Great offers on CallConnect bus this August

04 August 2015

With cuts to budgets making local authorities reconsider their spending, some areas are moving away from subsidising conventional bus services and are instead investing in dial-a-ride services, otherwise known as demand responsive transport (DRT). One example is the CallConnect service, which is run on behalf of Lincolnshire County Council.

CallConnect is a bus service whose timetable is not fixed but responds to passenger requests. This means its routes are different each day depending on the bookings made by passengers. Journey requests can be made by phone or online.

The great news for passengers in Nene and Welland is the series of money-saving offers on group tickets which will run throughout August. Between 1 August and 31, CallConnect is offering a third off normal travel prices by launching four special tickets:

• Adult Single and Return Group tickets for up to four adults travelling together
• Family Single and Return Group tickets for two adults and two children.

Transport Focus research, due to be published later this year, looks into what passengers think about DRT services in three different regions. This research found that:

• bus services to rural communities are often seen as a lifeline to those who need them
• the provision of an alternative service rather than the loss of public transport completely has been a relief for public transport users
• those who seem to benefit most from DRT are those who are able to be more flexible in their travel plans
• the main barrier to wider use was lack of awareness.

It’s really good to see a service which provides key links for rural passengers being promoted in this way and families, in particular, will welcome money-saving offers, at a time of year when they need them most.