BUS campaigner Sue Dubois says it looks like 2017 should be better for bus users in the Forest despite a sharp drop in the number of passenger journeys.
Stagecoach announced it will introduce six ‘newer’ buses on three popular routes as part of a fleet replacement plan, which is hoped will encourage more people to use its services.
Sue says the buses, which are currently in circulation across the county, will also be filtered into the services: Coleford via Cinderford to Gloucester (30 and 31) and Hereford via Ross to Gloucester (33).
She said: “I reported more bus breakdowns to Stagecoach between July and December than ever before, mostly on routes 23 and 24 (Lydbrook to Gloucester).
“I am pleased to say we have a positive result; it looks like 2017 should be better for bus users.
“The three oldest double-decker buses from the Forest network will be scrapped. Bus users will have seen a mixture of ‘gold’ buses and newer buses already on the 23 and 24 routes. Now Stagecoach is releasing a further six newer buses into its rural network, including routes 30, 31 and 33.”
Figures this year compared to last show the number of passenger journeys made across four routes in the Forest has dropped from 925,000 to 900,000. Just under 30 per cent of those journeys were made by concessionary cardholders.
Operations director at Stagecoach West, Rachel Geliamassi said: “We are keen to encourage bus use on our Forest routes and we will work in conjunction with Gloucestershire County Council to achieve this.
“There were 900,000 passenger journeys made in our 2016/2017 financial year, compared to 925,000 in the previous year – this equates to 68 fewer passengers each day, over a 365 day period.
“We will do everything possible to encourage bus use, which is why we haven’t increased our fares over the last 18 months. More bus use means fewer cars on the road and less congestion for all road users. That can only be a good thing.”
Sue added: “Each bus costs over £100,000. Please keep your feet on the ground and be nice to the bus.
“There is passenger growth elsewhere in the county but not here. Stagecoach continues to invest in the gold routes to Gloucester and Cheltenham, and has listened to the issues regarding single-decker buses being overcrowded after 9am and during student collections.
“The Cabinet at county council has put bus transport services on their agenda and will try to protect the budget, especially to keep the concessionary passes schemes.”
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Christmas timetable for Forest bus routes to Gloucester:
Saturday, December 24: Normal service with departing services finishing at 8pm
Christmas Day and Boxing Day: No service
Tuesday, December 27: Sunday service
Wednesday, December 28: Saturday service
Thursday, December 29: Saturday service
Friday, December 30: Saturday service
Saturday, December 31: Normal service with departing services finishing at 8pm
Sunday, January 1: No service
Monday, January 2: Sunday Service
Tuesday, January 3: Normal service resumes