City councillor fires off warning over timetable changes

11:12am Sunday 11th May 2008

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NEW bus timetables will start tomorrow across York with many passengers in the dark about the changes, a senior councillor has claimed.

Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour's transport spokeswoman on City of York Council, claimed information about the First changes to bus routes and times had not been introduced on board buses.

She said she had travelled on the number 23 recently, and the only information on board the bus behind the driver's seat had indicated that changes would come into force on May 11, and that more information could be obtained by accessing the First website or by telephoning the company.

"I do not believe that this is satisfactory," she said.

"At the talks that were arranged as a result of my motion to council on the proposed changes, I made it very clear that I would expect detailed information to be provided on board buses, with timetables available on routes where timings were to be changed."

She said she had also requested clear messages for passengers about services being cut, such as for number 22 and number 23 users and this had simply not happened.

"I have communicated with both First and the council over this matter and asked that information boards on services affected clearly state what is going to happen before they come into effect this coming Sunday."

She said she had now received an email from First saying it would look into this matter, but she feared many people would not be clear what was happening, especially if they did not travel on a regular basis.

"None of the timetables mention there are to be changes and I await the tide of residents contacting myself and other councillors on Monday to complain."

A First spokesman said: "We have worked extremely hard to communicate to our customers the planned service changes to come into effect this weekend.

"As well as using our internet site, we have put posters on a majority of our buses, and also in a number of prominent places in York.

"Our customer services team has also been busy and have taken contact details from anyone ringing with an inquiry and have sent a copy of a new timetable via the post or email."

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