New Hospital-Town Bus Service Launched – Will Run Every 7-8 Minutes

Published on: 2 Dec, 2016
Updated on: 2 Dec, 2016

Anne Milton, watched by members of the hospital staff and Safeguard’s managing director (second right), cuts the ribbon to open the new bus service that will run every 7-8 minutes 6am-9pm on weekdays.

An improved, more frequent, bus service between the town centre and the Royal Surrey County Hospital was launched this morning (December 2). The service will be operated by local bus company Safeguard.

Guildford’s MP Anne Milton cut the ribbon and said: “The new service will be frequent enough that passengers need not worry about looking up timetables, they can just get on board and use the free wifi to keep up to date with their emails.”

Anne tries out the controls of one of Safeguard’s Optare Versa buses, introduced three years ago. Managing director Andrew Halliday, who himself drives the buses, if required at peak periods, looks on.

Andrew Halliday, managing director of safeguard buses, said: “Tomorrow [December 3] we will introduce a new bus timetable for our buses and the number of direct journeys between the town centre and the Royal Surrey Hospital, via the railway station, will be doubled on weekdays.”

Credit card sized timetables are available on request.

The new service will run up to every 7-8 minutes on weekdays, from 6am to 9pm, every 15 minutes on Saturdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays and public holidays.

A monthly bus pass will cost £39 and a day return fare £2.70.

“That’s cheaper than even the shortest stay in the visitor car park which costs £4, assuming you can find a space!” Mr Halliday added, “We know that the hospital staff, outpatients and visitors all have a terrible time trying to find suitable parking at the hospital.”

More details of Safeguard bus services can be found at : guildfordbus.co.uk