Wheels continue to go round for Bedford-Flitwick buses
Monday, 26 February 2024
Passengers who faced losing a vital bus route in Bedfordshire will keep their service thanks to us and bus company Grant Palmer.
Late last year, Stagecoach announced its plans to withdraw the Number 2 bus route for commercial reasons. In line with its commitment to retain and improve bus services, we stepped in to ensure a Bedford-Flitwick service, which many residents rely on, was retained.
Grant Palmer will now extend its Number 44 route to passengers currently using the Stagecoach service, which is due to end on Sunday, February 25. As of Monday, February 26, the 44 will cover parts of Flitwick that would otherwise have been left without a local bus, providing a service to the park-and-ride site in Bedford, and an improved service for Maulden.
The extended 44 route will be jointly supported with Bedford Borough Council using government funding linked to the Bus Service Improvement Plan for Bedfordshire.
Councillor Tracey Wye, the council’s Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, said:
I am delighted the council has been able to step in and keep a popular bus service going for the regular passengers, and hopefully encourage more people to use public transport, even those who would normally rely on their car.
Buses not only provide vital transport links; they are also vital in our need to reduce car usage and cut carbon emissions.