Passenger numbers fall dramatically on Sheffield's buses but bosses are hopeful for the future

Both Stagecoach and First saw an initial 80 per cent fall in passengers following the first national lockdown but the numbers have gradually built back up.

Phil Medlicott, managing director of Stagecoach, told councillors at a recent a scrutiny meeting that passenger numbers went down to just under 20 per cent during the spring lockdown and then peaked at 55 per cent in September.

He said: "When all of this started back in March none of us were obviously expecting this initial lockdown so we were all learning.

"We reduced our services in accordance with government guidelines and ensured each area that we operated in had some level of service.

"We had two variants that really affected us quite badly. The first was the two metre rule which only allowed 20 per cent of the pre-Covid levels on the vehicles.

"Following compulsory mask wearing on public transport they allowed that reduction to go to one metre and it gave us about a maximum of 40 per cent capacity.

"So unless this rule at some point changes. we can't actually physically carry more than about 60 per cent of our pre-Covid levels.

"I don't know when this will change, I don't think anyone knows to be honest. I anticipate that won't happen until the vaccine is more likely being widely distributed."

Nigel Eggleton, managing director of First, said central government funding had helped.

"There have been occasions where we've left passengers behind because social distancing has prohibited us from carrying the necessary number but thankfully those are very rare.

"It's likely we'll return to something in the region of 80 per cent of the passenger numbers that were there pre-Covid, within 12 months.

"None of us can predict when we will get back to 100 per cent but the very last thing we would want to do is make drivers redundant and remove vehicles only to have to bring them back to work again in six months time so we've got that balance."

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