Proposed changes to the winter bus service

16 July 2009

The Minister for Transport and Technical Services (TTS), is putting forward two new services in his proposals for the 2009/10 winter timetable. There are also a number of changes to existing services which will enhance the network and eliminate some of the inconsistencies between the summer and winter timetables.

Connétable Mike Jackson, the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, said “TTS and Connex have been working on a number of proposals where the public have told us that there are gaps. One of these is a service that gets to Durrell between 8am and 9am and I know some volunteers working at Durrell will find this extremely useful. The other addition is a Route 3B in the evening peak which will serve St Saviour’s Church and Parish Hall. This service operates in the summer but hasn’t in the winter – this puts right this anomaly.” The Minister continued “I am also delighted that the Route 15 ‘express’ service along the Avenue in the morning has been a real success and I can now confirm that this will operate all year round.”

In total there are over 20 changes compared to the winter timetable last year, some of which are minor practical amendments to avoid duplication or regularise services. However, seven of these are changes that were introduced for the 2009 summer timetable which are now being carried over into the winter. For instance, the Route 15 at 8.10am operates as an ‘express’ along Victoria Avenue and this will continue throughout the year.

Another proposal is to change two 3B services into 3A services in the late afternoon which provides a later bus from Ransoms, St Saviour’s Hospital and Hougue Bie.

The proposals will cost £14,500 but all these services have the potential to increase revenue over time as patronage rises and may result in a break even position.

The Minister added, “Over the next two weeks, I would like to hear from members of the public as to whether they think these proposals are a good idea or not.”

A full list of all changes will be published in the Gazette part of the JEP on Thursday 16 July and comments are requested before Friday 31 July 2009. Details can also be found on the website www.gov.je/buses or can be collected from TTS’s reception at South Hill.