Stagecoach announced new bus network

Stagecoach have announced a new bus network from 30th October. Stagecoach has said the new network is reflective of changes in people's travel habits, lower passenger numbers, rising costs and labour challenges.

A number of these changes impact on Bedford Borough, but Council Officers working with Stagecoach, other providers and neighbouring local Councils have managed to mitigate the worst of these changes.

The number 41 service was subject to a new timetable reducing services to Stagsden and Turvey and beyond to Onley and Northampton. As Bedford Borough Council support the 41 service within the boundary of the Borough, we stepped in to negotiate the continuation of the 41 service to these villages, to ensure Bedford residents continue to receive public transport to Bedford town centre and any locations served in between. We are also working with neighbouring authorities to encourage them to provide the necessary funding to enable services in their area to continue.

Stagecoach decided to end the number 72/73 services from Bedford to Biggleswade and Sandy, however Grant Palmer have decided an alternative service on this route. The new timetables will be published at https://www.grantpalmer.com/bus-services

Unfortunately Stagecoach have made a number of other changes, including reducing the frequency of the number 9 service to Cotton End and we are making representations about this service.

You can read about the changes at https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/east/east-bus-network and there is a map of Stagecoach services at https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/RouteMaps/East/NETWORK%20MAPS/Bedfordshire%20Network%20-%20OCT%202022.pdf