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New Nottsbus On Demand zone to launch in south Newark

Residents in south Newark will be able to get on board a new on demand bus service from 8 April 2024.

The new Nottsbus On Demand service is the next phase of Nottinghamshire County Council’s demand responsive transport rollout following trials in North and South Ollerton, Mansfield and West Rushcliffe and will be operating in villages including Car Colston, Flintham and Elston between 9:30am and 2:30pm, Monday to Saturday.

This new service, which will replace the 91, 856 and the 857 bus services, will connect communities to Newark Castle and Northgate train stations, Newark Bus Station, Newark Showground and Newark Hospital as well as Bingham Marketplace, Bottesford Train Station and East Bridgford’s Blue Diamond Garden Centre.

Nottsbus On Demand doesn’t have a fixed route or follow a timetable, meaning that passengers can travel anywhere between bus stops and designated points in the operating zone, where there is not already a scheduled bus service running.

An easy-to-use, free app puts booking a journey at passenger’s fingertips, but there is also a dedicated phone line.

Councillor Neil Clarke MBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We’re pleased to be launching Nottsbus On Demand in south Newark.

“Our previous trials in other parts of the county have been well received as passengers like the flexibility of being able to travel by bus anywhere within the zone whenever it suits them within the zone operating hours.

“This new zone will offer vital connections into towns such as Newark, Bingham and Bottesford as well as allowing residents to travel around the zone. This is also the first time that one of our Nottsbus On Demand zones will link to Newark Showground and we will also be expanding our South Ollerton Zone which currently connects into Newark town centre to allow passengers to access the showground also.

“The key concept behind our new ‘Nottsbus On Demand’ service is that we send our buses to stops where we know passengers are waiting for them, rather than the bus travelling a fixed route past stops where there maybe nobody to collect. It’s still a bus service - not a door-to-door taxi service - but it is far more efficient, environmentally friendly and responsive to public need.

“We hope that this new service will offer residents a reliable, affordable and greener way to travel. By giving passengers the choice as to when they want to travel, we are also able to offer them greater flexibility with their travel plans.

“Residents who perhaps aren’t sure whether their community is included within the new zone can visit our Nottsbus On Demand website pages where they will find out more about how Nottsbus On Demand works as well as a map of the new zone.