Uno bus route SHTL
Encyclopedia
Uno bus route SHTL is a commercially operated service by Uno
serving both campuses of the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield
and the Park and Ride. In the evenings and at weekends it operates between the two campuses, also serving Salisbury Village and Parkhouse Bus Station. Outside of University term times, it only runs every 12 minutes between the 2 campuses during the day with no evening service. It is an important link between the two campuses as they share resources and it is a quick link between the different parts of the university, being mentioned in the Times, Guardian and Independent, with the latter claiming the shuttle bus service is one of the many improvements in the university so it can qualify as a "Most Improved New University". It is also promoted heavily by people organising events within the University and its use is encouraged to new students by current and former students.
On weekdays during term time, throughout the day the service operates every 6 minutes, but between approximately 8-10am and 3-5pm it operates every 5 minutes. It runs from the Park and Ride on South Way, via College Lane campus, to the de Havilland campus.
On Monday-Friday evenings during term time it runs between he two campuses, also serving Salisbury Village and Parkhouse Bus Station, every 15 minutes, until 3:30am.
On Saturdays during term time it runs as per the evening route, starting at 8am and finishing at around 3:30am on Sunday morning.
On Sundays during term time it runs as on Saturday from 10:00 to 1:30am, but with two hour-long breaks with no service between 1:30 and 2:30pm and between 9:30 and 10:30pm.
Outside of term times, the route operates every 12 minutes, only between the two campuses between around 8am and 6pm.
For most users of the route, they do not need to pay as the service is free for anyone with a University of Hertfordshire ID card, with a £2 all-day pass being available for those who do not have one. Intalink Explorer tickets are also accepted, which provide unlimited travel on most buses (excluding those contracted to Transport for London, coaches and school services) in and around Hertfordshire.
Before September 2009, there was not a specific night service, with the SHTL bus running from around 7am to 11pm, without there being any extension to Salisbury Village or the Parkhouse bus station. This extension has been introduced due to the opening of the Forum, a music and entertainment venue, at College Lane campus. The route was also numbered 690 instead of SHTL.
Normally, the specially designed double-door Mercedes Citaro buses are used for this service, but at peak times double decker buses are sometimes used. Buses with digital blinds are mostly used, due to the route number not being numerical and therefore being impossible to display on the other buses. However, if these buses are used the old route number of 690 is usually used.
Even when digital blinds are used, sometimes drivers opt to show a display which says simply "park & ride shuttle", omitting any use of the SHTL route number at all.
Uno (bus company)
Uno is a bus service operated by the University of Hertfordshire, England, serving members of the general public, and also its own students and staff...
serving both campuses of the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
Hatfield is a town and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England in the borough of Welwyn Hatfield. It has a population of 29,616, and is of Saxon origin. Hatfield House, the home of the Marquess of Salisbury, is the nucleus of the old town...
and the Park and Ride. In the evenings and at weekends it operates between the two campuses, also serving Salisbury Village and Parkhouse Bus Station. Outside of University term times, it only runs every 12 minutes between the 2 campuses during the day with no evening service. It is an important link between the two campuses as they share resources and it is a quick link between the different parts of the university, being mentioned in the Times, Guardian and Independent, with the latter claiming the shuttle bus service is one of the many improvements in the university so it can qualify as a "Most Improved New University". It is also promoted heavily by people organising events within the University and its use is encouraged to new students by current and former students.
Current operation
Currently, and since 2009, the route operates as following:On weekdays during term time, throughout the day the service operates every 6 minutes, but between approximately 8-10am and 3-5pm it operates every 5 minutes. It runs from the Park and Ride on South Way, via College Lane campus, to the de Havilland campus.
On Monday-Friday evenings during term time it runs between he two campuses, also serving Salisbury Village and Parkhouse Bus Station, every 15 minutes, until 3:30am.
On Saturdays during term time it runs as per the evening route, starting at 8am and finishing at around 3:30am on Sunday morning.
On Sundays during term time it runs as on Saturday from 10:00 to 1:30am, but with two hour-long breaks with no service between 1:30 and 2:30pm and between 9:30 and 10:30pm.
Outside of term times, the route operates every 12 minutes, only between the two campuses between around 8am and 6pm.
For most users of the route, they do not need to pay as the service is free for anyone with a University of Hertfordshire ID card, with a £2 all-day pass being available for those who do not have one. Intalink Explorer tickets are also accepted, which provide unlimited travel on most buses (excluding those contracted to Transport for London, coaches and school services) in and around Hertfordshire.
History
Before January 2010, all services used to serve Stop K on the east side of the de Havilland campus. This stop was a temporary stop and is unmarked, despite having been used for a long time. This is because stops on the west side of the campus have been in development. Now the SHTL service uses one of those stops (R) during the daytime but during the evenings, due to routing issues, Stop K is still used.Before September 2009, there was not a specific night service, with the SHTL bus running from around 7am to 11pm, without there being any extension to Salisbury Village or the Parkhouse bus station. This extension has been introduced due to the opening of the Forum, a music and entertainment venue, at College Lane campus. The route was also numbered 690 instead of SHTL.
Vehicles
The service originally used Wright Cadet vehicles for a short period but in late 2006 purpose-built double-door Mercedes Citaro vehicles were introduced with special route branding for the shuttle service. These are used most of the time, despite sometimes straying onto other services such as the 603 and being used on other routes at the weekend, and are effective at transporting large numbers of passengers due to a reduced seating capacity. This makes room for more people to stand, which is not a problem as the journeys are at the most 12 minutes (peak time from de Havilland to the Park & Ride).Normally, the specially designed double-door Mercedes Citaro buses are used for this service, but at peak times double decker buses are sometimes used. Buses with digital blinds are mostly used, due to the route number not being numerical and therefore being impossible to display on the other buses. However, if these buses are used the old route number of 690 is usually used.
Even when digital blinds are used, sometimes drivers opt to show a display which says simply "park & ride shuttle", omitting any use of the SHTL route number at all.