Mayor Dr Nik Johnson boards new 18A bus service to see impact of Combined Authority funding
Cambridgeshire’s mayor has been finding out how funding for buses from the Combined Authority is benefiting local residents and students travelling to college.
The first eight of 30 Combined Authority-funded new or improved bus services launched this month and are part of a broader programme to transform buses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
One of these improvements is the upgraded Whippet 18 service, which connects Cambridge, Comberton, Cambourne, and St Neots.
The 18 now provides extra peak time journeys to help meet the needs of students travelling to Comberton Village College. An extra morning journey from St Neots to the college was introduced, along with a new afternoon service covering Caxton, Great Gransden, and Abbotsley.
The second key improvement is additional journeys during the day between Cambridge and Cambourne (numbered 18A) – in part a response to the growth in Cambourne and demand for public transport. Whippet has also committed to extending the service to West Cambourne once road infrastructure is completed. The 18A route now serves Newnham, Barton, Comberton, Bourn, and Cambourne.
Early feedback indicates that the upgraded services are being well used by students, commuters, and others travelling around the region. The buses also accept the popular Tiger bus pass, offering £1 fares for under-25s.
Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “The number of people hopping on board showed just how beneficial these improvements are. The changes address clear local needs, especially for students getting to college, and it’s great to see the impact already. With more new or improved services launching this year and the Tiger pass proving very popular, this is just the beginning of a much-needed transformation of our bus network.”
Jonathan Ziebart, managing director of Ascendal UK, added: “Whippet is delighted to be expanding the bus network in Cambridgeshire, thanks to funding support by the Combined Authority. We continue to see year-on-year growth of over 30 per cent on our rural bus routes following investment right across our business and the launch of the region’s first tap-on, tap-off ticketing scheme.”
The mayoral precept, which is £36 per year for a Band D council taxpayer, is being used to fund the improved services, which so far include another seven operated by Stagecoach. More routes will be launched later in the year.
These improvements are part of the Combined Authority’s Road to Better Buses plan, which aims to reform bus services across the region. This initiative also includes the introduction of the Tiger pass, with more than 24,000 applications already received.
The Combined Authority has also launched a bus franchising consultation which is seeking views on how to change the bus system for the better in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
