Nottingham City Transport says network-wide changes are needed to balance the cost of running the bus network with the number of people using services.
The operator says passenger numbers have not fully recovered since the pandemic, with around one in ten fewer customers travelling each year. It says changes in working and shopping habits, including more home working, hybrid working and online shopping, mean many people now need to travel less often.
NCT also says major roadworks in Nottingham over recent years have affected passenger numbers on some routes. During periods of disruption, some passengers found alternative ways to travel and have not returned to using the bus, even after the works were completed. On one group of services, the company says passenger numbers are 25% lower than before the roadworks took place.
The increase in the national Bus Fare Cap at the start of 2025 has also contributed to reduced bus use, according to the operator. NCT says its own passenger numbers have fallen by 3.77% over the last year.
The company says it is also facing higher operating costs, including insurance, business taxation, bus parts and staffing costs. Although NCT says it is currently largely protected from recent fuel and energy price increases because of fixed-price deals agreed in advance, it says the wider combination of higher costs and fewer passengers is not sustainable.
As part of the review, NCT says every service has been assessed, with passenger boardings at every stop, on every route and at different times of the day analysed. The review has identified parts of the network where the company says it is providing more capacity than demand requires, as well as services that are not carrying enough passengers to cover the basic cost of operation.
For most customers on core routes, NCT says daytime service levels will largely remain the same, although some departure times may change. Several routes will see reduced frequencies on Saturday mornings before around 9am and during evenings across the week, to better reflect lower passenger numbers at those times.
NCT says reducing frequencies during quieter periods will help cut costs while protecting busier daytime services.
The company says it has been consulting and working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority, which has responsibility for public transport in the region, since the start of the year. Following those discussions, EMCCA will continue to financially support several services that NCT says would otherwise not have operated, or would have run less frequently.
NCT says some improvements have also been included in the review, with changes made in response to customer requests where possible.
These improvements include:
Doubling the full daytime frequency of buses between Clifton and Ruddington from hourly to half hourly
Providing a much-requested direct link between Ruddington and West Bridgford Centre
Returning Green 11 to be a Meadows and Lady Bay service to improve reliability, moving the extension to Cropwell Bishop to a new route
Reinstating the link between Cotgrave and The Cropwells directly to West Bridgford Central Avenue
Improved Sunday frequencies to Bulwell via Hucknall Road on Brown 17
Improved Sunday frequencies along Carlton Road and Carlton Hill on Lilac 25, 27
Additional buses serving Winwood Heights and Winchester Street on Blue 40
New links between Carlton, Gedling and Colwick Industrial Estate and Daleside Road Retail Parks on Red 45
Simplification of the Bulwell and Snape Wood service, with common numbers used along Hempshill Vale or Hoewood Road
Improving the frequency of the 79 to every 15 minutes during the Monday to Saturday daytime between City, Bulwell and Rise Park
Simplification of Top Valley services, with a more frequent service to and from Rise Park
What are the route changes?
South Notts 1, 1A, 1B, 1E
Revised timetable on all days.
Evening journeys are generally retimed to run 15 minutes earlier, which includes a later journey to East Leake departing Nottingham at 23:45 on Mondays to Saturdays.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Navy 3, 3A
These services will no longer run, with parts of the route replaced by changes to other services.
Between Clifton and Ruddington, the 3 will be replaced by an extension of Green 9, which will run every 30 minutes throughout Monday to Saturday daytimes. The 9 will provide Ruddington with a much-requested direct bus link to West Bridgford Centre.
Silverdale will be served by new Grey 55, retaining the hourly daytime link to Clifton Centre, as well as new links to QMC and Arnold.
Wilford Village – which is used by an average of 4 people a day – and Ruddington Lane – which has seen most people transfer to the tram – will no longer be served.
Navy 4, N4
Revised timetable.
The evening service, including N4, will no longer run due to low usage. The last bus from Clifton Campus will be 20:05 and from City Campus at 19:55.
South Notts 1 continues to provide a half hourly evening service to/from Clifton Campus, stopping on Clifton Lane.
Green 5, 5A
Revised timetable on all days.
On Sundays, all buses will operate as a 5 rather than a 5A.
