Elderly bus users in Nantwich are calling for timetable changes to key morning routes so they can use their free passes.
They say they are being disadvantaged because the number 89 bus to Wrexham leaves Nantwich bus station at 9.25am.
It means they have to pay £1 for the 20-mile journey – while all other pass holders getting on after use if for free.
The Monday only D&G Bus service departs from Nantwich bus station at 9.25am – just a few minutes before the 9.30am off-peak time.
One regular Nantwich user Phil said: “Bus pass holders boarding at Nantwich bus station have to pay £1, yet five minutes later bus pass holders boarding at Acton pay nothing!
“All the bus pass holders for the rest of the journey to Wrexham pay nothing as it is after 9.30.
“The bus driver will not wait for the five minutes at Nantwich bus station.
“It is totally unfair that only bus pass holders boarding at Nantwich bus station have to pay whereas the journey is free to all other bus pass holders who board the bus from Acton onwards.”
Passengers face a similar situation with the D&G service to Chester on Tuesdays only which departs from Nantwich bus station at 9.20am.
Phil added: “D&G has a service to Hanley on Fridays only, which pleasingly departs from Nantwich bus station at 9.31am, so bus passes on this departure are valid.
“So why can’t D&G and Cheshire East arrange for the Monday Wrexham bus and the Tuesday Chester bus to depart on or after 9.30am?”
A message from Cheshire East Council transport service to Phil says: “Sorry to hear that you are unhappy with the timing of the 89 service from Nantwich to Wrexham.
“Unfortunately across the whole of the network it is impossible to schedule every journey to operate after 09.30.
“Various things have to be considered such as driving hours and inter-workings with other services.
“The total length of a driver’s shift is also an important factor in how timetables are drawn up. I hope that this does not affect your enjoyment of this journey in the future.”
A spokesman for Cheshire East Council told Nantwichnews that bosses at Transport Service Solutions – which looks after public transport in the borough – will look at the concerns.
“Bus passes can still be used before 9.30am for half fare travel,” said the spokesman.
“Services 89 to Wrexham and 83 to Chester are currently out to tender, with a closing date of Friday November 11.
“Transport Service Solutions will discuss all passenger concerns about the timetable with the successful bidder, with a view to revising the timetable to accommodate post 9.30am bus pass facility.”
Lots of things unfair. Passengers from Crewe and Chester pay £128 each way to get the 10.39 arrival into London coming back at 18.00. Passengers boarding in Rhyl get the same train, travel longer, and pay £43 each way. That’s life.
I’d prefer it if every passenger on every bus had to pay £1 if it keeps the services running. 64 year olds have to pay about £4 just to get to Acton from Nantwich, not sure why 65 year olds get it for free.
The bus company have said its 9.30am so it is therefore reasonable to pay £1 if you are on the bus earlier.
If you think this is unfair why not get on at Acton? No? Well there you go, there are greater things to be bothered about! Like why you have two names?!
YOU are the Phil to whom the message is directed. I am Patrick Owen. So you think it is ok for us pensioners to walk to Acton to catch the bus do you? Very few would agree with you.
It’s a pound for heaven’s sake. A pound! Or get the later bus.
If you had read the article more carefully you would have seen that the bus service referred to is a Monday-only service departing from Nantwich bus station at 9.25 am. Just the one bus on the one day per week. THERE IS NO LATER BUS.
£1 for some pass holders but free for others on the same journey on the same bus?
That is unfair.
I would like to make a comment seeing as the story is still less than a week old. You are wrong Mr Murray, bus times are decided by Cheshire East Council not the bus company. It is annoying when they decide that some bus departure times from Nantwich bus station are timed at ONLY MINUTES BEFORE 9.30 am meaning that only Nantwich pass holders have to pay but other pass holders boarding the bus only a few minutes later just outside Nantwich, do not have to pay. This is an imbalance which ought to be corrected.
You miss point. It is ONLY buss pass holders who board the bus at Nantwich bus station at 9.25 am who have to pay the £1. All other passengers who board the bus from Acton onwards pay nothing as they board the bus after 9.30 am.
it is unfair the one group of passengers have to pay while the rest don’t.
It’s just a £1, considering the pass is free during off peak times, I would say that is not unreasonable these days.
You miss point. It is ONLY buss pass holders who board the bus at Nantwich bus station at 9.25 am who have to pay the £1. All other passengers who board the bus from Acton onwards pay nothing as they board the bus after 9.30 am.
it is unfair the one group of passengers have to pay while the rest don’t.
You miss the point. The ONLY people weho have to pay £1 are bus pass holders who board the bus at Nantwich bus station. All other passengers along the route pay nothing.