Talk:MK Metro

History section

I have tagged this as dubious as the only reference to "Julian Osbourne" that Google can find is Wikipedia or its mirrors. I will delete the section in mid January if a citation is not provided by then. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 17:50, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

I know it was and it said in in BUSES magazine a few months ago, but delete it if you want, I don't mind. Arriva436^talk 15:54, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

I'll take off the dubious tag. If you could possibly find which issue of BUSSES mag had it, that would be an ideal cite. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 13:19, 21 December 2007 (UTC)

Former owner and MD of MK Metro was Julian PEDDLE.86.133.175.240 (talk) 21:48, 24 December 2007 (UTC)

Yes, there was a whole article about the company a while ago Arriva436^talk 12:49, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Key Routes

Can anyone tell me how to change the colour of the font in the Key Routes section I recently added. Reply on my talk page. --Dennisman (talk) 11:42, 10 January 2009 (UTC)

Fleet Summary

I have added a fleet summary, like I usually do. Anyone know how many of each vehicle is operated. Either put the info on yourself, or post it to my talk page. --Dennisman (talk) 17:13, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Closing down this article as historic, need to start a new one for Arriva MK Star

I've put everything in this article into the past tense and deleted a small amount of material that relates to MK Star after 24 April. We need a new article about Arriva MK Star. The Arriva blurb and a link to the timetables and route maps is at http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/mkstar/ I'll leave it to one of the bus aficionados to write. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 22:39, 3 May 2010 (UTC)

Might be better to rewrite this one and rename it. The historical information here is still important. If anything there could be more, for example talking about Citybus and United Counties before MK Metro, but that all ought to be in a transport in Milton Keynes article, which could grow out of the grid system article. Tom walker (talk) 06:33, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

I agree with Tom, we should just update this one and perhaps move the page. I bet everyone will keep calling it MK Metro for years to come anyway. A new article for Arriva MK Star seems a bit much, especially as the "MK Star" name seems a bit PR only. I think they plan to move the buses onto the Arriva the Shires license, so it will just become another part of that. Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 12:35, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

I accept that MK Star is just PR spin but the fact remains that the article as it stands is about a defunct bus company and I really do think that it would be a pity to just bury it in a series of later updates. Coming back to Tom's idea, maybe we should have an article called Public transport in Milton Keynes. We have some great history with the Dial-a-bus, the United Counties [dis]service, Citybus, MK Metro and now Arriva as itself – and maybe even the Bucks County Engineer's dream of a monorail! In an ideal world, each of these would spin off its own article [like the MK Metro one] which records how it was - and leaves it as it was, starting a new article for each new incarnation - even if it begins from a copy of the previous company but then develops.

As for the Grid System article, well the bus companies never liked the obvious idea of shuttles on the grid. Speaking of which, have you seen http://www.mapofmiltonkeynes.co.uk/ - MK drawn as a tube map! --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 23:07, 4 May 2010 (UTC)

I'm all for the Public Transport article, I think that'd be brilliant. It could talk about the railways too. Yeah I've seen the map, spoken to the guy who made it!Tom walker (talk) 09:59, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

I agree in an ideal world we'd have article for each incarnation, but we're not in an ideal world. Someone would only come along and merge them or do something else stupid etc etc. I'm just not sure there's enough context to enable two articles. MK is a new town and MK Metro is a relatively young company. I think that we'd be better off keeping MK Metro and having a Milton Keynes section at Arriva Shires & Essex. There's enough room at Arriva S&E, and there's nothing to say we can't have a really high quality MK section of the Shires & Essex article (and make the rest of it better too!). I'll ask User:Alzarian16 what they think, they might have an idea of what information etc could be included. Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 15:22, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

I wouldn't have a problem with that particularly if it is summarised and linked from a Public transport in MK article. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 21:10, 5 May 2010 (UTC)

The generic public transport article is a great idea, and I'd be happy to write it if no-one else wants to. MK Star probably doesn't have enough material for its own article yet, and although this could change in the future it would be premature to start an article based on very little independent coverage. For now the best solution would probably be a Milton Keynes section in the Arriva Shires & Essex article (which currently mentions MK only in the lead). MK Star could redirect to this section as it seems fairly likely that people will search for it. Alzarian16 (talk) 09:40, 6 May 2010 (UTC)

In fact, I'm starting to wonder if Public transport in Milton Keynes would almost be too long. As well as the stuff already mentioned it would also need to talk about EasyBus; the competing bus operators (On a Mission at the moment, R&I in the past); Milton Keynes Coachway; Virgin's rail link coach to Luton Airport; West Coast Route Modernisation; the ongoing argument over Southern's train service from MK to East Croydon... and probably some I've forgotten about! Alzarian16 (talk) 11:52, 10 May 2010 (UTC)