Green 6
Revised timetable on all days.
The timetable will start earlier on Sundays, with a bus from Gamston at 07:03 and from City at 07:30.
Green 7
Revised timetable on all days.
The Saturday timetable will start slightly later, with the first bus from Edwalton Fields at 08:13 and from City at 08:38.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Green 8
Revised timetable on all days.
Green 8 and 9 will no longer operate as circular services around Wilford Hill and Compton Acres.
Green 8 will follow its current route between City, West Bridgford, Musters Road and Boundary Road, returning back to the City the same way.
Buses will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes and hourly on Sunday daytimes.
Loughborough Road between Greythorn Drive and Boundary Road will no longer be served by NCT. Our Green 10 provides an alternative service for Wilford Hill Crematorium, stopping at Greythorn Drive Top. Boundary Road between Loughborough Road and Musters Road will no longer be served. These areas are lightly used.
Green 9
Revised timetable on all days.
Green 8 and 9 will no longer operate as circular services around Wilford Hill and Compton Acres.
Green 9 will follow its current route between City, West Bridgford and Compton Acres, but will then extend to Ruddington and Clifton, replacing the current Navy 3.
This new route provides a much-requested direct link between Ruddington and West Bridgford.
Buses will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes, providing a more frequent service between Ruddington and Clifton than at present. Evening and Sunday buses will run every hour between City and Compton Acres.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Green 10, 10C, 10X
Revised timetable on all days.
Monday to Saturday evening buses generally run 10 minutes earlier, although the last bus from City at midnight is retained. On Sunday evenings, the last bus from City will be at 22:15.
The 10X will be renumbered 10A.
Green 11, 11B, 11C
Revised timetable on all days.
Green 11 will return to operating between City, The Meadows and Lady Bay, with hourly daytime extensions to the Water Sports Centre.
The daily daytime frequency will remain every 30 minutes, with buses every 45 minutes in the evening until the last bus from City at 22:45.
The decision to extend Green 11 beyond Lady Bay was intended to generate additional passengers to support the service that had been in decline for some time. The extension has resulted in reliability issues, not helped by a number of roadworks taking place on the extended part of the route. By returning the route to its original form, this addresses the feedback we have received from residents along the route, particularly in Lady Bay.
A consequence of restoring reliability to Green 11 is that we are no longer able to provide the direct link between Lady Bay and Gamston. The time taken to operate to and from Gamston exceeds the time the bus has available to maintain a reliable 30 minute service over the main section of the route.
The Tollerton, Cotgrave and Cropwell Bishop section of the route will be replaced by new Green 12.
Green 12
New Green 12 replaces Green 11 between Nottingham, Gamston and Tollerton, Cotgrave, Hollygate Park and Cropwell Bishop.
Green 12 will serve Central Avenue and West Bridgford, reinstating this much-requested direct link.
Buses will operate hourly on Monday to Saturday daytimes, with a Sunday daytime service introduced and the last bus from Nottingham at 20:10 on Mondays to Saturdays.
Some journeys will serve Cropwell Butler and Upper Saxondale, with Sunday buses serving Cropwell Butler and Bingham.
The Bridgford Connect ticket will no longer be available, following the introduction of the direct service.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Brown 15, 16, 16C
Revised timetable on all days.
Brown 16C for Brownlow Drive will no longer run due to low usage.
On Sunday daytimes, the combined frequency between City and Rise Park will be every 20 minutes, alternating between Brown 15 and Brown 16.
Brown 17
Revised timetable on all days.
On Sunday daytimes, the frequency will be increased to run every 20 minutes.
Lilac 24
This service will no longer run, with parts of the route replaced by changes to other services.
The section of route between Victoria Retail Park, Rivendell, Gedling and Carlton Hill will be replaced by an extension of Red 45, which will run every 30 minutes throughout Monday to Saturday daytimes.
Lilac 25, 25B
Revised timetable on all days.
On Sunday daytimes, the frequency will be increased to run every 20 minutes.
On Monday to Saturday evenings, the last bus from City will operate 15 minutes later, departing at 23:32.
There will be fewer evening buses through to Arnold to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening.
