The Managing Director of Stagecoach East, Cambridgeshire’s largest bus operator, has issued a heartfelt appeal to passengers to plan ahead and be patient with bus drivers, following the announcement of major short-notice changes to the Busway network.
In a public video, Darren Roe expressed his frustration at receiving only four days’ notice to prepare for alterations that would normally require three months of planning. The video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xk-nVzDCLQ.
“Safety is our top priority, so we will be implementing the speed limits, in full, from 5 October,” said Roe. “There will be significant disruption across the whole of the network, with journey times potentially increasing by up to 45 minutes. We will have extra staff on Monday at key locations to support customers.”
Stagecoach East typically requires months to coordinate such changes, allowing time for recruiting additional drivers, engineers, and support staff, as well as sourcing extra buses. With only four days’ notice, the operator has had to rapidly mobilise extra resources, including staff working overnight to prepare buses and maintain service.
Further disruption is expected from 12 October, when a section of the Busway from Trumpington to Cambridge station will be closed to two-way bus traffic. Stagecoach is urging passengers to check timetables and plan journeys using the company website or the Stagecoach Bus App, available at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/stagecoachbusapp.
Roe also appealed for understanding for bus drivers, who will be working under particularly challenging circumstances. “My team and I will continue to talk to Cambridgeshire County Council to see what we can do to help our passengers get where they want to go,” he said.
Even at such short notice, Stagecoach is providing extra staff across the network to maintain service frequency and keep customers informed. Roe emphasised the importance of passengers showing patience during this period of disruption.
“This is not the service we would normally provide, but we are doing everything we can to help people travel safely and efficiently,” he added.
Passengers are encouraged to download the Stagecoach Bus App to plan their journeys, buy tickets before boarding, and track buses in real time.
