Stagecoach East says it is ‘hugely frustrating’ that passengers face delays because of maintenance to the Guided Busway in Cambridge. Ross Barton, operations director of Stagecoach East, said: “This work is hugely frustrating at a time when the Busway is seeing such an increase in popularity and passenger numbers.
“Congestion already makes it so difficult to run services to schedule in Cambridge and we do appreciate that this maintenance work is essential, but that does not help our passengers.”
Delays can be expected for three weeks.
Between 6th to 18th November, work on the Busway track will be taking place to rebuild the Northbound Histon and Impington Busway stop.
The cycle path will also be closed as the tarmac is repaired due to tree-root damage. This will mean that the Busway will need to divert in both directions through Histon village.
15 MINUTES ADDED TO JOURNEYS
In both directions, Busway buses will need to divert along Station Road, Histon High Street, Park Lane, and Gatehouse Lane. It is anticipated that this will add 15 minutes to journeys at peak times – as the Busway is a 10-minute service, in each direction, these delays are likely to compound throughout the day.
Passengers should use the temporary stop opposite The Railway Vue pub on Station Road, Histon.
Mr Barton said: “We apologise to our loyal Busway customers for any delays to services that will be caused by this council’s upgrade work.
“The Busway is an essential part of the transport infrastructure, and we hope that this work will be completed as soon as possible, because disruption looks set to be significant.
“We expect that the council will be putting up appropriate communications at the Busway stops to inform customers.”
BUSWAY ON ORCHARD PARK CLOSURE
The move is in addition to work on the Busway that has already begun, closing the Busway on Orchard Park. From 28th October to 5th November the Busway stops on Orchard Park West and Orchard Park East are suspended for essential Council maintenance work, renovating the stops.
Buses are diverting from the Histon and Impington Busway stop along Cambridge Road and Bridge Road, straight to the first stop on Histon Road, not going along Orchard Park. Services are doing the reverse route coming out of Cambridge.
For Service A towards Cambridge from the Histon and Impington Busway stop, passengers should use the temporary stop at Station Stores, Histon.
Passengers who would usually get the bus on Orchard Park, should use the Busway stop on Cambridge Road close to Blackhall Road, either towards Cambridge or St Ives. Alternatively, catch the 8A Service.
Service B can still serve the Histon and Impington Busway stop.
The moves come after the entire Southern section of the Busway was closed for two years, only re-opening in April this year.
CAMBRIDGE CONGESTION ‘SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE’
A Stagecoach spokesperson said: “Congestion throughout Cambridge also remains a significant challenge – particularly, for the Busway and several other bus services, along Hills Road.
“Each week, Stagecoach East measures the distance that its buses actually run compared with the total they are scheduled to run – producing a ‘lost miles’ total.
“Last week, in Cambridge, congestion and other external factors accounted for 60% of all ‘lost miles’.
