'Relief' as bus route saved by new company

A woman who feared she might have to resign because the bus she relied on each day was being cut has described her "massive relief" at it being saved.

Tracey Ryan, 51, relied on Stagecoach's 9 service to travel from her home in Wroughton to Kingfisher Academy in nearby Wichelstowe, where she works as an administrator.

The bus company announced it was withdrawing the route from Wednesday, but now Swindon Bus has confirmed it will take over the service from 12 April.

Ryan said she was "massively relieved", adding: "I'm very pleased that I'll still be able to get to work."

Ryan said before Swindon Bus' announcement, she had been trying to work out different ways of getting to work, but there was not any options.

Andrew Sherrington, Swindon Bus Company's general manager, said they are confident there is demand for a high-quality bus service.

"We've listened very carefully to the views of local people about their requirements for bus travel here," he added.

The company added that the range of tickets for the service would remain the same, including the use of Dayrider and TravelPass tickets.

When Stagecoach announced the service was being withdrawn, a company chief said changes were needed to ensure their routes were "more reliable, more efficient, and better suited to how our customers travel".

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