Pathfinder 26, N26
Revised timetable on all days.
The 07:35 from City to Carlton-le-Willows Academy will run as a 26B, rather than a 24, and will terminate on Burton Road.
The Monday to Friday evening service will operate every 2 hours to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening. The last bus will continue to depart Nottingham at 23:10.
The 01:00 N26 journey on Saturday nights will be renumbered 26 and serve Norwood Gardens in Southwell.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Lilac 27
Revised timetable on all days.
On Sunday daytimes, the frequency will be increased to run every 20 minutes.
Pink 28
Revised timetable on all days.
Pink 30
Revised timetable on all days.
The Monday to Saturday evening timetable will see buses depart City at 40 minutes the hour and from Wollaton Vale at 09 minutes past the hour.
On Sunday evenings, the timetable will finish earlier, with the last bus from City at 20:40 and Wollaton Vale at 20:10. This is due to low usage.
Orange 34, 34C, N34
Revised timetable on all days, including an additional late evening journey from City at 00:30 to University Park Campus on Mondays to Saturdays.
The N34 is withdrawn due to low usage.
Orange 35, 35A, 35B
Revised timetable on all days.
Orange 36, 36U
Revised timetable on all days.
Blue 39
Revised timetable on all days.
The Monday to Saturday evening frequency will be every 45 minutes after 21:00 to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening.
The Sunday frequency will be every 30 minutes during the daytime and every 45 minutes during the evening to better reflect the number of people using the service on Sundays.
Blue 40, 40B
Revised timetable on all days.
Blue 40 will now operate between City, St Ann’s, Winwood Heights and Sherwood Shops.
A small number of early morning, late evening and Sunday daytime journeys will continue to the City Hospital, as Blue 40A (not serving Winwood Heights). At other times of day, customers can transfer between Blue 40 and frequent Purple Line services in Sherwood to complete their journey.
The number of people using Blue 40 to and from the City Hospital represents just 6% of the total passengers on the route, and the extension through to City Hospital and Edwards Lane Estate is no longer viable. Most people travelling to the City Hospital use the frequent Brown and Purple Line services, which provide buses up to every 5 minutes on both sides of the City Hospital Campus.
Winwood Heights will be served by more buses during Monday to Saturday daytimes, with the last bus serving Winwood Heights at approx. 18:00.
The lightly used evening service will no longer operate, with buses finishing at approx. 19:00.
Blue 41
Revised timetable on all days.
Blue 42
Revised timetable on all days.
The lightly used evening service will no longer operate, with the last bus at approx. 19:00.
Red 43
Revised timetable on all days.
The evening frequency will be every 40 minutes on all days after 21:00 to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening.
The Saturday morning frequency will be every 45 minutes to better reflect the number of people using the service at that time.
Red 44, 44A
Revised timetable on all days.
Red 45
Revised timetable on all days.
Red 45 will be extended beyond Rivendell to replace Lilac 24 to Burton Road, Carlton Square and Carlton Hill. Buses will terminate on Cardale Road.
This route extension provides a direct link from Carlton and Gedling through to Colwick Industrial Estate for workers and to the Retail Parks on Daleside Road.
Buses will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes through to Bakersfield. Evening and Sunday buses will continue to operate between City, Victoria Retail Park and Rivendell.
This change addresses feedback from the residents of Rivendell about the number of buses serving the area and reduces the number of buses along Magenta Way.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Navy 48, 48X
Revised timetable on all days.
The evening frequency will be hourly after approx. 21:00 on Mondays to Saturdays and 19:00 on Sundays to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening.
The 48X will be renumbered 48A.
Navy 49, 49A, 49B, 49X
There are no changes to these services, but we have exciting plans for these routes which we’ll announce in the autumn.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Grey 53, 54, 55
Revised timetables.
On Mondays to Fridays, some Grey 54 journeys are renumbered Grey 55 and will serve Silverdale (replacing Navy 3A). This maintains the link between Silverdale and Clifton Centre, which is the most popular section of the lightly used 3A route. For journeys to the City Centre, connections can be made to Navy 48 at Clifton Bridge South.
