'Important' service saved for bus users
BUS passengers that could have been left stranded have been saved by an 11th-hour double rescue bid. Shoppers and commuters using the main 133 route from Braintree through Dunmow and Takeley to Stansted Airport were at risk of having no transport at all w
BUS passengers that could have been left stranded have been saved by an 11th-hour double rescue bid.
Shoppers and commuters using the main 133 route from Braintree through Dunmow and Takeley to Stansted Airport were at risk of having no transport at all when bus company Stansted Transit suddenly went into administration on June 4.
Luckily Essex County Council stepped in within hours to provide replacement buses serving on the same timetables.
Passenger Transport Manager, Nick Roberts, said: "It was important that we saved the service and we reacted quickly to the situation having new operators in position within hours.
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"All of these services will continue to operate as normal until a formal tender process will take place later in the summer".
As a result Stansted based company Excel Passenger Logistics will now take up the contract to provide routes after aiding the council in providing replacements.
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In fact within two hours of Stansted Transit closing Excel had swung into action to get buses running again..
Excel Passenger Logistic managing director Graham Hayden said: "We didn't want to leave people stranded and felt the 133 would complement our network of airport, school and local services in the area.
"The previous operator pulled the plug at 6pm on Thursday teatime, so we moved quickly and had our route 133 up and running by 7.30pm the same day.
"It's an important route for people working at the airport and holidaymakers and we are running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make sure they can rely on us."
Excel has also promised to honour season and monthly tickets issued by the previous operator and are encouraging people to support the new service.
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