Major Coventry bus route to be axed because 'not enough people use it'

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360 City Circle service - the longest in Europe - will no longer be serving after July and will be replaced by three separate routes



The longest urban bus journey in Europe serving nearly 14,000 people is set to be axed.

Serving some of the most important locations in Coventry as the City Circle service, the 360 has only been up and running for three years.

The 31.5-mile service currently runs seven days a week via the hospital at Walsgrave, Willenhall, Jaguar Land Rover in Whitley, the University of Warwick in Cannon Park, Tile Hill railway station, Whoberley, Whitmore Park, the Ricoh Arena in Rowley’s Green and Arena Shopping Park.

But Centro, the region’s transport authority, said the subsidised route was only attracting “low passenger numbers”, meaning it was not meeting “tough rules” governing the use of taxpayers’ money.

In October 2013, a total of 13,714 passengers were carried, while in the same period in 2015 it was 13,949 – an increase of just 235

As a result, from July 23, the 360 will be broken up into three separate services, meaning some passengers will have to change buses at least once.

The new routes are:

• No 60 - University of Warwick to Arena Retail Park via Coventry & Warwickshire University Hospital, operating every 30 minutes, hourly in evenings and Sundays.
• No 61 – Allesley Park to Arena Retail Park, operating hourly Monday to Saturday, daytime only.
• No 43 – University of Warwick to Eastern Green, operating hourly Monday to Saturday, daytime only.

Centro has produced maps showing the new routes, but does not yet have proper route leaflets.

Steve Hayes, network development and delivery manager for Centro said low passenger numbers meant the 360 was not meeting tough rules allowing the use of taxpayers’ money to support bus services.

He said: “Since its launch, the City Circle service has not succeeded overall in growing patronage

“The western segment of the route in particular has failed to attract new passengers.

“We are obliged to get best value when using public money to subsidise services, and unfortunately the patronage figures for the 360 mean it is no longer justifiable.”

All the services will continue to be operated by Travel De Courcey of Coventry.

Centro claims the new structure will result in improved coverage in Eastern Green, Jardine Crescent and Arena Retail Park.

Mr Hayes said: “Inevitably there may be some passengers who will be inconvenienced as a result of the changes to the number 360 for which we apologise.

“However the new services are designed to give the best value for money and reflect the demand of the travelling public.”

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Hundreds sign petition to save Coventry bus route threatened with the axe

More than 2,000 people have signed a petition to save a Coventry bus service.

The 360 City Circle is the longest urban bus route in Europe and provides a direct link to places like University Hospital and major shopping centres for 14,000 passengers a month.

But the tax-payer subsidised service operated by Travel De Courcey is set to be broken up into three smaller routes from July 23 because transport chiefs at Centro say not enough people use it.

This means some people will have to change buses at least once depending on their destination.

The petition, set up by an anonymous campaigner, says: “The axing of the 360 route in Coventry by Centro is going to cause disruption and remove a vital transport link in the city.

“I personally will lose my route to and from work completely. I will now have to use two buses from another company and add 40 mins onto my journey.

“Many other people will lose routes to the hospital, school, work and shopping areas, especially OAPs and school children.

“The 360 route was not well advertised.

“I personally was not aware of it until I moved to my new home and saw the bus going past my house.

“It was stated that only 300 more people a month used the route than three years ago.

“This says to me that the people who do use it are loyal regular users.

“More advertising would increase this customer base.”

The 31.5-mile service was launched three years ago and runs seven days a week via the hospital at Walsgrave, Willenhall, Jaguar Land Rover in Whitley, the University of Warwick in Cannon Park, Tile Hill railway station, Whoberley, Whitmore Park, the Ricoh Arena in Rowley’s Green and Arena Shopping Park.

Centro, the region’s transport authority, said there were no plans to save the 360.

A spokesman said: “As the change is still a couple of months away, we will be putting in place some timetables nearer the time, but they will definitely be organised in the coming weeks.”

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Westwood Academy students could face hour delay following school as 360 service scrapped

CONCERNED parents and councillors in Woodlands Ward are planning to launch a petition against the West Midlands Combined Authority’s decision to scrap a city bus service.

The 360 bus service previously linked Woodlands with the rest of the city – providing residents with easy access to destinations including Walsgrave, Jaguar Land Rover, Warwick University, Tile Hill and the Ricoh Arena.

However the decision to scrap the service by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in July has left parents concerned that students could face a long wait before reaching home after the school day.

A new structure of three individual bus routes will mean Westwood Academy students, who typically finish their lessons at 3.10pm, will have just eight minutes to catch the 3.18pm bus.

With services running from the school every hour, it is feared dozens of pupils will face either a long walk home or a lengthy wait with up to 90 students living in the CV5 postcode area.

And now, parents and councillors of Woodlands ward are calling on the WMCA to see a new proposal introduced that runs in line with the school day.

Supporting the campaign, Coun Gary Ridley told The Observer the WMCA should be helping Coventry, not scrapping valuable bus services.

He added: “I don’t understand how this decision is improving the lives of people living in Coventry.

“There’s a lot of concern among residents but we’ll have to wait and see to know what the full impact of cutting the service will be.

“I’ve spoke to parents who have expressed concern and would prefer the 360 to continue.

“To add to that, I have had elderly residents contact me concerned about how they are going to travel to University Hospital – a crucial stopping point on the 360 service.

“I’m disappointed this decision has been made, schoolchildren and parents will be affected massively.”

Mr Ridley has considered starting a petition to call on the WMCA to re-consider their decision to scrap the bus service which carried 13,949 passengers in October 2015.

He said: “With children returning to school in September we’re calling for an urgent review of these arrangements.

“Why should students face an uncertain start to the new school term as a result of a decision made by someone sitting in Birmingham.”

[rebbonk]

...the WMCA should be helping Coventry...

Oh dear Gary, this was/is never going to happen. Coventry will be bottom of the pile for everything.