Stagecoach has announced its Stagecoach Solutions product. The group says it will offer a range of sustainable options as alternatives to traditional public transport to deliver more flexible travel for businesses and educational establishments, including dedicated services.
The Stagecoach Solutions platform will be made up of:
- Corporate tickets, offering businesses tailored fare products for employees who regularly travel to and from work by bus
- Customised demand responsive services, available at a time and a place that suits the businesses and its employees
- Dedicated business shuttle services
- Dedicated education bus services to allow better control of social distancing.
In addition, rail replacement and travel support for major events and festivals, when they are permitted, will fall under Stagecoach Solutions.
The group says that the addition of more tailored offerings builds upon others that have been introduced during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Stagecoach has recently worked with the NHS and other organisations to support employee travel. That includes the launch of Stagecoach Connect, which has delivered three demand responsive services for NHS staff in the East Midlands.
Says Business Development Director Neil Micklethwaite: “Coronavirus COVID-19 has demonstrated the positive impact that tailored services can have.
“The extra products we are offering will provide a range of options that enable employees, pupils and students to return to work and school safely and to help companies and educational establishments put sustainability at the heart of their business.”
The government recently told the Confederation of Passenger Transport that an estimated additional 5,000 vehicles would be needed for dedicated home-to-school services in England from the new academic year. They will be part of efforts to remove as many pupils and students from regular bus services because of reduced capacities there.
Early guidance on school reopening from the Department for Education, issued on 2 July, states that pupils travelling on dedicated home-to-school services from the autumn term will not be subject to social distancing requirements onboard. That will allow those vehicles to be loaded to their maximum capacity, although various precautionary measures are recommended.
