From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, October 24, 2007

THE reinstated bus service T from Topsham Quay to Exeter City Centre will be operating again from Monday (29 October).

Devon County Council's Executive agreed last week to step in to give a temporary reprieve to the bus service which Stagecoach had withdrawn as part of its commercial service reductions at the end of September.

The initial times of the Service T will operate until Saturday 24 November, when the service will be integrated with the K for buses between Topsham, the city centre and Pinhoe.

The timetable, which will be operated by Stagecoach, will have buses departing from Topsham Quay to the city centre from Monday to Saturday at 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00.

Return buses will leave the High Street at 09:33, 10:33, 11:33, 12:33, 13:33 and 14:33.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "The decision to withdraw the services was a commercial decision by Stagecoach, and not a decision Devon County Council took. The County Council felt that without the service, quite a few elderly people would have been stranded or found it difficult to access other transport service. It is good news for people in Topsham and Exeter that a limited service will be reinstated until the end of the financial year, and it's hoped that a more permanent solution will eventually be found."

Services R and S will also recommence evening services from Sunday (28 October).

The reinstatement of the T service and the R and S services in Wonford will cost around £28,000 to run for the remainder of the current year. The services benefit almost 30,000 passengers every year. They are among 200 scheduled bus services supported by Devon County Council.

Notes for Editors:

Councillor Margaret Rogers, 01297 680384.