Extra buses laid on for this week's return to school

Bus operators will be laying on extra school run services when secondary school children return to classes on Thursday.

Surrey County Council has confirmed that bus companies contracted to serve both Rodborough and Broadwater schools will run with extra capacity to allow for social distancing.

Stagecoach has said it plans to run an extra bus along its route 71, which carries pupils from Chiddingfold, Witley and Godalming. The company says it will lay on the second bus at school start and finish times to provide extra capacity if required. The extra bus will be for school students only.

The Compass Bus route 45 from Busbridge, which normally sees two buses each way, will be increased to three from the start of term. The company says the extra vehicle is being laid on to remove the need for any students to stand during the journey.

Some Broadwater pupils use the Stagecoach route 46 bus from Elstead, Shackleford, Hurtmore and Charterhouse.

Broadwater pupils who use the Carlone Buses route 694 from Tongham, Ash, Puttenham and Compton will see their vehicle run two trips: most of the students board at Compton and the bus will perform two trips covering Compton to spread the load, the council says.

The council says: "Only one or two Broadwater students, if any, normally use this route to school, and the normal bus is expected to cope within the social distancing requirements."