If you stick to just in MK as opposed to extraurban services stopping here, it shouldn't be too bad. Of course you would have to reference the Coachway and the five railway stations – but these all have their own articles so why repeat them. The argument over Southern belongs at Milton Keynes Central, not here. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 18:54, 10 May 2010 (UTC)

What argument over the Southern service? Didn't know there was one... The transport article could be an amalgamation of this article and the redway one, along with info on other bus services, their history and a bit on the trains (particularly the future aprapo E-WR). Yeah it might be long, but if it would, that's proof that it's needed. Tom walker (talk) 20:45, 10 May 2010 (UTC)

Since the coverage of the trains seems to be fairly comprehensive already, would just Buses in Milton Keynes be a better idea in terms of reducing duplication? Alzarian16 (talk) 10:03, 11 May 2010 (UTC)

Yes, I agree, that makes more sense and would stop the article expanding aimlessly. PS I didn't know about an argument over Southern either, and after spending 15 minutes looking for one I'm none the wiser. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 15:35, 11 May 2010 (UTC)

If we're going to do that, it would be good to link it to the other transport in MK articles. Perhaps do a template? Call it transport in MK, and it can have the buses article, the redway one, grid roads one, station ones and so on. Tom walker (talk) 18:53, 11 May 2010 (UTC)

(undent) A template is a great idea, and shouldn't be too hard to create either. Regarding Southern, it was reported in RAIL magazine that the new MK - East Croydon service might breach Virgin West Coast's competition protection as it would call at Kensington Olympia. However there appears to have been no online coverage at all, so it probably isn't notable enough to be worth mentioning. Alzarian16 (talk) 12:25, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Right, I've created the template: Template:Transport in Milton Keynes. Since you guys know MK better than I do you're welcome to make any changes if you think it can be improved. Alzarian16 (talk) 13:05, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

Ah. I just discovered this which could complicate things. Alzarian16 (talk) 13:39, 12 May 2010 (UTC)

As I said there, it is fully in accordance with WP standards to have nested templates, and this is particularly appropriate where there is a large urban area with its own identity. We should definitely have 'Transport in MK' which is nested under 'Milton Keynes and under 'Transport in Bucks'. --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 14:01, 13 May 2010 (UTC)

Right, most of this is done now. Nested the template; added a section to Arriva Shires & Essex about MK; and redirected Arriva MK Star to that section. Only need to write Buses in Milton Keynes and we'll be finished! Alzarian16 (talk) 13:57, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Finished (at last). Buses in Milton Keynes is now in mainspace. There are two slight problems with the article: a lack of images, and the shortage of information on United Counties. Anyone with any ideas, please feel free to help. Alzarian16 (talk) 13:20, 29 May 2010 (UTC)

Good work. Well done! Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 13:31, 29 May 2010 (UTC)

Photos

Does anyone have any recent photos they they could add, or even go out and tkae some shots in the future. While we've got some pictures, they're pre-Arriva, and the orange bus is now with Arriva at Guildford anyway! Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 13:35, 29 May 2010 (UTC)

I've added one of a Scania L94 that I took back in 2006. It isn't the best, but at least it's working a service and it's after the Arriva takeover. Alzarian16 (talk) 13:23, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

Excellent! Thanks for that. I wouldn't mind going to MK one day, to photograph all the different coloured buses before they get Arriva'd. Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 13:44, 11 June 2010 (UTC)

I managed to get there in July and took a few which I've added to this and a few other relevant articles. Most of it had been Arriva'd, but there were a few others left. I also managed to get back home at a half-sensible time, thanks to Redline Buses of all people! Alzarian16 (talk) 19:09, 17 August 2010 (UTC)

Good news, that provides a much more rounded illustration. They have been Arriva-ing it very quickly, with a constant stream of buses to Watford for painting. Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 19:05, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Apparently (according to L.O.T.S.) the old blue/yellow MK Metro colours are now extinct on buses in service. Probably worth a mention somewhere, but the question is where? Arriva436^{talk/contribs} 15:17, 18 September 2010 (UTC)

Historic routes deleted per WP:NOTDIR

It seems to me to be a bit jobsworth to delete these historic routes per WP:NOTDIR but to be fair they shouldn't have been there when they were live. So for posterity, this is what used to be in the article:

Routes

A Scania L94UB branded for route 5 in Central Milton Keynes shortly after the takeover by Arriva

The company ran over 30 services. Most routes passed through or served Central Milton Keynes. However, routes 16 and 30/31 did not. The routes were generally numbered from 1 to 30, although there were some omissions and some routes in the 30s, as well as a new service numbered 300.

