More buses for 17 Derbyshire routes
Published: 24 April 2023
Bus services across Derbyshire are set to have improved timetables and, in some cases, extended routes, with the funding coming from the Government.
We were successful in gaining £47m to improve bus services in the county. Some of this money is being used to improve timetables on 17 routes. Two of these routes have already started, and another 15 will start over the next few months.
The improvements will include running additional buses at evenings and weekends, adding extra journeys during the day, running 2 an hour where currently there is only 1 for example and extending services to new destinations.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Kewal Singh Athwal, said:
“This is great news for everyone who currently uses bus services, and we hope will tempt more people to give the bus a go.
“These improvements are all in response to people asking for more services so we are confident they will be used.
“Using the bus can be a real alternative to using the car for every journey, and for many in the county they are their only form of transport.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden said:
“People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Derbyshire County Council with £47 million to boost its bus services.
“Supporting bus operators in Derbyshire with providing more services and extending timetables across 17 routes is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Derbyshire has to offer.”
Services 55 and 170, which run around the Chesterfield/Matlock/Bakewell/Alfreton areas have had additional buses running from 27 March.
Service 55 (which goes from Alfreton to Chesterfield via Tibshelf) has been extended to Chesterfield Royal Hospital and the train station every day. It has also been extended to Wimsey Way industrial estate in Somercotes morning and evenings, Monday to Saturdays, so that workers can use the bus to get to and from their jobs.
Later evening services have also been added, with the last bus leaving Chesterfield at 11:15pm (previously 6.15pm) and Alfreton at 10:15pm (previously 6:30pm). On Sundays there are 3 later services with the last bus being 11:15pm.
Service 170 (which previously went from Chesterfield to Bakewell) has been extended from New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, to the train station and there are extra evening journeys at 7pm, 9pm and 11pm from Chesterfield (previous last bus 6:15pm) and 8pm, 10pm and midnight in the other direction (previously last bus 6:15pm). These 3 late buses have also been extended from Bakewell to Matlock to fill a gap between these 2 towns Monday to Saturday.
Details of the other 15 routes are all below.
This service will start from 22 May:
401 - Burton, Hatton, Doveridge, Uttoxeter
Extension of the route to better serve the Dove Valley Business Park at Foston. An extra two early morning services in each direction (5.10am and 6.10am from Burton-Upon-Trent and 5.15am and 6.15am from Uttoxeter), and extra evening journeys (8.25pm and 9.25pm from Burton-Upon-Trent and 9.45pm from Uttoxeter) would also operate.
These additions would allow staff to get in for the early and evening shifts at Dove Valley Business Park, as well as improving links to Burton hospital for both staff and visitors.
We are working hard with bus companies on the following service improvements, and will announce start dates for them as soon as we have them:
4/8/9 Burton, Swadlincote, Melbourne, East Midlands Airport
Improving the frequency in the evenings and weekends to create a regular 15 minute frequency service between Swadlincote, Newhall and Burton.
www.flickr.com
