GRANT PALMER SERVICE 44
Bus operators Grant Palmer have announced changes to Service 44, which currently operates between Bedford, Wixams, Clophill, Maulden, Ampthill and Flitwick.
As from August 29, Service 44 will only run the full route at peak times on weekdays:
Monday to Friday, Maulden to Ampthill/Flitwick
7.08am and 8.08am
4.38pm, 5.13pm and 5.38pm
Monday to Friday, Flitwick/Ampthill to Maulden
No morning service
4.59pm and 5.59pm
No Saturday or Sunday service between Maulden and Ampthill/Flitwick
The hourly services between Maulden and Bedford Bus Station, via Clophill, Wilstead, Wixams, and Elstow, continue both on weekdays and Saturdays. Full time-table below
Grant Palmer said: “Buses will operate between Maulden and Bedford only for most of the day, with peak time journeys extending from Flitwick via Ampthill. Our data shows very few customers travelling between Maulden and Flitwick and the cost to provide these journeys has increased substantially. Buses will operate more reliably between Maulden and Bedford with additional afternoon journeys to Bedford and later return journeys too. “
“Buses will operate to a revised timetable to better coordinate with Stagecoach service 81 following customer requests. Most buses will leave Bedford at 05 past the hour and from 48 past the hour at Clophill.
“The changes have been designed to help us run more reliably. Like many public transport operators we have had to adapt to lower numbers of people travelling, high operating costs and shortages of PCV licence holders. Our changes will stabilise our network, reducing the likelihood of short notice cancellations and improve overall journeys for customers. We have consulted with our local authorities regarding the changes and believe they will continue to offer high levels of service across Bedfordshire.”
FLITTABUS
Flittabus serve Maulden and Clophill six days a week with scheduled return services to Ampthill, Flitwick, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Hitchin. Full time-table below.
Monday FL1 Clophill-MAULDEN-Ampthill-Flitwick
Tuesday FL10 MAULDEN-Clophill-Silsoe-Wardhedges-Flitton-Greenfield-Pulloxhill-Hitchin
3rd Tuesday each month FL3 Haynes-Clophill-MAULDEN-Ampthill-Milton Keynes
Wednesday FL5 MAULDEN-Ampthill-Flitwick-Bedford
Wednesday afternoon FL8 MAULDEN-Ampthill-Houghton Conquest-Bedford
Thursday FL6A Clophill-MAULDEN-Ampthill
Friday FL7 Silsoe-MAULDEN-Ampthill-Flitwick
Saturday FL140 MAULDEN-Ampthill-Flitwick-Toddington
Anybody can use Flittabus and, while they do use the normal bus stops, they also operate a hail-to-ride system so will pick up anywhere on the route if it is safe to do so. At the moment Flittabus are not able to accept credit/debit cards on board but do accept cash or concessionary bus passes.
Flittabus are introducing new and improved timetables from September 1, with the new FL4 route on Thursdays connecting Maulden, Ampthill, Flitwick, Steppingley, Tingrith, Eversholt, Milton Bryan, Woburn, Woburn Sands and Wavendon to The Kingston Centre and Central Milton Keynes.
AMPTHILL & FLITWICK GOOD NEIGHBOURS
If anyone is stuck for transport to hospitals, GP appointments, etc, then please do contact Ampthill & Flitwick Good Neighbours, whose volunteers also cover Maulden. They do prefer as much notice as possible and there are some charges to cover volunteers’ costs. Call 07833 314903 or visit https://www.afgn.org.uk/ for more details.
