Transport for London (TfL) will work with Go-Ahead and ViaVan to deliver a 12-month ‘on-demand’ bus trial in Sutton christened GoSutton. It launched on Tuesday 28 May 2019. Sutton was chosen as the trial location as it has high car use and has been difficult to serve with traditional public transport.
GoSutton will use mobile and predictive technology with aim of finding out whether flexible demand-responsive transport services can play a role in boosting public transport use.
TfL says the trial aims to explore how creative methods, like demand responsive-travel, can add to the traditional bus network, improve the links with existing public transport and reduce car usage.
Running with up to eight Mercedes-Benz Cityline Low-floor Sprinters, the 14-seater vehicles will be ULEZ-compliant and wheelchair accessible as well as having USB charging points and free wi-fi onboard.
GoSutton will operate in a defined area, rather than following a linear route, from 0630-2130hrs, seven days a week. Customers travelling on the new service will be able to book a seat in real time using the GoSutton app, or on the phone.
Michael Hurwitz, TfL’s Director of Transport Innovation, said: “We need to innovate and explore new ways of encouraging people out of their cars and onto more sustainable forms of transport.
“This trial will help us determine whether a more flexible, on-demand bus service complementing traditional routes could help us achieve the goal of making our streets better places for everyone.”
