Partial Reprieve for South Cumbria Services

Tim Farron MP and Fellow Campaigners 

Two bus services in south Cumbria, due to end on 16th November, have gained a partial reprieve.

Following the loss of associated school contract journeys to another operator, Stagecoach announced that both its service 530 (Kendal - Grange - Cartmel) and 552 (Kendal - Arnside) would be withdrawn at the end of October.

Following protests from local residents and parish councils, the local member of parliament, Tim Farron MP, intervened and gained agreement from the company to continue them for another three weeks to allow time to explore the possibility of replacement services.

Cumbria County Council has a dogmatic and short-sighted policy of refusing subsidy for public bus services that can't be run commercially and it was the Council that re-allocated the school contract in the full knowledge that doing so would lead to the end of the public services on the routes concerned. In the circumstances, finding a solution  was not going to be easy, but an announcement by Tim Farron and a local bus company has confirmed a partial reprieve to take effect from next Monday, 18th November.

Carnforth-based bus and coach operator, The Travellers Choice, has agreed to provide a replacement service on a reduced basis, presumably without subsidy. The two routes are combined into one and the whole service reduced  from five or six days a week to three.  The existing services can be seen from the following map:

Service 530  runs from Cartmel (bottom left) via Cark, Flookburgh and Allithwaite to Grange-over-Sands then continues via Lindale, Witherslack and Levens Village to Kendal.

The 552 starts at Arnside and runs via Milnthorpe, Hincaster, Sedgewick and Natland to Kendal and is the only bus linking the villages concerned (except Milnthorpe) to the town.

The new 552 will also start at Arnside and follow the existing route to Milnthorpe, but instead of the current route via Hincaster it will then run due north  via the 555 route (including, strangely, Heversham village) to Levens Bridge before diverting through Levens village, which will be the only part of the former 530 route to be served.  The service will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the timetable can be seen by following this link:  552 Arnside - Kendal

Hincaster, Sedgewick and Natland are left without a bus service but residents of Cartmel, Flookburgh and Alithwaite can still reach Grange on Travellers Choice 531 and 532 services, from where connections to Kendal are available.The timetables, however, allow only a limited stay in the town. Grange itself, along with Lindale and Witherslack are linked to Kendal by the regular X6 (Barrow-Kendal) service.

Whilst the Bus Users' Group is pleased to see that some semblance of a service has been maintained on these routes its future will continue to be in doubt whilst Cumbria's "no subsidy" policy remains in  force. The residents of the villages concerned - and the rest of Cumbria and North Lancs -  will no doubt make up their own minds about politicians' promises regarding the future of buses over the next few weeks given their experience of what has actually happened to their services in recent years.

New Kendal Sunday Service

In the interest of balance, the BUG would like to point out that Cumbria County Council has recently issued a subsidy contract to Stagecoach to provide Sunday buses in Kendal. However, the funding for this is coming not from Council coffers but from a developer contribution as part of planning permission for a new supermarket on the outskirts of the town.  Details via this link.

How to be a Bus Passenger!

Bus Users, the national bus passengers' organisation, has published a code showing passengers how they can help the bus driver - and their fellow passengers - to enjoy a safe and pleasant journey

A 10 point Passenger Code from Bus Users

1   Pay attention at stops
Keep an eye out for your bus and monitor any real-time information. When a bus approaches, signal clearly whether you want to board or not – a wasted stop takes up valuable travel time. If you have a mobility issue or a visual impairment, use and check mobile apps and stand near the front of the stop so the driver can see you.

2   Form an orderly queue
When your bus arrives, give people the space to disembark and wait your turn to board. People with mobility issues, hidden disabilities or mental health issues may struggle, so give everyone the time and space to board safely.

3   Have our tickets, passes, contactless cards or apps ready before you board
You can save time by having your ticket or payment ready, and holding your pass flat on the card reader. If someone does hold up the queue, be patient – you have no idea what they might be dealing with and getting angry or irritated won’t help.

4   Move to your seat as quickly as possible
Some drivers wait until passengers are seated before moving off, so make your way directly to a seat when you board. If you see someone struggling, offer to help if you feel able to.

5   Make way
If you have to stand for your journey, make sure there’s a clear path to the door for people trying to board or exit. If you have luggage, don’t leave it unattended in a wheelchair space.

6   Give priority to passengers who need it
If you’re in a priority seat, or you have a seat on a crowded bus, make sure you offer it to anyone who looks like they may need it. Some needs are hidden, so if you’re asked to give up your seat and you’re able to move, move.

7   Keep your belongings close
Putting your coat or bags on a spare seat in an empty bus is fine. But if the bus is filling up, don’t wait to be asked to move your belongings.

8   Don’t pollute
Avoid anything likely to impact other passengers, like listening to loud music or talking loudly on the phone, watching videos with inappropriate content or eating strong-smelling food.

9   Get ready to get off
Ring the bell, just once, as far in advance of your stop as is practical. When the bus stops, exit quickly but safely and if you can, offer to help other passengers if you think they may need it.

10   Thank the driver
Driving a bus is a demanding job. Saying thank you is a small gesture that makes a big difference.

If something goes wrong with your journey that’s beyond your control, contact the operator. If you’re not happy with their response get in touch with us.

(Locally, you can ask Lancaster Bus Users Group for help via this link)