STAGECOACH PRAISES “HEROES
BEHIND THE WHEEL” AS COMPANY PROGRESSES INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT NATIONAL EFFORT
AGAINST CORONAVIRUS
- Stagecoach
details additional steps being taken to support key workers, local communities and
supply chain
- Public
transport continues to play a vital role in the country’s efforts to beat
COVID-19
- Measures
include dedicated shuttle buses for NHS workers in some areas, support for
communities and additional capacity to distribution centres
- Timetable
improvements have also been made in many areas following key worker feedback
Stagecoach has publicly thanked its employees right across
the country for the fantastic work they are doing in keeping key workers moving
as part of the national effort at this difficult time.
Public transport, especially buses, has become even more
important to the country to ensure that vital public services continue in the
face of COVID-19.
The country’s biggest bus and coach operator also outlined
additional steps being taken to provide extra support for key sector workers. This includes dedicated shuttles and demand
responsive transport for healthcare workers to measures to support local
communities, the supply chain and distribution networks.
Helping the country’s
valuable NHS workers
·
In London, Stagecoach is working with TfL to run
specific and dedicated shuttles for NHS staff working at the new 4,000 bed Nightingale
emergency Hospital.
·
A dedicated shuttle bus service is being
provided for NHS staff at Hull Royal Infirmary, Kings Mill Hospital in
Mansfield and the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. The shuttle is only accessible for key
workers, ensuring they have quick and easy journeys home after their shifts.
·
In Aberdeen and the surrounding area, the NHS
megarider ticket continues to offer discounts to NHS workers.
·
In the Scottish Highlands, free travel is
available for NHS staff in the Inverness area going to or from Raigmore
Hospital and New Craigs between 7-10pm through a dial-a-bus service that can be
booked up to the day before.
·
In Kilmarnock, a new shuttle is running in the
evenings for NHS workers at Crosshouse Hospital through a dial-a-bus service
that can be booked up to the day before.
·
In Glasgow, Stagecoach is working with bus
operator McGill’s to increase travel options for key workers with four buses an
hour between Glasgow and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and shared
ticketing.
·
In South Wales, Stagecoach is offering free
travel to NHS workers as part of a funding
agreement with the Welsh Government, serving eight hospitals in the
region.
·
In the South West, as a result of a partnership
with the hospital trust, NHS workers are being offered free travel to the Royal
Devon Hospital.
·
In the west of the country, NHS staff at
Southmead Hospital in North Bristol and NHS staff in Gloucestershire can access
discounted fares.
·
In partnership with Oxford University Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust, Stagecoach has provided an extension to the 14/14A
service between Oxford and John Radcliffe Hospital to provide access for
hospital staff to a temporary parking facility.
Providing extra
support for healthcare organisations
·
In Hartlepool, the Tees Flex demand responsive
buses are being kept on standby to help with patient transport services.
·
In London, West Ham Garage is being used by the
London Ambulance Service to commission new ambulances and also re-commission
old ambulances with the support of the AA.
Supporting local
communities
·
In Inverness, bus drivers are helping Highland
Council with deliveries to remote rural communities.
·
In Aberdeen, a new shopper shuttle service has
been introduced between the Countesswells housing development and local
supermarkets.
·
In Merseyside, Stagecoach and Arriva are
accepting Merseyrail train tickets on buses at times when the rail network is
not running.
EEExtra support for the supply chain
·
Capacity on buses to the Europarc food
production site in Grimsby has been doubled and all services are now running as
double deckers to help with social distancing. This service has also been
duplicated between Cleethorpes Pier and Grimsby Town.
·
Double the number of services are now running to
Moy Park in Lincolnshire, one of Europe’s leading poultry producers, to help
with social distancing.
·
To help keep the supply chain moving, additional
capacity is being provided to Amazon distribution sites in Fife, Northampton
and North Bristol.
·
In Manchester, extra services are being provided
to service local business parks and the major Amazon distribution centre.
·
In the Midlands, extra services are being
provided for the distribution centres at the Daventry International Rail
Freight Terminal near Rugby, and the distribution centres at Swan Valley in
Northampton.
Encouraging feedback
to enable timetables to be improved for key workers
Across the country, Stagecoach has been revising its
timetables to cater for the reduced demand in travel following the government’s
advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential travel.
The timetables have been developed to continue supporting
key workers on their journeys to and from work, but Stagecoach has also
encouraged feedback from its customers on specific changes they would like to
see. As a result:
·
In West Scotland, extra journeys have been added
between Cumnock and Ayr Hospital and between Cumnock and Kilmarnock to help
cater for key worker shifts.
·
In Aberdeen, temporary timetables have been
enhanced to cater for morning shifts at hospitals as well as offshore workers
connecting to the heliport.
In addition, discussions are ongoing with local authorities across
the country on how Stagecoach buses not being used in public service might be
able to provide extra support with food deliveries and other essential public
services.
Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Chief
Executive, said: “Key workers across Britain are working incredibly hard
as part of the national effort to beat the coronavirus. I’m extremely proud of
all the great work that our own teams are doing to keep the country moving,
including getting our vital healthcare workers to hospitals.
"Our own heroes behind the wheel and their colleagues in support roles are
really putting their country and their local communities first. We know from
the feedback we've received from many customers across the country how much
their selfless efforts are appreciated and we are doing everything we can to
keep our people and our customers safe.
"We are also trying to play our part through special initiatives in
partnership with local authorities and the NHS to support key workers, the
supply chain, distribution networks and other vital services.
“It’s important that we all follow the
government and public health advice to tackle the
epidemic and pull together to support each other at this time.”
Stagecoach is strictly
following government and public health guidelines, including those from the
World Health Organisation, to keep its employees and customers safe. A number
of extra measures have been put in place including:
·
Asking passengers to pay by contactless wherever
possible, or have the correct change for their journey if they can. Alternatively payments can be made online or
via the App.
·
Supplied thousands of bottles of personal hand
sanitiser to employees with larger refill bottles at depots.
·
Ensured that nearly all buses are fitted with
security screens which have been adapted to provide a barrier to help prevent transmission
of the virus.
·
Launched an enhanced cleaning regime of buses
and workplaces, which is being strictly adhered to and includes extensive
cleaning of the key touch-points such as the ticket machines, hand poles, and cash
tray.
·
Carried out extensive customer communications
asking people only to travel if necessary, and to practice social distancing by
using a single row per person if possible, avoiding the two rows directly
behind the driver and keeping a safe distance between the driver and other
passengers.
For more information about Stagecoach or to check the latest
timetables visit here.