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Cambridge gets on board as bus use jumps 50%

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08/11/2004

  • Growth rate nearly double the level in London
  • Stagecoach investment, marketing drives growth over three years
  • Strong partnership with County Council key to success

Cambridge has seen one of the biggest rises in public transport use in the UK with bus use shooting up by nearly 50% in three years – around double the growth achieved in London.

New figures released today (8 November 2004) by Stagecoach, the main operator in the historic city, show it is now carrying an average of more than 117,000 passengers a week on its state-of-the-art citi branded network.

Statistics released by the Department for Transport two weeks ago showed that bus passenger volumes in London increased by 25% between 2000-01 and 2003-04. The passenger growth on Stagecoach services in Cambridge from 2001 to 2004 has been 45%.

Passengers have flooded on to the buses in Cambridge after Stagecoach invested more than £4million in a fleet of 40 new low-floor vehicles, a simplified network and fares structure, 10-minute turn-up-and-go services, comprehensive marketing and improved information for passengers.

Bus use has also been boosted by a strong partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and other local organisations and businesses, which has included the introduction of important bus priority measures.

In the past 12 months, Stagecoach has carried more than 5.5million passengers on its fleet of 52 buses covering seven citi routes. Around 3.8 million passengers travelled by bus in Cambridge before the improvements to the bus network in November 2001.

Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group, said: “This is one of the most remarkable public transport success stories ever seen in the UK – and even more impressive than the growth achieved in London. Stagecoach took a significant commercial risk by investing millions of pounds three years ago in a long-term strategy to encourage bus use in Cambridge, particularly among car users, and that has delivered spectacular results.

“Stagecoach has been supported by an extremely proactive and forward-looking local authority in Cambridgeshire County Council as well as other agencies. This strong partnership has delivered to people in Cambridge one of the best bus networks in the UK. We believe the approach taken in Cambridge is a model for cities in the rest of the UK and we are planning further innovative services for the city and other locations across the country in the future.”

Since the original investment three years ago, Stagecoach has worked closely with the County Council to improve the delivery of bus services in Cambridge and resources have been targeted on areas where there has been the greatest potential to boost passenger volumes. The area offering improved citi branded services has also been widened beyond the city centre to include villages such as Cottenham, Sawston and Bar Hill.

One example of the benefits of partnership working has been the development of a dedicated bus terminus at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Two years ago, there was only one large lay-by to cope with 50 buses an hour calling at a site generating significant amounts of traffic. A partnership between the NHS Trust, the County Council and Stagecoach saw the conversion of a hospital car park into a dedicated bus terminus. As well as benefiting patients and visitors, staff at the hospital now make 10,000 trips a week to work by bus.

Services in Cambridge have grown to such an extent that there are now 18 services an hour linking the city centre to the main railway station, providing a major boost to integrated transport.

There has also been a significant growth in car users using the five award-winning park and ride services in and around Cambridge, where every one of the 20 buses used by Stagecoach has low-floor access for people with disabilities and parents with young children.

Brian Smith, Director of Environment and Transport at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The restricted central area in Cambridge and the continued population growth of the area mean it is vital to get more people using public transport.

“We work very closely with all operators, and other partners, and this is a major factor in our securing Government recognition this year as a centre of excellence for public transport. The growth in patronage is a real success story and Stagecoach must be applauded for its vision, willingness to invest, and commitment."

ENDS

For further information, contact:

Steve Stewart, Head of Media and Public Affairs, Stagecoach Group, tel: 01738 442111 or 07764 774680 (mobile)

Notes to Editors:

  • Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus operators in the UK, running more than 7,000 vehicles in around 100 towns and cities from the Highlands of Scotland to south-west England.
  • The Department for Transport’s National Statistics on Bus Passenger Journeys show there were 1,359m passenger journeys in London in 2000-01, rising to 1,702m in 2003, an increase of 25%.
  • The five park and ride sites in Cambridge are: Madingley Road, Newmarket Road, Cowley Road, Babraham Road and Trumpington.
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