VIEWPOINT: Our Students Deserve Better—Fix the 86 Bus Service

Imagine starting your school day not knowing if you’ll even get there on time—or if you’ll have to stand, crammed like sardines, on a bus hurtling down the A34. This is the reality for students from Whitchurch and Overton who rely on the 86 bus to get to Peter Symonds College in Winchester. And frankly, it’s not good enough.

Parents have been raising the alarm for months, and yet, nothing has changed. The drastic service cuts last August—going from 12 journeys down to just four—have left students struggling with overcrowded, unreliable, and overpriced transport. With more than 70 parents now speaking out, it’s clear this isn’t an isolated issue; it’s a crisis.

Safety should never be a compromise. Students are being forced to stand for long journeys on high-speed roads, increasing the risk of serious injury if something goes wrong. And yet, Stagecoach, the company responsible for running the service, seems unwilling to take responsibility. If a private vehicle was carrying that many people in such conditions, it would be illegal—so why is it acceptable for a public transport provider?

Reliability is another major concern. Parents shouldn’t have to juggle emergency lifts and alternative arrangements just because a bus company can’t stick to its timetable. The fact that some families have opted to pay daily fares rather than commit to an annual pass—because the service is so unreliable—is a damning indictment of how bad things have become.

Then there’s the cost. For many families, a bus pass is a major expense, yet what they’re paying for is a service that frequently fails them. If a student’s bus doesn’t show up, they’re left out of pocket—and worse, potentially missing crucial lessons. Education should be accessible, but this bus situation is creating yet another barrier.

Local councillors, including Chloe Ashfield and Colin Phillimore, have spoken out, but words aren’t enough. We need action. Stagecoach must be held accountable and make urgent improvements:

• Increase the number of journeys to reduce overcrowding.
• Improve reliability so students aren’t stranded at bus stops.
• Review pricing policies to ensure families aren’t unfairly paying for a broken service.
• Enhance communication so passengers know what’s happening in real time.

A thousand residents signed a petition to stop these cuts. Parents and students have spoken up. Local councillors have raised concerns. The question now is: will Stagecoach listen? Because if they don’t, they are actively limiting young people’s education choices—and that is simply unacceptable.

Our students deserve better. It’s time to fix the 86 bus service.