Stagecoach Announces Changes to Carlisle Services Due to Roadworks
A number of Stagecoach bus services in Carlisle will be altered from next week due to ongoing roadworks in the city centre, the company has announced. The changes, which affect several routes, are designed to minimise disruption to passengers as a result of the long-running closure of English Street and the upcoming closure of Devonshire Street on Monday, April 28.
According to a spokesperson for Stagecoach, the changes are also linked to increased congestion around Botchergate and The Crescent due to temporary traffic lights. As part of the changes, services 62, 64, and 69 will be diverted in both directions at all times, as the buses will be unable to use Victoria Viaduct. This diversion will see buses taking a longer route to reach their destinations, which may cause some delays.
The News and Star reports that services which avoid Botchergate on Friday and Saturday evenings after 9pm and would use Devonshire Street, will also be affected. Additionally, services towards Carlisle, including the 61, 63A, 67, and 104, will be unable to use Crown Street and will divert via Greystone Road and Warwick Road to access Lowther Street. These changes are expected to cause some inconvenience to passengers, but Stagecoach says it is working hard to minimise the disruption.
Tom Waterhouse, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire, explained the work being done to minimise disruption. "We’re working hard to minimise the impact of the large number of simultaneous roadworks taking place in and around Carlisle, which is causing increased levels of congestion around the city," he said. "From next week, unfortunately, there is an increase in the scope of road closures in the city centre combined with additional closures and diversions to routes 300, 400, and 600 in place for the closure of Newby West Roundabout, plus ongoing use of temporary traffic lights at key junctions in the City Centre."
Mr Waterhouse also provided more details on the changes that are set to be made to the 62 service, which will now terminate at Long Sowerby rather than Morton Park. "We have had to take the difficult decision to terminate our 62 service at Long Sowerby rather than its usual terminus of Morton Park to allow for the extra time needed for the lengthy diversion that must be navigated in both directions for the period when Devonshire Street and English Street are both closed at the same time," he said. "We’re really sorry for the inconvenience that this will cause and would advise passengers in Morton Park to catch service 61 as an alternative for this time."
The changes to the Stagecoach services are expected to be in place for the duration of the roadworks, which are scheduled to be completed in the near future. In the meantime, passengers are advised to check the Stagecoach website or social media for the latest information on service disruptions and alternative routes. As reported by the News and Star, Stagecoach is working in partnership with the council to try and minimise any disruption caused by roadworks in the city. As soon as the roads reopen, the services will revert back to their normal timetables.
Passengers can plan their journeys and check for updates on the Stagecoach website. The company says it will continue to work with the council to minimise disruption and keep buses running on time.
