All the Stagecoach East bus route changes in Cambridgeshire designed to help returning students and workers
The Citi 6 bus in Cambridge will double in frequency and extra buses will be laid on to village colleges in Comberton, Sawston and Swavesey as part of a raft of changes announced by Stagecoach East.
The region’s largest bus operator will also run a new 905 service from Bedford to Cambridge, running via Cambourne, as reported , and has updated its guided busway service.
Other key changes include increasing frequency in time for the reopening of schools, simplifying the busway network and introducing several new services to connect towns and villages with the main busway corridor.
The updated services will be launched from Sunday August 30. They are designed to help students and workers returning after the summer holidays, while providing the capacity needed to help passengers stay safe amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Citi 6 will revert to running every 30 minutes, instead of every 60, as part of the changes, while the 16A will revert back to its original route on Saturdays, coming out of Cambridge via Cherry Hinton Road, rather than via Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Two extra peak flow journeys will be run on the 607 to increase the number of buses to Sawston Village College, and some Citi 5 journeys will divert to Swavesey Village College on school days.
Some 18 service journeys, meanwhile, will divert into Comberton Village College on school days.
Stagecoach East has renamed some of its routes to simplify them. All school journeys across the Eastern network will be part of the 600 series of routes, meaning journeys previously operated on route 7 for school journeys will be renumbered as a new 607 service and routes 94 and 206 to Impington Village College will be renumbered 604 and 606 respectively.
On the busway, the A service will operate between St Ives and Trumpington Park & Ride via Milton Road towards Cambridge and via Histon Road/Orchard Park towards St Ives, no longer stopping on Milton Road but instead stopping on Histon Road.
And the Busway B service will operate between Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Cambridge City Centre via RAF Wyton and Cambridge North Station/Milton Road in both directions, serving all stops on Milton Road.
Michelle Hargreaves, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “We are working hard to enhance our bus networks and provide passengers with a convenient, reliable and safe service as the demand for public transport increases.
“As many people prepare to return to work and school, we are pleased to introduce new routes and additional services to provide sufficient capacity across our network. We are also making sure those living in outer towns and villages have access to vital connections to the main busway corridor.
“We’ve been working hard with our partners including local councils on this carefully planned approach. Our drivers and staff are dedicated to upholding rigorous cleaning regimes and social distancing measures on board to ensure our services are meeting the latest government advice and our passengers are rest assured that bus traveling is a safe and secure means of transport.”
Further changes have been announced for Peterborough and Bedfordshire.
Meanwhile, Whippet has also introduced a new bus service between Cambourne and Cambridge , as reported.
Full list of Stagecoach East changes across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Bedfordshire
Cambridge services
● The Citi 6 will revert to operating every 30 minutes, rather than 60 minutes.
● The route 16A will revert back to its original route on Saturdays, coming out of Cambridge via Cherry Hinton Road, rather than via Addenbrookes.
● The route 13 corridor will receive 2 extra peak flow journeys to increase the number of buses to Sawston Village College.
● Certain journeys on the Citi 5 will divert into Swavesey Village College on school days.
● Certain journeys on the 18 service will divert into Comberton Village College on school days.
● For simplification, some routes have been renamed so that all school journeys across the Eastern network are part of the 600 series of routes: journeys previously operated on route 7 for the school journeys will be renumbered as a new 607 service and routes 94 and 206 to Impington Village College will be renumbered 604 and 606 respectively.
X5 and new 905 service
● In conjunction with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, the old X5 route will be split into two parts, with the old X5 service operating one part and a new 905 service operating the other.
● The X5 will operate as normal between Oxford and Bedford and a new 905 service will be introduced between Bedford and Cambridge. Passengers wishing to travel through to Cambridge will need to change to the 905 service at Bedford Bus Station.
● Coaches will operate on the X5 service and double deck buses will operate on the new 905 service.
● The new 905 service will serve Bedford Bus station, Roxton, Eaton Socon, St Neots, Cambourne, Cambridge Regional College and Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge city centre.
Busway services
● The Busway A service will operate between St Ives and Trumpington Park and Ride via Milton Road towards Cambridge and via Histon Road/Orchard Park towards St Ives, no longer stopping on Milton Road but instead stopping on Histon Road.
● The Busway B service will operate between Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Cambridge City Centre via RAF Wyton and Cambridge North Station/Milton Road in both directions and will serve all stops on Milton Road.
Peterborough services
● The 38 service will be renumbered as the 608 route so that all school journeys across Cambridgeshire become part of the 600 series.
● The 608 will operate two journeys in each direction between Eye and Arthur Mellows College in order to increase capacity for students.
Bedford services
● There will be one journey to and from Sharnbrook Academy each day Monday-Friday on the 828 and 830 services.
● Some of the route 6 journeys have been duplicated to introduce separate, dedicated school buses to and from St Thomas More Upper School.
● There will be one 53a journey to Wootton Upper School in each direction Monday-Friday.
New connecting services
● The V1 service will be operating between Ramsey and St Ives to replace journeys which have been withdrawn from the Busway A route.
● The V2 service will be operating between Chatteris and St Ives to replace journeys which have been withdrawn from the Busway A route.
● The V3 service will be operating between Somersham and St Ives to replace journeys which have been withdrawn from the Busway A route.
● The V4 service will be operating between Boxworth/Fenstanton and St Ives to replace journeys which have been withdrawn from the Busway A route.
● The V5 service will be operating between Godmanchester and Hinchingbrooke Hospital to replace journeys which have been withdrawn from the Busway B route.
● The 904 service will replace the Busway B journeys between Peterborough and Huntingdon and Hartford Marina running between St Ives and Peterborough.
● The 915 service will replace the Busway A journeys between Royston and Cambridge running between Drummer Street and Royston.
● Additional hourly services on the route 66 will be added between Brampton and Huntingdon to replace withdrawn B journeys.
For more information on the changes, visit stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/August-30th-service-changes.
For latest timetables, route maps and service updates, got to stagecoachbus.com or download the app.
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