Rutland’s on-demand bus service launch day faces hiccups as technical issues impact app use
Rutland's new on demand bus service has launched today, but technical issues mean people living in some areas cannot use the app.
Zone 1 of the new CallConnect bus services covers Oakham and goes out east to Melton and west to Clipsham, but communities living in the west of the zone are currently unable to use the mobile app to book a service. Instead, they will have to use the phone service and call an operator to book a journey. Pick-ups by the minibuses will be from known bus stops.
Public transport is managed by Rutland County Council, which this year is changing and, in some areas, reducing the services it provides in a bid to save an annual £300,000. Services such as the R5 that services Ketton have been cut back and the former R2 route that ran seven times a day between Oakham and Melton has, from today, been replaced by the new RZ1, which will provide two journeys between the two market towns each day.
The on-demand service means that customers should be able to book a busy journey a week in advance and up to an hour before they want to travel, but there has been a teething issue on day one.
A council spokesperson said: "Rutland's new on-demand bus service is up and running in the north of the county and CallConnect are able to take app and telephone bookings for most communities. Our software provider partners, VIA, are aware of a technical issue impacting some service users and are working urgently on a resolution. Communities impacted are Thistleton, Cottesmore, Greetham, Stretton, Clipsham and Exton. Passengers from these areas should call CallConnect on 0345 234 3344 for advice on how to make their travel arrangements. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."
Journeys will be free in Zone 1 until June and later in the year the authority will roll the on-demand service out to all parts of the county.
The CallConnect service is owned and run by Lincolnshire County Council and the Rutland authority is contracting the service from its neighbour.
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