Stagecoach ‘best operator the island could have appointed’

John Gollop said that Stagecoach, which has won a five-year contract to run the bus service and school routes from April next year, was the best operator the island could have appointed, if ties were being cut with current provider CT Plus.

‘Stagecoach has extensive experience in rural locations, like the South Hams and North Cornwall, and have insular experience running rural island routes on Arran, Skye, Orkney and even Hayling Island,’ he said.

‘They can potentially bring greater marketing and innovation to our shores and for tourism promote Guernsey buses on their website. They will surely have new ideas and experience in assisting disabled passengers and, working with the States, may potentially be able to lease or buy electric vehicles, midi buses and mini coaches.’

Deputy Gollop said he was disappointed that the ‘generally successful CT Plus era’ was coming to an end and credited the company with expanding early morning and evening services and expanding the island’s route network since arriving in the island more than a decade ago.

‘CT Plus was a community-based organisation which largely rose to the challenge of operating buses in a difficult environment,’ he said.

CT Plus experienced a difficult first few years as the island’s bus operator, after taking over from Island Coachways in 2012. It took until 2016 for passenger numbers to recover to 2009 levels, after the then Environment Department controversially stripped funding from the service as part of the States’ Financial Transformation Programme.

But by 2019 passenger numbers had hit a new record high of nearly 2m. And they are climbing again after declining significantly during and after the Covid pandemic, despite some decisions which had disappointed Deputy Gollop.

‘Recent years have seen excessive fare increases, interruptions to some timetables and, worst of all, cancellations and driver shortages. Hopefully, the resources of Stagecoach, combined with continuity of management, facilities and staff, will resolve these issues,’ he said.

Deputy Gollop had some concerns about the Environment & Infrastructure Committee’s decision to change operator, which was announced last week.

‘We don’t yet know what is happening with the parallel Jersey tender and I fear we may be relegated by a large corporate player to be a minor part of the UK south-west region.

‘There may be too much distance or focus on driving profit and there is potentially a lack of local control and feedback loops and a steep learning curve, too, but [E&I president] Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez and her team will hopefully balance this.

‘It is also true that UK bus operators have cut services, especially at anti-social times.’

He called on Stagecoach to maintain a bus app popular with some passengers, as well as free travel for pensioners, which was nearly cut back last year before public opposition forced a reversal of plans to charge over-65s for early morning journeys.

Deputy Gollop said he would also like to see narrower vehicles on some existing and new routes and potentially double-decker buses for routes along the coast and for cruise liner passengers.

‘We have had a public transport political success story so far on environmental, social and economic levels, with strong community support from locals, school children and guest workers,’ he said.

‘We don’t want to endanger or ruin this essential public service or good record, so I wish Stagecoach every success and hope the States has made the right decision.’