Buses late ‘due to congestion’

PUNCTUALITY OF SERVICES WORST IN THE COUNTRY

CONGESTION hotspots are to blame for buses having the worst results for punctuality in the country, operators say.

Data published by the Department for Transport (DfT) revealed the county’s buses arrived late for 37 per cent of their scheduled stops in 2018/19, the latest figures available.

A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK, on behalf of Arriva, said: “It is hugely frustrating for passengers and operators when services do not run on time.

“Buses stuck in congestion is the biggest factor in punctuality and unfortunately there are a number of congestion hotspots in Leicestershire, which the county council has recognised in its transport plan. “The best way to improve punctuality and services for passengers is by putting bus at the heart of transport networks, which will improve journey times and give more people the confidence to travel by bus.

It is important local authorities work closely with operators to deliver on plans to give bus the priority it deserves across Leicestershire.”

The DfT defines a bus as late as if it arrives at a stop five minutes and 59 seconds after the scheduled time.

A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said: “There’s a number of factors around the reliability and punctuality of the bus network, including congestion, planned and unplanned roadworks and operational reasons.

“We take our role as the highways authority seriously and recognise these factors when managing Leicestershire’s busy network.

“We work hard with partners, such as utility companies, to keep bus routes running reliably.

“Alongside Leicester City Council, we have produced a Strategic Transport Priorities document which seeks to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and minimise environmental impacts.

“We’ll look closely at the findings by the Department of Transport, which will help us recognise areas for improvement.”