Council steps in following Nippybus decision to cease operating
Somerset County Council has stepped in to organise alternative transport after a local bus company ceased to operate.
The Council was given no prior notice of a decision by Nippybus taken late yesterday (Sunday) to cease operating with immediate effect.
Nippybus ran several school and public bus contracts as well as a number of demand responsive transport (DRT) services and private services.
More than 300 students were affected across 4 schools – Stanchester Academy, Huish Episcopi Academy, Ansford Academy and Keinton Mandeville Primary School – this morning. Although the majority of services did run, some were delayed by up to an hour.
With the support of other operators, council officers have managed to find replacement services for all of the routes for this afternoon and from tomorrow, and will be making permanent arrangements as soon as possible.
Text messages were sent to parents to advise them of delays and alternative arrangements.
A number of public bus services were also affected and council officers have been working with bus operators to find replacements.
County Tickets will continue to be valid on all replacement services.
The following information was correct at 5pm on 30 October – please check back for updates
N8 Yeovil to West Coker / N9 Martock to Yeovil.
A new combined service 52 operated by Buses of Somerset will be in place from Wednesday 1 November. Details of the new timetable will be available shortly.
667 Street to Wincanton
South West Coaches have taken on this service and will run the same timetable as before from Tuesday 31 October
669 Shepton Mallet to Street
We are currently in discussions with an operator regarding a replacement service on this route, but it will not be in place tomorrow. For Tuesday 31 October, extra capacity will be made available on service 649 provided by Frome Minibuses, which will operate via the route of the 669 between Shepton Mallet and Strode College. The vehicle will have capacity for an extra 30 passengers to provide transport for College students.
N6/N8/N11 – Demand Responsive services
In the short term we are talking to Community Transport providers about establishing a limited Dial-a-Ride service in the areas previously served by Nippybus DRT. We hope to provide details in the next 24/48 hours
The Council was given no prior notice of a decision by Nippybus taken late yesterday (Sunday) to cease operating with immediate effect.
Nippybus ran several school and public bus contracts as well as a number of demand responsive transport (DRT) services and private services.
More than 300 students were affected across 4 schools – Stanchester Academy, Huish Episcopi Academy, Ansford Academy and Keinton Mandeville Primary School – this morning. Although the majority of services did run, some were delayed by up to an hour.
With the support of other operators, council officers have managed to find replacement services for all of the routes for this afternoon and from tomorrow, and will be making permanent arrangements as soon as possible.
Text messages were sent to parents to advise them of delays and alternative arrangements.
A number of public bus services were also affected and council officers have been working with bus operators to find replacements.
County Tickets will continue to be valid on all replacement services.
The following information was correct at 5pm on 30 October – please check back for updates
N8 Yeovil to West Coker / N9 Martock to Yeovil.
A new combined service 52 operated by Buses of Somerset will be in place from Wednesday 1 November. Details of the new timetable will be available shortly.
667 Street to Wincanton
South West Coaches have taken on this service and will run the same timetable as before from Tuesday 31 October
669 Shepton Mallet to Street
We are currently in discussions with an operator regarding a replacement service on this route, but it will not be in place tomorrow. For Tuesday 31 October, extra capacity will be made available on service 649 provided by Frome Minibuses, which will operate via the route of the 669 between Shepton Mallet and Strode College. The vehicle will have capacity for an extra 30 passengers to provide transport for College students.
N6/N8/N11 – Demand Responsive services
In the short term we are talking to Community Transport providers about establishing a limited Dial-a-Ride service in the areas previously served by Nippybus DRT. We hope to provide details in the next 24/48 hours
