Coventry Telegraph

New operators for key routes after latest bus blow

- By ELIS SANDFORD News Reporter

THE future of two Coventry bus routes have been resolved after earlier uncertaint­y, following news that operator Travel de Courcey had entered administra­tion.

The Coventry based operator announced it had entered administra­tion on Monday.

It has been confirmed that routes 60 and 703 were part funded by Transport for West Midlands (TFWM), and as a result, the routes were placed up for retender and have been taken over by Stagecoach as of Sunday, August 23.

The future of two Travel de Courcey routes - the X6 from Coventry to Leicester and the 585 from Coventry to Rugby, remained unclear.

However it has since been announced National Express Coventry will be taking on the 585 route.

Under the new operator, these services will no longer call at Coventry Railway Station.

As for the X6 route, this has been taken on by Arriva Midlands East, again, starting from Tuesday.

Existing tickets will be honoured on both routes up until September 5.

According to TFWM, discussion­s are ongoing between the transport authority and other neighbouri­ng authoritie­s in order to establish a solution for those routes.

A spokespers­on for TFWM said that they will “provide further informatio­n in due course”.

The TFWM spokespers­on said: “We have been informed that Travel De Courcey have gone in to administra­tion. This is a sad day and a worrying time for the staff and customers. We are speaking to the administra­tor to understand the intentions for the company moving forward.

“Up until this weekend Travel De Courcey had operated two services which were part funded by TFWM namely the 60 and 703 between Arena Retail Park and University Hospital Coventry.

“Following a recent competitiv­e retender of the services the operation transferre­d to Stagecoach Midlands on the 23August.

“We are also in contact with neighbouri­ng authoritie­s with regards to two other services provided by the operator and we will provide further informatio­n in due course.”

News that administra­tors have been appointed to oversee Travel de Courcey came as a blow for staff and customers alike.

Headquarte­red near Coventry Airport, the family run firm employs around 180 people, but said that the challenges of the coronaviru­s pandemic caused the business to collapse.

Adrian de Courcey, CEO and son of its founder, Mike, said: “Travel de Courcey, like every company in our industry sector, has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

“We have assessed all aspects of our business going forward and it is clear that, due to the reduction in our services and vastly reduced passenger numbers, we have had no alternativ­e but enter into the administra­tion process.

“This move is very much a last resort brought on by global circumstan­ces beyond our control.”

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