Covid: Yellow Buses reduces services due to Omicron

The bus operator said it will run a Saturday service on its commercial network in a bid to provide a ‘reliable level of service’.

Simon Newport, commercial director for Yellow Buses and Yellow Coaches said: "The whole business is determined to continue to provide a good level of service for the communities in which we operate during these difficult times.

"Unfortunately, like everyone our staff are suffering from the impact of this virus and we are trying to make plans so that we can maintain a level of service so that we can continue to serve our local communities."

Routes 1/1b, 1a, 2, 3, 3x, 4, 5/5a, 6 will operate a Saturday level of service.

Tendered routes 18, 33, 36 will be operating a normal Monday to Friday service, meanwhile routes 4a and 737 will run a Monday to Friday service.

Night buses 1n, 1an, 2n, 3n, 5n, 5an and 6n will not operate along with the 31 service.

However, school services both commercial and tendered will operate as advertised.

The bus operator said that the number of passengers using its services are “far below” that in 2019 and it is “confident” a Saturday level of service will continue to be “appropriate”.

Mr Newport also urged passengers to wear a face covering to protect themselves and others and measures in place to protect those onboard include daily cleaning and hand sanitiser dispensers.

He said that Yellow Buses continues to monitor where journeys get busy and that the company would either increase the size of the vehicle or duplicate the journey where possible to avoid overcrowding.

Mr Newport added: “We know our vehicles are safe, we urge all of our customers to follow government advice and we are pleased to welcome back our customers”.

Yellow Buses operates a fleet of 110 buses while Yellow Coaches operates 16 coaches and mini-coaches with more than 350 local staff.

The company operates across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch; East Dorset and West Hampshire.