Lack of drivers hits buses
A SCALED-BACK city bus timetable started yesterday.
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has reduced services because of a shortage of drivers.
Night buses are suspended and the company has adopted a Saturday timetable during the week.
NCT currently has a driver shortfall of around five percent.
And it says that in recent weeks a further five percent have been forced to self-isolate due to Covid.
The A1 and A2 school buses will operate for Trinity, Bluecoat and Nottingham Girls’ Academy, along with extra buses timed for the start and end of the school day on the main network.
Additional journeys will run for some schools, colleges and the universities – including the Navy 4, which will operate its normal weekday timetable between Nottingham Trent University’s City and Clifton Campuses.
And the Orange 34 service will operate every 15 minutes Mondays to Fridays at peak times.
The Navy 49 service will operate its normal weekday timetable for Queen’s Drive and the Boots site.
Services will also operate at key working hours at Colwick Industrial Estate, the Queen’s Medical Centre and Ruddington Business Park.
Some early-morning West Bridgford services will also run.
NCT managing director David Astill said: “Prior to Christmas, despite our best efforts, our service reliability was not at the standard our customers expect or at a standard we are happy to continue delivering.
“We recognise that short-notice cancellations cause inconvenience to customers when an advertised bus doesn’t turn up.
“By adopting this revised timetable, customers will be able to plan around the level of service we feel we can confidently and consistently deliver.”
The following additional journeys, as well as the Saturday timetables, will aso run on weekdays:
■■Pink 28 from City at 07:55 and 08:15 will operate with two buses
■■An additional Orange 35 will depart Bulwell at 07:57
■■A1 and A2 will run to normal times
■■Grey 53 from Arnold at 07:21 will run with two buses
■■Grey 53 from Arnold at 07:45 will additionally run
■■An additional Turquoise 77 bus from City at 07:54 will run
■■Grey 53 from QMC at 15:08 to Arnold will additionally run
■■Pathfinder 26 from Nottingham at 07:55 will additionally run
■■Pathfinder 26 from Linden Grove at 15:08 to Nottingham will depart at 15:10. Use stops on Burton Road, not the turning circle
■■Lime 57X from City at 07:58 will additionally run
■■Lime 59 from Rolleston Drive at 15:18 will additionally run
■■In the mornings, the following Red 44 buses will operate as Red 44A via Colwick Industrial Estate: 05:32, 06:02, 06:32, 07:02, 07:32, 08:02, 08:32
■■In the afternoons, the following Red 44A buses will operate to City: 16:10, 16:40, 17:10, 17:40, 18:10
■■South Notts 1 from Nottingham at 07:30 will call at East Leake Academy
■■South Notts 1 from Trent Bridge at 07:40 to East Leake Academy will additionally run
■■South Notts 1 from East Leake Academy at 15:15 will additionally run
■■South Notts 1 from Nottingham at 07:00 will call at Loughborough Endowed Schools
■■In the afternoons, a bus will depart at approx. 16:10 to Nottingham
■■A1 and A2 will run to normal times
■■An additional Turquoise 77 bus from City at 07:54 will run
■■Turquoise 77 from outside Nottingham Girls Academy at 15:25 will additionally run
■■Purple 89 from City at 07:50 will operate as an 89A via Bewcastle Road.
■■Purple 88 from Top Valley at 15:01 will operate with a double deck bus
■■Orange 34 will operate every 15 minutes at peak times
■■Orange 35 from Strelley at 05:05 (arriving QMC 05:40) will additionally run
■■Grey 53B from Arnold at 05:10 and 06:10 will additionally run
■■Grey 53 from Arnold at 07:45 will additionally run
■■Grey 53 from Clifton (Fabis Drive) at 06:32 and 07:32 will wait at Fabis Drive until South Notts 1 arrives from East Leake for connections
■■In the mornings, Purple 87B from Mansfield Road, Redcliffe Road at 08:01 to Redhill will run
■■Purple 87 from Arnold at 15:13 will operate with a double decker bus
■■In the mornings, the following Green 10 buses from City will extend to the Business Park (10C): 06:35, 07:05, 07:25, 08:05, 08:45, 09:05
■■In the afternoons, Green 10X will depart the Business Park at 16:10, 17:11 and 18:18
■■In the mornings, the 07:40 from Nottingham will call inside Southwell Minster School
■■In the afternoons, the 15:14 from inside Southwell Minster School will run
■■A1 and A2 will run to normal times
■■An additional Turquoise 77 bus from City at 07:54 will run
■■In the afternoons, Pink 28 and Turquoise 77 from Beechdale Road at 15:35 will both additionally run
■■Green 6 from Edwalton at 05:05 and 06:03 to City will additionally run
■■Green 8 from Rushcliffe School at 06:20 and 07:20 and from City at 06:55 and 07;55 will additionally run