The Coventry outer circle route is being withdrawn by CENTRO.
http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/major-coventry-bus-route-axed-11221057Major Coventry bus route to be axed because 'not enough people use it'
360 City Circle service - the longest in Europe - will no longer be serving after July and will be replaced by three separate routes
- 14:33, 21 Apr 2016
- Updated 14:48, 21 Apr 2016
- By Laura Hartley
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:
Centro said it did not yet have more specific details of the routes.
- 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.
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.”
Travel de Courcey will run the new service
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:
Centro said it did not yet have more specific details of the routes.
- 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.
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.”
Last edited:
