A trial of late-night bus services in Shrewsbury provided by local funding has been deemed an early success.
The three Arriva-operated services attracted a total of 373 passengers in the first week, following introduction on 24 November.
The N11, N25 and N27, which run until midnight, are funded by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership (SBTPP) and coordinated by Shrewsbury BID with support from the Shrewsbury Transport Integration Group.
Travel was free for the first week, but fares including £2 for adults will be charged for the remainder of the month-long pilot.
Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley says: “I’ve already heard from so many residents, night-time workers and young people who say the nightbus has made a real difference to how confident they feel getting home safely. That’s exactly what we hoped this trial would achieve.
“With Christmas celebrations now in full swing, I’d really encourage anyone staying out late to plan their route home and make use of the nightbus rather than walking long distances or near the river in the dark, which can pose real safety risks. The nightbus is affordable, reliable and, most importantly, it’s safe.”
Project planners are urging the public to keep using the service to support the case for a long-term nightbus. Usage patterns will be analysed over the up until the end of the trial on 23 December to inform longer-term decisions over the service.
Stephanie Mansell-Jones, Project Lead, Safer Shrewsbury and Public Realm at Shrewsbury BID, says: “We’re really pleased with the strong start – but we now need continued and growing momentum to show that this service is both wanted and needed.
“The message is very simple: use it or lose it. Every journey helps strengthen the case for keeping the nightbus beyond the trial and exploring what future expansion could look like.”
