New transport service for areas that lack buses

A new minibus service has been launched to improve transport access for people living in parts of South Yorkshire where bus, tram and rail connections are limited.

OnDemand is an app which will let passengers to book journeys up to a week in advance and is designed to fill the gaps left by public transport provision.

A pilot scheme will launch on 3 August and run for 12 months  in parts of Rotherham and Doncaster.

Rotherham Council leader Chris Read said: "If  you're at home in Todwick or Brookhouse, for example, and you need to get to the Tanyard, Rotherham Hospital or Meadowhall and back, this service provides a convenient way to do that."

 South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has funded the scheme and partnered with Via to roll out the technology.

Unlike a traditional bus service, OnDemand has no set route or timetable. Journeys are pre-arranged and stops are based on customer demand.

The service will focus on connections to railway stations and employment sites.

Fares will start at £3 per journey, with concessions and discounts available and the service will run Monday to Saturday between 05:00 BST and 18:00 BST.

One of the areas where the pilot will operate is Askern, a former mining town on the outskirts of Doncaster.

The city's mayor, Ros Jones, said: "Adding to the public transport network within Doncaster will allow residents to access greater opportunities in different parts of the city, whether that be to improve education or employment prospects, visit family or attend appointments."

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Whether it's getting to work, visiting loved ones, making an appointment or accessing education, communities in Doncaster and Rotherham will have more choice and greater control over how to travel."

Council leader Read added that bus service route and frequency cuts had been felt more keenly in rural areas.

"We wanted to prioritise this opportunity for communities to the south of our borough, complementing and enhancing existing public transport, but also offering a flexibility that traditional bus services just can't provide."

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