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| A Stagecoach bus on service 1: but is it running today? |
Now, with the driver shortage and staff sickness continuing, the company is taking a different approach. and has announced a list of journeys that will not be operated "until further notice". Although this will inconvenience the passengers that use those particular journeys regularly, it does at least introduce a degree of certainty into what will and will not be running.
The services selected for cuts are those on which buses are usually the most frequent or those where most parts of the route have alternative services available. And for those who believe that the company prioritises the needs of students above everyone else, it is notable that the vast majority of cancelled journeys run to or from the University.
Here is the full list of "temporarily" cancelled journeys:
SERVICE 1
SERVICE 1 UNIVERSITY TO HEYSHAM TOWERS 14:28
SERVICE 1 UNIVERSITY TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 09:08
SERVICE 1 LANCASTER BUS STATION TO HEYSHAM 06:52, 11:53, 18:13
SERVICE 1 HEYSHAM TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 06:08
SERVICE 1 HEYSHAM TO UNIVERSITY 12:40, 15:40, 19:00
SERVICE 1A
SERVICE 1A UNIVERSITY TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 13:58, 16:58, 17:30
SERVICE 1A UNIVERSITY TO HEYSHAM TOWERS 19:40
SERVICE 1A LANCASTER TO HEYSHAM TOWERS 16:43
SERVICE 1A LANCASTER BUS STATION TO UNIVERSITY 13:57, 19:07
SERVICE 1A HEYSHAM TOWERS TO UNIVERSITY 06:50, 07:35
SERVICE 1A HEYSHAM TOWERS TO LANCASTER 20:35
SERVICE 2X
SERVICE 2X LANCASTER TO MORECAMBE 14:05
SERVICE 2X MORECAMBE TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 11:58
SERVICE 4
SERVICE 4 LANCASTER RAILWAY STATION TO UNIVERSITY 09:45
SERVICE 4 LANCASTER RAILWAY STATION TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 10:45
SERVICE 4 UNIVERSITY TO LANCASTER RAILWAY STATION 09:06, 10:24
SERVICE 4 LANCASTER BUS STATION TO UNIVERSITY 08:24
SERVICE 40
SERVICE 40 LANCASTER BUS STATION TO PRESTON 10:30
SERVICE 40 PRESTON TO LANCASTER BUS STATION 12:05
SERVICE 100
SERVICE 100 MORECAMBE TO UNIVERSITY 14:42
SERVICE 100 LANCASTER BUS STATION TO SOUTH WEST CAMPUS 10:18
SERVICE 100 SOUTH WEST CAMPUS TO MORECAMBE 10:53
SERVICE 100 SOUTH WEST CAMPUS TO LANCASTER 15:53
We now understand that the journeys selected are part of crew duties that do not include school runs or peak-hour journeys on infrequent services. Nevertheless, the reductions are substantial. The 18 cancelled journeys on the 1/1A represent 9% of the total Monday to Friday service on those routes as do the 5 out of 50 journeys cut from service 4, which include the usually busy 08.24 from the Railway Station to the University.
The reduction on the 2X / 100 cycle is smaller, representing 4.2% of those usually operated.
Although reducing the uncertainty of whether any particular bus will turn up, the company warns that further cancellations may still be necessary on a day-to-day basis, depending on the staff position. Conversley, it may be possible to reinstate some trips if the staff position improves.
Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs is currently advertising jobs for qualified bus drivers at Morecambe depot at £11.96 per hour and trainee drivers at £9.98ph rising to £11.07 when qualified and then to the full driving rates of £11.55 (Minibus) and £11.96 (big bus) after six months. Click here for more details.
