On demand bus service set to expand to Wythall, Alvechurch, Stoke Pound and Stoke Prior

Currently the Worcestershire on Demand Service links rural areas around Bromsgrove with the town centre, bus, and railway stations.

‘Worcestershire on Demand” provides bus transport on request rather than using fixed routes and timetables and has racked up over 65,000 completed trips in the Bromsgrove area since Worcestershire County Council launched the service three years ago.

This has now led to its planned expansion to the northeast of the county to include Wythall, Alvechurch, Stoke Pound and Stoke Prior. Journeys can also be made to destinations outside of the expansion zones including Abbey Stadium, The Jinny Ring Craft Centre and the Clent Hills.  

As part of the new launch, new riders will get their first journey free of charge.  

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways and Transport at Worcestershire County Council, said, “I’m delighted to announce that we are planning to extend the operating area, providing a much-needed service to more residents. The expansion follows the success of the existing services in Bromsgrove and Malvern.”  

“On demand transport creates an inclusive, responsible, and adaptive transport network. It makes travel accessible to the whole community, and offers an innovative, sustainable, and efficient way of getting around. This service, which has been funded in part by the Department for Transport, is a key part of our mission to enhance and secure bus travel in Worcestershire.”

Councillor Adam Kent, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy, and Skills, said, “It’s great news that people living in the area I cover as local Councillor will get the chance to use this fantastic service as we expand the successful service to give even more choice.  

“And in my new role as Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, it’s also fantastic news for local, rural businesses that have never had any bus services that pass near them and will support local people of all ages to get to and from work. This is an excellent way for us to support local businesses that are out of town.”

On demand buses offer a bespoke alternative service to the familiar local bus and provide a flexible and affordable form of public transport. Passengers request a journey through the Worcestershire on Demand app, and they are collected within a few metres of their location.  

The service has 13-seat buses, which are fully accessible and journeys are shared with other passengers. The pick up may involve a short walk to maximise route efficiency, eliminate lengthy detours, and replicate journey times to that of the private car.

On Demand buses run from 7am until 7pm Monday to Saturday. There is a flat fare of £2.50 for journeys per person, with additional passengers paying £1.25, and concessionary cards are accepted after 9:30am.  

As part of Worcestershire Bus Service Improvement Plan funding, the Department for Transport has provided valuable support to launch the initial service and expand to wider areas allowing more passengers to use the service for a variety of local journeys and support the local economy.

If you want to find out more about the On Demand Bus Services, that are already in operation, please visit the County Council’s Website for more information.

The Worcestershire on Demand app, which has over 6,000 accounts created since launch, is available for iPhone or Android.