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Changes to rural bus services - HAVE YOUR SAY
RURAL bus services are set to be change in a move that will ‘ensure efficiency’ according to council chiefs.
The changes will come into play from Monday, July 23.
Due to a retendering of contracts for Bedford Borough’s rural transport routes the council has spoken to passengers and bus opperators to try and make sure that services run smoother.
Councillor Charles Royden, portfolio holder for the environment and transport, said: “At a time when many other local authorities are drastically reducing their support for rural transport, Bedford Borough Council is continuing to subsidise routes across the borough. We know rural services are a vital link for many local residents across our rural communities.”
He added: “The changes to a number of services are being introduced following discussions with bus operators, users and passenger groups and will help to ensure our rural services are as efficient as possible while continuing to provide a vital link for those who rely on these services.
“We will continue to monitor all services and have already planned further meetings with rural communities to ensure bus services meet the needs of the communities they serve.”
What will the changes mean to you?
Service 22 - The BB1 service will be renumbered as 22. The timetable is unchanged except that on Saturdays, an additional journey has been provided which will serve Knotting, Melchbourne and Yelden
Service 25 - No change
Service 26 – The 15.55pm Saturday and school holiday only service will now start at Sharnbrook as it does on a school day.
Service will now additionally serve Knotting/Melchbourne and Yelden with one additional single and one additional return journey Monday to Friday. An additional stop for Souldrop has been introduced in the afternoon.
Service 27 - The 17.25pm from Bedford (currently runs only Monday to Friday) has been removed. As Cedar Coaches provide a service at 17.30pm which serves all villages on route except Willington Loop and Great Barford. Willington Crossroads has two journeys per hour on service 73. Great Barford has two journeys per hour on service X5.
Service 28 - Following discussion with passengers, the 17:45 Journey is re-scheduled to 17:39.
Service 29 – Will now run Thursdays only. Leaving Pavenham at 0840am and arriving St Neots at 09:40am. The number of passengers travelling on the service was very low with an average of less than three passengers per day, except on Thursdays which is market day in St Neots. Prior to August 2012, the communities served by the 29 either had no direct service to St Neots or only a single journey once a week on Thursdays.
Service 30 - Now covered by new service 22 on Saturdays and service 26 on weekdays
Service BB1 - BB1 will be re-name service 22 - Timetable will remain the same as present except that on a Saturday the service will now extend to start at Yelden serving Melchbourne and Knotting allowing the residents just over four hours in Bedford.
Service 30- Monday to Friday service will be amalgamated into service 26 which will now serve Knotting, Melchbourne and Yelden. The service will serve the villages daily Monday to Friday and allow passengers two hours in Rushden. On a Saturday, the service will be provided by new service 22
Service 44 - Two additional early morning journeys and two additional evening journeys. These additional journeys will also serve the rail station. These commuter journeys are being funded by S106 funding from Wixams.
We want to know your views on the changes to rural bus routes. Send an email to hayley.okeeffe@jpress.co.uk or call the newsdesk on 01234 409100
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Weather for Bedford
Monday 20 May 2013
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Temperature: 10 C to 19 C
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