Agenda item

Stagecoach to update on service developments.

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Mr P Knight, Managing Director, Stagecoach South West, to his first meeting of this Committee and he spoke at the invitation of the Committee.

 

Mr Knight reported on recent improving service reliability (with only 1% lost miles for all reasons over the past 4 weeks - notably with 0.3% lost miles for all reasons in the past 7 days) which compared favourably against 7% of lost miles during the last summer period. There were also staffing improvements with only 21 vacancies across the south west business (within the normal range for vacancies) and 40 trainees in progress; and patronage was at 75% of the pre-pandemic level, although it was noted that concessionary patronage was lower at 65%. There had been 82K sales of the £2 flat fare introduced nationally by the DfT (with Exeter – Exmouth and Exeter - Tiverton being the most popular routes).

 

Mr Knight responded to Members’ questions as follows:

 

·         32 of the trainee drivers were earmarked for Exeter and its satellite depots and they took 12 weeks to train; and drivers were required to provide 1 weeks’ notice should they wish to leave. This created a resourcing imbalance but the company had decided it was best to retain the 1 week notice requirement as was commonplace across the sector;

·         in regard to the Stagecoach App there were some reliability issues relating to data transfer (and on-bus audio announcements and at the bus stops that had real time bus departure information) and this was an ongoing challenge and priority for the Company to rectify on an ongoing basis;

·         a Company review of bus running times (for peak and non-peak periods) to create a more robust timetable;

·         whilst noting the reliability improvement, it was acknowledged that frequency levels had decreased and it was the Company’s aim (with its partners) to improve underlying demand to improve frequencies, as well as ensuring good reliability;

·         Mr Knight noted and welcomed the local Member’s observation in regard to the E2 service and its access to a more central point into the High Street and that it was patronised with some over-crowding at times on this service;

·         confirmation that 2 staff had been allocated as ‘floor workers’ at the Paris Street Bus Station to assist patrons and consideration was being given to addressing anti-social behaviour (with other agencies/partners) with connection to the Exeter City control room and extended use of CCTV, as well as robust toilet turnstiles;

·         acknowledgement of concern expressed by the local member about the level of services in the Exwick area and the general lack of public confidence and hope for improved services and reliability in the future;

·         concessionary fares represented approximately 60% of ticket sales based on national trends and the ongoing work through the new Enhanced Partnership to improve their use to pre-pandemic levels;

·         there were ongoing discussions in regard to the fare structure following the cessation (in approximately 10 weeks) of the flat £2 fare scheme, noting the small level of government support for bus travel relative to the rail travel to fund/subsidise ticketing initiatives; and

·         the Company was reviewing the fare structure in regard to group/family ticket discounts.

 

The Chair thanked Mr Knight for his attendance, report and responses to Members’ questions