Travel in Grampian: Inverurie's new bus service under spotlight
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Councillors are being asked to write to the Minister of Transport to request funding to support Inverurie's new type of bus service.
Faced with a declining use of bus services across the region even before the pandemic, Aberdeenshire Council decided to trial the new service in Inverurie.
From August last year the town saw the replacement of buses that follow fixed routes and fixed timetables by what's known as DDRT (digital demand responsive transport).
The broad aim of the new service – called 'Ready2Go Around Inverurie' – is to cater more for where and when passengers want to travel.
Issues are now being highlighted though relating both to the higher cost of running the service and the workload for staff.
A decision was taken in recent weeks to extend the trial in Inverurie for another 12 months to take a longer look at how it's performing and to judge whether it should be extended to other parts of Aberdeenshire.
In the meantime, Alan Wood, the council's director of environment and infrastructure services, wants to request more cash from the ministry.
In a report to a council committee which will discuss the issue on Thursday, he writes: "An evaluation report has been completed on the Ready2Go service and the analysis indicates that the DDRT offering performs well in a policy context when compared with the previous timetabled fixed route supported bus services.
"A decision was taken to extend the pilot project for a further year to gain a better understanding of the benefits, or otherwise, of DDRT prior to deciding whether to continue Ready2Go Around Inverurie on a more permanent basis and whether a roll-out of DDRT services should be proceeded.
"The project faces ongoing challenges related to the high cost of the service, challenging project timescales and high staff workload.
"It is therefore recommended that the chair of infrastructure services committee write to the Minister for Transport to request revenue funding support to continue the service and allow further evaluation into the potential benefits this type of service can have on rural communities."
The report to Thursday's meeting also states "there are indications that the service has reversed patronage decline and it is better catering for what would be otherwise unmet travel needs".
It adds: "In doing so the service is also delivering wider benefits including reduced social isolation/loneliness, improved personal independence, greater employment opportunities and physical and mental health."
Ready2Go Around Inverurie has operated under contract to Watermill Coaches since August 16, 2021.
