Stagecoach has tightened its grip on Lancaster's bus network winning two of the four contracts put out to tender by Lancashire County Council. The company will be taking over the operation of services 33 (Morecambe - Bare Circular) and 51 (Carnforth - Silverdale) from local operator Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire on 29th March.
A total of four contracts were re-tendered and the affected services are:
Service 18 Lancaster - East Lancaster Circular via Williamson Park and Lancaster Farms
This service has been retained by Stagecoach and will continue on its current timetable with no changes. The new contract will run until 25th October 2025. The Sunday service is provided under a separate contract that runs until October 2023. The council has confirmed that this service now forms part of its core subsidised network and is no longer reliant on section 106 Developer Contributions.
Service 33 Morecambe - Bare Circular via Branksome
Operation of this service passes from Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire to Stagecoach. Frequency remains at every 40 minutes and buses continue to run at off-peak periods only. The terminus has been moved from Morecambe Bus Station to the Festival Market stop after the BUG pointed out to the council that this was what was happening in practice under the previous contract. Buses will continue to call at the bus station after leaving the Market stop. It is expected that Stagecoach Day Riders and other multi-journey tickets will be available on this service subject to agreement with the county council. The contract will run until 28 October 2023.Service 51 Carnforth - Silverdale
This service also changes hands from Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire to Stagecoach. No significant changes to the timetable are expected other than to ensure connections are made with trains at Silverdale station on appropriate journeys. It is expected that Stagecoach Day Riders and other multi-journey tickets will be available on this service subject to agreement with the county council. The contract runs until 25 October 2025
Service 89 Lancaster - Knott End on Sea Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire will continue to operate this service with only minor changes to the timetable until 25 October 2025
Other Services
The contracts for the operation of Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire's service 582 (Lancaster - Kirkby Lonsdale), which is part-funded by the council and for the operation of the 18.30hrs journey from Lancaster to Kirkby Lonsdale on Stagecoach's service 81 have both been extended until 25 October 2021.
Sunday services to Marsh, Vale, Ridge, East Lancaster and Kirkby Lonsdale will continue under existing contracts until October 2023 and the contract for Lancaster's Park & Ride service will be retendered later in the year once the council has decided what changes it wishes to make to the service.
The council has taken the opportunity on all new contracts to reinstate its requirement that buses used on subsidised services should be no more than 10 years old, which it is hoped will see some newer vehicles in use on local services.
All other bus services in the Lancaster District are operated commercially by either Stagecoach or Kirkby Lonsdale Coach Hire and are not affected by the re-tendering exercise.
