Archived decisions

Contact: Kevin Travers, ext 7763

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides information about the new demand-responsive bus services, branded `Cango', which were launched in Test Valley on 28 June 2002 as part of the County Council's new approach to providing public transport in rural areas of Hampshire.

2. Background

2.1 A successful bid was made for funding through the Rural Bus Challenge Fund in 2000 to develop a three year initiative known as TESTBED. This offers a unique opportunity for integration between public, community health and social services and education transport needs at a local level in Test Valley. Despite high car ownership in the area, there are significant access problems which result in social exclusion. This particularly affects people with mobility difficulties, younger people and those without cars in the rural areas north and west of Andover and in the villages along the River Test that are off the main road. The County Council is using this funding opportunity to pilot new innovative ways of providing public transport in the more sparsely populated areas to the north and east of Andover, and on 28 June launched the Cango initiative as the first stage in the TESTBED project.

3. Cango

3.1 Cango is a demand-responsive bus service which differs from conventional bus services because, instead of having a fixed route, it offers a flexible service which can respond to the daily needs of individual people. Unlike conventional services in the area, which operate along a designated route, the Cango services are more flexible, travelling where they are needed within a wide area to the north and east of Andover and serving many parishes, including Barton Stacey, Hatherden, Longparish Tangley, Upton, St Mary Bourne and Vernham Dean.

3.2 The approach taken in the Test Valley has involved converting two existing public transport routes, supported by the County Council, into seven more flexible demand-responsive bus services. This has been accompanied by minor changes to a number of other bus services in the area to ensure that the Cango services are integrated into the overall bus network. As a result of these changes the majority of people in the area now have a greater opportunity to travel.

3.3 The Cango services, which operate on Monday to Saturday, have been designed to transport commuters from the surrounding villages into Andover and Whitchurch railway stations each morning to connect with the London trains. The two vehicles are then used to undertake two school transport contracts previously provided by taxis. They then provide services into Andover throughout the day to enable people to access shopping facilities and the hospital before providing the return journeys for the school contract and commuters.

3.4 Anyone can use Cango in its operating area, although it is necessary to register if people want to pre-book journeys and be assured of a seat on the vehicle. Bookings can even be made after the bus has set off on its journey, thanks to state-of-the-art technology linking Cango to the call centre which has been established in Winchester. New branded bus stopping points have been installed to coincide with the start of these new services. Passengers can also arrange to have their own stopping points if this is more convenient, such as their local pub, garage or shop. If people have mobility impairments the buses can go right to their front door.

3.5 The service is being operated with two vehicles which have been purchased by the County Council. As well as having low floors and being wheelchair accessible, the vehicles have a very futuristic appearance. The Cango services are being operated under contract to the County Council by Stagecoach.

3.6 Over 700 people have now registered to use the Cango services which are on average providing 450 passenger trips per week. These early figures would suggest that the new Cango services are already achieving a higher `ridership' than the previous services, whilst promoting some small gains in terms of encouraging modal shift. For example, a number of commuters are now regularly making the journey to Whitchurch station, which was not possible on the previous services. The County Council has recently commissioned the University of Newcastle to undertake the detailed monitoring and evaluation of the Cango services. The University is involved in evaluating a number of the demand-responsive transport services which have been introduced around the country with the help of the Rural Bus Challenge Fund.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7419/KT