The Combined Authority is moving closer to the launch of new Tiger bus routes, with contracts awarded to bus operators this week marking the latest milestone.
Funded by the Mayoral Precept, the new routes will provide important extra connections to towns and cities for bus users across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
The following routes were put out for tendering:
- Tiger 1 – Huntingdon to Cambridge
- Tiger 2 & 3 – Cambridge North and South connections
- Tiger 4 & 5 – Soham to Cambridge & Newmarket to Cambridge
- Tiger 7 – Chatteris to Wisbech
- Tiger 9 – Peterborough Orbital
- Tiger 12 – Sutton to Longstanton Park and Ride
The standstill period for the tenders, a short waiting period after a contract decision to allow any final queries from bidders, expired at midnight on March 17 for most routes.
The standstill period for Tiger 4 and 5 has been extended while a bidder’s query is addressed. The Tiger 9 (Peterborough Orbital) has yet to secure a suitable bidder, meaning its contract remains unawarded for now. The Combined Authority will now review the tender for the Tiger 9 before deciding on the next steps.
The Combined Authority aims to launch the other Tiger routes in May/June this year.
Tiger 1 will be operated by Whippet, Tiger 2 and 3 by Stagecoach, Tiger 7 by Stagecoach East Midlands, and Tiger 12 by A2B.
Dr Nik Johnson, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said: “Securing these contracts is a big step forward in delivering better bus services for our region. We know how important these routes are to communities and we’re committed to getting every Tiger service up and running as soon as possible.”
The Tiger routes are part of the Combined Authority’s wider work to reform the area’s buses. This includes the current £2 fare cap, the £1 fare Tiger pass for under 25s, improving existing bus routes, and launching new Tiger on Demand flexible services to reach more rural communities.
Further updates on the launch dates will be given in due course.
