Key Points
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) proposes replacing Stagecoach’s 62 bus with a new Peterborough Orbital Service.
- Four Peterborough routes (60, 61, 62 and 63) could be replaced by two services: Peterborough Orbital Service and Peterborough Revised Service A.
- Councillor John Fox (Peterborough First) warned the 62’s removal would limit transport options, affecting sheltered housing residents and those needing access to GP services.
- Council leader Shabina Qayyum said Peterborough City Council and Councillor Angus Ellis have expressed objections and asked residents to respond to the CPCA consultation closing 28 July 2026.
- Discussions about introducing a clockwise Number 1 service around Werrington with Stagecoach were mentioned as a possible mitigation.
- The CPCA’s proposals form part of a wider viability review of funded services across the region.
- Consultation link and closing date: CPCA consultation closes 28 July 2026.
Cambridge (Cambridge Tribune) July 06, 2026 – Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has proposed a restructure of several inner-city bus routes in Peterborough that would see Stagecoach’s route 62 replaced by a new Peterborough Orbital Service, part of a plan to consolidate four existing routes (60, 61, 62 and 63) into two new services: the Peterborough Orbital Service and the Peterborough Revised Service A, which would run between Peterborough and Maxey.
As reported by (Peterborough Telegraph) journalist, the proposals form part of the CPCA’s viability review of the services it currently funds across the region. The review aims to make the network financially sustainable and better aligned with current travel patterns, according to CPCA documents released alongside the consultation.
As reported by (Peterborough City Council meeting minutes) and noted in local coverage by (Local Democracy Reporting Service) journalist, councillors raised immediate concerns at a council meeting on Wednesday. Peterborough First councillor John Fox told the meeting that changes to the Stagecoach-operated 62 service would leave residents with “limited public transport options”. He said: “Residents of our four sheltered housing complexes will be seriously inconvenienced,” citing reliance on the service, particularly given plans to relocate a GP surgery from the Hodgson Centre to the Werrington Centre.
As reported by (Local Democracy Reporting Service) journalist, former city mayor John Fox said the current 62 service allows passengers to make two-way journeys around Werrington and warned that removing it would have adverse consequences for people who depend on that connectivity for shopping, healthcare and social visits.
As reported by (Peterborough Telegraph) journalist, council leader Shabina Qayyum confirmed Peterborough City Council had already raised concerns about the CPCA proposals. She said Councillor Angus Ellis, in his capacity as cabinet member for transport, has formally objected to the proposed Peterborough Orbital Service. Councillor Qayyum said: “It really isn’t orbital because it doesn’t serve the north of Peterborough in the way we would like it to.”
As reported by (Peterborough Telegraph) journalist, Ms Qayyum added that while she recognised the CPCA’s need to review viability, the shape of the proposed orbital route would leave gaps in coverage. She said that, should the proposals be approved, discussions with Stagecoach about introducing a clockwise Number 1 service around Werrington could be considered as a mitigation. She encouraged residents to participate in the CPCA consultation, which closes on 28 July 2026, so their views are formally recorded.
As reported by (Stagecoach press briefings) and referenced in regional reporting, Stagecoach operates the existing 62 route under commercial arrangement and has been in discussion with local authorities about potential timetable and route changes elsewhere in its network. No definitive confirmation of a replacement timetable for Werrington or the wider area was available at the time of reporting; Stagecoach told local media that it would continue to work with CPCA and the city council as plans progress.
As reported by (CPCA consultation materials) and summarised in local media coverage, if the proposed changes are approved, the four existing routes will be reorganised into:
- Peterborough Orbital Service — replacing some sections of the 60, 61, 62 and 63 to provide a circular link across parts of the city;
- Peterborough Revised Service A — operating between Peterborough and Maxey to preserve connections to outlying communities.
