Outcry as bus chiefs cut service between city and the Peak District

CUTS to a bus service which helped people travel from Derby city centre towards the Peak District has led to an outcry from those who used the route.

The “Transpeak 2” bus service run by High Peak buses, is a 45-minute service which travels from Derby bus station to Matlock rail station, acting as a connection to anyone wanting to visit the national park.

Quoting low passenger numbers as the reason, High Peak has announced that from Sunday, July 10, the previously hourly service will be replaced with one service a day. This service will run from Derby through Matlock to Buxton and then the same return journey at the end of the day.

On weekdays the bus will be at 7.05am and on weekends at 7.50am, as for the return journey from Matlock the bus back will set off from Matlock at 6.05pm, or from Buxton at 4.52pm.

Many travellers have taken to social media to share their upset at this change, going as far as creating a petition for the change to be reversed.

The petition, which has been signed by over 200 people since its creation last week, questions the decision made by High Peak and states that the low passenger number reason given by the bus company isn’t accurate.

The creator of the petition stated: “l I know for a fact for many years this service has been busy and it’s a great connection to the tp3 that goes to Buxton, how can it be that bad after all these years.”

Since the announcement by High Peak buses, local social media pages have been inundated with people outraged by the decision.

Annie Howe wrote: “At a time when they are trying to encourage people to use their cars less, why would they take a service away?

“Not everyone drives, wants to use or live near a train station. Surely this service should be pushed, not deleted.”

Voicing his support for the petition to keep the service, Paul O’Connor wrote: “Our rural bus services are being eroded, this service is vital to helping my Aunt link into the Skylink service to Stockport.”

The Derby Telegraph has contacted High Peak and CentreBus, which runs High Peak buses about its decision, but has not had a response. The official statement on the High Peak website states: “Most journeys between Derby and Matlock will be withdrawn due to low passenger numbers. The timetable for journeys between Matlock and Buxton will be revised.”