Anger at Newark and Southwell bus service cuts
Forward | 17.01.2006 01:07 | Social Struggles
A bus company has cut some services from Newark and Southwell to Nottingham and back because it says they are not used enough. Nottingham City Transport cut its Pathfinder services last week.
Two morning services, which left Newark at 5.58am and 6.28am to Nottingham have been cut, along with four evening services returning to Newark at 4.35pm, 7.05pm, 8.25pm and 8.30pm. Two morning services at 5.55am and 6.55am from Southwell to Nottingham have been cut, along with two evening services back to the town at 5pm and 10pm.
Mrs Nicola Tidy, the bus company’s marketing and communications director, said: “The services were cancelled because they were not commercially viable,” she said. “The buses were carrying only a handful of passengers so we have cancelled a few journeys and slightly changed the times for others. “I don’t think this will cause a problem for many people travelling.” The bus company’s commercial manager, Mr Barrie Burch, said: “These further tweaks will ensure that Pathfinder remains commercially sound and preserve the service for residents, with minimal disruption.”
At the same time fares have been increased. A child’s return ticket from Southwell to Nottingham, which cost £2 until last month, now costs £2.80. An adult return ticket now costs £4.20.
Mr Simon Hodgson (33) of London Road, Newark, a business analyst for Siemens Energy Services in Nottingham, said the cuts meant that he would no longer arrive at work on time for 8am. He said he used to catch the 6.28am bus to Nottingham, which was regularly filled with passengers. He said: “Pathfinder cannot say the services are lightly used as the buses were packed everyday. “Now that these services have been cancelled I will have to get the bus at 6.57am, which will be packed. “In the future I can envisage some people having to stand up on the bus all the way to Nottingham.”
Mr Hodgson said that his return fare to Nottingham, which cost £3.20 will now cost £3.50. Mr Ian Harrison (44) of Crafts Way, Southwell, has two teenage daughters who he encourages to catch the bus. Mr Harrison said he was surprised to discover that the child’s return tickets between Southwell and Nottingham had gone up so much.
“We are trying to encourage our children to be independent, and travelling on the bus is part of this. By increasing the prices it will start to get to the stage when it is cheaper to drive our children to Nottingham. “I used to catch the bus to work in Nottingham, but I have stopped using the service because it got so bad.”
Mrs Nicola Tidy, the bus company’s marketing and communications director, said: “The services were cancelled because they were not commercially viable,” she said. “The buses were carrying only a handful of passengers so we have cancelled a few journeys and slightly changed the times for others. “I don’t think this will cause a problem for many people travelling.” The bus company’s commercial manager, Mr Barrie Burch, said: “These further tweaks will ensure that Pathfinder remains commercially sound and preserve the service for residents, with minimal disruption.”
At the same time fares have been increased. A child’s return ticket from Southwell to Nottingham, which cost £2 until last month, now costs £2.80. An adult return ticket now costs £4.20.
Mr Simon Hodgson (33) of London Road, Newark, a business analyst for Siemens Energy Services in Nottingham, said the cuts meant that he would no longer arrive at work on time for 8am. He said he used to catch the 6.28am bus to Nottingham, which was regularly filled with passengers. He said: “Pathfinder cannot say the services are lightly used as the buses were packed everyday. “Now that these services have been cancelled I will have to get the bus at 6.57am, which will be packed. “In the future I can envisage some people having to stand up on the bus all the way to Nottingham.”
Mr Hodgson said that his return fare to Nottingham, which cost £3.20 will now cost £3.50. Mr Ian Harrison (44) of Crafts Way, Southwell, has two teenage daughters who he encourages to catch the bus. Mr Harrison said he was surprised to discover that the child’s return tickets between Southwell and Nottingham had gone up so much.
“We are trying to encourage our children to be independent, and travelling on the bus is part of this. By increasing the prices it will start to get to the stage when it is cheaper to drive our children to Nottingham. “I used to catch the bus to work in Nottingham, but I have stopped using the service because it got so bad.”
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