Popular on demand bus services expand further

The services, which enable people to book a bus to pick them up and take them to a location anywhere within the zone and some key places outside of the zone, have been very popular since they launched, with more people taking advantage of the flexibility and low cost of journeys every week.

The service in Bromsgrove and surrounding areas, already sees over 2200 completed journeys on average each month and has now been expanded to the east and the north to improve links with key places of interest and to serve the Amazon site in Redditch.

As previously revealed, there has been rise in the number of people using the service in Malvern, with over 1000 trips completed each month. The service has now expanded to the north and to cover further places of interest including Ledbury, Eastnor Castle, The Chase School and Barnards Green. There will also be the opportunity to travel between Great Malvern Station and Malvern Science Park.

Expansion of these services launched on Monday 20 January.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council said: "Both the Bromsgrove and Malvern on demand bus services have been a great success. Not only are we seeing more people using the buses every week, but we're also getting some fantastic feedback too.

"These buses cover many journeys across the local areas and beyond. They provide a reliable and cost-efficient way of getting around rural and urban areas with people using the service for difference reasons. From commuting to and from work, to visiting families and friends in areas where other bus services may not run to young families using the service to travel to and from key attractions during school holidays, where a second car may not be available.

"It's a key priority for us to enhance bus travel in Worcestershire and this service plays a key part in doing that."

Councillor Adam Kent, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, said: "This is a game-changer for Worcestershire! Expanding the Worcestershire on Demand service means even more people can enjoy flexible, convenient, and reliable transport at their fingertips.

"Local and rural businesses are already thriving with better connectivity, and now even more residents can take advantage of this dynamic service to get to work, access essential services, or simply explore our beautiful county with ease. This expansion is a huge step forward in making Worcestershire a more connected and accessible place for all."

The on-demand buses run from 7am until 7pm Monday to Saturday. There's a flat fare of £2.50 for journeys per person, with additional passengers paying £1.25 and concessionary cards are accepted. Ticket bundles are also available for frequent users. Veterans can use the service free of charge.

The service in Malvern is the second area to operate Worcestershire on Demand buses, following the launch of the service in Bromsgrove in July 2021. The Bromsgrove service also saw an expansion last year, to cover Wythall, Alvechurch, Stoke Pound and Stoke Prior.

On demand buses offer a great alternative service to the familiar local bus. They provide a flexible, affordable, and sustainable form of public transport, with passengers requesting a journey on an app.

The 'Worcestershire on Demand' app, which has had nearly 9000 accounts created since launch, is available to download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. A passenger will be able to select their pick-up and drop-off location when booking a journey through the app and it will direct them to a nearby 'virtual bus stop' for pick-up and drop-off, allowing for quick and efficient shared trips. The App will also give updates on when the bus is due to arrive.

To find out more about the Worcestershire on Demand Bus Service, please visit the Worcestershire County Council website. If help is needed with downloading and using the app, pop along to one of our libraries where a member of the team can support.

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