Relaunch for bus route saved by intervention

Additional buses, a later last bus and an incorporated school service have been planned to make the 242 Kinver to Stourbridge service more attractive.

An expanded bus service will be relaunched in January after Staffordshire County Council stepped in to help.

Additional buses every day, a later last bus and an incorporated school service have been planned to make the service more attractive.

The 242 Kinver to Stourbridge service was hit in September when the operator withdrew at short notice due to a shortage of drivers.

Staffordshire County Council stepped in with an emergency contract to keep the bus link alive, then surveyed residents as to what they wanted from the service.

David Williams, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Highways and Transport, said:

I am very pleased that the Council’s quick action kept this service going when it was in danger.

And, working with residents, we’ve been able to retender the contract in such a way that the amended route should prove more popular with the community and provide an alternative to the car.”

Now, under new operator Select Bus Services improvements from Tuesday, 4^th January, include:

• an increase from seven to nine journeys each way on weekdays;
• an increase from five to nine journeys each way on a Saturday;
• a later last bus from Stourbridge to Kinver;
• amending the route to include both Wollaston Junction and Hyperion Road in Stourbridge;
• acceptance of West Midlands ‘Swift’ smart cards for onward journeys.

Ben Brown, Managing Director at Select Bus services, said:

We at Select Bus are extremely pleased to be able to continue to provide this enhanced, reliable service for the local residents.

It is our pleasure to work in partnership with Staffordshire County Council to help keep local bus services operating in these challenging times.”

Also, after February half term, pupils entitled to free home-to-school transport to Kinver High School will use this service, while those not entitled to free travel will be able to pay and take the bus to the school gates.

David Williams added:

Wherever possible we seek to work with operators so that commercial routes serve local schools.

That way the service can carry those pupils who are entitled to free Home to School Transport, while non-entitled children can pay fares to get to the school gates.”