Investment in public transport set to improve services

The popular Call Connect bus service that provides a lifeline to many residents in rural areas is set to continue improving transport services across North Lincolnshire.
Richard HanniganRichard Hannigan
Richard Hannigan

More than 3,000 people have already registered to use Call Connect – it provides a more flexible service for residents in areas that are currently poorly served by traditional bus services.

Usage continues to grow – in just one month (October 2017) 2,510 journeys were made.

A more flexible transport service is proposed that would:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• Use Call Connect where passenger numbers are low and the current service is infrequent

• Introduce fixed routes with Call Connect where there is sufficient demand

• Work to integrate school and college transport to secure best value for local taxpayers.

• Invest £1.8m a year in concessionary fare bus passes for older and disabled residents

As a result, there will be:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• An improved bus route between Kirmington and Scunthorpe. In addition to the current Service 4 between Brigg and Scunthorpe, there will be an additional express Service 4 (X4) every two hours between Kirmington/Humberside Airport and Scunthorpe. The X4 will be quicker and more direct to Scunthorpe Bus Station than the current Service 4. The X4 will replace the 366 (Goxhill to Scunthorpe via Brigg) that currently runs Saturdays.

• The Humber Flyer (Grimsby to Hull) will be enhanced to include the Airport and villages along the A1077. This would provide an improved service for residents living in Ulceby, Wootton, Thornton Curtis and Barrow, Hull or Grimsby.

• Improvements Service 450 with an improved service running between Barton and Brigg. Service 5 will continue, ensuring South Killingholme residents can access the route between Immingham and Grimsby.

• There will be an additional loop of Kirton to Service 94 (Kirton in Lindsey to Brigg), instead of travelling through Gainsthorpe. This will enhance the service formerly provided by the Kirton Klipper.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

• The off-peak Service 55 between Appleby and Scunthorpe will now be provided by the 60 service and or the flexible Call Connect. In addition a new fixed Call Connect route will be introduced on Fridays from Appleby to Scunthorpe the service will include Dragonby.

• Call Connect will provide a service for passengers who currently use the Isle Shopper to travel into Epworth and back, with an additional fixed route to run Fridays.

Councillor Richard Hannigan, cabinet member for safer, greener and cleaner places at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are continuing to invest heavily in public transport in North Lincolnshire. Our concessionary fares scheme which provides bus passes to older and disabled residents is one of the best in the country and we can be proud that this is available to residents in our area. As customers demand for public transport changes, we need to consider ways we can improve transport further to better meet their needs. We have found that some routes are less popular than others and there is demand to expand services in other areas.

“We have addressed this and are planning to have a much more flexible bus service that works with the popular Call Connect and other main bus routes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We are also investing to expand the Call Connect bus service. These changes will greatly improve the offer to residents and create a more flexible approach to transport. We should remember that Call Connect provides a service that operates between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday and between 8am and 6pm on Saturday.”