Families left disappointed after bus timetable changes in Aylesbury Vale
Arriva say they made the alterations to the X60 route following customer feedback.
Parents have been left unimpressed, once again, over changes to bus services in Buckinghamshire.
Arriva say they've made changes to the X60 to increase capacity after customer feedback, including timetable alterations, but Buckingham dad Cy Brown isn't convinced.
He got in touch with the bus company after the changes happened last Monday (5/10).
Cy told us:
"Considering we have paid hundreds of pounds for a service and their bus passes on their phones, there was no announcement on the app to say 'by the way, this service is changing'.
"Digital is good, but how about a message at the bus stop?"
But there was no message at the bus stop in Buckingham, or on the buses his daughters take each day.
The family only noticed something was really up when it got to Wednesday and they still seemed to be missing the school bus.
Cy told us that they were all set up from the start of September to make sure timings were right for getting to school in Winslow and Aylesbury and then the sudden change was confusing.
The alteration was announced by Arriva on Twitter on 30th September, but Cy told us he'd have no reason to check that in order to know.
On their website, Arriva said that they had introduced additional services:
"Peak journeys will be revised to accommodate additional SX60 buses for school, sixth form and college pupils to allow everyone to travel safely."
The additional SX60 buses will run at:
- 07:25 from Buckingham to Aylesbury Bus Station (08:13 arrival)
- 16:15 from Aylesbury Bus Station to Buckingham (16:58 arrival)
However, at the start of last week, passengers weren't aware.
Cy added:
"I'm sure they'd probably say that because of Covid, this is why they haven't physically put a message or posted a flyer at the bus stop just to try and update people and get their attention about the changes.
"I'm sure most people have found out by default when the bus is not there, so it's quite disappointing."
What do Arriva have to say?
Simon Mathieson Area Managing Director for Arriva said:
"Following customer feedback, we have made some changes to the X60 to move resource to where customers need it most. This includes the introduction of additional dedicated school journeys, numbered SX60 running between Aylesbury and Buckingham.
"These buses reserved for school, sixth form and college pupils only. Pupils from any year group and from any school or college located on the route can travel on these buses."
Simon told us that, where possible, they are asking pupils to maintain social distancing, although capacity on these buses will be increased allowing students to sit next to each other. The seats behind the driver and any facing each other will be taped off and should not be used.
The recent change also incorporated additional buses on weekday evenings as well as increasing the service to hourly on Saturdays. Due to low demand they have also reduced off peak services on weekdays.
Simon added:
"Ensuring everyone can travel safely is of the utmost importance to us. We are monitoring the situation constantly to ensure the extra resources we have out on the roads are going to where they are needed the most."