As part of Simplicity being imposed, Stocksbridge lost the 58 route. Since then fares have risen and the timetable changed. The latest proposals will have the effect of deleting the last through bus to Sheffield from Stocksbridge, which means that the cheaper bus only ticket will not be available.
Details of the proposals and an opportunity to comment are available.
Possible points regarding both the 57 and SL1 routes which could be made include:
- that, after 20:00, the cost for a student to travel from Sheffield centre to Stocksbridge will rise from 80p (student fare on 57 bus) to £2.50 (tram/SL1 fare) - an increase of over 200% ....
- in late evening, there will not be a direct route from the centre of Sheffield to Stocksbridge - thus continuing the steady decline in service of the last 20 years
- the lack of connectivity at Middlewood will continue - the SL1 route currently runs to a notional timetable (buses arrives in pairs, the timetable is a work of fiction, often trams leave as the bus pulls in at Middlewood)
- passengers will continue to get wet at Middlewood - a bus shelter at the bus stop is needed but seems to have been forgotten
The service from Sheffield to Stocksbridge has got steadily worse over the last 20 years. These suggestions would continue this decline - why not:
- reverse the route of SL1 in Deepcar/Stocksbridge
- introduce an 'express bus' which goes from Sheffield to Unsliven Bridge (at least twice an hour) and travels along the A616 for the whole of the route (except for the loop up to the Sports Centre) - last bus from Sheffield @ 11:30 every day?
- on Sundays and Bank Holidays extend the 'express route' to run to Holmfirth
- have a new route which goes from Sheffield to Oughtibridge along the current 57 route