Stagecoach has announced it will make changes to some bus routes in Cambridgeshire next month.
While services are being improved along some routes, there are others being withdrawn or cut back significantly.
The changes will be introduced on April 14, 2024.
For example, the F Service between Fenstanton and St Ives is being withdrawn because of low passenger numbers.
Stagecoach says alternative travel options are still available for this route.
Service 9 which operates between Littleport and Cambridge and stops at Little Downham and Stretham will be cut significantly.
The route’s 10 services that operate hourly each way from around 6am Monday-Saturday will be reduced to just three.
Stagecoach says “Service 9 is not currently covering the cost of service provision” and the “difficult decision” was made to reduce the timetable to the three most well used inbound and outbound journeys.
Meanwhile, services on Busway A between Cambridge and St Ives will increase and run every 15 minutes between Monday and Friday.
The inbound service from St Ives between Monday and Saturday will leave slightly earlier at 4:30am to get to Addenbrooke’s Hospital before the 6am shift start.
There will also be “slight amendments” to Service 5 between Cambridge and Longstanton to “improve reliability in each direction” and the route will be extended to offer more stops in Northstowe.
On the Service 6 Peterborough to Hampton route, all inbound trips from Hampton will leave 10 minutes earlier.
Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said: “Our primary objective, when we are planning our routes, is to use our resources to allow our customers to travel where they actually want to travel.
“As such, we understand the need of NHS staff to get to work early in the morning to meet their shifts and we have added additional services on the Busway to meet that need.”
He added: “We constantly monitor the passenger numbers of all our routes and this analysis, for example, shows that the Service 9 has not returned to anything like its pre-Covid customer numbers.
“In these cases, we work closely with the [Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority], sharing any service changes well in advance, along with the potential impact on local communities.
“Where service reductions are proposed, we contact local elected representatives to discuss the proposals in detail and listen to any concerns.
He explained the changes to Service 9 gives it “the best chance to be sustainable into the future and will mean that customers will still be able to access local shops and services”.
The changes have received a mixed response from Dr Nik Johnson, the Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
He said: “While we welcome Stagecoach’s proposal to improve the Service 5 route and Busway A, it is very disappointing that the F service between Fenstanton and St Ives is being earmarked for withdrawal and the Route 9 between Littleport and Cambridge is planned for significant cut backs.
“Having a reliable and regular bus service across the region is one of our top priorities and we are investing a great deal into improving the network including investing in new routes, enhancing others and introducing a £1 fare for under 25s.
“We are in discussion with Stagecoach, relaying the concerns of residents and elected politicians, and identifying ways in which impact to residents can be mitigated.”
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