TSS rescues Cheshire East's bus services

Transport Service Solutions was busier than usual in July, following the shock announcement that GHA Coaches, the Council's biggest bus service provider, had ceased trading.

Staff were in the office from 7am, many having picked up rumours from social media, and set about contacting parents and schools immediately to put new travel arrangements in place before the school day began.  Emergency negotiations with a number of operators then began in earnest, and replacement bus services were organised in accordance with our robust service contingency plan, with web updates appearing as soon as announcements were made.

Within twenty four hours TSS pulled together to make arrangements to reinstate approximately thirty bus services. Staff were despatched to Shrewsbury to our lease hire contractors to bring back five more minibuses to add to the TSS fleet, and we recruited ten temporary drivers from the redundant GHA staff to ensure that Special Needs pupils were transported to school.

Those twenty four hours proved to be the most challenging in the company's short history. The team's commitment, dedication and professionalism in handling this major crisis is a true reflection of our capability to deliver a quality assured service.