PASSENGERS have been warned they face reduced services by Oxfordshire’s two main bus companies as a result of coronavirus.
Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach in Oxfordshire have both announced that there will be reduced activity on numerous routes in the current crisis.
Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel and Stagecoach will all temporarily reduce services as part of its response to the fast-moving Covid-19 pandemic.
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OBC managing director Phil Southall said: “Due to a significant, sudden and unsustainable drop in passenger numbers we are reviewing all services and will introduce changes designed to match supply to demand and to protect the long-term future of the business for everyone.”
The company is now analysing services and plans to adjust timetables on several routes to better match service provision to demand.
The review will seek to maintain services during peak hours to support people travelling to schools, hospitals, supermarkets and places of work but many services will move to an ‘enhanced Saturday or Sunday’ type service.
The review follows a significant drop in passenger numbers and will lead to a reduction in the need for drivers.
Bus company bosses said they were in ‘constructive talks’ with union representatives regarding pay, leave and sick pay.
As part of the review, there has already been a reduction in the number of vehicles in operation on the PickMeUp service.
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Mr Southall added: “We are all living through an unprecedented crisis and as a group of companies we are focused on the welfare of our colleagues and customers, providing a relevant service, and preserving the future of the business.
“We have communicated high-level hygiene regimes to our colleagues and continue to provide up to date health information.”
The industry, which transports more people than all other forms of public transport combined, is determined to maintain a network throughout the unprecedented decline in bus and coach use, partly to ensure that essential workers such as NHS staff, teachers and those in the food supply chain are able to get to work.
Public Health England has advised that public transport is the same as any other public space, and the current Government advice is that people are able to continue to use public transport if required.
Mr Southall said changes to individual services would be announced in the near future.
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Stagecoach in Oxfordshire said a reduced timetable would be introduced from Monday.
The majority of its timetables will be running to a Sunday timetable with additional early morning journeys.
Chris Coleman, managing director at Stagecoach in Oxfordshire, said: “Following the latest government advice, we have reviewed our timetables and made temporary changes which reflect the reduced level of travel.”
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He added that a full timetable with no reductions will continue to run on the 700, 800, 900, S7 and 14/14a to maintain frequent connections to the hospitals.
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