Within Clifton, Grey 55 will serve Summerwood Lane, but won’t serve Lark Hill or the Rivergreen, Sunninghill Drive areas.
On Saturdays, Grey 55A will run between Silverdale and Clifton (Hartness Road) only, following the 53 route within Clifton Estate.
These services are funded by EMCCA.
Lime 56, 56B, 57, 57X
Revised timetable on all days.
The very lightly used 56B from Arnold at 23:33 (daily) will no longer run.
The 57 and 57X will be renumbered 56A.
Lime 58, 58X
Revised timetable on all days.
The 58X will be renumbered 58A.
Lime 59
Revised timetable on all days.
The lightly used Sunday evening service will no longer operate, with the last bus from City at 20:10 and from Arnold at 19:41.
Sky Blue 60
Revised timetable on all days.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Sky Blue 61
Revised timetable on all days.
The Saturday morning timetable will operate less frequently before 09:00 to better reflect the number of people using the service at this time.
This service is part-funded by EMCCA.
Yellow 68, 69
Revised timetable on all days.
Between Bulwell and Snape Wood, buses will show the same service number in both directions.
Buses serving Hempshill Vale and Low Wood Road will show Yellow 68. Buses serving Hoewood Road and Aldi will show Yellow 69.
Blenheim Industrial Estate will only be served by a small number of early morning journeys.
On Mondays to Fridays, Low Wood Road won’t be served in the late afternoon (approx. 16:00 – 18:00) towards the City. This is to avoid the delays and uncertainty caused by congestion, where we have had to divert to keep buses moving. These journeys will be numbered 68A.
Yellow 70, 71
Revised timetable on all days.
Yellow 71 is re-routed between Bulwell Bus Station and Morrisons to serve Norwich Gardens instead of Hucknall Lane.
The combined frequency between City and Bulwell will be every 30 minutes for most of the day, generally alternating between serving Bagnall Road or Nuthall Road.
Turquoise 77, 77C
Revised timetable on all days.
Turquoise 78
Revised timetable on all days.
The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency will now be every 30 minutes, to better reflect the number of people using the service.
Turquoise 79, 79A
Revised timetable on all days.
The frequency of buses between City, Nuthall Road, Bulwell and Rise Park will be increased to every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes. Buses will continue through to Arnold every 30 minutes, with all buses following the Turquoise 79 route serving Warren Hill.
There will be fewer evening buses through to Arnold to better reflect the number of people using the service in the evening.
Turquoise 79A will no longer run, but the link between Rise Park and Old Farm Road and Ridgeway will be maintained by changes to Purple 88. Purple 88 will run every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes (compared to hourly on the 79A) and will provide a new Sunday link every hour.
Purple 87
Revised timetable on all days.
The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency will now be every 30 minutes, to better reflect the number of people using the service.
Purple 88
Revised timetable on all days.
Purple 88 will no longer operate as a loop around Top Valley and Warren Hill. All buses will terminate at Rise Park, using Ridgeway and Old Farm Road in both directions. Warren Hill will now be served by Purple 89A.
The Monday to Saturday daytime frequency will now be every 30 minutes, to better reflect the number of people using the service.
Purple 89, 89A
Revised timetable on all days.
Between the Duke of St Alban’s and Rise Park, alternate journeys will generally operate along Bewcastle Road and Muirfield Road, rather than along Bestwood Park Drive.
These journeys will be numbered 89A and will continue to provide a 20 minute Monday to Saturday daytime service and hourly evening and Sunday service for Warren Hill to Sherwood and the City Centre.
Pathfinder 90
Minor changes to times on all days between Nottingham and Coneygrey Spinney.
The early morning 90X journey to Newark will operate as a 90, departing Trent Bridge 5 minutes earlier.
On Mondays to Fridays, the 15:00 from Nottingham will run 20 minutes later, to better match the end of the Nottingham College day. The 16:25 from Fernwood to Farndon and 16:54 from Farndon to Newark are withdrawn. The 17:10 from Newark to Nottingham will start from Fernwood at 16:57, as per Saturdays.
Schools A2
There are no changes to the A2.
This service is funded by EMCCA.
