Stagecoach begins phased increase in East Sussex bus services amid lockdown easing

Emergency bus timetables have been in place since the beginning of April to help key workers get to and from work and for other essential journeys.

Following the announcement by the Government of a new bus, tram and light rail restart programme, Stagecoach has confirmed plans for a phased step-up in services as more people return to work and other parts of daily life re-open.

The company said from today, bus services in the Hastings and Bexhill areas will be boosted with further increases planned for other areas of the county from Monday (June 8).

It said services will reach 70 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels by mid-June.

Details can be found at www.stagecoach.com/SEcovid19.

The bus operator said it has put in place extensive enhanced measures to keep buses clean, passengers and staff safe.

Engineers and drivers are returning to work this week to ensure the bus fleet is ready for the ramp-up in services.

Stagecoach said buses which have been parked up during recent weeks are being deep-cleaned and will undergo stringent checks in advance of going into service.

Stagecoach’s cleaning regime includes at least daily cleaning of all buses with a government-recommended sanitiser, with a particular focus on key touch points, and additional in service cleaning where possible.

All buses will continue to have a protective screen to provide a physical barrier between the driver and passenger.

Face masks are available for drivers, and in-line with government advice, Stagecoach is encouraging passengers to wear a face covering.

Stagecoach said government social distancing measures are now in place on all bus services in England, which means each individual bus has around 20 per cent of normal passenger capacity.

It said it is working very closely with East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to ensure the bus fleet is deployed where it is needed most.

Stagecoach managing director, Joel Mitchell, said: “I’m hugely proud of the fantastic efforts of all of our colleagues in recent weeks.

“Our own key workers have made a huge contribution to the national effort and we’d like to thank every one of them and our customers for their support.

“Buses are going to continue to play a crucial role in the country’s recovery ahead. As well as helping restart our economy, they are vital in bringing normality back to many areas of our daily lives.

“They keep families and communities connected and have a major role in delivering a safer, cleaner and healthier society.

“The Stagecoach team are proud to serve our communities in East Sussex and we are delighted to begin stepping-up our services.

“It means we can provide more regular buses and more capacity overall as people start to return to their everyday lives.

“We’re continuing to work with ESCC to ensure we can target services to where they are needed most and we’re grateful for their support for bus service provision as a critical part of the region’s recovery.

“The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our top priority. With the extensive measures we’ve taken and the support of our customers, they can be confident our buses will be clean, safe and ready to go.”

The initial phase of service enhancement takes effect from today with uplifts to Hastings town routes 7, 20, 23, 27 and 347, a doubling in frequency of route 26/26A buses, additional buses on route 98 between Conquest Hospital and Bexhill, as well as Hailsham and Bexhill and a doubling in frequency of route 99 services.

Rural routes will also see uplift with the 254, 304 and 305 services linking Hastings with Hawkhurst and Tunbridge Wells and routes 312 and 313 in the Rye, Tenterden and Northiam areas. Route 349 is also enhanced.

Changes in the Eastbourne area are due to be announced tomorrow (Friday, June 5).

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