First bus make changes to increase passenger numbers

First Bus has confirmed that as of today (Monday 13th July), the capacity across its buses will increase by up to 50%. Following the reduction of social distancing to 1m in Scotland, England and Wales the operator has worked quickly to implement the changes safely, in line with changing advice from Governments.
By The Newsroom
Published 13th Jul 2020, 08:38 BST
Updated 13th Jul 2020, 11:34 BST

Vehicles have been updated with new layouts and signs to inform customers of the additional seats which have now made available on board. All changes have been made based on robust and detailed risk assessments to ensure the ongoing safety of customers and drivers.

The move was confirmed by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday and will mean that all First Bus services across Scottish regions will see almost double the current capacity of available seats from today.

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Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said “We are looking forward to welcoming back more customers over the coming weeks and months. Whilst capacity will be more limited than before coronavirus, we will have many more seats available than in recent weeks.

“We know that this additional capacity will be a great relief to some commuters, as well as customers considering their first journeys for leisure purposes. We are grateful to all our customers for adhering to our on-board measures and thank them for their support so far.”

Vehicles have been updated with new layouts and signs to inform customers of the additional seats which have now been made available on board. All changes have been made based on robust and detailed risk assessments to ensure the ongoing safety of customers and staff.

First Bus was the first operator to introduce seat markings in May and this move has been widely welcomed by customers across the UK. First is also carrying out an enhanced cleaning regime to protect against Covid-19 on surfaces, which includes the use of anti-viral sanitiser Zoono Z71. Good ventilation and the uptake in use of mandatory face coverings by customers are other factors that help to keep travel safe for customers onboard.

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In line with the increased capacity the First Bus app will continue to help customers plan their journeys by showing live bus capacity in real time and advising if the wheelchair space on each service is free.

To find out more about ongoing safety precautions being carried out by First Bus, please visit https://www.firstgroup.com/help-and-support/coronavirus-information

Related topics:WalesEnglandScotlandCovid-19

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