Passengers in the West of England were last week able to board the wide-ranging WESTlink on-demand bus service that was funded via the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
The service, run by a partnership of Via and WeDRT, serves remote areas across large parts of North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and parts of Bristol plus North Somerset.
Thanks to the £3 million BSIP award made to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and North Somerset Council, the fleet of branded, bright green buses is set to grow to 30 by the end of this year, with nearly all of those already in operation.
The Mayor’s Office says the service will be the largest of its kind in the UK, particularly when considering the geographical scale and the size of the 16-seater vehicles.
The buses can be booked online, via the dedicated app or over the phone up to 24 hours in advance. WESTlink will operate to more than 1800 existing bus stops, plus virtual stops, in “zones” across the area. The Authority says the service will improve as the technology “learns” the types of journeys that are most popular across the West of England.
Single fares will be £2 for adults until the end of June as part of the government capping scheme and £1 for children.
The services will come with wheelchair access and spaces for passengers with prams or buggies, and for those with folding bikes.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris says: “This is a major investment for a key project. And it’s new to us all, so it certainly won’t be plain-sailing. Undoubtedly, things will go wrong, but we’re ready to learn as we go along. But I’m determined we get on and try something different, because the old solutions to our transport problems are not up to the challenges of the modern world post-pandemic.
“For me, politics is the art of the possible delivering both for passengers of today as well as tomorrow. None of this will be easy, or quick, but I’m hugely proud to have secured this major multi-million-pound funding that gives us a unique opportunity to shape our transport future for the better.”
The Mayor’s Office notes that about 60% of trips to work in the region are currently made by car, so hopes the innovative approach can deliver a more environmentally friendly alternative.
Mr Norris added: “I’m thrilled that here in the West of England, we’re aiming high and starting to roll out what will become the biggest scheme of its kind in the country.”
