High hopes forRye bus serviceas changes hit

But Rye seems to have fared better than other areas of Sussex with Rye Community Transport saying that the review has actually resulted in a better service.

Rye Community Transport rode to the rescue of the local 326 service, filling in the gaps of runs previously provided by Stagecoach.

Sunday April 26 sees the start of the revised bus services with the Sunday service of the 101, Stagecoach’s new service which replaces the Rye to Hastings leg of the 344, but which comes in from Lydd and Camber.

RTC Operations Manager Pat Hughes said: “ “This is one example of how the review has actually resulted in a better service. Between the 100 and the 101 Camber and Rye passengers now have an hourly Sunday service to Hastings from shortly after 9 am until 7pm - check the timetables for times.

“We feel that in the wake of the despair caused by the scale of the cuts to off-peak services proposed in ESCC’s review, their Passenger Transport team and the bus companies - Stagecoach, ourselves, Renown Travel and Rambler - have worked hard together to achieve the best possible outcome for the community.

“On our own 326 service we are accommodating the loss of those runs previously provided by Stagecoach by some minor changes to our timetable, these will start on Monday 27.

“However, the big benefit for those using the route is our introduction of a Saturday service which starts on May 2. This will be exactly the same as the Monday to Friday service and gives people the new opportunity to get up to Rye’s High Street by bus.

“Renown Travel will be operating a new service 313 between Rye Harbour and Northiam, 2-hourly between Rye and Northiam but will maintain an hourly run between Rye Harbour and Rye, a great relief to Rye Harbour residents. The 312 will now run two-hourly between Rye and Tenterden.”