Arriva plans closure of Buckinghamshire depots
Arriva plans to close two depots in Buckinghamshire. The operator reports the sites are loss making, despite efforts to improve their performance.
Go-Ahead says it is ready to step in to cover any loss of bus services in the area.
“Right now, our priority is to support our colleagues and ensure our services continue to operate as normal for customers during the consultation” – Arriva UK Bus spokesperson
An Arriva UK Bus spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have begun consultation with our colleagues on the proposed closure of our Aylesbury and High Wycombe depots. Withdrawing services and closing depots is always a very last resort, but despite extensive efforts both sites continue to be loss-making.
“Should the closures go ahead, Arriva will no longer operate the vast majority of its services in the High Wycombe and Aylesbury areas. Right now, our priority is to support our colleagues and ensure our services continue to operate as normal for customers during the consultation. We will work with the local authorities to minimise the impact of the potential closures and as many affected colleagues as possible will be given the option to remain with Arriva UK Bus, re-deploying to other sites.”
The closures would impact 14 services around High Wycombe. The X5 (Aylesbury to Hemel Hempstead) would continue to operate, running from Arriva’s Hemel Hempstead depot instead.
Arriva said it will continue to keep its customers and employees closely updated throughout the consultation period, which will last a minimum of 30 days.
Go-Ahead Group reports its High Wycomb-based Carousel Buses operation stands ready to operate the services in High Wycombe.
“We are ready to work with our local authority partners and to support the current workforce” – Martin Dean, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Group’s Regional Bus division
Martin Dean, Managing Director of Go-Ahead Group’s Regional Bus division, said: “We are ready to work with our local authority partners and to support the current workforce, to keep bus services running in High Wycombe. We want to reassure customers that we would take on services as soon as Arriva makes its decision to exit the bus market in High Wycombe.”
“Arriva’s network overlaps with our services which presents a positive opportunity to enable seamless travel if it becomes part of our company” – Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses, said: “We are proud to serve communities in the area and recognise the importance of the network in connecting urban and rural communities to help people travel to places of work, education, and to see family and friends. Arriva’s network overlaps with our services which presents a positive opportunity to enable seamless travel if it becomes part of our company.”
Last year, Go-Ahead’s Go South Coast operation stepped in to take on services in Southampton when First Bus withdrew from the area. The year before, Go-Ahead took on services in Bournemouth as Yellow Buses collapsed, which required the recruitment of over 100 staff in 48 hours to get services back on the road again.