Boss hopes for new transport message

The boss of a major North East bus group says he hopes lockdown restrictions on passenger numbers will be lifted "sooner rather than later" as services remain less than half full.

Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said social distancing capacity restraints need to be eased as soon as possible and Government messaging on public transport should encourage people to get back on buses.

He said passenger numbers had recovered a little since the height of the lockdown – when they were 90% lower than a year earlier, but said they are still 60% down year on due to social distancing measures.

In 2018/19 the firm carried over 61million passenger in the North East – covering over 19m miles and employing 1,337 staff employed from six regional depots including Sunderland, South Shields and Hartlepool.

He said: ”The challenge is to get people out of cars and on to buses after being told to avoid public transport amid the lockdown.

He said: "At the right time, it's going to be important that we get people back on public transport and have the right messaging and information campaign. I hope that happens sooner rather than later." Stagecoach furloughed up to 55% of its drivers and engineers at the height of the lockdown and, while many have returned to work as services have increased, about 20% remain on furlough and the company refused to rule out job losses.

His comments came as Stagecoach reported statutory pre-tax profits slumping to £40.6m from £101.2m.