Second bus firm fills gaps on Littleport to Cambridge route after cutbacks

Stagecoach has boosted some services in the county, but made cutbacks to others not deemed commercially viable

A new operator will pick up some gaps left in a Cambridgeshire bus route's timetable after another firm decided to cut back its services.

Stagecoach said it would reduce its 10 daily services in each direction on the number 9 route, between Littleport and Cambridge, down to three from 14 April.

A2B will pick up three services in each direction, which will be subsidised.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) said it had "acted quickly" to reduce the impact.

Speaking about its decision, Stagecoach said the number 9 services had "not returned to anything like" their "pre-Covid customer numbers", adding it had "a responsibility to match our service levels to the level of demand".

Stagecoach tickets will be accepted on the new A2B services and single journeys will be capped at £2. A £1 fare for people aged under 25 will also be introduced in the summer.

The CPCA said it would look at ways to put more buses on in future.

A2B also runs other services across Cambridgeshire, which the combined authority has subsidised

Judith Barker, executive director of place and connectivity at the authority, which announced the new timetable on its website, said: "We have acted quickly to subsidise a new service which will go some way to plug the gaps left by Stagecoach.

"We recognise how important buses are to our residents, helping them to stay connected, get to work, school or college, meet friends and get to health appointments."