Bus users need to look out for changes to the timetable from Monday for the services that run along the A26 from Southborough to Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
The bus firm says the Spring changes are aiming mainly to sort out school transport congestion. Arriva says it is still examining the service on the A26 for commuters at peak times and is looking to see how improvements could be made in the future.
The latest information suggests little overall change, although there do appear to be fewer buses for anyone arriving at Tonbridge station after 8.30pm and hoping to get back to Southborough. Some extra services do appear to have been scheduled for those travelling around 5pm back from Tonbridge.
The solid regular service every ten minutes in the middle of the day continues, although the 402 services will now stop at Sevenoaks bus station, rather than continuing onto Dunton Green. 402 times have been adjusted as a result. The 7 services continue to serve Maidstone with almost unchanged times.
Two main problems that deter bus use still seem to be in evidence:
(1) Poor Service at peak rush hour – There is still a 25 minute gap in the morning service from Southborough to Tonbridge between 8.10am and 8.35.
(2) Scarcity of buses in early mornings and late evenings – There are only three buses now after 8.30pm from Tonbridge to Southborough at 8.59pm, 9.59 and 10.59. Services previously at 8.45pm and 9.23pm appear to have been cancelled.
Here are the new Monday to Friday services…
m indicates the 7 to/from Maidstone; others are 402 to Sevenoaks via Hildenborough
From SOUTHBOROUGH (Sheffield Road) to Tonbridge:
| 0531m |
| 0618, 0631m, 0643, 0650m |
| 0714m, 0720, 0731m, (0739h, 0751k), 0753m |
| 0810m, 0835m, 0854 |
| 0905m, 0915, 0925m, 0935, 0945m, 0955 |
| and 6 buses at same times every hour until |
| 1405m, 1415, 1423m, 1435, 1443m, 1455 |
| 1504m, 1515, 1524m, 1544m, 1548z, 1551, 1553m |
| (1600w, 1604x) 1610m, 1629m, 1631, 1650m |
| 1701, 1717m, 1728, 1737m, 1744, 1757m |
| 1811, 1826m, 1841 |
| 1902m, 1910, 1941m |
| 2007m, 2037m |
| 2107m, 2137m |
| 2237m |
School days only buses:
h indicates a 582 bus along the A26 to Hugh Christie School
k indicates a 229 Seaford bus service to Weald of Kent, which turns right up Pembury Rd
w indicates a 77B bus
x indicates a 402B bus
z indicates a 147 bus
From TONBRIDGE Quarry Hill to Southborough / Tunbridge Wells:
| 0551m |
| 0621m, 0632, 0651m |
| 0715m, 0730m, (0740b, 0742b, 0753s, 0755a, 0758c) |
| 0805m, 0834m, 0847, 0857m |
| 0907, 0912m, 0927, 0931m, 0945m, 0947, 0957m |
| 1007, 1017m, 1027, 1037m, 1047, 1057m |
| and 6 buses at same times every hour until |
| (1505h), 1507, 1517m, 1537m, 1558m |
| 1603, 1620m, 1634, 1643m, 1657 |
| 1702m, 1717, 1724m, 1737, 1744m, 1757 |
| 1803m, 1814, 1821m, 1833, 1839m, 1853 |
| 1902m, 1913, 1929m, 1943, 1959m |
| 2013, 2029m, 2059m |
| 2159m |
| 2259m |
Southborough News 