Salute our 'Heroes Behind the Wheel' keeping Northamptonshire's buses running for essential workers

Bus company Stagecoach is saluting their Heroes Behind the Wheel who keep services running in Northamptonshire during the Covid-19 crisis.

The county's major bus operator pledged to keep their vehicles on the road for NHS staff and other key workers and to support local communities despite an 85% drop in revenue following the coronavirus lockdown on March 23.

An emergency timetable introduced two weeks ago has been improved following feedback from those passengers who need to travel.

And bosses at Stagecoach have publicly thanked the drivers and other staff for the fantastic work they are doing in as part of the national effort.

Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach chief executive, said: “Key workers across Britain are working incredibly hard as part of the national effort to beat the coronavirus. I’m extremely proud of all the great work that our own teams are doing to keep the country moving, including getting our vital healthcare workers to hospitals.

"Our own Heroes Behind the Wheel and their colleagues in support roles are really putting their country and their local communities first. We know from the feedback we've received from many customers across the country how much their selfless efforts are appreciated and we are doing everything we can to keep our people and our customers safe.

"We are also trying to play our part through special initiatives in partnership with local authorities and the NHS to support key workers, the supply chain, distribution networks and other vital services.

“It’s important that we all follow the government and public health advice to tackle the epidemic and pull together to support each other at this time.”

As well as fitting timetables around the needs of staff at Northamptonshire's two acute NHS hospitals, Stagecoach have added extra services for the distribution centres at at Swan Valley in Northampton and the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal near Crick.

But they have put strict measures in place in an attempt to keep drivers and passengers safe on their buses.

This includes asking passengers to pay by contactless or in advance via the Stagecoach website or app, or have the correct change for their journey.

Nearly all buses have been fitted with security screens and thousands of refillable bottles of hand sanitiser distributed to protect drivers.