From 26 October, Stagecoach has announced that it is temporarily switching off WiFi on many of its local buses. The operator said that it is reviewing all aspects of its operation as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, to make sure it can focus on running services which are safe and reliable. It said it has found that many customers are not using the bus WiFi, especially on shorter local bus journeys.
A Stagecoach spokesperson said: “In common with many organisations, we are reviewing all aspects of our operation as we continue through the Covid-19 pandemic. Our primary focus is to ensure that we can continue running the safe and reliable services our customers need.
“The average bus journey is just 16 minutes and our review has shown that the vast majority of passengers are not using the bus WiFi during these short journeys. In addition, most customers are using bus services to travel to work, college, university and retail/leisure facilities where WiFi will normally be readily available.
“For these reasons, we have made the decision to turn off the WiFi on the majority of local bus services on a temporary basis. We will continue to review all aspects of our service in line with customer feedback and future developments.”
