Relief after bus company reinstates Sheffield service cut due to coronavirus crisis

Barabara Green, aged 78, of Wincobank, said the First Bus number 36 service from Sheffield city centre to Meadowhall ‘disappeared’ in March, leaving residents like her ‘totally isolated’.

As a result, Barbara said the many elderly and infirm people who live in the area were left with no option other than to get off at a stop on Brightside Lane, walking or getting a taxi the rest of the way.

She said: “The 36 wasn’t great before all this happened - it never turned up and was always late - but since March we have had no transport at all.

“There are a lot of people around here older than me and to get to Brightside Lane was quite a long walk.

“It can cost £9.50 in a taxi to town which is just too much.”

However, bus company First Bus has this week reinstated the service under two different numbers - the number 32 and the number 32A - leaving residents hopeful that their isolation is at an end.

Rob Hughes, operations director at First South Yorkshire said: “We are monitoring our bus network daily to review demand and are introducing services where they are needed, this may result in a change to route numbers, routes and frequencies so I advise people to keep a lookout on our website for upcoming changes.

“In reference to our previous 36 route this will now operate as a 32 and 32A service as a circular between Sheffield and Meadowhall taking in all bus stops previously served.

“To keep our customers safe, we have reduced capacities on all buses and implemented social distancing in seating areas, we are undertaking extra deep cleans and carrying out sanitizing procedures each evening and randomly on buses in the daytime.

“It is still a requirement to wear a face-covering when travelling on the bus and with all these measures in place, we are reassuring people that they can travel with confidence and that their safety is at the forefront of our thoughts at all times.”

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