27/08/03 - New Operator for Bus Service

A new operator is taking over the running of one of the most successful bus services funded by Cumbria Council. From Monday September 1 Caldew Coaches of Dalston will provide the 680 service between Carlisle and Nenthead via Brampton and Alston. Stagecoach will be providing an extra Saturday afternoon service. There will be no change to the main timetable, but there are minor alterations to the timetable on the Saturday afternoon service.   

The Service 680 is funded by Cumbria County Council using money made available by the Government through the rural bus subsidy grant. The service had been provided since its introduction in March 1999 by Highfield Coaches of Harker. Highfield Coaches has decided it can no longer provide the service because of large increases in insurance costs. The Royal Mail Post Bus service and Wright Brothers' College bus from Alston to Carlisle are both unaffected.   

The friendly and reliable service offered by Highfield Coaches has made the 680 one of the major success stories of the new services funded through the Rural Bus Grant in Cumbria. Previously the only service from Alston to Carlisle was a college bus. In April 1999, its second month of operation, the service carried 210 passengers. By April this year this figure had grown to 1,050. In October last year an extra Saturday afternoon journey was introduced, using funds made available from the Countryside Agency's Parish Transport Grant and Hartleyburn Parish Council, which represents the Halton-Lea-Gate area.   

Timetable leaflets for the new service are available from all the normal outlets. Information on other services throughout Cumbria can be obtained from traveline 0870 608 2 608.