Changes to Giro bus routes in Albufeira

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   They've done it again! Announced yesterday to come into effect today, 11th February, changes to the timetable for route 5, Bus Station - Ferreiras - Railway Station - Mosqueira - Bus Station. Not minor changes either. All weekend times have been moved by 30 minutes. Seems all complaints about these abrupt changes are being ignored by both the town council and the bus company.

At least what this does do is that over the weekend and on holidays the buses 5 and 11 will leave from the bus station to the reailway station at 0 and 30 minutes past each hour respectively, rather than both at the same time.

A new timetable was also announced for route 9, which goes past my place. I have yet to spot any differences between that and the old one.

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cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Changes to Giro bus routes in Albufeira Posted: 11/February/2023 at 08:53
	They've done it again! Announced yesterday to come into effect today, 11th February, changes to the timetable for route 5, Bus Station - Ferreiras - Railway Station - Mosqueira - Bus Station. Not minor changes either. All weekend times have been moved by 30 minutes. Seems all complaints about these abrupt changes are being ignored by both the town council and the bus company. At least what this does do is that over the weekend and on holidays the buses 5 and 11 will leave from the bus station to the reailway station at 0 and 30 minutes past each hour respectively, rather than both at the same time. A new timetable was also announced for route 9, which goes past my place. I have yet to spot any differences between that and the old one.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

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cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02/February/2023 at 08:25
	Two sets of routes were combined to make circular routes, one of which is actually quite reasonable and useful as it officially provides a direct bus service for the first time ever between São Rafael, Galé, Salgados, Vale de Parra and the Algarve Shopping mall near Guia. Many other changes were minor but announcing changes less than 24 hours notice is ridiculous. Route 7 now runs in a circle Albufeira Bus Station - Algarve Shopping - Guia - Vale de Parra - Salgados - Galé - São Rafael - Marina - Albufeira with route 8 going in the opposite direction. That will make things easier for those in Guia to get to the beach and those in Galé etc to go to Algarve Shopping. Route 5 and 11 are similarly combined to run as circular routes between Albufeira, Ferreiras and the railway station. Number 11 will take people from the station and Ferreiras down into the old town. Route 6 around Açoteais is being badly affected by a long term road closure for drainage works. Buses are often 15 - 20 minutes behind time according to the GPS trackers. Vamus has not seen fit to issue a temporary timetable to take account of this. And there is still not a shred of information at any bus stop or on the buses, not even a clue as to where to look for it. Do they wonder why the buses are running almost empty?
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01/February/2023 at 10:28
	Announced yesterday afternoon, ALL the Giro bus times have been changed starting from today. I will be updating as fast as I can.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25/January/2023 at 09:06
	They've done it again! Yesterday an announcement appeared on the official website with minor changes to Giro 3 to come into effect - last Friday!
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 11/January/2023 at 09:12
	Three weeks further on and there is still absolutely no information at all at the bus stops about where the buses go and what times they run, or even where to go for the information on line. The old maps have been left in situ. People are still stopping buses to ask if it's the right one for them. No-one in the town council seems to have any interest in providing information. Scathing comments are all over blogs etc. I found one which said, more or less, that it's all very well taking beautiful photos of electric buses to make the council look good... If you don't have a suitable mobile device and know where to look, you are clearly unworthy. At least there have been no further recent changes, but I am sure they will spring something on us.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 17/December/2022 at 08:35
	Yesterday two of the drivers were handing out flyers with a map and list of routes, but no timetables. If you don't have a suitable mobile device the times of the buses must remain a mystery to you. That meant a two minute discussion at many stops between driver and passengers wanting to know if the bus was going where they wanted and if not how to get to where they needed to be.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 16/December/2022 at 07:33
	I think I have the changes sorted but will not load my new versions until I have double checked everything. Should be done early this afternoon. Some changes are for the better, one not so good for me! These changes were announced on the website yesterday evening, in some cases a week AFTER they had happened. Routes 2 and 4 will take a curious diversion on weekdays only between the Worms and the Watches, going up the hill to Correeia and the area by Janelas do Mar then back down through Bellavista to the main road. At the weekend they stay on the main road. Route 3 will now run between Old Town and Marina in both directions Route 4 will go into the bus station before wandering off up the hill to Vale das Pedras Route 6 has an earlier first bus every morning to and from Olhos D'Água Route 7 re-timed five minutes later from Guia towards Algarve Shopping and Albufeira, allowing a decent connection with route 8 from Galé, Salgados and Vale de Parra. Route 9 extended via Branqueira, Vale Navio, Vale da Azinheira to Patã de Baixo, thus adding those last two places to the network and restoring a decent service at Branqueira. Bad news is that there will now be only one bus an hour along the road through Páteo, meaning I have to figure out a new way to get to the bowls club and must also time my shopping trips a bit more carefully. Route 10 was announced not run on Sundays, meaning no buses at all down the Rua do MFA into that area of the old town on a Sunday. At least, that's what yesterday's version of the timetable said. As of this morning, the previous timetable has been re-instated, wit h Sunday buses every half hour. According to the website, the timetable for route 9 is changing again from tomorrow but is nowhere to be seen! Very hard to keep up!
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15/December/2022 at 14:59
	Several of the routes and timetables have been changed as of TODAY with absolultely no announcement or warning! I shall do my best to catch up as and when I might get home!
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12/December/2022 at 16:53
	Caught this from the live tracker on their website at 1648 for the arrivals due at the stop at the Health Centre for buses going to the bus station. The timetable says every route 7 runs every 60 minutes. 7 Pedra Escorregar-Terminal Rodoviário 1 min Vehicle: 88-NO-69 7 Pedra Escorregar-Terminal Rodoviário 15 min Vehicle: 89-PT-60 7 Pedra Escorregar-Terminal Rodoviário 16 min Vehicle: 88-NO-70 If you don't have a pass a journey for two people in town is almost as expensive as uber, probably slower and not much more so than a normal taxi. So those unfortunates without phones (and people like me who refuse to give money to faceless USA based megacorporations who pay their workers next to nothing) are paying through the nose to get around by bus. I predict the system will collapse and be overhauled within a month.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

