notice, but unfortunately we are some days short of that target.”

Changes are:

ROUTE 2

CURRENTLY: up to every 15 minutes between Rectory Farm & Northampton town centre.

From 17th April: extended from the town centre to Camp Hill up to every 15 minutes to replace route 12 along this section

ROUTE 3

CURRENTLY: hourly between Harlestone Manor & Northampton town centre.

From 17th April: extended from Northampton town centre to serve Wootton, Hackleton & Piddington/Horton Gates replacing route 14 in these areas

ROUTE 8

CURRENTLY: up to every 20 minuets between Rectory Farm & Nothampton town centre. Buses are extended hourly to Towcester & Silverstone with some journeys extended further to Bicester

From 17th April: half hourly between Rectory Farm & Northampton town centre with journeys extended to Kings Heath. This provides new links from Rectory Farm & Weston Favell to the rail station as well as links from Kings Heath to Weston Favell.

Buses from Northampton to Towcester, Silverstone and Bicester will be renumbered 88.

Unfortunately buses will no longer serve Whittlebury. Some journeys will also serve Kenmuir Avenue and, from April 21, Northampton College (St Gregorys)

ROUTE 12

CURRENTLY: up to every 15 minutes between Camp Hill & Kings Heath via the town centre.

From 17th April: services between Camp Hill and Northampton town centre will be replaced by a 15 minute frequency on route 2. There will also be some later evening journeys to Camp Hill as a result

Route 12 will run half-hourly from Kings Heath to East Hunsbury via the town centre. This provides new links between Kings Heath and Mereway Tesco as well as links from East Hunsbury to the rail station.

Route 8 will also run between Kings Heath and the town centre, meaning a 15 minute service is provided over this section.

ROUTE 14

CURRENTLY: half-hourly between East Hunsbury & Northampton town centre with buses extended hourly to Wootton, Hackleton & Piddington or Horton Gates

From 17th April: Route 14 between East Hunsbury and Northampton town centre will be replaced by a half-hourly route 12.

Route 12 will run from Kings Heath to East Hunsbury via the town centre. This provides new links between East Hunsbury & the rail station

The new route 12 will also provide an improved 30 minute frequency on a Sundays from East Hunsbury.

In East Hunsbury buses will no longer run via Hill Farm Rise & Hilldrop Road, however route 89/X89 will serve Hilldrop Rd.

Wootton, Hackleton, Piddington and Horton Gates will be served by Route 3, which continues to run between Rye Hill and Harlestone Manor from the town centre.

ROUTES 10, 39 & X43

CURRENTLY:

Service 10 runs half hourly between West Hunsbury & Parklands via Northampton town centre.

Service 39 runs between Northampton & Kettering via Overstone, Sywell, Holcot, Walgrave, Old & Mawsley

Service X43 runs between Northampton & Market Harborough via Broughton, Kettering, Rothwell & Desborough

From 17th April:

Route 39 will be replaced by a two-hourly service 10, which will run from West Hunsbury to Kettering via, Northampton town centre, Parklands, Overstone, Holcot, Hannington, Old & Mawsley.

Route X43 will be replaced by an hourly service X10, which will run from West Hunsbury to Market Harborough via, Northampton town centre, Parklands, Broughton, Kettering, Rothwell & Desborough

The half hourly services between West Hunsbury & Parklands will be maintained by a combination of routes 10 & X10.

ROUTE 89/X89

CURRENTLY: Service 89/X89 runs between Northampton & Milton Keynes via Towcester, Potterspury & Deanshanger

From 17th April: Route 89/X89 will divert off Towcester Road to serve Merefield Hilldrop Rd in Northampton