MP joins councillors in fight to save X41 bus
HYNDBURN’S MP and councillors will join urgent talks with bus bosses as they bid to save the Red Express X41.
The direct bus service from Accrington to Manchester, via Ramsbottom, is due to be axed within days, after operator Transdev said the route was incurring heavy losses.
From January 26, passengers will need to change at Rawtenstall before boarding the Witchway bus, severing the direct link to the city from residents in Accrington and Haslingden. An online change.org petition to save the service has been signed by more than 4,600 people.
Hyndburn MP Sara Britcliffe, 24, said she will be joining MPs - including Ramsbottom MP James Daly and a representative from Rossendale MP Jake Berry’s office - in a meeting with Transdev bosses this Friday.
Hyndburn councillors have convened a separate meeting next week. Last week we reported that a letter to Transdev submitted by Coun Noordad Aziz and co-signed by 23 colleagues, warned that scrapping the service would have a ‘detrimental impact to the residents of Hyndburn and will contribute to creating a massive barrier to economic and social mobility in the area’.
Newly elected Ms Britcliffe, who knows the bus well from her days as a student, said: “My concern is obviously having to change [buses] as I know how difficult the commute is already to Manchester having been at university there. I do recognise how vital the service is; it affects so many people in my constituency. I will be asking how we can make the route more sustainable for Transdev. You’ve got to look at what it brings to Manchester and brings workers and students in.”
Transdev said they have been “actively engaging with stakeholders and customers” since the announcement about the Red Express last November.
A spokesperson said: “This is ongoing and we are meeting with local MPs on Friday and Hyndburn councillors on Monday. We have been open about the reasoning behind the decision and that we could not operate a route that cannot cover its basic operating costs - current revenue does not cover the costs of the driver wages, despite our huge efforts in investment, marketing and quality operation.
“Alternatives exist for those in Accrington and Haslingden by changing buses in Rawtenstall. This sees only a slight increase to the overall journey time, yet many more opportunities to travel, given that both the 464 and Witchway run every 15 minutes all day. We have also extended morning and late evening trips on the 464 so people can access work and leisure across the full spread of the day. This all comes at no increase in fares to now.
“The decision to withdraw the route was not an easy one or one which was reached quickly but we cannot continue to operate routes which cannot cover their costs. We continue to invest in our network where it is sustainable and have a track record of growing customer demand as a whole.”
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