Plans for a major transformation of Rutland's bus services will be discussed by the county council today (Sept 26).

The authority's refreshed Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will set out new services, free journeys, electric buses and an on-demand scheme, which aims to get more people travelling by bus around the county's roads.

Since the pandemic the number of bus journeys made in Rutland has plummeted, with journeys made during the pandemic just a quarter of what had gone before. In 2018 there were 414,000 passenger trips made in the county, whereas the number taken in the past three years since lockdown is at around 175,000 trips.

The council currently heavily subsidises many services.

Cllr Christine Wise (Lib Dem – Uppingham), cabinet member for transport, said: "Public transport will never be the answer to everyone's travel needs but there's more we can do in Rutland to make buses a viable alternative for a larger number of people. It's also important to remember that public transport is a lifeline for those who don't have access to a car – it's not just a 'nice-to-have'.

"Residents have told us they'd be more likely to use buses if they were more frequent and went to more places at the right times. They also want better journey information, improved waiting facilities and cleaner, more environmentally friendly vehicles. This feedback has formed the basis of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, which aims to enhance passenger experience and the overall quality of service they receive. 

The full council meeting takes place tonight at 7pm (LDRS).

"This is no small task and won't happen overnight. Our BSIP details the initial improvements we want to make and we're excited about what it could mean for public transport in the county."

The refresh of Rutland's bus plan comes after the Department for Transport issued guidance to all councils earlier this year, requesting they complete a review.

Rutland has been allocated just over £739,000 of BSIP grant funding, which must be spent on local transport services. BSIP funding of £253,280 was allocated by Rutland County Council in 2023/24. The council says the remaining £486,280 will help to support the development of Demand Responsive Transport Services between 2025 and 2027.

Cllr Wise said: "We want to trial Demand Responsive Transport as a different approach that could help us overcome some of the challenges we face when trying to operate buses in a rural area. By introducing smaller, flexible modes of transport, we believe we can reach more people more easily and provide a better level of service in towns and villages."

In a media release the authority said: "Rutland has a well-established local bus network that links towns and villages around the county. Most services receive a subsidy or financial support from the county council at a cost of more than £550,000 each year. This level of funding is needed because Rutland has a relatively low number of fare-paying bus passengers and longer than average trip distances, leading to higher operating costs."

The authority is using levelling up funding from the government to create a new transport hub in Oakham – although the plans hit a roadblock over safety concerns – which will coordinate new routes to and from Melton.

 Among the ideas in the new plan the authority is proposing to bring in this financial year are:

• Free travel on all local bus services during December
• Free bus travel for young people during school holidays and additional services at these times
• Piloting the expansion of a Countywide Demand Responsive Travel (DRT) service via a trial in Spring 2025

From next year the council says it will seek additional funding to introduce:

• Evening and Sunday services
• A programme to improve and replace bus stops and shelters
• A youth ticketing scheme to reduce fares
• More electric buses
• More free travel initiatives

The full council meeting takes place today (Sept 26) at Catmose House, Oakham at 7pm.