Rutland County Council is moving forward with plans to overhaul the county’s bus network.
Councillors met in September to approve an ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) that aims to transform local services to make them more sustainable. This includes trialling a new Dynamic Demand Responsive Travel (DDRT) service by Spring 2025.
DDRT uses smaller vehicles, like minibuses, to offer flexible public transport in some areas, rather than a traditional bus service. It uses existing bus stops in these areas as pick-up and drop-off points, with passengers required to book their journey in advance – either online or by phone.
These plans could move a step closer when Rutland County Council’s cabinet meets on 12 November to consider proposals in a Transport Network Review, which asks for approval to change the way bus services are delivered in the future.
If given the go-ahead, DDRT would replace some existing bus services in Rutland and complement others – operating in several zones that help to connect villages with main bus routes in the County, which then provide onward travel to larger destinations.
“Councillors approved our Bus Service Improvement Plan in September. We’re now rolling up our sleeves and getting on with the changes that are needed to overhaul local bus services – making them better for passengers and more cost-effective for the council.
Services will look and work differently in the future, particularly with the introduction of smaller, flexible modes of transport to replace some of the big buses we see travelling round the county with very few passengers on board. We want a modern rural bus service that gets people where they need to go, at a cost that is manageable for the council and in a way that is greener for the environment.”
Councillor Christine Wise - Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Communities
The number of passenger journeys on Rutland’s buses has fallen dramatically from more than 400,000 before the outbreak of COVID-19, to just 176,000 in 2023/24. Over the same period, the cost of running the county’s bus network has increased substantially, with more than £800k spent by Rutland County Council last year to subsidise bus services supported by the council.
The new on-demand DDRT service, starting by the summer of 2025, would be operated in partnership with another local authority and would be free to use for the first three months. A fare of £1 per trip would then apply after the free period, for those required to pay. Services would continue to be free for those with a bus pass. The DDRT services would operate Monday to Saturday from 7.00am to 7.00pm, with some crossover between different areas to ensure maximum coverage to reach destinations.
These changes would help the council make a financial saving of £300k by replacing some existing bus services, such as the R2 that currently operates between Oakham and Melton. Other conventional bus services would still be available, such as the R1 between Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Uppingham and Corby.
If approved by cabinet, Rutland County Council would also consult with the Kings School and families on the future of the R4 Service from Uppingham to Peterborough. This Monday to Friday service runs at a cost £40k a year and transports around a dozen children.
“These plans have been carefully thought out to provide an efficient service for passengers and bring down the cost of running a rural bus network. Doing nothing and simply carrying on as we’ve always done would not be affordable for the council in the long-term. We don’t want to follow in the footsteps of other councils who’ve been forced to end all bus services to save money. I hope people will feel positive about the direction we’re heading in and receptive to the changes we want to make. We’re excited about what this could mean for residents, businesses and communities.”
Councillor Christine Wise - Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Communities
Rutland County Council would carry out extensive promotional activity in the New Year, to make residents aware of the changes – providing more detailed information about where the new services would operate and how to use them.
The Council has made it a priority to improve public transport links and opportunities for greener forms of travel in Rutland, as well as investing in infrastructure to support communities and the local economy.
The agenda and reports for Rutland County Council’s next cabinet meeting on Tuesday 12 November 2024 can be accessed via our Council meetings page. This includes Report 119/2024 (Transport Network Review). The meeting will be streamed live via the council’s website, starting at 10.00am.