A new school bus route from Deal to Sandwich Technology School is being launched to help reduce the volume of pupils on existing services.

Bayliss Executive Travel will be launching the X1 service on Monday, February 22, just after the half -term break.

Alistair Bayliss, owner of Bayliss said: “We were contacted by parents who had become frustrated and we will do all we can to help people in the local community.”

Paul Jeffries, commercial manager at Bayliss said: “Bayliss Executive Travel were approached by parents expressing concerns over the volume of children using buses to Sandwich Technology School. We were asked if we could help in any way.”

There will be a limited stopping service operating daily during school term.

Mr Jeffries said: “We believe the added bus will take the pressure off existing services.

“We are looking forward to assisting students getting to and from school and having a great working partnership with Sandwich Technology School.”

For pupils with a Young Persons Travel Pass and 16+ passes, the bus will be at no extra cost.

The service will be a double decker, disability-friendly low-floor bus.

It will leave Deal Bus Station in South Street at 7.40am, stopping at London Road, Mill Road, Mill Hill, St Richard’s Road, Mongeham Road, London Road in Sholden and then to the school by 8.30am. It will follow the same route on the way back, leaving the school at 3.45pm and arriving at the bus station at 4.35pm.

Travel times will vary on a Wednesday when the school closes earlier with the Bayliss bus leaving at 1.30pm.

Andy Fisher, school business manager, said: “This is to compliment the current services and give us more capacity.

“The school is really grateful as I’m sure everyone else is.”

Mr Fisher said the current Stagecoach buses are at full capacity meaning the Bayliss service will make travel much easier. He said more than 60% of Sandwich Tech pupils use buses to get to and from school.

These latest changes will now mean the school will be served by Stagecoach, Carol Peters, Roberts and Bayliss taking pupils to the villages around Sandwich, Deal, Dover and Thanet.

Details of the service can be found on Sandwich Technology School’s website at www.sandwich-tech.kent.sch.uk/ or www.baylissexecutivetravel.co.uk