PC Coaches’ route patronage rise

Patronage on a route operated by PC Coaches of Lincoln has increased by more than 70% compared with 2011 loadings, the equivalent of 14,000 new passengers. The operator’s 49 route, serving the villages of Witham St Hughs and Bassingham, was funded through Lincolnshire County Council’s Access LN6 programme to provide a link to villages in south west Lincoln with the aim of reducing car usage. It began in April 2013, and at the same time, the existing PC Coaches 48 service to Witham St Hughs was also enhanced. From April to September 2011, 19,847 passengers used both services. This increased to 34,003 over the same time period in 2014, an increase of 71.3%, which amounts to 14,156 passengers.

MD at PC Coaches, Peter Smith, said, ‘PC Coaches was delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Lincolnshire County Council’s Access LN6 team, and to show our commitment to the project we invested in two new Enviro400 buses that cost in excess of £600,000. We would like to thank the public for supporting the services over the last couple of years. We understand that to get people out of their cars and onto the buses it is important that we keep to time, and try to keep the same drivers on routes to build up a rapport with the passengers. Moving forward we will continue to work with Access LN6 to continue improving the service and also increase on the already rising patronage.’