23/1/2006 - Local operators take over Kendal bus routes

New local bus operators take over running bus services in Kendal today, Monday, 23rd January.

The change comes after Cumbria County Council’s South Lakes local committee stepped-in with funding to subsidise bus routes in town following Stagecoach’s decision to pull out of almost all of the town centre services.

The change will see a number of private operators, supported by local committee cash, pick up where Stagecoach leaves-off.

Users should notice few differences in services. There will be some minor changes to the timetable, mainly at school times, but all existing services will continue with new operators D&H Travel and Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches.

The arrangements will last at until April when new routes will be introduced having been redesigned in light of extensive public consultations with the people of Kendal. 

Alan Bobbett, chairman of South Lakes local committee said: “The local committee has had to dig deep to find the money to support these services and it is now very much a case of ‘use them or lose them’. I would urge people to use the buses – if you haven’t used the buses for a while, give them another try."

NoWCard holders will continue to receive a 50% discount on full adult fares.

Single fares will be available at two-thirds the price of of a return, while child fares are 70 per cent of adult fares. 

All operators will accept each others return tickets and D&H Travel and Kirkby Lonsdale Coaches will also accept Stagecoach Explorer tickets and GoldRider tickets. 

A new Day Ticket offering unlimited travel on the day of issue on service 41-48 will be available to offer savings for those who use the bus to travel across the Town Centre (e.g. Hallgarth to the Hospital). These tickets cost £1.75 Adult and £1.25 Child. 

A weekly ticket will be available to replace the current Stagecoach Megarider it will be £6.50, available for unlimited travel in any 7 day period on Service 41-48.

Also from 23rd January there will be a change of operator on the Service 541 between Kendal and Winster, and on certain journeys on the Service 106 between Kendal and Penrith. Apollo 8 will take over the majority of journeys on Service 106 from Stagecoach, whilst PHD Travel will operate the 541. The timetable on both services will be unchanged.

New leaflets for these services are available from all the normal outlets or by contacting traveline 0870 608 2 608.

Full timetables for all bus services can be seen at www.cumbriacc.gov.uk/elibrary/Content/Internet/544/931/1099/3872692621.pdf