Stagecoach East bus timetable changes leave Histon Road residents angry
Timetable changes have left residents worried and angry after learning that a bus service will only stop once in Histon Road.
Stagecoach East says the changes aim to enhance capacity, punctuality, reliability, and offer additional journeys across Cambridge, as well as St Ives and Fenstanton.
The changes, which are due to come into effect from Sunday, September 3, will affect Cambridge routes including Citi 2, Citi 5, 8a, 25, route F and busway A.
However, the amendments to the busway A service mean it will only stop at the Akeman Street bus stop on Histon Road.
It will not serve the stops at Brownlow Road and Carisbrooke Road on either the inbound or outbound service, which Stagecoach says will “shorten journey times”.
Histon Road Area Residents’ Association chair Lilian Rundblad told the Cambridge Independent: “It is too long for many of the elderly residents to walk to Akeman Street to be able to get to appointments at Addenbrooke’s and for those who work in Addenbrooke’s.
“[There are] problems also for the cost for the schoolchildren to go to school at Long Road and the sixth form.”
The announcement comes less than two years after a £10.6million improvement scheme to add a dedicated bus lane was completed. The scheme also included floating bus stops, widened existing cycle lanes and the addition of new ones to encourage more people to walk, cycle or take the bus in a bid to cut congestion and improve air quality.
Darren Roe, managing director of Stagecoach East, said: “At Stagecoach East, it is hugely important to us that we offer our customers the outstanding levels of service that they have come to expect. We are at the very heart of our communities, and we take our responsibilities seriously to keep them connected. Part of that ambition means making occasional changes to the timetable to improve services over the long term.
“With these improvements, we aim to enhance capacity, punctuality, reliability, and convenience on several core routes to provide efficient public transport options that meet current travel needs, supported by current passenger data. We’re excited to bring these changes to our network and continue serving our local communities.”
The changes include:
Route F, Fenstanton-St Ives: Evening journeys will be introduced from St Ives bus station to Fenstanton at 18:25 and 18:40 Monday to Saturday, in addition to the current timetable.
Citi 2, Milton-Cambridge: Minor timetable changes will be made to improve reliability.
Route 8a, Orchard Park – Cambridge: Minor timetable changes will be made to improve reliability.
Route 25, Trumpington Park & Ride – Babraham Park & Ride: Minor timetable changes will be made to improve reliability.
Busway A, St Ives-Cambridge: Changes will be made to improve capacity on busway journeys. This service will no longer serve St Ives Morrisons in both directions, terminating at Marley Road Industrial Estate. The current short trips between Trumpington and Addenbrooke’s will run until 16:00 Monday to Friday giving a ten-minute frequency between the two sites. Additionally, there will be limited stops along Histon Road to shorten journey times, the service (inbound and outbound) will now only stop at the Akeman Street bus stop on Histon Road.
To see all the changes, visit bit.ly/3KFwFZ1
