COVID-19 : Carousel

We're safe and ready when you are!

Last updated: 02/07/2020

In line with guidance from the government, our buses have started returning to what can be considered our ‘normal’ level of service.

Most services have now returned to timetables that are similar to their pre-coronavirus times on weekdays and some service changes were introduced from 1st June 2020. Frequencies on many evening services have been reduced due to the continued closure of leisure and entertainment venues and services on weekends are running to special timetables. From Saturday 11th July 2020, as lockdown measures are being eased further, your 1/1A (Route One) service will return to operating to a normal timetable.

View timetables and understand current frequencies

To help you travel safely on our buses, you can use our new When2Travel feature allowing you to check predicted bus capacities before you go!

Face coverings are now required on public transport

Find out more

FAQs

Who may and may not travel?

Consider if your journey is necessary. This will help keep us to the transport network running and allow people who need to make essential journeys to travel.

Don’t travel by bus if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.

See the government guidelines for passengers. These also advise you not to travel if you are clinically extremely vulnerable. We therefore recommend you take expert medical advice on this before you do travel if you are unsure whether or not this classification refers to you.

What timetable is being operated?

Most services have returned to timetables that are similar to their pre-coronavirus times on weekdays. Frequencies on many evening services have been reduced due to the continued closure of leisure and entertainment venues and services on weekends are running to special timetables.

Are there any timetable changes soon?

Our timetables last changed on Monday 1st June as outlined above.

From Saturday 11th July 2020, as lockdown measures are being eased further, your 1/1A (Route One) service will return to operating to a normal timetable.

We have no further changes planned at the moment, but we're constantly reviewing the situation and we will provide advance notice of any future changes on this page and on our Twitter page.

What if I'm disabled and require assistance?

If a disabled passenger requires assistance they should request this in the same way they usually would. For more details please see our accessibility page. If you are concerned about asking our drivers for assistance while maintaining social distancing, consider using our journey assistance cards which can be downloaded here.

What steps will you take to maximise social distancing and how can we help?

To help customers to effectively maintain social distancing, the capacity of our buses has temporarily been reduced to the range displayed on the vehicle. The exact capacity will vary depending on those passengers who can sit closer together from the same household, and our drivers have been asked to use their discretion. Find out more.

We ask that you use alternate rows when travelling with us and sit by the window, leaving an empty row in front and behind you. We also ask that you socially distance yourself from others whilst waiting at bus stops, and stand back to let other people off the bus before boarding.

Do I need to wear a face covering?

Yes, you now need to wear a face covering on public transport. This can be a mask, scarf, snood, bandana or even something you can make out of an old t-shirt. There are also some people that will be exempt from wearing a face covering - see our latest guidance.

What additional cleaning is being carried out?

Our buses are being cleaned regularly and we have implemented additional daily touchpoint cleaning using a virucidal chemical, which helps prevent viruses and bacteria from settling on regularly touched surfaces. Watch our safety video above to see some of the things we've done to enhance the safety on-board our buses.

Is hand sanitiser available on-board?

No, we are unable to provide hand sanitisers. We ask that you bring your own and wash your hands as often as possible, at least before and after every journey.

When is the best time to travel?

If you can, we ask that you travel outside of peak times to save space for those that have no other option but to travel at that time.

What happens if the bus I'm waiting for is full?

Unfortunately, our capacity for each bus is reduced at the moment due to social distancing. If a bus is full, you may see the ‘bus full' sign on the front of the bus and we kindly ask that you are prepared to wait for the next bus in cases like this. So far, we are only seeing a small number of journeys around peak time that are near our social distancing capacity. We are monitoring things daily and should there be any recurring issues, we'll look at providing further journeys.

What happens if the last bus of the day is full?

We won't leave anyone stranded with our last buses. We're continually monitoring passenger numbers and our last buses aren't reaching their “socially distanced” capacities. We'll continue to monitor all journeys and should anything change, we'll look to increase frequencies or duplicate journeys to ensure you can travel.

Can I pay with cash on the bus?

We only ask that you pay with cash if you have no other option. Please try to provide the correct fare. Where possible, use contactless payments or the app instead. We increased the spend limit for contactless payments on our buses from £30 to £45 from 3rd April 2020.

You can also use Freeflow, our new convenient way to pay for your bus travel that’s completely touch free.

Are there any travel shops open?

Sorry, our travel shops are temporarily closed. If you require any help, our customer services team are online from Monday to Friday between 09:00hrs and 17:00hrs. You can call us on 01494 450151.

How can I top up my key?

You can still top up your key card as normal via our online portal or by using the machine at High Wycombe bus station.

Who can I contact regarding bespoke transport needs?

Do you need to arrange transport for you or your key worker colleagues? We have a team ready to help with bespoke travel requirements. Get in touch by emailing info@carouselbuses.co.uk.

COVID-19 safety information and travel advice

Is your journey necessary?

Before you travel, you should consider whether your journey is necessary. You can reduce pressure on the public transport system and road network by travelling off peak.