FROM tomorrow (Sunday January 16) changes to the Salisbury Reds timetable will be coming into force with some services running less frequently.

The bus operator has announced it will be making temporary changes to its services after seeing a "higher number of absences" with an increase in the number of drivers tesing positive for Covid-19.

It says the move follows government guidance that companies should prepare for up to 25 percent of staff to be absent due to Omicron isolations.

Buses will continue to run all routes, although some services will be less frequent, and park and ride services will also change - operating every 30 minutes.

The changes

  • Route R1

Reduced on Sundays between city centre and Bemerton Heath from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes

  • Route R2

Reduced from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route PR3

Reduced from every 15 minutes  to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route R4

Reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route R5

Reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route R6

Reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route PR7

Reduced from every 15 minutes to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route PR9

Reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route R10

Reduced from every 30 minutes to every 60 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route PR11:

Reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

  • Route PR15

Reduced from every 20 minutes to every 30 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays

Emergency measures

“Like most businesses, we have a higher number of absences within our workforce than normally expected,” said Salisbury Reds general manager, Alex Chutter.

“In recent days, the number of colleagues testing positive for Covid-19 has increased. With that in mind, we are making these changes from next week. These emergency measures are designed to ensure that all key workers can rely on us to take them where they need to go, whilst ensuring pupils who use our home-to-school services can continue to travel as normal.

“The measures will ensure there are no big gaps in the services we provide, and we will review the situation weekly, with a view of reverting back to our full network and frequencies as soon as circumstances allow us to. We will monitor the impact of Omicron but, all being well, fewer colleagues will need to isolate and we can restore our full levels of service for our customers.”

The changes, designed to improve reliability, have been supported by Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Mark McClelland, who added: “The bus industry is going through a very difficult period currently and I know that these frequency changes have not been taken lightly by Salisbury Reds.

“I am sure that this will be a short-term measure and we hope to work in partnership with Salisbury Reds, through the recently adopted Bus Service Improvement Plan in the not too distant future.”

For more information visit: salisburyreds.co.uk

 

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