BUS PASSENGERS are having to travel ‘like cattle on a truck’ according to a councillor due to insufficient frequency and smaller buses.

Bus campaigner and Dawlish town and district councillor Alison Foden says there should be more and bigger buses along the popular Number 2 route between Exeter and Newton Abbot.

Alison, who uses the service to commute, says there is regularly standing room only and at times, people are unable to board at all.

She said the route needs double decker buses to cope with demand, especially at peak times, and the current situation is unlikely to encourage more people to travel by bus.

She said: ‘I have received reports from distressed people at bus stops unable to travel.

‘One resident frequently can’t travel on the number 2, because when it reaches her stop, all the seats are taken with people already having to stand.

‘She can’t stand on a bus, so was forced to wait at least half an hour.

‘It is not fair that passengers who due to their age or health can’t travel standing are left at bus-stops, because a single deck vehicle has been sent.

‘Excluding these passengers from travelling will not help increase the number of people using the bus.’

She also claims new electric buses appear to have fewer seats.

Last week, she had a ‘stressful’ journey home to Dawlish from work in Exeter.

She said: ‘While the bus that arrived at my Exeter city centre bus-stop looked a smart new electric vehicle, the seats were virtually all taken when it arrived.

‘This meant 20 people had to stand for the next 20 minutes to Exminster, and there were still people standing because all the seats were occupied when it arrived in Dawlish.

‘Having standing swing rails is good for buses in city centres, but not for vehicles travelling at speeds above 30 mph on country roads.’

She is also calling for a more frequent service as the route serves Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish, plus the villages of Exminster, Kenton, Starcross and Kingsteignton.

Recent timetable changes mean Number 2 buses are less frequent so when a bus does arrive, there are likely to be more people waiting.

Cllr Foden added: ‘Residents along the route of the number 2 bus route deserve better.

‘They deserve a regular bus service with adequate seating capacity, to be able to sit and travel safely rather than having to stand travelling like cattle in a livestock truck.’

A Stagecoach spokesperson said: ‘We’re aware of some fleet allocation issues affecting Service 2 and are sorry to any customers who have been inconvenienced.

‘Where a double-decker is not available, we’re currently using a full-size single-decker vehicle, prioritising double-deckers for our busiest journeys, including commuter, school and college services.

‘There are a few fleet changes planned over the coming weeks which will enable us to allocate more double-deckers to Service 2.

‘We’re also reviewing current vehicle allocations to ensure the available capacity is being used as effectively as possible.

‘We have no plans to increase the frequency of Service 2 at present, due to a six month trial last year generating very little additional demand.

‘We’ll continue to monitor demand and capacity closely and make changes where they are operationally and financially sustainable.’