The key services were numbered 1 to 8, and ran every 10 to 20 minutes. Key services ran through the busiest parts of the city, for example to Bletchley and the District centres. Intermediate services ran from every 20 minutes up to every hour. These routes cover areas in more detail, for example serving through the grid squares, while key services mostly ran on the main roads. The other routes ran at a frequency of every hour or less. These services linked locations outside Milton Keynes into the city, or linked neighbourhoods into the nearest centre.

Note that this list of routes is for historical interest. It is not a list of the current routes operated by Arriva Shires and Essex.

Former key services

A purple Optare Solo on high-frequency route 8 at Milton Keynes Central railway station in early 2009

• 1 / B / C: City Centre - Green Park - Newport Pagnell - Olney - Bedford / Northampton
• 2: Westcroft - Oxley Park - Grange Farm - City Centre - Willen - Poets Estate - Newport Pagnell
• 4 / A / E: Wolverton - Stony Stratford - City Centre - Hospital - Whaddon Way - Bletchley
• 5 / E: Wolverton - Bradville - City Centre - Hospital - Bletchley - Lakes Estate
• 7 / E: Wolverton - Stantonbury - City Centre - Bletchley - Newton Longville / Lakes Estate
• 7 A: Wolverton - Great Linford - Neath Hill - City Centre
• 8: Westcroft - Shenley Brook End - City Centre - Kingston - Bletchley / Woburn Sands

Intermediate Services

These routes were operated by MK Metro after its take-over by Arriva, but before the rebranding and new timetable launch on 24 April 2010.

A Mercedes-Benz Citaro in a dedicated silver livery on route 300 after the Arriva takeover

• 2E: Wolverton - Heelands - City Centre - Willen - Poets Estate - Newport Pagnell
• 3E: Wolverton - Great Linford - City Centre - Shenley Church End - Furzton - Westcroft
• 6 / A: Wolverton / Bradville - Heelands - City Centre - Hospital- Emerson Valley - Bletchley
• 9 / A: City Centre - Shenley Lodge - Furzton - West Bletchley - Bletchley
• 12: Wolverton - Greenleys - Bradwell - City Centre - Kents Hill - Open University - Caldecotte
• 20: Bletchley - Tattenhoe - Westcroft - City Centre - Hospital - Walnut Tree
• 26E: Bletchley - Furzton - City Centre - Walnut Tree - Kingston Centre
• 29: Bletchley - Hospital - Oldbrook - City Centre - Crownhill - Shenley Church End
• 32: City Centre - Buckingham - Little Tingewick (peak hours)
• 39: Bletchley - Whaddon Way - Oldbrook - City Centre - Crownhill - Shenley Church End
• 300: City Centre - Broughton Gate - Kingston / Magna Park

Other former services

• 11: Milton Keynes - Monkston - Kingston - Woburn Sands - Bow Brickhill - Bletchley
• 13: Stony Stratford - Stantonbury - City Centre - Bletchley - Lakes Estate
• 14: City Centre - Stony Stratford - Old Stratford - Deanshanger / Wicken
• 16: Bletchley - West Bletchley - Emerson Valley - Westcroft
• 17A: Milton Keynes - Moulsoe - Cranfield
• 17B: City Centre - Great Linford - Newport Pagnell - Cranfield
• 18: City Centre - Woolstone - Woughton Park - Simpson - Bletchley
• 30 / 31: Newport Pagnell - Wolverton - Stony Stratford - Bletchley
• 32A: Buckingham Town Service
• 33: Milton Keynes - Blue Bridge - Wolverton - Hanslope - Roade - Northampton
• (NN)11 Northampton - Kingsley - Parklands - Links View - Kingsley - Northampton (only serves Links View on return from Parklands)
• (NN)21 Northampton - University Avenue Campus - Kingsthorpe - University Park Campus (ceased due to contract loss)

Comments? --John Maynard Friedman (talk) 20:14, 23 April 2013 (UTC)

Hiya, I thought MK was still running which is why I deleted them, Lesson learnt!, should've looked before assuming, Anyway I've readded them, Apologies. – →Davey2010→→Talk to me!→ 20:33, 23 April 2013 (UTC)

References

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on MK Metro. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20081205065501/http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/transport/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=57102 to http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/transport/displayarticle.asp?id=57102

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 18 January 2022).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 22:53, 28 May 2017 (UTC)

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on MK Metro. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive https://archive.is/20150430052714/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/arriva-acquires-mk-metro-in-56m-deal to http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/arriva-acquires-mk-metro-in-56m-deal

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 18 January 2022).

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 17:49, 4 January 2018 (UTC)