Bus services in and around Rugby could be cut under Stagecoach proposals

Big changes could be on the way for bus services in Rugby.

The Advertiser has learned that Stagecoach is reviewing its services in the borough and has obtained documents containing the initial proposals.

Clifton and Rokeby could be left with no regular bus services, a proposal which has prompted Warwickshire County Council to consider how it can provide an alternative service.

Service 1, which operates in Newbold, Rugby and Overslade Lane, could be merged with Service 3, which currently operates in Long Lawford, Rugby and Hillmorton.

The new service would be named the 3/3A. Service 3 would operate hourly between Hillmorton, Rugby Town Centre and Overslade Lane. Service 3A would also be hourly, going between Hillmorton, Rugby and Newbold.

Long Lawford may only be served by the 86, operating every 30 minutes to Rugby and Coventry.

The route in Long Lawford is amended to come in from the A428 via Back Lane, School Street, Round Avenue, Holbrook Road and Townsend Lane returning to the A428 to replace some stops that were previously on service 3.

Overslade Lane to Rugby could be reduced to an hourly service, alongside Newbold to Rugby – although De Courcey operates an alternative service every 30 minutes from Newbold to Rugby Town Centre via the 585.

The proposals include a Service 63 from Rugby to Leamington via Dunchurch, Stockton, Southam and Radford Semele.

Hourly Service 64, which operates in Rugby, Dunchurch, Long Itchington, Southam and Leamington could be axed – leaving Long Itchington without a regular bus service.

The frequency operating between Rugby, Southam and Leamington would also be reduced from half hourly to hourly.

The following proposals would not see a reduction in frequency but there are proposals for route changes: Service 86 could operate between Coventry and DIRFT running every half an hour between Coventry and Rugby, with an hourly extension to DIRFT. A small change will be made in Long Lawford to cover some stops no longer served by route 3.

Service 96 would run every hour between Rugby to Northampton via DIRFT skipping Long Buckby Station.

Stagecoach is expected to officially announce its final proposals next week.