Stagecoach East has announced plans to make significant service cuts in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. The news led to combined authority mayor Dr Nik Johnson asking the authority to “urgently review and refresh the business case” for franchising in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Managing Director Darren Rowe said: “Overall, services are operating at around 75% of pre-pandemic passenger levels, with concessionary travel for older people dropping to as low as 55%. Inflation, rising fuel and energy bills are also all having an impact on our costs. In such tough economic conditions, just like local authorities, bus companies are having to make very difficult decisions.” The routes from Cambridge to Newmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Royston and to Ely via Newmarket and Soham will be withdrawn at the end of October 2022. Also cut will be the links from Huntingdon to March, Ramsey and St Neots.
The peak time Busway connection services along with the St Ives Town Service will also be withdrawn as will peak time Lynch Wood services and the off-peak orbital City Hospital to Hampton route in Peterborough. Bedford loses its links to Sandy and Biggleswade. Stagecoach stressed that it was improving fre…