£47 Million to Improve Rural Bus Routes

After years of feeling increasingly isolated, there is hope for those in rural communities trying to get to work or education in the form of a £47 million pound investment. 

The Bus Service Improvement Plan has been launched by Derbyshire County Council in an effort to improve bus service reliability and journey times by improving the frequency of services and hours of operation, installing electronic roadside Real Time signs, developing integration between bus and rail services, and introducing new ticketing arrangements. 

The services that will immediately benefit from the funding will be the 1 and 1A that connects Chesterfield to Langwith, the 90 between Yew Tree and Staveley, and the 8 and 9 that runs from Burton to East Midlands Airport. This last service in particular will see an increase in frequency on evenings and weekends in an attempt to improve vital links between Swadlincote, Newhall and Burton. This may provide a lifeline for workers at the busy Airport as well as East Midlands Gateway. 

“We’re happy to announce more improvements to bus services across Derbyshire. Enhancing these well used services is fantastic for those already using the bus, and we hope it will encourage others to consider bus travel too.”

- Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Assets and Transport, Councillor Charlotte Cupit 

At this time, there are only 3 buses every hour that service the 1 and 1a route to the Markham Vale Environment Centre itself, with the remaining buses staying out of the area, remaining firmly on the A632. Fortunately, an extension to the 90 services will bring workers into Markham Vale, and the 90a will create new infrastructure by running through the new local residential estates that are being built by Inkersall Road. 

For the first time, there will be a service that provides a direct link between  
Clowne and Creswell.  

After undertaking a survey that attracted over 2000 respondents from the public and stakeholders, the council has promised to work closely with local bus service operators to follow on from the service extensions already announced elsewhere in the county to make it easier for those in isolated rural communities to get to work, appointments, shopping or attractions. 

The council has published its BSIP Report which is available to read HERE.