Bookable bus for rural residents expands

A bookable bus service which costs £2 will soon be available in a Gloucestershire town.

The Robin bus will launch in Newent in April. It already operates in the north and south Cotswolds, Berkeley Vale, south Forest of Dean and parts of Tewkesbury.

The bus allows passengers to search for a journey and select a pick-up and drop-off time that suits them.

Councillor Stephen Davies, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said it will "help meet the needs of residents in Newent and the surrounding area".

"We are committed to making improvements to the whole public transport network across the county and will continue to work closely with bus operators to ensure customers are encouraged to use modern, reliable and affordable services," he added.

The service, which made 6,500 trips in November and December 2024, operates between 07:00 GMT and 19:00 from Monday to Saturday. It was set up to improve public transport options in rural areas.

The five current routes are funded by the Department for Transport but the new service will be funded by Gloucestershire County Council.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.