Bus passengers in dozens of Nottinghamshire villages will be able to book their journeys 'on demand' as part of a new scheme which scraps timetabled routes. The scheme is being trialled in villages around Ollerton, Retford and Newark, alongside an evening service which will cover Mansfield.
'Nottsbus On Demand' will not follow a fixed route or timetable, with buses instead travelling anywhere within three operating zones where there is not already a scheduled service running. The three operating zones comprise North Ollerton, covering villages such as Treswell, East Drayton and Headon, South Ollerton, covering areas such as Laxton, Caunton and Kelham, and finally Mansfield, covering the Ladybrook, Berry Hill and Oak Tree areas.
The buses in the North and South Ollerton zones will run from Monday to Saturday between 7am and 7pm, excluding bank holidays. The evening service in Mansfield will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 7.30pm and midnight.
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Councillor Neil Clarke, the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We hope that this new service will offer residents a reliable, affordable and greener way to travel. By giving passengers the choice as to when they want to travel, we are also able to offer them greater flexibility with their travel plans.
"In areas that are currently serviced by a two hourly bus service, such as Wellow, Egmanton and Caunton, residents will be able to enjoy more frequent bus travel. And because our buses will not follow a fixed route, they will provide a new transport option in those areas that are not currently served by our bus network."
Bus routes including numbers 136, 190, 195, 200, 330, 332, 333, 334, and 335 will be replaced by the new service. When a passenger is ready to travel, they can book a bus to pick them up from their nearest stop through an app or on the phone.
Smart technology will then match this journey with other customers travelling in the same direction, allowing them to be picked up on the way. Nottinghamshire County Council is working on the scheme with Via Transportation, an American company behind a similar project in Milton Keynes.
Jonathan Hampson, the Head of UK Partnerships at Via Transportation, said: "Tech-enabled public transport services are revolutionising the access to mobility for rural communities across the UK, and Nottsbus On Demand will provide a vital link between the local community and jobs, healthcare, and educational opportunities. We look forward to continuing our work with local authorities around the UK to ensure that everyone has fair and equal access to public transport."
The trials start from Tuesday, August 30, with passengers also able to make an advance booking if travelling the next day. Money for the project came from a round of government funding which saw Nottinghamshire being given £1.5 million.
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