Changes to bus services 85, 86, 383, 17 and 443
Due to low passenger numbers, Essex County Council is to stop running bus services 85, 86, 383, and is making changes to the timetables for the 17 and 443, but will continue to pay for over 200 bus services across the county that commercial bus companies do not consider profitable enough to run.
A consultation on the future of these services was launched in May 2014.
County Councillor Eddie Johnson, deputy to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “It is good housekeeping to review our expenditure and to make changes to services not being used very much. The cost per passenger journey for these services was more than the £6 maximum we have set. We have decided to stop running the 85 and 86 services as passengers are able to use alternative services to makes their journeys in most cases. The 383 service is used by less than 10 people each afternoon who have alternative ways of getting to and from school. It makes sense to stop running it. We have put together a new timetable for the number 17 for a trial period to support villages not otherwise served by local transport. Local people must use it if they want it to continue beyond February 2015. By amalgamating the 443 with the Shopper Bus service SB13, the cost per passenger journey comes down below £6. It will continue to run on Tuesdays and Fridays.”
Services on bus routes 85 (Wednesday only Brightlingsea to Mistley) and 86 (Wednesday only Ainges Green to Colchester) are to stop running at the end of August.
Service 383, which provides a local afternoon journey from New Rickstones Academy, is to stop running at the end of August due to the very low number of people using it
The number 17 bus (Great Bardfield to Saffron Walden) is to change its route and timetable from the beginning of September for a six-month trial period between 31 August 2014 and 28 February 2015. Despite low passenger numbers, Community Link is to run the service between Little Sampford, Great Sampford, Radwinter, Wimbish and Saffron Walden connecting these villages that would otherwise not be served by local transport. The Service will still operate on Tuesdays and Fridays but will no longer serve Great Bardfield and Finchingfield - which will continue to be served by frequent daily routes to Chelmsford and Braintree.
The number 443 bus is to change its timetable from the beginning of September. It will continue to follow the current route but will only make one return journey - between Chrishall and Saffron Walden Tesco – on Tuesdays and Fridays.
FAQ
Why does the County Council ‘buy in’ some bus services and not others? The current Essex Road Passenger Transport Strategy (RPTS) sets out the minimum bus service levels for different locations. If a service is not commercially viable, the County Council will consider ‘buying in’ services that are not provided on a commercial basis – that is, contributing towards the cost of the service.
How many local bus services does ECC continue to buy? Just over 200 across the county that commercial bus companies do not consider profitable to run.
Why are a few bus services being stopped or changing timetable from 1st September 2014?
It is normal practice for the County Council to review services that have cost per passenger journey (CPPs) in excess of a specified maximum, set by the RPTS. At present the maximum CPP is £5, although this year ECC has decided to recommission all services with a cost per passenger under £6
Why is the maximum cost per passenger journey (CCP) £6 not £5 this year?
This year however ECC has decided to recommission all services with a cost per passenger under £6 whilst it consults and drafts a new Local Bus Strategy to replace the current RPTS
Which services are affected by the recent review? 85, 86, 383 – to be stopped as have cost per passenger journey (CPPs) over £6 17 – Community Link to run an amended service to villages not otherwise served by local transport on Tuesdays and Fridays. 443 – only one return journey on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Were consultations run? Yes – it was launched in May 2014
What’s happening to the 17 (Great Bardfield to Saffron Walden)? Community Link is to run the service between Little Sampford, Great Sampford, Radwinter, Wimbish and Saffron Walden, connecting villages not otherwise served by local transport. It will still operate on Tuesdays and Fridays but will no longer service Great Bardfield and Finchingfield – which are served frequently by daily routes to Chelmsford and Braintree.
What’s happening to the 483 (Chrishall to Saffron Walden Tesco)? It will continue to follow the current route but will only make one return journey on Tuesdays and Fridays.