Tuesday 22 November 2016

Busway defects report - BAM Nuttall responds

I only have the Cambridge News report to go on, so I'm treading carefully (it would be nice if the BBC were to pick up this report and run a story on it, but I've been unable to find anything yet). The CN is currently running this story - it suggests (a) that BAM Nuttall's relations with the County Council haven't improved any, and (b) that they are quite prepared to put right any Busway faults for which they are responsible. Note this last phrase, because the current version of the CN headling on its website ("If there is anything wrong we will put it right") is definitely not supported by the company's statement further on in the story! It's only defects for which BAM Nuttall is responsible they are promising to correct. And there's no indication in the company's statement that they accept all (or, indeed, any) of Capita's findings. If there's one thing we can be sure of it's that this is likely to run for a little while yet! First of all we need to see what the County Council's General Purposes Committee makes of the report. That meeting takes place next Tuesday, 29 Nov.

Monday 21 November 2016

Busway defects - report published

Just over a year ago, the County Council and BAM Nuttall agreed a temporary suspension in what had become an increasingly bitter "blame game" on the defects that had become all too apparent in the Busway's track and foundations (ok, you're right - that's my personal gloss, not the official line!). Indeed, they agreed to an independent survey and investigation, as reported in a blog posting from September 2015.

Well, the waiting is over. The issue is due to be discussed at the 29 November meeting of the County Council's General Purposes Committee, and in anticipation of that meeting the report of that investigation (mostly carried out by Capita) has just been posted on the County Council website. (except for one of the appendices, which has been withheld on grounds of confidentiality).

Documentation for this meeting can be found here.

The Cambridge News has already read the report and come to its own conclusion - the headline on its news story (i.e. the one that was there when I wrote this post) reads:

"Independent experts agree with Cambridgeshire County Council that Guided Busway contractors must pay for repairs"

If you want to read the CN's full story - and why wouldn't you, given that it might save you reading all 170-odd pages of documentation - here's the link.

Tuesday 15 November 2016

Temporary diversion of bus route A

Due to roadworks causing traffic tailbacks, Stagecoach is diverting bus route A until 28th November.

Service A buses will not call at Parkside. Passengers should use the New Square stop instead.

Full details here.

Wednesday 9 November 2016

Change to Stagecoach service A

Stagecoach are making a change to one of their early morning journeys as from Monday 14th November. This follows the withdrawal of Go-Whippet's bus route 1A west of St Ives, and will plug a gap by providing an early morning journey between Huntingdon and RAF Wyton.
This is a quotation from Stagecoach's announcement about the change:

From Monday 14th November what is currently the 0722 Busway A from Godmanchester (0732 Huntingdon Bus Station, 0737 Hartford Main Street) will depart Godmanchester 7 minutes earlier at 0715 and will operate earlier on the section of route between Godmanchester and Hartford Main Street. This bus will also be diverted to serve RAF Wyton. This will mean it won't serve Hartford Marina.

Full details here.

The revised timetable for route A showing this journey (0715 from Godmanchester) can be viewed here.