LOCAL bus company Warrington’s own Buses is set to increase the number of bus services they have been running during lockdown from next Monday (June 8).
During lockdown bus services have been running at a Sunday service level to keep key workers connected, as well as those that rely on buses. The bus company showed its thanks to key workers with free travel and a special bus livery, to celebrate Warrington’s Own Heroes
Now from next Monday (June 8) , service levels will increase to 70% of the pre-Covid service level.
For now, social distancing requirements will see buses carrying a maximum of only 25% of their normal capacity. This means that there could be times where a customer cannot get the first bus they want to, because it will be ‘full’ (although it will only be a quarter full).
Bus Drivers will change the destination to say ‘bus full due to social distancing’ at these times.
Safety enhancements are taking place to suppress the transmission of the virus, with the bus company employing a public health & safety specialist to provide expertise and a Covid Secure policy. There are enhanced cleaning regimes, social distancing, reduced capacities, hygiene measures, employee temperature checks, reduced seating, Perspex screens on cabs, new air filtration systems to remove Covid-19 particles from the air, new cash handling, employee and customer communications and new signage, amongst many other steps. Warrington Borough Council, Transport for Greater Manchester and Merseytravel are also putting social distancing information and new guidance onto bus shelters and at bus stations.
Managing Director Ben Wakerley said: “We are pleased to be increasing bus services as parts of the town start to reopen from lockdown. We have taken many precautions to ensure additional safety on board and we hope customers will support our Drivers by checking the travel advice on our website before they travel, using the correct change for the fare and adopting the social distancing guidance”.
The new timetables and details can be found on the company’s website: warringtonsownbuses.co.uk
