Parents in Harpenden who put children on the school buses should check the numbers again. From 1 September, Red Eagle's Markyate to Harpenden service has a revised timetable and journeys from Markyate now run under a different number. The St George's School stop is no longer a request stop: it is served as a compulsory part of the timetable, one less thing for a nervous Year 7 to get wrong.
The Wheathampstead runs to Katherine Warrington School have also changed. One keeps its number with a revised timetable via Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St Helen's Church and Lower Luton Road; the other two carry new numbers and take in Conquerors Hill, Nurseries Road, Hill Dyke Road and The Hill first.
All three are school services open to the public. The question for the operator is whether the new numbers are on the buses and at the stops, not just on a county website.
- From 1 September 2026 the Markyate to Harpenden school service, run by Red Eagle Buses and open to the public, has a revised timetable, and journeys from Markyate are renumbered.
- The St George's School, Harpenden stop on that route is no longer a request stop and is served as a compulsory part of the timetable.
- The 866 Wheathampstead to Harpenden service for Katherine Warrington School has a revised timetable and runs via Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St Helen's Church and Lower Luton Road from 1 September.
- Two further Wheathampstead to Katherine Warrington School services have new route numbers and operate via Conquerors Hill, Nurseries Road, Hill Dyke Road, The Hill, Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St Helen's Church and Lower Luton Road.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 6 September 2026.
- www.intalink.org.uk/september-2026 (primary)
Claim by claim (4 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- From 1 September 2026 the Markyate to Harpenden school service, run by Red Eagle Buses and open to the public, has a revised timetable, and journeys from Markyate are renumbered. — primary, 2026-09-03“807 Markyate to Harpenden (School service open to the public)Red Eagle BusesRevised timetable and new service route number. Journeys from Markyate will be renumbered 806.”
- The St George's School, Harpenden stop on that route is no longer a request stop and is served as a compulsory part of the timetable. — primary, 2026-09-03“St George’s School, Harpenden stop is no longer a request stop, this will be served as a compulsory part of the timetable.From 01.09.26.”
- The 866 Wheathampstead to Harpenden service for Katherine Warrington School has a revised timetable and runs via Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St Helen's Church and Lower Luton Road from 1 September. — primary, 2026-09-03“866 Wheathampstead to Harpenden, Katherine Warrington School (School service open to the public)Red Eagle BusesRevised timetable. Service route will operate via Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St He”
- Two further Wheathampstead to Katherine Warrington School services have new route numbers and operate via Conquerors Hill, Nurseries Road, Hill Dyke Road, The Hill, Butterfield Road, Brewhouse Hill, St Helen's Church and Lower Luton Road. — primary, 2026-09-03“867/868 Wheathampstead to Harpenden, Katherine Warrington School (School service open to the public)Red Eagle BusesNew service route numbers. New service numbers will operate via Conquerors Hill, Nurs”
- Judgement: Making the St George's stop compulsory removes a step that pupils can get wrong.
- Judgement: Renumbering services in the first week of term risks confusion for children and the test is whether the new numbers appear on the buses and at the stops.
