Go-Ahead launching DRT in High Wycombe

Go-Ahead Group is to operate a demand responsive bus service from 27 September in High Wycombe.

The group’s Carousel Buses brand is teaming up with Buckinghamshire Council to run the ride-sharing service which is aimed at encouraging shoppers, commuters, students and leisure travellers to leave their cars at home.

A recruitment campaign has begun to hire minibus drivers and customer service controllers for the PickMeUp service.

The service will be funded by the local authority with support from the Government’s Rural Mobility Fund.

A previous version of PickMeUp was run by Go-Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company between 2018 and 2020, as part of a two-year pilot. It was the UK’s largest demand responsive bus service; however, it lacked any local authority funding to operate beyond the two-year period.

“I hope this will further encourage people to leave their cars at home” – Luke Marion, Interim Managing Director, Carousel Buses

Luke Marion, Interim Managing Director, Carousel Buses, said: “The idea of PickMeUp is to provide a new way to get people around swiftly, efficiently and on demand. I hope this will further encourage people to leave their cars at home, help reduce pollution and further improve connectivity in High Wycombe.”

“We’re always looking for new ways to get people onto buses” – Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, UK Regional Bus

Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, UK Regional Bus, said: “We’re always looking for new ways to get people onto buses. This is an innovative idea which uses technology to bring buses to people when and where they want them. We’re delighted to be working on the initiative with Buckinghamshire Council.”

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