A BUS operator hopes to get the government to reinterpret an EU rule imposing long-distance coach driver limitations on them. Stagecoach South is urging passengers to complain to their MP about the ruling which has split the hourly Winchester to Guildford trip with passengers having to change at Alton railway station. Inconvenienced passengers have put forward their own solutions after waiting out in the cold for more than an hour if the new service fails to link up. The legislation, which applies to any journey over 31 miles, requires a tachograph in the vehicle to record the length of time the driver works. Stagecoach South commercial director Edward Hodgson said the ruling is having a serious impact, especially on rural bus services, where many routes are over 31 miles, causing bus companies to split routes to comply. The 40-mile trip from Winchester to Guildford fell victim to the ruling in December. It was split in two, the X64 between Winchester and Alton, linking up with the X65 Alton to Guildford. Mr Hodgson said Alton station was chosen for the changeover as it would affect less people. Most people just do part of the route, either just Winchester to Alton or Guildford to Alton. But the firm knew it would inconvenience some and the last three months has proved that it does. Holybourne resident Chris Campbell is calling on Stagecoach South to address the issue before passenger numbers fall so far that the service becomes unviable and is lost for good. Mr Campbell points out that while the Guildford bus continues its route and turns at The Butts, taking in the whole of the town, the Winchester bus stops at Alton Station, forcing Holybourne passengers to change buses. Many Holybourne passengers are elderly and the bus is their only form of transport. Those wanting to travel to Winchester have a three-minute journey on the X65 to the station before disembarking and waiting outside in the cold for the X64. While there is a seven to 10-minute connection period built into the timetable, if one or other of the services is late the connection may not happen and passengers have no way of knowing how long they will have to wait for the next bus to arrive. The passengers have suggested that the Winchester bus should run through to Holybourne before turning round and that it should be the drivers and not the passengers who change bus. In that way the services would have to link up. Mr Hodgson says neither suggestion would be possible. There is insufficient time built into the Alton to Winchester run to extend the journey to Holybourne without introducing another bus onto the route, and that would not be viable. Nor can the Alton link be dependent on driver changeover because any delay in service would have too great an impact on passengers along the rest of the route. Holybourne passengers are also calling for a major extension to the bus shelter at Alton station, to accommodate more passengers, and for a real- time information system, so passengers and bus drivers know if the hourly bus has left Alton. At the moment drivers are not in contact en route. Hampshire County Council is introducing a 'Stopwatch' real time information system so people at bus shelters know when the next bus is due. It will include a vehicle tracking system which will enable the inspector to know where buses are and will enable drivers to maintain radio contact with central control. The system is being trialled in Winchester with a view to being rolled out across the county.
