Local Bus Company to Offer Reduced Fares for Hospital Workers

Published on: 3 Oct, 2018
Updated on: 3 Oct, 2018

Safeguard Coaches of Guildford is to offer NHS workers travelling to the Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) reduced fares.

With effect from Monday, October 8, the family-owned and long-established bus company will help NHS staff by introducing a flat fare of £1 single and £2 return on its 4 and 5 bus routes from the town centre to and from the hospital.

The fares are to be available to holders of a current NHS ID badge and represent a saving of up to 80p on either a daily single or return fare.

Cllr Julia McShane.

Julia McShane a Lib Dem borough councillor for Westborough said: “I think this is an excellent initiative from Safeguard and I welcome it. Hopefully, it will encourage those NHS staff who are able to make the choice to leave their car at home to use the bus instead.

“Safeguard provide an exemplary service and I hope this initiative is well supported by local NHS staff as it will go some way towards reducing congestion and air pollution on our busy roads.”

According to Andrew Halliday, managing director at Safeguard: “This special pricing for NHS staff underlines our commitment to drive down costs for passengers, encourage bus use to and from the hospital and thus reduce traffic congestion in Guildford.

Andrew Halliday, managing director of Safeguard Coaches, speaking at the launch of the improved hospital-town centre bus service in December 2016.

“At the same time, the price reduction will benefit a vital section of the workforce who provide an invaluable service to our community, particularly as we enter the Winter months of the year.

“The special fares work hand-in-hand with the timetable changes we made earlier this year to increase bus frequency to the Hospital, designed to support NHS staff shift patterns with additional journey opportunities in the early evenings and on Sundays.

“We increased the frequency of bus journeys between Guildford town centre and Park Barn to 10 an hour on weekdays, increased the bus service along Southway and Aldershot Road to the hospital to every 10 minutes at key times, and introduced a bus every 20 minutes on Sundays between the town centre and the Hospital.”

Darren Little, head of security, car parking and sustainability, at the RSCH added: “With increasing pressure on staff parking and unpredictable congestion on Guildford roads, we welcome this initiative by Safeguard Coaches, which not only encourages our staff to use public transport, but also lowers their commuting costs.”

Responses to Local Bus Company to Offer Reduced Fares for Hospital Workers

John Lomas Reply

October 3, 2018 at 12:01 pm

Well done Safeguard.

Does anyone else remember the days when you could get a “Workers’ Day Return” on the train to London?

It was issued for trains arriving before 08:00 and was even cheaper than the Cheap Day Return. Nowadays, workers are generally treated as sheep to be fleeced.

Perhaps “Modal Shift” could be achieved more quickly if we went back to the days of cheaper travel for work for all sectors.
Jim Allen Reply

October 3, 2018 at 5:49 pm

Excellent news for those whole will benefit. Is there any consideration for returning the bus service to the Burpham estates, withdrawn under the excuse of parking problems causing delays but never returned when the yellow lines appeared. it was said that they were unable to provide the same level of service if the university was to have increased services. So Burpham lost its estate bus services.

Perhaps a reduction of bus fares across the whole of the town would aid the much plied “Modal Shift” in the process?
Brian Holt Reply

October 3, 2018 at 7:08 pm

Bus operators never abandon bus services that make a profit, if there are not enough passengers using the
service they have no choice but to cut it.

Residents need to remember, “Use it or lose it” – What happened to Wood Street village is an example.

Running costs rise every year and have to cover: wages, maintenance, spare parts, tyres, dearer fuel and the steep rise in the cost of insurance cover for both the buses and passengers liability.
Bill Stokoe Reply

October 3, 2018 at 7:26 pm

What a great initiative. Well done, Safeguard.
Brian Creese, Guildford Labour Party Reply

October 5, 2018 at 1:37 pm

Well done Safeguard – a local business operating with regard to local interests!