A new on-demand bus service has launched in Swaffham.
The flexibus+ service will be running between 7am and 7pm every day, except Sundays, and journeys can be booked by phone or online. The flexibus+ zone covers 85 square miles and has stops in Swaffham as well as 20 villages and hamlets in the surrounding area.
The scheme has been made possible with a £700,000 grant from the government’s Rural Mobility Fund. This money will allow the scheme to be set up and run for four years, in which time it is hoped that it can become self-financing and continue to run for many years to come.
Martin Wilby, the county councillor responsible for transport, said: “We know how important good public transport is and this scheme will bring good quality, modern and reliable public transport to more than 7,700 people who live to the south of Swaffham. Securing better public transport for Norfolk, particularly in rural areas can be challenging, but this is a big step towards a key aim in our ambitious bus service improvement plan.
“I’m proud that this scheme will now provide a service where sadly there hasn’t been a regular service for many years. This takes the best elements of flexibus travel and updates it with the latest technology offering the choice of using a smartphone app to book and pay and get live travel information.
“The scheme is set to not only improve public transport links between Swaffham and nearby villages but also open up connections to onward journeys to King’s Lynn and Norwich. If successful, this could be a model for schemes elsewhere in the county in the future.”
For more information, to download the app and book travel, visit: www.norfolk.gov.uk/flexibus