Algarveaddick Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Top Contributors Joined: 27/December/2008 Location: Portugal Status: Offline Points: 5045	Post Options Post Reply Quote Algarveaddick Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 12/December/2022 at 11:49
	I expect changes will take place around December next year, because nobody will be held to account for the chaos, and the powers that be will insist everything is alright, despite the evidence of their own eyes (a bit like Brexit). The principal behind it is sound, but the execution up to Albufeira's usual standards. Get people out of cars and onto buses. Except making it almost as dear for two people to catch a bus to Seismarias as the cost of getting an UBER from door to door isn't the way to do it. The usual complete lack of information is no help either. Clowns.
	Go away Duchatalet

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10/December/2022 at 14:28
	Seems even the drivers don't know. I forgot to mention yesterday that the driver in the afternoon had a map in his hands to remind him where to go. This afternoon's driver did not and took a wrong turn at the Watches roundabout then completely forgot to go into the old town Avenida Liberdade before the Dolphins.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10/December/2022 at 08:50
	Complete chaos on the system yesterday. In the early morning, my bus was 'only' 8 minutes late when I got on, 11 minutes late when I got off across town. Later in the morning the buses were running 20 - 25 minutes behind schedule and not just on my route. One bus sailed by the stop where I waiting with 3 others, despite two of us signalling. Still no information at bus stops, so people still have to flag down the driver to ask where he or she is going. It's clearly not working and I expect changes in the not too distant future.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09/December/2022 at 07:44
	I don't know. I have a seniors pass so no personal experience. The information on the website does not state it explicitly one way or the other. The new two zone fare system does mean that you cannot use a 1 zone cash paid ticket to go say from Oura to Ferreiras, so that might be complicating things. If I want to go to Ferreiras or Guia on my pass, I have to pay an extra €1,50 for a two zone pass.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve

Bunnyrunner Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Regular Joined: 19/May/2021 Status: Offline Points: 125	Post Options Post Reply Quote Bunnyrunner Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08/December/2022 at 10:36
	Cubsur, can you still hop off one bus onto another one within the hour on the same ticket?
	"You wake up a winner only you can make yourself a loser"- Declan Murphy

cubsur Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 26/January/2006 Status: Offline Points: 25632	Post Options Post Reply Quote cubsur Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 08/December/2022 at 08:32
	Another small forward step is that some of the buses have been 'reprogrammed' so that they now show route number and destination. There is still no information whatsoever at the bus stops.
	Albufeira Resident www.algarvebus.info public transport information for the Algarve