Rutland Flyer

Rutland Flyer
An Enviro 200 bus operating route RF1 to Corby
Overview
Operator	Centrebus
Peak vehicle requirement	5
Status	Ceased
Ended service	27 August 2022 (routes rebranded R1 & R2)
Predecessors	Paul James Coaches/Veolia Transport
Service
Frequency	Every hour Monday to Saturday daytimes only
Operates	Monday to Saturday
Annual patronage	120,000+ (2018)

Rutland Flyer was the name for bus routes operated by Centrebus in the English county of Rutland and surrounding areas.

The routes were numbered RF1 and RF2, During 2018 the RF1 service carried over 120,000 passengers.[1]

History

The Rutland Flyer services were formed in the early 2000s by Leicestershire County Council, Rutland County Council and now defunct operator Paul James coaches.[2]

On 22 March 2018, Centrebus announced its intention to cease operating the RF1 route.[3] At the time, it was operated on a contract worth £50,392.[4] It was re-tendered with Stagecoach being the only bidder with an offer to operate the route for £270,840 per year. The tendering process was run again resulting in the route being awarded back to Centrebus on a five-year contract for £122,000 per year.[5][6]

In February 2022, the Saturday frequency of both services was temporarily reduced to every two hours as a result of driver shortages although by 21 May 2022 they were restored.[7][8]

In July 2022, Centrebus informed Rutland County Council it was relinquishing the contract for the RF1 service from 28 August, replacement services from Bland's will operate from 30 August.

As part of the change of operator the Rutland Flyer name will cease to exist from 28 August with services around Rutland renumbered with an R prefix [9]

References

1. "Rutland Flyer 1 Bus Service". Rutland County Council. 23 May 2018. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
2. "Rutland County Council reaches compromise with Centrebus on Number 19 service between Oakham and Stamford". Stamford Mercury. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
3. Cronin, Kate (14 June 2018). "SAVE OUR BUSES: Twist in 'bus wars' saga sees operator keep hold of Corby service". Northamptonshire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
4. "Under threat Melton to Oakham bus service will cost five times as much to keep going". Melton Times. 31 May 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
5. "Rutland saves £150k on repeat bus tender". TransportXtra. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
6. Stone, Andrew (24 May 2018). "Rutland County Council approves funds to operate bus service". Rutland Times. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
7. Bedford, Corey (10 February 2022). "Saturday bus services restricted due to driver shortage". LeicestershireLive. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
8. Payne, Evie (4 February 2022). "Oakham: Temporary changes to Rutland Flyer 1 and 2 Saturday bus services". Oakham Nub News. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
9. https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-council/council-news/new-rutland-bus-timetable-to-be-introduced-from-september/