All aboard for new on-demand bus services, launching soon
New on-demand bus services will be available to communities between Oakham and Melton from Monday 31 March.
Rutland County Council is getting ready to launch the first part of its enhanced public bus network, with new on-demand bus services hitting the road in the northwest of the County from Monday 31 March 2025.
The new Callconnect service will use smaller minibus-style vehicles to offer flexible public transport, in tandem with traditional fixed-route bus services. Existing bus stops will be used as pick-up and drop-off points, with passengers able to book journeys on Callconnect’s smartphone app or over the phone with as little as one hour’s notice, subject to availability.
The new on-demand service will be completely free to use for the first three months. Services will continue to be free for passengers with a valid bus pass after 28 June 2025.
From Monday 31 March, Rutland’s current R2 bus service will be replaced with a new RZ1 service that operates as a fixed-route service during peak times, at the start and end of the day.
The R1 service will continue to operate as normal between Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Uppingham and Corby. Passengers will also be able to access Leicestershire County Council’s LC1 bus service, which operates between Oakham and Melton with a stop at Gates Garden Centre.
The rest of this new zone will be covered by on-demand bus services, delivered by Callconnect.
Bus services everywhere else in Rutland will continue to operate as normal, with the widening of on-demand bus services to provide full coverage not due to take place until August 2025.
Wherever Callconnect is available, these services will operate from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, with some crossover between different areas to ensure maximum coverage to reach destinations. Anyone in the northwest of the County wishing wishing to pre-book a journey can do so now.
Full details can be found on a brand-new Rutland Buses website, with easily accessible information about all local bus services, including those provided by Callconnect.
On-demand Callconnect services can also be booked over the phone by calling: 0345 234 3344. Operators are available to help from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays.
“This is an important and exciting change for bus users in Rutland, and for Rutland County Council. Our new Rutland Buses website provides residents with a single point of information about the County’s new bus network, including the on-demand services that will be available to communities between Oakham and Melton from the start of next week. We know this is a big change and we’ll continue to promote and advertise the new network over the coming months, to make sure everyone fully understands these changes.
“It is a different way to travel and has so many benefits. The use of these smaller vehicles, operating flexible routes in tandem with traditional bus services, means that we can increase access to public transport in areas of the County that have not previously had access to a bus of any kind. These changes are also greener for the environment and much more cost-effective. We hope people will get on board and give the new service a try.”
Councillor Christine Wise, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Communities
For residents who don’t have access to the internet, information will be made available in paper format. Printed bus timetables and information will be updated at all Rutland bus stops and will be made available to collect from the Council offices, as well as libraries and post offices.
If you have any questions or would like more information about any aspect of our new network rollout, please contact: transport@rutland.gov.uk
Communities in Rutland and Melton that will be able to access the new on-demand service from 31 March are as follows:
- Ashwell
- Barleythorpe
- Barrow
- Brentingby
- Burley
- Clipsham
- Cottesmore
- Edmondthorpe
- Exton
- Greetham
- Langham
- Market Overton
- Melton Mowbray
- Oakham
- Saxby
- Stretton
- Teigh
- Thistleton
- Whissendine
- Wyfordby
- Wymondham