Bus users are angry after a route’s timings were changed without full warning from the company.

Stagecoach has added more number 10 services between Freshbrook and the Orbital following a campaign to improve the service.

However, any happiness users may have felt has been hindered by a failure by Stagecoach to fully communicate the changes.

“It's a joke”, said one bus user. She continued: “Especially over Kingsdown way where people just have to stand on a road looking waiting for a bus and sticking your arm out.

“This gets bad in the winter as the bus drivers hardly see you when it's dark.”

Councillor Sean Wilson, who spearheaded the campaign for improved services, said: “The schedule is now completely different and bus users have not received notification in the normal way.”

He said that before the changes there were no posters or copies of the new timetable on buses or bus stops on the route.

He noted: “Residents have been turning up at bus stops unaware of the changes. I only became aware of the changes by checking the times on the Stagecoach app.”(Image: Sean Wilson)

Cllr Wilson would have been happy with the changes after petitioning for the “rather unreliable” service to be more frequent.

From September 15, Stagecoach started introducing changes, including on the number 10, to improve punctuality.

However, it admits that it failed to fully communicate them to customers, specifically through notices at bus stops, due to an IT failure - but that they will be posted soon.

A spokesperson said: “Stagecoach West has been working closely with Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council to coordinate enhancements to our evening and weekend bus network in and around Swindon. 

“These changes form part of recent wider upgrades across our network taking place over the last couple of weeks, commencing Sunday 15th September.

“As standard practice, Stagecoach communicates service amendments across a variety of channels and platforms.

“Regrettably on this occasion, due to an unforeseen IT issue, we have experienced a delay with printing and posting the bus stop displays. 

“We apologise for any uncertainty this has caused to our customers. We have quickly addressed this situation and hope to update relevant bus stop information displays shortly.

“We are confident that the upgraded timetable launched on 15th September will be effective in improving punctuality across our local network, including service 10 and that our customers will experience better service going forward.”