VADALISM PUTS THE BRAKES ON BUS ROUTES
PASSENGERS have been hit by a double whammy of bus withdrawals in Runcorn after yobs vandalised three vehicles and the coronavirus outbreak put another out of service.
Arriva North West revealed over the weekend that it has pulled its popular X1 Runcorn to Liverpool express service because of the Covid-19 outbreak, and Sunday services have been cancelled for the 3A/3C hospital circular, the 62 Murdishaw to Halebank,and X30 Chester to Warrington.
It then announced it had suspended the 500, 62 and 14A from stopping in Murdishaw after three buses had windows smashed by bricks thrown by yobs.
The 500 has now been reinstated.
Vandals attacking buses is a long-standing problem in Runcorn, with services previously having been stopped from running due to vehicles being ambushed by missiles thrown from overhead footbridges.
In a statement to the Weekly News, an Arriva spokeswoman said the ‘health and wellbeing of our customers and employees remains our primary concern’.
Discussing the impact of coronavirus, she said: “In light of the Government’s latest advice and recommendations, as well as planned school closures, some of our services are changing in frequency from Monday, March 23, 2020.
“We will still be operating our key routes and have lifted the timing restrictions on concessionary passes to ensure that our customers can access critical services and key workers are kept moving.
“If you are looking for information on timetables in your area, please visit: www. arrivabus.co.uk/ coronavirus/
“All other service changes will be posted on our social media channels. The health and wellbeing of our customers and employees remains our primary concern and we have enhanced our extensive cleaning regimes to maintain high levels of hygiene and to deep clean specific touch points in our buses and other locations.
“We want to do our best so if there is something we have not got quite right then please let us know through social media or our customer service team and we will review again where possible.
“As always, we recommend that our customers continue to follow guidance from the Government and public health bodies.
“We will be monitoring this rapidly evolving situation closely and introducing any further measures as recommended or required.”
A Cheshire police spokesman said: “On
Friday, March 20, and Saturday, March 21, police received a number of reports of buses being targeted by young people in Runcorn.
“Bus windows were smashed as vehicles drove past young people.
“Objects were thrown at moving buses near Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy in Barnfield Avenue, Murdishaw, Halton Hospital in Hospital Way and the old Territorial Army barracks at Crown Gate.
“A laser pen was shone in the eyes of a bus driver as he drove past Halton Hospital in Hospital Way.”
Sergeant Neil Anson, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “Thankfully, there have been no reports of any injuries as a result of the incidents.
“Throwing objects at moving vehicles and shining laser pens in bus drivers’ eyes is highly dangerous.
“Not only are they criminal offences but such mindless actions could cause a crash and put the lives of the driver, their passengers and other members of the public at risk.
“Enquiries in relation to the incidents are ongoing and I urge anyone with information or footage regarding those who have been targeting buses in Runcorn to get in touch.”
Anyone with information or footage that may aid the investigations should call Cheshire Constabulary on 101.