Operator Stagecoach East to scrap bus routes to ‘keep network viable’

A bus operator will scrap some routes and change others to “keep the network viable” after the National Insurance rise increased its annual costs by £1m.

Stagecoach East said the services impacted by the changes were already struggling to cover their costs.

The timetabled part of the No 9 bus route between Littleport and Cambridge service will be passed back to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for it to find a new operator.

Last year, the Combined Authority agreed to subsidise a second No 9 bus route between Littleport and Cambridge, operated by A2B, following changes by Stagecoach.

This followed two petitions launched after Stagecoach announced cutbacks to the route, which also goes via Ely and Waterbeach.

There will also be a new timetable for route 8A (Orchard Park-Cambridge City Centre), which will be “tailored to meet current passenger demand”.

Stagecoach said congestion has been an inhibiting factor in further passenger growth on this route.

Also among the changes is the withdrawal of three school routes: the 604 (Milton-Impington), the 606 (Impington-Cambridge) and 607 (Trumpington-Sawston).

The operator will also amalgamate the No 31 (Ramsey-Peterborough) and No 33 (March-Peterborough) routes.

The changes come into effect from Sunday, 31 August.

A statement from Stagecoach said: “We have been in discussion with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority about the updates since January, and hope that discussions can continue on how the routes can be best served.”

A Combined Authority spokesperson said: “Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Paul Bristow is keen to meet with Stagecoach East at the earliest opportunity to discuss their proposed service changes and to ensure the needs of local communities are heard.

“The Combined Authority is committed to working constructively with Stagecoach East on these services to explore options that will help ensure the region’s bus network remains sustainable and focused on passengers.”