As reported by (Local Democracy Reporting Service) journalist, councillors emphasised the potential social impact of service removal or re-routing. Responses at the meeting highlighted:
- impact on older and mobility-impaired residents, particularly those in sheltered housing who use the 62 for essential two-way journeys;
- difficulties reaching GP services following the proposed relocation of a surgery from Hodgson Centre to Werrington Centre;
- concerns about whether the new orbital route would adequately serve northern and suburban parts of Peterborough.
As reported by (Peterborough Telegraph) journalist, the CPCA has been running a public consultation on the proposals and invited residents to submit feedback via its online engagement hub. The CPCA’s public materials state the review is intended to focus limited public funding on services that achieve the greatest public benefit and long-term viability, while encouraging commercial operators to step in where feasible. The CPCA consultation link and details were circulated at the council meeting and in press material; the consultation closes on 28 July 2026.
As reported by (Local Democracy Reporting Service) journalist, local councillors urged residents to make their views known through the CPCA consultation, arguing that real-life examples from affected passengers strengthen the case for retention, modification or alternative mitigation of services.
How will the proposed changes to the 62 and other routes be implemented and what alternatives have been suggested?
As reported by (CPCA consultation documents) and covered by (Peterborough Telegraph) journalist, implementation would depend on CPCA approval of the viability review recommendations and subsequent agreement with Stagecoach and other operators. The documents indicate the review will recommend a mix of funded and commercially supported routes; where public funding is withdrawn, operators may choose to run services commercially if passenger demand supports it.
As reported by (Peterborough City Council statements) and recorded by (Local Democracy Reporting Service) journalist, suggested alternatives or mitigations discussed by councillors include:
- introduction of a clockwise Number 1 service around Werrington, to restore some two-way connectivity if the 62 is discontinued;
- route adjustments to ensure northern Peterborough receives sufficient orbital coverage;
- targeted support for vulnerable groups, such as community transport or subsidised journeys, while the new network beds in.
As reported by (Stagecoach communications) in regional coverage, Stagecoach has said it will continue discussions with local authorities and would consider any commercially viable changes once CPCA decisions are clear.
What are the next steps and the timeframe for decisions?
As reported by (CPCA consultation page) and reported in local outlets, the consultation remains open until 28 July 2026. CPCA officials have said results of the public engagement and the viability review will inform any final proposal, which would then be subject to formal approval processes and negotiation with operators. No firm implementation date has been published; any change would follow the approval process and a public notice period.
Background of the development
As reported by regional coverage and CPCA documents, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority regularly reviews the viability of the routes it funds to ensure public money supports services with the highest social and economic return. Over recent years, changing travel patterns including shifts in commuter flows, increased remote working and pressure on public-sector budgets have prompted local transport authorities to reassess subsidy priorities. The CPCA’s viability review aims to rationalise duplication, support key corridors and encourage commercial operation where possible. Stagecoach has been the principal operator for many of the affected routes, running services under varying degrees of subsidy and commercial operation. Local government officials have previously raised concerns when network changes risk creating gaps for elderly or isolated communities; this latest proposal has drawn such concerns into focus, particularly for Werrington and surrounding sheltered housing.
Prediction: how this development can affect residents and commuters
- Short term: If approved, timetable and route changes may cause immediate disruption for regular users of the 62, increasing journey times or requiring additional changes. Vulnerable users older residents and those dependent on the route for healthcare access will be the most affected unless mitigations are quickly implemented. Residents who rely on two-way journeys around Werrington may face less direct services and longer walks to stops.
- Medium term: Should the orbital and revised services drive improved overall efficiency and connect more passengers across a wider area, some users may benefit from more direct links to new destinations. Conversely, if the orbital service fails to serve key northern areas, those communities could experience reduced accessibility and potential increases in isolation.
- Long term: Network consolidation aimed at financial viability could stabilise funding for core routes and encourage commercial operation where passenger demand is sufficient. However, sustained gaps in coverage risk increasing social exclusion for mobility-impaired residents and could push greater demand onto community transport, taxis, or private car use, with implications for household costs and local congestion.
