A NEW provider has been found to run a bus route between Warminster and Salisbury.

Wiltshire Council has contracted Beeline Coaches to operate a new service, numbered 24, between Warminster and Salisbury from January 31.

First West of England will provide a service on that route until January 30 and after that will continue to run its D1 service north of Warminster.

ALSO READ: D1 bus service between Warminster and Salisbury will no longer run

This comes after First West of England altered its route which Wiltshire Council says was because this element of the route is "financially unsustainable" for the bus operator.

The new 24 bus service will be operated by modern, wheelchair accessible buses, and the council says the timetable has been designed to give passengers the opportunity to transfer to/from the service D1 at Warminster if they want to travel on further.

For those who have already purchased a ticket or pass from the First West of England bus company for use on the D1 service beyond January 30, they will continue to be accepted on the new service for the time being.

However, once the new service starts people are asked not to purchase any further tickets from First West of England for use on service 24, unless they need to travel on the D1 bus service as well.

Concessionary bus passes will continue to be accepted, and on weekdays they can be used to travel on service 24 after 8.45am.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We’re delighted to have secured Beeline Coaches to take on the running of this service, and I’m sure this is welcome news for those who regularly travel that route.

“Many people schedule their lives around a bus timetable so any disruption or changes can really have a negative impact. I’d like to thank my team for securing these arrangements so quickly and ensuring there’s no gap in service.”

 

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