Grant Palmer Limited, Bedfordshire’s family owned operator since 1999 have been working closely with Bedford Borough Council to deliver rural services across Bedford for a number of years.
Across the transport sector, bus, train and haulage companies are being affected by staff shortages.
GPL have worked hard to minimise the effect of staff shortages to customers but have seen a higher than average number of bus service cancellations in the past fortnight.
In order to continue to provide a high quality and dependable bus service for residents across the borough GPL will be making a small number of changes to bus routes.
The changes will ensure that services can continue to operate and connect rural communities to education, healthcare and shopping.
Service 22 which operates between Bedford Bus Station, Peppercorn Park, The Limes and Anjulita Court will now operate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.
Service 27 will continue to operate on weekdays between Wilden and Mark Rutherford School and additional off-peak journeys will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
The morning timetable on services 28 and 28A will be amended to provide a peak time journey in to Bedford amalgamating both routes. All other journeys on services 28 and 28A are unaffected.
Thomas Manship, Executive Assistant for Grant Palmer Limited comments: “we have delivered a reliable network of services for residents across North Bedford for a number of years. We have invested over £1 million pounds in new vehicles for our services and most recently upgraded our ticketing systems to offer contactless payment.
“Unfortunately like many other transport operators we have been affected by staff sickness and driver shortages. Our revised timetables will improve reliability whilst continuing to offer key connections for residents in rural communities.”
Customers can find full timetable information on www.grantpalmer.com or by calling 01525 719719. Live bus tracking, timetable information and service updates are all available on the Grant Palmer app- available for Apple and Android smartphones. Roadside information will be updated for the changes and paper timetables available in due course.